60 Xibo the Duke of the West

A4.7|8

After Gong Ji died, his son Chang succeeded him, and this was Xibo. Xibo was called King Wen, who followed the cause of Houji and Gongliu, and the rules of Gugong and Gongji, practiced benevolence and righteousness, respected the elderly, and loved the young. He treated the virtuous with courtesy, and received scholars every morning, and couldn't find time to eat until the afternoon, and many people came to submit to him. Boyi and Shuqi were in Guzhu State. When they heard that Xibo respected and supported the elderly, they went to submit together. Taidian, Hongyao, Sanyisheng, Yuzi, Xinjia and other ministers also submitted to him. 

Chonghouhu framed Xibo to Zhou the Tyrant by saying that “Xibo has done good deeds and accumulated virtues, and all the princes had submitted to him, which will be bad for you." Zhou the Tyrant then imprisoned Xibo in Youli. Hongyao and others were very worried, so they went to seek the beautiful women of Youshen clan, the fine horses of Lirong, the nine-horse chariot of Youxiong, and other rare treasures, and presented them to Zhou the Tyrant through Fei Zhong, a favorite minister of Zhou the Tyrant. Zhou the Tyrant was very happy and said, "Any one of these things would be enough for me to release Xibo, let alone so many!" So he pardoned Xibo, rewarded him with bows and arrows and axes, and gave him the power to conquer. Zhou the Tyrant said, "The one who framed Xibo was Chonghouhu." Xibo then offered the land west of Luoshui and asked Zhou the Tyrant to abolish the punishment of burning people alive. Zhou the Tyrant agreed.

公季卒，子昌立，是为西伯。西伯曰文王，遵后稷、公刘之业，则古公、公季之法，笃仁，敬老，慈少。礼下贤者，日中不暇食以待士，士以此多归之。伯夷、叔齐在孤竹，闻西伯善养老，盍往归之。太颠、闳夭、散宜生、鬻子、辛甲大夫之徒皆往归之。

崇侯虎谮西伯于殷纣曰：“西伯积善累德，诸侯皆向之，将不利于帝。”帝纣乃囚西伯于羑里。闳夭之徒患之。乃求有莘氏美女，骊戎之文马，有熊九驷，他奇怪物，因殷嬖臣费仲而献之纣。纣大说，曰：“此一物足以释西伯，况其多乎！”乃赦西伯，赐之弓矢斧钺，使西伯得征伐。曰：“谮西伯者，崇侯虎也。”西伯乃献洛西之地，以请纣去炮格之刑。纣许之。

59 Taibo and Yuzhong

A4.5|6

The eldest son of Gugong was Taibo, and the second son was Yuzhong. Taibo's wife Taijiang gave birth to the youngest son Jili, who married Tairen. Both Taijiang and Tairen were virtuous wives. Tairen gave birth to Chang, there was a holy auspicious sign. Gugong said, "There will be someone who will accomplish great things among my descendants, maybe Chang?" The eldest son Taibo and the second son Yuzhong knew that Gugong wanted to establish Jili to pass the throne to Chang, so they fled to the Jingman the southern barbaric areas, tattooed their bodies and cut their hair, just to make way for Jili. 

After Gugong died, Jili succeeded to the throne, and this was Gongji. Gongji practiced the way of governing the country left by Gugong, firmly promoted benevolence and righteousness, and the princes followed his lead.

古公有长子曰太伯，次曰虞仲。太姜生少子季历，季历娶太任，皆贤妇人，生昌，有圣瑞。古公曰：“我世当有兴者，其在昌乎？”长子太伯、虞仲知古公欲立季历以传昌，乃二人亡如荆蛮，文身断发，以让季历。

古公卒，季历立，是为公季。公季脩古公遗道，笃于行义，诸侯顺之。

58 Gugong

A4.4

When Qingjie died, his son Huangpu ascended to the throne. When Huangpu died, his son Chaifu ascended to the throne. When Chaifu died, his son Huiyu ascended to the throne. When Huiyu died, his son Gongfei ascended to the throne. When Gongfei died, his son Gaoyu ascended to the throne. When Gaoyu died, his son Yayu ascended to the throne. When Yayu died, his son Gongshu Zulei ascended to the throne. When Gongshu Zulei died, his son Gugong Danfu ascended to the throne. Gugong Danfu restored the work of Houji and Gongliu, accumulated virtue and practiced benevolence and righteousness, and all the people supported him. Xunyu and other Rongdi tribes came to attack, and wanted to rob money and property, so he just gave it to them. They attacked again and wanted to take land and people. The people were all angry and wanted to fight. Gugong said, "If a king was established by the people, they will benefit from it. Now the Rongdi are attacking, and all they wanted are our land and people. What is the difference between the people being ruled by me and being ruled by them? The people go to war because of me, and to sacrifice other people's fathers and children in exchange for the position of ruler, I can't bear it." So Gugong and his people left Bin, crossed the Qishui River and Jushui River, climbed over Liangshan Mountain, and settled at Qixia, the foot of Qishan Mountain. The people of Bin, carrying their old and young, all came to the foot of Qishan Mountain and to follow Gugong. When other neighboring states heard of Gugong's benevolence, many of them also came back to him. Then Gugong deprecated the customs of the Rong and Di peoples, built cities and houses, and established separate towns for people to live in. And for state affairs, he established five different branches, Situ, Sima, Sikong, Sishi, Sikou. The people all sang and played music to praise his virtues.

庆节卒，子皇仆立。皇仆卒，子差弗立。差弗卒，子毁隃立。毁隃卒，子公非立。公非卒，子高圉立。高圉卒，子亚圉立。亚圉卒，子公叔祖类立。公叔祖类卒，子古公亶父立。古公亶父复脩后稷、公刘之业，积德行义，国人皆戴之。薰育戎狄攻之，欲得财物，予之。已复攻，欲得地与民。民皆怒，欲战。古公曰：“有民立君，将以利之。今戎狄所为攻战，以吾地与民。民之在我，与其在彼，何异。民欲以我故战，杀人父子而君之，予不忍为。”乃与私属遂去豳，度漆、沮，逾梁山，止于岐下。豳人举国扶老携弱，尽复归古公于岐下。及他旁国闻古公仁，亦多归之。于是古公乃贬戎狄之俗，而营筑城郭室屋，而邑别居之。作五官有司。民皆歌乐之，颂其德。