Shi Jing VI
Odes Of Wang
There was the millet with its drooping heads; There was the sacrificial millet coming into blade. Slowly I moved about, In my heart all-agitated. Those who knew me, Said I was sad at heart. Those who did not know me, Said I was seeking for something. O distant and azure Heaven! By what man was this [brought about]?
There was the millet with its drooping heads; There was the sacrificial millet in the ear. Slowly I moved about, My heart intoxicated, as it were, [with grief]. Those who knew me, Said I was sad at heart. Those who did not know me, Said I was seeking for something. O thou distant and azure Heaven! By what man was this [brought about]?
There was the millet with its drooping heads; There was the sacrificial millet in grain. Slowly I moved about, As if there were a stoppage at my heart. Those who knew me, Said I was sad at heart. Those who did not know me, Said I was seeking for something. O thou distant and azure Heaven! By what man was this [brought about]?
My husband is away on service, And I know not when he will return. Where is he now? The fowls roost in their holes in the walls; And in the evening of the day, The goats and cows come down [from the hill]; But my husband is away on service. How can I but keep thinking of him?
My husband is away on service, Not for days [merely] or for months. When will he come back to me? The fowls roost on their perches; And in the evening of the day, The goats and cows come down and home; But my husband is away on service. Oh if he be but kept from hunger and thirst!
My husband looks full of satisfaction. In his left hand he holds his reed-organ, And with his right he calls me to the room. Oh the joy!
My husband looks delighted. In his left hand he holds his screen of feathers, And with his right he calls me to the stage. Oh the joy!
The fretted waters, Do not carry on their current a bundle of firewood! Those, the members of our families, Are not with us here guarding Shen. How we think of them! How we think of them! What month shall we return home?
The fretted waters, Do not carry on their current a bundle of thorns! Those, the members of our families, Are not with us here guarding Pu. How we think of them! How we think of them! What month shall we return?
The fretted waters, Do not carry on their current a bundle of osiers! Those, the members of our families, Are not with us here guarding Xu. How we think of them! How we think of them! What month shall we return?
In the valleys grows the mother-wort, But scorched is it in the drier places. There is a woman forced to leave her husband; Sadly she sighs! Sadly she sighs! She suffers from his hard lot.
In the valleys grows the mother-wort, But scorched is it where it had become long. There is a woman forced to leave her husband; Long-drawn are her groanings! Long-drawn are her groanings! She suffers from his misfortune.
In the valleys grows the mother-wort, But scorched is it even in the moist places. There is a woman forced to leave her husband; Ever flow her tears! Ever flow her tears! But of what avail is her lament?
The hare is slow and cautious; The pheasant plumps into the net. In the early part of my life, Time still passed without commotion. In the subsequent part of it, We are meeting with all these evils. I wish I might sleep and never wake more.
The hare is slow and cautious; The pheasant plumps into the snare. In the early part of my life, Time still passed without anything stirring. In the subsequent part of it, We are meeting with all these sorrows. I wish I might sleep and never move more.
The hare is slow and cautious; The pheasant plumps into the trap. In the early part of my life, Time still passed without any call for our services. In the subsequent part of it, We are meeting with all these miseries. I would that I might sleep, and hear of nothing more.
Thickly they spread about, the dolichos creepers, On the borders of the He. For ever separated from my brothers, I call a stranger father. I call a stranger father, But he will not look at me.
Thickly they spread about, the dolichos creepers, On the banks of the He. For ever separated from my brothers, I call a stranger mother. I call a stranger mother, But she will not recognize me.
Thickly they spread about, the dolichos creepers, On the lips of the He. For ever separated from my brothers, I call a stranger elder-brother. I call a stranger elder-brother, But he will not listen to me.
There he is gathering the dolichos! A day without seeing him, Is like three months!
There he is gathering the oxtail-southern-wood! A day without seeing him, Is like three seasons!
There he is gathering the mugwort! A day without seeing him, Is like three years!
His great carriage rumbles along, And his robes of rank glitter like the young sedge. Do I not think of you? But I am afraid of this officer, and dare not.
His great carriage moves heavily and slowly, And his robes of rank glitter like a carnation-gem. Do I not think of you? But I am afraid of this officer, and do not rush to you.
While living, we may have to occupy different apartments; But when dead, we shall share the same grave. If you say that I am not sincere, By the bright sun I swear that I am.
On the mound where is the hemp, Some one is detaining Zijie. Some one is there detaining Zijie; - Would that he would come jauntily [to me]!
On the mound where is the wheat, Some one is detaining Ziguo. Some one is there detaining Ziguo; - Would that he would come and eat with me!
On the mound where are the plum trees, Some one is detaining those youths. Some one is there detaining those youths; - They will give me Jiu-stones for my girdle.
Note:
The capital city in question is the city of Luo which was named the eastern capital because in 769 BC after the old capital (Feng or Xian Yang) was destroyed, the Quan Rong people and their new king: Zhou Ping Wang moved the center of government to Luo Yang. This poem tells of a minister who was sad to see the old capital in disarray.
Note:
This poem describes the feelings of a wife missing her husband Zhou You Wang (781 – 771 BC).
Note:
This poem tells of the longed-for husband who has returned home.
Note:
This poem contains the complaint of the Zhou state soldiers who served in Shen because they had to be separated from their relatives. The mother of the Zhou Ping Wang was Princess Jiang, the daughter of the ruler of the Shen region. The Shen region often suffered attacks from the Chu state and Zhou Ping Wang after moving to the eastern capital sent his people to guard there.
Note:
This poem is an allegory of a woman who is forced to divorce her husband because she is oppressed by poverty. Some estimate that this poem is a criticism of the reign of King Zhou Ping Wang.
Note:
This poem is figurative; an official of the Zhou dynasty expresses his fatigue in life because of facing the problems that hit his country. The incident occurred during the reign of King Zhou Huan Wang (719 – 696) B.C.) the grandson of King Zhou Ping Wang who experienced difficulties due to the disturbance of the Zheng state in 706 B.C. and suffered a major defeat.
Note:
This poem depicts a traveler from the land of Zhou lamenting his suffering, separated from his family. It is said that this poem was addressed to the Zhou king Ping Wang (770 – 719 BC) who had eliminated his relatives.
Note:
This poem tells of a wife who longs for her husband's presence again. It is said that in the time of Zhou Huan Wang (720 – 696 B.C.) when a minister – high or low – was sent abroad, no matter how briefly, a group of sycophants would still try to mislead him.
Note:
This poem tells how the influence of an official's position makes his lover afraid to approach him.
Note:
This poem tells the story of a woman who longs for her lover and thinks she will definitely get something in return. This incident occurred during the time of Zhou Zhuang Wang (695 – 680 BC) who, due to his stupidity, dismissed his capable officials. This collection of poems, Book VI, describes the increasingly weakened Zhou dynasty.