The She King: Greater Odes & Odes of the Temple (English-Chinese Edition): James Legge‘s Classic Translation

What is this book?

The She King (Shijing) is China's oldest poetry collection, containing 305 poems from the Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn period. This volume focuses on the "Great Odes" (大雅) and the "Sacrificial Odes" (颂) — the most formal and ceremonial sections, used in court banquets, ancestral sacrifices, and praises of former kings-27.

Who translated it?

James Legge (1815–1897) was the greatest British sinologist of the 19th century and the first to systematically translate the Chinese classics into English. His She King translation, first published in 1871, has remained the standard scholarly version for over 150 years, known for its literal fidelity and extensive annotations-.

What makes this edition special?

• Bilingual layout, simplified characters. The original was vertical and traditional; this edition is horizontal and simplified, making it far easier to read and reference-.

• Authentic 19th-century English. Legge's original translation is reproduced in full, without abridgment — dignified, precise, and historically significant.

• Who is it for? If you're interested in classical Chinese literature, comparative religion, or translation studies — or if you want to introduce the most important sections of the She King to English-speaking friends — this is the edition for you.

Why buy it?

Legge's translation is widely regarded as the definitive scholarly version, and it remains a staple in East Asian studies programs across Western universities-. You're not just buying a poetry book — you're buying a cross-cultural translation classic that has stood the test of time.