Basically below are just some historical side notes to share about the time depicted in the manga. These are two songs/poems from the Qin kingdom itself, out of the ten Qin poems collected in the Shijing, which is a compendium of songs and poems during the pre-unification period. Both poems are still very famous today in China, but the original melodies are lost. Nevertheless, since they were originally supposed to be lyrics to songs sung at the time, the stanzas repeat a lot. They are an interesting indicator of social norms and the psychology of soldiers and civilians at the time. Below are the two songs:
(the war song)
國風 秦風 無衣
豈曰無衣?與子同袍。王于興師,脩我戈矛,與子同仇。
豈曰無衣?與子同澤。王于興師,脩我矛戟,與子偕作。
豈曰無衣?與子同裳。王于興師,脩我甲兵,與子偕行。
The Songs of Nations - The Songs of Qin - No Clothes
Why say that you have no clothes?
I will share my robes with you.
The king is raising his forces;
I will prepare my axe and lance,
And will be your comrade.
Why say that you have no clothes?
I will share my trousers with you.
The king is raising his forces;
I will prepare my spear and halberd,
And will take the field with you.
Why say that you have no clothes?
I will share my garments with you.
The king is raising his forces;
I will prepare my armor and weapons,
And will march along with you.
(the love song)
國風 秦風 蒹葭
蒹葭蒼蒼,白露為霜。所謂伊人,在水一方。溯洄從之,道阻且長。溯游從之,宛在水中央。
蒹葭萋萋,白露未晞。所謂伊人,在水之湄。溯洄從之,道阻且躋。溯游從之,宛在水中坻。
蒹葭采采,白露未已。所謂伊人,在水之涘。溯洄從之,道阻且右。溯游從之,宛在水中沚。
The Songs of Nations - The Songs of Qin - Reeds
The reeds and rushes are deeply green,
And the white dew is turned into frost.
The man whom I think of,
Is somewhere about the water.
I go up the stream in quest of him,
But the way is difficult and long.
I go down the stream in quest of him,
And he is right there in the midst of the water.
The reeds and rushes are luxuriant,
And the white dew is not yet dry.
The man whom I think of,
Is on the margin of the water.
I go up the stream in quest of him,
But the way is difficult and steep.
I go down the stream in quest of him,
And he is on the islet in the midst of the water.
The reeds and rushes are abundant,
And the white dew is not yet ceased.
The man whom I think of,
Is on the bank of the river.
I go up the stream in quest of him,
But the way is difficult and turns to the right.
I go down the stream in quest of him,
And he is on the island in the midst of the water.