Chinese poem illustration: 小雅 车攻/ Xiaoya – Chariots Ready by Anonymous
Full video also available at Bilibili: 小雅 车攻
Could be the best breed poem among many hunting poems in Shijing, it outlined the whole hunting process with a few vivid snapshots which virtually bring you to the hunting ground, ftouched by the urgency, confidence and glorious people. Seasonal royal hunting is huge in Zhou dynasty, this tradition lasts till the Qin dynasty. The last royal hunting was held in 1820 at Mulan field(木兰围场), a tourist spot today 400 km north to Beijing.
Argument on the character 甫, 敖 are raised. Place of this hunting is discussed as well, A Tang poetry 观猎/王维 is a good reference to this poem, it should be the same hunting ground.
小雅 车攻
佚名
我车既攻，我马既同。
四牡庞庞，驾言徂东。
田车既好，四牡孔阜。
东有甫草，驾言行狩。
之子于苗，选徒嚣嚣。
建旐设旄，搏兽于敖。
驾彼四牡，四牡奕奕。
赤芾金舄，会同有绎。
决拾既佽，弓矢既调。
射夫既同，助我举柴。
四黄既驾，两骖不猗。
不失其驰，舍矢如破。
萧萧马鸣，悠悠旆旌。
徒御不惊，大庖不盈。
之子于征，有闻无声。
允矣君子，展也大成。
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