James Legge
The Shih King is a book of ancient Chinese poetry translated by James Legge. It is also known as the Book of Odes or the Classic of Poetry. The collection contains 305 poems that were written between the 11th and 7th centuries BC. The poems are divided into four sections: The Airs of the States, The Lesser Eulogies, The Greater Eulogies, and The Hymns and Praise Songs. The Shih King is considered to be one of the Five Classics of Confucianism and is a significant cultural and historical text in China. The poems cover a wide range of topics, including love, war, nature, politics, and daily life. They are written in a variety of styles and forms, including ballads, odes, and hymns. Legge’s translation of The Shih King includes notes and commentary to help readers understand the historical and cultural context of the poems. He also provides a detailed introduction that discusses the origins and significance of the collection. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Chinese literature, history, or culture.Heaven protects and establishes thee. It grants thee all excellence, So that thine every matter is right, And thou receivest every Heavenly favour. It sends down to thee long-during happiness, Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.