Shi Jing, The Book of Odes: Lessons from the States, Odes Of Zheng

[x_los]

Back after the Christmas/New Year break! I'd really like to get through the Book of Odes in the next months, so we can enter into our next Tang or Song offering. I'll try to be more regulated in the poem posts accordingly. 

Some notes:

* Every week I search the poems' English results to see if I can find any scholarship or neat bits and pop the results in Resources. Here is this week's collection.

* I believe the reminder emails have stopped, so I'll seek a new service to run that. 

When the second batch of these is up and running, if you would like not to be on the list and there isn't an unsubscribe option in the email itself, please just respond 'unsubscribe' or something and I'll take you off the reminder roster.

* IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO MIGHT LIKE TO JOIN or have other ideas, please let me know on this post.

* If you haven't read it yet, chapter one, on tetrasyllabic shi poetry, in How to Read Chinese Poetry is hugely useful for the Book of Odes, imo.

**NEXT BATCH FEB 1.**

Comments

75. 緇衣 - Zi Yi

[x_los]

緇衣之宜兮、敝、予又改為兮。
適子之館兮、還、予授子之粲兮。

How well do the black robes befit you!
When worn out, we will make others for you.
We will go to your court,
And when we return [from it], we will send you a feast!

緇衣之好兮、敝、予又改造兮。
適子之館兮、還、予授子之粲兮。

How good on you are the black robes!
When worn out, we will make others for you.
We will go to your court,
And when we return [from it], we will send you a feast!

緇衣之蓆兮、敝、予又改作兮。
適子之館兮、還、予授子之粲兮。

How easy sit the black robes on you!
When worn out, we will make others for you.
We will go to your court,
And when we return [from it], we will send you a feast!

Re: 75. 緇衣 - Zi Yi

[x_los]

So like, is this court imperial (or sub-imperial) court, or court courtyard? Why are you going, coming back, and then SENDING back some food? This is some weird party planning.

76. 將仲子 - Jiang Zhong Zi

[x_los]

將仲子兮、無踰我里、無折我樹杞。
豈敢愛之、畏我父母。
仲可懷也、父母之言、亦可畏也。

I pray you, Mr. Zhong,
Do not come leaping into my hamlet;
Do not break my willow trees.
Do I care for them?
But I fear my parents.
You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
But the words of my parents,
Are also to be feared.

將仲子兮、無踰我墻、無折我樹桑。
豈敢愛之、畏我諸兄。
仲可懷也、諸兄之言、亦可畏也。

I pray you, Mr. Zhong,
Do not come leaping over my wall;
Do not break my mulberry trees.
Do I care for them?
But I fear the words of my brothers.
You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
But the words of my brothers,
Are also to be feared.

將仲子兮、無踰我園、無折我樹檀。
豈敢愛之、畏人之多言。
仲可懷也、人之多言、亦可畏也。

I pray you, Mr. Zhong,
Do not come leaping into my garden;
Do not break my sandal trees.
Do I care for them?
But I dread the talk of people.
You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
But the talk of people,
Is also to be feared.

Re: 76. 將仲子 - Jiang Zhong Zi

[(Anonymous)]

actually p sure the poet is in fact desperate for Mr. 仲 to come leaping and crashing into zer little walled grove like the damn Kool-Aid Man

Re: 76. 將仲子 - Jiang Zhong Zi

[douqi]

(cn: sexual assault reference)

This is referenced in the title to Chapter 13 of Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, 不悔仲子踰我墻 (literally: I do not regret that Mr Zhong leapt over my wall). I really hate the context in which the reference occurs, but here goes.

The chapter tells the backstory of Ji Xiaofui, a disciple of the Emei sect. She is stalked by Yang Xiao, a senior member of the Ming Cult, is abducted by him, held prisoner, and sexually assaulted. Somehow this causes her to fall in love with him enough that she names their daughter 不悔 (no regrets).

This is doubly disturbing because the poem itself seems to be from the perspective of a woman who wants to meet with her lover but is afraid of what her family and neighbours might say. Old Master Jin really needed more than a few things drummed into his head about consent.

77. 叔于田 - Shu Yu Tian

[x_los]

叔于田、巷無居人。
豈無居人、不如叔也、洵美且仁。

Shu has gone hunting;
And in the streets there are no inhabitants.
Are there indeed no inhabitants?
[But] they are not like Shu,
Who is truly admirable and kind.

叔于狩、巷無飲酒。
豈無飲酒、不如叔也、洵美且好。

Shu has gone to the grand chase;
And in the streets there are none feasting.
Are there indeed none feasting?
[But] they are not like Shu,
Who is truly admirable and good.

叔適野、巷無服馬。
豈無服馬、不如叔也、洵美且武。

Shu has gone into the country;
And in the streets there are none driving about.
Are there indeed none driving about?
[But] they are not like Shu,
Who is truly admirable and martial.

Re: 77. 叔于田 - Shu Yu Tian

[x_los]

So I guess other people are staying home and shit and not getting out there, experiencing country lyfe like Shu, who has a Joules gilet and everything.

78. 大叔于田 - Da Shu Yu Tian

[x_los]

叔于田、乘乘馬、執轡如組、兩驂如舞。
叔在藪、火烈具舉。
襢裼暴虎、獻于公所。
將叔無狃、戒其傷女。

Shu has gone hunting,
Mounted in his chariot and four.
The reins are in his grasp like ribbons,
While the two outside horses move [with regular steps], as dancers do.
Shu is at the marshy ground; -
The fire flames out all at once,
And with bared arms he seizes a tiger,
And presents it before the duke.
O Shu, try not [such sport] again;
Beware of getting hurt.

叔于田、乘乘黃、兩服上襄、兩驂雁行。
叔在藪、火烈具揚。
叔善射忌、又良御忌、抑磬控忌、抑縱送忌。

Shu has gone hunting,
Mounted in his chariot with four bay horses.
The two insides are the finest possible animals,
And the two outsides follow them regularly as in a flying flock of wild geese.
Shu is at the marshy ground; -
The fire blazes up all at once,
A skillful archer is Shu!
A good charioteer also!
Now he gives his horse the reins; now he brings them up;
Now he discharges his arrows; now he follows it.

叔于田、乘乘鴇、兩服齊首、兩驂如手。
叔在藪、火烈具阜。
叔馬慢忌、叔發罕忌、抑釋掤忌、抑鬯弓忌。

Shu has gone hunting,
Mounted in his chariot with four grey horses.
His two insides have their heads in a line,
And the two outsides come after like arms.
Shu is at the marsh; -
The fire spreads grandly all together.
His horses move slowly;
He shoots but seldom;
Now he lays aside his quiver;
Now he returns his bows to his case.

Re: 78. 大叔于田 - Da Shu Yu Tian

[aeriallon]

Is this Da Shu Yu Tian like, Da-ge? His subject matter (Shu) is certainly much like Shu Yu Tian's. Being all about how Shu is admirable and martial, but in more detail. He is one with the tao.

79. 清人 - Qing Ren

[x_los]

清人在彭、駟介旁旁、二矛重英、河上乎翱翔。

The men of Qing are in Peng;
The chariot with its team in mail ever moves about;
The two spears in it, with their ornaments, rising, one above the other.
So do they roam about the He.

清人在消、駟介麃麃、二矛重喬、河上乎逍遙。

The men of Qing are in Xiao;
The chariot with its team in mail looks martial;
And the two spears in it, with their hooks, rise one above the other.
So do they saunter about by the He.

清人在軸、駟介陶陶、左旋右抽、中軍作好。

The men of Qing are in Zhou;
The mailed team of the chariot prance proudly.
[The driver] on the left wheels it about, and [the spearman] on the right brandishes his weapon,
While the general in the middle looks pleased.

Re: 79. 清人 - Qing Ren

[x_los]

Ok so what are then men of Qing in running around these places doing? Defending, invading, training, just looking fly?

80. 羔裘 - Gao Qiu

[x_los]

羔裘如濡、洵直且侯。
彼其之子、舍命不渝。

His lambs's fur is glossy,
Truly smooth and beautiful.
That officer,
Rests in his lot and will not change.

羔裘豹飾、孔武有力。
彼其之子、邦之司直。

His lambs's fur, with its cuffs of leopard-skin.
Looks grandly martial and strong.
That officer,
In the country will ever hold to the right.

羔裘晏兮、三英粲兮。
彼其之子、邦之彥兮。

How splendid is his lamb's fur!
How bright are its three ornaments!
That officer,
Is the ornament of the country.

Re: 80. 羔裘 - Gao Qiu

[x_los]

So this guy's good at his job, not overly ambitious, not a fuckboi. Is the lamb's fur, with its various embellishments, his uniform?

81. 遵大路 - Zun Da Lu

[x_los]

遵大路兮、摻執子之袪兮。
無我惡兮、不寁故也。

Along the highway,
I hold you by the cuff.
Do not hate me; -
Old intercourse should not be suddenly broken off.

遵大路兮、摻執子之手兮。
無我魗兮、不寁好也。

Along the highway,
I hold you by the hand.
Do not think me vile; -
Old friendship should not hastily be broken off.

Re: 81. 遵大路 - Zun Da Lu

[aeriallon]

I've been in my feelings about this one for hours now—

82. 女曰雞鳴 - Nu Yue Ji Ming

[x_los]

女曰雞鳴、士曰昧旦。
子興視夜、明星有爛。
將翱將翔、弋鳧與鴈。

Says the wife, ' It is cock-crow; '
Says the husband, ' It is grey dawn. '
' Rise, Sir, and look at the night, - '
If the morning star be not shining.
Bestir yourself, and move about,
To shoot the wild ducks and geese.

弋言加之、與子宜之。
宜言飲酒、與子偕老。
琴瑟在御、莫不靜好。

When your arrows and line have found them,
I will dress them fitly for you.
When they are dressed, we will drink [together over them],
And I will hope to grow old with you.
Your lute in your hands,
Will emits its quiet pleasant tones.

知子之來之、雜佩以贈之。
知子之順之、雜佩以問之。
知子之好之、雜佩以報之。

When I know those whose acquaintance you wish,
I will give them of the ornaments of my girdle.
When I know those with whom you are cordial,
I will send to them of the ornaments of my girdle.
When I know those whom you love,
I will repay their friendship from the ornaments of my girdle.

Re: 82. 女曰雞鳴 - Nu Yue Ji Ming

[x_los]

"Says the wife, ' It is cock-crow; '
Says the husband, ' It is grey dawn. '"

Reminiscent of the Romeo and Juliet morning scene. Also interesting that we're getting that agricultural sense of time, with its arguable but material, sometimes important distinctions between stages of the dawn.

'If the morning star be not shining.' what does this matter?

And I will hope to grow old with you. niceee

'ornaments of my girdle' so what's the significance of these? Is it jade? I feel like we were talking about some ornaments like these a couple books ago.

so is this like a crane wife kinda thing, where she's vowing to do him BIG favours/acts of service out of love? Pulling-feathers-from-my-own-breast energy?

83. 有女同車 - You Nu Tong Che

[x_los]

有女同車、顏如舜華。
將翱將翔、佩玉瓊琚。
彼美孟姜、洵美且都。

There is the lady in the carriage [with him],
With the countenance like the flower of the ephermeral hedge-tree.
As they move about,
The beautiful Ju-gems of her girdle-pendant appear.
That beautiful eldest Jiang,
Is truly admirable and elegant.

有女同行、顏如舜英。
將翱將翔、佩玉將將。
彼美孟姜、德音不忘。

There is the young lady walking [with him],
With a countenance like the ephermeral blossoms of the hedge-tree.
As they move about,
The gems of her girdle-pendant tinkle.
Of that beautiful eldest Jiang,
The virtuous fame is not to be forgotten.

Re: 83. 有女同車 - You Nu Tong Che

[x_los]

countenance like the flower of the ephemeral hedge-tree

A friend for Congealed Fat Face.

That beautiful eldest Jiang,
Is truly admirable and elegant.

Ah shit, sorry Yanli, my bad.

84. 山有扶蘇 - Shan You Fu Su

[x_los]

山有扶蘇、隰有荷華。
不見子都、乃見狂且。

On the mountain is the mulberry tree;
In the marshes is the lotus flower.
I do not see Zidu,
But I see this mad fellow.

山有橋松、隰有游龍。
不見子充、乃見狡童。

On the mountain is the lofty pine;
In the marshes is the spreading water-polygonum..
I do not see Zichong,
But I see this artful boy.

Re: 84. 山有扶蘇 - Shan You Fu Su

[x_los]

Who are Zidu and Zichong, when they're at home?

water-polygonum: could be https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persicaria_amphibia or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persicaria_hydropiper

Are mountains and watery lowlands often poetically paired as complimentary opposites like this?

85. 蘀兮 - Tuo Xi

[x_los]

蘀兮蘀兮、風其吹女。
叔兮伯兮、倡予和女。

Ye withered leaves! Ye withered leaves!
How the wind is blowing you away!
O ye uncles,
Give us the first note, and we will join in with you.

蘀兮蘀兮、風其漂女。
叔兮伯兮、倡予要女。

Ye withered leaves! Ye withered leaves!
How the wind is carrying you away!
O ye uncles,
Give us the first note, and we will complete [the song].

Re: 85. 蘀兮 - Tuo Xi

[x_los]

I see we're just making fun of old dudes, now.

86. 狡童 - Jiao Tong

[x_los]

彼狡童兮、不與我言兮。
維子之故、使我不能餐兮。

That artful boy!
He will not speak with me!
But for the sake of you, Sir,
Shall I make myself unable to eat?

彼狡童兮、不與我食兮。
維子之故、使我不能息兮。

That artful boy!
He will not eat with me!
But for the sake of you, Sir,
Shall I make myself unable to rest?

Re: 86. 狡童 - Jiao Tong

[x_los]

Nah, girl, fuck him. Sleep hygiene is important.

87. 褰裳 - Qian Chang

[x_los]

子惠思我、褰裳涉溱。
子不我思、豈無他人。
狂童之狂也且。

If you, Sir, think kindly of me,
I will hold up my lower garments, and cross the Zhen.
If you do not think of me,
Is there no other person [to do so]?
You, foolish, foolish fellow!

子惠思我、褰裳涉洧。
子不我思、豈無他士。
狂童之狂也且。

If you, Sir, think kindly of me,
I will hold up my lower garments, and cross the Wei.
If you do not think of me,
Is there no other gentleman [to do so]?
You, foolish, foolish fellow!

Re: 87. 褰裳 - Qian Chang

[x_los]

so is our jist here, 'if you love me I'll do a LOT for you/if you don't--isn't there someone who loves me?/christ, you're an asshole'?

88. 丰 - Feng

[x_los]

子之丰兮、俟我乎巷兮。
悔予不送兮。

Full and good looking was the gentleman,
Who waited for me in the lane!
I repent that I did not go with him.

子之昌兮、俟我乎堂兮。
悔予不將兮。

A splendid gentleman was he,
Who waited for me in the hall!
I regret that I did not accompany him.

衣錦褧衣、裳錦褧裳。
叔兮伯兮、駕予與行。

Over my embroidered upper robe, I have put on a [plain] single garment;
Over my embroidered lower robe, I have done the same.
O Sir, O Sir,
Have your carriage ready for me to go with you.

裳錦褧裳、衣錦褧衣。
叔兮伯兮、駕予與歸。

Over my embroidered lower robe, I have put on a [plain] single garment;
Over my embroidered upper robe, I have done the same.
O Sir, O Sir,
Have your carriage ready to take me home with you.

Re: 88. 丰 - Feng

[x_los]

'I did not fuck around--frankly, a mistake, on my part.'

Just guessing but: this whole poem is just a list of guys she didn't hook up with where she's like and to be HONEST, I could have gotten laid. what was I thinking?

So what's the structural end turn doing?

89. 東門之墠 - Dong Men Zhi Shan

[x_los]

東門之墠、茹藘在阪。
其室則邇、其人甚遠。

Near the level ground at the east gate,
Is the madder plant on the bank.
The house is near there,
But the man is very far away.

東門之栗、有踐家室。
豈不爾思、子不我即。

By the chestnut trees at the east gate,
Is a row of houses.
Do I not think of you?
But you do not come to me.

Re: 89. 東門之墠 - Dong Men Zhi Shan

[x_los]

Evocative, but I'm not sure how the xing is supposed to inflect the turn?

90. 風雨 - Feng Yu

[x_los]

風雨淒淒、雞鳴喈喈。
既見君子、云胡不夷。

Cold are the wind and the rain,
And shrilly crows the cock.
But I have seen my husband,
And should I but feel at rest?

風雨瀟瀟、雞鳴膠膠。
既見君子、云胡不瘳。

The wind whistles and the rain patters,
While loudly crows the cock.
But I have seen my husband,
And could my ailment but be cured?

風雨如晦、雞鳴不已。
既見君子、云胡不喜。

Through the wind and rain all looks dark,
And the cock crows without ceasing.
But I have seen my husband,
And how should I not rejoice?

Re: 90. 風雨 - Feng Yu

[x_los]

The kind of tortured phrasing of the rhetorical questions makes me feel like she supposes herself obligated to be relieved and content, but isn't actually.

91. 子衿 - Zi Jin

[x_los]

青青子衿、悠悠我心。
縱我不往、子寧不嗣音。

O you, with the blue collar,
Prolonged is the anxiety of my heart.
Although I do not go [to you],
Why do you not continue your messages [to me]?

青青子佩、悠悠我思。
縱我不往、子寧不來。

O you with the blue [strings to your] girdle-gems,
Long, long do I think of you.
Although I do not go [to you],
Why do you not come [to me]?

挑兮達兮、在城闕兮。
一日不見、如三月兮。

How volatile are you and dissipated,
By the look-out tower on the wall!
One day without the sight of you,
Is like three months.

Re: 91. 子衿 - Zi Jin

[x_los]

Is the blue at all significant?

Sometimes the speakers in these are presumed to switch, and I wonder whether stanza 3's speaker is the same as 1&2?

(v fic useful, on accident)

92. 揚之水 - Yang Zhi Shui

[x_los]

揚之水、不流束楚。
終鮮兄弟、維予與女。
無信人之言、人實迋女。

The fretted waters,
Do not carry on their current a bundle of thorns.
Few are our brethren;
There are only I and you.
Do not believe what people say;
They are deceiving you.

揚之水、不流束薪。
終鮮兄弟、維予二人。
無信人之言、人實不信。

The fretted waters,
Do not carry on their current a bundle of firewood.
Few are our brethren;
There are only we two.
Do not believe what people say;
They are not to be trusted.

Re: 92. 揚之水 - Yang Zhi Shui

[aeriallon]

(if i may briefly fangirl for a bare instant this is the most jin guangyao poem ever)

93. 出其東門 - Chu Qi Dong Men

[x_los]

出其東門、有女如雲。
雖則如雲、匪我思存。
縞衣綦巾、聊樂我員。

I went out at the east gate,
Where the girls were in clouds.
Although they are like clouds,
It is not on them that my thoughts rest.
She in the thin white silk, and the grey coiffure, -
She is my joy!

出其闉闍、有女如荼。
雖則如荼、匪我思且。
縞衣茹藘、聊可與娛。

I went out by the tower on the covering wall,
Where the girls were like flowering rushes.
Although they are like flowering rushes,
It is not of them that I think.
She in the thin white silk, and the madder-[dyed coiffure], -
It is she that makes me happy!

Re: 93. 出其東門 - Chu Qi Dong Men

[aeriallon]

Madder, it turns out, is kind of a salmon-coral-scarlet, depending on what you mix with it as a mordant. This one's got me in my lesbian feelings as well—

94. 野有蔓草 - Ye You Man Cao

[x_los]

野有蔓草、零露漙兮。
有美一人、清揚婉兮。
邂逅相遇、適我願兮。

On the moor is the creeping grass,
And how heavily is it loaded with dew!
There was a beautiful man,
Lovely, with clear eyes and fine forehead!
We met together accidentally,
And so my desire was satisfied.

野有蔓草、零露瀼瀼。
有美一人、婉如清揚。
邂逅相遇、與子偕臧。

On the moor is the creeping grass,
Heavily covered with dew!
There was a beautiful man,
Lovely, with clear eyes and fine forehead!
We met together accidentally,
And he and I were happy together.

Re: 94. 野有蔓草 - Ye You Man Cao

[x_los]

Meet cute? Assignation?

95. 溱洧 - Zhen Wei

[x_los]

溱與洧、方渙渙兮。
士與女、方秉蕑兮。
女曰觀乎。
士曰既且。
且往觀乎。
洧之外、洵訏且樂。
維士與女、伊其相謔、贈之以勺藥。

The Zhen and Wei,
Now present their broad sheets of water.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Are carrying flowers of valerian.
A lady says, ' Have you been to see? '
A gentleman replies, ' I have been. '
' But let us go again to see.
Beyond the Wei,
The ground is large and fit for pleasure. '
So the gentlemen and ladies.
Make sport together,
Presenting one another with small peonies.

溱與洧、瀏其清矣。
士與女、殷其盈兮。
女曰觀乎。
士曰既且。
且往觀乎。
洧之外、洵訏且樂。
維士與女、伊其將謔、贈之以勺藥。

The Zhen and Wei,
Show their deep, clear streams.
Gentlemen and ladies,
Appear in crowds.
A lady says, ' Have you been to see? '
A gentleman replies, ' I have been. '
' But let us go again to see.
Beyond the Wei,
The ground is large and fit for pleasure. '
So the gentlemen and ladies.
Make sport together,
Presenting one another with small peonies.

Re: 95. 溱洧 - Zhen Wei

[x_los]

so this is interesting for Nerd Reasons bc there's significant peony presentation in MDZS (tho not CQL), and the structure of this indicates it's:

1. a whole thing,
2. potentially gendered.

So do we know more about this?