Book of Songs
郑风·叔于田
佚名
叔于田，巷无居人。
岂无居人？不如叔也，洵美且仁。
叔于狩，巷无饮酒。
岂无饮酒？不如叔也，洵美且好。
叔适野，巷无服马。
岂无服马？不如叔也，洵美且武。
Translation
Shu has gone hunting in the fields; the lane seems empty of people. Is there truly no one there? There are people, but none is like Shu—so handsome, so kind. Shu has gone out to the hunt; the lane seems empty of men drinking wine. Is there truly no one drinking? There are people, but none is like Shu—so handsome, so fine. Shu has gone into the open country; the lane seems empty of men harnessing horses. Is there truly no one with horses? There are people, but none is like Shu—so handsome, so martial.
Analysis
“Shu Yu Tian” is a song of admiration. Shu is not described through a detailed portrait; instead, his absence transforms the whole lane. When he goes out to hunt, the neighborhood seems empty, as if ordinary people have lost their presence because none can compare with him. The poem’s repeated question—“Is there truly no one?”—is important. It corrects the exaggeration while preserving its emotional truth. There are people, but none like Shu. The qualities attached to him shift from kindness to beauty and martial strength, building a compact image of a noble and attractive young man. The poem is lively and direct. Its charm lies in the way public space becomes emotional space: the lane, the wine gatherings, and the horses all reflect the speaker’s admiration. Shu’s charisma is shown not by what he says, but by the emptiness he leaves behind.
About the Author
“Shu Yu Tian” is an anonymous poem from the Zheng Airs of the Book of Songs. The Zheng poems often preserve vivid scenes of everyday life, courtship, admiration, and social feeling. Unlike the more formal hymns and court odes, the Airs of the States frequently give voice to ordinary emotion through short, repeated stanzas. This poem belongs to that tradition, praising a young man through the bright exaggeration of communal admiration.