Book of Poems – Spanking the Pan

The Book of Poetry is the earliest work of Chinese lyric poetry in existance. But it has a reputation as being a bit fusty. Today, we are going to explore the naughtier side of the anthology. 

Here is my translation:

Spanking the Pan

He spanked my pan in the mountain valley, 

The big man was happy. 

I sleep soundly alone, and, upon waking, speak, 

I swear I will never forget it. 

He spanked my pan on the mountain slope,

The big man looked good. 

I sleep soundly alone, and, upon waking, sing,

I swear I will never leave him.

He spanked my pan on the mountain top,

The big man looks fine. 

I sleep soundly alone, and, awaken in my bed,

I swear I will never tell.

Here is the original:

卫风·考槃1

考槃在涧2，硕人3之宽。独寐4寤5言，永6矢7弗谖8。

考槃在阿9，硕人之薖10。独寐寤歌，永矢弗过13。

考槃在陆11，硕人之轴12。独寐寤宿，永矢弗告。

Here is the Baidu Baike translation:

One built a cabin in the mountain valley,

the great man lives in the breadth of heaven and earth. 

One sleeps alone, One wakes alone, alone one speaks,

Forever, one will remember this happiness but never be able to explain in words. 

One built a cabin on the on the mountain slopes,

the great man lives here in his cozy nest. 

One sleeps alone, One wakes alone, alone one sings,

Never will one leave this mountainside. 

One built a cabin on the mountain plateau, 

the great man lingers here. 

One sleeps alone, One wakes alone, one sleeps alone,

In this is the happiness that cannot be put into words. 

Here is the original of the Baidu poem: