1. The first collection of essays in Chinese history is Shangshu.
2. Shangshu is a collection of ancient historical documents and ancient deeds, in which some important historical materials of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, especially the early Western Zhou Dynasty, are preserved.
3. Shangshu is also known by literary historians as the earliest collection of essays in China, which is parallel to the style of the Book of Songs. However, most of the essays were official documents issued by the government to deal with state affairs at that time, and some praised virtues.