Chinese poem illustration: 卫风·木瓜/ Wei Wind – Woody Pear by no name
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A simple poem with many interpretations through the history. We have no idea when, who wrote this poem for what event or feelings, this is very typical of the poems in Book of Songs, normally it always related to a dedicate affair, event or a person.
This poem is most likely about a social event of aristocracy, very closely related to the Code of Conduct of Zhou dynasty(周礼), so I referenced Zhou codes(周礼) from a history book on Zhou, in the hope to justify which interpretation is more likely to be the real case. The interpretation chosen in the video is still far from this poem, until we have more evidence from history study and archaeology.
卫风·木瓜
佚名
投我以木瓜，报之以琼琚。
匪报也，永以为好也！
投我以木桃，报之以琼瑶。
匪报也，永以为好也！
投我以木李，报之以琼玖。
匪报也，永以为好也！
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