The Enchanted Marshland
In the serene marshland, cranes call out, their clear voices echoing across the vast wilderness. In the deep, still ponds, fish swim silently, occasionally surfacing near the shore. The garden within is a true delight, with tall sandalwood trees casting dense shadows, while the lower shrubs’ leaves have withered away. In a distant mountain, fine stones can be found, perfect for polishing jade.
The poem consists of two stanzas, each with nine lines. Both stanzas share similar metaphors and language, though the rhymes differ. The theme of the poem has been interpreted in various ways. The “Mao Preface” suggests it is a lesson for King Xuan of Zhou, with Zheng Xuan adding that it teaches the king to seek out virtuous individuals who have not yet been employed. Wang Xianqian, in his “Annotations on the Three Schools of Poetry,” supports this view, citing examples from Lu, Qi, and Han poetry that agree with the “Mao Preface.” Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty, in his “Collected Explanations of the Book of Songs,” states that the poem’s origin is unknown but believes it must be a persuasive work encouraging good conduct. Modern scholar Cheng Junying, in his “Annotations and Translations of the Book of Songs,” builds on the traditional interpretation, suggesting that the poem uses metaphors to express the idea of attracting talented individuals for the benefit of the nation, thus labeling it a “recruitment poem.”
Zhu Xi’s analysis breaks down the first stanza: “The crane’s call in the marshland, heard far and wide, signifies the undeniable nature of sincerity; the fish swimming in the deep and occasionally surfacing represents the unpredictable nature of principles; the sandalwood trees in the garden with fallen leaves below indicate the need to recognize the faults beneath apparent virtues; the fine stones from distant mountains that can polish jade signify the understanding that even those who seem harsh can contribute to goodness.” Zhu Xi interprets these four metaphors as representing sincerity, principles, love, and aversion, respectively, and believes they collectively embody universal truths.
Zhu Xi’s interpretation uses the principles of Neo-Confucianism to explain the poem, which becomes even clearer in his explanation of the second stanza. The concluding lines of the second stanza, quoting Cheng Yi, state: “Jade, being warm and smooth, represents the utmost beauty; rough stones represent extreme harshness. Yet, one cannot craft jade into an artifact without using these rough stones, just as a noble person can refine their character through interactions with harsh individuals.” Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi’s interpretations, both extending the metaphor, suggest that the rough stones (harsh individuals) are necessary for polishing jade (refining virtue).
Cheng Junying’s modern interpretation sees the poem as expressing the idea of attracting talented individuals through metaphors. The cranes represent virtuous individuals in seclusion; the fish symbolize talented individuals who are either in seclusion or serving the state; the garden is a metaphor for the nation; the sandalwood trees represent virtuous individuals; the fallen leaves symbolize lesser individuals; and the stones from distant mountains represent talented individuals from other states. Despite the potential for forced interpretations, this reading offers a coherent explanation of the poem’s metaphors.
The poem, viewed purely as a piece of poetry, can also be appreciated as a lyrical depiction of a tranquil landscape. In the expansive wilderness, the poet hears the cranes’ calls resonating through the air, sees the fish diving and surfacing, and then observes a garden with tall sandalwood trees and fallen leaves below. Nearby, a rugged mountain stands, with stones suitable for polishing jade. The poem transitions from auditory to visual imagery, reflecting the poet’s thoughts and feelings, creating a cohesive and vivid picture of an ancient wanderer’s journey through the wilderness. This imagery, full of sound and color, evokes a sense of poetic nostalgia, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the poem’s artistic expression and feel the timeless allure of the past.
Reading the poem with this perspective enables one to appreciate its artistic impact and develop an endless fascination with its beauty, free from the complexities of deeper interpretations.