Book of Songs
Lin Zhi Zhi
Anonymous
麟之趾
振振公子
于嗟麟兮
麟之定
振振公姓
于嗟麟兮
麟之角
振振公族
于嗟麟兮
Translation
The feet of the unicorn — noble and generous are the young lords. Ah, how like the unicorn! The brow of the unicorn — noble and generous are those of the lordly surname. Ah, how like the unicorn! The horn of the unicorn — noble and generous is the lordly clan. Ah, how like the unicorn!
Analysis
"Lin Zhi Zhi" is a short blessing poem from the "Zhou Nan" section of the Book of Songs. It uses the lin, often translated as unicorn or qilin, as a symbol of benevolence, auspiciousness, and noble virtue. In early Chinese tradition, the qilin is not a violent beast. It is a gentle, auspicious creature associated with humane rule, moral excellence, and prosperity. It was believed not to harm living things. This makes it an ideal image for praising noble descendants. The first stanza mentions the feet of the qilin and praises the "young lords." The qilin's feet suggest gentle movement that harms nothing. By comparison, the young nobles are praised as generous, humane, and properly formed in virtue. The word "zhen zhen" is central. It suggests fullness of virtue, sincerity, nobility, and flourishing abundance. It is not merely about social rank or number. It praises moral quality. The second stanza moves from "young lords" to "those of the lordly surname," widening the scope of praise from individual noble sons to the broader line of descendants. The third stanza moves further to the "lordly clan." Even the qilin's horn, which might seem sharp, is traditionally understood as non-injuring. It therefore continues the theme of power restrained by benevolence. The poem's structure is ceremonial and highly regular: a part of the qilin, a praised noble group, and an exclamation of admiration. It is not a personal lyric but a ritualized blessing. It celebrates lineage, virtue, and the flourishing of a noble house. If "Tao Yao" blesses a marriage and "Jiu Mu" blesses a noble man with good fortune, "Lin Zhi Zhi" blesses the descendants and clan as a whole. Its central idea is that true nobility lies not only in birth, but in humane and auspicious virtue.
About the Author
"Lin Zhi Zhi" comes from the "Zhou Nan" section of the "Airs of the States" in the Book of Songs. Its author is unknown. The Book of Songs is the earliest anthology of Chinese poetry, containing more than three hundred poems from roughly the early Western Zhou to the mid-Spring and Autumn period. The "Zhou Nan" poems often concern love, marriage, household life, ritual, blessing, and lineage. "Lin Zhi Zhi" is a representative ritual blessing poem, using the auspicious qilin to praise the virtue and flourishing of noble descendants and clan lineage.