Chinese Classical Poetry: Selections from the Shijing (Book of Songs)

Translation

Featured in New Lyre - Winter 2021

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Chinese Classical Poetry 

The Shijing or Shi Jing (“Book of Songs” or “Book of Odes”) is the oldest Chinese poetry collection, with the poems included believed to date from around 1200 BC to 600 BC. According to tradition the poems were selected and edited by Confucius himself. Since most ancient poetry did not rhyme, these may be the world’s oldest extant rhyming poems. 

Shijing Ode #4: “Jiu Mu” 
ancient Chinese rhyming poem circa (1200 BC - 600 BC) 

In the South, beneath trees with drooping branches 
thick with vines that make them shady, 
we find our lovely princely lady: 
May she repose in happiness! 

In the South, beneath trees with drooping branches 
whose clinging vines make hot days shady, 
we wish love’s embrace for our lovely lady: 
May she repose in happiness! 

In the South, beneath trees with drooping branches 
whose vines, entwining, make them shady, 
we wish true love for our lovely lady: 
May she repose in happiness!  

loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch 

Shijing Ode #9: “Han Guang” 
ancient Chinese rhyming poem circa (1200 BC - 600 BC) 

In the South tall trees without branches 
offer men no shelter. 
By the Han the girls loiter, 
but it’s vain to entice them. 
For the breadth of the Han 
cannot be swum 
and the length of the Jiang 
requires more than a raft.