Abstract:   The word “di” in the line quoted from Shi (The Book of Songs) in Liezi of today’s version, refers to Emperor Yao, different from the “di” as the Emperor of Heaven in Shi. Since the conception of “di” as king or emperor was no earlier than the middle or late Warring States Period, we can make sure that the line was indeed quoted from Shi. Furthermore, as the description of Emperor Yao’s abdicating the throne to Shun is different from the idea of “the Han Dynasty as the posterity of Emperor Yao” and the allusions in Shangshu, we can tell that the quotation time was during the Warring States Period when free thoughts boomed. There had already been different versions of Liezi till Western Han Dynasty. Thereafter, Liu Xiang revised eight pieces. Zhang Zhan finalized Liu’s version further, but still preserved some textual features of its original formation. Judging from the political system recorded in the quotation materials of Shi in Liezi, we infer that the quotation time was between the late years of Mencius and Huo Guang’s autocratic reign in the Western Han Dynasty. The original lines, after experiencing alterations over the time, became what are in today’s version. In Liezi, Shi was referred to as “ancient shi”, as was in accordance with the poetic changes since the Warring States Period and the trend of increasing poetry beyond Shi. The multitudes of changes of “shi” (poetry) in the Warring States Period signified the increased cultural exchanges and integration. This trend was appreciated by the Western Han monarchs, who encouraged the boom of poetry in the hope of constructing a culture of rites and music matching with the great achievements of a great emperor.  

Key words: Liezi, Shi, time, culture