Lofty Southern Mountain

"Jie Nan Shan"

Preface: "Jie Nan Shan" is a poem by Jia Fu satirizing King You of Zhou.

That lofty southern mountain, its rocky crags piled layer upon layer. The powerful Grand Master Yin, the people all gaze upon you.

Worry burns like fire, I dare not lightly laugh or jest. The state is on the verge of ruin—why do you not yet look into it?

That lofty southern mountain, its slopes lush with grass and trees. The powerful Grand Master Yin, your dealings are unjust—what is this you call right?

Heaven sends down calamities without cease, disasters and disorders are many and great. The people’s words hold no goodness, yet you show not a trace of caution or sighing.

Grand Master Yin, you are the foundation of Zhou. You hold the reins of state power, and all four quarters rely on you to maintain order.

The Son of Heaven depends on your aid to keep the people from losing their way. O unkind Heaven, why let the people suffer in emptiness?

If you do not attend to affairs yourself, the people will not trust you. If you neither consult nor employ the worthy, do not deceive the noble-minded.

Be fair and bring things to rest; do not let petty men bring harm. As for those trifling kinsmen, do not grant them high office and rich emoluments.

Heaven is not good, sending down this great turmoil. Heaven is not benevolent, sending down this vast disaster.

If a noble man were to come, he could give the people peace; if a noble man were impartial, the people’s resentment would dissolve.

O unkind Heaven, the turmoil is not yet settled. Turmoil erupts month after month, giving the people no rest.

Worry is like being drunk—who holds the great power of the state? If you do not govern affairs yourself, in the end it is the common folk who suffer.

Harness those four stallions; the four stallions have thick, strong necks. I gaze in all four directions—the world is too narrow, nowhere to gallop free.

When you were doing evil, I saw your spears already raised. But when your anger subsides and you are pleased, it is as though you toast each other in friendship.

Heaven is not just, and our king finds no peace. You do not chasten your own heart, but instead resent those upright men.

Jia Fu made this poem to trace the source of the king’s calamities. It seeks to change your heart, so as to nurture all the states under Heaven.

"Jie Nan Shan" has ten stanzas: six stanzas of eight lines each, and four stanzas of four lines each.