In order to express their thoughts and feelings more implicitly,Chinese poems in Koryo often borrow from Chinese historical figures, as do the Chinese poems included in Selected Oriental Literature. An overview of the Chinese historical figures that appear in China-themed poems in Koryo focuses on Chinese emperors and generals, among which the more notable ones are Shi Huang of Qin, Yang Emperor of Sui, and Xuan Zong of Tang. To the Koryo literati, these three men are unlike Yao and Shun, who were well-known for their benevolence and virtue, Liu Bang, who appointed officials according to their abilities, and Taizong of Tang, who started the prosperous reign of Zhenguan. The three monarchs represent an entirely different type of rulers who lost their empires in corrupt and lavish style of life.The Koryo literati believed that these were worthy lessons to be leaned from history and the Koryo dynasty should learn from the downfall of these emperors. Therefore, they often borrowed the images of these Chinese emperors to warn the Koryo rulers, showing a high sense of social responsibility of upright Confucians and reflecting a strong utilitarianism towards history. There are many reasons for the Koryo literati’s preference for Chinese historical figures. The most important of these are the rise of national autonomy that began in the Goryeo period and the historical consciousness that came with the awakening of the national sense and cultural self-awareness.