Shi Jing XI
Odes Of Qin
He has many carriages, giving forth their lin-lin; He has horses with their white foreheads. Before we can see our prince, We must get the services of the eunuch.
On the hill-sides are varnish trees; In the low wet grounds are chestnuts. When we have seen our prince, We sit together with him, and they play on their lutes. If now we do not take our joy, The time will pass till we are octogenarians.
On the hill-sides are mulberry trees; In the low wet grounds are willows. When we have seen our prince, We sit together with him, and they play on their organs. If now we do not take our joy, The time will pass till we are no more.
His four iron-black horses are in very fine condition; The six reins are in the hand [of the charioteer]. The ruler's favourites, Follow him to the chase.
The male animals of the season are made to present themselves, The males in season, of very large size. The ruler says, ' To the left of them; ' Then he lets go his arrows and hits.
He rambles in the northern park; His four horses display their training. Light carriages, with bells at the horses' bits, Convey the long and short-mouthed dogs.
[There is] his short war carriage; - With the ridge-like end of its pole, elegantly bound in five places; With its slip rings and side straps, And the traces attached by gilt rings to the masked transverse; With its beautiful mat of tiger's skin, and its long naves; With its piebalds, and horses with white left feet. When I think of my husband [thus], Looking bland and soft as a piece of jade; Living there in his plank house; It sends confusion into all the corners of my heart.
His four horses are in very fine condition, And the six reins are in the hand [of the charioteer]. Piebald, and bay with black mane, are the insides; Yellow with black mouth, and black, are the outsides; Side by side are placed the dragon-figured shields; Gilt are the buckles for the inner reins. I think of my husband [thus], Looking so mild in the cities there. What time can be fixed for his return? Oh! how I think of him!
His mail-covered team moves in great harmony; There are the trident spears with their gilt ends; And the beautiful feather-figured shield; With the tiger-skin bow-case, and the carved metal ornaments on its front. The two bows are placed in the case, Bound with string to their bamboo frames. I think of my husband, When I lie down and rise up. Tranquil and serene is the good man, With his virtuous fame spread far and near.
The reeds and rushes are deeply green, And the white dew is turned into hoarfrost. The man of whom I think, Is somewhere about the water. I go up the stream in quest of him, But the way is difficult and long. I go down the stream in quest of him, And lo! he is right in the midst of the water.
The reeds and rushes are luxuriant, And the white dew is not yet dry. The man of whom I think, Is on the margin of the water. I go up the stream in quest of him, But the way is difficult and steep. I go down the stream in quest of him, And lo! he is on the islet in the midst of the water.
The reeds and rushes are abundant, And the white dew is not yet ceased. The man of whom I think, Is on the bank of the river. I go up the stream in quest of him, But the way is difficult and turns to the right. I go down the stream in quest of him, And lo! he is on the island in the midst of the water.
What are there on Zhongnan? There are white firs and plum trees. Our prince has arrived at it, Wearing an embroidered robe over his fox-fur, And with his countenance rouged as with vermilion. May he prove a ruler indeed!
What are there on Zhongnan? There are nooks and open glades. Our prince has arrived at it, With the symbol of distinction embroidered on his lower garment, And the gems at his girdle emitting their tinkling. May long life and an endless name be his?
They flit about, the yellow birds, And rest upon the jujube trees. Who followed duke Mu [to the grave]? Ziche Yansi. And this Yansi, Was a man above a hundred. When he came to the grave, He looked terrified and trembled. Thou azure Heaven there! Thou art destroying our good men. Could he have been redeemed, We should have given a hundred lives for him.
They flit about, the yellow birds, And rest upon the mulberry trees. Who followed duke Mu [to the grave]? Ziche Zhongheng. And this Zhongheng, Was a match for a hundred. When he came to the grave, He looked terrified and trembled. Thou azure Heaven there! Thou art destroying our good men. Could he have been redeemed, We should have given a hundred lives for him.
They flit about, the yellow birds, And rest upon the thorn trees. Who followed duke Mu [to the grave]? Ziche Qianhu. And this Ziche Qianhu, Could withstand a hundred men. When he came to the grave, He looked terrified and trembled. Thou azure Heaven there! Thou art destroying our good men. Could he have been redeemed, We should have given a hundred lives for him.
Swift flies the falcon, To the thick-wooded forest in the north. While I do not see my husband, My heart cannot forget its grief. How is it, how is it, That he forgets me so very much?
On the mountain are the bushy oaks; In the low wet grounds are six elms. While I do not see my husband, My sad heart has no joy. How is it, how is it, That he forgets me so very much?
On the mountain are the bushy sparrow-plums; In the low wet grounds are the high, wild pear trees. While I do not see my husband, My heart is as if intoxicated with grief. How is it, how is it, That he forgets me so very much?
How shall it be said that you have no clothes? I will share my long robes with you. The king is raising his forces; I will prepare my lance and spear, And will be your comrade.
How shall it be said that you have no clothes? I will share my under clothes with you. The king is raising his forces; I will prepare my spear and lance, And will take the field with you.
How shall it be said that you have no clothes? I will share my lower garments with you. The king is raising his forces; I will prepare my buffcoat and sharp weapons, And will march along with you.
I escorted my mother's nephew, To the north of the Wei, What did I present to him? Four bay horses for his carriage of state.
I escorted my mother's nephew, Long, long did I think of him. What did I present to him? A precious jasper, and gems for his girdle-pendant.
He assigned us a house large and spacious; But now at every meal there is nothing left. Alas that he could not continue as he began!
He assigned us at every meal four dishes of grain; But now at every meal we do not get our fill. Alas that he could not continue as he began!
Note:
This poem is narrative and figurative. It describes the development of the life of the prince of the Qin state.
Note:
This poem is narrative in nature, describing how the princes of the Qin state went hunting.
Note:
This poem tells the story of the longing of an official's wife who carries out her king's orders to travel west to meet the Rong and Di people. It is estimated that at that time the reigning king was Zhou Ping Wang 770 – 720 BC. (he was the first king after the Western Zhou dynasty fell and the Eastern Zhou dynasty began) and the one who received the decree was the young king Qin Xiang Gong; after the Zhou king You Wang was killed.
Note:
This poem is about how to find someone who seems easy to find but turns out to be difficult. This poem resembles a riddle but is actually a criticism. It seems to be directed at Prince Qin Xiang Gong (777 – 766 BC) who continued to try to strengthen his country by waging various wars without respecting the humble attitude towards the Zhou dynasty and it turned out that he was unable to unite the entire country.
Note:
This verse is figuratively testing the development of the authority of the Qin government. This verse also seems to be addressed to the prince Qin Xiang Gong.
Note:
This poem is satirical, lamenting the three wise men of Qin who were buried with Prince Mu; this happened in 620 BC, after Prince Mu Gong had been on the move in the northwest for 39 years. This barbaric tradition had started from the ancestors of the Qin dynasty; in fact, Qin Mu Gong (659 – 620 BC) himself did not approve of this kind of tradition, but his son, Prince Qin Mu Gong (659 – 620 BC) himself did not approve of this kind of tradition, but his son, Prince Qin Kang Gong, used the tradition to get rid of his father’s trusted people.
Note:
This poem is figurative. A wife expresses her heartache because of her husband's absence and worries about forgetting him. According to Zhu Xi, this poem describes how Prince Qin Kang Gong (620 - 606 BC) tried to get rid of his father's trusted ministers, Qin Mu Gong. Chen Feng (dawn wind) is a nickname for an eagle.
Note:
This poem tells how the people of Qin were ready to support their king's movement.
Note:
This poem tells the story of Prince Qin Kang Gong's (son of Qin Mu Gong) gift when he accompanied his mother's uncle, Jin Wen Gong, back to the land of Jin. When he was young, the uncle was known as Zhong Er.
Note:
This poem tells the story of a group of groups becoming less respectful towards someone who was previously glorified. In this case, it was addressed to Prince Qin Kang Gong, whose power and authority were increasingly declining.