Ancient Chinese Songs: New Translation of Shi Jing Guo Feng

The Shi Jing, the oldest anthology of Chinese songs, contains 305 songs from ancient China, composed between the 12th and 7th century BCE. Divided into four parts, this translation focuses on the first part - Guo Feng, which means "songs of states" within the Zhou kingdom (1122-255 BCE). Unlike the songs in the other three parts, which are dynastic songs of the Zhou court, the Guo Feng songs were mostly sung by the common people of the kingdom. Many of the songs in this translation predate Confucius by several centuries, offering a glimpse into pre-Confucian China through the spontaneous voices captured in the lyrics.

The text of the Shi Jing, written in familiar Chinese characters, has been preserved through the ages, although its ancient usage required reliance on standard commentaries that often interpreted the songs through a Confucian, moralistic lens. Ha Poong Kim's translation incorporates insights from recent Japanese studies that challenge this traditional approach, bringing forth the original meaning of many songs in the Guo Feng section. This Chinese-English Bilingual Edition aims to make the joys and sorrows of this ancient land accessible to modern readers, both in the West and in China itself. By presenting the voices of ancient China in a new light, this edition hopes to spark a deeper appreciation for the cultural richness and diversity of the past.

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