Shi Jing 
– The Book of Odes
The oldest collection of Chinese poetry, more than three hundred songs, odes and hymns. Tr. Legge (en) and Granet (fr, incomplete).
Guan-guan go the ospreys,
On the islet in the river.
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady : –
For our prince a good mate she.
Here long, there short, is the duckweed,
To the left, to the right, borne about by the current.
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady : –
Waking and sleeping, he sought her.
He sought her and found her not,
And waking and sleeping he thought about her.
Long he thought ; oh ! long and anxiously ;
On his side, on his back, he turned, and back again.
Here long, there short, is the duckweed ;
On the left, on the right, we gather it.
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady : –
With lutes, small and large, let us give her friendly welcome.
Here long, there short, is the duckweed ;
On the left, on the right, we cook and present it.
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady : –
With bells and drums let us show our delight in her.
Legge 1
A l'unisson crient les mouettes
dans la rivière sur les rocs !
La fille pure fait retraite,
compagne assortie du Seigneur !
Haute ou basse, la canillée :
à gauche, à droite, cherchons-la !
La fille pure fait retraite :
De jour, de nuit, demandons-la !
Demandons-la !... Requête vaine !...
de jour, de nuit, nous y pensons !
Ah ! quelle peine !... Ah ! quelle peine !...
De-ci, de-là, nous nous tournons !...
Haute ou basse, la canillée :
à gauche, à droite, prenons-la !
La fille pure fait retraite :
guitares, luths, accueillez-la !
Haute ou basse, la canillée :
à gauche, à droite, cueillons-la !
La fille pure fait retraite :
cloches et tambours, fêtez-la !
Granet LVI.
And pile the wood on the bank,
By the waters clear and rippling.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred sheaves of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see badgers hanging in their courtyards?
Ah,those lords
They do not need to work for their food!
Chop, chop, we cut wood for wheel-spokes
And pile it on the shore,
By the waters clear and flowing.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred stacks of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see bulls hanging in their courtyards?
Ah, those lords
They do not need to work to eat!
Chop, chop, we cut hard wood for wheels
And pile it at the river's brink,
By the waters clear and dimpling.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred ricks of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see quails hanging in their courtyards?
Ah, those lords
They do not have to work to live!
Settuman ionikin-hai bibijor moorooiin hai-chou?
Yii laoii uolon-kapaar!
Shijing I. 1. (2)
How the dolichos spread itself out,
Extending to the middle of the valley !
Its leaves were luxuriant ;
The yellow birds flew about,
And collected on the thickly growing trees,
Their pleasant notes resounding far.
How the dolichos spread itself out,
Extending to the middle of the valley !
Its leaves were luxuriant and dense.
I cut it and I boiled it,
And made both fine cloth and coarse,
Which I will wear without getting tired of it.
I have told the matron,
Who will announce that I am going to see my parents.
I will wash my private clothes clean,
And I will rinse my robes.
Which need to be rinsed, which do not ?
I am going back to visit my parents.
Legge 2
Sun and moon, listen to my grievance!
From: Book of Ode
Period: Spring and Autumn
Dynasty: Eastern Zhou
Section: Songs of Wei State
(Collected by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu (2007.08.14)
Sun and moon, listen to my grievance!
Your great lights shining upon earth.
But I have never seen such man,
Who forgot his home and course.
He keeps not vow of husband and wife,
And why he refuses to come into my room?
Sun and moon, listen to my grievance!
Your great lights shining upon earth.
But I have never seen such man,
Who forgot my love and grace.
He keeps not vow of husband and wife,
Why he leaves me alone in my empty room?
Sun and moon, listen to my grievance!
Your great lights shining upon earth.
But I have never seen such man,
Who lost his honor and Heaven’s bliss.
He keeps not vow of husband and wife,
And I should forget him, away with sorrow.
Sun and moon, listen to my grievance!
You rise from east with shining rays.
Ah- my daddy and my mommy,
My husband loves me no more.
He keeps not vow of husband and wife,
And I will not suffer in sorrow any more!
Note:
The poet may be a young and just married wife lived in State of Wei. She complained about her husband that stopped loving her. And she eventually thinks wisely that “Anyway he does not keep his vow, so she gives up her sorrow, or maybe seeks a new beginning.”
From:
http://laijonliu.blogspot.com/
Shijing I. 1. (3)
I was gathering and gathering the mouse-ear,
But could not fill my shallow basket.
With a sigh for the man of my heart,
I placed it there on the highway.
I was ascending that rock-covered height,
But my horses were too tired to breast it.
I will now pour a cup from that gilded vase,
Hoping I may not have to think of him long.
I was ascending that lofty ridge,
But my horses turned of a dark yellow.
I will now take a cup from that rhinoceros' horn,
Hoping I may not have long to sorrow.
I was ascending that flat-topped height,
But my horses became quite disabled,
And my servants were [also] disabled.
Oh ! how great is my sorrow !
Legge 3
Je cueille, cueille la bardane !
je n'en emplis pas un panier,
— Hélas ! je rêve de cet homme ! —
et le laisse sur le sentier !
Je gravis ce mont plein de roches :
mes chevaux en sont éreintés !...
Je me verse à boire de ce vase d'or
afin de ne plus rêver sans trêve !...
Je gravis cette haute colline :
mes chevaux en perdent leur lustre !...
Je me verse à boire dans la corne de rhinocéros
afin de ne plus souffrir sans trêve !...
Je gravis ce mont plein de sables :
mes chevaux en sont tout fourbus !...
Mon conducteur en est malade !...
Hélas ! hélas ! que je gémis !
Granet LVIII.
Banging the Drum
From: Book of Ode
Period: Spring and Autumn
Dynasty: Eastern Zhou
Section: Songs of Wei State
(Collected by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu (2007.08.16)
Banging the drum, dang, dang, dang,
Eager soldiers raise their arms.
They all fortify our citadel and canals,
But I follow my regiment to the south.
I serve my general Sun Zi Zhong,
To make peace for State of Chen and Song.
For our engagement that I cannot return,
So I am in worry and anxiety.
Where I shall look for shelters?
Where I will find my horse?
And how I should search?
Maybe the answer is hiding in the woods.
“Our vow is beyond death and life”,
I and you are together I always remembered.
I will hold your hand,
And together we grow old.
Too pitiful we are faraway apart,
The distance separates us to meet again!
Too miserable this takes forever,
And it does not let us fulfill our vow!
Note:
The poet may be an elite soldier of State of Wei.
He followed his general Sun Zi Zhong served near the border of State of Chen and Song (two states were in conflict), and stayed there. He was anxiously waiting for the order to return to his home there his wife was. And during the operation, he lost his horse, which was a desperate situation (horses in ancient time carried soldier supply and weapons, are life companion for soldiers in advance or retreat), he lost his horse, his supply, maybe his armor and weapons, and the road he was facing that we may lose his life so he may never go back. In all these mess, he started searching, and somehow at this hopeless moment he started to revisit his happiest moment, when he together vowed in marriage ceremony with his wife, and he was even afraid that he might never see his love again.
The end of our life, reminds us the true happy moment, experience, value... Confucius said:" At the end of man's life, his words are graceful; At the death of a bird, his song is in grievous tone.
It is unfair to put anyone in such situation: "To kill or to be killed".
The poet's questions are common for everyone in desperate time, when we cannot run away and our future is in other people's decision. When nations or states look for honour, justice, righteousness, peace... their actions and methods often fall into violence. So common's life, happiness and value are at stake, become sacrifice of their leaders' faith and belief. So the poet asked "Where I shall look for shelters? Where I will find my horse(his life companion)? How I should find?" And "Maybe the answer is hiding in the woods." He might be seek a way out, that to hide in the forest, away from society?
And His last statement for his true value is his home, his love, his fulfillment of his vow is his true duty. Hero's duty is to pursue love.
From:
http://laijonliu.blogspot.com/
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Streaming Wind
From: Book of Ode
Period: Spring and Autumn
Section: Songs of Wei State
(Collected by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu (2007.08.19)
Screaming, screeching, the streaming wind,
It is cloudy, rainy, and gloomy sky.
Husband and wife shall encourage each other,
They should not have any angers and blame.
As if we gather cabbages and radishes,
That we shall not throw away their roots.
Let us not forget our graceful words:
“Be with you together until our death!”
As I walked on my road slowly,
But my feet and heart are in disagreeing.
I do not wish you to go with me for long,
But I never expected you just stopped by the door.
Who said the edible plant is so bitter?
But to me it is sweet as shepherd's purse.
Your new marriage is feasting in happiness,
And you two are so close and brotherly.
River Wei joins into river Jing, defiled her surface,
But the bottom of river Jing is still very clear.
Your new marriage is feasting in happiness,
But please stop saying that I am unclean.
Please do not come to my fishing dam,
Please do not lift up my fishing baskets.
Even you do not respect my faithfulness,
Who would care about my name and family?
Marriage is river where is too deep,
Then we shall cross it in a boat.
Marriage is river where is shallow,
Then we shall swim to across it.
If we really lack or need anything,
Then we shall seek it in strength and heart.
Even our neighbor meet any disaster,
We offer our hands in crawling or running.
If you really do not love me I understand,
But why you look at me as if I’m your enemy.
All my love and grace you never accepted,
As if I’m junk that no one is willing to bid.
Our past life were in suffering of poverty,
We supported each other to overcome all troubles.
Now your life is in a good and easy shape,
But you compare me to a venomous insect.
I am like a preserved dry vegetable you stored,
That just for you to get pass the winter season.
Your new marriage is feasting in happiness,
But please do not use me to prevent poverty,
Please stop venting and ranting at me.
Please do not force me into any heavy labor.
All our past love and goodwill are forgotten,
And your grace and my love are gone and vanished.
Note:
The poet might be a wife who lived with her husband for some difficult and suffering time. And after their life got better, her husband found new love and abandoned her, married a young girl, and despised his old/first wife, and used his wife as his slave or servant or something. I really felt her paining. And I decided not to look or support for polygamy marriage. If I need to battle my wife for whole life, then to death I will fight with or against her like the TV show: “Everybody loves Raymond”. :-)
This poem is for every wife.
From:
http://laijonliu.blogspot.com/2007/08/streaming-wind.html
Shijing I. 1. (4)
In the south are trees with curved drooping branches,
With the doliches creepers clinging to them.
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : –
May she repose in her happiness and dignity !
In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches,
Covered by the dolichos creepers.
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : –
May she be great in her happiness and dignity !
In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches,
Round which the dolichos creepers twine.
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : –
May she be complete in her happiness and dignity !
Legge 4
Shijing I. 1. (5)
Ye locusts, winged tribes,
How harmoniously you collect together !
Right is it that your descendants
Should be multitudinous !
Ye locusts, winged tribes,
How sound your wings in flight !
Right is it that your descendents
Should be as in unbroken strings !
Ye locusts, winged tribes,
How you cluster together !
Right is it that your descendents
Should be in swarms !
Legge 5
Sauterelles ailées, que vous voilà nombreuses !
Puissent vos descendants avoir grandes vertus !
Granet VI.
Shijing I. 1. (6)
The peach tree is young and elegant ;
Brilliant are its flowers.
This young lady is going to her future home,
And will order well her chamber and house.
The peach tree is young and elegant ;
Abundant will be its fruits.
This young lady is going to her future home,
And will order well her chamber and house.
The peach tree is young and elegant ;
Luxuriant are its leaves.
This young lady is going to her future home,
And will order well her family.
Legge 6
Le pêcher, comme il pousse bien !
qu'elles sont nombreuses, ses fleurs !
La fille va se marier :
il faut qu'on soit femme et mari !
Le pêcher, comme il pousse bien !
qu'ils ont d'abondance, ses fruits !
La fille va se marier :
il faut qu'on soit mari et femme !
Le pêcher, comme il pousse bien !
son feuillage, quelle richesse !
La fille va se marier :
il faut que l'on soit un ménage !
Granet I.
Shijing I. 1. (7)
Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets ;
Clang clang go the blows on the pegs.
That stalwart, martial man
Might be shield and wall to his prince.
Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets,
And placed where many ways meet.
That stalwart, martial man
Would be a good companion for his prince.
Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets,
And placed in the midst of the forest.
That stalwart, martial man
Might be head and heart to his prince.
Legge 7
Shijing I. 1. (8)
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we may gather them.
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we have got them.
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we pluck the ears.
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we rub out the seeds.
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we place the seeds in our skirts.
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we tuck out skirts under our girdles.
Legge 8
Cueillons ! cueillons le plantain !
et allons ! recueillons-en !
Cueillons ! cueillons le plantain !
et allons, ramassons-en !
Granet XIX.
Shi Jing 08 Plantains (Chant)
From: Book of Ode
Period: Spring and Autumn
Section: Songs of Zhou State
(Collected by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu (2007.08.20)
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s pick them up.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, We must have them.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s pluck them up.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s rub off their seeds.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s carry them with our skirts.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s bring them back.
Note:
This might be a working chant that song by woman. There is no one really understands why people put this chant into Shi Jing, Odes. And To some “literature masters” that the poem is lack of value to learn or study from, just a labor chant.
1. No one understand why these people feel so happy and eager to pick all the plantains, some Ancient Chinese believed the plantains could cure sterility or prevent premature labor, some said it is source of food. Jeez, no wonder we’ve got a big population! :-) Just joking!
2. No one likes repetitions, especially the literary editors, to them, “same word again?!” it is like the writer is very uneducated and readers would yawn, and get sleepy, so your poetry book won’t sell. Remember, “Writing is about Quality, but Publishing is just about Quantity.” But Thank God that Confucius and some great ancient editors kept this poem in the Book of Odes. Why?
Let’s get start it.
Life is in the process of repetition.
Sun rises and Sun sets and no one seems to get bored of her.
Singer or Rappers:
Yo, Yo, Yo, What’s happening? What’s happened, it will happen again. So what’s happening? Say Hey! Say Hey!…
Sport Fans chants all night long without get tired even just one-line song or the name of their club or country.
And religions chanting sometimes are just one phrase but still make people feel peaceful all night.
And a lady in love would reply: “Yes! Yes! Yes!” to answer her lover’s marriage proposal, and after that she never gets bored to hear her husband telling her “I love You.” And as many times as she wants to hear from him, not as some other repeated words or actions of her husband that she dislikes, or even fakes a headache to get pass it.
One of simple and gracious writing style is perfect repetition of word use to show condition, emotion and passion. Coz good and enjoyable things we never get tired to do it and do it again. And this poem is a great example to inspire a passionate writing.
My samples:
1.
Let’s Kiss
By Laijon Liu (2007.08.20)
O, my sweet babe,
Let me kiss your cheek;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let me kiss your apple-like cheek!
O, my honey pie,
Let me kiss your lips;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let me kiss your rose-like lips!
O, my charming darling,
Let me hold you and kiss;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let me hug your shoulders and kiss!
O, my beautiful lady,
Let us sit here and kiss;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let’s do nothing but kiss!
2.
A beautiful lady is passing by
By Laijon Liu (2007.08.20)
A lovely lady is passing by.
Get her number; get her number;
Hurry, hurry, and hurry up;
Don’t hesitate! Get her number!
A hot lady is passing by.
Ask her out; ask her out;
Quick, quick, don’t be shy!
Stop waiting! Ask her out!
A gorgeous lady is passing by.
Pick her up; pick her up;
Come on; come on;
Go to her, and pick her up!
What a nice lady you’re seeing!
Take her hand. Take her hands!
Be brave; be kind. And be brave!
Stretch your hand, and hold her hand!
What a beautiful lady you’re dating!
Kiss her cheek; kiss her lips.
Be brave; be kind. And be brave!
Stop wondering! Start kissing!
What a great lady you’re marrying!
Be with her; be with her;
Stay with her, walk with her.
Don’t jerk off!* Just please her and love her!
*Does not sound like Mainstream, or replace it with “Don’t be a jerk!”
It can be funny, witted, a little silly, and down-to-earth.:-)
Or other Example:
A good Singer, Akon’s “Sorry, Blame on me” that every repetition shows his emotion and thoughts, thus his song speaks to people’s heart. “I am sorry… I am sorry… Blame on me… Blame on me…”
you asked for a translation in Dutch of the term 'da lu'. I think a proper translation would be 'hoofdstraat'.
Harmen Mesker
I Tjing Centrum Nederland
http://www.i-tjingcentrum.nl
Thanks,
Willem
Shijing I. 1. (9)
In the south rise the trees without branches,
Affording no shelter.
By the Han are girls rambling about,
But it is vain to solicit them.
The breath of the Han
Cannot be dived across ;
The length of the Jiang
Cannot be navigated with a raft.
Many are the bundles of firewood ;
I would cut down the thorns [to form more].
Those girls that are going to their future home, –
I would feed their horses.
The breadth of the Han
Cannot be dived across ;
The length of the Jiang,
Cannot be navigated with a raft.
Many are the bundles of firewood ;
I would cut down the southern wood [to form more].
Those girls that are going to their future home, –
I would feed their colts.
The breadth of the Han
Cannot be dived across ;
The length of the Jiang
Cannot be navigated with a raft.
Legge 9
Vers le Midi sont de grands arbres ;
on ne peut sous eux reposer !
Près de la Han sont promeneuses ;
on ne peut pas les demander !
La Han est tant large rivière,
on ne peut la passer à gué !
Le Kiang est tant immense fleuve,
on ne peut en barque y voguer !
Tout au sommet de la broussaille,
j'en voudrais cueillir les rameaux !
Cette fille qui se marie,
j'en voudrais nourrir les chevaux !
La Han est...
Tout au sommet de la broussaille,
j'en voudrais cueillir les armoises !
Cette fille qui se marie
j'en voudrais nourrir les poulains !
Granet XLVI.
Shijing I. 1. (10)
Along those raised banks of the Ru,
I cut down the branches and slender stems.
While I could not see my lord,
I felt as it were pangs of great hunger.
Along those raised banks of the Ru,
I cut down the branches and fresh twigs.
I have seen my lord ;
He has not cast me away.
The bream is showing its tail all red ;
The royal House is like a blazing fire.
Though it be like a blazing fire,
Your parents are very near.
Legge 10
Le long des berges de la Jou
je coupe rameaux et broussailles !
Tant que je n'ai vu mon seigneur,
mon angoisse est comme la faim du matin !
Granet XLVII.
Shijing I. 1. (11)
The feet of the Lin : –
The noble sons of our prince,
Ah ! they are the Lin !
The forehead of the Lin : –
The noble grandsons of our prince,
Ah ! they are the Lin !
The horn of the Lin : –
The noble kindred of our prince,
Ah ! they are the Lin !
Legge 11
And pile the wood on the bank,
By the waters clear and rippling.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred sheaves of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see badgers hanging in their courtyards?
Ah,those lords
They do not need to work for their food!
Chop, chop, we cut wood for wheel-spokes
And pile it on the shore,
By the waters clear and flowing.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred stacks of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see bulls hanging in their courtyards?
Ah, those lords
They do not need to work to eat!
Chop, chop, we cut hard wood for wheels
And pile it at the river's brink,
By the waters clear and dimpling.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred ricks of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see quails hanging in their courtyards?
Ah, those lords
They do not have to work to live!
The Book of Odes – Shi Jing I. 1. – Chinese off/on – Français/English
Alias Shijing, Shi Jing, Book of Odes, Book of Songs, Classic of Odes, Classic of
Poetry, Livre des Odes, Canon des Poèmes.
The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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