Ten Acres 十亩之间

Zy The Way is a dynamic musical ensemble based in Taipei, Taiwan, renowned for its seamless fusion of ancient Chinese poetry with contemporary jazz and sounds. Comprised of professional musicians and a multimedia artist, Zy The Way merges the rich cultural heritage of 3000-year-old Chinese folk poetry from the Classic of Poetry (Shijing 诗经)'—compiled by Confucius himself—with innovative and futuristic musical compositions. Drawing inspiration from diverse genres, their music offers a captivating and thought-provoking sonic journey that transcends traditional boundaries.

Their single "Ten Acres 十亩之间," marks the first release from their highly anticipated debut full-length album. Building on the success of their EP ‘A Different Destiny,’ Zy The Way seeks to further elevate their fusion of ancient Chinese poetry with modern sounds. This track masterfully brings the poem 'Ten Acres of Leisure 十亩之间' to life, evoking the serene rural life where mulberry planters, typically women, enjoy their leisure, their laughter resonating across the fields. It offers a refreshing perspective from a woman's voice, rarely represented in ancient Chinese texts, shedding light on their significant contributions to ancient society, while embodying the harmonious tranquility of rural existence.

十亩之间 Ten Acres:

十亩之间兮，桑者闲闲兮，行与子还兮。
十亩之外兮，桑者泄泄兮，行与子浙兮。

English Translation:

Between their ten-acre field
Mulberry planters stand idly.
‘If you are going, I’ll come with you’ says one to another.

Beyond their ten-acre field
Mulberry planters move idly.
‘If you are going, I’ll walk with you’ says one to another.

Poetry Interpretation:

The lyrics here depict the simplicity of farm life: with no more work left to be done, mulberry planters find themselves in idle contentment, moving with graceful ease: xián xián 闲闲 and yì yì 泄泄. We can be certain that this song was sung by farming women as they left the mulberry fields. Traditionally, women were deeply involved in every stage of the silk-making process: planting mulberry trees, gathering leaves, raising silkworms, unreeling silk, making thread, and weaving fabric. The lyrics depict the simple charms of farm life: with no more work left to be done, these female mulberry planters find themselves in idle contentment, moving with graceful ease. Forming groups as they leave the field, their laughter and singing resonate through the ten-acre field.

这首歌描绘了田园生活的安逸与恬静：在完成了桑叶的采集后，桑女们悠然自得地离开桑田，她们的欢笑声与歌声回荡在十亩田地间。

Written by Dr. Annie Luman Ren

Ten Acres 十亩之间

[VERSE 1]
Come on,
十亩之间
桑者

桑者闲，
行子还
行与子还兮
还兮。

[VERSE 2]
Come on,
十亩之外，
桑者
桑者泄泄兮，
行子还
行与子浙兮
浙兮。

SOLOS

[VERSE 1]
Come on,
十亩之间
桑者

桑者闲，
行子还
行与子还兮
还兮。

[VERSE 2]
Come on,
十亩之外，
桑者
桑者泄泄兮，
行子还
行与子浙兮
浙兮。