Shijing Image Text

Author: Chen Rongguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: "The male and female magpie birds, singing on the riverbank,
A fair and gentle maiden, the gentleman's ideal match.
The water plants are of varying heights,
Flowing left and right. A fair and gentle maiden,
Waking and sleeping, he seeks her.
Unable to find her, he thinks of her day and night.
Long, long the night, tossing and turning.
The water plants are of varying heights,
Gathered left and right. A fair and gentle maiden,
The lute and zither bring them together.
The water plants are of varying heights,
Gathered left and right. A fair and gentle maiden,
The bell and drum delight her."
[Explanation] The "Preface to the Book of Songs" states: "The 'Quanju' (The Magpie Bird), the virtue of the empresses, is the beginning of the 'Feng' (), used to influence the world and correct the relationship between husband and wife. Therefore, 'Quanju' delights in finding a virtuous woman to match the gentleman, worries about promoting virtuous people, does not indulge in sensual desires, pities the gentle and graceful, thinks of talented individuals, and does not harm the virtuous. This is the meaning of 'Quanju.'"
According to modern understanding: From the text of the "Quanju" poem, one cannot see much evidence of the "virtue of the empresses," nor can one discern the subtle meaning of "influencing the world and correcting the relationship between husband and wife." However, "Quanju" is indeed the beginning of the "Feng" in the Book of Songs, and it does express the hope of "delighting in finding a virtuous woman to match the gentleman." Yet, it does not clearly convey the idea of "indulging in sensual desires" or "harming the virtuous." In ancient literature, the pursuit of a virtuous woman is often used to metaphorically represent the desire for talented individuals. "Quanju" may have been no different, but we are too blind to see it in the text of the poem. We believe that the "Preface to the Book of Songs" has both strengths and weaknesses in its explanation of "Quanju." The theme of "Quanju," we think, is very clear and simple—it is about the gentleman seeking a virtuous woman, nothing more. P001-P002