Book of Songs (Shi-Jing)

Confucius - the Latinized name of K'ung Fu-tzu (Great Master K'ung) - was a descendant of a branch of the Shang dynasty that ruled China from around 1122 BCE to 221 BCE. He was born around 551 BCE in what is now the province of Shantung in northeastern China. He worked in a number of roles before becoming a teacher. Around 498 BCE, he began a long journey throughout eastern China accompanied by several of his disciples, during which he developed his ideas on philosophy and the art of government, as well as teaching. He acquired a large following which has become known as the school of Ju (Confucianism). Confucius died in 479 BCE. James Trapp is the author of Chinese Characters: The Art and Meaning of Hanzi, Chinese Proverbs and also has translated a bestselling new multilingual edition of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. A Chinese language graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, he teaches Mandarin and was previously an Education Officer on the China Collection at the British Museum.

Introduction

AIRS OF THE STATES
The Cry of the Fish-hawk
The Cloth-Vine Grows
Rabbit Nets
The Katydid
The Cypress Wood Boat
The Gourd has Bitter Leaves
How Swift the Quail
How Free the Hare
The Blue Collar
How Agile
Climbing the Hill
Swiftly Stoops the Falcon
On the Shore of the Marsh
The Eastern Hills

LESSER COURT ODES
Four White Horses
Trumpet Flowers
Wild Geese
Siskins
The Fourth Month
Mulberries

GREATER COURT ODES
Thick Grow the Oaks
Spirit Tower
The Prestige of King Wen
Drawing Water
Through the Twisting Valleys
The Omens of Shao

HYMNS
Valiant and Refined
We offer sacrifices
Bounteous Year
How Sharp the Ploughshares
Silk Robes
Mighty

A note on the translation