46 Pangeng

A3.21|22

After Emperor Yangjia died, his younger brother Pangeng succeeded to the throne. This is Emperor Pangeng. During the reign of Emperor Pangeng, the Yin Dynasty had already established its capital north of the Yellow River. Pangeng crossed the Yellow River to the south bank and re-established the capital in Tang's former residence. So far, the capital had been moved five times and there was no fixed place. The Yin people were not happy and resented, and did not want to move again. Pangeng then told the princes and ministers: "The great former Emperor Tang and your ancestors stabilized the world together. His laws should be followed. If you abandon his laws and do not work hard, how can you make any achievement!" So he crossed the Yellow River to the south bank, rebuilt the city of Bo, and implemented the policies of Tang. After that, the people were able to live in peace and the power of the Yin Dynasty was revived. The princes all came to pay homage because Pangeng followed the good policies of Cheng Tang.

After Emperor Pangeng died, his younger brother Xiaoxin succeeded to the throne. This is Emperor Xiaoxin. When Emperor Xiaoxin was in power, the Yin Dynasty declined again. The people missed Pangeng, so they wrote three chapters of "Pangeng". After Emperor Xiaoxin died, his younger brother Xiaoyi succeeded to the throne, and this was Emperor Xiaoyi.

帝阳甲崩，弟盘庚立，是为帝盘庚。帝盘庚之时，殷已都河北，盘庚渡河南，复居成汤之故居，乃五迁，无定处。殷民咨胥皆怨，不欲徙。盘庚乃告谕诸侯大臣曰：“昔高后成汤与尔之先祖俱定天下，法则可修。舍而弗勉，何以成德！”乃遂涉河南，治亳，行汤之政，然后百姓由宁，殷道复兴。诸侯来朝，以其遵成汤之德也。

帝盘庚崩，弟小辛立，是为帝小辛。帝小辛立，殷复衰。百姓思盘庚，乃作盘庚三篇。帝小辛崩，弟小乙立，是为帝小乙。

45 nine generations decline

A3.18|19|20

After Hedanjia died, his son Zuyi succeeded to the throne. During Emperor Zuyi's reign, Yin prospered again, and Wuxian was in power. 

After Zuyi died, his son Emperor Zuxin succeeded to the throne. After Emperor Zuxin died, his younger brother Wojia succeeded to the throne, and this was Emperor Wojia. After Emperor Wojia died, Wojia's elder brother Zuxin's son Zuding was made emperor, and this was Emperor Zuding. After Emperor Zuding died, Wojia's son Nangeng was made emperor, and this was Emperor Nangeng. After Emperor Nangeng died, Emperor Zuding's son Yangjia was made emperor, and this was Emperor Yangjia. During Emperor Yangjia's reign, Yin declined again.

Since Zhongding, the legitimate sons were often deposed and replaced by brothers and their sons. Sometimes the brothers and their sons competed for the throne, and there was chaos for nine consecutive generations, so the princes did not come to the court.

河亶甲崩，子帝祖乙立。帝祖乙立，殷复兴。巫贤任职。

祖乙崩，子帝祖辛立。帝祖辛崩，弟沃甲立，是为帝沃甲。帝沃甲崩，立沃甲兄祖辛之子祖丁，是为帝祖丁。帝祖丁崩，立弟沃甲之子南庚，是为帝南庚。帝南庚崩，立帝祖丁之子阳甲，是为帝阳甲。帝阳甲之时，殷衰。

自中丁以来，废適而更立诸弟子，弟子或争相代立，比九世乱，于是诸侯莫朝。

44 Zhongzong

A3.16|17

After Emperor Yongji died, his younger brother Taiwu succeeded to the throne, and this was Emperor Taiwu. Emperor Taiwu appointed Yizhi, the son of Yiyin, as prime minister. In Bo, there was an auspiciousness in the court, mulberry and corn coexisted, in one night, it grew to a size of full embrace by both hands. Emperor Taiwu was alarmed and questioned Yizhi on the subject. Yizhi said: "As your servant, I have heard that evil cannot defeat good. Maybe there are flaws in the emperor’s policies? So Your Majesty should just work on your virtue." Taiwu followed his advice, and the auspicious mulberry tree withered away. Yizhi praised Wuxian. Wuxian was also an achiever in managing the royal family business, he wrote "Xianyi" and "Taiwu", recorded Wuxian's achievements in governing the country and praised Emperor Taiwu's acceptance of advice and cultivation of virtue. Emperor Taiwu praised Yizhi in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, saying that he should not be just treated like other ministers. Yizhi humbly refused to obey and wrote "Original Mandate" to reinterpret Emperor Taiwu's mandate. In this way, Yin became prosperous again, and the princes came to submit to him again. Therefore, Emperor Taiwu was called Zhongzong the Middle Ancestor.

After Zhongzong died, his son Zhongding succeeded to the throne. Emperor Zhongding moved the capital to Ao. And later Emperor Hedanjia moved the capital to Xiang, and Emperor Zuding moved the capital to Xing. After Emperor Zhongding died, his younger brother Wairen succeeded him. This was Emperor Wairen. The record of Zhongding was incomplete in Shangshu the Ancient Book. After Emperor Wairen died, his younger brother Hedanjia succeeded him. This was Emperor Hedanjia. During Hedanjia's reign, the Yin dynasty declined again.

帝雍己崩，弟太戊立，是为帝太戊。帝太戊立伊陟为相。亳有祥桑谷共生于朝，一暮大拱。帝太戊惧，问伊陟。伊陟曰：“臣闻妖不胜德，帝之政其有阙与？帝其修德。”太戊从之，而祥桑枯死而去。伊陟赞言于巫咸。巫咸治王家有成，作咸艾，作太戊。帝太戊赞伊陟于庙，言弗臣，伊陟让，作原命。殷复兴，诸侯归之，故称中宗。

中宗崩，子帝中丁立。帝中丁迁于隞。河亶甲居相。祖乙迁于邢。帝中丁崩，弟外壬立，是为帝外壬。仲丁书阙不具。帝外壬崩，弟河亶甲立，是为帝河亶甲。河亶甲时，殷复衰。