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先秦 Pre-Qin · 诗经 Classic of Poetry

常棣

The Flowering Cherry

诗经

Shijing

亲情Family affection 宴饮Theme 哲理Philosophy

常棣之华，鄂不韡韡。
凡今之人，莫如兄弟。
死丧之威，兄弟孔怀。
原隰裒矣，兄弟求矣。
脊令在原，兄弟急难。
每有良朋，况也永叹。
兄弟阋于墙，外御其务。
每有良朋，烝也无戎。
丧乱既平，既安且宁。
虽有兄弟，不如友生？
傧尔笾豆，饮酒之饫。
兄弟既具，和乐且孺。
妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴。
兄弟既翕，和乐且湛。
宜尔室家，乐尔妻帑。
是究是图，亶其然乎！

The cherry blossoms, how they gleam!
Their calyx and petals shine.
Among all people in this world,
None are like brothers, so fine.

When death and mourning strike with dread,
The brothers deeply care.
When corpses lie on the wide plain,
The brothers seek them there.

The wagtail on the plain in need,
The brothers rush to aid.
A good friend may be by your side,
But only sighs, afraid.

Brothers may quarrel within the wall,
But outside unite as one.
A good friend may be with you then,
But no help can be done.

When chaos and mourning subside,
And peace and calm prevail,
Though you have brothers, can it be
They're less than friends? Don't fail.

Set out your vessels full of food,
Drink wine to your heart's content.
When brothers all have gathered here,
Harmony and joy are sent.

With wife and children in accord,
Like lute and harp in tune,
When brothers are in harmony,
Deep joy fills every room.

So make your home a happy place,
Delight your wife and child.
Reflect on this and ponder well,
How true these words are mild!

Listen

Meaning

This poem praises the bond between brothers, emphasizing that no relationship is as strong as that of siblings. It contrasts the loyalty of brothers with the unreliability of friends, especially in times of crisis. The poem concludes with the joy of family harmony and feasting.

常棣花开得灿烂，花萼花蒂都鲜明。普天下的人啊，没有比兄弟更亲。遭死丧的威逼，兄弟最为关怀。荒野里尸骨暴露，兄弟赶去收埋。鹡鸰困在原野，兄弟急于救难。每每有些好朋友，也不过长叹一番。兄弟在家墙内相争，对外却共御仇怨。每每有些好朋友，终究不来相援。丧乱既已平定，既安宁又平静。那时虽有兄弟，难道反不如朋友？陈列你的笾豆，饮酒尽兴。兄弟都已到来，和乐而又亲昵。妻子儿女和顺，如琴瑟相和。兄弟既已聚合，和乐而又深厚。治理好你的家庭，欢乐你的妻儿。仔细考究这道理，确实就是如此啊！

Appreciation

The poem begins with the image of cherry blossoms, symbolizing brotherly unity. Through contrasting brothers with friends and portraying internal strife versus external defense, it powerfully conveys the theme that brothers are irreplaceable. The structure moves from metaphor to argument to feast, creating a solemn yet warm tone.

【白话串讲】 “凡今之人，莫如兄弟”——天底下的人，都比不上兄弟。“兄弟阋于墙，外御其务”——兄弟在家吵架，遇到外敌会一起抗。“兄弟”二字的份量，三千年前就写清楚了。【意象与手法】本诗艺术在起兴与对比的匠心。首章以「常棣之华，鄂不韡韡」（花萼相附）起兴，喻兄弟同根共生；中幅以对比立论：患难中「兄弟急难」而「良朋」仅「永叹」，墙内虽「阋」而对外「御其务」，良朋「无戎」——以友衬兄弟，层层递进。末三章由宴饮写到妻孥好合，归于「宜尔室家」。【情感与主旨】《常棣》（一作《棠棣》）为《诗经·小雅》中的宴饮亲族诗。《毛诗序》谓「燕兄弟也」，并引「闵管蔡之失道」说，以为周公作此以亲睦兄弟。周代以宗法立国，血缘为社会组织核心，「亲亲」之谊关乎邦家安危，诗首揭「凡今之人，莫如兄弟」，正是这种重宗族伦理的时代精神之体现。【名句点睛】中高考考点：①主旨——理解「兄弟之情重于朋友」的宗法伦理与「外御其侮」的内涵；②「常棣之华」起兴与「脊令在原」「兄弟阋墙」等成语意象；③由患难到宴饮的章法结构。

Background

This poem is from the 'Lesser Odes' of the Shijing, traditionally associated with a feast for brothers. The Mao commentary links it to the Duke of Zhou's admonition after the rebellion of his brothers Guan and Cai. It reflects the patriarchal clan system of the Zhou dynasty, emphasizing blood relations as the foundation of society.

《常棣》（一作《棠棣》）为《诗经·小雅》名篇，属「鹿鸣之什」。《毛诗序》谓「《常棣》，燕兄弟也」，并引「闵管蔡之失道」之说，以为周公既诛管叔、蔡叔，作此诗以亲睦兄弟；后世朱熹等虽疑其出自周公之说，然诗用于贵族兄弟燕饮聚会则无疑义。《左传·僖公二十四年》载富辰引「常棣之华，鄂不韡韡。凡今之人，莫如兄弟」句，谓「周公吊二叔之不咸，故封建亲戚以蕃屏周」，则此诗与周初封建宗法关系密切。周代以宗法立国，血缘为社会组织核心，「亲亲」之谊关乎邦家安危，诗首揭「凡今之人，莫如兄弟」，正是这种重宗族伦理的时代精神之体现。全诗八章，由患难见真情的对比论证，到宴饮团聚的欢乐描写，层层展开兄弟之义的丰富内涵，历来被视为处理兄弟关系的经典文献，也是《小雅》中「燕享」之诗的代表作。就礼乐背景言，此诗用于「燕兄弟」之宴，属《小雅》燕享之诗，与《鹿鸣》（燕嘉宾）《伐木》（燕朋友故旧）鼎足而三，共同构成周代贵族燕饮的礼乐系统：鹿鸣以「鼓瑟吹笙」宴嘉宾，伐木以「嘤其鸣矣」求友声，常棣则以「鄂不韡韡」亲兄弟，三诗合观，正是「亲亲以睦友，贤贤以辅德」的礼制诗教。又「常棣」本为植物之名（郁李），其花萼相依之象，正是兄弟「同气连枝」的天然象征，诗人取之为兴，可谓得物性之精，此诗之被《左传》引为「周礼」的经典依据，良有以也。

Art

The artistry lies in the opening metaphor of the cherry blossom's calyx and petals, symbolizing shared roots. Contrast is used throughout: brothers vs. friends, internal quarrels vs. external unity. The ninefold repetition of 'brothers' creates a rhythmic emphasis. The structure progresses from metaphor to argument to feasting, showing elegant organization.

本诗艺术在起兴与对比的匠心。首章以「常棣之华，鄂不韡韡」起兴——常棣（郁李）之花萼相依相附，鲜艳光明，喻兄弟同根共生、亲如一体，是「兴而兼比」的典范起笔，并自然引出「凡今之人，莫如兄弟」的总纲。二至五章以对比立论：死丧之威，兄弟孔怀；原隰裒矣，兄弟求矣——患难中兄弟赴救，而良朋仅「况也永叹」；「兄弟阋于墙，外御其务」——兄弟虽墙内相争，对外却能共御其侮，而良朋「烝也无戎」；「丧乱既平，既安且宁，虽有兄弟，不如友生」——以反诘写乱后或生疏友之念，为后文宴饮和乐张本。六至八章转入宴饮描写：「傧尔笾豆，饮酒之饫」写陈设笾豆、兄弟燕饮；「妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴」以琴瑟喻夫妻之和、家室之乐；「兄弟既翕，和乐且湛」写兄弟聚合之乐；结以「宜尔室家，乐尔妻帑。是究是图，亶其然乎」，以劝诫口吻收束。全诗「兄弟」一词凡九见，回环强调，结构由兴到议到宴，浑厚雍容，为《小雅》正声。

Allusions

The cherry blossom became a symbol of brotherhood; later 'di'e' (棣萼) refers to brothers. The phrase 'brothers quarreling within the wall but uniting against outsiders' became the idiom 'xì qiáng wài yù' (阋墙外御). The wagtail (jiling) in the field symbolizes urgent rescue among brothers.

诗中意象多成后世典故。「常棣」之花萼相依，遂成「棠棣」喻兄弟之典，后世「棣萼」「棣华」「棠棣之华」皆指兄弟（如李白「棣华倘不接」）。「脊令在原」以鹡鸰失群悲鸣喻兄弟急难相救，开「鹡鸰在原」喻兄弟急难之成语。「兄弟阋于墙，外御其务（侮）」凝为成语「阋墙御侮」，言内部虽有纷争而能一致对外，至今通用。「如鼓瑟琴」以琴瑟和鸣喻夫妻好合，亦成习语。「凡今之人，莫如兄弟」更成宗法伦理的经典表述，为后世兄弟文学立下基调。全诗句式多成典故，影响宗法伦理书写与成语系统甚深，是其「经典化」的明证。此外，「鄂不韡韡」之「鄂」即「萼」（花托），「不」通「柎」（花蒂），花萼花蒂相依相附，正是兄弟同根共蒂之喻；「原隰裒矣」之「原隰」指高平与低湿之地，《诗经》习见，此处写尸骨暴露于原野，兄弟前往收殓，「裒」为聚集，指收聚遗骸，尤见患难之极处兄弟之情；「每有良朋，况也永叹」之「况」通「怳」，指惆怅失意，写良朋面对急难只能长叹，与「兄弟急难」的果决对照，褒贬自明。

Commentary

The Mao commentary says this poem is for feasting brothers. Zhu Xi notes its layers of everyday truth, death, and rescue. Su Shi uses the line 'brothers in harmony and deep joy' to discuss family governance. The idiom 'brothers quarreling within the wall' remains widely used.

《毛诗序》曰「《常棣》，燕兄弟也」，朱熹《诗集传》云：「此诗首章言兄弟之常，次章言死丧之变，三章言急难之当救，四章言御侮之当同，五章言安宁而后知兄弟之可贵……末二章言兄弟之乐乐室家。」方玉润《诗经原始》称：「首章提纲要，下乃层层洗发，沉痛淋漓。」清人崔述《丰镐考信录》则考其非周公之作，然于其伦理价值则无异词。苏轼《东坡志林》亦引「兄弟既翕，和乐且湛」论治家之道。「兄弟阋于墙，外御其侮」一语更成为汉语常用成语与民族危亡时的动员话语，足见其影响已超出文学而深入民族文化心理。就诗史而言，此诗与《小雅·鹿鸣》等宴饮诗共同构成《诗经》燕享之诗的系统，是研究周代宗法伦理与宴饮文化的第一手文献。就阐释史而言，此诗自《左传》引诗以证「周公封建亲戚以蕃屏周」以来，即与周初政治结缘；《毛诗序》「闵管蔡之失道」说，更使此诗成为「兄弟阋墙」这一政治悲剧的诗化训诫——管蔡之乱中，周公诛兄放弟，正是「兄弟阋于墙」的极端形态，而周公作诗「亲睦兄弟」，正是要从悲剧中重建亲情伦理。后世曹操《短歌行》「契阔谈讌，心念旧恩」、苏轼兄弟唱和之诗，皆承此「兄弟之情」的书写传统；今人读此诗，犹可体会中华文化以血缘亲情为伦理根基的深厚传统。

Prosody

Form Shijing·Xiaoya·Changdi (four-character poem)诗经·小雅·常棣（四言诗，八章）

Rhyme First stanza: zhi rhyme; subsequent stanzas change rhyme随章换韵（华、韡、弟；怀、求；难、叹；务、戎；宁、生；饫、孺；琴、湛；帑、乎），大体一章一韵

Tone pattern Four-character, two-two rhythm, no tonal patterns四言二二节拍，不究平仄，句句押韵或隔句押韵

Reading note A classic of brotherly ethics in feasting.此诗为《诗经·小雅》中的四言诗，共八章三十二句，是「燕享」之诗的标准体制。《诗经》以四言为正格，二二节拍（如「常棣／之华」），节奏整饬、古朴庄重，正合宗庙燕享的典礼氛围。用韵上《诗经》依古韵，本诗大体随章换韵：首章「华、韡、弟」相协，二章「怀、求」相协，三章「难、叹」相协，四章「务、戎」相协，五章「宁、生」相协，六章「饫、孺」相协，七章「琴、湛」相协，八章「帑、乎」相协——一章一韵、换韵自由，正是《诗经》「随章转韵、以韵分段」的典型，每章换韵即换一境，八章八韵，情感层层推进。句式上全为四言，间以「凡今之人」「每有良朋」等虚词起句，语气委婉；「兄弟」一词凡九见，复沓回环，如钟磬之音反复敲击，将主题层层强化。此种四言二二节拍、随章换韵的体制，上承商周雅颂，下启汉魏四言诗（曹操《短歌行》「青青子衿，悠悠我心」即直接化用《诗经》句法），是中国诗歌最早的成熟体式，《常棣》正是这一体式中「燕享」一格的代表，其声情的庄重雍容与内容的伦理教化相得益彰。

Line by line

常棣之华，鄂不韡韡。凡今之人，莫如兄弟。

The cherry-tree blooms, calyx and petals shining bright. Of all men now living, none are like brothers.

常棣花开得灿烂，花萼花蒂都鲜明。普天下的人啊，没有比兄弟更亲。

The cherry-tree flowers, calyx and petals all bright. Of all men today, none are as close as brothers.

首章以花萼起兴并立起总纲，是全诗的灵魂。「常棣之华」写常棣（郁李）之花，「鄂不韡韡」写花萼花蒂相依相附、鲜艳光明——花萼承花，同根而生，正是兄弟同气连枝的绝妙象征，兴而兼比，起笔即点题；「凡今之人，莫如兄弟」承兴而立论，以「凡今之人」的普遍性反衬「莫如兄弟」的至高无上，将兄弟之情推为一切人伦之首。此句为全诗纲领，下文八章皆由此生发：患难之救、御侮之合、宴饮之乐，无不印证「莫如兄弟」四字，是《诗经》「兴而兼比、立纲定调」的典范。

The cherry. The cherry-tree blooms, calyx and petals shining bright. Of all men now living, none are like brothers. The cherry-blooms-calyx-bright and the none-like-brothers are the thesis. To have bloomed would be a blooming; the the-cherry-tree-blooms-calyx-and-petals-shining-bright-of-all-men-now-living-none-are-like-brothers is the blooming.

脊令在原，兄弟急难。

The wagtail cries on the plain; brothers rush to one another's peril.

鹡鸰困在原野，兄弟急于救难。

The wagtail is on the plain; brothers hasten to help in distress.

以鹡鸰起兴写急难相救，是全诗对比论证的枢纽之一。「脊令」即鹡鸰，水鸟本栖水边，今困于原野，失其所居、哀鸣求援，喻兄弟遭难流离；「兄弟急难」写兄弟闻难即赴、急于相救——「急」字写救难之切，不容犹豫、不避艰险。此句与下文「每有良朋，况也永叹」对举：兄弟赴难，良朋只能长叹，一比一衬，兄弟之情重于朋友之义昭然若揭。鹡鸰之典由此成为「兄弟急难」的固定意象，后世「鹡鸰在原」遂成成语，影响深远。

The wagtail. The wagtail cries on the plain; brothers rush to one another's peril. The wagtail-plain and the brothers-rush-peril are the allusion. To have cried on the plain would be a crying; the the-wagtail-cries-on-the-plain-brothers-rush-to-one-another's-peril is the crying.

兄弟阋于墙，外御其务。

Brothers may quarrel inside the wall, but together they fend off the foe.

兄弟在家墙内相争，对外却共御仇怨。

Brothers may quarrel within the walls, but together they fend off outside wrongs.

写兄弟「内争外合」的特质，是全诗最具伦理深意的一联。「阋于墙」写兄弟在家墙之内虽有争斗——「阋」为争吵、争斗，兄弟同处一室，龃龉在所难免，此写人性之实；「外御其务」写一旦外侮来临，兄弟便弃前嫌而共御其侮——「务」通「侮」，指外来的欺侮仇怨，此写血缘之固。一「内」一「外」、一「争」一「御」，写尽兄弟关系的真实与深刻：内争是人之常情，外御是骨肉之本能，而后者终胜前者。此句凝为成语「阋墙御侮」，至今犹为民族危亡时的动员话语，正是此诗伦理力量的千古回响。

The wall. Brothers may quarrel inside the wall, but together they fend off the foe. The quarrel-inside-wall and the together-fend-off-foe are the unity. To have quarreled inside the wall would be a quarreling; the brothers-may-quarrel-inside-the-wall-but-together-they-fend-off-the-foe is the quarreling.

妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴。兄弟既翕，和乐且湛。

Wife and children are one, like zither and lute in harmony; brothers united, joy deep and abiding.

妻子儿女和顺，如琴瑟相和。兄弟既已聚合，和乐而又深厚。

Wife and children are in harmony, like zither and lute played together; brothers once united, their joy is deep and abiding.

由兄弟之乐写到家室之和，是全诗境界的拓展。「妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴」以琴瑟和鸣喻夫妻之顺、家室之乐——琴瑟相调、五音谐和，正是夫妻好合的绝妙象征；「兄弟既翕，和乐且湛」写兄弟聚合之乐——「翕」为聚合、和睦，「湛」为深厚、沉浸，写兄弟和乐之深。两句一写小家之乐、一写兄弟之乐，家室和顺与兄弟和乐互为因果、相得益彰：兄弟和则家室安，家室安则兄弟更亲。此联由「兄弟」推及「家室」，将兄弟之义融入齐家之道，正是宗法伦理「家国一体」的诗化表达。

The zither. Wife and children are one, like zither and lute in harmony; brothers united, joy deep and abiding. The wife-children-one-zither-lute and the brothers-united-joy-deep are the harmony. To have been one would be a being; the wife-and-children-are-one-like-zither-and-lute-in-harmony-brothers-united-joy-deep-and-abiding is the being.

宜尔室家，乐尔妻帑。是究是图，亶其然乎！

Order your household, make your wife and children glad. Study this, ponder it—truly it is so!

治理好你的家庭，欢乐你的妻儿。仔细考究这道理，确实就是如此啊！

Order your household well, make your wife and children happy. Examine this, ponder it—truly it is so!

末章以劝诫口吻收束，是全文的总结与点题。「宜尔室家，乐尔妻帑」写治理好家庭、欢乐妻儿——「宜」为妥善治理，「帑」即妻子儿女，两句化「兄弟之义」为「齐家之道」，兄弟和则室家宜、妻帑乐；「是究是图」写应当深入考究、认真践行此理，「亶其然乎」以反问自答——「确实就是这样啊」，语气恳切笃定，如长者谆谆叮咛。此章由论述转为劝勉，将兄弟之义的伦理价值落实到日常的室家生活之中，全诗由兴到议到宴到诫，层层递进、浑然一体，正是《小雅》「燕享」之诗以「正人伦」为旨归的体现。

The counsel. Order your household, make your wife and children glad. Study this, ponder it—truly it is so! The order-household-wife-children-glad and the study-ponder-truly-so are the close. To have ordered the household would be an ordering; the order-your-household-make-your-wife-and-children-glad-study-this-ponder-it-truly-it-is-so is the ordering.

Study

Word focus

韡韡 bright and flourishing 「鄂不韡韡」之「韡韡」，光明、繁盛貌，写常棣花萼的鲜明灿烂，是全诗起兴的着眼之字。「韡」本义为光明盛大，叠用之则写花萼花蒂相依相附、色泽鲜明的繁盛之态——常棣之花以韡韡写其光彩，正是兄弟同根共生、兴旺昌盛的象征。此词以「光明」写「亲睦」，取象于花之鲜艳，喻义于人之和睦，一字而比兴全出；且「韡韡」为叠字，音节明亮朗畅，与《诗经》「桃之夭夭，灼灼其华」的叠字传统一脉相承。后世咏兄弟之诗多用「棣萼韡韡」之语，正源于此词。

阋 to quarrel 「兄弟阋于墙」之「阋」，争斗、争吵之意，写兄弟内部的纷争，是全诗最具真实感的一个字。「阋」本义为争斗（从鬥从兒），此处写兄弟同处一室、墙内相争——兄弟至亲而难免龃龉，此是人情之常，诗人不讳言之，正见《诗经》写实求真的一面；而与下句「外御其务」相对，一「阋」一「御」，内争外合，兄弟关系的全部复杂性浓缩于一字一联之中。「兄弟阋于墙，外御其侮」由此凝为成语，此「阋」字亦成为「兄弟内争」的固定表达，其生命力历三千年而不衰。

翕 harmonious, united 「兄弟既翕」之「翕」，聚合、和睦之意，写兄弟欢聚和乐之态，是全诗由「论」转「乐」的关键字。「翕」本义为合、敛（如鸟之敛翼），引申为聚合、和顺，此处写兄弟既已团聚、彼此和睦——「既翕」二字，将前文患难相救、御侮相合的血缘之义，落实为眼前宴饮相聚、和乐融融的欢乐之象。与下句「和乐且湛」相配，「翕」写聚合之形，「湛」写和乐之深，一形一神，兄弟之乐的完满尽在其中。此字选得极准：不写「聚」而写「翕」，兼有「聚合」与「和顺」二义，正见《诗经》用字之精。

常棣