“Shi”- “ci” 詩詞 are the two Chinese words for literary works in verse forms. In general, the former refers to verses of fixed lengths while the latter refers to verses to be sung. Throughout Chinese history, music and poetry are inseparable.
Shijing 詩經or Classic of Poetry is the earliest anthology of Chinese poetry. The existing collection consists of three hundred and five anonymous poems and six additional titles without texts. According to various historical sources, rulers of the Zhou Dynasty dispatched agents throughout the country to sample folk songs as means of understanding regional customs and public sentiments. The compilation spanned from the West Zhou to the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period, roughly from eleventh centuries to sixth century BC.[1]
Interpreters of Shijing used six words to characterize the poems— fēng 風, yǎ 雅, sòng 頌, fù 賦, bǐ 比, xing 興. The first three words refer the nature of the contents:
• 風 fēng—airs or folk styles—folk songs:
Depicting life styles and cultural traditions of various regions.
• 雅 yǎ—proper or elegant—court music, further divided into:
“Greater yǎ,” worship hymns, acclamatory odes, and political satires;
“Minor yǎ¸” festive music and prayers.
• 頌 sòng—ritualistic rimes:
Often performed with ceremonial dances.
The others are three writing approaches:
• 賦 fù—narrative and descriptive.
• 比 bǐ—comparative, direct comparisons between different subjects.
• 興 xing—derivative, associating tangible things with intangible ideas.
The structures of these poems are simple. The lengths of verses vary from two- to eight-syllables, with four-syllable verses being the norm. Repetitions of words and phrases are quintessential features of these ancient poems. Verses are often paired. Longer poems are divided into parallel stanzas.
Confucius, credited for editing the anthology, said: “To wrap up three hundred poems in one statement: ‘no malicious thoughts.’”[2] He also called up his students: “Young fellows, ‘Why don’t you study poetry?’ Poetry can stimulate one’s thoughts; can make one more observant; can build camaraderie; can be a means of catharsis. In the narrow confines, they teach one how to take care of one’s parents; in a broader sense, they guide one how to serve the leaders. One learns many names of birds, animals, herbs and plants.”
He praised “Guan-ju,” the opening verse of the collection, as “joyous without being excessive, melancholy without being sad”:[3]
關關雎鳩、在河之洲，
“guan-guan,” calling a pair of ospreys, in the marsh by the river.
窈窕淑女、君子好逑。
Graceful and virtuous young lady, fine match for the gentleman.
參差荇菜、左右流之，
Undulating Nymphoides, gathering them from the left and from the right.
窈窕淑女、寤寐求之；
Graceful and virtuous young lady, he longs for her night and day. [4]
求之不得、寤寐思服，
Pursuing in vain, he thinks of her night and day.
悠哉悠哉、輾轉反側。
Anguishing, anguishing, he tosses and turns restlessly.
參差荇菜、左右采之，
Undulating Nymphoides, picking them from the left and from the right.
窈窕淑女、琴瑟友之；
Graceful and virtuous young lady, he plays the qin and the sè to befriend her.
參差荇菜、左右芼之，
Undulating Nymphoides, culling them from the left and from the right.
窈窕淑女、鐘鼓樂之。
Graceful and virtuous young lady, he plays the bell and the drum to please her.[5]
Originally named simply “Shi” — “Poetry,” the anthology later became one of the Five Classics during the Han Dynasty with the rise of Ruism and was referred in later sources as 詩經. The word 經 jing–”Scripture”—confirms its value and authority.[6]
[1] 詩經_Wiki (中文繁體), Classic_of_Poetry_Wiki
[2] 《論語．為政》子曰：「詩三百，一言以蔽之，曰：『思無邪』。」
《論語．陽貨》子曰：「小子！何莫學夫詩？詩，可以興，可以觀，可以群，可以怨。邇之事父，遠之事君。多識於鳥獸草木之名。」
[3] 《論語．八佾》子曰：「《關睢》，樂而不淫，哀而不傷。」
[4] 關關, “guan-guan,” onomatopoeia of bird calls. In the opening verse, “the river” refers to the Yellow River.
荇菜, Nymphoides, related to the water lilies. Nymphoides_Wiki
Its roots and stems are edible. Thus, “culling them”—selecting and harvesting them. The phrase 參差 means various lengths or heights. Since the leaves of the Nymphoides float on the water surface and the flower stems extend only slightly above the water, the word “undulating” seems to present a more realistic image.
[5] 琴 qin, Guqin_Wiki, 瑟 [sə̀], Se_(instrument)_Wiki. Qin and sè are considered instruments for the gentlemen. They are also symbols of harmonious relationships.
鐘 zhōng, zhong_britannica, 鼓 gǔ, 鼓_Temple_Drum_Wiki_image. Ancient bells and drums are ceremonial instruments. The mentioning of these instruments could have suggested the aristocratic background of the protagonist.
[6]The Bible is called 聖經 (“Holy Scripture”) in Chinese.
