Ten Acres 十畝之間

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 詩經)'—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 十畝之間," 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 十畝之間' 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.

十畝之間 Ten Acres:

十畝之間兮，桑者閑閑兮，行與子還兮。
十畝之外兮，桑者泄泄兮，行與子浙兮。

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 閑閑 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.

這首歌描繪了田園生活的安逸與恬靜：在完成了桑葉的採集後，桑女們悠然自得地離開桑田，她們的歡笑聲與歌聲回蕩在十畝田地間。

Written by Dr. Annie Luman Ren

Ten Acres 十畝之間

[VERSE 1]
Come on,
十畝之間
桑者

桑者閑，
行子還
行與子還兮
還兮。

[VERSE 2]
Come on,
十畝之外，
桑者
桑者泄泄兮，
行子還
行與子浙兮
浙兮。

SOLOS

[VERSE 1]
Come on,
十畝之間
桑者

桑者閑，
行子還
行與子還兮
還兮。

[VERSE 2]
Come on,
十畝之外，
桑者
桑者泄泄兮，
行子還
行與子浙兮
浙兮。