Chinese poem illustration: 周南 关雎/ Zhou Wind – Guanju the Turtledove by Anonymous
1st song in Book of Songs, the book was believed to be the final revision by confucius, not the wording but the selection and listing from roughly thousands songs.
Guanju is with the top significance. As Book of Songs is a must to read for Zhou aristocracy, a fundamental component in Code of Zhou(周礼), a vehicle of communication between Zhou statesman, clearly noted in the history record that Guanju was the final Song/Music played in the grand state feast. It was also one of the very few poems that Confucius commented( 子曰：关雎，乐而不淫，哀而不伤。).
I also wrote an analysis blog in Chinese why Guanju is turtledove: 关关雎鸠,洲河脉脉
Part1: the 1st impression of 关雎 and explain by words.
Part2 : introduce the Book of Songs origin and components. Comparison with Odyssey, and a trace down why it is Confucius who refined the Book of Songs and teaching it to his students.
Part3 explains why Guanju is fundamental in Book of Songs and Zhou dynasty, some use case of 窈窕淑女 in nowadays writing is illustrated as well.
YouTube not applicable? watch full video at Bilibili:
Part1: 关雎1
Part2:关雎2
Part3:关雎3
周南 关雎
佚名
关关雎鸠，在河之洲。
窈窕淑女，君子好逑。
参差荇菜，左右流之。
窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。
求之不得，寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。
参差荇菜，左右采之。
窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。
参差荇菜，左右芼之。
窈窕淑女，钟鼓乐之。
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