Approaching Saint Bernard’s Sermons on the “Song of Songs” through the <i>Book of Odes</i> (<i>Shijing</i>): A Confluence of Medieval Theology and Chinese Culture

Abstract

This paper aims to decode medieval theology from the vantage point of ancient Chinese poetry, employing a cross-textual methodology that encourages a fusion of horizons. It highlights Saint Bernard’s profound and influential theological exegesis of the “Song of Songs”, particularly his comparison of the divine–human relationship to the conjugal bond. The present study posits that readers from Chinese culture can gain access to Saint Bernard’s mystical theology through the sentiment of love, as portrayed in the Book of Odes (Shijing). Initially addressing love as a core human sentiment, this study progresses by juxtaposing the representations of love in the Book of Odes with those in the “Song of Songs”. This comparative analysis culminates in an exploration of Saint Bernard’s theological perspectives, illuminated through these analogous depictions of love. The results affirm that engaging with Saint Bernard’s discourse on love via the Book of Odes is not only feasible but also instrumental in dispelling widespread misconceptions.

Keywords

• medieval mystical theology
• <i>Book of Odes</i> (<i>Shijing</i>)
• “Song of Songs”
• Saint Bernard of Clairvaux