The Shih King, or, Book of Poetry
Translated by James Legge
Get it in Sphinx
Coming soon to iPhone and Android. Join the waitlist to hear when Sphinx opens.
The opening
ODE 1. THE NÂ.
THE NÂ.
How admirable! how complete! Here are set our hand-drums and drums. The drums resound harmonious and loud, To delight our meritorious ancestor.
The descendant of Thang invites him with this music, That he may soothe us with the realization of our thoughts. Deep is the sound of our hand-drums and drums; Shrilly sound the flutes; All harmonious and blending together, According to the notes of the sonorous gem. Oh! majestic is the descendant of Thang; Very admirable is his music.
The large bells and drums fill the ear; The various dances are grandly performed. We have the admirable visitors, who are pleased and delighted.
The whole book is in the Sphinx app.
About this edition
- The words
- James Legge's English translation, copied word for word.
- Copied from
- Left out
- The source library's header, footer and license
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1, in 2 places
- A preface, foreword or afterword, in 2 places
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 4 places
- Other material that isn't the author's
- Legge's line saying which pieces this selection gives ("ODES AND STANZAS ILLUSTRATING THE RELIGIOUS VIEWS AND PRACTI…")
- A lone '+' mark after the last ode (not part of the text)