Shi Jing XII
Odes Of Chen
How gay and dissipated you are, There on the top of Wanqiu! You are full of kindly affection indeed, But you have nothing to make you looked up to!
How your blows on the drum resound, At the foot of Wanqiu! Be it winter, be it summer, You are holding your egret's feather!
How you beat your earthen vessel, On the way to Wanqiu! Be it winter, be it summer, You are holding your egret-fan!
[There are] the white elms at the east gate. And the oaks on Wanqiu; The daughter of Zizhong, Dances about under them.
A good morning having been chosen, For the plain in the South, She leaves twisting her hemp, And dances to it through the market-place.
The morning being good for excursion, They all proceed together. 'I look on you as the flower of the thorny mallows; You give me a stalk of the pepper plant.
Beneath my door made of cross pieces of wood, I can rest at my leisure; By the wimpling stream from my fountain, I can joy amid my hunger.
Why, in eating fish; Must we have bream from the He? Why, in taking a wife, Must we have a Jiang of Qi?
Why, in eating fish; Must we have carp from the He? Why, in taking a wife, Must we have a Zi of Song?
The moat at the east gate, Is fit to steep hemp in. That beautiful, virtuous, lady, Can respond to you in songs.
The moat at the east gate, Is fit to steep the boehmeria in. That beautiful, virtuous, lady, Can respond to you in discourse.
The moat at the east gate, Is fit to steep the rope-rush in. That beautiful, virtuous lady, Can respond to you in conversation.
On the willows at the east gate, The leaves are very luxuriant. The evening was the time agreed on, And the morning star is shining bright.
On the willows at the east gate, The leaves are dense. The evening was the time agreed on, And the morning star is shining bright.
At the gate to the tombs there are jujube trees; - They should be cut away with an axe. That man is not good, And the people of the State know it. They know it, but he does not give over; - Long time has it been thus with him.
At the gate to the tombs there are plum trees; And there are owls collecting on them. That man is not good, And I sing [this song] to admonish him. I admonish him, but he will not regard me; - When he is overthrown, he will think of me.
On the embankment are magpies' nests; On the height grows the beautiful pea. Who has been imposing on the object of my admiration? - My heart is full of sorrow.
The middle path of the temple is covered with its tiles; On the height is the beautiful medallion plant. Who has been imposing on the object of my admiration? - My heart is full of trouble.
The moon comes forth in her brightness; How lovely is that beautiful lady! O to have my deep longings for her relieved! How anxious is my toiled heart!
The moon comes forth in her splendour; How attractive is that beautiful lady! O to have my anxieties about her relieved! How agitated is my toiled heart!
The moon comes forth and shines; How brilliant is that beautiful lady! O to have the chains of my mind relaxed! How miserable is my toiled heart!
What does he in Zhulin? He is going after Xianan. He is not going to Zhulin; He is going after Xianan.
' Yoke for me my team of horses; I will rest in the country about Zhu. I will drive my team of colts, And breakfast at Zhu.'
By the shores of that marsh, There are rushes and lotus plants. There is the beautiful lady; - I am tortured for her, but what avails it? Waking or sleeping, I do nothing; From my eyes and nose the water streams.
By the shores of that marsh, There are rushes and the valerian. There is the beautiful lady; Tall and large, and elegant. Waking or sleeping, I do nothing; My inmost heart is full of grief.
By the shores of that marsh, There are rushes and lotus flowers. There is the beautiful lady; Tall and large, and majestic. Waking or sleeping, I do nothing; On my side, on my back, with my face on the pillow, I lie.
Note:
The rulers of the Chen country always boasted of being the heirs of the holy king Shun, so they used the surname Gui. This poem tells the story of Chen state officials who like to squander their wealth and only like pleasure.
Note:
This poem tells the story of how young people from Chen country socialize. It seems that at that time the relationship between young people was still loose
Note:
This poem is about the satisfaction and happiness of a poor hermit. It contains an appeal to Prince Chen Li Gong (830 – 795 BC) who reminded him that even though the country of Chen was small, it was able to fulfill the needs of its people.
Note:
This poem is figurative; it praises the wisdom and intelligence of several princesses of the Chen state. This poem is intended for the weak-willed ruler there, and hopes that he will find a suitable partner for him.
Note:
This poem is figurative. It depicts an agreement that is not implemented.
Note:
This poem is figurative, addressed to evil and stubborn rulers until their power is destroyed.
Note:
This poem is figurative, a princess laments her lover who shuns her because of evil words.
Note:
This poem is also figurative, a man who longs for a beautiful princess.
Note:
This poem tells the story of the love affair of the young king Chen Ling Gong (612 – 598 BC) with the Xia princess who was very famous for her bad behavior. This incident made the princess's son (Xia Nan) very embarrassed and killed prince Chen Ling Gong. The following year Xia Nan was put to death in a very gruesome manner by his successor prince (Chen Cheng 598 – 568 B.C.)
Note:
This poem is figurative; it is thought to refer to the young king Wei Ling Gong (534 – 493 BC) whose reign was dominated by the highly ambitious princess Nan Zi.