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Han Shi waizhuan 韓詩外傳 "The Outer Commentary to the Book of Songs by Master Han" | Literature by A to Z Literature by time Literature by theme | |
The Book of Songs or Poetry Shijing 詩經 contains some of the oldest pieces of Chinese literature. It is said to have been compiled by Confucius himself, who has chosen out some 300 poems out of 3000. During the Former Han Dynasty 漢, there were still existant four versions of the collection: in the states of Lu 魯 (by Shen Gong 申公), Qi 齊 (by Hou Cang 后蒼 and Master Sun 孫氏) and Han 韓 (by Han Ying 韓嬰), and the private collection of Duke Mao 毛公. Only the last has survived until now, the "Outer Commentaries" to the Han Ying version have survived in the collection Han Shi Waizhuan 韓詩外傳. Han Ying's "Inner Commentary" (Han Neizhuan 韓內傳), and his books Han Gu 韓故 and Han Shuo 韓說 ("Meaning" and "Explanations") are lost. Similar books have also been written by the other masters. To compare the different interpretations, the Small Preface to the First Air and the Wujing Zhengyi 五經正義 Commentary to its begin are repeated here, followed by the respective passage the Han Shi Waizhuan, representing Confucius' own interpretation of the first air. | ||
1.國風1.1.周南1.1.1.1.關雎(1) 關關雎鳩,在河之洲。窈窕淑女,君子好逑。 參差荇菜,左右流之。窈窕淑女,寤寐求之。 求之不得,寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉!輾轉反側。 參差荇菜,左右采之。窈窕淑女,琴瑟友之。 參差荇菜,左右芼之。窈窕淑女,鍾鼓樂之。 The Airs of the States, South of Zhou, The ospreys cry "Fair, fair," cry the ospreys on the island in the river. Lovely is this noble lady, fit bride for our lord. In patches grows the water mallow; to left and right one must seek it. Shy was this noble lady; day and night he sought her. Sought her and could not get her; day and night he grieved. Long thoughts, oh, long unhappy thoughts, now on his back, now tossing on to his side. In patches grows the water mallow; to left and right one must gather it. Shy is this noble lady; with great zither and little we hearten her. In patches grows the water mallow; to left and right one must choose it. Shy is this noble lady; with bells and drums we will gladden her.
Translated by James Legge; the Zhangju |