Book of Poems – Those Tender Peaches

Today is part two of the podcast series on the 詩經, the Book of Poems. This episode looks at “Those Tender Peaches”, a highly sexualized poem talking about more than peaches. 

Here are my translations of the poems.

This is my translation of “Those Tender Poems:”

Those Tender Peaches

Them peaches are tender, tender,

hot, hot in the bloom. 

The girl is getting hitched, 

don’t she fit this family.

Them peaches are tender, tender,

there are the fruits. 

The girl is getting hitched, 

don’t she fit this house. 

Them peaches are tender, tender,

its leaves are luxuriant. 

The girl is getting hitched,

don’t she fit these folks.

Here is the original Poem:

桃夭1

桃之夭夭，灼灼其華2。之子3于歸4，宜其室家。

桃之夭夭，有蕡5其實。之子于歸，宜其家室。

桃之夭夭，其葉蓁6蓁。之子于歸，宜其家人7

Here is my translation of this poem from Baidu:

The peach blossoms are in full bloom, a hundred thousand flowers,

Their color is red like a flame. 

This girl is getting married, 

she looks excited to go to her husband’s house

The peach blossoms are in full bloom, a hundred thousand flowers,

The clusters of fruit are big and sweet, 

This girl is getting married, 

she will soon give birth to honorable sons and be prosperous with descendants.

The peach blossoms are in full bloom, a hundred thousand flowers,

The green leaves are luxuriant, and open following the winds.

This girl is getting married, 

The husband’s house will be peaceful and happy and at peace.

The Baidu Translation in modern Chinese:

桃花怒放1千萬朵，色彩鮮豔紅似火。這位姑娘要出嫁，喜氣洋洋2歸夫家3。

桃花怒放千萬朵，果實累累4大又甜。這位姑娘要出嫁，早生貴子5後嗣6旺。

桃花怒放千萬朵，綠葉茂盛7隨風展。這位姑娘要出嫁，夫家康樂8又平安。