Zuozhuan Huan Gong — the eighteen years of Duke Huan of Lu

The Zuo Commentary (左傳, Zuozhuan) is the great narrative chronicle of the Spring and Autumn period. Tradition ascribes it to Zuo Qiuming and reads it as a commentary on the Chunqiu, the clipped court annals of the state of Lu; the attribution is old but not secure, and the text as we have it appears to have been gathered and shaped by several hands from earlier records and story cycles. This file holds the section for Duke Huan of Lu, whose reign ran from 711 to 694 BCE.

Each year moves twice. First come the Annals — the official entries of the Chunqiu itself, a single line to a covenant, a burial, an eclipse, a flood, a war — and then the Zuo, the narrative that fills those lines out with speeches, motives, omens, and consequences, and that often carries the story far past the borders of Lu. Duke Huan's eighteen years hold the assassination of Duke Shang of Song and the bribed cauldron that came to Lu from it; the battle at Xuge, where an archer of Zheng shot the Zhou king in the shoulder; the long unravelling of Jin between Yi and Quwo; the first pressure of Chu upon the states east of the Han; the succession war in Zheng after Duke Zhuang's death; and at the end the killing of Duke Huan himself, in a carriage, in Qi.

Persons, states, and places are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with the Chinese characters supplied where they help. Ranks follow the conventional five: 公 duke, 侯 marquis, 伯 earl, 子 viscount, 男 baron. Where two states fall together in romanization — 齊 and 杞 are both Qi — the character is given in parentheses. Dates keep the text's own reckoning, and sexagenary day names stand as pinyin.

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese, printed in full below. Complete English translations of the Zuo Commentary already exist — James Legge's of 1872 and the Durrant, Li, and Schaberg version of 2016 — so no claim of firstness is made here; this translation was made independently from the Chinese and did not consult them.

Contents

• Year 1 (桓公元年)
• Year 2 (桓公二年)
• Year 3 (桓公三年)
• Year 4 (桓公四年)
• Year 5 (桓公五年)
• Year 6 (桓公六年)
• Year 7 (桓公七年)
• Year 8 (桓公八年)
• Year 9 (桓公九年)
• Year 10 (桓公十年)
• Year 11 (桓公十一年)
• Year 12 (桓公十二年)
• Year 13 (桓公十三年)
• Year 14 (桓公十四年)
• Year 15 (桓公十五年)
• Year 16 (桓公十六年)
• Year 17 (桓公十七年)
• Year 18 (桓公十八年)

Translation

Duke Huan, Years 1–18 (桓公元年–桓公十八年)

Year 1 (桓公元年)

Annals.

• In the first year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke took his place as ruler.
• In the third month, the duke met the Earl of Zheng (鄭) at Chui.
• The Earl of Zheng used a jade disc to borrow the fields of Xu.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the day dingwei, the duke and the Earl of Zheng made a covenant at Yue.
• In autumn, a great flood.
• In winter, the tenth month.

Zuo.

In the first year, in spring, the duke took his place as ruler and cultivated good relations with Zheng. The men of Zheng asked that the sacrifices to the Duke of Zhou (周公) be resumed, and that the exchange for the fields of Beng be completed. The duke granted it. In the third month the Earl of Zheng used a jade disc to borrow the fields of Xu; this was on account of the Duke of Zhou and of Beng.

In summer, in the fourth month, on dingwei, the duke and the Earl of Zheng made a covenant at Yue, concluding the settlement over Beng. The covenant said: "Whoever alters this covenant shall not enjoy his state."

In autumn, a great flood. In general, when water comes out over the level plain, it is called a great flood.

In winter, the Earl of Zheng bowed his thanks for the covenant.

Hua Fudu (華父督) of Song saw the wife of Kongfu on the road. His eyes met her as she came and followed her as she went, and he said, "Beautiful, and dazzling."

Year 2 (桓公二年)

Annals.

• In the second year, in spring, in the king's first month, on wushen, Du of Song assassinated his ruler Yuyi and his grandee Kongfu.
• The Viscount of Teng came to court.
• In the third month, the duke met the Marquis of Qi (齊), the Marquis of Chen, and the Earl of Zheng at Ji, to settle the disorder in Song.
• In summer, in the fourth month, the great cauldron of Gao was taken from Song.
• On wushen it was placed in the Grand Temple.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, the Marquis of Qi (杞) came to court.
• The Marquis of Cai and the Earl of Zheng met at Deng.
• In the ninth month, we entered Qi (杞).
• The duke and the Rong made a covenant at Tang.
• In winter, the duke arrived from Tang.

Zuo.

In the second year, in spring, Du of Song attacked the Kong clan, killed Kongfu, and took his wife. The duke was angry; Du grew afraid, and thereupon assassinated Duke Shang.

The noble man holds that Du first had in his heart no ruler, and only afterward moved to wickedness; therefore the record sets down first that he assassinated his ruler.

The meeting at Ji, "to settle the disorder in Song," was on account of the bribes: it established the Hua clan.

Duke Shang of Song had been set up ten years and had fought eleven battles; the people could not bear his commands. Kongfu Jia was marshal and Du was grand steward. Therefore, relying on the people's inability to bear the commands, Du first put out the word: "It is the marshal who does this." Having killed Kongfu and assassinated Duke Shang, he summoned Duke Zhuang from Zheng and set him up, so as to make Zheng close. He bribed our duke with the great cauldron of Gao, and Qi (齊), Chen, and Zheng all had their bribes; and so he became chancellor to the Duke of Song.

In summer, in the fourth month, the great cauldron of Gao was taken from Song, and on wushen it was placed in the Grand Temple. This was contrary to ritual propriety. Zang Aibo (臧哀伯) remonstrated, saying: "One who rules over men is to make virtue manifest and to block off transgression, and so to shine down upon the hundred officers. Even so he fears that something may be lost; therefore he displays fine virtue to show it to his sons and grandsons. Thus the pure temple has a thatched roof, the great chariot a mat of rushes, the great broth is unseasoned, and the millet food is unpolished: these make his frugality manifest. The dragon robe, the cap, the knee-cover, the jade tablet; the sash, the lower robe, the leg-bindings, the shoes; the cap-crossbar, the cap-cords, the chin-strap, the cap-board: these make his measure manifest. The jade-mat and the scabbard-lining, the scabbard and its tip; the leather girdle and the pendant band, the pennon streamers and the breast-tassels: these make his numbers manifest. The fire, the dragon, the axe emblem, the fu emblem: these make his patterns manifest. The five colors matched to their images: these make his things manifest. The forehead-bells, the bit-bells, the crossbar-bells, the flag-bells: these make his sound manifest. The three luminaries upon his banners and flags: these make his brightness manifest. Now virtue is frugal and has measure; in rising and lowering it has its numbers. Pattern and thing record it; sound and brightness send it forth; and so he shines down upon the hundred officers. The hundred officers are thereby wary and afraid, and do not dare to alter the rules and statutes. But now you destroy virtue and set up transgression, and place the vessel of bribery in the Grand Temple, displaying it plainly to the hundred officers. If the hundred officers take it for their model, what is there left to punish? The ruin of state and family comes from the crookedness of officers; officers lose their virtue when favor and bribery are made manifest. With the cauldron of Gao in the temple, what manifestation could be worse? When King Wu conquered Shang and moved the nine cauldrons to the settlement of Luo, righteous men still found fault with it — how much more, when a vessel of bribery out of transgression and disorder is to be made manifest in the Grand Temple. What is to be done about it?" The duke would not listen. When the inner scribe of Zhou heard of it he said, "Zangsun Da will surely have descendants in Lu! When his ruler transgressed, he did not forget to remonstrate with him by virtue."

In autumn, in the seventh month, the Marquis of Qi (杞) came to court and was not respectful. When the Marquis of Qi (杞) had gone home, we planned to attack him.

The Marquis of Cai and the Earl of Zheng met at Deng: this was the beginning of their fear of Chu.

In the ninth month we entered Qi (杞), punishing its disrespect.

The duke and the Rong made a covenant at Tang, renewing the old good relations.

In winter, the duke arrived from Tang and made announcement in the temple. In general, when the duke sets out, he announces it in the ancestral temple; when he returns from the journey, he drinks the arrival-cup, sets down the goblet, and has the merits written on the tablets. This is ritual propriety. When only two lords meet, both the going and the coming are recorded by the place: this is yielding in the matter. When there are three or more, then the going is recorded by the place and the coming by "the meeting": this is completing the matter.

Earlier, the lady Jiang, wife of Marquis Mu of Jin (晉), bore the heir apparent during the campaign at Tiao, and he was named Chou, "Enmity." His younger brother was born during the battle of Qianmu, and he was named Chengshi, "Army-Maker." Shi Fu said, "Strange, the way our ruler names his sons! A name determines what is right; what is right brings forth ritual propriety; ritual propriety gives body to government; government sets the people straight. Thus government is accomplished and the people obey. Alter this and disorder is born. A well-matched pair is called a consort; a resentful pair is called an enemy: such was the naming of antiquity. Now the ruler names the heir apparent Chou and his younger brother Chengshi. This is the first omen of disorder. Will the elder brother be supplanted?"

In the twenty-fourth year of Duke Hui, Jin first fell into disorder, and therefore Huanshu was enfeoffed at Quwo, with Luan Bin, grandson of Marquis Jing, as his tutor. Shi Fu said, "I have heard that when state and family are established, the trunk is great and the branches small, and thus they can be firm. Therefore the Son of Heaven sets up states; the feudal lords set up houses; ministers appoint cadet branches; grandees have secondary lineages; officers have their dependent sons and younger brothers; commoners, artisans, and merchants each have their apportioned kin — and all have their graded degrees. Thus the people serve those above them, and those below do not covet. Now Jin is a marquis of the royal domain, and yet sets up a state within it. The trunk is already weakened; can it last long?"

In the thirtieth year of Duke Hui, Panfu of Jin assassinated Marquis Zhao and tried to bring in Huanshu, but did not succeed. The men of Jin set up Marquis Xiao.

In the forty-fifth year of Duke Hui, Earl Zhuang of Quwo attacked Yi and assassinated Marquis Xiao. The men of Yi set up his younger brother, Marquis E. Marquis E begot Marquis Ai. Marquis Ai raided the fields of Xingting, and the southern border settlements of Xingting opened the way for Quwo to attack Yi.

Year 3 (桓公三年)

Annals.

• In the third year, in spring, the first month, the duke met the Marquis of Qi at Ying.
• In summer, the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Wei exchanged commands at Pu.
• In the sixth month, the duke met the Marquis of Qi (杞) at Cheng.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on renchen, the first day of the month, the sun was eaten; it was total.
• The ducal son Hui went to Qi to meet the bride.
• In the ninth month, the Marquis of Qi escorted the lady Jiang to Huan.
• The duke met the Marquis of Qi at Huan.
• The duke's wife, the lady Jiang, arrived from Qi.
• In winter, the Marquis of Qi sent his younger brother Nian on a diplomatic visit.
• There was a good harvest.

Zuo.

In the third year, in spring, Duke Wu of Quwo attacked Yi and halted at Xingting. Han Wan drove the war chariot and Liang Hong was the right-hand spearman. They pursued the Marquis of Yi into the marshes of the Fen; his outer trace-horse was caught fast and he came to a stop. By night they took him, and Luan Gongshu as well.

The meeting at Ying: it completed the marriage with Qi.

In summer, the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Wei exchanged commands at Pu; they swore no covenant.

The duke met the Marquis of Qi (杞) at Cheng; Qi (杞) was seeking terms of peace.

In autumn, the ducal son Hui went to Qi to meet the bride, renewing the good relations of the former ruler. Therefore he is called "ducal son."

The Marquis of Qi escorted the lady Jiang to Huan; this was contrary to ritual propriety. In general, when a daughter of a duke marries into a state of equal standing: if she is the ruler's own sister, a senior minister escorts her, out of ritual regard for the former ruler; if she is a ducal daughter, a junior minister escorts her. If it is a great state, then even for a ducal daughter a senior minister escorts her. If it is the Son of Heaven, then all the ministers go, and the duke does not escort her himself. If it is a small state, then a senior grandee escorts her.

In winter, Zhongnian of Qi came on a diplomatic visit, formally presenting the duke's wife.

Rui Jiang, mother of Wan, Earl of Rui, hated the Earl of Rui's many favorites, and therefore drove him out, and he went and dwelt in Wei (魏).

Year 4 (桓公四年)

Annals.

• In the fourth year, in spring, the first month, the duke held the winter hunt at Lang.
• In summer, the Heavenly King sent the steward Qu Bojiu on a diplomatic visit.

Zuo.

In the fourth year, in spring, the first month, the duke held the winter hunt at Lang. It was recorded because it was in season, and this was ritual propriety.

In summer, Qu Bojiu, steward of Zhou, came on a diplomatic visit. His father was still living, and therefore he is recorded by his personal name.

In autumn, an army of Qin (秦) raided Rui and was defeated there, because it had made light of Rui.

In winter, the king's army and the army of Qin besieged Wei (魏) and seized the Earl of Rui, carrying him back.

Year 5 (桓公五年)

Annals.

• In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, on jiaxu and on jichou, Bao, Marquis of Chen, died.
• In summer, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng went to Ji (紀).
• The Heavenly King sent the son of Shu of Reng on a diplomatic visit.
• Duke Huan of Chen was buried.
• A wall was built at Zhuqiu.
• In autumn, men of Cai, men of Wei, and men of Chen followed the king in attacking Zheng.
• A great rain sacrifice.
• Locusts.
• In winter, the Duke of Zhou (州) went to Cao.

Zuo.

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, on jiaxu and on jichou, Bao, Marquis of Chen, died: the death was announced twice. At that time Chen was in disorder. Tuo, a son of Duke Wen, killed the heir apparent Mian and took his place. The duke's illness had grown grave while the disorder broke out, and the people of the capital scattered; therefore the death was announced twice.

In summer, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng made a court visit to Ji, wishing thereby to fall upon it by surprise. The men of Ji found it out.

The king took away the Earl of Zheng's share in the government, and the Earl of Zheng did not come to court. In autumn the king with the feudal lords attacked Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng went out against him.

The king commanded the center army. Linfu, Duke of Guo, led the right army, with the men of Cai and the men of Wei attached to it; Heijian, Duke of Zhou (周), led the left army, with the men of Chen attached to it.

Ziyuan of Zheng proposed forming a left square to face the men of Cai and Wei, and a right square to face the men of Chen. He said, "Chen is in disorder, and its people have no heart for the fight. If we strike them first, they are sure to run. When the king's own troops look toward them, they will surely fall into confusion. Cai and Wei will not hold; they too will run first. Then we may gather upon the king's own troops, and the affair can be brought together." His plan was followed. Manbo formed the right square, Zhai Zhongzu the left square, while Yuan Fan and Gao Qumi with the center army attended the duke. They made the fish-scale array, with the chariot squadrons in front and the files of foot behind, the files supporting them and filling the gaps. They fought at Xuge. The order to the two squares was: "When the standard moves, beat the drums." Cai, Wei, and Chen all ran; the king's troops fell into confusion; the armies of Zheng joined and struck them, and the king's troops were utterly beaten. Zhu Dan shot the king and hit him in the shoulder, but the king was still able to hold his army together. Zhu Dan asked leave to pursue him. The duke said, "A noble man does not wish to overtop others, and how much less dare he trample upon the Son of Heaven! If we have saved ourselves and the altars of soil and grain have not fallen, that is enough."

At night the Earl of Zheng sent Zhai Zu to console the king and to inquire after his attendants.

"The son of Shu of Reng came on a diplomatic visit" — he was young.

In autumn, a great rain sacrifice. It was recorded because it was out of season. In general, for the sacrifices: at the waking of the insects, the suburban sacrifice; when the Dragon appears, the rain sacrifice; when the killing season begins, the chang offering; when the insects close themselves in, the zheng offering. When these are exceeded, it is recorded.

In winter, the Duke of Chunyu went to Cao. Reckoning that his own state was in danger, he did not go back.

Year 6 (桓公六年)

Annals.

• In the sixth year, in spring, the first month, he came indeed.
• In summer, in the fourth month, the duke met the Marquis of Ji at Cheng.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on renwu, there was a grand review.
• The men of Cai killed Tuo of Chen.
• In the ninth month, on dingmao, the son Tong was born.
• In winter, the Marquis of Ji came to court.

Zuo.

In the sixth year, in spring, he came from Cao to court. The record says "he came indeed," because he did not return to his own state.

King Wu of Chu raided Sui and sent Wei Zhang to seek terms of peace there, encamping at Xia to await the outcome. The men of Sui sent the Junior Preceptor to superintend the peace. Dou Bobi (鬬伯比) said to the Viscount of Chu, "That we have not had our will east of the Han is of our own making. We spread out our three armies and put on our armor and weapons and came down upon them in force; so they took fright and joined together in plotting against us, and were therefore hard to divide. Among the states east of the Han, Sui is the greatest. If Sui swells with pride, it will surely cast off the small states, and if the small states break away, that is Chu's advantage. The Junior Preceptor is extravagant. Let us make our army look weak, and so puff him up." Xiong Lüjubi said, "With Ji Liang there, what good will it do?" Dou Bobi said, "It is for a later plan: the Junior Preceptor has his ruler's ear." The king let his army appear ruined, and received the Junior Preceptor.

When the Junior Preceptor went back, he asked leave to pursue the army of Chu. The Marquis of Sui was about to grant it, but Ji Liang stopped him, saying, "Heaven is at this moment giving to Chu. Chu's weakness is a lure for us. Why is my lord in such haste? Your servant has heard that a small state can match a great one when the small has the Way and the great is dissolute. What is called the Way is loyalty to the people and good faith toward the spirits. That those above think of what benefits the people is loyalty; that the invocator and the scribe use straight words is good faith. Now the people are starving while my lord indulges his desires, and the invocator and the scribe make false report in sacrificing. Your servant does not know how this can serve." The lord of Sui said, "My victims are unblemished and fat, my grain offerings full and complete. Where is the want of good faith?" He replied, "The people are the masters of the spirits. Therefore the sage kings first made the people complete, and only then devoted their strength to the spirits. Thus when they presented the victims and announced, 'broad and great, fat and sleek,' it meant that the people's strength was everywhere preserved, that their beasts were large and multiplying, that they were not sick with mange or scab, that they were fully fattened and all present. When they presented the grain and announced, 'pure millet, rich and abundant,' it meant that the three seasons had suffered no harm, that the people were in concord and the year plentiful. When they presented the wine and sweet ale and announced, 'good grain and savory wine,' it meant that high and low alike had excellent virtue and no perverse hearts. What is called fragrance is the absence of slander and wickedness. Therefore they attended to the three seasons, cultivated the five teachings, drew close their nine degrees of kin, and so brought their pure sacrifices to completion. In this way the people were in concord and the spirits sent down blessings upon them, and whatever they undertook was accomplished. Now each of the people has a heart of his own, and the ghosts and spirits lack a master. Though my lord alone be lavish, what blessing can there be? Let my lord for the present put his government in order and draw close the states of his brothers; then he may perhaps escape calamity." The Marquis of Sui took fright and put his government in order, and Chu did not dare attack.

In summer, the meeting at Cheng: Ji came to take counsel about the danger from Qi. The Northern Rong attacked Qi, and Qi sent to beg troops of Zheng, and Hu, heir apparent of Zheng, led an army to rescue Qi.

In the sixth month he utterly defeated the army of the Rong and captured their two commanders, Daliang and Shaoliang, together with three hundred armored heads, which he presented to Qi. At that time grandees of the feudal lords were garrisoning Qi. The men of Qi sent them provisions and had Lu fix the order of precedence, and Lu placed Zheng last. Hu of Zheng, because he had rendered merit, was angry. Hence came the campaign at Lang.

Before our duke's marriage with Qi, the Marquis of Qi wished to give Wen Jiang in marriage to the heir apparent of Zheng. The heir apparent Hu declined. When someone asked his reason, the heir apparent said, "Every man has his own match. Qi is great; it is not my match. The Odes say, 'Seek for yourself abundant blessing.' It rests with me alone. What can a great state do for me?" The noble man said, "He planned well for himself." When he had defeated the army of the Rong, the Marquis of Qi again asked to give him a wife, and he firmly declined. When someone asked his reason, the heir apparent said, "When I had no business with Qi, I still did not dare. Now, at my ruler's command, I have hurried to Qi's emergency; and if I were to receive a wife and return with her, that would be using an army to get married. What would the people say of me?" And he declined it before the Earl of Zheng.

In autumn, the grand review: it was an inspection of chariots and horses.

In the ninth month, on dingmao, the son Tong was born. He was raised up with the rites for the birth of an heir apparent, and received with the full set of three victims. An officer chosen by divination carried him, the officer's wife nursed him, and the duke, with Wen Jiang and the wives of the ancestral house, gave him his name. The duke asked Shen Xu about naming. He replied, "There are five kinds of name: the true, the righteous, the imaged, the borrowed, and the categorical. To name from a circumstance of the birth is the true; to name from a virtue is the righteous; to name by resemblance is the imaged; to take it from an object is the borrowed; to take it from the father is the categorical. One does not use the name of a state, nor of an office, nor of mountains and rivers, nor of a hidden ailment, nor of domestic animals, nor of vessels and offerings of silk. The men of Zhou serve the spirits by taboo, and a name, at the end, will be tabooed. Therefore if a state's name is used, the name must be abolished; if an office, the office must be abolished; if a mountain or river, its presiding spirit must be abolished; if a domestic animal, the sacrifice must be abolished; if a vessel or an offering of silk, the rite must be abolished. Jin, because of Marquis Xi, abolished the office of minister of education; Song, because of Duke Wu, abolished the office of minister of works; and our former rulers Xian and Wu caused two mountains to be abolished. Therefore great things cannot be used in naming." The duke said, "His birth falls on the same day as mine; name him Tong, 'Same.'"

In winter, the Marquis of Ji came to court. He asked that a royal command be sought in order to make peace with Qi; the duke told him he could not do it.

Year 7 (桓公七年)

Annals.

• In the seventh year, in spring, in the second month, on jihai, Xianqiu was burned.
• In summer, Sui, Earl of Gu, came to court, and Wuli, Marquis of Deng, came to court.

Zuo.

In the seventh year, in spring, the Earl of Gu and the Marquis of Deng came to court. They are given by personal name, as a mark of disdain.

In summer, Meng and Xiang sought terms of peace with Zheng, and afterward went back on them.

In autumn, men of Zheng, men of Qi, and men of Wei attacked Meng and Xiang. The king moved the people of Meng and Xiang to Jia.

In winter, the Earl of Quwo lured the Young Marquis of Jin and killed him.

Year 8 (桓公八年)

Annals.

• In the eighth year, in spring, the first month, on jimao, the zheng sacrifice.
• The Heavenly King sent Jiafu on a diplomatic visit.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on dingchou, the zheng sacrifice.
• In autumn, we attacked Zhu.
• In winter, in the tenth month, snow fell.
• The Duke of Zhai came, and then went to meet the king's queen in Ji.

Zuo.

In the eighth year, in spring, Yi was extinguished.

The Junior Preceptor of Sui enjoyed favor. Dou Bobi of Chu said, "Now it may be done. Our enemy has a crack in him; the chance must not be lost."

In summer, the Viscount of Chu assembled the feudal lords at Shenlu. Huang and Sui did not attend. He sent Wei Zhang to reprove Huang, and himself attacked Sui, encamping between the Han and the Huai. Ji Liang asked that they submit humbly: "Let Chu refuse, and only then let us fight; that is the way to anger our own men and make the enemy slack." The Junior Preceptor said to the Marquis of Sui, "We must fight quickly; otherwise we shall lose the army of Chu." The Marquis of Sui went out against them. Looking at the army of Chu, Ji Liang said, "The men of Chu honor the left; their king will certainly be on the left. Do not meet the king; attack their right instead. There are no good men on their right, and it will surely be beaten. When one wing is beaten, the whole host will come apart." The Junior Preceptor said, "Not to face the king is not to meet him as an equal." Ji Liang's advice was not followed. They fought at Suqi, and the army of Sui was routed. The Marquis of Sui got away. Dou Dan captured his war chariot, together with his right-hand spearman, the Junior Preceptor.

In autumn, Sui made peace with Chu. The Viscount of Chu was about to refuse it. Dou Bobi said, "Heaven has taken away their affliction; Sui cannot yet be overcome." So they swore a covenant and returned.

In winter, the king ordered Zhong of Guo to set up Min, younger brother of Marquis Ai of Jin, as ruler in Jin. The Duke of Zhai came, and then went to meet the king's queen in Ji; this was in accord with ritual propriety.

Year 9 (桓公九年)

Annals.

• In the ninth year, in spring, Ji Jijiang went as a bride to the royal capital.
• In summer, the fourth month.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, the Earl of Cao sent his heir apparent Shegu to come to court.

Zuo.

In the ninth year, in spring, Ji Jijiang went as a bride to the royal capital. In general, when a daughter of the feudal lords goes to be married, only a queen of the king is recorded.

The Viscount of Ba sent Han Fu to make announcement to Chu, asking to be on good terms with Deng. The Viscount of Chu sent Dao Shuo to conduct the guests from Ba on a diplomatic visit to Deng. The men of Yu (鬱), on Deng's southern border, attacked them and seized their gifts, killing Dao Shuo and the envoy of Ba. The Viscount of Chu sent Wei Zhang to reprove Deng, but the men of Deng would not accept the reproof.

In summer, Chu sent Dou Lian to lead an army, together with the army of Ba, to besiege Yu (鬱). Yangsheng and Dansheng of Deng led an army to the rescue of Yu (鬱). Three times they drove back the army of Ba, but could not overcome it. Dou Lian drew up his army crosswise within the army of Ba, joined battle, and then fled. The men of Deng pursued him, and so turned their backs on the army of Ba, and the two forces attacked them from either side. The army of Deng was utterly beaten, and the men of Yu (鬱) scattered in the night.

In autumn, Zhong of Guo, the Earl of Rui, the Earl of Liang, the Marquis of Xun, and the Earl of Jia attacked Quwo.

In winter, the heir apparent of Cao came to court, and was received as a guest with the honors of a senior minister; this was in accord with ritual propriety. At the banquet for the heir apparent of Cao, at the first offering, when the music was performed he sighed. Shi Fu said, "Has the heir apparent of Cao some sorrow? This is no place for sighing."

Year 10 (桓公十年)

Annals.

• In the tenth year, in spring, the king's first month.
• On gengshen, Zhongsheng, Earl of Cao, died.
• In summer, in the fifth month, Duke Huan of Cao was buried.
• In autumn, the duke went to meet the Marquis of Wei at Taoqiu, but did not meet him.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, on bingwu, the Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Wei, and the Earl of Zheng came and fought at Lang.

Zuo.

In the tenth year, in spring, Duke Huan of Cao died.

Zhong of Guo slandered his grandee Zhanfu to the king. Zhanfu had a just case, and with the king's army he attacked Guo. In summer the Duke of Guo fled to Yu (虞).

In autumn, men of Qin restored Wan, Earl of Rui, to Rui.

Earlier, Shu of Yu (虞) had a jade, and the Duke of Yu (虞) asked for it. He did not present it, and afterward he repented, saying, "There is a Zhou proverb: 'The common man has no crime; his crime is the jade he carries in his breast.' What use have I for this? Shall I buy harm with it?" So he presented it. The duke then asked for his precious sword. Shu said, "The man is insatiable; being insatiable, he will come after me." So he attacked the Duke of Yu (虞), and the Duke of Yu (虞) fled to Gongchi.

In winter, Qi, Wei, and Zheng came and fought at Lang. We had a just case.

Earlier, the Northern Rong had distressed Qi, and the feudal lords rescued it. The ducal son Hu of Zheng rendered merit there. The men of Qi sent provisions to the feudal lords and had Lu arrange their order; Lu used the Zhou ranking and placed Zheng last. The men of Zheng were angry and asked Qi for troops, and the men of Qi used the army of Wei to help them. Therefore the record does not say "raid" or "attack." Qi and Wei are written first because of their royal rank.

Year 11 (桓公十一年)

Annals.

• In the eleventh year, in spring, the first month, men of Qi, men of Wei, and men of Zheng made a covenant at Ecao.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on guiwei, Wusheng, Earl of Zheng, died.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, Duke Zhuang of Zheng was buried.
• In the ninth month, men of Song seized Zhai Zhong of Zheng.
• Tu returned to Zheng.
• Hu of Zheng fled to Wei.
• Rou met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, and Shu of Cai, and made a covenant at Zhe.
• The duke met the Duke of Song at Fuzhong.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, the duke met the Duke of Song at Kan.

Zuo.

In the eleventh year, in spring, Qi, Wei, Zheng, and Song made a covenant at Ecao.

Qu Xia of Chu was about to make a covenant with Er and Zhen. The men of Yun encamped at Pusao, intending to join with Sui, Jiao, Zhou (州), and Liao in attacking the army of Chu. The Mo'ao was troubled by this. Dou Lian said, "The men of Yun are encamped in their own suburbs; they will surely be off their guard, and day by day they look for the arrival of the four settlements. Let my lord halt at Jiaoying to hold off the four settlements, while I fall upon Yun by night with picked troops. Yun's mind is on the others and it relies on its walls; no one there has any will to fight. If we defeat the army of Yun, the four settlements will certainly break away." The Mo'ao said, "Why not ask the king for reinforcements?" He replied, "An army's victory lies in harmony, not in numbers. That Shang was no match for Zhou is something my lord has heard. We came out with a complete army; what need is there of reinforcement?" The Mo'ao said, "Shall we divine about it?" He replied, "Divination is for settling doubts. Where there is no doubt, what is there to divine?" So they defeated the army of Yun at Pusao, completed the covenant, and returned.

When Duke Zhao of Zheng defeated the Northern Rong, the men of Qi wished to give him a wife, and Duke Zhao declined. Zhai Zhong said, "You must take her. Our ruler has many favorites within the palace, and if you have no great support you will not be established. The three ducal sons are all rulers in the making." He was not followed.

In summer, Duke Zhuang of Zheng died.

Earlier, Zhongzu, the border warden of Zhai, enjoyed favor with Duke Zhuang, and Duke Zhuang made him a minister. He took Deng Man as a wife for the duke, and she bore Duke Zhao; therefore Zhai Zhong set him up. The Yong clan of Song had given a daughter to Duke Zhuang of Zheng, called Yong Ji, and she bore Duke Li. The head of the Yong clan enjoyed favor with Duke Zhuang of Song, and therefore they lured Zhai Zhong and seized him, saying, "If you do not set up Tu, you will die." They also seized Duke Li and demanded a bribe of him. Zhai Zhong swore a covenant with the men of Song, took Duke Li back with him, and set him up.

In autumn, in the ninth month, on dinghai, Duke Zhao fled to Wei. On jihai, Duke Li was established.

Year 12 (桓公十二年)

Annals.

• In the twelfth year, in spring, the first month.
• In summer, in the sixth month, on renyin, the duke met the Marquis of Qi (杞) and the Viscount of Ju and made a covenant at Quchi.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on dinghai, the duke met the Duke of Song and men of Yan and made a covenant at Guqiu.
• In the eighth month, on renchen, Yue, Marquis of Chen, died.
• The duke met the Duke of Song at Xu.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, the duke met the Duke of Song at Gui.
• On bingxu, the duke met the Earl of Zheng and made a covenant at Wufu.
• On bingxu, Jin, Marquis of Wei, died.
• In the twelfth month, together with the army of Zheng we attacked Song.
• On dingwei, we fought in Song.

Zuo.

In the twelfth year, in summer, the covenant at Quchi: it made peace between Qi (杞) and Ju.

The duke wished to make peace between Song and Zheng. In autumn the duke and the Duke of Song made a covenant at the mound of Goudou. Whether Song would come to terms was still unknown, and therefore they met again at Xu; in winter they met again at Gui. The Duke of Song refused the peace, and therefore our duke made a covenant with the Earl of Zheng at Wufu. He then led an army and attacked Song and fought there, because Song had no good faith.

The noble man said, "If good faith is not kept up, covenants are of no use. The Odes say, 'The noble men covenant again and again, and by this disorder grows.' That is want of good faith."

Chu attacked Jiao and encamped before its southern gate. The Mo'ao Qu Xia said, "Jiao is small and reckless; being reckless, it is short of plans. Let us leave our firewood-gatherers unguarded, to lure them." His plan was followed, and the men of Jiao took thirty men. The next day the men of Jiao rushed out in rivalry and chased the Chu laborers into the hills. The men of Chu sat waiting at the northern gate and laid an ambush at the foot of the hills. They utterly defeated them, made a covenant beneath the city walls, and returned.

In the campaign against Jiao, the army of Chu divided to ford the Peng. The men of Luo wished to attack it and sent Bo Jia to spy on it; three times he went round and counted them.

Year 13 (桓公十三年)

Annals.

• In the thirteenth year, in spring, in the second month, the duke met the Marquis of Ji and the Earl of Zheng.
• On jisi, we fought with the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, and men of Yan.
• The armies of Qi, Song, Wei, and Yan were routed.
• In the third month, Duke Xuan of Wei was buried.
• In summer, a great flood.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, the tenth month.

Zuo.

In the thirteenth year, in spring, Qu Xia of Chu attacked Luo, and Dou Bobi escorted him on his way. Returning, he said to his charioteer, "The Mo'ao will surely be defeated. He lifts his feet high; his heart is not steady." He then went to see the Viscount of Chu and said, "You must send reinforcements." The Viscount of Chu refused. He went in and told his wife Deng Man. Deng Man said, "The grandee did not mean numbers. He meant that my lord should soothe the little people with good faith, instruct the officers with virtue, and overawe the Mo'ao with punishments. The Mo'ao has grown overconfident since the campaign at Pusao. He will follow his own will and will surely make light of Luo. If my lord does not steady and restrain him, will he not fail to make preparations? What the grandee meant is that my lord should instruct the host and be diligent in steadying and soothing it, summon the officers and exhort them with fine virtue, and see the Mo'ao and tell him that Heaven grants no easy indulgence. Otherwise, how could he not know that the whole army of Chu has already marched out?" The Viscount of Chu sent a man of Lai to overtake him, but he did not catch him.

The Mo'ao had it proclaimed through the army: "Whoever remonstrates will be punished." When they reached the Yan, they crossed in broken order, and after that there was no order at all, and no preparations were made. When they reached Luo, Luo and the Lu Rong attacked them with two armies and utterly defeated them. The Mo'ao hanged himself in Huanggu, and the other commanders shut themselves up at Yefu to await punishment. The Viscount of Chu said, "The fault was mine," and pardoned them all.

Song demanded many bribes of Zheng, and Zheng could not bear its demands. Therefore, with Ji and Lu, it fought against Qi, Song, Wei, and Yan. The place of the battle is not recorded, because we came late.

Men of Zheng came to ask that good relations be renewed.

Year 14 (桓公十四年)

Annals.

• In the fourteenth year, in spring, the first month, the duke met the Earl of Zheng in Cao.
• There was no ice.
• In summer, the fifth month, the Earl of Zheng sent his younger brother Yu to come and make a covenant.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on renshen, the granary of the offering-grain caught fire.
• On yihai, the chang sacrifice.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, on dingsi, Lufu, Marquis of Qi, died.
• Men of Song, with men of Qi, men of Cai, men of Wei, and men of Chen, attacked Zheng.

Zuo.

In the fourteenth year, in spring, the meeting in Cao. The men of Cao presented provisions; this was in accord with ritual propriety.

In summer, Ziren of Zheng came to renew the covenant, and also to confirm the meeting in Cao.

In autumn, in the eighth month, on renshen, the granary of the offering-grain caught fire. On yihai, the chang sacrifice was held. It was recorded because no harm had been done.

In winter, men of Song with the feudal lords attacked Zheng, in requital for the battle in Song. They burned the Qu Gate, entered, and reached the great highway. They attacked the eastern suburbs and took Niushou. They carried off the rafters of the Great Palace and made them the rafters of the Lu Gate.

Year 15 (桓公十五年)

Annals.

• In the fifteenth year, in spring, in the second month, the Heavenly King sent Jiafu to ask for chariots.
• In the third month, on yiwei, the Heavenly King died.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on jisi, Duke Xi of Qi was buried.
• In the fifth month, Tu, Earl of Zheng, fled to Cai.
• Hu, heir apparent of Zheng, returned again to Zheng.
• Shu of Xu entered Xu.
• The duke met the Marquis of Qi at Ai.
• Men of Zhu, men of Mou, and men of Ge came to court.
• In autumn, in the ninth month, Tu, Earl of Zheng, entered Li.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, the duke met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, and the Marquis of Chen at Cui, and attacked Zheng.

Zuo.

In the fifteenth year, in spring, the Heavenly King sent Jiafu to ask for chariots; this was contrary to ritual propriety. The feudal lords do not present chariots and robes as tribute, and the Son of Heaven does not privately ask for goods.

Zhai Zhong monopolized power, and the Earl of Zheng was troubled by it. He sent Zhai Zhong's son-in-law Yong Jiu to kill him, and Yong Jiu was to feast him in the suburbs. Yong Ji learned of it and said to her mother, "Which is nearer, a father or a husband?" Her mother said, "Any man may be a husband; a father is one only. How can they be compared?" So she told Zhai Zhong: "Yong has left his own house and means to feast you in the suburbs. I am puzzled by it, and so I tell you." Zhai Zhong killed Yong Jiu and laid out his corpse at the pool of the Zhou clan. The duke carried the body out with him, saying, "When a plot is shared with a woman, he deserves to die." In summer Duke Li fled to Cai.

In the sixth month, on yihai, Duke Zhao entered.

Shu of Xu entered Xu.

The duke met the Marquis of Qi at Ai, to plan the settlement of Xu.

In autumn, the Earl of Zheng, with the help of the men of Li, killed Tanbo and then took up residence in Li.

In winter, the meeting at Cui: they plotted to attack Zheng and to bring back Duke Li. They did not succeed, and returned.

Year 16 (桓公十六年)

Annals.

• In the sixteenth year, in spring, the first month, the duke met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, and the Marquis of Wei in Cao.
• In summer, in the fourth month, the duke joined the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Marquis of Chen, and the Marquis of Cai in attacking Zheng.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, the duke arrived from the attack on Zheng.
• In winter, a wall was built at Xiang.
• In the eleventh month, Shuo, Marquis of Wei, fled to Qi.

Zuo.

In the sixteenth year, in spring, the first month, the meeting in Cao: they plotted the attack on Zheng.

In summer, they attacked Zheng.

In autumn, in the seventh month, the duke arrived from the attack on Zheng; it was recorded because of the rite of the arrival-cup.

In winter, a wall was built at Xiang. It was recorded because it was in season.

Earlier, Duke Xuan of Wei had taken to himself his father's consort Yi Jiang, and she bore Jizi, whom he entrusted to the Right Ducal Son. A wife was taken for Jizi from Qi, but she was beautiful and the duke took her himself; she bore Shou and Shuo, and Shou was entrusted to the Left Ducal Son. Yi Jiang hanged herself. Xuan Jiang and the ducal son Shuo laid a plot against Jizi. The duke sent him to Qi and had brigands wait for him at Shen to kill him. Shou told him of it and urged him to flee. He would not, saying, "If I cast aside my father's command, what use is a son? If there were a state without fathers, then it might be done." When he set out, Shou gave him wine to drink, then carried off his pennon and went on ahead, and the brigands killed Shou. Jizi arrived and said, "It was I whom you sought. What crime is this man's? Kill me, I beg you." So they killed him too. For this reason the two ducal sons bore a grudge against Duke Hui.

In the eleventh month, the Left Ducal Son Xie and the Right Ducal Son Zhi set up the ducal son Qianmou. Duke Hui fled to Qi.

Year 17 (桓公十七年)

Annals.

• In the seventeenth year, in spring, the first month, on bingchen, the duke met the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Ji and made a covenant at Huang.
• In the second month, on bingwu, the duke met Yifu of Zhu and made a covenant at Cui.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on bingwu, we fought the army of Qi at Xi.
• In the sixth month, on dingchou, Fengren, Marquis of Cai, died.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, Ji of Cai returned to Cai from Chen.
• On guisi, Marquis Huan of Cai was buried.
• Together with men of Song and men of Wei we attacked Zhu.
• In winter, on the first day of the tenth month, the sun was eaten.

Zuo.

In the seventeenth year, in spring, the covenant at Huang: it made peace between Qi and Ji, and also took counsel about the affairs of Wei.

Then a covenant was made with Yifu of Zhu at Cui, renewing the covenant of Mie.

In summer, we fought the army of Qi at Xi; it was a matter of the frontier. At that time men of Qi had raided the frontier of Lu, and the frontier officer came to report it. The duke said, "In matters of the border, guard carefully what is yours and prepare against the unforeseen. For the present, do all your preparing. When the thing comes, fight; what need is there to ask?"

Marquis Huan of Cai died. The men of Cai summoned Ji of Cai from Chen.

In autumn, Ji of Cai returned to Cai from Chen; the men of Cai welcomed him gladly.

The attack on Zhu was Song's intention.

In winter, on the first day of the tenth month, the sun was eaten. The day is not recorded because the officer failed in his duty. The Son of Heaven has an officer of the days, and the feudal lords have a keeper of the days. That the officer of the days ranks with the ministers and fixes the days is ritual propriety. The keeper of the days does not lose the reckoning of the days, and delivers it to the hundred officers at court.

Earlier, the Earl of Zheng was about to make Gao Qumi a minister. Duke Zhao hated him and remonstrated firmly, but was not heeded. When Duke Zhao was established, Gao Qumi feared that he would kill him. On xinmao he assassinated Duke Zhao and set up the ducal son Wei.

The noble man said that Duke Zhao knew whom to hate. The ducal son Da said, "Will Gao Bo not be put to death? He has repaid hatred to excess."

Year 18 (桓公十八年)

Annals.

• In the eighteenth year, in spring, the king's first month, the duke met the Marquis of Qi at Luo.
• The duke and his wife, the lady Jiang, then went to Qi.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on bingzi, the duke passed away in Qi.
• On dingyou, the duke's funeral train arrived from Qi.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, on jichou, our ruler Duke Huan was buried.

Zuo.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the duke was about to make a journey, and went with the lady Jiang to Qi. Shen Xu said, "A woman has her husband's house and a man has his own household; let them not defile one another. This is called having ritual propriety. Alter this, and there must be ruin."

The duke met the Marquis of Qi at Luo, and then went with Wen Jiang to Qi. The Marquis of Qi had illicit relations with her. The duke reproached her, and she reported it to the marquis.

In summer, in the fourth month, on bingzi, the marquis feasted the duke. He had the ducal son Pengsheng ride with the duke, and the duke passed away in the carriage.

The men of Lu made announcement to Qi, saying, "Our unworthy ruler, in awe of your lordship's majesty, did not dare rest at ease, but came to renew the old good relations. The rites were completed, yet he did not return. There is no one to whom the blame may be assigned, and we are shamed among the feudal lords. We ask that Pengsheng be used to wipe it away." The men of Qi killed Pengsheng.

In autumn, the Marquis of Qi had his army at Shouzhi. Ziwei met him there, with Gao Qumi as his assistant. In the seventh month, on wuxu, the men of Qi killed Ziwei and tore Gao Qumi apart between chariots. Zhai Zhong went to Chen to meet the son of Zheng and set him up. Of that journey Zhai Zhong had foreknowledge, and therefore pleaded illness and did not go. People said, "Zhai Zhong escaped by his knowledge." Zhong said, "It is true."

The Duke of Zhou wished to assassinate King Zhuang and set up the king's son Ke. Xin Bo informed the king, and together with the king killed Heijian, Duke of Zhou. The king's son Ke fled to Yan.

Earlier, Ziyi had enjoyed favor with King Huan, and King Huan entrusted him to the Duke of Zhou. Xin Bo had remonstrated, saying, "A consort equal to the queen, a son equal to the heir, two centers of government, a city that matches the capital — these are the roots of disorder." The Duke of Zhou did not follow him, and so this befell him.

Colophon

This translation was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library and made independently from the classical Chinese printed in full below. The form of the original has been kept rather than smoothed: every year of Duke Huan's reign stands as its own heading, and within each year the blocks follow the source in the order the source gives them. The Chunqiu annal entries appear under the lead Annals. as a list, one entry to a line, kept as terse in English as they are in Chinese; the Zuo narrative appears under the lead Zuo. in its own paragraphs, with speeches set as speeches. No annal entry has been dropped or summarized, no narrative paragraph condensed, and no two years merged.

The Zuo Commentary is among the most translated of the early Chinese histories, and no claim of firstness is made for this version. Complete English translations exist in James Legge's The Ch'un Ts'ew with the Tso Chuen (1872) and in the translation by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li, and David Schaberg (2016); Burton Watson published selections in 1989. These are named here as translations known to exist, and as the reason no firstness is claimed. None of them was fetched or consulted at any point in this work: the English above was derived from the Chinese characters alone.

A few terms have been held steady throughout. 禮 is rendered "ritual propriety," and the recurring verdict 非禮也 as "this was contrary to ritual propriety." 君子曰 is "the noble man said." 天王 is "the Heavenly King," the Zhou king in his ritual capacity. The Chu military title 莫敖 is left as Mo'ao, having no clean English equivalent, and 少師 is "the Junior Preceptor." For deaths, 卒 is "died" and 薨 "passed away," the latter reserved for the lord of Lu himself. Where two states romanize alike, the character is carried in parentheses: 齊 Qi and 杞 Qi, 衛 Wei and 魏 Wei, 周 Zhou and 州 Zhou, 鬱 Yu and 虞 Yu. No illegible characters occur in this section of the source.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

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Source Text: 春秋左氏傳 桓公

Classical Chinese text in the Chinese Wikisource transcription. Presented complete for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

桓公元年

經

　　元年，春，王正月，公即位。

　　三月，公會鄭伯于垂，鄭伯以璧假許田。

　　夏，四月，丁未，公及鄭伯盟于越。

　　秋，大水。

　　冬，十月。

傳

　　元年春，公即位，修好于鄭。鄭人請復祀周公，卒易祊田。公許之。三月，鄭伯以璧假許田，為周公、祊故也。

　　夏，四月，丁未，公及鄭伯盟于越，結祊成也。盟曰：「渝盟，無享國。」

　　秋，大水。凡平原出水為大水。

　　冬，鄭伯拜盟。

　　宋華父督見孔父之妻于路，目逆而送之，曰：「美而艷。」

桓公二年

經

　　二年，春，王正月戊申，宋督弒其君與夷及其大夫孔父。

　　滕子來朝。

　　三月，公會齊侯、陳侯、鄭伯于稷，以成宋亂。

　　夏，四月，取郜大鼎于宋。戊申，納于大廟。

　　秋，七月，杞侯來朝。

　　蔡侯、鄭伯會于鄧。

　　九月，入杞。

　　公及戎盟于唐。

　　冬，公至自唐。

傳

　　二年春，宋督攻孔氏，殺孔父而取其妻。公怒，督懼，遂弒殤公。

　　君子以督為有無君之心，而後動於惡，故先書弒其君。會于稷，以成宋亂，為賂故，立華氏也。

　　宋殤公立，十年十一戰，民不堪命。孔父嘉為司馬，督為大宰，故因民之不堪命，先宣言曰：「司馬則然。」已殺孔父而弒殤公，召莊公于鄭而立之，以親鄭。以郜大鼎賂公，齊、陳、鄭皆有賂，故遂相宋公。

　　夏四月，取郜大鼎于宋。戊申，納于大廟。非禮也。臧哀伯諫曰：「君人者，將昭德塞違，以臨照百官；猶懼或失之，故昭令德以示子孫。是以清廟茅屋，大路越席，大羹不致，粢食不鑿，昭其儉也；袞、冕、黻、珽，帶、裳、幅、舄，衡、紞、紘、綖，昭其度也；藻、率、鞞、鞛，鞶、厲、游、纓，昭其數也；火、龍、黼、黻，昭其文也；五色比象，昭其物也；錫、鸞、和、鈴，昭其聲也；三辰旂旗，昭其明也。夫德，儉而有度，登降有數。文、物以紀之，聲、明以發之，以臨照百官，百官於是乎戒懼，而不敢易紀律。今滅德立違，而寘其賂器於大廟，以明示百官。百官象之，其又何誅焉？國家之敗，由官邪也；官之失德，寵賂章也。郜鼎在廟，章孰甚焉？武王克商，遷九鼎于雒邑，義士猶或非之，而況將昭違亂之賂器於大廟。其若之何？」公不聽。周內史聞之，曰：「臧孫達其有後於魯乎！君違，不忘諫之以德。」

　　秋七月，杞侯來朝，不敬，杞侯歸，乃謀伐之。

　　蔡侯、鄭伯會于鄧，始懼楚也。

　　九月，入杞，討不敬也。

　　公及戎盟于唐，修舊好也。

　　冬，公至自唐，告于廟也。凡公行，告于宗廟；反行，飲至、舍爵，策勳焉，禮也。特相會，往來稱地，讓事也。自參以上，則往稱地，來稱會，成事也。

　　初，晉穆侯之夫人姜氏，以條之役生太子，命之曰仇。其弟以千畝之戰生，命之曰成師。師服曰：「異哉，君之名子也！夫名以制義，義以出禮，禮以體政，政以正民。是以政成而民聽，易則生亂。嘉耦曰妃，怨耦曰仇，古之命也。今君命大子曰仇，弟曰成師，始兆亂矣，兄其替乎？」

　　惠之二十四年，晉始亂，故封桓叔于曲沃，靖侯之孫欒賓傅之。師服曰：「吾聞國家之立也，本大而末小，是以能固。故天子建國，諸侯立家，卿置側室，大夫有貳宗，士有隸子弟，庶人、工、商各有分親，皆有等衰。是以民服事其上，而下無覬覦。今晉，甸侯也，而建國，本既弱矣，其能久乎？」

　　惠之三十年，晉潘父弒昭侯而納桓叔，不克。晉人立孝侯。

　　惠之四十五年，曲沃莊伯伐翼，弒孝侯。翼人立其弟鄂侯。鄂侯生哀侯。哀侯侵陘庭之田。陘庭南鄙啟曲沃伐翼。

桓公三年

經

　　三年，春，正月，公會齊侯于嬴。

　　夏，齊侯、衛侯胥命于蒲。

　　六月，公會杞侯于郕。

　　秋七月壬辰朔，日有食之，既。

　　公子翬如齊逆女。

　　九月，齊侯送姜氏于讙。

　　公會齊侯於讙。

　　夫人姜氏至自齊。

　　冬，齊侯使其弟年來聘。

　　有年。

傳

　　三年春，曲沃武公伐翼，次于陘庭，韓萬御戎，梁弘為右，逐翼侯于汾隰，驂絓而止。夜獲之，及欒共叔。

　　會于嬴，成昬于齊也。

　　夏，齊侯、衛侯胥命于蒲，不盟也。

　　公會杞侯于郕，杞求成也。

　　秋，公子翬如齊逆女。修先君之好。故曰「公子」。

　　齊侯送姜氏于讙，非禮也。凡公女嫁于敵國，姊妹，則上卿送之，以禮於先君；公子，則下卿送之。於大國，雖公子，亦上卿送之。於天子，則諸卿皆行，公不自送。於小國，則上大夫送之。

　　冬，齊仲年來聘，致夫人也。

　　芮伯萬之母芮姜惡芮伯之多寵人也，故逐之，出居于魏。

桓公四年

經

　　四年，春，正月，公狩于郎。

　　夏，天王使宰渠伯糾來聘。

傳

　　四年春，正月，公狩于郎。書，時，禮也。

　　夏，周宰渠伯糾來聘。父在，故名。

　　秋，秦師侵芮，敗焉，小之也。

　　冬，王師、秦師圍魏，執芮伯以歸。

桓公五年

經

　　五年春正月，甲戌、己丑，陳侯鮑卒。

　　夏，齊侯鄭伯如紀。天王使仍叔之子來聘。葬陳桓公。城祝丘。

　　秋，蔡人、衛人、陳人從王伐鄭。大雩。螽。

　　冬，州公如曹。

傳

　　五年春正月，甲戌，己丑，陳侯鮑卒，再赴也。於是陳亂，文公子佗殺大子免而代之。公疾病而亂作，國人分散，故再赴。

　　夏，齊侯、鄭伯朝于紀，欲以襲之。紀人知之。

　　王奪鄭伯政，鄭伯不朝。秋，王以諸侯伐鄭，鄭伯禦之。

　　王為中軍；虢公林父將右軍，蔡人、衛人屬焉；周公黑肩將左軍，陳人屬焉。

　　鄭子元請為左拒，以當蔡人、衛人；為右拒，以當陳人，曰：「陳亂，民莫有鬬心，若先犯之，必奔。王卒顧之，必亂。蔡、衛不枝，固將先奔，既而萃於王卒，可以集事。」從之。曼伯為右拒，祭仲足為左拒，原繁、高渠彌以中軍奉公，為魚麗之陳，先偏後伍，伍承彌縫。戰于繻葛，命二拒曰：「旝動而鼓。」蔡、衛、陳皆奔，王卒亂，鄭師合以攻之，王卒大敗。祝聃射王中肩，王亦能軍。祝聃請從之。公曰：「君子不欲多上人，況敢陵天子乎！苟自救也，社稷無隕，多矣。」

　　夜，鄭伯使祭足勞王，且問左右。

　　仍叔之子來聘，弱也。

　　秋，大雩，書，不時也。凡祀，啟蟄而郊，龍見而雩，始殺而嘗，閉蟄而烝。過則書。

　　冬，淳于公如曹。度其國危，遂不復。

桓公六年

經

　　六年，春，正月，寔來。

　　夏，四月，公會紀侯于成。

　　秋，八月，壬午，大閱，蔡人殺陳佗。

　　九月，丁卯，子同生。

　　冬，紀侯來朝。

傳

　　六年，春，自曹來朝。書曰：「寔來」，不復其國也。楚武王侵隨，使薳章求成焉，軍於瑕以待之。隨人使少師董成，鬬伯比言于楚子曰：「吾不得志於漢東也，我則使然。我張吾三軍而被吾甲兵，以武臨之；彼則懼而協以謀我，故難間也。漢東之國，隨為大，隨張，必棄小國。小國離，楚之利也。少師侈，請羸師以張之。」熊率且比曰：「季梁在，何益？」鬬伯比曰：「以為後圖，少師得其君。」王毀軍而納少師。

　　少師歸，請追楚師。隨侯將許之，季梁止之曰：「天方授楚，楚之羸，其誘我也，君何急焉？臣聞小之能敵大也，小道大淫。所謂道，忠於民而信於神也；上思利民，忠也；祝史正辭，信也。今民餒而君逞欲，祝史矯舉以祭，臣不知其可也。」公曰：「吾牲牷肥腯，粢盛豐備，何則不信？」對曰：「夫民，神之主也。是以聖王先成民，而後致力於神。故奉牲以告曰『博碩肥腯』，謂民力之普存也，謂其畜之碩大蕃滋也，謂其不疾瘯蠡也，謂其備腯咸有也。奉盛以告曰『絜粢豐盛』，謂其三時不害，而民和年豐也。奉酒醴以告曰『嘉栗旨酒』，謂其上下皆有嘉德，而無違心也。所謂馨香，無讒慝也，故務其三時，脩其五教，親其九族，以致其禋祀。於是乎民和而神降之福，故動則有成。今民各有心，而鬼神乏主，君雖獨豐，其何福之有？！君姑脩政而親兄弟之國，庶免於難。」隨侯懼而脩政，楚不敢伐。

　　夏，會于成。紀來諮謀齊難也。北戎伐齊，齊使乞師于鄭，鄭大子忽帥師救齊。

　　六月，大敗戎師，獲其二帥，大良，少良。甲首三百，以獻於齊。於是諸侯之大夫戍齊。齊人饋之餼，使魯為其班，後鄭。鄭忽以其有功也，怒。故有郎之師。

　　公之未昏於齊也。齊侯欲以文姜妻鄭大子。大子忽辭，人問其故，大子曰：「人各有耦，齊大，非吾耦也。《詩》云：『自求多福。』在我而已，大國何為？」君子曰：「善自為謀。」及其敗戎師也，齊侯又請妻之，固辭。人問其故，大子曰：「無事於齊，吾猶不敢。今以君命，奔齊之急，而受室以歸，是以師昏也，民其謂我何？」遂辭諸鄭伯。

　　秋，大閱，簡車馬也。

　　九月，丁卯，子同生。以大子生之禮舉之，接以大牢。卜士負之，士妻食之，公與文姜宗婦命之。公問名於申繻，對曰：「名有五：有信，有義，有象，有假，有類。以名生為信，以德名為義，以類命為象，取於物為假，取於父為類。不以國，不以官，不以山川，不以隱疾，不以畜牲，不以器幣。周人以諱事神，名，終將諱之。故以國則廢名，以官則廢職，以山川則廢主，以畜牲則廢祀，以器幣則廢禮。晉以僖侯廢司徒，宋以武公廢司空，先君獻武廢二山。是以大物不可以命。」公曰：「是其生也，與吾同物，命之曰同。」

　　冬，紀侯來朝。請王命以求成于齊，公告不能。

桓公七年

經

　　七年，春，二月己亥，焚咸丘。

　　夏，穀伯綏來朝，鄧侯吾離來朝。

傳

　　七年春，穀伯、鄧侯來朝。名，賤之也。

　　夏，盟、向求成于鄭，既而背之。

　　秋，鄭人、齊人、衛人伐盟、向。王遷盟、向之民于郟。

　　冬，曲沃伯誘晉小子侯，殺之。

桓公八年

經

　　八年，春，正月己卯，烝。天王使家父來聘。

　　夏，五月丁丑，烝。

　　秋，伐邾。

　　冬，十月，雨雪。祭公來，遂逆王后于紀。

傳

　　八年，春，滅翼。隨少師有寵。楚鬬伯比曰：「可矣。讎有釁，不可失也。」

　　夏，楚子合諸侯于沈鹿。黃、隨不會，使薳章讓黃。楚子伐隨，軍於漢淮之間。季梁請下之：「弗許而後戰，所以怒我而怠寇也。」少師謂隨侯曰：「必速戰，不然，將失楚師。」隨侯禦之，望楚師，季梁曰：「楚人上左，君必左，無與王遇，且攻其右。右無良焉，必敗。偏敗，眾乃攜矣。」少師曰：「不當王，非敵也。」弗從。戰于速杞，隨師敗績。隨侯逸，鬬丹獲其戎車，與其戎右少師。

　　秋，隨及楚平。楚子將不許。鬬伯比曰：「天去其疾矣，隨未可克也。」乃盟而還。

　　冬，王命虢仲立晉哀侯之弟緡于晉。祭公來，遂逆王后于紀，禮也。

桓公九年

經

　　九年，春，紀季姜歸於京師。

　　夏，四月。

　　秋，七月。

　　冬，曹伯使其世子射姑來朝。

傳

　　九年春，紀季姜歸於京師。凡諸侯之女行，唯王后書。

　　巴子使韓服告于楚，請與鄧為好。楚子使道朔將巴客以聘于鄧。鄧南鄙鬱人攻而奪之幣，殺道朔及巴行人。楚子使薳章讓于鄧，鄧人弗受。

　　夏，楚使鬬廉帥師及巴師圍鬱。鄧養甥、聃甥帥師鬱救。三逐巴師，不克。鬬廉衡陳其師于巴師之中，以戰，而北。鄧人逐之，背巴師而夾攻之。鄧師大敗，鬱人宵潰。

　　秋，虢仲、芮伯、梁伯、荀侯、賈伯伐曲沃。

　　冬，曹大子來朝，賓之以上卿，禮也。享曹大子，初獻，樂奏而歎。施父曰：「曹大子其有憂乎？非歎所也。」

桓公十年

經

　　十年，春，王正月。庚申，曹伯終生卒。

　　夏，五月，葬曹桓公。

　　秋，公會衛侯於桃丘，弗遇。

　　冬，十有二月丙午，齊侯、衛侯、鄭伯來戰于郎。

傳

　　十年春，曹桓公卒。

　　虢仲譖其大夫詹父于王。詹父有辭，以王師伐虢。夏，虢公出奔虞。

　　秋，秦人納芮伯萬于芮。

　　初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗獻。既而悔之。曰：「周諺有之：『匹夫無罪，懷璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以賈害也？」乃獻。又求其寶劍。叔曰：「是無厭也。無厭，將及我。」遂伐虞公，故虞公出奔共池。

　　冬，齊、衛、鄭來戰于郎，我有辭也。

　　初，北戎病齊，諸侯救之。鄭公子忽有功焉。齊人餼諸侯，使魯次之。魯以周班後鄭。鄭人怒，請師于齊。齊人以衛師助之。故不稱侵伐。先書齊、衛，王爵也。

桓公十一年

經

　　十有一年，春，正月，齊人、衛人、鄭人盟于惡曹。

　　夏，五月癸未，鄭伯寤生卒。

　　秋，七月，葬鄭莊公。九月，宋人執鄭祭仲。突歸於鄭。鄭忽出奔衛。柔會宋公、陳侯、蔡叔盟于折。公會宋公于夫鐘。

　　冬，十有二月，公會宋公于闞。

傳

　　十一年春，齊、衛、鄭、宋盟于惡曹。

　　楚屈瑕將盟貳、軫。鄖人軍于蒲騷，將與隨、絞、州、蓼伐楚師。莫敖患之。鬬廉曰：「鄖人軍其郊，必不誡，且日虞四邑之至也。君次於郊郢，以禦四邑。我以銳師宵加於鄖，鄖有虞心而恃其城，莫有鬥志。若敗鄖師，四邑必離。」莫敖曰：「盍請濟師于王？」對曰：「師克在和，不在眾。商、周之不敵，君之所聞也。成軍以出，又何濟焉？」莫敖曰：「卜之？」對曰：「卜以決疑，不疑何卜？」遂敗鄖師于蒲騷，卒盟而還。

　　鄭昭公之敗北戎也，齊人將妻之，昭公辭。祭仲曰：「必取之。君多內寵，子無大援，將不立。三公子皆君也。」弗從。

　　夏，鄭莊公卒。

　　初，祭封人仲足有寵于莊公，莊公使為卿。為公娶鄧曼，生昭公，故祭仲立之。宋雍氏女于鄭莊公，曰雍姞，生厲公。雍氏宗有寵于宋莊公，故誘祭仲而執之，曰：「不立突，將死。」亦執厲公而求賂焉。祭仲與宋人盟，以厲公歸而立之。

　　秋九月丁亥，昭公奔衛。己亥，厲公立。

桓公十二年

經

　　十有二年，春，正月。

　　夏，六月壬寅，公會杞侯、莒子盟于曲池。

　　秋，七月丁亥，公會宋公、燕人盟于穀丘。八月壬辰，陳侯躍卒。公會宋公於虛。

　　冬，十有一月，公會宋公於龜。丙戌，公會鄭伯，盟于武父。丙戌，衛侯晉卒。十有二月，及鄭師伐宋。丁未，戰于宋。

傳

　　十二年夏，盟于曲池，平杞、莒也。

　　公欲平宋、鄭。秋，公及宋公盟於句瀆之丘。宋成未可知也，故又會於虛。冬，又會於龜。宋公辭平，故與鄭伯盟于武父。遂帥師而伐宋，戰焉，宋無信也。

　　君子曰：「苟信不繼，盟無益也。《詩》云：『君子屢盟，亂是用長。』無信也。」

　　楚伐絞，軍其南門。莫敖屈瑕曰：「絞小而輕，輕則寡謀，請無扞采樵者以誘之。」從之。絞人獲三十人。明日，絞人爭出，驅楚役徒於山中。楚人坐其北門，而覆諸山下，大敗之，為城下之盟而還。

　　伐絞之役，楚師分涉于彭。羅人欲伐之，使伯嘉諜之，三巡數之。

桓公十三年

經

　　十有三年，春二月，公會紀侯、鄭伯。己巳，及齊侯、宋公、衛侯、燕人戰。齊師、宋師、衛師、燕師敗績。三月，葬衛宣公。

　　夏，大水。

　　秋，七月。

　　冬十月。

傳

　　十三年春，楚屈瑕伐羅，鬬伯比送之。還，謂其禦曰：「莫敖必敗。舉趾高，心不固矣。」遂見楚子曰：「必濟師。」楚子辭焉。入告夫人鄧曼。鄧曼曰：「大夫其非眾之謂，其謂君撫小民以信，訓諸司以德，而威莫敖以刑也。莫敖狃于蒲騷之役，將自用也，必小羅。君若不鎮撫，其不設備乎？夫固謂君訓眾而好鎮撫之，召諸司而勸之以令德，見莫敖而告諸天之不假易也。不然，夫豈不知楚師之盡行也？」楚子使賴人追之，不及。

　　莫敖使徇于師曰：「諫者有刑。」及鄢，亂次以濟。遂無次，且不設備。及羅，羅與盧戎兩軍之。大敗之。莫敖縊于荒谷，群帥囚于冶父以聽刑。楚子曰：「孤之罪也。」皆免之。

　　宋多責賂于鄭，鄭不堪命。故以紀、魯及齊與宋、衛、燕戰。不書所戰，後也。

　　鄭人來請修好。

桓公十四年

經

　　十有四年，春，正月，公會鄭伯于曹。無冰。

　　夏，五，鄭伯使其弟語來盟。

　　秋，八月壬申，禦廩災。乙亥，嘗。

　　冬，十有二月丁巳，齊侯祿父卒。宋人以齊人、蔡人、衛人、陳人伐鄭。

傳

　　十四年春，會于曹。曹人致餼，禮也。

　　夏，鄭子人來尋盟，且修曹之會。

　　秋八月壬申，禦廩災。乙亥，嘗。書，不害也。

　　冬，宋人以諸侯伐鄭，報宋之戰也。焚渠門，入，及大逵。伐東郊，取牛首。以大宮之椽歸，為盧門之椽。

桓公十五年

經

　　十有五年，春，二月，天王使家父來求車。三月乙未，天王崩。

　　夏，四月己巳，葬齊僖公。五月，鄭伯突出奔蔡。鄭世子忽複歸於鄭。許叔入于許。公會齊侯于艾。邾人、牟人、葛人來朝。

　　秋，九月，鄭伯突入于櫟。

　　冬，十有一月，公會宋公、衛侯、陳侯於衰，伐鄭。

傳

　　十五年春，天王使家父來求車，非禮也。諸侯不貢車、服，天子不私求財。

　　祭仲專，鄭伯患之，使其婿雍糾殺之。將享諸郊。雍姬知之，謂其母曰：「父與夫孰親？」其母曰：「人盡夫也，父一而已，胡可比也？」遂告祭仲曰：「雍氏舍其室而將享子於郊，吾惑之，以告。」祭仲殺雍糾，屍諸周氏之汪。公載以出，曰：「謀及婦人，宜其死也。」夏，厲公出奔蔡。

　　六月乙亥，昭公入。

　　許叔入于許。

　　公會齊侯于艾，謀定許也。

　　秋，鄭伯因櫟人殺檀伯，而遂居櫟。

　　冬，會於衰，謀伐鄭，將納厲公也。弗克而還。

桓公十六年

經

　　十有六年，春，正月，公會宋公、蔡侯、衛侯于曹。

　　夏，四月，公會宋公、衛侯、陳侯、蔡侯伐鄭。

　　秋，七月，公至自伐鄭。

　　冬，城向。十有一月，衛侯朔出奔齊。

傳

　　十六年春正月，會于曹，謀伐鄭也。

　　夏，伐鄭。

　　秋七月，公至自伐鄭，以飲至之禮也。

　　冬，城向，書，時也。

　　初，衛宣公烝于夷姜，生急子，屬諸右公子。為之娶于齊，而美，公取之，生壽及朔，屬壽于左公子。夷姜縊。宣姜與公子朔構急子。公使諸齊，使盜待諸莘，將殺之。壽子告之，使行。不可，曰：「棄父之命，惡用子矣！有無父之國則可也。」及行，飲以酒，壽子載其旌以先，盜殺之。急子至，曰：「我之求也。此何罪？請殺我乎！」又殺之。二公子故怨惠公。

　　十一月，左公子泄、右公子職立公子黔牟。惠公奔齊。

桓公十七年

經

　　十有七年，春，正月丙辰，公會齊侯、紀侯盟于黃。二月丙午，公會邾儀父，盟于趡。

　　夏，五月丙午，及齊師戰于奚。六月丁丑，蔡侯封人卒。

　　秋，八月，蔡季自陳歸於蔡。癸巳，葬蔡桓侯。及宋人、衛人伐邾。

　　冬，十月朔，日有食之。

傳

　　十七年春，盟于黃，平齊、紀，且謀衛故也。

　　乃邾儀父盟于趡，尋蔑之盟也。

　　夏，及齊師戰于奚，疆事也。於是齊人侵魯疆，疆吏來告，公曰：「疆場之事，慎守其一，而備其不虞。姑盡所備焉。事至而戰，又何謁焉？」

　　蔡桓侯卒。蔡人召蔡季于陳。

　　秋，蔡季自陳歸於蔡，蔡人嘉之也。

　　伐邾，宋志也。

　　冬十月朔，日有食之。不書日，官失之也。天子有日官，諸侯有日禦。日官居卿以底日，禮也。日禦不失日，以授百官於朝。

　　初，鄭伯將以高渠彌為卿，昭公惡之，固諫，不聽，昭公立，懼其殺己也。辛卯，弑昭公，而立公子亹。

　　君子謂昭公知所惡矣。公子達曰：「高伯其為戮乎？複惡已甚矣。」

桓公十八年

經

　　十有八年，春，王正月，公會齊侯於濼。公與夫人姜氏遂如齊。

　　夏，四月丙子，公薨于齊。丁酉，公之喪至自齊。

　　秋，七月。

　　冬，十有二月己丑，葬我君桓公。

傳

　　十八年春，公將有行，遂與姜氏如齊。申繻曰：「女有家，男有室，無相瀆也，謂之有禮。易此，必敗。」

　　公會齊侯於濼，遂及文姜如齊。齊侯通焉。公謫之，以告。

　　夏四月丙子，享公。使公子彭生乘公，公薨于車。

　　魯人告于齊曰：「寡君畏君之威，不敢甯居，來修舊好，禮成而不反，無所歸咎，惡于諸侯。請以彭生除之。」齊人殺彭生。

　　秋，齊侯師於首止；子亹會之，高渠彌相。七月戊戌，齊人殺子亹而轘高渠彌，祭仲逆鄭子于陳而立之。是行也，祭仲知之，故稱疾不往。人曰：「祭仲以知免。」仲曰：「信也。」

　　周公欲弑莊王而立王子克。辛伯告王，遂與王殺周公黑肩。王子克奔燕。

　　初，子儀有寵于桓王，桓王屬諸周公。辛伯諫曰：「並后、匹嫡、兩政、耦國，亂之本也。」周公弗從，故及。

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Chunqiu Zuoshi Zhuan (articles 春秋左氏傳 桓公, revisions of 21 March 2026), inspected from a witness copy captured on 22 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the text itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header, interlanguage links, and license templates have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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