春天的花蕊啊！——《詩經 . 摽有梅》
朱嘉雯
Flower Buds in the Spring--- Biao You Mei from the Book of Odes and Hymns
by Prof. Zhu Jiawen

在數九寒天的臘月時節，東華大學「詩經花園」裡六株五十年的老梅樹，吐放新蕊！遍觀通部《詩經》，最有名的梅之詩篇，就是《國風 . 召南 . 摽有梅》。

In the cold days of winter, six fifty-year-old plum trees in the "Poetry Garden" at National Dong Hwa University are now sprouting new buds! Among all the poems in the "Book of Odes and Hymns," the most famous one about plums is "Biao You Mei", which means plums dropping from the trees, from the Odes of Shao and the South in the Lessons of the States, Guan Feng - Shao Nan.

摽有梅，其實七兮。求我庶士，迨其吉兮。

摽有梅，其實三兮。求我庶士，迨其今兮。

摽有梅，頃筐塈之。求我庶士，迨其謂之。

Dropping are the fruits from the plum tree;

There are seven of them left!

For the gentlemen who seek me,

This is the fortunate time!

Dropping are the fruits from the plum tree;

There are three of them left!

For the gentlemen who seek me,

Now is the time.

Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;

In my shallow basket I have collected them.

Would the gentlemen who seek me

speak about it!

這首詩以梅果的成熟墜落來提醒適婚年齡的男女，千萬別誤了婚期。而事實上，在春秋戰國時代，青年男女最適當的結婚時間，落在霜降之後到冰泮之前，也就是梅花開落之間。《荀子》這本書中曾經提及：「霜降逆女，冰泮殺止。」「逆女」就是迎娶新娘的意思。

This poem uses the falling of ripe plum fruit to remind young men and women who reach their suitable age for marriage not to miss the right time to marry. In fact, during the civil war period in the late Zhou Dynasty, the most suitable time for young men and women to marry fell between the first frost and the last frost, which is when the plum blossoms bloom and fall. The book Xunzi mentioned that "the first frost is the time to welcome the bride."

為什麼從霜降到冰溶之間最適合結婚呢？因為古人依循天地四時演化來生活。女孩子如果選擇在秋冬到第二年冰雪消融之前來舉行婚禮，這就完全避開了農忙，待冰雪消融之後，大家又可以一起投入春耕，這份體貼家人的情意，便是實現了婦德婦功的美德。

Why is the period from the first frost to the last frost the most suitable time for marriage? The reason is that ancient people lived in harmony with the changes of the four seasons in nature. If a girl chooses to hold her wedding during autumn or winter, before the snow melts in the following year, it completely avoids the busy farming season. After the snow melts, everyone can join in spring planting. This consideration for family members demonstrates the virtues of being a good wife and fulfilling her domestic duties.

而且周朝人講究天人合一與陰陽調和，如果可以在適當的時間結婚和懷孕，孩子便能夠秉善氣而生，以致「狀貌美好，長大老壽」。（《論衡》）

Moreover, people during the Zhou Dynasty emphasized the harmony between heaven and humanity, as well as the balance of yin and yang. If one could marry and conceive at the right time, the child would be born with good character and disposition, leading to "beauty in appearance and longevity in old age" (from Lunheng or Disquisition).

關於《摽有梅》這首詩，還有一個重點，作者之所以用梅之開落來點醒婚期，乃是因為「梅」諧音「媒」，《禮記》上說：「男女無媒不交。」所以這首詩同時旨在告訴我們，古代男女交往需要通過媒人來撮合。「有梅」暗喻「有媒」，藉以表示人們對於婚約與婚禮的重視。

Regarding the poem "Biao You Mei," there is another important point to note. The author uses the blooming and falling of plum blossoms to remind us of the timing of marriage, as "mei" (plum) sounds similar to "mei" (matchmaking) in Chinese. As stated in the Book of Rites, "A man and a woman do not come together without a matchmaker." Therefore, this poem also aims to convey that in ancient times, courtship between men and women often required the intervention of a matchmaker. "Having plum blossoms" metaphorically suggests "having a matchmaker," indicating the importance people placed on betrothal and marriage.

《詩經》是孔子整理編纂的文學教材，它同時也廣泛地反映了古人的生活方式和文化禮俗。只要我們多讀點詩，再抬眼看看大自然，這眼前的花草樹木是不是就多了一分美好的生活願景與具有溫度的文化底蘊？

"The Book of Odes and Hymns" is a literary textbook compiled and edited by Confucius, which comprehensively reflects the lifestyle and customs of ancient people. As long as we read more poetry and take a look at nature, we will find that the flowers, grass, and trees around us are imbued with beautiful vision of life and cultural heritage with warmth.