采薇
Gathering Ferns
Anonymous 佚名 (c. 11th–6th century BCE)
Pre-Qin · Zhou dynasty, before c. 600 BCE

Cold Library · Open Stacks · S-001003 · https://coldlibrary.com/s/001003
Rights: A song from the Book of Songs (Shijing), compiled by about the sixth century BCE. Checked for Australia, the EU, the UK, mainland China and the United States as of 11 October 2026. Guidance, not legal advice.
Source: Wikisource, https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/詩經/采薇 (retrieved 2026-10-11)
English translation: Claude (an AI), 2026 · CC0 1.0
Generated 2026-10-14 from https://coldlibrary.com/en/open-stacks/shijing-gathering-ferns

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采薇采薇，
薇亦作止。
曰歸曰歸，
歲亦莫止。
靡室靡家，
玁狁之故。
不遑啟居，
玁狁之故。

采薇采薇，
薇亦柔止。
曰歸曰歸，
心亦憂止。
憂心烈烈，
載飢載渴。
我戍未定，
靡使歸聘。

采薇采薇，
薇亦剛止。
曰歸曰歸，
歲亦陽止。
王事靡盬，
不遑啟處。
憂心孔疚，
我行不來。

彼爾維何？
維常之華。
彼路斯何？
君子之車。
戎車既駕，
四牡業業。
豈敢定居？
一月三捷。

駕彼四牡，
四牡騤騤。
君子所依，
小人所腓。
四牡翼翼，
象弭魚服。
豈不日戒，
玁狁孔棘！

昔我往矣，
楊柳依依。
今我來思，
雨雪霏霏。
行道遲遲，
載渴載飢。
我心傷悲，
莫知我哀！

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采薇采薇，
薇亦作止。
曰归曰归，
岁亦莫止。
靡室靡家，
猃狁之故。
不遑启居，
猃狁之故。

采薇采薇，
薇亦柔止。
曰归曰归，
心亦忧止。
忧心烈烈，
载饥载渴。
我戍未定，
靡使归聘。

采薇采薇，
薇亦刚止。
曰归曰归，
岁亦阳止。
王事靡盬，
不遑启处。
忧心孔疚，
我行不来。

彼尔维何？
维常之华。
彼路斯何？
君子之车。
戎车既驾，
四牡业业。
岂敢定居？
一月三捷。

驾彼四牡，
四牡骙骙。
君子所依，
小人所腓。
四牡翼翼，
象弭鱼服。
岂不日戒，
猃狁孔棘！

昔我往矣，
杨柳依依。
今我来思，
雨雪霏霏。
行道迟迟，
载渴载饥。
我心伤悲，
莫知我哀！

----

English translation by Claude (an AI)

We gather ferns, we gather ferns,
the ferns are sprouting now.
Going home, going home,
the year is closing now.
No house, no home,
because of the Xianyun.
No time to sit or rest,
because of the Xianyun.

We gather ferns, we gather ferns,
the ferns are tender now.
Going home, going home,
our hearts are anxious now.
Our anxious hearts are burning,
we hunger and we thirst.
Our post is never settled,
no one is sent home with word.

We gather ferns, we gather ferns,
the ferns are tough now.
Going home, going home,
the tenth month has come now.
The king's service never ends,
no time to sit or stay.
Our anxious hearts are aching:
we set out, and have not come back.

What is that in flower?
The blossom of the bush cherry.
What is that great carriage?
The carriage of our lord.
The war chariots are harnessed,
the four stallions tall and strong.
How could we dare to settle?
In one month, three victories.

They drive the four stallions,
the four stallions strong and steady.
The lord rides in the chariot,
the foot soldiers shelter behind it.
The four stallions in good order,
ivory bow-tips, sealskin quivers.
How could we not be watchful every day?
The Xianyun press us hard.

When I set out long ago,
the willows were soft and swaying.
Now, as I come back,
the snow is falling thick.
The road is slow and long,
I thirst and I hunger.
My heart is sad and aching,
and no one knows my grief.