08Apr/20

Chinese poem illustration/邶风 燕燕/佚名 See her off

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Chinese poem illustration: 邶风 燕燕/ Bei Wind – Swallows Swallows by Anonymous

邶风 燕燕

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Farewell or parting poetry(送别诗) is one of the most popular and touching type in Chinese classic poetry, It is this poem and Bei Wind – Spring(邶风 泉水) that started this trend and type. The feelings, the scenario and writing algorithm established by these two poems are not only resonated in the poems of later generations, but also imprinted in Chinese mindset and lifestyle till today.

A new interpretation is put forward on the 4th paragraph. 仲氏 and 任只 both refer to the Zhong(仲) family and Ren(任) family, who are actually the same group of people. 只 refers a group of people or the ancestors of the family, thus 任只 means the Ren family or the ancestors of Ren.

邶风 燕燕
佚名

燕燕于飞，差池其羽。
之子于归，远送于野。
瞻望弗及，泣涕如雨。

燕燕于飞，颉之颃之。
之子于归，远于将之。
瞻望弗及，伫立以泣。

燕燕于飞，下上其音。
之子于归，远送于南。
瞻望弗及，实劳我心。

仲氏任只，其心塞渊。
终温且惠，淑慎其身。
先君之思，以勖寡人。

31Mar/20

Chinese poem illustration/召南 摽有梅/佚名 Bachelorette

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Chinese poem illustration: 召南 摽有梅/ Shao Wind – Plum Falling Down by Anonymous

召南 摽有梅

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A poem depicting a girl’s anxiousty for marriage, a wisdom of doing things timely. It simulate the precious period of a girl, namely age 15-20 to the full matured plum still hanging on branches. The fading time is just like the falling plum, make everything in a hurry with no return.

The Code of Conduct of Zhou(周礼) on marriage was briefly introduced accordingly. The character 梅 vs 媒 are discussed as well.

The bird view of Tai Tam(大潭) was filmed at the beginning of this video.

召南 摽有梅
佚名

摽有梅，其实七兮。
求我庶士，迨其吉兮。

摽有梅，其实三兮。
求我庶士，迨其今兮。

摽有梅，顷筐塈之。
求我庶士，迨其谓之。

29Mar/20

Chinese poem illustration/周南 麟之趾/佚名 Qilin

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Chinese poem illustration: 周南 麟之趾/ Zhou Wind – Feet of Qilin by Anonymous

周南 麟之趾

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Qilin is in the first place of the Four Divine Beast(麟、凤、龟、龙), outstanding for its mercy and kindness. It was also treated as the ancestor of Zhou people, the origin of their royal blood. The story about Confucius seeing the dead Qilin(西狩获麟) is illustrated.

With such background, this poem is quite straightforward and simple, a praising chant for Zhou people, chant for royal blood. A bit pity we lost the musical part but only the simple lyrics.

周南 麟之趾
佚名

麟之趾，
振振公子，
于嗟麟兮。

麟之定，
振振公姓，
于嗟麟兮。

麟之角，
振振公族，
于嗟麟兮。

28Mar/20

Chinese poem illustration/召南 羔羊/佚名 Glory shepherd

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Chinese poem illustration: 召南 羔羊/ Shao Wind – Sheep by Anonymous

召南 羔羊

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A poem about the ministers of Zhou dynasty who were on their way back home, after their daily service on the royal court(朝廷), namely center government office today.

It is a quite simple poem, but still aroused many arguments through the Chinese history, is it a praising poem or a blaming one?

The word 委蛇委蛇, which is written as 逶迤 today was reasoned and explained. Two meanings of 公 are discussed.

The scenic view of Tai Tam bay in Hong Kong was filmed at the beginning and end of this video.

召南 羔羊
佚名

羔羊之皮，素丝五紽。
退食自公，委蛇委蛇。

羔羊之革，素丝五緎。
委蛇委蛇，自公退食。

羔羊之缝，素丝五总。
委蛇委蛇，退食自公。