Chinese poem illustration: 唐风 山有枢/ Tang Wind – Shu Trees on Mount by Anonymous
Full video also available at Bilibili: 唐风 山有枢
The lengendary Jin state(晋国), where the Tang Wind came from is famouse for many things, this poem might be a snapshot of its infamous usurpation which is so called Quwo Replace Yi(曲沃代翼).
The starting sentence(兴) used to be explained as meaningless. While with going through the whole poem and the history background, the first sentence in each paragraph is full of meaning by double refering. The sentence pattern 山有A, 隰有B is one of the de facto format of starting sentence in State Wind(国风), this poem is one of the best example to utilize this format fully and wisely. 枢 could double refer to 叔, 榆 double refer to 媮or妪, thus these two characters together refer to brothers and women. 栲 and 杻 refers to 考 and 丑 which means passed away father and people. 漆 and 栗 correspond to 泣 and 罹. Character 宛 is further anaylsed which leads to a new interpretation.
唐风 山有枢
佚名
山有枢，隰有榆。
子有衣裳，弗曳弗娄。
子有车马，弗驰弗驱。
宛其死矣，他人是愉。
山有栲，隰有杻。
子有廷内，弗洒弗扫。
子有钟鼓，弗鼓弗考。
宛其死矣，他人是保。
山有漆，隰有栗。
子有酒食，何不日鼓瑟？
且以喜乐，且以永日。
宛其死矣，他人入室。
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