Tuesday, March 12, 2024

28 Nine States

A2.15|16|17

At that time, Jiuzhou the Nine States were unified, and everyone could live anywhere within the four corners. The mountains of Jiuzhou had roads built through and ready for travel, the rivers of nine states were dredged, and dams were built by the lakes in every state. Tribute from all over came together. All six prefectures were managed properly, the land in each place had been accurately surveyed, and taxes were collected carefully according to the conditions in each place, and they were all levied according to the different grades of the soil. The land and surnames were granted to the princes: "The respect for my virtues comes first, and do not deviate away from my teachings."

It was stipulated that the area five hundred miles outside of the capital was to be taken as Dianfu: those within one hundred miles had to pay the entire crops in bundles with husks and stalks, those within two hundred miles had to pay with crops with grains, those within three hundred miles had to pay grains with the awns removed, those within four hundred miles had to pay millet, and those within five hundred miles had to pay rice. And the area five hundred miles outside of Dianfu was Houfu: the area within one hundred miles was for the officials at His Majesty's services, the area within two hundred miles was for the ministers of the court, and the area of another three hundred miles was for the feudal princes. And the area five hundred miles outside of Houfu was Suifu: those of the first three hundred miles were to be educated and civilized, while those of another two hundred miles out were to be ready to defend the emperor with force. And the area five hundred miles outside of Suifu was Yaofu: those of the first three hundred miles were to follow his majesty's teachings and ready to serve, and the area of another two hundred miles was to follow the law and accept its punishment. And the area five hundred miles outside of Yaofu was Huangfu: the areas within three hundred miles were to be governed according to customs and etiquette of the local barbaric traditions, and the area of another two hundred miles and beyond would be the free zones. 

The land extended to the sea in the east and to the desert in the west. From north to south, the emperor's prestige and teachings were spreading all over the world. So Emperor Shun rewarded Yu with Xuangui, the power symbol made of black jade, and used it to announce the success of flood control to the whole world. From then on, the world was stable and peaceful.


于是九州攸同,四奥既居,九山栞旅,九川涤原,九泽既陂,四海会同。六府甚脩,众土交正,致慎财赋,咸则三壤成赋。中国赐土姓:“祗台德先,不距朕行。”

令天子之国以外五百里甸服:百里赋纳緫,二百里纳铚,三百里纳秸服,四百里粟,五百里米。甸服外五百里侯服:百里采,二百里任国,三百里诸侯。侯服外五百里绥服:三百里揆文教,二百里奋武卫。绥服外五百里要服:三百里夷,二百里蔡。要服外五百里荒服:三百里蛮,二百里流。

东渐于海,西被于流沙,朔、南暨:声教讫于四海。于是帝锡禹玄圭,以告成功于天下。天下于是太平治。