Shi Jing, The Book of Odes: Lessons from the states, Odes Of Bei

[x_los]

This is a longer chapter than the previous two, and people are still catching up with the last two chapters/acclimating to the format. Thus we'll only do one chapter this week.

I'm going to post this week's poem translations in the body of the discussion to make commenting a bit easier. 

Get your 'odes of bae' jokes out early, before the rush.

Comments

28. 燕燕 - Yan Yan

[x_los]

燕燕于飛、差池其羽。
之子于歸、遠送于野。
瞻望弗及、泣涕如雨。

The swallows go flying about,
With their wings unevenly displayed.
The lady was returning [to her native state],
And I escorted her far into the country.
I looked till I could no longer see her,
And my tears fell down like rain.

燕燕于飛、頡之頏之。
之子于歸、遠于將之。
瞻望弗及、佇立以泣。

The swallows go flying about,
Now up, now down.
The lady was returning [to her native state],
And far did I accompany her.
I looked till I could no longer see her,
And long I stood and wept.

燕燕于飛、下上其音。
之子于歸、遠送于南。
瞻望弗及、實勞我心。

The swallows go flying about;
From below, from above, comes their twittering.
The lady was returning [to her native state],
And far did I escort her to the south.
I looked till I could no longer see her,
And great was the grief of my heart.

仲氏任只、其心塞淵。
終溫且惠、淑慎其身。
先君之思、以勗寡人。

Lovingly confiding was lady Zhong;
Truly deep was her feeling.
Both gentle was she and docile,
Virtuously careful of her person.
In thinking of our deceased lord,
She stimulated worthless me.

Re: 28. 燕燕 - Yan Yan

[superborb]

Why are all these poems sad ones qq

Baidu says: 仲 (which Legge translates to the name Zhong) refers to someone who is the 2nd son or daughter, so I question this translation lol. There are a couple theories on who wrote it -- baidu says there is consensus but then lists alternatives.

Re: 28. 燕燕 - Yan Yan

[forestofglory]

I'm finding your notes on this super helpful!

Re: 28. 燕燕 - Yan Yan

[x_los]

Yeah, ty for trawling Baidu for us!

So this is a friend or retainer of the deceased husband, sending the widow back home to her family, either moved to sorrow over the death itself or to affection for the widow by virtue of her grief?

Re: 28. 燕燕 - Yan Yan

[superborb]

Baidu says the history for this: 关于这首诗具体的创作背景，《毛诗序》记载是“《燕燕》，卫庄姜送归妾也。”这个说法为多数解诗者所采信。据《左传·隐公》三及四年的纪事，卫庄公夫人庄姜无子，以庄公妾陈女戴妫之子完为己子。庄公死，完即位，为州吁所杀。戴妫以子被杀归陈，此是大归，即归而不再回卫，庄姜相送而作此诗。《诗三家义集疏》引《鲁诗》说此诗写卫定公的夫人定姜的事。定姜的儿子去世，儿媳没有子女，服丧三年后，定姜把她送回娘家。临别挥泪垂涕，写了这首诗。另有说法认为此诗写卫国国君送其二妹远嫁。
[Terrible translation]
With regard to this poem's concrete background, [this source] says Wei [state] Zhuang Jiang sent his concubine home [to her natal family]. Most analysts agree with this statement. [This other source] says Wei [state] Zhuang gong's wife Zhuang Jiang had no son, but Zhuang gong's concubine Chen Nv had a son, Dai Gui, who was her son [children of the concubines called the main wife their mother]. Zhuang gong died, he took the throne, but was killed by Zhou Yu. Dai Gui and his son were killed and given to Chen, never to return to Wei. [Yet another source] says this is about Wei [state] Ding gong's Ding Jiang. Ding Jiang's son passed away, and her daughter in law had no issue. After mourning for three years, Ding Jiang sent her away to her natal home. Facing separation, amid tears, he wrote this poem. A final source says that this is the monarch of Wei sending his second sister to a faraway marriage.


So I think it's implied to be sorrow over the widow going away forever??