Based on the theory of rhyme, this book predicts the complementary distribution of the first-person pronouns "吾" and "我" in pre-Qin Chinese in line with the basic principles of prosodic phonology, syntax and the research findings on Chinese prosody in recent years. Through the retrieval of corpus, whether the prediction is consistent with the materials is verified. On the basis of corpus verification, this book makes full use of the findings of phonetic construction in classic Chinese, explains the phonetic mechanism that produces the stress effect of "吾" and "我", so as to explore the real reasons for the alternation of the first-person pronouns in the pre-Qin periods and the evolution mechanism of the first-person pronouns in later generations.

Zhao Pusong, a lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Science, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, got his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Tsinghua University and PhD degree from Department of Chinese Language and Literature, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His main research interests are phonology, prosodic phonology and exegesis.