Friday, March 29, 2024

64 Tai Shi

A4.14

Two years later, after heard that Zhou the Tyrant became even crazier and more tyrannical than before, killed his Prince Bigan and imprisoned his uncle Jizi, and that Grand Tutor Zi and Junior Tutor Qiang both came to Zhou each with their musical instruments, King Wu made this announcement to the princes at that time: "King Zhou the Tyrant of Yin has committed a grave crime. It's impossible for us not to wipe him out." So everyone followed King Wen's will and led 300 chariots, 3,000 tiger fierce soldiers, and 45,000 soldiers in armor to attack the east. On Wuwu (戊午) the earth-fire day in the sexagenary cycle, of the twelfth month, of the eleventh year, all the troops crossed Mengjin and all the princes arrived. King Wu said: "You must work hard and never slack off!" King Wu then wrote "Tai Shi" and announced to everyone: "Now Zhou the Tyrant only listened to his wives and concubines. He cut off his destiny, violated the movement of the sun, moon, and the polar star, and alienated his fellow brothers.He abandoned the music of his ancestors and arbitrarily adopted lewd music to tamper with the elegant music. He did this to please his wives and concubines. So today I will respectfully execute the punishment on the behalf of Heaven. Work hard, the respectable nobles, this will not happen a second time, let alone a third time!"


居二年,闻纣昏乱暴虐滋甚,杀王子比干,囚箕子。太师疵、少师强抱其乐器而奔周。于是武王遍告诸侯曰:“殷有重罪,不可以不毕伐。”乃遵文王,遂率戎车三百乘,虎贲三千人,甲士四万五千人,以东伐纣。十一年十二月戊午,师毕渡盟津,诸侯咸会。曰:“孳孳无怠!”武王乃作太誓,告于众庶:“今殷王纣乃用其妇人之言,自绝于天,毁坏其三正,离逷其王父母弟,乃断弃其先祖之乐,乃为淫声,用变乱正声,怡说妇人。故今予发维共行天罚。勉哉夫子,不可再,不可三!”

63 White Fish and Red Bird

A4.13

In the ninth year, King Wu offered sacrifices to King Wen in Bi. Then he went east to inspect the troops and arrived at Mengjin. He made a wooden altar for King Wen as a deity, loaded it on a cart, and offered it to the troops. King Wu called himself Prince Fa, indicating that he was following King Wen's orders to conquer and did not dare to act arbitrarily. So he warned the Sima, Situ, Sikong, and other commanders: "All people being serious is being truely creditable! I don't know much, but my ancestors had ministers with great virtues, so I inherited the merits of my ancestors, and the court has clearly defined rewards and punishments to recognize the merits of my ancestors.” Finally, he set the troops forth to the conquest. Grand Tutor Shangfu ordered: "Gather you all, you will be given boats, and those who are late will be beheaded!" King Wuwang started to cross the Yellow River. When the boat was in the midstream of the river, a white fish jumped into King Wu's boat. King Wu leaned over and picked up the fish and did a sacrifice ceremony. After crossing the river, a ball of fire fell from the sky and landed on King Wu's roof, and it turned into a crow of red color, and made a rumbling sound when landing, shuddered clouds. At that time, the princes came to Mengjin for a gathering unexpectedly amounted to eight hundred. They all said, "It is time to attack Zhou the Tyrant." King Wu said, "You do not know the will of heaven. It is not possible yet." So he returned.


九年,武王上祭于毕。东观兵,至于盟津。为文王木主,载以车,中军。武王自称太子发,言奉文王以伐,不敢自专。乃告司马、司徒、司空、诸节:“齐栗,信哉!予无知,以先祖有德臣,小子受先功,毕立赏罚,以定其功。”遂兴师。师尚父号曰:“总尔众庶,与尔舟楫,后至者斩。”武王渡河,中流,白鱼跃入王舟中,武王俯取以祭。既渡,有火自上覆于下,至于王屋,流为乌,其色赤,其声魄云。是时,诸侯不期而会盟津者八百诸侯。诸侯皆曰:“纣可伐矣。”武王曰:“女未知天命,未可也。”乃还师归。

Thursday, March 28, 2024

62 Book of Changes

A4.11|12

Xibo reigned for about fifty years. When he was imprisoned in Youli, he increased the eight hexagrams of the Book of Changes to sixty-four hexagrams. The poet praised Xibo, most probably because he adjudicated the dispute between Yu and Rui in the year when Xibo accepted the mandate of heaven and became king. Ten years later, Xibo died and was posthumously named King Wen. He revised the laws and established the calendar. He honored Gugong as King Tai and Gongji as King Ji. And probably the auspicious signs of becoming a king started with King Tai.

When King Wu ascended the throne, Senior Duke Wang served as the Grand Tutor, Duke Zhou Dan was King Wu's assistant, and Duke Zhao, Duke Bi and others assisted King Wu and inherited King Wen's legacy.


西伯盖即位五十年。其囚羑里,盖益易之八卦为六十四卦。诗人道西伯,盖受命之年称王而断虞芮之讼。后十年而崩,谥为文王。改法度,制正朔矣。追尊古公为太王,公季为王季:盖王瑞自太王兴。

武王即位,太公望为师,周公旦为辅,召公、毕公之徒左右王,师脩文王绪业。

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

61 King Wu

A4.9|10

Xibo did good deeds discreetly, and the princes asked him to arbitrate all the conflicts. Then whenever people between Yu and Rui had a dispute that could not be resolved, they came to Zhou. When they entered the territory of Zhou, they saw that the farmers gave way to each other in the fields, and the people regarded it as a custom to give way to the elders. Before the people of Yu and Rui saw Xibo, they felt ashamed and said to each other: "What we are arguing about is exactly what the Zhou people despise. Why are we still going? It will only bring shame to ourselves." So they returned and gave way to each other. After hearing this, the princes said, "Xibo is probably a monarch who accepts the mandate of heaven."

A year later, Xibo attacked the Quanrong. Another year later, Xibo attacked the Mixu. And another year later, Xibo defeated the Qi State. When Zu Yi of Yin heard about this, he was terrified and told all these things to Emperor Zhou the Tyrant. Zhou the Tyrant said, "Wasn't I born with the protection of heaven! What can he do?" Another year later, Xibo attacked the Bi State. Another year later, Xibo attacked Chonghouhu. And he built Fengyi at the same time and moved the capital from Qixia to Fengyi. A year later, Xibo died and the crown prince Fa ascended the throne, who was King Wu.


西伯阴行善,诸侯皆来决平。于是虞、芮之人有狱不能决,乃如周。入界,耕者皆让畔,民俗皆让长。虞、芮之人未见西伯,皆惭,相谓曰:“吾所争,周人所耻,何往为,祇取辱耳。”遂还,俱让而去。诸侯闻之,曰“西伯盖受命之君”。

明年,伐犬戎。明年,伐密须。明年,败耆国。殷之祖伊闻之,惧,以告帝纣。纣曰:“不有天命乎?是何能为!”明年,伐邘。明年,伐崇侯虎。而作丰邑,自岐下而徙都丰。明年,西伯崩,太子发立,是为武王。


Tuesday, March 26, 2024

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。


Monday, March 25, 2024

57 Gongliu


A4.3

Hou Ji died, and his son Buqiu succeeded him. In Buqiu's final years, the Xia Dynasty declined, and Ji was no longer in power. Buqiu fled to the Rong and Di because he lost his position. Buqiu died, and his son Ju succeeded him. Ju died, and his son Gongliu succeeded him. Although Gongliu was among the Rong and Di, he restored Hou Ji's work, dedicated to farming, deciding what crops to plant based on the actual conditions of the land, and crossed the Weishui River from Qi and Ju to cut wood for use, so those who traveled had money, and those who stayed had livestock, and the people had happy life because of him. The people were grateful to him, and many moved to him. The Zhou Dynasty began to prosper at this time, so poets sang and played music to think of his virtue. After Gong Liu died, his son Qingjie succeeded to the throne and founded the state in Bin.


后稷卒,子不窋立。不窋末年,夏后氏政衰,去稷不务,不窋以失其官而奔戎狄之间。不窋卒,子鞠立。鞠卒,子公刘立。公刘虽在戎狄之间,复脩后稷之业,务耕种,行地宜,自漆、沮度渭,取材用,行者有资,居者有畜积,民赖其庆。百姓怀之,多徙而保归焉。周道之兴自此始,故诗人歌乐思其德。公刘卒,子庆节立,国于豳。


56 Hou Ji the Agriculture Man


A4.1|2

Hou Ji of Zhou was named Qi (弃). His mother was a daughter from the Youtai clan, named Jiang Yuan. Jiang Yuan was the principal wife of Emperor Ku. Jiang Yuan went out in the wild and saw giant footprints. She was delighted and wanted to step on them. When she stepped on them, something inside of her body moved like she was pregnant. After a while, she gave birth to a son. She thought it was a bad omen, so she abandoned him in a narrow alley. Horses and cattle passing by avoided him and did not step on him. She moved him to a forest. There happened to be many people in the forest at that time, so she moved him again and abandoned him on the ice in a canal, and a flying bird covered him with its wings and cushioned him. Jiang Yuan thought he was amazing like a god, so she took him home and raised him. She wanted to abandon the child at first, so she named him Qi (弃), the Abandonment. 

When Qi was a child, he had the ambition to be a giant. His games included planting hemp and beans, which were beautiful. When he grew up, he became interested in farming. He selected the land for its suitability and planted crops where it was suitable for growing grains. The people followed his example. Emperor Yao heard about this and appointed Qi as a farming teacher. The whole world benefited from his work and he was credited with great achievements. Emperor Shun said, "Before Qi the people were hungry, and then it all changed since Hou Ji sowed the crops." In a sense, Hou Ji means recent agriculture. He granted Qi a fiefdom in Tai and named him Hou Ji, with the surname Ji. Hou Ji’s rising to prominence was during the reigns of the Yao Tang (陶唐), You Yu (有虞), and Xia Hou (夏后), and he was virtuous.


司马迁·史记卷四·周本纪第四

周后稷,名弃。其母有邰氏女,曰姜原。姜原为帝喾元妃。姜原出野,见巨人迹,心忻然说,欲践之,践之而身动如孕者。居期而生子,以为不祥,弃之隘巷,马牛过者皆辟不践;徙置之林中,適会山林多人,迁之;而弃渠中冰上,飞鸟以其翼覆荐之。姜原以为神,遂收养长之。初欲弃之,因名曰弃。

弃为儿时,屹如巨人之志。其游戏,好种树麻、菽,麻、菽美。及为成人,遂好耕农,相地之宜,宜谷者稼穑焉,民皆法则之。帝尧闻之,举弃为农师,天下得其利,有功。帝舜曰:“弃,黎民始饥,尔后稷播时百谷。”封弃于邰,号曰后稷,别姓姬氏。后稷之兴,在陶唐、虞、夏之际,皆有令德。


55 A. Sima Qian: Historical Records

A1. Five Emperors

A2. Xia Dynasty

A3. Yin (Shang) Dynasty

A4. Zhou Dynasty
















To be updated