"Zhouyu" (Poem #25)
Vigorously sprouting are the reeds.
One shot kills five sows.
Alas, the Zhouyu!
Vigorously sprouting is the wormwood.
One shot kills five hogs.
Alas, the Zhouyu!
(tr. Hyong Rhew)
**Zhouyu, according to Mao's commentary, is a mythological animal known
for its
righteousness. However, other scholars have convincingly demonstrated
that it is the
name of an office at the court of the son of heaven in charge of birds
and beasts.
The preface to this poem reads:
"Zhouyu" echoes "Quechao." When the transformation that "Quechao"
shows is
manifested, human relations are rectified, the court is in order, and the
world is
influenced by the transformation by King Wen. Then myriad things
flourish, and the
harvest from the field accords with the season. Goodness of "Zhouyu"
is the
perfection of the kingly way.