85 Fu Chen‘s Advice

A4.48

In the 13th year (639 BC), Zheng attacked Hua. King Xiang sent Yousun and Bofu to plead for Hua, but the people of Zheng imprisoned them. Duke Wen of Zheng resented that King Hui restored the state but did not give Duke Li of Zheng the courtesy of wine and wine cups, and he also complained that King Xiang handed over the state of Hua to the state of Wei, so he imprisoned Bo Fu. The king was pissed and was going to use Di to attack Zheng. Fu Chen advised, "When our capital of Zhou was moved eastward, we had all the help from Jin and Zheng. When Prince Tui rebelled, it was also with the help of Zheng that we were able to put down the rebellion. How can we abandon Zheng now because of a small grudge?"The king did not listen. In the 15th year (637 BC), the king sent Di troops to attack Zheng. King Xiang was very grateful to the Di people and was going to choose a daughter from Di as his queen. Fu Chen advised him again,, "King Ping, King Huan, King Zhuang, and King Hui all received help from Zheng. Your Majesty, you should not abandon your close friends and get close to the Di people." King Xiang refused to listen. In the 16th year (636 BC), after King Xiang deposed Queen Di, the Di people came to question him and killed Tan Bo. Fu Chen said, "I have repeatedly advised the king but he didn't listen. If I don't go to war, the king will think that I hate him, right?" So he led his people to die in battle.

十三年，郑伐滑，王使游孙、伯服请滑，郑人囚之。郑文公怨惠王之入不与厉公爵，又怨襄王之与卫滑，故囚伯服。王怒，将以翟伐郑。富辰谏曰：“凡我周之东徙，晋、郑焉依。子穨之乱，又郑之由定，今以小怨弃之！”王不听。十五年，王降翟师以伐郑。王德翟人，将以其女为后。富辰谏曰：“平、桓、庄、惠皆受郑劳，王弃亲亲翟，不可从。”王不听。十六年，王绌翟后，翟人来诛，杀谭伯。富辰曰：“吾数谏不从。如是不出，王以我为怼乎？”乃以其属死之。

84 Guan Zhong

A4.47

In the 25th year (652 BC) of his reign, King Hui died, and his son Zheng succeeded as King Xiang. King Xiang's mother died early, and his stepmother was called Queen Hui. Queen Hui gave birth to Shu Dai, who was favored by King Hui, and King Xiang was afraid of him. In the third year, Shu Dai and the Rong and Di conspired to attack King Xiang. King Xiang wanted to kill Shu Dai, so Shu Dai fled to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi sent Guan Zhong to pacify the Rong in Zhou, and sent Xi Peng to pacify the Rong in Jin. The king treated Guan Zhong with the courtesy of a senior minister. Guan Zhong declined and said, "I am an official of low status. Now there are Guo and Gao, two senior ministers appointed by the king. If I accept the king's order with the court courtesy of spring and autumn, where my manners will be no matter how I respond? I, the attendant, can’t do nothing but to decline." The king said, "The envoy of my uncle, your merits are appreciated, please do not disobey my order." Guan Zhong finally accepted the courtesy as a junior minister and returned home. In the ninth year, Duke Huan of Qi died. In the twelfth year, Shu Dai returned to Zhou.

二十五年，惠王崩，子襄王郑立。襄王母蚤死，后母曰惠后。惠后生叔带，有宠于惠王，襄王畏之。三年，叔带与戎、翟谋伐襄王，襄王欲诛叔带，叔带奔齐。齐桓公使管仲平戎于周，使隰朋平戎于晋。王以上卿礼管仲。管仲辞曰：“臣贱有司也，有天子之二守国、高在。若节春秋来承王命，何以礼焉。陪臣敢辞。”王曰：“舅氏，余嘉乃勋，毋逆朕命。”管仲卒受下卿之礼而还。九年，齐桓公卒。十二年，叔带复归于周。

83 Hegemon Duke Huan of Qi

A4.43|44|45|46

In the third year of King Huan (717 BC), Duke Zhuang of Zheng came to pay homage, but King Huan did not treat him with courtesy. In the fifth year (715 BC), Zheng had resentment and exchanged Xutian with Lu. Xutian was the land used by the king to worship Mount Tai. In the eighth year (712 BC), Lu killed Duke Yin and supported Duke Huan. In the thirteenth year (707 BC), the royal family attacked Zheng, and the Zheng army shot and wounded King Huan, who fled back.

In the twenty-third year (697 BC), King Huan died, and his son King Zhuang Tuo succeeded him. In the fourth year of King Zhuang (693 BC), Duke Zhou Heijian wanted to kill King Zhuang and replace him with Prince Ke. Xin Bo reported to King Zhuang, and King Zhuang killed Duke Zhou. Prince Ke fled to Yan.

In the fifteenth year (682 BC), King Zhuang died, and his son King Li Huqi succeeded him. In the third year of King Li (679 BC), Duke Huan of Qi began to establish his hegemony.

In the fifth year (677 BC), King Li died, and his son King Hui Lang succeeded him. And sometimes before, King Zhuang's favorite concubine, a woman named Yao, gave birth to a son named Tui, who was favored by King Zhuang. After King Hui got in power, in the second year (675 BC), he seized the gardens of some ministers as his own gardens, then there were five ministers including Bian Bo launched a rebellion and planned to summon the armies of Yan and Wei to join forces to attack King Hui. King Hui fled to Wenyi and soon lived in Li of Zheng. The rebels supported King Li's younger brother Tui as king and held a full set of ceremonies, dances and music, which outraged the monarchs of Zheng and Guo. In the fourth year (673 BC), the monarchs of Zheng and Guo attacked and killed King Tui and welcomed King Hui back. In the tenth year of King Hui (667 BC), Duke Huan of Qi was granted the title of overlord. 

桓王三年，郑庄公朝，桓王不礼。五年，郑怨，与鲁易许田。许田，天子之用事太山田也。八年，鲁杀隐公，立桓公。十三年，伐郑，郑射伤桓王，桓王去归。

二十三年，桓王崩，子庄王佗立。庄王四年，周公黑肩欲杀庄王而立王子克。辛伯告王，王杀周公。王子克奔燕。

十五年，庄王崩，子釐王胡齐立。釐王三年，齐桓公始霸。

五年，釐王崩，子惠王阆立。惠王二年。初，庄王嬖姬姚，生子穨，穨有宠。及惠王即位，夺其大臣园以为囿，故大夫边伯等五人作乱，谋召燕、卫师，伐惠王。惠王奔温，已居郑之栎。立釐王弟穨为王。乐及遍舞，郑、虢君怒。四年，郑与虢君伐杀王穨，复入惠王。惠王十年，赐齐桓公为伯。

82 Zhou Moved East

A4.38|39|40|41|42

Bao Si didn't like to laugh, so King You tried every way to make her laugh, but she still didn't laugh. King You set up beacons and drums in various places, and lit the beacons when there was an enemy attack. Once King You lit the beacon, the princes all came, but they didn't see the enemy, so Bao Si laughed. King You was very happy, and he lit the beacon for Bao Si many times. Later, the princes no longer believed in King You, and they didn't come when they saw the beacon.

King You appointed Guo Shifu as a minister to manage state affairs, and the people had complaints. Guo Shifu was cunning, flattering and greedy, but King You still put him to use. King You also deposed Queen Shen and drove away the prince. Lord Shen was very angry, and joined forces with the Zheng State and the Western Yi Quanrong to attack King You. King You lit the beacon to summon the princes' armies, but none of the princes' armies came. So they killed King You at the foot of Mount Li, abducted Bao Si, and looted all the Zhou's property before leaving. So all the princes went to Lord Shen and jointly supported Yi Jiu, the former crown prince of King You, as King Ping, who inherited the Zhou Dynasty's sacrificial rites

After King Ping ascended the throne, the capital was moved eastward to Luoyi to avoid the enemies of the Western Rong. During King Ping's reign, the Zhou royal family gradually declined, the strong among the princes annexed the weak, Qi, Chu, Qin, Jin began to grow, and the state affairs started coming from the dominant princes.

In the 49th year (722 BC) of King Ping’s reign, Duke Yin of Lu got his position.

In the 51st year (720 BC), King Ping died, and the crown prince Xiefu died early, his son Lin was made the king, this is King Huan. King Huan was the grandson of King Ping.

襃姒不好笑，幽王欲其笑万方，故不笑。幽王为烽燧大鼓，有寇至则举烽火。诸侯悉至，至而无寇，襃姒乃大笑。幽王说之，为数举烽火。其后不信，诸侯益亦不至。

幽王以虢石父为卿，用事，国人皆怨。石父为人佞巧善谀好利，王用之。又废申后，去太子也。申侯怒，与缯、西夷犬戎攻幽王。幽王举烽火徵兵，兵莫至。遂杀幽王骊山下，虏襃姒，尽取周赂而去。于是诸侯乃即申侯而共立故幽王太子宜臼，是为平王，以奉周祀。

平王立，东迁于雒邑，辟戎寇。平王之时，周室衰微，诸侯强并弱，齐、楚、秦、晋始大，政由方伯。

四十九年，鲁隐公即位。

五十一年，平王崩，太子洩父蚤死，立其子林，是为桓王。桓王，平王孙也。

81 King You and Bao Si

A4.37 

In his third year (779 BC), King You favored Bao Si. Bao Si gave birth to a son, Bo Fu, and King You wanted to depose the crown prince. The crown prince's mother was the daughter of Lord Shen and the queen. Later, King You got Bao Si and loved her very much. He wanted to depose Queen Shen and Crown Prince Yi Jiu, and make Bao Si the queen and Bo Fu the crown prince. Zhou Taishi Bo Yang read the historical records and said, "The Zhou Dynasty is about to perish." When the Xia Hou clan was declining, two dragons landed in the courtyard of the Xia emperor and said, "We are the two monarchs of Bao." The Xia emperor divined whether to kill them, drive them away, or keep them, but did not get a good omen. The diviner asked to collect the dragon's saliva, and got a good omen. So the Xia emperor prepared silk and wrote a prayer on a bamboo slip. After the dragon flew away, it left saliva. The Xia emperor ordered people to collect it in a wooden box and keep it. After the fall of the Xia Dynasty, this artifact was passed on to the Shang Dynasty. After the fall of the Shang Dynasty, the artifact was passed to the Zhou Dynasty. For three consecutive dynasties, no one dared to open it. It was not until the end of King Li's reign that it was opened for viewing. The dragon's saliva flowed into the courtyard and could not be cleaned. King Li asked women to shout loudly in the courtyard naked. The dragon's saliva turned into a black lizard and entered King Li's harem. The lizard was encounted by a slave girl in the harem at the teeth-changing age and she became pregnant a few years later when she turned fifteen. She gave birth to a baby girl without a husband, and out of fear she abandoned the baby. During the reign of King Xuan, there was a child song went around. "There will be a couple who sell bows and arrows made of mulberry wood, and they are the ones who will destroy the Zhou Dynasty.” When King Xuan heard about it, he put an order out, that if a couple found selling these bows and arrows would be arrested and executed. Then on their way of escaping, the couple saw the baby girl abandoned by the harem slave on the roadside. They heard the baby crying at night, and adopted her out of pity. The couple then fled to Bao. Years later when a man from Bao committed a crime, he offered the abandoned girl, now grown, to the king to atone for his sin. The girl was from Bao, so she was called Bao Si. When King You had reigned for three years, he came to his harem and saw Bao Si and fell in love with her. Then she gave birth to a son, Bo Fu. King You even wanted to depose Queen Shen and the crown prince, and make Bao Si the queen and Bo Fu the crown prince. The historian Bo Yang said, "The disaster has already happened, there is nothing we can do about it!"

三年，幽王嬖爱襃姒。襃姒生子伯服，幽王欲废太子。太子母申侯女，而为后。后幽王得襃姒，爱之，欲废申后，并去太子宜臼，以襃姒为后，以伯服为太子。周太史伯阳读史记曰：“周亡矣。”昔自夏后氏之衰也，有二神龙止于夏帝庭而言曰：“余，襃之二君。”夏帝卜杀之与去之与止之，莫吉。卜请其漦而藏之，乃吉。于是布币而策告之，龙亡而漦在，椟而去之。夏亡，传此器殷。殷亡，又传此器周。比三代，莫敢发之，至厉王之末，发而观之。漦流于庭，不可除。厉王使妇人裸而譟之。漦化为玄鼋，以入王后宫。后宫之童妾既龀而遭之，既笄而孕，无夫而生子，惧而弃之。宣王之时童女谣曰：“檿弧箕服，实亡周国。”于是宣王闻之，有夫妇卖是器者，宣王使执而戮之。逃于道，而见乡者后宫童妾所弃妖子出于路者，闻其夜啼，哀而收之，夫妇遂亡，奔于襃。襃人有罪，请入童妾所弃女子者于王以赎罪。弃女子出于襃，是为襃姒。当幽王三年，王之后宫见而爱之，生子伯服，竟废申后及太子，以襃姒为后，伯服为太子。太史伯阳曰：“祸成矣，无可奈何！”

80 Rivers Dry and Mountains Collapse

A4.36

In the 46th year (782 BC), King Xuan died and his son Gongsheng succeeded to the throne as King You. In the second year of King You (780 BC), an earthquake occurred in the Sanchuan area near the Zhou capital. Bo Yangfu said: "The Zhou Dynasty will perish. The two energies of heaven and earth cannot lose their order; if they lose their proper order, the people will be disturbed. The yang energy is latent and cannot come out, and is suppressed by the yin energy and cannot evaporate, so an earthquake occurs. Now the earthquake in the Sanchuan area is because the yang energy has lost its position and is suppressed by the yin energy. If the yang energy loses its position and is suppressed by the yin energy, the water source will definitely be blocked; if the water source is blocked, the country will definitely perish. Only when the water and soil are unobstructed then the people can get money. If the underground water can’t flow unobstructed, the people will lack money, and the country will perish in no time. In the past, the Xia Dynasty perished when the Yi River and the Luo River dried up, and the Shang Dynasty perished when the Yellow River dried up. Now the virtue and the fortune of Zhou Dynasty are just like the end of the previous two dynasties. The water sources of the rivers have been blocked, and if they are blocked, they will definitely dry up. The establishment of a capital must rely on high mountains and large rivers. The collapse of high mountains and the drying up of large rivers are signs of the destruction of the country. The drying up of large rivers will definitely cause the collapse of high mountains. If a country is destroyed, it will not exceed ten years, because the numbers are based on decimals. What the heaven abandons will not exceed this number. " This year, the three rivers dried up and Mount Qi collapsed.

四十六年，宣王崩，子幽王宫湦立。幽王二年，西周三川皆震。伯阳甫曰：“周将亡矣。夫天地之气，不失其序；若过其序，民乱之也。阳伏而不能出，阴迫而不能蒸，于是有地震。今三川实震，是阳失其所而填阴也。阳失而在阴，原必塞；原塞，国必亡。夫水土演而民用也。土无所演，民乏财用，不亡何待！昔伊、洛竭而夏亡，河竭而商亡。今周德若二代之季矣，其川原又塞，塞必竭。夫国必依山川，山崩川竭，亡国之徵也。川竭必山崩。若国亡不过十年，数之纪也。天之所弃，不过其纪。”是岁也，三川竭，岐山崩。

79 The Republic

A4.32|33|34|35

Prince Jing of King Li was hiding in the house of Duke Zhao. When the people heard about it, they surrounded Duke Zhao's house. Duke Zhao said, "I have advised the king many times before, but the king did not listen, which led to today's disaster. If I kill the king's prince now, the king may think that I am venting my anger because of a grudge. When serving the monarch, one should not bear grudges even in danger, and should not vent resentment, let alone serve the king!" So he replaced the prince of King Li with his own son, and the prince finally escaped.

The two ministers, Duke Zhao and Duke Zhou, jointly managed the state affairs, which was called "Republic". In the 14th year of the Republic, King Li died in Zhui. Prince Jing grew up in the home of Duke Zhao, so the two ministers jointly supported him to become the king, and this was King Xuan. When King Xuan was in throne, the two ministers assisted him in reforming politics, following the legacy of King Wen, King Wu, King Cheng, and King Kang, and the princes once again regarded Zhou as their suzerain. In the 12th year of King Xuan’s reign, Duke Wu of Lu came to pay homage.

King Xuan did not personally cultivate the land in Qianmu. Duke Wen of Guo advised him not to do so, but King Xuan did not listen. In the 39th year of his reign, the royal army was defeated in the battle of Qianmu by the Jiang clan, the descendants of Siyue.

After King Xuan lost his army in the southern expedition, he counted the population in Taiyuan. Zhong Shanfu advised him not to do so, saying, "The king cannot directly count the population." King Xuan did not listen and eventually counted the population.

厉王太子静匿召公之家，国人闻之，乃围之。召公曰：“昔吾骤谏王，王不从，以及此难也。今杀王太子，王其以我为雠而怼怒乎？夫事君者，险而不雠怼，怨而不怒，况事王乎！”乃以其子代王太子，太子竟得脱。

召公、周公二相行政，号曰“共和”。共和十四年，厉王死于彘。太子静长于召公家，二相乃共立之为王，是为宣王。宣王即位，二相辅之，脩政，法文、武、成、康之遗风，诸侯复宗周。十二年，鲁武公来朝。

宣王不脩籍于千亩，虢文公谏曰不可，王弗听。三十九年，战于千亩，王师败绩于姜氏之戎。

宣王既亡南国之师，乃料民于太原。仲山甫谏曰：“民不可料也。”宣王不听，卒料民。

78 Duke Zhao’s Advice to King Li

A4.31

King Li was cruel and tyrannical, extravagant and arrogant, and the people criticized him. Duke Zhao advised him, saying, "The people can't stand it anymore." King Li was agitated and found wizards from the State of Wei to monitor those who criticized him and had them executed. As a result, there were fewer criticisms, and the princes stopped coming to the king’s court. In the thirty-fourth year of his reign, King Li's control became even tougher over the people. People dared not speak casually and only made eye contact with each other on the street. King Li was very happy. He told Duke Zhao, "I’m made the criticisms disappeared now. They dare not speak." Duke Zhao said, "This only blocks their mouths. Blocking people's mouths is more dangerous than blocking a flood. A flood blocked will hurt many people when breaking through, and the same holds true for blocking people's mouths. Therefore, those who control floods should clear the blockages and drain the water. Those who govern the people should open up channels for them to express their opinions. Therefore, when the emperor handles government affairs, he should let the ministers and even the nobles offer poems, let the blind musicians offer music, let the historians offer books, let the grand tutor give admonitions, let the blind musicians without pupils sing the poems, let the blind musicians with pupils recite admonitions, let all the craftsmen come to give advice, let the common people discuss among themselves, let the close ministers give advice with all their heart, let the relatives make up for the mistakes, let the blind musicians and historians teach together, let the sages give instructions, and finally, let the king think thoroughly and carefully, so that the governance can be implemented without violating any reasoning. The people have mouths, just like the land has mountains and rivers, and wealth is generated from them; just like the plains have fertile soil, and food and clothing are generated from them. Let the people speak out, and the success or failure of governing the country can be foreseen. Doing good things and preventing bad things from happening, the principles of which are the same as that of generating wealth and food and clothing. What the people think in their hearts is what they say with their mouths, so that things can be done well. If you block the mouths of the people, how long could you last? " King Li did not listen to the remonstrance. So the people dared not speak, and three years later, the people rebelled together and attacked King Li. King Li fled to Zhi.

王行暴虐侈傲，国人谤王。召公谏曰：“民不堪命矣。”王怒，得卫巫，使监谤者，以告则杀之。其谤鲜矣，诸侯不朝。三十四年，王益严，国人莫敢言，道路以目。厉王喜，告召公曰：“吾能弭谤矣，乃不敢言。”召公曰：“是障之也。防民之口，甚于防水。水壅而溃，伤人必多，民亦如之。是故为水者决之使导，为民者宣之使言。故天子听政，使公卿至于列士献诗，瞽献曲，史献书，师箴，瞍赋，矇诵，百工谏，庶人传语，近臣尽规，亲戚补察，瞽史教诲，耆艾脩之，而后王斟酌焉，是以事行而不悖。民之有口也，犹土之有山川也，财用于是乎出；犹其有原隰衍沃也，衣食于是乎生。口之宣言也，善败于是乎兴。行善而备败，所以产财用衣食者也。夫民虑之于心而宣之于口，成而行之。若壅其口，其与能几何？”王不听。于是国莫敢出言，三年，乃相与畔，袭厉王。厉王出奔于彘。

77 Rui Liangfu to King Li about Duke Rong

A4.30

After King Yi died, his son King Li Hu succeeded to the throne. King Li reigned for 30 years. He was greedy for wealth and was close to Duke Rong Yi. The minister Rui Liangfu advised King Li, "Is the royal family going to decline? Duke Rong Yi loves to accumulate wealth but does not know that a disaster is coming. Wealth is produced by all things and carried by heaven and earth, but he wants to take it for himself, there are too many harms. He wants to obtain all things in heaven and earth, how can he take it all for himself? He has angered too many people, and he does not guard against disasters. If the King being taught in such a way, how can the he rule for a long time? The one who rules should guide wealth and distribute it from top to bottom. Even if you do your best for everything in the world, you still have to be nervous every day and worry about causing dissatisfaction. Therefore, the Song sings: ‘Remembering Hou Ji’s literary virtues, his outstanding achievements are worthy of heaven, and the people of the world are kept safe, and all of them take him as a perfect example.’ Daya the Grand Elegance says: ‘To make benevolence widely shown, and the Zhou Dynasty is carried on going.’ Doesn’t this mean that one should give away wealth and watch out for disasters? That is why the Zhou Dynasty has continued to this day. Now the king is learning to accumulate wealth, how would it be possible? An ordinary person who accumulates wealth is still called a thief, and if the king does this, there must be very few people willing to submit to him. If Duke Rong is given an important position, the Zhou Dynasty will surely decline. " King Li did not listen to his advice, and finally appointed Duke Rong as a minister to manage state affairs.

夷王崩，子厉王胡立。厉王即位三十年，好利，近荣夷公。大夫芮良夫谏厉王曰：“王室其将卑乎？夫荣公好专利而不知大难。夫利，百物之所生也，天地之所载也，而有专之，其害多矣。天地百物皆将取焉，何可专也？所怒甚多，而不备大难。以是教王，王其能久乎？夫王人者，将导利而布之上下者也。使神人百物无不得极，犹日怵惕惧怨之来也。故颂曰‘思文后稷，克配彼天，立我蒸民，莫匪尔极’。大雅曰‘陈锡载周’。是不布利而惧难乎，故能载周以至于今。今王学专利，其可乎？匹夫专利，犹谓之盗，王而行之，其归鲜矣。荣公若用，周必败也。”厉王不听，卒以荣公为卿士，用事。

76 Three Ladies as a Charm

A4.28|29

King Mu reigned for fifty-five years. After his death, his son Yi Yu succeeded to the throne, becoming King Gong. When King Gong was traveling on the Jing River, and Duke Mi Kang was with him, there were three girls came to follow. Duke Mi Kang's mother said to him, "You must present them to the King. Three animals or more are called a group, and three people or more are called a crowd, and three ladies or more are called a charm. The King does not hunt more than a group in the field, the Dukes and princes do not get off the car when they see a crowd. The King's concubines do not exceed three from the same clan. The so-called charm is a beautiful thing. Everyone gives you beautiful things, but what virtue do you have to deserve it? Even the King is not worthy of it, let alone someone so insignificant like you! If someone insignificant happened having it, then the end will eventually be the death." Duke Mi Kang was unwilling to present them to King Gong. A year later, King Gong destroyed the Mi fiefdom. After King Gong died, his son Jian succeeded to the throne and became King Yih (懿).  During the reign of King Yih, the royal family declined, and poets wrote poems to satirize it. After King Yih died, King Gong's younger brother Pifang succeeded to the throne, and this was King Xiao. 

After King Xiao died, the princes supported King Yih's crown prince Xie to succeed to the throne, and this was King Yi (夷). (Translator’s note: The duos, the father (懿) and son (夷), both pinyined Yi, but the Chinese characters are totally different, to distinguish from each other, I’ll refer the father as King Yih, of the Cantonese spelling.)

穆王立五十五年，崩，子共王繄扈立。共王游于泾上，密康公从，有三女奔之。其母曰：“必致之王。夫兽三为群，人三为众，女三为粲。王田不取群，公行不下众，王御不参一族。夫粲，美之物也。众以美物归女，而何德以堪之？王犹不堪，况尔之小丑乎！小丑备物，终必亡。”康公不献，一年，共王灭密。共王崩，子懿王囏立。懿王之时，王室遂衰，诗人作刺。

懿王崩，共王弟辟方立，是为孝王。孝王崩，诸侯复立懿王太子燮，是为夷王。