Year
Chariots and steeds,
Unyielding speed:
Gathered and strong,
They’re moving east.
On fields they pass,
Expanding about
On lengths of grass,
With force to hunt.
Our lord is rough,
His soldiers tough,
They fly the flags
And whip the beasts—
Around, around,
The beasts spur on.
Crimson flowers, golden shoes—
The lords do fete the king
As archers gird
And dress their bows:
Shooting at once,
A sound is heard.
Chariots drive,
They dash in heat—
They’re quick, they’re quick,
But miss their pick:
Wind is rushing,
Flags are stretching.
Soldiers on guard,
The game is gone,
But there it is—Attack!
The order’s made
With loyal guards,
And so the deed is done.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
車攻 | 车攻 | chē gōng |
我車既攻， | 我车既攻， | wǒ chē jì gōng ， |
我馬既同， | 我马既同， | wǒ mǎ jì tóng ， |
四牡龐龐， | 四牡庞庞， | sì mǔ páng páng ， |
駕言徂東。 | 驾言徂东。 | jià yán cú dōng 。 |
田車既好， | 田车既好， | tián chē jì hǎo ， |
四牡孔阜， | 四牡孔阜， | sì mǔ kǒng fù ， |
東有甫草， | 东有甫草， | dōng yǒu fǔ cǎo ， |
駕言行狩。 | 驾言行狩。 | jià yán xíng shòu 。 |
之子於苗， | 之子于苗， | zhī zǐ yú miáo ， |
選徒囂囂， | 选徒嚣嚣， | xuǎn tú xiāo xiāo ， |
建旐設旄， | 建旐设旄， | jiàn zhào shè máo ， |
搏獸於敖。 | 搏兽于敖。 | bó shòu yú áo 。 |
駕彼四牡， | 驾彼四牡， | jià bǐ sì mǔ ， |
四牡奕奕， | 四牡奕奕， | sì mǔ yì yì ， |
赤芾金舄， | 赤芾金舄， | chì fèi jīn xì ， |
會同有繹。 | 会同有绎。 | huì tóng yǒu yì 。 |
決拾既佽， | 决拾既佽， | jué shí jì cì ， |
弓矢既調， | 弓矢既调， | gōng shǐ jì diào ， |
射夫既同， | 射夫既同， | shè fū jì tóng ， |
助我舉柴。 | 助我举柴。 | zhù wǒ jǔ chái 。 |
四黃既駕， | 四黄既驾， | sì huáng jì jià ， |
兩驂不猗， | 两骖不猗， | liǎng cān bù yǐ ， |
不施其馳， | 不施其驰， | bù shī qí chí ， |
舍矢如破。 | 舍矢如破。 | shè shǐ rú pò 。 |
蕭蕭馬鳴， | 萧萧马鸣， | xiāo xiāo mǎ míng ， |
悠悠旆旌， | 悠悠旆旌， | yōu yōu pèi jīng ， |
徒禦不驚， | 徒御不惊， | tú yù bù jīng ， |
大庖不盈。 | 大庖不盈。 | dà páo bù yíng 。 |
之子於征， | 之子于征， | zhī zǐ yú zhēng ， |
有聞無聲， | 有闻无声， | yǒu wén wú shēng ， |
允矣君子， | 允矣君子， | yǔn yǐ jūn zǐ ， |
展也大成。 | 展也大成。 | zhǎn yě dà chéng。 |
Translation Notes
About a lord who goes out hunting.
車攻 | Chariot Strong/unyielding |
我車既攻， | My chariot both unyielding, |
我馬既同， | My horse both assemble, [Both … both … means “both my chariot and my horse …”] |
四牡龐龐， | Four animals/hills strong strong, |
駕言徂東。 | To-drive words go east. |
田車既好， | Field chariot then good, |
四牡孔阜， | Four animals/hills opening/great expand/strengthen |
東有甫草， | East have barely-just grass, [Barely-just grass = a field’s grass has just begun to grow. It could either be a place name or refer to a large field of moist grass.] |
駕言行狩。 | Drive words go winter-hunting. [Words go = words and actions] |
之子於苗， | Him offspring alas! Miao-nationality, |
選徒囂囂， | Select followers clamor clamor, |
建旐設旄， | Erect pennant display flag, |
搏獸於敖。 | Strike beast alas! ramble. |
駕彼四牡， | Drive those four animals, |
四牡奕奕， | Four animals/hills abundant abundant, |
赤芾金舄， | Red flower gold shoe, |
會同有繹。 | Assemble together-with have continuous. [Assemble together-with = a feudal vassal having an audience with the Emperor] |
決拾既佽， | Decide pick-up then help, [Decide pick-up = the shooter picks up the bow and arrow, moves sleeve out of the way, and puts the bow in place.] [Then help = the shooter examines the bow and arrow] |
弓矢既調， | Bow arrow both coordinate, |
射夫既同， | Shoot man both together-with, |
助我舉柴。 | Help me raise amass. |
四黃既駕， | Four yellow then drive, |
兩驂不猗， | Both pairs no sigh, |
不施其馳， | No fail their hurry, [This means the charioteer does not fail to move the chariot quickly] |
舍矢如破。 | House arrow like ruin. [This means to shoot the arrow and miss.] |
蕭蕭馬鳴， | Sighing-wind/miserable sighing-wind/miserable horse bird’s-cry, |
悠悠旆旌， | Long long flag banner, [Long long = lasting for ages] |
徒禦不驚， | Soldiers charioteers not frightened, [Not frightened = stay on alert, to stand guard] |
大庖不盈。 | Big kitchen not full. |
之子於征， | Its offspring alas! invade, |
有聞無聲， | Has heard/make-known no sound, [No sound = noiselessly] |
允矣君子， | Grant trust gentleman offspring, |
展也大成。 | Honest [affirmation particle] great completed. |