Sigh, sigh—working all day
To honor the King. The valley
Is full and ripe, so we’re in luck
When they come to seize our grain.
Sigh, sigh—the guards about the field
Ensure that no one takes the king’s
Abdundant spring. This field
Has nothing for us to gain.
Ah! The beauty all around,
The ripeness he’ll receive.
Bright, bright ruler supreme—
Enjoy a peaceful year.
By fate I am a common man, building
His stock with shovel and hoe.
I swing a sickle.
I swing a sickle.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
臣工 | 臣工 | chén gōng |
嗟嗟臣工， | 嗟嗟臣工， | jiē jiē chén gōng ， |
敬爾在公。 | 敬尔在公。 | jìng ěr zài gōng 。 |
王釐爾成， | 王釐尔成， | wáng lí ěr chéng ， |
來咨來茄。 | 来咨来茄。 | lái zī lái qié 。 |
嗟嗟保介， | 嗟嗟保介， | jiē jiē bǎo jiè ， |
維莫之春。 | 维莫之春。 | wéi mò zhī chūn 。 |
亦又何求， | 亦又何求， | yì yòu hé qiú ， |
如何新畬。 | 如何新畬。 | rú hé xīn shē 。 |
於皇來牟， | 於皇来牟， | yū huáng lái móu ， |
將受厥明。 | 将受厥明。 | jiāng shòu jué míng 。 |
明昭上帝， | 明昭上帝， | míng zhāo shàng dì ， |
迄用康年。 | 迄用康年。 | qì yòng kāng nián 。 |
命我眾人， | 命我众人， | mìng wǒ zhòng rén ， |
庤乃錢镈， | 庤乃钱镈， | zhì nǎi qián bó ， |
奄觀铚艾。 | 奄观铚艾。 | yǎn guān zhì ài。 |
Translation Notes
Referring to a sacrificial offering in the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC) where the feudal vassals had to sacrifice a harvest in honor of the king.
臣工 | Minister Work [Meaning to take care of the fields owned by one of the ministers] |
嗟嗟臣工， | Sigh sigh minister work, |
敬爾在公。 | Respect thus at lord. |
王釐爾成， | To-go with-joy/with-luck thus succeed, [Succeed = valley ripe, therefore will be a good harvest] |
來咨來茄。 | Come plan come measure. |
嗟嗟保介， | Sigh sigh safeguard to-wear-armor, [Safeguard to-wear-armor = the peasants who protect the field’s boundaries] |
維莫之春。 | Maintain there-is-none-who of spring/join. |
亦又何求， | Also is why seek, |
如何新畬。 | If where new cultivated-field. [If where = how] |
於皇來牟， | Ah! beautiful come get, |
將受厥明。 | Will receive he ripe. |
明昭上帝， | Bright illustrious highest supreme-ruler, [Highest supreme-ruler = God] |
迄用康年。 | Until use peaceful year. |
命我眾人， | Life my common man, [Common man = everyone] |
庤乃錢镈， | Reserves then shovel hoe, |
奄觀铚艾。 | Ere-long see sickle sickle. |
Year:
2013
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