先秦 Pre-Qin · 诗经 Classic of Poetry
南山
The Southern Mountain
南山崔崔，雄狐绥绥。
鲁道有荡，齐子由归。
既曰归止，曷又怀止？
葛屦五两，冠绥双止。
鲁道有荡，齐子庸止。
既曰庸止，曷又从止？
蓺麻如之何？
衡从其亩。
取妻如之何？
必告父母。
既曰告止，曷又鞠止？
析薪如之何？
匪斧不克。
取妻如之何？
匪媒不得。
既曰得止，曷又极止？
A lone fox lingers, sly and loud.
The road to Lu is smooth and wide,
The maiden of Qi became a bride.
Yet since she wed, why does she long,
And keep the old love, wild and strong?
Hempen shoes are made in pairs,
Hanging tassels, two in twos.
The road to Lu is smooth and wide,
The maiden of Qi went as a bride.
Yet since she went, why does she stray,
And follow vice in a shameful way?
To plant the hemp, the field must be,
Plowed lengthwise and crosswise carefully.
To take a wife, what rules are set?
The parents must be told, don't forget.
Yet since they told, why does she dare,
To act wanton beyond compare?
To split the firewood, what tool is right?
Without an axe, you cannot fight.
To take a wife, what must be done?
A matchmaker must be the one.
Yet since she got a match, why then,
Does she indulge to shame all men?
Meaning
The poem satirizes Duke Xiang of Qi and his sister Wen Jiang for their incestuous relationship. It contrasts the proper rites of marriage with their immoral behavior, expressing outrage at the collapse of social norms.
南山高高耸立，雄狐缓缓独行。鲁国大道平坦，齐女由此出嫁。既然已经嫁了，为何又怀念（旧情）？葛布鞋成双，冠带也成双。鲁国大道平坦，齐女由此嫁人。既然已经嫁了，为何又跟从（乱伦）？种麻该怎么种？要纵横耕好田亩。娶妻该怎么娶？必须先禀告父母。既然已经禀告了，为何又纵恣？劈柴该怎么劈？没有斧头不行。娶妻该怎么娶？没有媒人不得。既然已经得到（明媒正娶）了，为何又放肆到极点？
Appreciation
Background: This is a satire from the 'Qi Airs' section, traditionally said to condemn Duke Xiang of Qi and his sister Wen Jiang's incest, and Duke Huan of Lu's inability to control it. Interpretation: The first two stanzas use the 'Southern Mountain' and 'male fox' as metaphors for Xiang, followed by describing Wen Jiang's marriage to Lu, repeatedly asking 'since married, why...?'. Art: The opening lines use both imagery and metaphor, with the fox symbolizing licentiousness; the final two stanzas use proper marriage rites (informing parents, needing a matchmaker) to contrast the wanton behavior, creating a sharp irony.
【白话串讲】 《诗经》里最尖锐的一首讽刺诗：齐襄公和妹妹私通，诗人用南山、雄狐打比方，骂得毫不留情。三千年前，中国人就开始用诗来监督权力。 【意象与手法】 四章结构精巧。前两章以「南山崔崔，雄狐绥绥」起兴兼比，以雄狐独行之「绥绥」暗喻襄公淫佚；「既曰归止，曷又怀止」以诘问递进讽刺。后两章以「蓺麻」「析薪」设问，引出「取妻必告父母」「匪媒不得」的正礼，随即反跌，以正常婚仪反衬乱伦纵恣，正反对照，婉而多讽。 【情感与主旨】 《南山》属《诗经·齐风》。据《左传》等载，齐襄公与其妹文姜（鲁桓公夫人）有乱伦之私，鲁桓公携文姜归齐，竟被杀。诗以「齐子由归」指文姜嫁鲁桓公，「曷又怀止」「曷又从止」暗刺其与襄公旧情不断、秽行昭著，《诗序》所谓「刺襄公也，鸟兽之行，淫乎其妹」。 【名句点睛】 考点：①兴中含比（雄狐喻淫乱）；②四章「既曰……曷又……」的诘问结构与讽刺逻辑；③「取妻如之何？匪媒不得」以正礼反衬丑行的手法。
Background
'The Southern Mountain' belongs to the 'Qi Airs' in the Book of Songs. According to historical records like the Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xiang of Qi had an incestuous relationship with his sister Wen Jiang (wife of Duke Huan of Lu). When Duke Huan accompanied Wen Jiang back to Qi, he was murdered. The poem uses 'the Qi lady married' to refer to Wen Jiang's marriage to Duke Huan, and asks 'why do you still yearn?' and 'why do you follow?', subtly criticizing their ongoing illicit affair. The 'Mao Preface' states: 'satirizing Duke Xiang for his beastly conduct, committing incest with his sister.' The references to 'informing parents' and 'needing a matchmaker' are proper marriage rites from Zhou ritual, used here to contrast the violation of human ethics.
《南山》属《诗经·齐风》，共四章，每章六句。据《左传·桓公十八年》等记载，齐襄公与其异母妹文姜（鲁桓公夫人）有乱伦之私，鲁桓公十八年携文姜如齐，齐襄公使公子彭生杀桓公。诗以「齐子由归」指文姜嫁鲁桓公，「曷又怀止」「曷又从止」暗刺其与襄公旧情不断、秽行昭著。《毛诗序》谓「《南山》，刺襄公也。鸟兽之行，淫乎其妹」，又谓「大夫遇是恶，作诗而去之」。诗中「必告父母」「匪媒不得」皆周礼娶妻之正，正用以反讥违背人伦的丑行，寄托诗人对纲常沦丧的愤慨。齐风地处山东临淄一带，其诗多写齐地风土与时政，此诗即为齐诗讽喻的著名篇章，反映春秋时期诸侯贵族伦常败坏的现实，也是研究《诗经》讽刺艺术与春秋礼制的重要文献。春秋时期，齐、鲁两国世为婚姻，文姜嫁鲁桓公本为政治联姻，然齐襄公与文姜的乱伦私情，最终酿成桓公被杀的政治丑闻，震动诸侯；《南山》《敝笱》《载驱》三诗皆咏此事，可见齐人之愤，亦见《诗经》以诗记史的传统。《诗经》刺诗多针对时政而发，此诗「大夫遇是恶，作诗而去之」的记载，说明其作者为鲁国或齐国的大夫阶层，诗以讽刺出之，正是「主文谲谏」的体现。
Art
The poem's four stanzas are skillfully structured. The first two stanzas begin with 'Mount South stands high, a male fox lingers' as both opening imagery and metaphor, using the fox's solitary movement to imply Xiang's licentiousness. The line 'the road to Lu is smooth and wide' narrates the marriage, and the repeated questions 'since married, why?' intensify the satire. The last two stanzas shift to questions about planting hemp and splitting firewood, introducing proper marriage rites ('must inform parents', 'without a matchmaker cannot marry'), then abruptly reverse with 'since told, why does she dare?' to highlight the contrast between correct ritual and depravity. This positive-negative contrast creates a subtle, biting satire typical of the Spring and Autumn period's allegorical style.
四章结构精巧，前两章与后两章取径不同。前两章以「南山崔崔，雄狐绥绥」起兴兼比，以南山之高峻、雄狐独行之「绥绥」暗喻襄公之淫佚，「鲁道有荡」二句叙事，「既曰归止，曷又怀止」以诘问递进讽刺，问而不答，其意自明。后两章别开生面，以「蓺麻」「析薪」设问，引出「取妻必告父母」「匪媒不得」的正礼，随即以「既曰告止，曷又鞠止」反跌，以正常婚仪反衬乱伦纵恣，正反对照，婉而多讽。四章层层逼近：由起兴而入事，由叙事而诘问，由设问而反跌，句句含刺而无一字直斥。「曷又」之问重复四次，如连珠炮发，问得越紧，讽刺越深，极具春秋讽喻「微而显」之妙，是《诗经》讽刺诗的典范。全诗八次设问（四章各两问），「曷又」四问连环相逼，如责问者步步进逼而丑行者无所遁形；问句不答而答案自明，讽刺之力全在问中，正是春秋笔法「微而显、志而晦」的典范。前两章重章复沓，后两章设问推衍，四章又复以「既曰……曷又……」的同一句式收束，复中有变、变中见复，正是《诗经》章法「重而不板、变而不乱」的典范。
Allusions
'Male fox lingers' – the Mao Commentary says 'male foxes follow each other without distinction', using the fox to symbolize Duke Xiang's incest. The Zuo Zhuan also mentions 'male fox' as portent of licentiousness. 'Qi lady' refers to Wen Jiang. 'Ju' and 'ji' both mean 'to the utmost, wanton'. 'Without an axe cannot split wood' uses firewood cutting as metaphor for marriage, akin to the poem 'Cutting firewood' (Fa Ke) which says 'to take a wife, without a matchmaker cannot succeed'. The poem integrates historical events, ritual regulations, and metaphorical imagery, all rooted in Zhou rites and Qi history, conveying deep meaning.
「雄狐绥绥」，《毛传》谓「雄狐相随，绥绥然无别」，以狐喻襄公淫乱，狐性多疑善淫，古人以雄狐为淫兽之象，起兴含比。「齐子」即文姜，齐襄公妹，嫁鲁桓公，「由归」「庸止」皆言其出嫁，「曷又怀止」「曷又从止」则刺其归齐后与襄公旧情复炽。「鞠」训穷极、纵恣，「极」亦训穷、放肆，皆写其逾礼乱伦之甚。「蓺麻」「析薪」皆以农事设问起兴，「衡从其亩」写纵横耕田，喻娶妻须循礼而行；「匪斧不克」「匪媒不得」以斧斫薪、媒娶妻为喻，与《豳风·伐柯》「娶妻如何，匪媒不得」同源。本诗融史事、礼制、比兴于一炉，典实皆出周礼与齐史，寄意深曲。「衡从其亩」言纵横耕田之状，「从」通「纵」，与「横」对举，写种麻须先整治田亩，喻娶妻须先循礼问名，取譬于农事而归于礼制，正见《诗经》「以物起兴、以事喻理」的传统。「葛屦五两，冠绥双止」以鞋履成双、冠缨成对写夫妇匹配之常理，反衬文姜再适后仍与襄公往来之悖常，物之成双与人之乱伦对照，讽刺愈深。
Commentary
The Mao Preface: 'The Southern Mountain satirizes Duke Xiang for his beastly conduct, committing incest with his sister. A nobleman faced this evil and wrote the poem to leave.' Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries: 'It says Mount South is so high, the male fox so furtive, the road to Lu so smooth, yet the Qi lady went as a bride; now why does she still yearn?' Fang Yurun praised it: 'The satire is subtle yet explicit, piercing the bone.'
《毛诗序》：「《南山》，刺襄公也。鸟兽之行，淫乎其妹，大夫遇是恶，作诗而去之。」朱熹《诗集传》：「言南山则有崔崔矣，雄狐则有绥绥矣，而鲁道之有荡，亦齐子之所由归也，今何为而怀止哉？」方玉润评其「讽意微而显，刺人骨三分」。此诗以狐喻人、以正礼反衬丑行，讽刺艺术极高，是《诗经》讽刺诗「温柔敦厚而讥刺入骨」的典型。齐风刺诗多直率，而此诗以诘问出之，含蓄中见锋芒，历代注家均视为《诗经》刺诗的名篇。其「既曰……曷又……」的反问句式，更成为后世讽刺文学的经典语式，也是研究春秋贵族伦理与《诗经》讽刺艺术的重要文献。近人闻一多《诗经通义》亦论及此诗刺齐襄公、文姜之事，认为「雄狐」之喻尤为犀利；历代注家虽于细节有异，而「刺淫乱」之旨则古今同然，足见此诗讽刺之成功，也是《诗经》研究「比兴刺谕」说的经典例证。此诗刺当世之丑而不直斥其人，以比兴、设问、正礼三途并进，其讽刺艺术之高，可与《新台》《墙有茨》并观，为《诗经》刺诗的上乘之作。
Prosody
Line by line
南山崔崔，雄狐绥绥
Mount South stands high and proud; a male fox lingers alone. This opening uses both imagery and metaphor: the mountain's height sets a grand scene, while the fox's solitary movement implies Duke Xiang's licentious and wandering nature.
南山高高耸立，雄狐缓缓独行。
Southern Mountain stands high and steep; the male fox walks slowly, solitary.
兴中含比，是全诗讽刺的起点。「南山崔崔」写南山之高峻，起兴引出下文；「雄狐绥绥」以雄狐独行、相随无别之态，暗喻襄公之淫佚无度。古人以雄狐为淫兽之象，狐之「绥绥」正似襄公之「鸟兽之行」，比兴之中已含贬斥；南山之高与雄狐之淫并置，一正一邪，微言大义，正是《诗经》「兴中有比」的典范，开篇即定下全诗讽刺的基调。南山之高与雄狐之淫并置，一正一邪，比兴之中已含贬斥，开篇即定讽刺基调。
The fox. Southern Mountain stands high and steep; the male fox walks slowly, solitary. The mountain-high-steep and the male-fox-slow-solitary are the opening. To have stood high would be a standing; the southern-mountain-stands-high-and-steep-the-male-fox-walks-slowly-solitary is the standing.
鲁道有荡，齐子由归
The road to Lu is smooth and wide; the lady of Qi married there. This narrates the historical fact of Wen Jiang's marriage to Duke Huan of Lu, setting up the context for the satire.
鲁国大道平坦，齐女由此出嫁。
The road to Lu is smooth and broad; the Qi maiden goes by it to her wedding.
叙事点题，暗指文姜嫁鲁桓公。「鲁道有荡」写鲁国大道之平坦开阔，反衬出路的正当；「齐子由归」点明齐女（文姜）由此大道出嫁于鲁，明媒正娶，本为合礼之事。此句以平静的叙事为后文的诘问铺垫：既然已经按正礼出嫁，为何又生非分之念？正当的嫁娶与后来的乱伦对照，讽刺之意已在平静的叙述中暗伏。「鲁道有荡」写正道之坦荡，反衬后文「曷又怀止」之悖礼，正反对照。平静叙事之中暗伏讥刺，正是春秋笔法的含蓄。
The road. The road to Lu is smooth and broad; the Qi maiden goes by it to her wedding. The road-to-Lu-smooth-broad and the Qi-maiden-wedding are the narrative. To have been smooth would be a being; the the-road-to-lu-is-smooth-and-broad-the-qi-maiden-goes-by-it-to-her-wedding is the being.
既曰归止，曷又怀止
Since she married, why does she still yearn? This repeated rhetorical question directly attacks Wen Jiang's continuing feelings for her brother, highlighting the violation of marital fidelity.
既然已经嫁了，为何又怀念（旧情）？
Now that she has been married off, why does she still yearn?
诘问递进，是全诗眼目。「既曰归止」以肯定的语气承认出嫁这一既成事实，「曷又怀止」随即质问为何又心怀旧情，一问一逼，逻辑谨严；问而不答，其意自明——既已循礼出嫁，便不该再存非分之念。此句以「既」「曷」的转折构成反问，把讽刺藏在看似平和的疑问之中，愈问愈紧，正是「温柔敦厚而讥刺入骨」的春秋笔法，为全诗四章反复诘问立下范式。「既」「曷」转折成问，问而不答，其意自明，是全诗讽刺的眼目。
The question. Now that she has been married off, why does she still yearn? The now-married-off and the why-still-yearn are the inquiry. To have been married off would be a being; the now-that-she-has-been-married-off-why-does-she-still-yearn is the being.
取妻如之何？匪媒不得
How to take a wife? Without a matchmaker, cannot be done. Emphasizes the necessity of a go-between in proper Zhou marriage rites.
娶妻该怎么娶？没有媒人不得。
How does one take a wife? Without a go-between, it cannot be done.
以正礼反衬纵恣，正反对照。诗人不直接斥责乱伦，而设问「取妻如之何」，引出周礼娶妻的规范——「匪媒不得」，娶妻须经媒妁之言，是礼制的正途；「析薪如之何？匪斧不克」以斧斫薪喻媒娶妻，取譬贴切。既知娶妻须媒、须告父母，文姜之嫁亦经此礼，却仍与襄公乱伦纵恣，正礼与丑行对照，愈见其行为之悖礼，讽刺之意不待言说而自明。以「匪媒不得」之正礼反衬乱伦之丑行，正反对照，讽刺不待言说。
The matchmaker. How does one take a wife? Without a go-between, it cannot be done. The how-take-wife and the without-go-between-cannot are the rite. To have taken a wife would be a taking; the how-does-one-take-a-wife-without-a-go-between-it-cannot-be-done is the taking.
蓺麻如之何？衡从其亩
How to plant hemp? Plow the fields crosswise and lengthwise. This begins a new section using rhetorical questions about proper work, leading into analogies for marriage.
种麻该怎么种？要纵横耕好田亩。
How does one plant hemp? The fields must be plowed lengthwise and crosswise.
此句以农事设问起兴，是全诗由叙事转入礼制的枢纽。「蓺麻如之何」以种麻设问，「衡从其亩」答以纵横整治田亩——种麻须先治田，喻娶妻须先循礼；由此引出「取妻如之何？必告父母」的正礼。以农事之常理喻婚嫁之礼制，取譬贴切，通俗而深刻，为下文「曷又鞠止」的反跌蓄势，讽刺由人事上升到礼法层面。此句以农事设问起兴，引出娶妻必告父母的正礼，讽刺转向礼制层面，立意更进一层。
The hemp. How does one plant hemp? The fields must be plowed lengthwise and crosswise. The how-plant-hemp and the fields-plowed-lengthwise-crosswise are the simile. To have planted hemp would be a planting; the how-does-one-plant-hemp-the-fields-must-be-plowed-lengthwise-and-crosswise is the planting.
Study
Word focus
Related Reading
Both are satires from the Airs, one condemns incest and loss of propriety, the other curses those without ritual conduct.
《相鼠》以「相鼠有皮，人而无仪」直骂无礼之人「不死何为」，措辞激烈，讥刺露骨；《南山》以雄狐起兴、以正礼反衬，含蓄婉转。一为直斥、一为婉讽，皆刺当世之失礼，可见《诗经》讽刺诗「直率」与「婉约」两种风格，亦可比较其讽刺艺术的高下异同。一为直斥、一为婉讽，可见《诗经》讽刺诗的两种风格，亦见「温柔敦厚」与「讥刺入骨」的辩证统一。《相鼠》骂无礼者「不死何为」，《南山》问悖礼者「曷又怀止」，一骂一问，各极其妙。
敝笱 Broken Fish Net 诗经 · 同属齐风，同刺文姜 Same context (Qi Airs satirizing Wen Jiang)Both poems target Wen Jiang's adultery with Duke Xiang; 'Broken Fish Net' uses fish as metaphor, and they complement each other.
《敝笱》与《南山》同为齐风刺文姜淫乱之诗，《敝笱》以破鱼篓不能制鱼喻文姜之放纵难制，「其从如云」写其从者之众；《南山》则以狐喻襄公、以正礼刺乱伦。两诗一写文姜之纵、一刺襄公之淫，互文见义，合观可见齐人对此事的普遍愤慨，亦是《诗经》同一题材多角度书写的范例。两诗同刺文姜事，一写其纵、一刺其淫，互文见义，合观可见齐人之愤。《敝笱》以鱼篓喻礼法之失，《南山》以雄狐喻襄公之淫，取象各异而刺意相通。