Original text

缁衣之义 Xi ① , I changed it to 西 ② . The pavilion of suitable children comes ③ , and the charm of giving children comes ④ .

The clothes are so good, but I have transformed them. The pavilion that is suitable for children is here, and the charm of teaching children is here.

The mat of 缁衣 is here ⑤, I changed it to another one. The pavilion that is suitable for children is here, and the charm of teaching children is here.

Notes

①缁 (zī) clothing: black clothes. Appropriate: Suitable.

②: dilapidated. Yu: But.

③ Hall: Hall.

④粲: Congmi, fine white rice, here generally refers to gourmet food.

⑤ Seat: wide and loose. The Love Words of the Book of Songs explores the truth, goodness and beauty of traditional Chinese culture and spreads healthy and positive energy

Translation

Black clothes are so suitable, and they can be replaced with new ones if they are worn out.

You go to the library to finish your errands, and I will cook you delicious food when you go home.

Black clothes are so beautiful, they can be remade once they are broken.

You go to the library to finish your errands, and then go home and reward yourself with delicious food.

Black clothes are wide and long, and they can be made into new ones if they are torn.

You go to the library to finish your errands, and the delicious food will be served when you return home.

Analysis

This poem describes the warmth of family relationships. Regarding the theme of this poem, there have always been different opinions. Some scholars believe that it is a poem describing the relationship between monarch and ministers. However, the warm family affection revealed between the lines of this poem may be more reasonable to understand as family affection.

This poem describes a gentle and virtuous wife who made a new black suit for her husband and asked him to try it on and found that it fit well. The beauty that the ancients paid attention to is slightly different from that of our modern people. For example, modern people regard slimness as beauty, but in the Tang Dynasty, plump figure was beauty. The ancients paid attention to loose and generous clothes, thinking that they were beautiful, so the word "xi" was used in the poem to express the beauty of clothes. Looking at her husband wearing this outfit, the wife was very happy and said to him: "Black clothes still look better. If you wear them out, I can change them for you and make it a new one." Bian Gang The husband put on his clothes and warned, "You go and finish your errands and go home. I'll cook your favorite meal and wait for you to come back!" This scene is a very warm scene, whether in ancient times or today.

The last three chapters of the poem are in the form of a couplet, which expresses the appropriateness of clothes. In the poem, only "suitable", "good", "seat" are used to describe the fit of the clothes. In fact, they express that the clothes are particularly good. At the same time, "change", "reform" and "remake" are also used to describe the remade clothes, which is also true. Different ways of saying the same thing. The last two sentences of each chapter are the same.

The tone of the whole poem is easy-going, vividly describing the details of the couple's daily life, and at the same time, it also describes the protagonist's meticulous care for her husband. Love and thoughtfulness are evident.

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