Mao Zedong reviewed the Complete Collection of Classical Chinese Poetry, Prose, and Lyrics

Author: Chief Editor: Bi Guifa
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1998-03-01
Features: Excerpt: 【Title Explanation】This is a poem from the "Book of Songs · Wei Feng." The "Wei Feng" consists of folk songs from the Wei Kingdom (now Ruicheng in southwestern Shanxi Province), one of the fifteen "Feng" collections. "Fa Tan" is a song sung by woodcutters as they felled sandalwood trees for exploiters, satirizing rulers who lived a parasitic life without labor. 【Note】① Kankan, the sound of chopping wood. Tan, a type of wood used for making carts. ② Zhi, meaning "place." Gan, bank. ③ Lian, ripples on the water. Yi (yī), onomatopoeia, similar to modern "ah." ④ Jia, farming. Se (sè), harvesting. ⑤ Chán, a homophone for "bundle," meaning "a lot." ⑥ Shou, winter hunting. ⑦ Xian, an ancient word for "hang." Huan (huān), an animal name, referring to the hyena. ⑧ Not eating for nothing. This is ironic satire. ⑨ Fu, spokes of a wheel. ⑩ Yi, a Zhou Dynasty unit of ten thousand, here referring to a large amount of grain. (11) Te, a three-year-old animal. (12) Chun (chún), the edge of the water. (13) Lun, whirlpools in water. (14) Qun (qūn), a round granary. (15) Chen (chūn), quail. (16) Sun (sūn), cooked food.
The Book of Songs · Qin Feng · No Clothes Is it said that there are no clothes?① With you I wear the same robe.② The king raises an army,③ Sharpen my spears and swords,④ With you I share the same enemy.⑤ Is it said that there are no clothes? With you I wear the same undergarment.⑥ The king raises an army, Sharpen my spears and shields,⑦ With you I go into battle.⑧ Is it said that there are no clothes? With you I wear the same pants.⑨ The king raises an army, Sharpen my armor and weapons,⑩ With you I march forward.
In Mao Zedong's "West River · Autumn Uprising," "The landlords heavily oppress, and the peasants all share the same enemy," quotes from the "Book of Songs · Qin Feng · No Clothes": "The king raises an army, Sharpen my spears and swords, With you I share the same enemy." 【Title Explanation】The "Zuo Zhuan · Duke Ding's Fourth Year": "The Wu people entered Ying, Shen Baoxiu went to Qin to ask for an army, stood leaning against the court wall and cried, day and night without stopping, not taking a sip of water for seven days. Duke Ai of Qin composed 'No Clothes' for him. After bowing nine times and sitting down, the Qin army then set out." In ancient times, composing or reciting poetry was called "fù." According to the meaning of the poem, it was sung by laboring people who joined the army, not composed by Duke Ai of Qin. Therefore, "composed 'No Clothes'" should be interpreted as reciting this poem. This is a song of Qin's laboring people enthusiastically joining the army. 【Note】① Qi said, "Is it said." ② Pao, a long robe, but soldiers' robes were shorter. Soldiers wore the same uniform, so it is said "to wear the same robe." The following "to wear the same undergarment" and "to wear the same pants" have the same meaning. ③ Wang, the Qin people called the Qin ruler "king." Yu, said, spoke. ④ Xiu, the same as "xiu," meaning to sharpen, repair. ⑤ To share the same enemy. ⑥ Ze, a homophone for "ze," meaning close-fitting undergarment. ⑦ To work together. ⑧ Chang, pants. ⑨ Jia Bing, armor and weapons.