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Shi Jing II

Odes Of Shao And The South

  1. The nest is the magpie's; The dove dwells in it. This young lady is going to her future home; A hundred carriages are meeting her.

    The nest is the magpie's; The dove possesses it. This young lady is going to her future home; A hundred carriages are escorting her.

    The nest is the magpie's; The dove fills it. This young lady is going to her future home; These hundreds of carriages complete her array.

  2. Note:

    King Wen after moving to Feng, divided the Zhou state into two parts. Part of which was inhabited by his son named Dan (Prophet Ji Dan) with the title of prince Zhou. The other part was inhabited by his son named Shi with the title of prince Shao.

  3. She gathers the white southernwood, By the ponds, on the islets. She employs it, In the business of our prince.

    She gathers the white southernwood, Along the streams in the valleys. She employs it, In the temple of our prince.

    With head-dress reverently rising aloft, Early, while yet it is night, she is in the prince's temple; In her dead-dress, slowly retiring, She returns to her own apartments.

  4. Note:

    This poem is about a prince's wife who diligently helps prepare prayer ceremonies.

  5. Yao-yao went the grass-insects, And the hoppers sprang about. While I do not see my lord, My sorrowful heart is agitated. Let me have seen him, Let me have met him, And my heart will then be stilled.

    I ascended that hill in the south, And gathered the turtle-foot ferns. While I do not see my lord, My sorrowful heart is very sad. Let me have seen him, Let me have met him, And my heart will then be pleased.

    I ascended that hill in the south, And gathered the thorn-ferns. While I do not see my lord, My sorrowful heart is wounded with grief. Let me have seen him, Let me have met him, And my heart will then be at peace.

  6. Note:

    This poem describes the pain of a wife who cannot meet her husband who is often out on duty.

  7. She gathers the large duckweed, By the banks of the stream in the southern valley. She gathers the pondweed, In those pools left by the floods.

    She deposits what she gathers, In her square baskets and round ones She boils it, In her tripods and pans.

    She sets forth her preparations, Under the window in the ancestral chamber. Who superintends the business? It is [this] reverent young lady.

  8. Note:

    This poem tells of the craft and glory of a wife in preparing the prayer offerings.

  9. [This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; - Clip it not, hew it not down. Under it the chief of Shao lodged.

    [This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; - Clip it not, break not a twig of it. Under it the chief of Shao rested.

    [This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; - Clip it not, bend not a twig of it. Under it the chief of Shao halted.

  10. Note:

    Prince Shao Bo was named Bo Yi Kao, son of Wen Wang (1184 – 1134 BC). Because the people loved him, a tree was planted to commemorate him at his residence. In order to save his father, he became a victim of the tyranny of King Zhou of the Shang dynasty.

  11. Wet lay the dew on the path: Might I not [have walked there] in the early dawn? But I said there was [too] much dew on the path.

    Who can say the sparrow has no horn? How else could it bore through my house? Who can say that you did not get me betrothed? How else could you have urged on this trial? But though you have forced me to trial, Your ceremonies for betrothal were not sufficient.

    Who can say that the rat has no molar teeth? How else could it bore through my wall? Who can say that you did not get me betrothed? How else could you have urged on this trial? But though you have forced me to trial, I will still not follow you.

  12. Note:

    This poem tells of a girl who refused a forced marriage: according to an old interpretation, a girl from the Shen Dynasty was promised to marry the prince of Feng Country. It is said that the girl refused because her dowry was incomplete, so if she returned to her future husband's house it would be like going to prison.

  13. [Those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins, With their five braidings of white silk! They have retired from the court to take their their meal; Easy are they and self-possesed.

    [Those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins, With their five seams wrought with white silk! Easy are they and self-possessed; They have retired from the court to take their their meal.

    The seams of [those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins, The five joinings wrought with white silk! Easy are they and self-possessed; They have retired to take their their meal from the court.

  14. Note:

    This Sanjak tells of an official from a certain palace whose life was very relaxed.

  15. Grandly rolls the thunder, On the south of the southern hill! How was it he went away from this, Not daring to take a little rest? My noble lord! May he return! May he return!

    Grandly rolls the thunder, About the sides of the southern hill! How was it he went away from this, Not daring to take a little rest? My noble lord! May he return! May he return!

    Grandly rolls the thunder, At the foot of the southern hill! How was it he went away from this, Not remaining a little at rest? My noble lord! May he return! May he return!

  16. Note:

    This poem tells the story of a young wife who, when she heard Guntur, remembered her husband who was on duty in a faraway place.

  17. Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree; There are [but] seven [tenths] of them left! For the gentlemen who seek me, This is the fortunate time!

    Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree; There are [but] three [tenths] of them left! For the gentlemen who seek me, Now is the time.

    Dropt are the fruits from the plum-tree; In my shallow basket I have collected them. Would the gentlemen who seek me [Only] speak about it!

  18. Note:

    According to the old tradition, young people marry in spring. When the May berries fall, it is summer; a virgin is expected to be married by the age of 20 and a bachelor by the age of 30.

  19. Small are those starlets, Three or five of them in the east, Swiftly by night we go; In the early dawn we are with the prince. Our lot is not like hers.

    Small are those starlets, And there are Orion and the Pleiades. Swiftly by night we go, Carrying our coverlets and sheets. Our lot is not like hers.

  20. Note:

    This poem tells the fate of a young wife (concubine) who is only allowed to go to her husband's house in the early morning and then has to leave again, a very sad ancient tradition.

  21. The Jiang has its branches, led from it and returning to it. Our lady, when she was married, Would not employ us. She would not employ us; But afterwards she repented.

    The Jiang has its islets. Our lady, when she was married, Would not let us be with her. She would not let us be with her; But afterwards she repressed [such feelings].

    The Jiang has the Tuo. Our lady, when she was married, Would not come near us She would not come near us; But she blew that feeling away, and sang.

  22. Note:

    This poem is a satire, a solace for a jealous wife because her merchant husband has remarried in a very far away place.

  23. In the wild there is a dead antelope, And it is wrapped up with the white grass. There is a young lady with thoughts natural to the spring, And a fine gentleman would lead her astray.

    In the forest there are the scrubby oaks; In the wild there is a dead deer, And it is bound round with the white grass. There is a young lady like a gem.

    [She says], Slowly; gently, gently; Do not move my handkerchief; Do not make my dog bark.

  24. Note:

    A princess is seduced by the temptation of a son; however, the princess is still able to hold onto virtue, maintaining her purity like a Yu stone (jade stone).

  25. How great is that luxuriance, Those flowers of the sparrow-plum! Are they not expressive of reverence and harmony, - The carriages of the king's daughter?

    How great is that luxuriance, The flowers like those of the peach-tree or the plum! [See] the grand-daughter of the tranquillizing king, And the son of the reverent marquis!

    What are used in angling? Silk threads formed into lines. The son of the reverent marquis, And the grand-daughter of the tranquillizing king!

  26. Note:

    This poem depicts the granddaughter of the king Zhou Ping Wang (769-719 B.C.) and the son of prince Qi Hou. The silk rope depicts the fishing line that ties the two lovebirds together to build a happy family.

  27. Strong and abundant grow the rushes; He discharges [but] one arrow at five wild boars. Ah! he is the Zou-yu!

    Strong and abundant grow the artemisia; He discharges [but] one arrow at five wild boars. Ah! he is the Zou-yu!

  28. Note:

    This verse praises the greatness of a hunter named Zou Yu.

    In the book of Lun Yu XVII 10, Kongzi commented on the need to understand the poetry of Zhou Nan and Shao Nan to be able to understand people's lives at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty.