revolution.jpg

Revolution

Once you get the hang of it, you quit when you're ahead. 滿 You assume that when you've got it made, it won't take long to fall apart, and when gold and jewels deck public halls, that nothing can save your neck.

When you're rich and powerful, pride brings shame upon itself. 退 Step up, then step back down, that's how nature works.

Notes

This poem is a close parallel to a verse in Guanzi, 滿 滿 退. The Guanzi verse is part of a passage that seems to legitimize King Wu's usurpation, so I'm guessing that this poem was meant to be read in the same context, perhaps as advice on how to avoid the fate of the last Shang king.

Conventional translations of this poem are more literal than my interpretation, taking the subject of the first line as a cup, and of the second as a sword or knife. (Personally, I think the metaphor of the first line is more likely to be a Zhou tipping pot.) I prefer to read the phrases as verb phrase conditionals, and to interpret as bear in mind, as infer and the subject as . I also like the line as a second then statement that also matches .

The poem's Heshang Gong title is , revolving evenly.

as nature is a stretch, but interpreting is always a stretch, so why not?

Vocabulary

xià
1 + 2
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
1 + 3
no, not; un-; negative prefix
nǎi
4 + 1
then; really, indeed; as it turned out, after all; namely
zhī
4 + 3
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
5 + 2
also; classical final particle of strong affirmation or identity
bǎo
9 + 7
protect, safeguard, defend, care
12 + 6
his, her, its, their; that
gōng
19 + 3
achievement, merit, good result
30 + 2
may, can, -able; possibly
míng
30 + 3
name, rank, title, position
jiù
30 + 5
fault, defect; error, mistake
táng
32 + 8
hall; government office
tiān
37 + 1
sky, heaven; god, celestial
37 + 3
ancient barbarian tribes
38 + 3
if, supposing; as if; like, as
shǒu
40 + 3
defend, protect, guard, conserve
40 + 9
abundant, ample; rich, wealthy
49 + 0
already; finished; stop
chí
64 + 6
sustain, support; hold, grasp
chuāi
64 + 9
put things under clothes
70 + 4
in, at, on; interjection alas!
dài
78 + 5
dangerous, perilous; endanger
滿
mǎn
85 + 11
fill; full, satisfied
96 + 0
jade, precious stone, gem
yíng
108 + 4
fill; full, overflowing; surplus
ér
126 + 0
and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
néng
130 + 6
to be able; can, permitted to; ability
132 + 0
self, private, personal; from; Kangxi radical 132
ruò
140 + 5
if, supposing, assuming; similar
140 + 7
do not, is not, can not; negative
guì
154 + 5
expensive, costly, valuable
shēn
158 + 0
body; trunk, hull; Kangxi radical 158
退
tuì
162 + 6
step back, retreat, withdraw
jìn
162 + 8
advance, make progress, enter
suì
162 + 9
comply with, follow along; thereupon
yùn
162 + 9
luck, fortune; ship, transport
dào
162 + 9
path, road, street; method, way
162 + 12
lose; articles lost; omit
jīn
167 + 0
gold; metals in general; money; Kangxi radical 167
ruì
167 + 7
sharp, keen, acute, pointed
zhǎng
168 + 0
long; length; excel in; leader; Kangxi radical 168
jiāo
187 + 12
spirited horse; haughty