The term refers to the use of allegories to convey popular mood and public

opinion and make critical comments on state affairs to the ruler in a tactful

manner in the hope to persuade him to correct wrong policies. Feng (讽)

represents making critical but persuasive comments subtly through poetry

or prose; yu (喻) means delivering an explicit message. Such literary writing

is intended to be both critical and persuasive; and it has two integral aspects,

namely, a subtle literary way of expression as required by feng, and its social

function of sending explicit messages to the ruler as required. The theory of

subtle admonition was advocated by scholars of the Han Dynasty based on their

interpretation of The Book of Songs. Confucian scholars from then on promoted the

use of subtle admonition to influence decision-making of the ruler and social mores

in a literary way. Bai Juyi, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote many such poems,

further reinforcing the social function of poetry and advancing this literary tradition,

which had great impact on literary creation of later generations.