- Song of Beating the EarthWork at sunrise, rest at sundown. Dig wells for drink, plow fields for food. What has the emperor's power to do with me!
- Song of the Southern WindThe balmy Southern wind soothes the sorrow of my people; the timely Southern breeze enriches their wealth.
- Song of Waiting (Hou Ren Ge / Song of Tushan)Waiting for the loved one, oh!
- Song of the Five SonsOur imperial ancestor gave the precept: The people are the root of a country; when the root is firm, the country is tranquil.
Through the Dynasties · LH1
Xia
Flood-taming myths and the earliest legendary songs: the distant dawn of Chinese literary memory
4works
1forms
4authors
Mural guide
At sunset an old farmer turns the soil with his hoe while women draw water at a well and an ox ploughs a distant field, the village held between mountains and a winding river. The rhythm of working at sunrise and resting at sundown echoes the contentment of the ancient Song of Beating the Earth.
Song of Beating the Earth
Work at sunrise, rest at sundown. Dig wells for drink, plow fields for food. What has the emperor's power to do with me!
Read the work →Primordial foundations of dynastic governance