"Outside
the Eastern Gate"
The following poem is from the Shih Ching. It is the
the 93rd poem appearing in Mao's ordering of the Shih Ching,
but is often numbered 36th in English versions of that anthology.
Outside
the Eastern gate
Are
girls many as the clouds;
But
though they are many as clouds
There
is none on whom my heart dwells.
White
jacket and grey scarf 1
Alone
could cure my woe.
Beyond
the Gate Tower
Are
girls lovely as rush-wool;
But
though they are lovely as rush-wool
There
is none with whom my heart bides.
White
jacket and madder skirt
Alone
could bring me joy.
1.White jacket
and grey scarf are the conventional garb of a humble lover.
See Arthur Waley, The Book of Songs: The Ancient Chinese
Classic of Poetry, page 43, note 2.
Questions:
- Why is the speaker unhappy even though he is surrounded
by pretty girls?
- Why might clouds and rush-wool be considered suitable
metaphors for the beauty of women?
- What does this poem imply about the traits that make
for a happy relationship or an ideal lover? How is this
similar to or different from Western ideas of what makes
for a passionate romance?
