Shijing or Shi-Jing translations from the Chinese
The Shijing or Shi-Jing or Shih-Ching (“Book of Songs” or “Book of Odes”) is the oldest Chinese poetry collection, with the poems included believed to date from around 1200 BC to 600 BC. According to tradition the poems were selected and edited by Confucius himself. Since most ancient poetry did not rhyme, these may be the world’s oldest extant rhyming poems.
Shijing Ode #4: “JIU MU”
ancient Chinese rhyming poem circa (1200 BC - 600 BC)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Chinese poetry translations
There are modern English translations of Chinese poems by Michael R. Burch.
Before the Duke of Zhou
Before the Duke of Zhou
Yu Xin (513-581)One dawn I had a home; today it’s gone,
An orchid rooted out and set to burn.
As one would tell a tale of long lost friends
I live my life to watch the world turn.
| Chinese 集周公處連句詩 庾信 市朝一朝變 蘭艾本同焚 故人相借問 平生如所聞 | Pronunciation Jí Zhōu Gōng Chǔ (Lián Jù Shī) Yŭ Xìn |
Spreading Their Wings
Look at the bird, he spreads his wings,
The image stays like a song I sing.
He flies in a tune above, below,
So rich and free from the toil I know.
For ages I gaze at the sun and moon,
The distant clouds, whose path still looms.
For hundreds of rich, who know not right,
They do no good, but use their might.
Original Chinese Poem
