"Oh fuck, I know that song - that's them Qin boys!"

Explanation from Original OP:

In the bloody Warring States-Era China (&00s-221 BC) of all the warring Kings & Dukes, it wasn’t fun the face the Qin Kingdom in battle.

The Kings of Qin, advised by capable Legalist ministers, built their state as a military juggernaut: extensive agricultural infra enough to feed millions, the millions that were conscripted into its state-equipped & trained massive armies, led by merit-promoted officers and paid for with fixed salary grades + combat bonuses per enemy heads taken. If you were not in the army everybody else in Qin worked to feed, clothe, arm, or administrate the army. The Kings of Qin wielded their state as practically one big-ass weapon that rolled over others in brutal conquest wars that saw China unified by 221 BC. as single state for the first time.

Every aspect of Qin life was bent towards warfare. You can even see it in the songs its people sing.

One of the most important literary pieces in Pre-unification China is the Shijing (Book of Songs/Odes) a compilations of ancient poems which included “Songs of the States” which were like national anthems of the Kingdoms/Duchies. In most kingdoms many of these songs were about (more) ancient times, love & longing, beauty, or the joys & sorrows of life.

The Qin’s State Songs however were unique for having war-songs. Like this one titled “Wu Yi (無衣, lit. No Clothes).”

豈曰無衣、與子同袍。

王于興師、脩我戈矛、與子同仇。

How can you say that you have no clothes?

I will share my long robes with you.

The king assembles his army;

I will raise my sword and spear,

And we’ll fight side by side.

豈曰無衣、與子同澤。

王于興師、脩我矛戟、與子偕作。

How can you say that you have no clothes?

I will share my underwear with you.

The king assembles his army;

I will ready my spear and halberd,

And will take the field with you.

豈曰無衣、與子同裳。

王于興師、脩我甲兵、與子偕行。

How can you say that you have no clothes?

I will share my trousers with you.

The king assembles his army;

I will ready my armor and sharp weapons,

And let us march together.

Scholars ancient & modern have long debated what this song could’ve meant. Was it sung seriously or as a joke? Maybe it was about a people so eager to fight that they’re leaving home without clothes? Or was it about dumbfuck recruits who dont have their shit together & being laughed at by veterans? In any case many concluded that the presence of war-songs as a cherished part of the Qin realm’s poetry hinted at how much militarized life in Qin was vs. the other Warring States.

PS: here’s a Chinese military choir singing this song (perhaps too seriously).