Zuozhuan Yin Gong — 春秋左氏傳 隱公, traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming

The Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan) is the great narrative history of the Spring and Autumn period, traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming and traditionally read as a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu), the terse year-by-year chronicle of the state of Lu. The attribution is ancient and cannot be verified; the compilation is generally placed in the fourth century BCE, drawing on older court records. This file covers the reign of Duke Yin of Lu, 722–712 BCE — the eleven years with which the chronicle opens.

Within each year the text alternates between the two layers: the Annals blocks are the bare official notices of the Lu chronicle — a covenant, an eclipse, a death, a campaign, often a single clause — and the Zuo blocks are the narrative that surrounds them, telling what happened, explaining why an entry is worded as it is, and sometimes explaining why a thing was left out of the record altogether. Some years open with narrative before the annal entries; that order is kept as the source has it.

Names of persons, states, and places are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with the Chinese characters supplied at the first appearance of a major figure. Ranks follow the conventional five: 公 duke, 侯 marquis, 伯 earl, 子 viscount, 男 baron. Dates are kept in the text's own reckoning — "in the fifth year, in spring, in the king's first month" — and sexagenary day names are left in pinyin. The recurring formula 君子曰 is rendered "The noble man said."

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese, which is printed in full below. Complete English translations of the Zuo Commentary already exist; this translation makes no claim of firstness, and was made independently from the Chinese without consulting them.

Contents

• Year 1 (隱公元年)
• Year 2 (隱公二年)
• Year 3 (隱公三年)
• Year 4 (隱公四年)
• Year 5 (隱公五年)
• Year 6 (隱公六年)
• Year 7 (隱公七年)
• Year 8 (隱公八年)
• Year 9 (隱公九年)
• Year 10 (隱公十年)
• Year 11 (隱公十一年)

Translation

Duke Yin, Years 1–11 (隱公元年–隱公十一年)

Year 1 (隱公元年)

Zuo.

Duke Hui's principal consort was Meng Zi. When Meng Zi died, Sheng Zi was made his continuing wife, and she bore Duke Yin (隱公). Duke Wu of Song fathered Zhong Zi (仲子). Zhong Zi was born with a marking on her hand that read "she shall be the lady of Lu." Therefore Zhong Zi was given in marriage to us; she bore Duke Huan, and then Duke Hui passed away. For this reason Duke Yin was set in place and upheld the child.

Annals.

• In the first year, in spring, in the king's first month.
• In the third month, the duke made covenant with Yifu of Zhu (邾) at Mie.
• In summer, in the fifth month, the Earl of Zheng (鄭) overcame Duan at Yan.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, the King of Heaven sent the steward Xuan to bring the funeral gifts for Duke Hui and Zhong Zi.
• In the ninth month, we made covenant with the men of Song at Su.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, the Earl of Zhai came.
• The ducal son Yishi died.

Zuo.

In the first year, in spring, the king's first month of Zhou. That his accession is not recorded is because he held the place as regent.

In the third month the duke made covenant with Yifu of Zhu at Mie. This was Ke, Viscount of Zhu. He had not yet received the king's charge, and therefore his rank is not recorded. He is called "Yifu" as a mark of honor. The duke, holding the position as regent, wished to seek friendship with Zhu; hence the covenant at Mie.

In summer, in the fourth month, the Earl of Fei led out troops and walled Lang. It is not recorded, because it was not by the duke's command.

At the outset, Duke Wu of Zheng took a wife from Shen; she was called Wu Jiang. She bore Duke Zhuang (莊公) and Gongshu Duan (共叔段). Duke Zhuang came out of the womb the wrong way and startled Lady Jiang; therefore he was named "Wusheng," and she came to hate him. She loved Gongshu Duan and wished to have him established. Repeatedly she asked this of Duke Wu, and the duke would not permit it.

When Duke Zhuang took the throne, she asked for Zhi on Duan's behalf. The duke said, "Zhi is a town on a crag; Shu of Guo died there. As for any other town, I will do as you command." She asked for Jing, and he had Duan dwell there, and he was called the Great Shu of the city of Jing.

Zhai Zhong (祭仲) said, "When the wall of a subordinate city passes a hundred zhi, it is a harm to the state. By the institutions of the former kings, a great city may not exceed a third of the capital, a middling one a fifth, a small one a ninth. Now Jing is beyond measure. This is not according to the institutions, and my lord will not be able to bear it."

The duke said, "Lady Jiang wants it. How am I to avoid the harm?"

He replied, "What satiety has Lady Jiang? Better to make a place for him early and not let him spread and creep. Once he creeps, he will be hard to plan against. Even a creeping weed cannot be rooted out — how much less my lord's favored younger brother!"

The duke said, "He who does much that is unrighteous will surely bring himself down. You, sir, need only wait."

Presently the Great Shu ordered the western and northern border districts to be subject to himself as well.

The ducal son Lü said, "The state cannot bear a divided allegiance. What will my lord do about it? If you wish to give it over to the Great Shu, let me ask leave to serve him; if you will not give it, then let me ask leave to remove him. Do not let the people's hearts be stirred."

The duke said, "There is no need. It will come upon him of itself."

The Great Shu then gathered in the doubly subject districts as his own towns, reaching as far as Linyan. Zifeng said, "Now is the time. Grown thick, he will win the multitude." The duke said, "Being unrighteous, he will hold no man close; grown thick, he will collapse."

The Great Shu made his walls whole and gathered stores, mended armor and weapons, made ready foot soldiers and chariots, and was about to fall upon Zheng by surprise. The lady was to open the gates for him. The duke heard the day of it and said, "Now!" He ordered Zifeng to lead two hundred chariots and attack Jing. Jing revolted from the Great Shu Duan; Duan entered Yan, and the duke attacked him at Yan. On the xinchou day of the fifth month, the Great Shu fled to Gong.

The record says, "The Earl of Zheng overcame Duan at Yan." Duan did not behave as a younger brother, and so he is not called "younger brother." They were as two rulers, and so it says "overcame." He is styled "the Earl of Zheng" to censure his failure to instruct: it says that this was Zheng's own intent. His flight is not mentioned, because it was hard to speak of.

The duke then placed Lady Jiang at Chengying and swore to her, "Until we come to the Yellow Springs, we shall not see one another." Afterward he regretted it.

Ying Kaoshu (潁考叔) was the border warden of Yinggu. Hearing of this, he brought an offering to the duke, and the duke granted him food. As he ate, he set the meat aside. The duke asked him about it, and he replied, "Your servant has a mother. She has tasted everything your servant eats, but she has never tasted my lord's broth. Let me take this to her."

The duke said, "You have a mother to give to. I alone have none!"

Ying Kaoshu said, "May I dare ask what you mean?" The duke told him the reason, and told him also of his regret. He replied, "What is there in this to trouble my lord? If you dig into the earth until you reach the springs, and meet one another in the tunnel, who will say it is not as you swore?" The duke followed his advice.

The duke went in and chanted:

Within the great tunnel —
the joy of it, how warm!

Jiang came out and chanted:

Outside the great tunnel —
the joy of it, how free!

And so they were mother and son as at the first.

The noble man said: "Ying Kaoshu was pure in filial devotion. He loved his mother, and it reached out even to Duke Zhuang. The Odes say,

The filial son is never wanting;
forever he bestows upon his kind.

Surely this is what is meant."

In autumn, in the seventh month, the King of Heaven sent the steward Xuan to bring the funeral gifts for Duke Hui and Zhong Zi. It was late, and moreover Lady Zi had not yet died; therefore he is named. The Son of Heaven is buried in the seventh month, and all who share the same wheel-track come; a feudal lord in the fifth month, and those of the same covenant come; a grandee in the third month, and those of the same rank come; an officer when the month has passed, and his relatives by marriage come. For gifts to the dead not to arrive while the body still lies there, for condolences to the living not to arrive while the grief is fresh, and to anticipate a funeral before it has come — these are contrary to the rites.

In the eighth month the men of Ji (紀) attacked Yi. Yi did not report it, and so it is not recorded. There were fei beetles. They did not become a calamity, and so this too is not recorded.

In the last year of Duke Hui we defeated the army of Song at Huang. When the duke was set in place, he sought a settlement with them. In the ninth month we made covenant with the men of Song at Su. This was the beginning of relations between us.

In winter, in the tenth month, on the gengshen day, Duke Hui was reburied. The duke did not attend the wailing, and so it is not recorded. When Duke Hui passed away there was the Song campaign, and the heir apparent was young, so that the burial had been defective; hence the reburial. The Marquis of Wei came to join in the burial but did not see the duke; this too is not recorded.

In the disorder of Gongshu of Zheng, the ducal grandson Hua fled to Wei. The men of Wei on his behalf attacked Zheng and took Linyan. The men of Zheng, with the king's troops and the troops of Guo, attacked the southern border districts of Wei. They asked Zhu for troops, and the Viscount of Zhu sent privately to the ducal son Yu. Yu asked leave to go; the duke would not permit it, and he went all the same. He made covenant with the men of Zhu and the men of Zheng at Yi. It is not recorded, because it was not by the duke's command.

The south gate was newly built. It is not recorded, this too not being by the duke's command.

In the twelfth month the Earl of Zhai came. It was not by the king's command.

Zhongfu died. The duke did not take part in the lesser dressing of the corpse, and so the day is not recorded.

Year 2 (隱公二年)

Annals.

• In the second year, in spring, the duke met the Rong at Qian.
• In summer, in the fifth month, the men of Ju entered Xiang.
• Wuhai led out troops and entered Ji (極).
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on the gengchen day, the duke made covenant with the Rong at Tang.
• In the ninth month, Lie Xu of Ji came to escort a bride.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Bo Ji was married into Ji.
• Zibo of Ji and the Viscount of Ju made covenant at Mi.
• In the twelfth month, on the yimao day, the duke's wife, Lady Zi, passed away.
• The men of Zheng attacked Wei.

Zuo.

In the spring of the second year, the duke met the Rong at Qian, renewing the friendship of Duke Hui. The Rong asked for a covenant, and the duke declined.

The Viscount of Ju took a wife from Xiang. The Jiang of Xiang was not at ease in Ju and went home. In summer the men of Ju entered Xiang and brought Lady Jiang back.

Wuhai the minister of works entered Ji; Fei Qinfu overcame it.

The Rong asked for a covenant. In autumn a covenant was made at Tang, again renewing the friendship with the Rong.

In the ninth month Lie Xu of Ji came to escort the bride: a minister escorting on his ruler's behalf.

In winter Zibo of Ji and the Viscount of Ju made covenant at Mi, on account of Lu.

The men of Zheng attacked Wei, punishing the disorder of the ducal grandson Hua.

Year 3 (隱公三年)

Annals.

• In the third year, in spring, in the king's second month, on the jisi day, the sun was eclipsed.
• In the third month, on the gengxu day, the King of Heaven died.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the xinmao day, Lady Jun died.
• In autumn, the son of the Wu clan came to ask for funeral contributions.
• In the eighth month, on the gengchen day, He, Duke of Song, died.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng made covenant at Shimen.
• On the guiwei day, Duke Mu of Song was buried.

Zuo.

In the spring of the third year, in the king's third month, on the renxu day, King Ping died. The death notice gave the gengxu day, and so it was recorded thus.

In summer Lady Jun died — that is, Sheng Zi. No notice went out to the feudal lords, there was no return-wailing in the chamber, and she was not enshrined beside the husband's mother; therefore it does not say "passed away." She was not styled the duke's wife, and so the burial is not mentioned and her surname is not recorded. For the duke's sake she is called "Lady Jun."

Duke Wu of Zheng and Duke Zhuang were ministers to King Ping. The king was of divided mind toward Guo, and the Earl of Zheng resented him. The king said, "There is no such thing." Therefore Zhou and Zheng exchanged hostages: the king's son Hu (狐) was hostage in Zheng, and the ducal son Hu (忽) of Zheng was hostage in Zhou. When the king died, the men of Zhou were about to hand the government to the Duke of Guo. In the fourth month Zhai Zu of Zheng led out troops and took the wheat of Wen; in autumn he took the standing grain of Chengzhou as well. Zhou and Zheng came to hate one another.

The noble man said: "If good faith does not come from within, hostages are of no benefit. When men act with clear-sighted forbearance and bind themselves by the rites, then though there be no hostages, who could come between them? Where there is clear good faith, the growth of brook and gully, of pool and islet; the greens of pin and fan, of yun and zao; vessels of round basket and square basket, of pot and cauldron; water from a standing puddle or a roadside pool — these may be offered to the ghosts and spirits and presented to kings and dukes. How much more when a noble man binds the good faith of two states and conducts it by the rites: what use then for hostages? Among the Airs there are 'Gathering the Fan' and 'Gathering the Pin'; among the Odes proper there are 'The Reeds by the Path' and 'Drawing from Afar' — they make loyalty and good faith shine."

The son of the Wu clan came to ask for funeral contributions, the king not yet having been buried.

Duke Mu of Song fell ill. He summoned Kongfu, the grand marshal, and entrusted Duke Shang to him, saying, "The former ruler set aside Yuyi and established me, and I have never dared forget it. If by the grandee's good spirit I am able to keep head and neck whole to the end, and the former ruler should ask about Yuyi, what words should I have to answer him? I beg you, sir, to uphold him and make him master of the altars of soil and grain. Though I die, I shall have no regret."

He replied, "The assembled ministers wish to uphold Feng."

The duke said, "It cannot be. The former ruler held me worthy and made me master of the altars. If I were to cast off virtue and not yield, that would undo the former ruler's act. How then could I be called worthy? To make the fine virtue of the former ruler shine forth — must one not strive for it? Sir, do not undo the former ruler's achievement."

He sent the ducal son Feng out to dwell in Zheng. On the gengchen day of the eighth month Duke Mu of Song died, and Duke Shang took the throne.

The noble man said: "Duke Xuan of Song may be said to have known men. He established Duke Mu, and his own son enjoyed the fruit of it: the mandate was given by righteousness indeed. The Hymns of Shang say,

Yin received the mandate in all fitness,
and bore up the hundred blessings.

Surely this is what is meant."

In winter Qi and Zheng made covenant at Shimen, renewing the covenant at Lu (盧). On the gengxu day the Earl of Zheng's chariot overturned in the Ji River.

Duke Zhuang of Wei took to wife the younger sister of Dechen of the Eastern Palace of Qi; she was called Zhuang Jiang. She was beautiful but had no son, and it was for her that the men of Wei composed the ode "The Stately Lady." He also took a wife from Chen, called Li Gui, who bore Xiao Bo; he died young. Her younger sister Dai Gui bore Duke Huan, whom Zhuang Jiang took as her own son.

The ducal son Zhouxu was the son of a favorite. He enjoyed favor and was fond of arms; the duke did not restrain him, and Zhuang Jiang hated him.

Shi Que remonstrated: "Your servant has heard that one who loves his son teaches him the way of righteousness and does not let him enter into depravity. Arrogance, extravagance, license, and dissipation are what depravity comes from; and that these four arrive is because favor and emolument have been excessive. If you mean to establish Zhouxu, then settle it now; if you do not, you are building him a stair to calamity. Few indeed are those who are favored and not arrogant, arrogant and able to come down, brought down and not resentful, resentful and able to hold themselves in check. Moreover, the low obstructing the noble, the young overriding the old, the distant coming between the close, the new coming between the old, the small pressing upon the great, license breaking righteousness — these are called the six contraries. The ruler righteous, the minister obedient, the father kind, the son filial, the elder brother loving, the younger brother respectful — these are called the six concords. To leave the concords and imitate the contraries is the way to hasten calamity. He who rules over men should labor to be rid of calamity; to hasten it — surely that will not do?" The duke did not listen.

Que's own son Hou consorted with Zhouxu; he forbade it, without success. When Duke Huan was established, Que retired from office.

Year 4 (隱公四年)

Annals.

• In the fourth year, in spring, in the king's second month, the men of Ju attacked Qi (杞) and took Moulou.
• On the wushen day, Zhouxu of Wei assassinated his ruler Wan.
• In summer, the duke and the Duke of Song met informally at Qing.
• The Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the men of Cai and the men of Wei attacked Zheng.
• In autumn, Hui led out troops and joined the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the men of Cai and the men of Wei in attacking Zheng.
• In the ninth month, the men of Wei killed Zhouxu at Pu.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, the men of Wei established Jin.

Zuo.

In the spring of the fourth year, Zhouxu of Wei assassinated Duke Huan and set himself up.

The duke and the Duke of Song had arranged a meeting, intending to renew the covenant of Su. Before the date came, men of Wei arrived to report the disorder. In summer the duke and the Duke of Song met informally at Qing.

When Duke Shang of Song took the throne, the ducal son Feng fled to Zheng, and the men of Zheng wished to install him. When Zhouxu of Wei was established, he meant to pursue the former ruler's grudge against Zheng, and to seek favor among the feudal lords in order to reconcile his own people. He sent word to Song: "If my lord will attack Zheng and remove my lord's harm, with my lord as chief of the enterprise, then our poor city with its levies, together with Chen and Cai, will follow. This is the wish of the state of Wei." The men of Song agreed. At that time Chen and Cai were on good terms with Wei, and so the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the men of Cai and the men of Wei attacked Zheng, besieged its east gate, and after five days returned.

The duke asked Zhong Zhong, "Will Zhouxu of Wei succeed?" He replied, "Your servant has heard of reconciling the people by virtue; he has not heard of doing it by disorder. To use disorder is like taking silk in hand and tangling it. Now Zhouxu leans upon arms and is at ease in cruelty. Leaning upon arms, he will have no multitude; at ease in cruelty, he will have no intimates. With the multitude in revolt and his intimates fallen away, it will be hard for him to bring anything across. Arms are like fire: if they are not restrained, they will burn the man who holds them. Zhouxu has assassinated his ruler and uses his people harshly; in this he does not strive for fine virtue, yet wishes to succeed by disorder. He will surely not escape."

In autumn the feudal lords again attacked Zheng. The Duke of Song sent to beg for troops, and the duke declined. Yufu asked to join them with troops; the duke would not permit it, but he pressed his request and went. Therefore the record says "Hui led out troops," in reproach of him. The armies of the lords defeated Zheng's foot soldiers, took its standing grain, and returned.

Zhouxu had not been able to reconcile his people. Hou asked Master Shi how the ruler might be settled in his place. Master Shi said, "An audience with the king would do it." He said, "How can the audience be obtained?" He said, "Duke Huan of Chen now enjoys the king's favor, and Chen and Wei are now on good terms. If you go to court in Chen and have them make the request, it can surely be obtained." Hou accompanied Zhouxu to Chen.

Shi Que sent word to Chen: "The state of Wei is cramped and small, and this old man is worn out and can do nothing. These two men are the very ones who assassinated my ruler. I make bold to ask that you deal with them at once." The men of Chen seized them and asked Wei to send men to preside. In the ninth month the men of Wei sent Chou, steward of the right, to preside at the killing of Zhouxu at Pu, and Shi Que sent his own steward Nou Yangjian to preside at the killing of Shi Hou in Chen.

The noble man said: "Shi Que was a pure servant of his ruler. He hated Zhouxu, and Hou was party to him. 'Great righteousness destroys kin' — surely this is what is meant."

The men of Wei went to Xing to escort the ducal son Jin. In winter, in the twelfth month, Duke Xuan took the throne. The record says "the men of Wei established Jin," meaning that the multitude did it.

Year 5 (隱公五年)

Annals.

• In the fifth year, in spring, the duke displayed fish at Tang.
• In summer, in the fourth month, Duke Huan of Wei was buried.
• In autumn, the army of Wei entered Cheng.
• In the ninth month, the temple of Zhong Zi was consecrated. For the first time six ranks of feathers were presented.
• The men of Zhu and the men of Zheng attacked Song.
• Ming caterpillars (螟).
• In winter, in the twelfth month, on the xinsi day, the ducal son Kou died.
• The men of Song attacked Zheng and besieged Changge.

Zuo.

In the spring of the fifth year, the duke was about to go to Tang to watch the fishermen. Zang Xibo remonstrated: "Whenever a creature is not sufficient for the rehearsal of great affairs, and its material is not sufficient to furnish the implements, then the ruler does not take it up. The ruler is one who brings the people within the rule and the pattern. Therefore to rehearse affairs and so measure the standard is called 'the rule'; to take material and so display the pattern of its ornament is called 'the pattern.' What is by neither rule nor pattern is called disordered government, and when disordered government is often practiced, that is how ruin comes. Therefore the sou hunt of spring, the miao of summer, the xian of autumn, and the shou of winter are all held in the farmers' idle season for the rehearsing of affairs. Every third year the troops are set in order; on entering, the ranks are shaken out; on returning, there is the drinking of arrival, and the tally of the army is counted. Insignia and ornament are made manifest, noble and base made clear, ranks and files distinguished, young and old set in their order, and dignified bearing practiced. When the flesh of a bird or beast does not go up on the sacrificial stand, and its hide and leather, teeth and tusks, bone and horn, fur and feather do not go into the implements, then the duke does not shoot: this is the institution of antiquity. As for the produce of hill and forest, of stream and marsh, the stuff of ordinary implements, the business of menials and the charge of petty officers — these are not what a ruler reaches to."

The duke said, "I mean to make a tour of the borderland." He went all the same, had the fish set out, and watched. Xibo pleaded illness and did not follow. The record says "the duke displayed fish at Tang" — this was contrary to the rites, and it also says that the place was far off.

Zhuang Bo of Quwo, with men of Zheng and men of Xing, attacked Yi, and the king sent the Yin clan and the Wu clan to help him. The Marquis of Yi fled to Sui.

In summer Duke Huan of Wei was buried. Wei had been in disorder, and so it was late.

In the fourth month the men of Zheng raided the pasturelands of Wei, in requital for the affair at the east gate. The men of Wei with troops of Yan attacked Zheng. Zhai Zu, Yuan Fan, and Xie Jia of Zheng encamped before them with the three armies, and sent Bo Man and Ziyuan to move troops in secret and encamp behind them. The men of Yan feared Zheng's three armies and did not reckon with the men of Zhi. In the sixth month the two ducal sons of Zheng with the men of Zhi defeated the army of Yan at Northern Zhi. The noble man said: "He who does not prepare against the unforeseen cannot make war."

Quwo revolted from the king. In autumn the king charged the Duke of Guo to attack Quwo, and Marquis Ai was established at Yi.

During the disorder in Wei the men of Cheng had raided Wei; therefore the army of Wei entered Cheng.

In the ninth month the temple of Zhong Zi was consecrated, and the wan dance was to be performed there. The duke asked Zhong Zhong about the number of feathers. He replied, "The Son of Heaven uses eight, the feudal lords six, grandees four, officers two. Dancing is the means of regulating the eight timbres and setting the eight winds in motion; therefore it goes from eight downward." The duke followed him. So for the first time six feathers were presented, and six ranks were used for the first time.

The men of Song took land from Zhu. The men of Zhu reported to Zheng, "Let my lord loose his grievance upon Song; our poor city will lead the way." The men of Zheng joined them with the king's troops. They attacked Song and entered its outer wall, in requital for the affair at the east gate. The men of Song sent to report their plight. When the duke heard that the outer wall had been entered he was about to rescue them, and he asked the envoy, "How far has the army come?" He replied, "It has not reached the capital." The duke was angry and stopped, and dismissed the envoy, saying, "Your lord charged me to share in the care of the peril of his altars. Now I ask his envoy, and he says the army has not reached the capital. That is not a thing I would presume to know about."

In winter, on the xinsi day of the twelfth month, Zang Xibo died. The duke said, "My uncle had a grievance against me, and I do not dare forget it." He raised his burial by one grade.

The men of Song attacked Zheng and besieged Changge, in requital for the affair of the entry into the outer wall.

Year 6 (隱公六年)

Annals.

• In the sixth year, in spring, the men of Zheng came to turn enmity into peace.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on the xinyou day, the duke met the Marquis of Qi and made covenant at Ai.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, the men of Song took Changge.

Zuo.

In the spring of the sixth year, the men of Zheng came to turn enmity into peace: they made a new settlement.

Jiafu, son of Qingfu of the Nine Lineages and Five Directors of Yi, went to Sui to escort the Marquis of Jin and installed him at E. The men of Jin called him the Marquis of E.

In summer the covenant was made at Ai: the beginning of peace with Qi.

On the gengshen day of the fifth month the Earl of Zheng raided Chen and took much. In the previous year the Earl of Zheng had asked Chen for a settlement, and the Marquis of Chen had refused. Wufu remonstrated: "To draw near to the benevolent and be good to one's neighbors is a treasure of the state. Let my lord agree with Zheng." The Marquis of Chen said, "Song and Wei are the real difficulty. What can Zheng do?" And so he refused.

The noble man said: "Good must not be let slip, evil must not be let grow — is this not said of Duke Huan of Chen? To let evil grow and not to reform is to bring it upon oneself; and though one then wish to save the case, will one be able? The Documents of Shang say, 'When evil spreads it is like fire blazing on the plain: one cannot go near it — how then can it still be beaten out?' Zhou Ren had a saying: 'He who governs a state, seeing evil, is like the farmer who labors to clear away weeds: he mows them and levels them, heaps them and piles them, cuts off root and stock and does not let them multiply — and then the good grows strong.'"

In autumn the men of Song took Changge.

In winter the royal capital sent word of famine. The duke on their behalf asked to buy grain from Song, Wei, Qi, and Zheng. This was according to the rites.

The Earl of Zheng went to Zhou; this was the first court visit to King Huan. The king did not treat him with the rites. Duke Huan of Zhou said to the king, "When our Zhou moved east, it was on Jin and Zheng that it leaned. To be good to Zheng and so encourage those who would come — even then one might fear they would not arrive; how much more when they are not treated with the rites? Zheng will not come again."

Year 7 (隱公七年)

Annals.

• In the seventh year, in spring, in the king's third month, Shu Ji was married into Ji.
• The Marquis of Teng died.
• In summer, Zhongqiu was walled.
• The Marquis of Qi sent his younger brother Nian on a diplomatic visit.
• In autumn, the duke attacked Zhu.
• In winter, the King of Heaven sent the Earl of Fan on a diplomatic visit. The Rong attacked the Earl of Fan at Chuqiu and carried him off.

Zuo.

In the spring of the seventh year the Marquis of Teng died. His name is not recorded because he had not been in covenant with us. Whenever feudal lords are joined in covenant they use one another's names; therefore when one passes away the notice goes out with his name, and in announcing the end the successor is named, so as to continue the friendship and give the people rest. This is called the constant rule of the rites.

In summer Zhongqiu was walled. It is recorded because it was out of season.

The Marquis of Qi sent Yi Zhongnian on a diplomatic visit, confirming the covenant of Ai.

In autumn Song and Zheng made peace. On the gengshen day of the seventh month they made covenant at Su. The duke attacked Zhu, punishing it on Song's behalf.

At the outset, when the Rong came to court at Zhou they distributed gifts of silk among the dukes and ministers, but the Earl of Fan did not treat them as guests. In winter the king sent the Earl of Fan on a diplomatic visit here. On his return the Rong attacked him at Chuqiu and carried him off.

Chen and Zheng made peace. In the twelfth month Wufu of Chen went to Zheng to preside at the covenant. On the renshen day he made covenant with the Earl of Zheng, and when he smeared the blood on his lips he seemed absent in mind. Xie Bo said, "Wufu will surely not escape; he does not rely on the covenant." Liang Zuo of Zheng went to Chen to preside at the covenant, and on the xinsi day he made covenant with the Marquis of Chen; he too knew that Chen would fall into disorder.

The ducal son Hu of Zheng was at the king's place, and therefore the Marquis of Chen asked to give him a wife. The Earl of Zheng agreed, and the marriage was concluded.

Year 8 (隱公八年)

Annals.

• In the eighth year, in spring, the Duke of Song and the Marquis of Wei met informally at Chui.
• In the third month, the Earl of Zheng sent Wan to hand over Beng. On the gengyin day we entered Beng.
• In summer, in the sixth month, on the jihai day, Kaofu, Marquis of Cai, died. On the xinhai day the Baron of Su died.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the gengwu day, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Wei made covenant at Wawu.
• In the eighth month, Duke Xuan of Cai was buried.
• In the ninth month, on the xinmao day, the duke made covenant with the men of Ju at Fulai.
• Ming caterpillars.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, Wuhai died.

Zuo.

In the spring of the eighth year the Marquis of Qi was about to reconcile Song and Wei, and a date for the meeting had been fixed. The Duke of Song with gifts of silk made request to Wei, asking to see him first. The Marquis of Wei agreed, and so they met informally at Quanqiu.

The Earl of Zheng asked to give up the sacrifice at Mount Tai and to sacrifice instead to the Duke of Zhou, exchanging Beng by Mount Tai for the fields of Xu. In the third month the Earl of Zheng sent Wan to hand over Beng, since he would no longer sacrifice at Mount Tai.

In summer Jifu, Duke of Guo, first took office as minister at Zhou.

On the jiachen day of the fourth month the ducal son Hu of Zheng went to Chen to fetch his bride, a woman of the Gui clan. On the xinhai day he set out home with the lady Gui, and on the jiayin day they entered Zheng. Master Zhen of Chen escorted the bride. They were mated first and only afterward reported at the ancestral temple. Master Zhen said, "These will not be husband and wife. He has deceived his ancestors. It is contrary to the rites. How can there be increase from it?"

The men of Qi at last reconciled Song and Wei with Zheng. In autumn they met at Wen and made covenant at Wawu, to lay aside the affair of the east gate. This was according to the rites.

On the bingxu day of the eighth month the Earl of Zheng, with men of Qi, went to court before the king. This was according to the rites.

The duke made covenant with the men of Ju at Fulai, completing the friendship with Ji.

In winter the Marquis of Qi sent to announce the settlement of the three states. The duke had Zhong Zhong reply: "That my lord has laid aside the designs of the three states and gathered their people together is my lord's kindness. Our ruler has heard the command. How should he not receive my lord's bright virtue?"

Wuhai died. Yufu asked for a posthumous title and a clan name for him. The duke asked Zhong Zhong about the clan name, and Zhong Zhong replied, "The Son of Heaven raises up the virtuous: from a man's birth he grants him a surname, and by bestowing land on him he confers a lineage name. The feudal lords make the posthumous title from the courtesy name, and thereupon make it the clan name. Where an office has had hereditary merit there is a clan named from the office, and so likewise with a town." The duke ordered that from his courtesy name they be called the Zhan clan.

Year 9 (隱公九年)

Annals.

• In the ninth year, in spring, the Son of Heaven sent Nan Ji on a diplomatic visit.
• In the third month, on the guiyou day, there was a great rain with thunder and lightning. On the gengchen day there was a great fall of snow.
• Xie died.
• In summer, Lang was walled.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, the duke met the Marquis of Qi at Fang.

Zuo.

In the spring of the ninth year, on the guiyou day of the king's third month, there was a great and lasting rain with thunder. It was recorded because it was the beginning of it. On the gengchen day there was a great fall of snow, and it was the same. It was recorded because the seasons were out of course. In general, rain that goes on from three days is called lin; a foot of snow on level ground is a great snow.

In summer Lang was walled. It is recorded because it was out of season.

The Duke of Song did not do his duty to the king. The Earl of Zheng, being the king's minister of the left, punished him by the king's command and attacked Song. Song, resenting the duke because of the affair of the entry into the outer wall, did not report the matter. The duke was angry and broke off Song's envoys.

In autumn the men of Zheng came, by the king's command, to announce the attack on Song.

In winter the duke met the Marquis of Qi at Fang, to plan the attack on Song.

The Northern Rong raided Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng resisted them. He was troubled by the Rong army and said, "They are on foot and we are in chariots. I fear they will overrun us and slip past." The ducal son Tu said, "Send men who are brave but not hard, to try the raiders and then withdraw quickly. Let my lord set three ambushes to wait for them. The Rong are light and not well ordered, greedy and without attachment to one another; in victory they do not yield to each other, in defeat they do not rescue each other. Those in front, seeing something to be taken, will press forward; pressing forward and meeting the ambush, they will flee at once; those behind will not rescue them, and so there will be no following up. Then we may have our will of them." The earl followed his advice.

Those of the Rong in front who met the ambush fled, and Zhu Dan pursued them. They cut the Rong army through the middle and struck it before and behind, and destroyed them utterly. The Rong army fled in a rout. On the jiayin day of the eleventh month the men of Zheng heavily defeated the army of the Rong.

Year 10 (隱公十年)

Annals.

• In the tenth year, in spring, in the king's second month, the duke met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Zhongqiu.
• In summer, Hui led out troops and joined the men of Qi and the men of Zheng in attacking Song.
• In the sixth month, on the renxu day, the duke defeated the army of Song at Jian. On the xinwei day he took Gao; on the xinsi day he took Fang.
• In autumn, the men of Song and the men of Wei entered Zheng. The men of Song, the men of Cai and the men of Wei attacked Dai. The Earl of Zheng attacked and took it.
• In winter, in the tenth month, on the renwu day, the men of Qi and the men of Zheng entered Cheng.

Zuo.

In the spring of the tenth year, in the king's first month, the duke met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Zhongqiu. On the guichou day they made covenant at Deng and fixed the date for the campaign.

In summer, in the fifth month, Yufu went on ahead to join the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng in attacking Song.

On the wushen day of the sixth month the duke met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Laotao. On the renxu day the duke defeated the army of Song at Jian. On the gengwu day the army of Zheng entered Gao, and on the xinwei day it was handed over to us. On the gengchen day the army of Zheng entered Fang, and on the xinsi day it was handed over to us. The noble man said: "In this Duke Zhuang of Zheng may be called correct. He punished by the king's command those who would not come to court, and did not covet their land but labored for the king's dignity. This is the substance of correctness."

The men of Cai, of Wei, and of Cheng did not answer the king's command.

In autumn, on the gengyin day of the seventh month, the army of Zheng entered the suburbs. While it was still in the suburbs, the men of Song and the men of Wei entered Zheng, and the men of Cai followed them in attacking Dai. On the renxu day of the eighth month the Earl of Zheng besieged Dai; on the guihai day he overcame it and took the three armies there. Song and Wei, having entered Zheng, then summoned the men of Cai for the attack on Dai; the men of Cai were angry, and so they were not in accord and were defeated.

On the wuyin day of the ninth month the Earl of Zheng entered Song.

In winter the men of Qi and the men of Zheng entered Cheng, punishing its defiance of the king's command.

Year 11 (隱公十一年)

Annals.

• In the eleventh year, in spring, the Marquis of Teng and the Marquis of Xue came to court.
• In summer, the duke met the Earl of Zheng at Shilai.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the renwu day, the duke together with the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng entered Xu.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, on the renchen day, the duke passed away.

Zuo.

In the spring of the eleventh year the Marquis of Teng and the Marquis of Xue came to court, and contended for precedence. The Marquis of Xue said, "My fief was granted first." The Marquis of Teng said, "I am the chief diviner of Zhou. Xue is of an unrelated surname; I cannot come after him."

The duke sent Yufu to make request to the Marquis of Xue: "My lord and the lord of Teng have condescended to be my guests. There is a Zhou proverb that says, 'The hill has its trees, and the craftsman measures them; the guest has his rites, and the host chooses among them.' In the ancestral covenants of Zhou those of another surname come last. If I were at court in Xue, I would not presume to rank myself among the men of the Ren surname. If my lord will condescend to favor me, then I would ask it for the lord of Teng."

The Marquis of Xue agreed, and so the Marquis of Teng was given precedence.

In summer the duke met the Earl of Zheng at Lai, planning the attack on Xu. The Earl of Zheng was about to attack Xu, and on the jiachen day of the fifth month he issued arms at the great ancestral temple. The ducal grandson E and Ying Kaoshu contended for a chariot. Ying Kaoshu took the shaft under his arm and ran off with it; Zidu drew his halberd and gave chase, but at the great crossway he had not caught him, and Zidu was angry.

In autumn, in the seventh month, the duke joined the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng in attacking Xu. On the gengchen day they closed upon Xu. Ying Kaoshu took the Earl of Zheng's banner Maohu and was the first up the wall. Zidu shot him from below, and he fell. Xia Shuying then took up the Maohu and mounted, waving it all round and shouting, "Our lord is up!" The army of Zheng mounted the wall to the last man. On the renwu day they entered Xu, and Duke Zhuang of Xu fled to Wei.

The Marquis of Qi offered Xu to the duke. The duke said, "My lord said that Xu was not respectful, and therefore I followed my lord in punishing it. Xu has now submitted to its guilt. Though my lord commands it, I do not presume to have any part in this." So it was given to the men of Zheng.

The Earl of Zheng had Baili, a grandee of Xu, uphold Shu of Xu and dwell in the eastern part of Xu, saying: "Heaven has brought misfortune upon the state of Xu. The ghosts and spirits were truly not content with the lord of Xu, and borrowed my hand for it. I cannot bring even one or two of my own uncles and elder brothers into accord — how should I dare take Xu for an achievement of my own? I have a younger brother, and I could not live in harmony with him, but made him eat his gruel among the four quarters. How much less can I hold Xu for long? Sir, uphold Shu of Xu and soothe these people, and I will send Huo to assist you. If I am permitted to go down into the earth, may Heaven by the rites repent of the misfortune it has brought upon Xu, and may this lord of Xu again take up his altars of soil and grain. Only when our state of Zheng has some request or petition to make, then, as old kin by marriage, may they condescend to comply with us. Do not let another clan settle here and press upon this place, and contend with our state of Zheng for this land. My sons and grandsons will have no leisure even to save themselves from ruin — how much less could they keep up the pure sacrifices to Xu? That I set you here, sir, is not only for the sake of the state of Xu; it is also to make my own border firm."

He then had the ducal grandson Huo dwell in the western part of Xu, saying: "Of all your implements and goods and wealth, place none of it in Xu. When I die, leave the place at once. Our former ruler made his new settlement here, but the royal house is already brought low, and the sons and grandsons of Zhou lose their order day by day. Now Xu is of the line of the Great Peaks. If Heaven has already grown weary of Zhou's virtue, how can we contend with Xu?"

The noble man said: "In this Duke Zhuang of Zheng had the rites. The rites are what orders state and household, settles the altars of soil and grain, sets the people in their order, and benefits those who come after. Xu was without discipline, and he attacked it; it submitted, and he let it be; he measured his virtue and so placed himself, gauged his strength and so acted, watched the time and so moved, and laid no burden on those who came after. He may be said to have known the rites."

The Earl of Zheng had each company bring out a boar, and each file a dog and a fowl, in order to curse the man who had shot Ying Kaoshu. The noble man said: "In this Duke Zhuang of Zheng lost government and punishment. Government is for ordering the people, punishment for correcting depravity. Having neither virtuous government nor awe-inspiring punishment, he came to have depravity; and when there is depravity, to curse it — what good will that do?"

The king took from Zheng the fields of Wu, Liu, Wei, and Han, and gave the men of Zheng the fields of Su Fensheng: Wen, Yuan, Chi, Fan, Xicheng, Cuanmao, Xiang, Meng, Zhou, Xing, Tui, and Huai. From this the noble man knew that King Huan would lose Zheng. To act with forbearance is the pattern of virtue and the constant rule of the rites. When a man cannot hold a thing himself and gives it to another, is it not fitting that the other should not come?

There were words of discord between Zheng and Xi, and the Marquis of Xi attacked Zheng. The Earl of Zheng fought him on the border, and the army of Xi was heavily defeated and went home. From this the noble man knew that Xi would perish. Not measuring his virtue, not gauging his strength, not keeping kin close to kin, not examining the words at issue, not looking into where the guilt lay — committing these five wrongs and with them attacking another, was it not fitting that he should lose his army?

In winter, in the tenth month, the Earl of Zheng with troops of Guo attacked Song. On the renxu day he heavily defeated the army of Song, in requital for their entry into Zheng. Song did not report the matter, and so it is not recorded. In general, where the feudal lords have some matter of command, it is recorded if reported and otherwise not; and it is the same with the good or ill fortune of armies that go out. Even in the case of states extinguished, if the extinguished does not report the defeat and the victor does not report the conquest, it is not written in the records.

Yufu asked leave to kill Duke Huan, meaning thereby to seek the office of grand steward. The duke said, "It was because of his youth that I held the place. I am about to hand it over to him. I have given orders for Tuqiu to be laid out; there I shall grow old." Yufu was afraid, and turned about and slandered the duke to Duke Huan, and asked leave to assassinate him.

When the duke was still a ducal son he fought the men of Zheng at Huran and was taken there. The men of Zheng imprisoned him with the Yin clan. He bribed the Yin clan and prayed to their patron spirit Zhongwu, and so returned home with the Yin clan and set up that spirit's shrine. In the eleventh month the duke sacrificed to Zhongwu, purified himself at the Shepu garden, and lodged with the Wei clan. On the renchen day Yufu sent an assassin to murder the duke in the house of the Wei clan, established Duke Huan, and then punished the Wei clan, and there were deaths. His burial is not recorded, because the mourning was not completed.

Colophon

This translation was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library and made independently from the classical Chinese text printed in full below. The source is the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Duke Yin section of the Zuo Commentary, which carries both layers of the text together: the Chunqiu annal entries, marked 經 in the Chinese and set here as bulleted Annals blocks with one bullet for each entry, and the Zuo narrative, marked 傳 and set here as Zuo blocks. The alternation of the two, including the years that open with narrative before the annal entries, follows the order of the source exactly; every annal entry and every narrative paragraph is translated, and no year has been merged with another. Speeches and remonstrances are rendered as continuous direct speech; quotations from the Odes and the Documents keep their line breaks where the source sets them as verse.

Complete published English translations of the Zuo Commentary exist and are long established: James Legge (1872), in the Chinese Classics, and Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li, and David Schaberg (2016); Burton Watson (1989) published a volume of selections. These are named here as controls in existence only. None of them was fetched or consulted, and no claim of firstness is made for this translation, which was derived directly from the Chinese characters of the source.

A note on names and terms. Persons, states, and places are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with Chinese characters supplied where a reader could otherwise be misled: the king's son Hu (狐) and the ducal son Hu (忽) of Zheng are distinct men whose names fall together in pinyin, as do the state of Ji (紀) and the town of Ji (極), and the state of Qi (杞) here is not the Qi (齊) of the Marquis of Qi. The covenant renewed at Shimen in the third year was made at the place Lu (盧), not in the state of Lu (魯). Ranks follow the conventional five — 公 duke, 侯 marquis, 伯 earl, 子 viscount, 男 baron — with 天王 the King of Heaven and 天子 the Son of Heaven. Among recurring technical terms, 禮 is the rites, 盟 covenant, 聘 diplomatic visit, 朝 court visit, 伐 attack, 侵 raid, 圍 besiege, 弒 assassinate, 卒 died, 薨 passed away, 崩 died (of the king), and 社稷 the altars of soil and grain. The recurring judgment formula 君子曰 or 君子謂 is rendered "The noble man said."

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 隱公

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

隱公元年

傳

　　惠公元妃孟子。孟子卒，繼室以聲子，生隱公。宋武公生仲子，仲子生而有文在其手，曰「爲魯夫人」。故仲子歸于我，生桓公而惠公薨，是以隱公立而奉之。

經

〖元年，春，王正月。〗

〖三月，公及邾儀父盟于蔑。〗

〖夏，五月，鄭伯克段于鄢。〗

〖秋，七月，天王使宰咺來歸惠公、仲子之賵。〗

〖九月，及宋人盟于宿。〗

〖冬，十有二月，祭伯來。〗

〖公子益師卒。〗

傳

　　元年春，王周正月。不書即位，攝也。

　　三月，公及邾儀父盟于蔑，邾子克也。未王命，故不書爵。曰「儀父」，貴之也。公攝位而欲求好於邾，故為蔑之盟。

　　夏四月，費伯帥師城郎。不書，非公命也。

　　初，鄭武公娶于申，曰武姜，生莊公及共叔段。莊公寤生，驚姜氏，故名曰「寤生」，遂惡之。愛共叔段，欲立之。亟請于武公，公弗許。及莊公即位，為之請制。公曰：「制，巖邑也，虢叔死焉，佗邑唯命。」請京，使居之，謂之京城大叔。祭仲曰：「都城過百雉，國之害也。先王之制：大都不過參國之一，中五之一，小九之一。今京不度，非制也，君將不堪。」公曰：「姜氏欲之，焉辟害？」對曰：「姜氏何厭之有？！不如早為之所，無使滋蔓！蔓，難圖也。蔓草猶不可除，況君之寵弟乎？！」公曰：「多行不義，必自斃，子姑待之。」

　　既而大叔命西鄙、北鄙貳於己。公子呂曰：「國不堪貳，君將若之何？欲與大叔，臣請事之；若弗與，則請除之。無生民心。」公曰：「無庸，將自及。」大叔又收貳以為己邑，至于廩延。子封曰：「可矣，厚將得眾。」公曰：「不義，不暱，厚將崩。」大叔完聚，繕甲兵，具卒乘，將襲鄭。夫人將啟之。公聞其期，曰：「可矣！」命子封帥車二百乘以伐京。京叛大叔段，段入于鄢，公伐諸鄢。五月辛丑，大叔出奔共。

　　書曰：「鄭伯克段于鄢。」段不弟，故不言弟；如二君，故曰克；稱鄭伯，譏失教也：謂之鄭志。不言出奔，難之也。

　　遂寘姜氏于城穎，而誓之曰：「不及黃泉，無相見也。」既而悔之。

　　潁考叔為潁谷封人，聞之，有獻於公，公賜之食，食舍肉。公問之，對曰：「小人有母，皆嘗小人之食矣，未嘗君之羹，請以遺之。」公曰：「爾有母遺，繄我獨無！」潁考叔曰：「敢問何謂也？」公語之故，且告之悔。對曰：「君何患焉？若闕地及泉，隧而相見，其誰曰不然？」公從之。公入而賦：「大隧之中，其樂也融融！」姜出而賦：「大隧之外，其樂也洩洩！」遂為母子如初。

　　君子曰：「潁考叔，純孝也，愛其母，施及莊公。《詩》曰：『孝子不匱，永錫爾類。』其是之謂乎！」

　　秋，七月，天王使宰咺來歸惠公、仲子之賵。緩，且子氏未薨，故名。天子七月而葬，同軌畢至；諸侯五月，同盟至；大夫三月，同位至；士踰月，外姻至。贈死不及尸，弔生不及哀，豫凶事，非禮也。

　　八月，紀人伐夷。夷不告，故不書。有蜚。不為災，亦不書。

　　惠公之季年，敗宋師于黃。公立，而求成焉。九月，及宋人盟于宿，始通也。

　　冬，十月，庚申，改葬惠公。公弗臨，故不書。惠公之薨也，有宋師，太子少，葬故有闕，是以改葬。衛侯來會葬，不見公，亦不書。

　　鄭共叔之亂，公孫滑出奔衛。衛人為之伐鄭，取廩延。鄭人以王師、虢師伐衛南鄙。請師於邾，邾子使私於公子豫。豫請往，公弗許，遂行。及邾人、鄭人盟于翼。不書，非公命也。

　　新作南門。不書，亦非公命也。

　　十二月，祭伯來，非王命也。

　　眾父卒。公不與小斂，故不書日。

隱公二年

經

〖二年，春，公會戎于潛。〗

〖夏，五月，莒人入向。〗

〖無駭帥師入極。〗

〖秋，八月，庚辰，公及戎盟于唐。〗

〖九月，紀裂繻來逆女。〗

〖冬，十月，伯姬歸于紀。〗

〖紀子帛、莒子盟于密。〗

〖十有二月乙卯，夫人子氏薨。〗

〖鄭人伐衛。〗

傳

　　二年春，公會戎于潛，修惠公之好也。戎請盟，公辭。

　　莒子娶于向，向姜不安莒而歸。夏，莒人入向，以姜氏還。

　　司空無駭入極，費庈父勝之。

　　戎請盟。秋，盟于唐，復修戎好也。

　　九月，紀裂繻來逆女，卿為君逆也。

　　冬，紀子帛、莒子盟于密，魯故也。

　　鄭人伐衛，討公孫滑之亂也。

隱公三年

經

〖三年，春，王二月，己巳，日有食之。〗

〖三月，庚戌，天王崩。〗

〖夏，四月，辛卯，君氏卒。〗

〖秋，武氏子來求賻。〗

〖八月庚辰，宋公和卒。〗

〖冬十有二月，齊侯，鄭伯盟于石門。〗

〖癸未，葬宋穆公。〗

傳

　　三年春，王三月，壬戌，平王崩，赴以庚戌，故書之。

　　夏，君氏卒──聲子也。不赴於諸侯，不反哭于寢，不祔于姑，故不曰：「薨」。不稱夫人，故不言葬，不書姓。為公故，曰：「君氏」。

　　鄭武公、莊公為平王卿士。王貳于虢，鄭伯怨王。王曰：「無之」。故周、鄭交質。王子狐為質於鄭，鄭公子忽為質於周。王崩，周人將畀虢公政。四月，鄭祭足帥師取溫之麥。秋，又取成周之禾。周、鄭交惡。

　　君子曰：「信不由中，質無益也。明恕而行，要之以禮，雖無有質，誰能間之？苟有明信，澗谿沼沚之毛，蘋蘩蘊藻之菜，筐筥錡釜之器，潢汙行潦之水，可薦於鬼神，可羞於王公，而況君子結二國之信。行之以禮，又焉用質？《風》有《采繁》、《采蘋》，《雅》有《行葦》、《泂酌》，昭忠信也。」

　　武氏子來求賻，王未葬也。

　　宋穆公疾，召大司馬孔父而屬殤公焉，曰：「先君舍與夷而立寡人，寡人弗敢忘。若以大夫之靈，得保首領以沒，先君若問與夷，其將何辭以對？請子奉之，以主社稷，寡人雖死，亦無悔焉。」對曰：「羣臣願奉馮也。」公曰：「不可。先君以寡人為賢，使主社稷，若棄德不讓，是廢先君之舉也。豈曰能賢？光昭先君之令德，可不務乎？吾子其無廢先君之功。」使公子馮出居於鄭。八月庚辰，宋穆公卒。殤公即位。

　　君子曰：「宋宣公可謂知人矣。立穆公，其子饗之，命以義夫。《商頌》曰：『殷受命咸宜，百祿是荷。』其是之謂乎！」

　　冬，齊、鄭盟于石門，尋盧之盟也。庚戌，鄭伯之車僨于濟。

　　衛莊公娶于齊東宮得臣之妹，曰莊姜，美而無子，衛人所為賦《碩人》也。又娶于陳，曰厲媯，生孝伯，蚤死。其娣戴媯，生桓公，莊姜以為己子。

　　公子州吁，嬖人之子也，有寵而好兵，公弗禁，莊姜惡之。石碏諫曰：「臣聞愛子，教之以義方，弗納于邪。驕、奢、淫、泆，所自邪也。四者之來，寵祿過也。將立州吁，乃定之矣，若猶未也，階之為禍。夫寵而不驕，驕而能降，降而不憾，憾而能眕者，鮮矣。且夫賤妨貴，少陵長，遠間親，新間舊，小加大，淫破義，所謂六逆也。君義，臣行，父慈，子孝，兄愛，弟敬，所謂六順也。去順效逆，所以速禍也。君人者將禍是務去，而速之，無乃不可乎？」弗聽。

　　其子厚與州吁游，禁之，不可。桓公立，乃老。

隱公四年

經

〖四年，春，王二月，莒人伐杞，取牟婁。〗

〖戊申，衛州吁弒其君完。〗

〖夏，公及宋公遇于清。〗

〖宋公、陳侯、蔡人、衛人伐鄭。〗

〖秋，翬帥師會宋公、陳侯、蔡人、衛人伐鄭。〗

〖九月，衛人殺州吁于濮。〗

〖冬十有二月，衛人立晉。〗

傳

　　四年春，衛州吁弒桓公而立。

　　公與宋公為會，將尋宿之盟。未及期，衛人來告亂。夏，公及宋公遇于清。

　　宋殤公之即位也，公子馮出奔鄭，鄭人欲納之。及衛州吁立，將修先君之怨于鄭，而求寵於諸侯，以和其民，使告於宋曰：「君若伐鄭，以除君害，君為主，敝邑以賦與陳、蔡從，則衛國之願也。」宋人許之。於是陳、蔡方睦於衛，故宋公、陳侯、蔡人、衛人伐鄭，圍其東門，五日而還。

　　公問於眾仲曰：「衛州吁其成乎？」對曰：「臣聞以德和民，不聞以亂。以亂，猶治絲而棼之也。夫州吁，阻兵而安忍。阻兵無眾，安忍無親，眾叛親離，難以濟矣。夫兵猶火也，弗戢，將自焚也。夫州吁弒其君而虐用其民，於是乎不務令德，而欲以亂成，必不免矣。」

　　秋，諸侯復伐鄭。宋公使來乞師，公辭之。羽父請以師會之，公弗許，固請而行。故書曰「翬帥師」，疾之也。諸侯之師敗鄭徒兵，取其禾而還。

　　州吁未能和其民，厚問定君於石子。石子曰：「王覲為可。」曰：「何以得覲？」曰：「陳桓公方有寵於王，陳、衛方睦，若朝陳使請，必可得也。」厚從州吁如陳。石碏使告于陳曰：「衛國褊小，老夫耄矣，無能為也。此二人者，實弒寡君，敢即圖之。」陳人執之，而請涖於衛。九月，衛人使右宰丑涖殺州吁于濮，石碏使其宰獳羊肩涖殺石厚于陳。

　　君子曰：「石碏，純臣也，惡州吁而厚與焉。『大義滅親』，其是之謂乎！」

　　衛人逆公子晉于邢。冬十二月，宣公即位。書曰「衛人立晉」，眾也。

隱公五年

經

〖五年，春，公矢魚于棠。〗

〖夏四月，葬衛桓公。〗

〖秋，衛師入郕。〗

〖九月，考仲子之宮。初獻六羽。〗

〖邾人、鄭人伐宋。〗

〖螟。〗

〖冬十有二月，辛巳，公子彄卒。〗

〖宋人伐鄭，圍長葛。〗

傳

　　五年春，公將如棠觀魚者。臧僖伯諫曰：「凡物不足以講大事，其材不足以備器用，則君不舉焉。君，將納民於軌、物者也。故講事以度軌量謂之『軌』；取材以章物采謂之『物』。不軌不物謂之亂政。亂政亟行，所以敗也。故春蒐、夏苗、秋獮、冬狩，皆於農隙以講事也。三年而治兵，入而振旅，歸而飲至，以數軍實。昭文章，明貴賤，辨等列，順少長，習威儀也。鳥獸之肉不登於俎，皮革齒牙、骨角毛羽不登於器，則公不射，古之制也。若夫山林川澤之實，器用之資，皁隸之事，官司之守，非君所及也。」公曰：「吾將略地焉。」遂往，陳魚而觀之。僖伯稱疾不從。書曰「公矢魚于棠」，非禮也，且言遠地也。

　　曲沃莊伯以鄭人、邢人伐翼，王使尹氏、武氏助之。翼侯奔隨。

　　夏，葬衛桓公。衛亂，是以緩。

　　四月，鄭人侵衛牧，以報東門之役。衛人以燕師伐鄭。鄭祭足、原繁、洩駕以三軍軍其前，使曼伯與子元潛軍軍其後。燕人畏鄭三軍而不虞制人。六月，鄭二公子以制人敗燕師于北制。君子曰：「不備不虞，不可以師。」

　　曲沃叛王。秋，王命虢公伐曲沃，而立哀侯于翼。

　　衛之亂也，郕人侵衛，故衛師入郕。

　　九月，考仲子之宮，將萬焉。公問羽數於眾仲。對曰：「天子用八，諸侯用六，大夫四，士二。夫舞，所以節八音，而行八風，故自八以下。」公從之。于是初獻六羽，始用六佾也。

　　宋人取邾田。邾人告於鄭曰：「請君釋憾於宋，敝邑為道。」鄭人以王師會之。伐宋，入其郛，以報東門之役。宋人使來告命。公聞其入郛也，將救之，問於使者曰：「師何及？」對曰：「未及國。」公怒，乃止，辭使者曰：「君命寡人同恤社稷之難，今問諸使者，曰『師未及國』，非寡人之所敢知也。」

　　冬，十二月辛已，臧僖伯卒。公曰：「叔父有憾於寡人，寡人弗敢忘。」葬之加一等。

　　宋人伐鄭，圍長葛，以報入郛之役也。

隱公六年

經

〖六年，春，鄭人來渝平。〗

〖夏，五月，辛酉，公會齊侯盟于艾。〗

〖秋，七月。〗

〖冬，宋人取長葛。〗

傳

　　六年春，鄭人來渝平，更成也。

　　翼九宗五正頃父之子嘉父，逆晉侯于隨，納諸鄂。晉人謂之鄂侯。

　　夏，盟于艾，始平于齊也。

　　五月庚申，鄭伯侵陳，大獲。往歲，鄭伯請成于陳，陳侯不許。五父諫曰：「親仁善鄰，國之寶也。君其許鄭。」陳侯曰：「宋、衛實難，鄭何能為？」遂不許。

　　君子曰：「善不可失，惡不可長，其陳桓公之謂乎？長惡不悛，從自及也。雖欲救之，其將能乎？《商書》曰：『惡之易也，如火之燎于原，不可鄉邇，其猶可撲滅？』周任有言曰：『為國家者，見惡，如農夫之務去草焉，芟夷蘊崇之，絕其本根，勿使能殖，則善者信矣。』」

　　秋，宋人取長葛。

　　冬，京師來告饑。公為之請糴於宋、衛、齊、鄭，禮也。

　　鄭伯如周，始朝桓王也。王不禮焉。周桓公言於王曰：「我周之東遷，晉、鄭焉依。善鄭以勸來者，猶懼不蔇，況不禮焉？鄭不來矣！」

隱公七年

經

〖七年，春，王三月，叔姬歸于紀。〗

〖滕侯卒。〗

〖夏，城中丘。〗

〖齊侯使其弟年來聘。〗

〖秋，公伐邾。〗

〖冬，天王使凡伯來聘。戎伐凡伯于楚丘，以歸。〗

傳

　　七年春，滕侯卒。不書名，未同盟也。凡諸侯同盟，於是稱名，故薨則赴以名，告終稱嗣也，以繼好息民，謂之禮經。

　　夏，城中丘，書，不時也。

　　齊侯使夷仲年來聘，結艾之盟也。

　　秋，宋及鄭平。七月庚申，盟于宿。公伐邾，為宋討也。

　　初，戎朝于周，發幣于公卿，凡伯弗賓。冬，王使凡伯來聘。還，戎伐之于楚丘以歸。

　　陳及鄭平。十二月，陳五父如鄭涖盟。壬申，及鄭伯盟，歃如忘。洩伯曰：「五父必不免，不賴盟矣。」鄭良佐如陳涖盟，辛巳，及陳侯盟，亦知陳之將亂也。

　　鄭公子忽在王所，故陳侯請妻之。鄭伯許之，乃成昬。

隱公八年

經

〖八年，春，宋公、衛侯遇于垂。〗

〖三月，鄭伯使宛來歸祊。庚寅，我入祊。〗

〖夏，六月，己亥，蔡侯考父卒。辛亥，宿男卒。〗

〖秋，七月，庚午，宋公、齊侯、衛侯盟于瓦屋。〗

〖八月，葬蔡宣公。〗

〖九月辛卯，公及莒人盟于浮來。〗

〖螟。〗

〖冬十有二月，無駭卒。〗

傳

　　八年春，齊侯將平宋、衛，有會期。宋公以幣請於衛，請先相見，衛侯許之，故遇于犬丘。

　　鄭伯請釋泰山之祀而祀周公，以泰山之祊易許田。三月，鄭伯使宛來歸祊，不祀泰山也。

　　夏，虢公忌父始作卿士于周。

　　四月甲辰，鄭公子忽如陳逆婦媯。辛亥，以媯氏歸。甲寅，入于鄭。陳鍼子送女。先配而後祖。鍼子曰：「是不為夫婦。誣其祖矣，非禮也，何以能育？」

　　齊人卒平宋、衛于鄭。秋，會于溫，盟于瓦屋，以釋東門之役，禮也。

　　八月丙戌，鄭伯以齊人朝王，禮也。

　　公及莒人盟于浮來，以成紀好也。

　　冬，齊侯使來告成三國。公使眾仲對曰：「君釋三國之圖，以鳩其民，君之惠也。寡君聞命矣，敢不承受君之明德。」

　　無駭卒。羽父請謚與族。公問族於眾仲。眾仲對曰：「天子建德，因生以賜姓，胙之土而命之氏。諸侯以字為謚，因以為族。官有世功，則有官族，邑亦如之。」公命以字為展氏。

隱公九年

經

〖九年，春，天子使南季來聘。〗

〖三月癸酉，大雨，震電。庚辰，大雨雪。〗

〖挾卒。〗

〖夏，城郎。〗

〖秋七月。〗

〖冬，公會齊侯于防。〗

傳

　　九年春，王三月癸酉，大雨霖以震，書始也。庚辰，大雨雪，亦如之。書，時失也。凡雨，自三日以往為霖。平地尺為大雪。

　　夏，城郎，書，不時也。

　　宋公不王。鄭伯為王左卿士，以王命討之，伐宋。宋以入郛之役怨公，不告命。公怒，絕宋使。

　　秋，鄭人以王命來告伐宋。

　　冬，公會齊侯于防，謀伐宋也。

　　北戎侵鄭，鄭伯禦之。患戎師，曰：「彼徒我車，懼其侵軼我也。」公子突曰：「使勇而無剛者，嘗寇而速去之。君為三覆以待之。戎輕而不整，貪而無親，勝不相讓，敗不相救。先者見獲必務進，進而遇覆必速奔，後者不救，則無繼矣。乃可以逞。」從之。

　　戎人之前遇覆者奔，祝聃逐之。衷戎師，前後擊之，盡殪。戎師大奔。十一月甲寅，鄭人大敗戎師。

隱公十年

經

〖十年，春，王二月，公會齊侯、鄭伯于中丘。〗

〖夏，翬帥師會齊人、鄭人伐宋。〗

〖六月，壬戌，公敗宋師于菅。辛未，取郜。辛巳，取防。〗

〖秋，宋人、衛人入鄭。宋人、蔡人、衛人伐戴。鄭伯伐取之。〗

〖冬，十月，壬午，齊人、鄭人入郕。〗

傳

　　十年春，王正月，公會齊侯，鄭伯于中丘。癸丑，盟于鄧，為師期。

　　夏五月，羽父先會齊侯、鄭伯伐宋。

　　六月戊申，公會齊侯、鄭伯于老桃。壬戌，公敗宋師于菅。庚午，鄭師入郜。辛未，歸于我。庚辰，鄭師入防。辛巳，歸于我。君子謂：「鄭莊公於是乎可謂正矣。以王命討不庭，不貪其土以勞王爵，正之體也。」

　　蔡人、衛人、郕人不會王命。

　　秋七月庚寅，鄭師入郊。猶在郊，宋人、衛人入鄭。蔡人從之伐戴。八月壬戌，鄭伯圍戴。癸亥，克之，取三師焉。宋、衛既入鄭，而以伐戴召蔡人，蔡人怒，故不和而敗。

　　九月戊寅，鄭伯入宋。

　　冬，齊人、鄭人入郕，討違王命也。

隱公十一年

經

〖十有一年，春，滕侯、薛侯來朝。〗

〖夏，公會鄭伯于時來。〗

〖秋，七月，壬午，公及齊侯、鄭伯入許。〗

〖冬十有一月，壬辰，公薨。〗

傳

　　十一年春，滕侯、薛侯來朝，爭長。薛侯曰：「我先封。」滕侯曰：「我，周之卜正也。薛，庶姓也，我不可以後之。」

　　公使羽父請於薛侯曰：「君與滕君辱在寡人。周諺有之曰：『山有木，工則度之；賓有禮，主則擇之。』周之宗盟，異姓為後。寡人若朝于薛，不敢與諸任齒。君若辱貺寡人，則願以滕君為請。」

　　薛侯許之，乃長滕侯。

　　夏，公會鄭伯于郲，謀伐許也。鄭伯將伐許，五月甲辰，授兵于大宮。公孫閼與潁考叔爭車，潁考叔挾輈以走，子都拔棘以逐之，及大逵，弗及，子都怒。

　　秋七月，公會齊侯、鄭伯伐許。庚辰，傅于許，潁考叔取鄭伯之旗蝥弧以先登。子都自下射之，顛。瑕叔盈又以蝥弧登，周麾而呼曰：「君登矣！」鄭師畢登。壬午，遂入許。許莊公奔衛。

　　齊侯以許讓公。公曰：「君謂許不共，故從君討之。許既伏其罪矣，雖君有命，寡人弗敢與聞。」乃與鄭人。

　　鄭伯使許大夫百里奉許叔以居許東偏，曰：「天禍許國，鬼神實不逞于許君，而假手于我寡人。寡人唯是一二父兄不能共億，其敢以許自為功乎？寡人有弟，不能和協，而使餬其口於四方，其況能久有許乎？吾子其奉許叔以撫柔此民也，吾將使獲也佐吾子。若寡人得沒于地，天其以禮悔禍于許？無寧茲許公復奉其社稷。唯我鄭國之有請謁焉，如舊昬媾，其能降以相從也。無滋他族實偪處此，以與我鄭國爭此土也。吾子孫其覆亡之不暇，而況能禋祀許乎？寡人之使吾子處此，不唯許國之為，亦聊以固吾圉也。」乃使公孫獲處許西偏，曰：「凡而器用財賄，無寘於許。我死，乃亟去之。吾先君新邑於此，王室而既卑矣，周之子孫日失其序。夫許，大岳之胤也，天而既厭周德矣，吾其能與許爭乎？」

　　君子謂：「鄭莊公於是乎有禮。禮，經國家、定社稷、序民人、利後嗣者也。許，無刑而伐之，服而舍之，度德而處之，量力而行之，相時而動，無累後人，可謂知禮矣。」

　　鄭伯使卒出豭，行出犬、雞，以詛射潁考叔者。君子謂：「鄭莊公失政刑矣。政以治民，刑以正邪，既無德政，又無威刑，是以及邪。邪而詛之，將何益矣！」

　　王取鄔、劉、蒍、邗之田于鄭，而與鄭人蘇忿生之田：溫、原、絺、樊、隰郕、欑茅、向、盟、州、陘、隤、懷。君子是以知桓王之失鄭也。恕而行之，德之則也，禮之經也。己弗能有而以與人，人之不至，不亦宜乎？

　　鄭、息有違言，息侯伐鄭。鄭伯與戰于竟，息師大敗而還。君子是以知息之將亡也。不度德，不量力，不親親，不徵辭，不察有罪，犯五不韙，而以伐人，其喪師也，不亦宜乎！

　　冬十月，鄭伯以虢師伐宋。壬戌，大敗宋師，以報其入鄭也。宋不告命，故不書。凡諸侯有命，告則書，不然則否。師出臧否，亦如之。雖及滅國，滅不告敗，勝不告克，不書于策。

　　羽父請殺桓公，將以求大宰。公曰：「為其少故也，吾將授之矣。使營菟裘，吾將老焉。」羽父懼，反譖公于桓公，而請弒之。公之為公子也，與鄭人戰于狐壤，止焉。鄭人囚諸尹氏，賂尹氏，而禱於其主鍾巫，遂與尹氏歸，而立其主。十一月，公祭鍾巫，齊于社圃，館于寪氏。壬辰，羽父使賊弒公于寪氏，立桓公，而討寪氏，有死者。不書葬，不成喪也。

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Zuo Commentary (article 春秋左氏傳 隱公, revision 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, navigation links, and license templates have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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