Yangchunbaixue was originally a highly artistic and difficult song from Chu in the Warring States period. Later it was generalized to refer to high and uncommon literature and art. The corresponding term is 下里巴人.

"The Lower Li Ba Ren" and "Yang Chun Bai Xue" are both folk songs of Chu, the former being extremely vulgar and the latter extremely elegant, and later "The Lower Li Ba Ren" was used to refer to something very vulgar and general, while "Yang Chun Bai Xue" was used to refer to something extremely elegant and high-minded. From Song Yu's "Question to the King of Chu".

Expanded Information

Yangchunbaixue (阳春白雪), pronounced yáng chūn bái xuě, was written by Shi Kuang (师旷), the "Sage of Music" of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. The Miraculous Secret Record says in the explanation: "Yangchun takes the meaning of everything knowing spring, and the breeze is light and swinging; Baixue takes the meaning of austere cleanliness, and the sound of snow and bamboo linings." ,

Yangchun and Baixue were later introduced to Chu: they became the more artistic and difficult songs of Chu in the Warring States period. Later, it referred to high, unpopular literary art in general.

ReferencesYangchun, Baixue_Baidu Encyclopedia