The Odes of Confucius

What it is

This 1908 book is a literary English verse translation by L. Cranmer-Byng of the Book of Odes (Shi-King), a collection of poems traditionally associated with Confucius. It was published as part of the Wisdom of the East series, edited by Cranmer-Byng and S. A. Kapadia.

Why it matters

The Book of Odes is one of the oldest collections of Chinese poetry and was traditionally said to have been compiled or edited by Confucius. Early 20th-century translations like this one helped introduce Western readers to classical Chinese poetry, though as a verse rendering rather than a strict scholarly translation, it reflects the translator's literary choices as much as the original text.

Look closer

• How might translating poetry into verse change the meaning or feeling of the original text?
• Why do you think editors created a series meant to build understanding between East and West?
• What might this translation leave out that a more literal, scholarly version would keep?