"Katydus" is a blessing poem that wishes others to have descendants and a prosperous family.
Original text
螽（zhōng）Siyu蜜（shēn）诜xi
Yierzi Sunzhen（zhēn）Zhenxi
The katydid feathers are dead (hōng) and they are dead
The descendants of Yi'er are roped (mǐn) and the ropes are Xi
The grasshoppers and feathers are bowing (jí) and they are dying
Yi'er Children and grandchildren sting (zhé) sting Xi
Translation
Grasshoppers spread their wings and fly low in groups.
Your descendants are many and your family is prosperous.
The grasshoppers spread their wings and buzzed in flight.
Your descendants will be numerous and will last for generations.
The grasshoppers spread their wings and crowded the hall.
Your descendants are many and many, and your children and grandchildren are harmonious and joyful.
Appreciation
The poem has three chapters, each chapter has four sentences, the first two sentences describe it, and the last two sentences praise it. The refrain form of repeated words and phrases is the most distinctive feature of this poem's artistic expression.
If the three words of "Yier descendants" make the purpose of the poem clear, then the ingenious use of six groups of repeated words makes the whole poem infinitely charming.
The use of reduplication in "The Book of Songs" is quite common, and the unique charm of "Katydid" lies in the six groups of reduplication, which are neatly tempered, used in conjunction with each other in every sentence, and have sonorous rhyme, resulting in a short stanza and long rhyme. aesthetic effect.
At the same time, the structure of the poem is juxtaposed, and the six words have different meanings, forming a poetic hierarchy: the first chapter focuses on the prosperity of many children; the second chapter focuses on the prosperity of generations; the last chapter focuses on gathering joy.
In fact, the whole article is written around "Katydid", but it is a double entendre, that is, things are feelings, things and feelings are forgotten, and they are integrated. Therefore, "katydid" is not only a metaphorical image, but also a symbolic image rarely seen in the Book of Songs.
In terms of imagery, migratory locusts lay eggs and hatch many nymphs, with two or three generations a year. They can be said to be the most suitable animals. The poem is making this comparison, placing its interest in things, that is, things embody feelings; "There are many descendants, and their words are like katydids", that's what it means.
As far as poetry is concerned, the word "yi" in "Yi'er descendants" has the meaning of "many"; and the six sets of repeated words, except "薨薨", all describe the gathering of many people. meaning. Yi Ci re-sings, and the ink is splashed, precisely because of the strong desire.
"Children" are the continuation of life, the comfort in old age, and the hope of the family. The concept that the Chinese ancestors would be blessed if they had many children had already been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people during the era of Yao and Shun.
As far as the arrangement of the poems is concerned, the first chapter, "Guofeng·Zhounan·樛木", congratulates the happy newlyweds, and this chapter then goes on to pray for more children. This is not only logical, but may also be the result of the editor's painstaking efforts.