Book of Songs (Illustrated Text)

Author: Chen Shuguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: "The female bird crows on the riverbank, the male bird crows beside her. A fair and gentle maiden, the gentleman's ideal match. The water plants are of varying lengths, flowing left and right. A fair and gentle maiden, sought for day and night. Unable to find her, he thinks of her day and night. Long, long the night, tossing and turning he lies awake. The water plants are of varying lengths, gathered left and right. A fair and gentle maiden, the lute and zither delight in her. The water plants are of varying lengths, gathered left and right. A fair and gentle maiden, the bells and drums delight in her." [Explanation] "The Preface to the Book of Songs" states: "The 'Guanju' (The female bird crows), the virtue of the empress, is the beginning of the 'Feng' (), used to influence the world and correct the relationship between husband and wife. Therefore, 'Guanju' delights in finding a gentle maiden to match the gentleman, worries about promoting the virtuous, does not indulge in lust, mourns the gentle and graceful, thinks of talented individuals, and does not harm the virtuous. This is the meaning of 'Guanju.'" According to modern understanding: From the text of the "Guanju" poem, one cannot see much of the "virtue of the empress," nor can one see the subtle meaning of "influencing the world and correcting the relationship between husband and wife." However, "Guanju" is indeed the beginning of the "Feng" in the Book of Songs, and it does indeed express the hope of "finding a gentle maiden to match the gentleman," yet it does not clearly show the meaning of "indulging in lust" or "harming the virtuous." Ancient literature often uses the pursuit of a gentle maiden to metaphorically represent "thinking of talented individuals," and "Guanju" might be no exception. We simply lack the insight to see it in the text of the poem. We believe that the explanation of the "Preface to the Book of Songs" for "Guanju" has both merit and flaws. The theme of "Guanju," we think, is very clear and simple—it is the gentleman's pursuit of a gentle maiden, nothing more. P001-P002