Shi Jing – The Book of Odes

Monday, August 20, 2007
Shi Jing 08 Plantains (Chant)

From: Book of Ode
Period: Spring and Autumn
Section: Songs of Zhou State
(Collected by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu (2007.08.20)

Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s pick them up.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, We must have them.

Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s pluck them up.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s rub off their seeds.

Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s carry them with our skirts.
Let’s gather and gather the plantains;
Come, let’s bring them back.

Note:
This might be a working chant that song by woman. There is no one really understands why people put this chant into Shi Jing, Odes. And To some “literature masters” that the poem is lack of value to learn or study from, just a labor chant.
1. No one understand why these people feel so happy and eager to pick all the plantains, some Ancient Chinese believed the plantains could cure sterility or prevent premature labor, some said it is source of food. Jeez, no wonder we’ve got a big population! :-) Just joking!
2. No one likes repetitions, especially the literary editors, to them, “same word again?!” it is like the writer is very uneducated and readers would yawn, and get sleepy, so your poetry book won’t sell. Remember, “Writing is about Quality, but Publishing is just about Quantity.” But Thank God that Confucius and some great ancient editors kept this poem in the Book of Odes. Why?

Let’s get start it.
Life is in the process of repetition.
Sun rises and Sun sets and no one seems to get bored of her.
Singer or Rappers:
Yo, Yo, Yo, What’s happening? What’s happened, it will happen again. So what’s happening? Say Hey! Say Hey!…
Sport Fans chants all night long without get tired even just one-line song or the name of their club or country.
And religions chanting sometimes are just one phrase but still make people feel peaceful all night.

And a lady in love would reply: “Yes! Yes! Yes!” to answer her lover’s marriage proposal, and after that she never gets bored to hear her husband telling her “I love You.” And as many times as she wants to hear from him, not as some other repeated words or actions of her husband that she dislikes, or even fakes a headache to get pass it.

One of simple and gracious writing style is perfect repetition of word use to show condition, emotion and passion. Coz good and enjoyable things we never get tired to do it and do it again. And this poem is a great example to inspire a passionate writing.

My samples:

1.
Let’s Kiss
By Laijon Liu (2007.08.20)

O, my sweet babe,
Let me kiss your cheek;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let me kiss your apple-like cheek!

O, my honey pie,
Let me kiss your lips;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let me kiss your rose-like lips!

O, my charming darling,
Let me hold you and kiss;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let me hug your shoulders and kiss!

O, my beautiful lady,
Let us sit here and kiss;
Kiss, kiss, and kiss,
Don’t be shy,
Let’s do nothing but kiss!

2.
A beautiful lady is passing by
By Laijon Liu (2007.08.20)

A lovely lady is passing by.
Get her number; get her number;
Hurry, hurry, and hurry up;
Don’t hesitate! Get her number!

A hot lady is passing by.
Ask her out; ask her out;
Quick, quick, don’t be shy!
Stop waiting! Ask her out!

A gorgeous lady is passing by.
Pick her up; pick her up;
Come on; come on;
Go to her, and pick her up!

What a nice lady you’re seeing!
Take her hand. Take her hands!
Be brave; be kind. And be brave!
Stretch your hand, and hold her hand!

What a beautiful lady you’re dating!
Kiss her cheek; kiss her lips.
Be brave; be kind. And be brave!
Stop wondering! Start kissing!

What a great lady you’re marrying!
Be with her; be with her;
Stay with her, walk with her.
Don’t jerk off!* Just please her and love her!

*Does not sound like Mainstream, or replace it with “Don’t be a jerk!”
It can be funny, witted, a little silly, and down-to-earth.:-)

Or other Example:
A good Singer, Akon’s “Sorry, Blame on me” that every repetition shows his emotion and thoughts, thus his song speaks to people’s heart. “I am sorry… I am sorry… Blame on me… Blame on me…”

Favorite one. She just cant understand...

Willem Smith,
you asked for a translation in Dutch of the term 'da lu'. I think a proper translation would be 'hoofdstraat'.

Harmen Mesker
I Tjing Centrum Nederland
http://www.i-tjingcentrum.nl

Highway... Grande route... I'm puzzling 4 months about a proper translation in dutch; i don't see the street in which this lamention takes place. "Het grote boek van kleine sjang" eleanor frances lattimore; chapter two: "dorpsstraat". Dutch reader, please send me a suggestion for a good translation.
Thanks,
Willem