Jiu Zhang

Jiu Zhang (Chinese: 九章; pinyin: Jiu Zhang; English: Nine Pieces) is a collection of poems attributed to Qu Yuan and printed in the Chu Ci (楚辭 Songs of Chu, sometimes Songs of the South).

Title translation

Jiu zhang is a transliteration of the title of this section of the Chu ci. Jiu means nine, as in the number. It is not entirely clear why this number was chosen to divide this work into sections, although performance purposes or imitation of prior Chu ci works are both likely factors. Zhang was commonly used in ancient Chinese to mean a section of a literary work, such as a paragraph of a prose piece or for a stanza of a song or poem.[1] Jiu zhang may also be translated into English alternatively, such as Nine Declarations.

The nine pieces

The nine poems of the Jiu Zhang form a diverse collection.

Table of contents

The "Nine Pieces" consists of nine titles of poems:

Standard orderEnglish translationTranscription (based on Pinyin)Traditional ChineseSimplified Chinese
1Grieving I Make My PlaintXi Song惜誦惜诵
2Crossing the RiverShe Jiang涉江涉江
3A Lament for YingAi Ying哀郢哀郢
4The Outpouring of Sad ThoughtsChou Si抽思抽思
5Embracing SandHuai Sha懷沙怀沙
6Thinking of a Fair OneSi Meiren思美人思美人
7Alas for the Days Gone ByXi Wangri昔往日 昔往日
8In Praise of the Orange-TreeJu Song橘頌橘颂
9Grieving at the Eddying WindBei Hui Feng悲回風悲回风

Note that poem numbers 1, 6, 7, and 9 actually lack titles in the original text; rather, they are named for the sake of convenience after the first few words with which these poems begin.[2] English titles based on David Hawkes' translations.

See also

Notes

  1. Hawkes:1985, 155
  2. Hawkes:1985, 152

References

  • Hawkes, David, translation, introduction, and notes (2011 [1985]). Qu Yuan et al., The Songs of the South: An Ancient Chinese Anthology of Poems by Qu Yuan and Other Poets. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-044375-2
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