The Online Library of Liberty

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• Introduction to the Shi King. *
• Part I.: Characteristics of the States.
• Book I.: The Odes of Chow and the South. *
• Book II.: The Odes of ShÂu and the South. *
• Book III.: The Odes of P‘ei.
• Book IV.: The Odes of Yung. *
• Book V.: The Odes of Wei.
• Book VI.: The Odes of the Royal Domain. *
• Book VII.: The Odes of Ch‘ing. *
• Book VIII.: The Odes of Ts‘i. *
• Book IX.: The Odes of Wei. *
• Book X.: The Odes of T‘ang. *
• Book XI.: The Odes of Ts‘in. *
• Book XII.: The Odes of Ch‘in. *
• Book XIII.: The Odes of Kwai. *
• Book XIV.: The Odes of Ts‘Âu. *
• Book XV.: The Odes of Pin. *
• Part II.: The Minor Festal Odes.
• Book I.
• Book II.
• Book III.
• Book IV.
• Book V.
• Book VI.
• Book VII.
• Book VIII.
• Part III.: The Greater Festal Odes.
• Book I.: The “wĂn Wong” Decade. *
• Book II.: The “shang Min” Decade.
• Book III.: The “tang” Decade.
• Part IV.: Festal Hymns and Songs.
• Book I.: The Hymns of Chow. * First Section.
• Book II.: The Hymns of Chow. Second Section.
• Book III.: The Hymns of Chow. Third Section.
• Book IV.: The Festal Songs of Lu. *
• Book V.: The Festal Odes of Shang.

BOOK III.

II. iii. 1.

ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE VERMILION BOW.*

• • Vermilion bows, unbent as yet,
  • Were left me,† and apart I stored them.
  • Now have I here distinguished guests,
  • To whom I cordially award them.
  • And ready be the drum and gong!‡
  • We’ll feast them well the whole morn long.
• • Vermilion bows, unbent as yet,
  • Were left me, and on frames I strung them.
  • Now have I here distinguished guests;
  • Right proud am I to be among them.
  • Then ready be the drum and gong!
  • We’ll honour them the whole morn long.
• • Vermilion bows, unbent, have I,
  • And had them cased for their protection.
  • Now have I here distinguished guests,
  • And such as win my true affection.
  • Then ready be the drum and gong!
  • We’ll drink to them the whole morn long.

II. iii. 2.

JOYOUS GREETING OF A GOOD KING.*

• • Brightly the aster flowers† unfold
  • There midway on the height.
  • Our eyes our Ruler now behold:
  • Hail him with festal rite.‡
• • Brightly the aster flowers unfold
  • There midway on the isle.
  • Our eyes our Ruler now behold;
  • Our hearts rejoice the while.
• • Brightly the aster flowers unfold
  • There midway on the mound.
  • Our eyes our Ruler now behold;
  • And gifts he scatters round.§
• • Ah, boat of willow-wood, impelled∥
  • By waves—o’er trough and crest!
  • Our eyes our Ruler have beheld;
  • Our hearts are now at rest.

II. iii. 3.

KI-FU’S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE WILD NORTHERN TRIBES.*

• • ’Twas the sixth month. In hurry and flurry
  • Chariots of war were equipped for the road;
  • Quadruple teams were dancing and prancing;
  • Baggage and arms in waggons were stowed.
  • Fiercely the HÎn-Yuns raged and blustered,
  • So was there need of the utmost haste.
  • Forth must we march at the royal bidding,
  • Royal dominions to save from waste.
• • Evenly matched were the dusky coursers,
  • Patterns of training each team of four.
  • While the sixth month was yet unended
  • Ready were all our trappings of war.
  • Trappings of war were all completed;
  • Stages were fixed at miles eleven;†
  • Forth then we marched at the royal bidding,
  • Forth to the aid of the Son of Heaven.
• • Fine, strong males were the teams of chargers,
  • Bearing their heads right loftily.
  • At the HÎu-Yuns we dashed, and smote them,
  • Bent on a brilliant victory.
  • Sternly, steadily moved our battalions;
  • Soldierly service we rendered then;
  • Soldierly service we rendered, bringing
  • Peace to the royal domains again.
• • Ah, the HÎn-Yuns showed scant discernment,
  • Making in Tsiâu and in Hwo so free,
  • Pushing to Hau and to Fang their encroachments,—
  • North of the King eventually.
  • (Now came) our banners with birds emblazoned,
  • And the white pennons in proud display,—
  • Ten of the largest fighting chariots
  • Going in front to clear the way.
• • Steady and sure proved the fighting chariots,
  • Well were they balanced, before and aft;
  • Strong were the teams of colts that drew them,
  • Strong, and rare proofs of the trainer’s craft.
  • At the HÎn-Yuns we dashed, and smote them,
  • Far as T‘ai-yün we stayed not our hand.
  • Ki-fu (our leader) in peace or in war-time
  • Stands out a pattern for every land.
• • Now at the feast Ki-fu makes merry,
  • Great is the joy befalls him now.
  • Long was our march, aye long and tedious,
  • Homewards coming again from Hau.
  • Wine and good cheer he gives to his comrades,—
  • Slices of carp, roast turtle too;
  • Aye, and who takes his place beside them?
  • Chang-Chung* the Filial and the True!

II. iii. 4.

FANG-SHŬ’S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE MÂN-KING.*

• • O they bade us gather forage,—†
  • There on lands of tillage new,
  • Here on plats of one year’s clearing,—
  • For upon us came Fang-Shŭ!
  • He had chariots, full three thousand,
  • And of guards a well-tried band;
  • And he rode along before them
  • With his piebalds four in hand,
  • With his piebalds sure and steady,
  • In his red grand car of state,
  • With his screen, his fish-skin quivers,
  • And his dangling reins and gear ornate.‡
• • O they bade us gather forage,—
  • There on fields of tillage new,
  • Here amid the village farmsteads,—
  • For upon us came Fang-Shŭ,
  • With his chariots full three thousand
  • Waving flags,—he in the van.
  • And his car had hide-bound§ axles,
  • And, in front, the gilded span,∥
  • And the eight bells making music.
  • His high uniform he wore,
  • And the stately scarlet apron,
  • And the green gem tinkling down before.
• • Swift as darts the glede kite yonder,
  • Soaring up into the blue,
  • Settling down anon and resting,
  • So upon us came Fang-Shŭ.
  • With his chariots full three thousand,
  • With his guards, the well-tried band.
  • These he led; and now his cymbals,
  • Now his drums, spoke his command,
  • Ranged his hosts, wheeled his battalions:—
  • Trusty and renowned Fang-Shŭ!
  • Gravely boomed his drums (to battle),
  • Gaily sounded they as all withdrew.
• • Ah, ye Southerners* are dullards
  • Our great country to oppose!
  • With great age Fang-Shŭ is weighted,
  • Yet rare strategy he shows.
  • With his men he seized the Chieftains,†
  • And brought off a captive crowd;
  • Onward rolled his war-cars, swarming,
  • Swarming, overwhelming, loud
  • As the crash and din of thunder:—
  • Trusty and renowned Fang-Shŭ!
  • Once he went HÎn-Yuns to punish,
  • Now he makes these tribes come trembling too.

II. iii. 5.

GRAND ROYAL HUNT GIVEN IN HONOUR OF THE FEUDAL-LORDS WHEN AT COURT.

• • Our cars are stoutly made and manned,
  • In equal drafts the horses stand
  • In teams of four, superb and grand:—
  • Then Eastward ho! there lies the land.
• • Trim are the hunting-cars, and sound,
  • Right sturdy teams for each are found.
  • Fine covers in the East abound:—
  • Away! there lies our hunting-ground.
• • The masters of the chase appear,
  • Tell off their men, give orders clear,
  • The banners fix, the “oxtails” rear:—
  • At Ngâu, (quotha), we’ll have the deer.*
• • Ho now the teams are on the way,
  • Four after four in long array!
  • Gilt shoes, red aprons,—what display!
  • The pageant of an audience-day!
• • Gantlet and thumb-ring† we attach,
  • And to the bows the arrows match;
  • Each bowman has the same despatch;
  • Each adds to our great pile his batch.
• • The teams of bays are now inspanned;
  • The off-steeds well are kept in hand,
  • Nor e’er their rapid pace relax.
  • Each shaft goes hurtling like an axe!
• • And now what noise of neighing steeds,
  • As the long bannered train recedes!
  • Runners and drivers made no scare,
  • So yields the Larder each a share.*
• • And they who led the chase to-day
  • Great praise have won, without display.
  • Ay, lordly men indeed are they;—
  • Of skill comsummate, sooth to say!

II. iii. 6.

ROYAL HUNT, WITH GUESTS AND FRIENDS.

• • There is luck in the day with the fives† in the date,
  • And our prayers we have made at the shrine,‡
  • And the cars for the hunt are in excellent state,
  • And the teams look colossal and fine.
  • The lofty hill yonder we’ll breast,
  • And chase the wild herds on its crest.
• • There is luck in the day with the sevens§ in the date;
  • We have chosen and drafted our nags;
  • And now where is the spot where the herds congregate,
  • And the haunt of the does and the stags?
  • Where the T‘sĭ and the T‘siü streams flow—
  • It is there Heaven’s Son must go.
• • Look you there, in the midst of the upland plain,
  • How the creatures are herding in troops!
  • Now they scamper away, now they settle again,
  • And in threes and in pairs are the groups.
  • Lead the way! men and masters away!
  • Heaven’s Son shall have pleasure to-day.
• • And now we are ready with bows to the fore,
  • And the arrows are put to the string;
  • Ho, yonder one sticks in a two-year-old boar,
  • To the ground here a monster we bring.
  • On these shall our visitors dine,
  • With tankards of new-made wine.

II. iii. 7.

WAR AND PEACE.*

• • The wild-geese rose upon the wing
  • Rustling and flapping as they left in haste.
  • So once our men went to the wars,
  • To toil and moil in wilderness and waste.
  • Unhappy men! and yet unhappier they
  • Who here remained, the widowed and the grey.
• • The wild-geese rose upon the wing,
  • But rest from flight they found upon the mere.
  • Our men-folk now build up our walls,
  • And all at once a hundred roods they rear.
  • Though toiling still and labouring past their strength,
  • Yet homes we now shall have, and peace at length.
• • The wild-geese rose upon the wing,
  • With lamentable cry as if distressed.
  • It was this wise and prudent One*
  • Who spoke of us as toilers and oppressed.
  • And it was he, the man of little sense,†
  • Who spoke of our unbounded insolence!

II. iii. 8.

THE KING’S ANXIETY TO BE PUNCTUAL AT THE MORNING AUDIENCE.

• • How speeds the night?
  • Scarce yet the half is fled:
  • The great torch‡ gleams out red.
  • Yet will my lords anon be here,
  • Bells tinkling gaily on their gear.
• • How speeds the night?
  • Scarce yet is darkness gone:
  • The great torch glimmers on.
  • Yet will my lords anon be here;
  • Their tinkling bells announce them near.
• • How speeds the night?
  • Now towards the morn it turns:
  • No more the great torch burns.§
  • And now my lords will soon be here;—
  • Ho, there at last their flags appear!

II. iii. 9.

A STATESMAN’S LAMENT ON SEEING THE APATHY OF HIS BROTHER-OFFICERS IN A TIME OF ANARCHY AND TROUBLE.

• • There the rolling river, brimming,
  • Makes the sovereign* sea its quest.
  • There the soaring glede kite, hasting,
  • Flees away and finds its rest.
  • But, ah me! of all my brethren,
  • All my friends and countrymen,
  • None will take to heart our troubles.
  • Is there none has parents, then?†
• • See the rolling river, brimming,
  • Dashing, splashing down its bed.
  • See the soaring glede kite, hasting,
  • Mounting up on wings outspread.
  • Pondering on those wayward courses,
  • Restless I arise and stroll,
  • But, alas! can never banish
  • The great sorrow from my soul.
• • Swiftly flies the glede kite yonder,‡
  • Midway by the mountain side.
  • “Spread the people idle stories?
  • Can the tongues of none be tied?”
  • Ah, my friends, be ye more watchful;
  • Scandal must go far and wide.

II. iii. 10.

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON COMMON THINGS.

• • In the depths* of the marsh though the crane may cry,
  • It is heard in the lands around.
  • In the deep dark pools though the fish may lie,
  • In the shallows may some be found.
  • Yonder lawn may be fragrant† with sandal-trees,
  • Yet are withered dead leaves in their shade.
  • And the rocks on the hills that one yonder sees
  • Into polishing-stones may be made.
• • In the depths of the marsh though the crane may scream,
  • Yet its notes may be heard in the sky.
  • And though fish be found in the shallow stream,
  • There are those that in dark pools lie.
  • Yonder lawn may be fragrant with sandal-trees,
  • But the nettles‡ will grow in their shade.
  • And the rocks on the hills that one yonder sees
  • Serve to polish your gems of jade.

[* ]Given by the king to princes of extraordinary merit. Vermilion was the colour of rank and merit affected by the House of Chow, and the presentation of a vermilion bow was the highest mark of favour a prince could receive.

[† ]Lit., I received.

[‡ ]Lit., bell.

[* ]Supposed originally to be expressive of joy because of the king’s encouragement of education and talent. When the Ruler does this, says the Preface, “then all under Heaven rejoice and are glad thereat.” Probably the Ode commemorates a royal visit to some school.

[† ]The aster-southernwood. It has a broad chrysanthemumshaped flower.

[‡ ]Or, “rejoice, and show fitting demeanour.”

[§ ]Lit., he gives us 100 sets of cowries.

[∥ ]The boat on troubled waters represents the condition of those who had not felt the benign influence of the king.

[* ]This and the next thirteen pieces belong to the time of the reign of King Swân (bc 826-781).

[† ]Lit., 30 li. About equal to 11 English miles.

[* ]Some celebrity of the time, but not known in history.

[* ]bc 825. The Mân-King were wild tribes in the South, of whom more hereafter.

[† ]There is a difficulty as to the meaning of the opening lines, and as to who are the speakers. I take the language as being that of some country-people who witnessed the passing by of the army, and foraged for horses and men. The word translated “forage” above is the name of some edible herb. Dr. Legge translates “white millet.”

[‡ ]Lit., metal hooks and breast (trappings—for the horses). All these, including the car itself, were the gift of the king.

[§ ]Bound round with red leather.

[∥ ]An ornamental yoke.

[* ]Lit., Mân-King.

[† ]Seized those who should be “questioned” (Cf. II. i. 8).

[* ]Lit., the beasts, game.

[† ]A ring protected the right thumb in drawing the string of the bow; and on the left hand and wrist was a glove guarding these against the arrows in shooting.

[* ]Lit., “the Great Larder is not full.” The king shared the game with all who took a proper part in the chase.

[† ]Lit., the mau day,—the 5th of the cycle, or, as Dr. Legge thinks, the mau-shin, a combination of two numbers of the cycle, both being fives. Odd numbers in dates are still considered lucky in China.

[‡ ]Of the Ruler of horses.

[§ ]Kăng-wu, the 7th day of the cycle.

[* ]A contrast between the reigns of King Li and King Swân, as affecting the condition of the people. Dr. Legge is here evidently for once at fault, and might well say, from his point of view, that “the whole piece is perplexing and obscure.” Victor von Strauss has followed him, but being more literal in his rendering, approaches the true interpretation.

[* ]King Swân.

[† ]The former king, Li. Perhaps the expression is a little too strong; the word in the original signifies the opposite of “wise and prudent,”—ignorant, rude, stupid.

[‡ ]Lit., the Court-torch,—a large bundle of faggots kept burning nightly in the Court-yard.

[§ ]Lit., has blazed; here, has done blazing.

[* ]Attends the Court of the Sea—visits its king.

[† ]An appeal to the sense of filial piety, a supreme duty with the Chinese. Fathers and mothers were involved in these troubles.

[‡ ]Chu-Hi is of opinion that two lines here have been lost.

[* ]Lit., ninth pool, i.e. furthest away.

[† ]Lit., pleasant.

[‡ ]Lit., paper-mulberry-shrub,—an unwelcome growth.