Zuozhuan Zhao Gong — 春秋左氏傳 昭公, traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming

The Chunqiu, or Spring and Autumn Annals, is the terse year-by-year chronicle of the state of Lu, traditionally said to have been edited by Confucius himself; the Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan) is the great narrative history built up around it, traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming, said to have been a contemporary of Confucius. Both attributions are ancient and cannot be verified from the text itself; modern scholarship generally places the compilation of the Zuozhuan in the fourth century BCE, drawing on court records and oral tradition considerably older than the compilation itself. What is certain is the form: a bare annal entry from the Lu chronicle, and beside it, sometimes far beyond it in length, a narrative that explains, expands, and at times silently corrects what the annal says.

This file covers the reign of Duke Zhao of Lu, 541–510 BCE, thirty-two years, the longest single book of the Zuozhuan. Its years hold the covenant renewed between Jin and Chu at Guo in the duke's first year; the rise of Prince Wei of Chu, who strangled his own nephew the king and reigned as King Ling until he was driven to hang himself at Ganxi in the duke's thirteenth year; the long government of Zichan of Zheng, followed from his handling of Chu and Jin down to his death in the duke's twentieth year; the covenant of Pingqiu and Zichan's contest over Zheng's tribute; the assassination of King Liao of Wu by Zhuan Zhu at the order of Prince Guang, who took the throne as King Helü; and, in the duke's twenty-fifth year, the duke's own expulsion from Lu by Ji Pingzi and the Ji clan, an exile from which he never returned, dying at Ganhou in his thirty-second year. Within each year the Annals entries and the Zuo narrative alternate as the source has them: the bare official notices are kept as bulleted Annals blocks, and the surrounding narrative as Zuo blocks, in the order the source sets them.

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 or place. Ranks follow the conventional five: gong duke, hou marquis, bo earl, zi viscount, nan baron. Dates are kept in the text's own reckoning, such as in the twelfth year, in spring, in the king's first month, and sexagenary day names are left in pinyin. Li (禮) is rendered ritual propriety throughout, following its recurring use as the standard by which the Zuo narrator judges the actors of the age.

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: James Legge (1872), Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li, and David Schaberg (2016), and Burton Watson's volume of selections (1989). This translation makes no claim of firstness; it was made independently from the Chinese, without consulting them.

Contents

• Year 1 (昭公元年)
• Year 2 (昭公二年)
• Year 3 (昭公三年)
• Year 4 (昭公四年)
• Year 5 (昭公五年)
• Year 6 (昭公六年)
• Year 7 (昭公七年)
• Year 8 (昭公八年)
• Year 9 (昭公九年)
• Year 10 (昭公十年)
• Year 11 (昭公十一年)
• Year 12 (昭公十二年)
• Year 13 (昭公十三年)
• Year 14 (昭公十四年)
• Year 15 (昭公十五年)
• Year 16 (昭公十六年)
• Year 17 (昭公十七年)
• Year 18 (昭公十八年)
• Year 19 (昭公十九年)
• Year 20 (昭公二十年)
• Year 21 (昭公二十一年)
• Year 22 (昭公二十二年)
• Year 23 (昭公二十三年)
• Year 24 (昭公二十四年)
• Year 25 (昭公二十五年)
• Year 26 (昭公二十六年)
• Year 27 (昭公二十七年)
• Year 28 (昭公二十八年)
• Year 29 (昭公二十九年)
• Year 30 (昭公三十年)
• Year 31 (昭公三十一年)
• Year 32 (昭公三十二年)

Translation

Duke Zhao, Years 1–32

Year 1 (昭公元年)

Annals.

• In the first year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke took his position. Shusun Bao (叔孫豹) met with Zhao Wu (趙武) of Jin, Prince Wei (公子圍) of Chu, Guo Ruo of Qi, Xiang Xu of Song, Qi E of Wei, Prince Zhao of Chen, Gongsun Guisheng of Cai, Han Hu of Zheng, a man of Xu, and a man of Cao, at Guo.
• In the third month, Yun was taken.
• In summer, Zhen, the younger brother of the Earl of Qin, fled to Jin.
• In the sixth month, on the day dingsi, Hua, Viscount of Zhu, died. Xun Wu of Jin led an army and defeated the Di at Dalu.
• In autumn, Quji of Ju entered Ju from Qi. Zhanyu of Ju fled to Wu. Shu Gong led an army and set the boundaries of the fields of Yun. Duke Dao of Zhu was buried.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, on the day jiyou, Jun, Viscount of Chu, died. Prince Bi fled to Jin.

Zuo.

In the first year, in spring, Prince Wei of Chu made a diplomatic visit to Zheng, and was also to take a wife from the house of Gongsun Duan. Wu Ju (伍舉) went as his second. When they were about to enter the city and lodge inside it, the people of Zheng disliked it and sent the herald Ziyu to speak with them; so they lodged outside the walls. When the diplomatic visit had been made, Prince Wei intended to fetch the bride with a body of troops. Zichan (子產) was troubled by this and had Ziyu decline, saying, "Our poor city is cramped and small, not large enough to hold your followers. We beg to clear a level ground outside and there await your commands." The chief minister ordered his steward Bo Zhouli to reply: "Your ruler has stooped to grant a favor to our humble grandee Wei, saying that Wei is to be given the daughter of the Feng house, to have and to keep in his chamber. Wei has laid out the mats and low tables and made announcement in the temples of Zhuang and Gong before setting out. If the gift is now bestowed in the open country, that is to fling your ruler's gift away among the weeds and brush, and our humble grandee will not be able to take his place in the ranks of the ministers. Nor is that all: it would make Wei impose upon his own former rulers, and he would no longer be fit to serve as an elder of our ruler; he would have nothing with which to report on his return. Let the grandee consider it." Ziyu said, "A small state has no offense; its offense lies precisely in what it leans upon. It would lean upon a great state to keep it quiet and at peace — and what if that state harbors a malicious heart and plots against it? Should the small state lose what it leans upon, and so become a warning to all the other lords, so that not one of them is without resentment, and they resist and defy your ruler's commands — it is this blocking and stopping up that we fear. Were it not for that, our poor city is no more than a company of innkeepers; how should it dare to grudge you the ancestral chamber of the Feng house?" Wu Ju, knowing that Zheng was prepared, asked to enter with their bow-cases hanging empty, and this was permitted. On the day yiwei in the first month they went in, fetched the bride, and came out. Then they met at Guo, renewing the covenant of Song. Qi Wu said to Zhao Wenzi, "At the covenant of Song the men of Chu got their will over Jin. Now the chief minister's want of good faith is heard of among all the lords. If you take no precautions, I fear it will go as it did at Song. Zimu's good faith was praised among the lords, and even he deceived Jin and rode above it — how much more one who is the very worst in bad faith? If Chu once again gets its will over Jin, that is Jin's disgrace. You have been chancellor of the state of Jin and made it master of covenants, now for seven years. Twice you have assembled the lords and three times the grandees; you have brought Qi and the Di to submission, given peace to the eastern Xia, settled the disorder of Qin, and walled Chunyu. The troops have not been worn out, the state has not been exhausted, the people have not murmured or cursed, the lords have not resented, Heaven has sent no great calamity. This is your doing, and you have a fine name for it. But that it should end in disgrace — that is what I fear. Sir, you must not fail to take precautions." Wenzi said, "I accept your gift of counsel. Yet at the covenant of Song, Zimu had the heart of a man who would harm others, and I had the heart of a humane man; that is why Chu rode above Jin. Now I still have that same heart, and if Chu once more practices falsehood, it does me no harm. I shall make good faith my root and follow it in all I do. It is like a farmer who weeds and banks the earth about his crop: though there be years of famine, there will surely be a year of plenty. And I have heard that one who can keep faith does not fall beneath another. I am not yet able to do it. The Odes say:

Not false, not harmful —
few such fail to be a model.

That is good faith. He who can be a model to others will not fall beneath another. My own inability is the difficulty; Chu is no trouble to me." Prince Wei, the chief minister of Chu, asked that a victim be used, that the old document be read and laid upon the victim, and no more. The men of Jin agreed to it.

In the third month, on the day jiachen, they made the covenant. Prince Wei of Chu set out a ruler's robes and had guards ranged apart before him. Shusun Muzi said, "The prince of Chu is splendid. He is a ruler indeed!" Zipi of Zheng said, "Two men bearing halberds go before him." Zijia of Cai said, "He had this precedence already at the Pu Palace. Is it not permissible?" Bo Zhouli of Chu said, "For this journey he asked leave and borrowed them from our ruler." Hui, the herald of Zheng, said, "What is borrowed will not be given back." Bo Zhouli said, "You had better worry about Zixi's wish to turn his back and run wild." Ziyu said, "The one who stood over the jade disc is still alive. If what is borrowed is not given back, will you have nothing to worry about?" Guozi of Qi said, "I feel pity on behalf of these two gentlemen." Prince Zhao of Chen said, "Without worry, what is achieved? The two gentlemen are enjoying themselves." Qizi of Wei said, "If a man truly understands the matter, what harm is there in worrying?" Xiang Xu, Minister of the Left of Song, said, "Great states command and small states comply. I know only compliance." Yue Wangfu of Jin said, "The last stanza of 'Xiao Min' is good. I follow it." After they had withdrawn from the meeting, Ziyu said to Zipi, "Shusun was blunt yet gracious; the Minister of the Left of Song was brief yet correct; Yue Wangfu was affectionate and reverent. You and Zijia held to the middle. All of these are lords who will preserve their houses. But the grandees of Qi, Wei, and Chen — will they escape? Guozi worried on another's behalf; Zizhao took pleasure in worry; Qizi said that though one worry, there is no harm in it. Now, to worry over what does not touch you, to take pleasure in what should be worried over, and to worry and yet call it harmless — these are all ways of drawing worry upon oneself, and worry will surely reach them. The Great Declaration says, 'What the people desire, Heaven will surely follow.' These three grandees have given the omen of their own sorrow; can it fail to come? 'By a man's words one knows the thing' — this is what that means."

Ji Wuzi attacked Ju and took Yun. The men of Ju laid their complaint before the assembly. Chu declared to Jin, "The covenant has been renewed and the assembly has not yet broken up, and Lu attacks Ju. This defiles the covenant sworn together. We ask that its envoy be put to death." Yue Huanzi was assisting Zhao Wenzi; he wanted to get goods out of Shusun and then intercede for him, and sent to ask for Shusun's girdle, but it was not given. Liang Qijing said, "Goods are a hedge about the body. Why do you grudge them?" Shusun said, "A meeting of the lords is for the guarding of the altars of the land and grain. If I buy myself off with goods, Lu will surely have an army sent against it; that would be to bring calamity upon it. What guarding would there be in that? A man has a wall in order to shut out evil. If the wall cracks and falls down, whose fault is it? To be the guard and yet do harm to what one guards — I should be worse than the broken wall. Though I resent Jisun, what offense has the state of Lu? That the Shu go abroad while the Ji stay at home has its origin far back. Whom, then, should I resent? Still, Fu is greedy, and will not stop unless he is given something." He called the messenger, tore off a length of the silk of his lower garment, and gave it to him, saying, "A girdle would be a scant thing." Zhao Meng heard of it and said, "To face danger and not forget the state is loyalty. To reflect on trouble and not overstep one's office is good faith. To plan for the state and forget death is steadfastness. To make these three the aim of one's counsel is righteousness. Having these four qualities, can he be put to death?" So he made request of Chu, saying, "Though Lu is at fault, its officer here does not shun trouble; he fears your authority and reveres your commands. If you pardon him, it will serve to encourage those about you. If your own body of officers, at home, do not shun defilement, and abroad do not flee from danger, what trouble could you have? Trouble is born where defilement is not put right and danger is not stood against; that is where it comes from. If a man can do these two things, what trouble is there? If you do not set the able at ease, who will follow you? Shusun Bao of Lu may be called able. I ask that you pardon him, and so set the able at ease. If at your assembly you pardon the guilty and reward the worthy besides, which of the lords will not rejoice, and look toward Chu and turn to it, seeing what is far off as though it were near? Border towns pass now to one side, now to the other; what constancy is there in them? Even under the ordinances of kings and hegemons, when boundaries were drawn and officers set over them, marks and banners raised and rules and commands published, with punishments for transgression, still they could not be made uniform. So it was that Yu had the Three Miao, Xia had Guan and Hu, Shang had Shen and Pi, and Zhou had Xu and Yan. Since there has been no good king, the lords have pressed forward each in turn, taking the presidency of the joint covenants by turns — can uniformity be had now? To be concerned with the great and let go the small is enough to make a master of covenants; what need is there of this? What state has not had its borders pared away? Who that presides over joint covenants has ever been able to settle such matters? When Wu and Pu show a crack to be worked at, will Chu's officers then look to the covenant? Let Chu take no notice of Ju's boundary affairs, and the lords will not be vexed. Would that not be well? Ju and Lu have contended for Yun this long while. If there is no great harm to the altars of either, there is no need to make an issue of it. Take away vexation and pardon the good, and none will fail to strive and be encouraged. Consider it, sir." He pressed the request upon Chu, and the men of Chu agreed; so Shusun was released. The chief minister feasted Zhao Meng and had the first stanza of 'Da Ming' recited; Zhao Meng had the second stanza of 'Xiao Wan' recited. When the business was over, Zhao Meng said to Shuxiang (叔向), "The chief minister takes himself for a king already. What of it?" He replied, "The king is weak and the chief minister strong; he may well succeed. Yet though he succeed, he will not end well." Zhao Meng said, "Why?" He replied, "To use strength to overcome weakness and then rest easy in it is to make strength out of unrighteousness. Unrighteous and strong — his fall will surely be swift. The Odes say:

Splendid was Zhou of the ancestral house;
Bao Si destroyed it.

That is making strength out of unrighteousness. When the chief minister becomes king he will surely seek the allegiance of the lords. Jin has grown somewhat soft, and the lords will go over to him. If he wins the lords, his cruelty will grow the greater, and the people will not endure it. How then shall he end? One who takes by strength and prevails by unrighteousness will surely make that his way; and a way of excess and cruelty cannot last long."

In summer, in the fourth month, Zhao Meng, Shusun Bao, and a grandee of Cao entered Zheng. The Earl of Zheng feasted them all together. Zipi gave notice of the feast to Zhao Meng, and when the ceremony was over Zhao Meng had 'Gourd Leaves' recited. Zipi then gave notice to Mushu and told him of this. Mushu said, "Zhao Meng wants a single offering of wine. You should follow him in it." Zipi said, "Dare we?" Mushu said, "It is what the man himself wants. Why not dare?" When the feast came, the bamboo and wooden stands for a fivefold offering were set out under the awning. Zhao Meng declined them and said privately to Zichan, "I have already made my request to the chief steward." So a single offering was used. Zhao Meng was the principal guest. When the ceremony ended they went on to the drinking. Mushu had 'The Magpie's Nest' recited. Zhao Meng said, "I am not equal to it." Then 'Gathering Southernwood' was recited, and Mushu said, "The small states are the southernwood; let the great states be sparing in the gathering and use of them, and what is there in us that will not follow your command?" Zipi had the last stanza of 'In the Wild a Dead Doe' recited. Zhao Meng had 'The Cherry Tree' recited, and said, "Let us brothers keep close together and be at peace, and the shaggy dog can be kept from barking." Mushu, Zipi, and the grandee of Cao rose and bowed, raised the rhinoceros-horn cups, and said, "The small states depend upon you; we know now that we shall escape blame." They drank and were merry. Zhao Meng went out and said, "I shall not do this again."

The King sent Duke Ding of Liu to greet Zhao Meng with gifts on the Ying, and they lodged at the bend of the Luo. The viscount of Liu said, "Splendid was the work of Yu, and his bright virtue reaches far! But for Yu we should have been fishes. That you and I wear caps and ceremonial robes, govern the people and preside over the lords, is Yu's doing. Why do you not also carry on Yu's work far into the future, and give the people a great shelter?" He replied, "This old man is afraid of guilt and blame; how should he be concerned with what is far off? Men like us snatch our food and do not plan in the morning for the evening. How should we look so far ahead?" The viscount of Liu went home and told the king, "The proverb that says a man grows wise with age and then dotage overtakes him — is it not spoken of Zhao Meng? He is chief minister of Jin and presides over the lords, and yet he ranks himself with menials and does not plan in the morning for the evening. He has cast off gods and men alike. With the gods angry and the people in revolt, how can he last long? Zhao Meng will not see another year. Angry, the gods will not savor his sacrifices; in revolt, the people will not come to his service. When neither sacrifice nor service follows him, how should he have years?"

Shusun came home. Zeng Yao drove Jisun over to welcome him with congratulations. From dawn until midday Shusun did not come out. Zeng Yao said to Zeng Fu, "From dawn to midday — I understand the offense. Lu is a state that holds together by mutual forbearance. To bear with outsiders and not to bear with one's own — what use is that?" Fu said, "Months abroad, and one morning of this — what harm is there? Does a merchant who wants his profit hate the noise of the market?" Fu said to Shusun, "You may come out now." Shusun pointed at a pillar and said, "Even if one hates this, can it be got rid of?" Then he came out and saw him.

The younger sister of Xuwu Fan of Zheng was beautiful. Gongsun Chu had already betrothed her, and Gongsun Hei sent by force the goose of betrothal as well. Fan was afraid and told Zichan. Zichan said, "This is the state's want of government, and no trouble of yours. Give her to whichever you please." Fan made request of the two men, asking that the girl be allowed to choose, and both agreed. Zixi entered in full finery, laid out his gifts of silk, and went out. Zinan entered in war dress, shot to left and to right, vaulted into his chariot, and went out. The girl watched from her chamber and said, "Zixi is handsome indeed, but Zinan is a man. When the man is a man and the wife a wife, that is what is called right order." She married into the house of Zinan. Zixi was enraged. Soon after he hid armor in a bag and went to see Zinan, meaning to kill him and take his wife. Zinan learned of it, took up a halberd and drove him off, and at the crossroads struck him with it; Zixi went home wounded. He told the grandees, "I went to see him in friendship and did not know that he had other intentions, and so I was wounded." The grandees all deliberated on the case. Zichan said, "Where the right is equal on both sides, the younger and the lower in rank is at fault. The guilt lies with Chu." So he seized Zinan and enumerated his offenses, saying: "There are five great bonds of a state, and you have violated them all — to fear the ruler's authority, to obey his government, to honor those of rank, to serve one's elders, and to care for one's kin. These five are what make a state. Now, with the ruler present in the state, you used weapons: that is not fearing his authority. You broke the ordering of the state: that is not obeying his government. Zixi is a senior grandee and you a favored grandee, and you did not yield place to him: that is not honoring rank. You are the younger and yet showed no restraint: that is not serving your elders. You took arms against your own elder cousin: that is not caring for your kin. The ruler says, 'I cannot bear to put you to death. I pardon you with banishment far off. Make haste to go, and do not add to your guilt.'" In the fifth month, on the day gengchen, Zheng banished You Chu to Wu. When Zinan was about to be sent away, Zichan consulted Dashu. Dashu said, "I cannot shield even my own person; how should I shield my clan? This is a matter of the state's government, not a private quarrel. You are planning for the state of Zheng; if it is to its advantage, do it. Why hesitate? The Duke of Zhou killed Guan Shu and banished Cai Shu. Did he not love them? He did it for the sake of the royal house. If I should incur guilt, you would deal with me in the same way. What then of the You clan?"

Houzi of Qin was favored by Duke Huan, and under Duke Jing he was like a second ruler. His mother said, "If you do not go away, I fear you will be called to account." On the day guimao, Zhen went to Jin with a thousand chariots. The record says, "Zhen, the younger brother of the Earl of Qin, fled to Jin," laying the fault upon the Earl of Qin. Houzi feasted the Marquis of Jin. He bridged the Yellow River with boats and stationed chariots every ten li from Yong to Jiang; and when he sent home for the gifts of return-courtesy, by the end of the affair they had gone back and forth eight times. Sima Hou asked him, "Are these all the chariots you have?" He replied, "These are what may be called many. Had I been able to have fewer, how should I have come to be seen here?" Nü Shuqi reported this to the duke and said, "The prince of Qin will surely return home. I have heard that when a gentleman is able to know his own fault, he will surely have good plans, and good plans are what Heaven helps." Houzi went to see Zhao Meng. Zhao Meng said, "When will you go home?" He replied, "I feared being called to account by my ruler, and so am here. I shall wait for his successor." Zhao Meng said, "What is the ruler of Qin like?" He replied, "He is without the Way." Zhao Meng said, "Will he be destroyed?" He replied, "Why should he be? One generation without the Way does not cut a state off. A state stands between heaven and earth with something that upholds it; unless there is excess for several generations, it cannot be brought down." Zhao Meng said, "Is it Heaven, then?" He replied, "There is that too." Zhao Meng said, "How long, then?" He replied, "I have heard that when a state is without the Way and yet the grain of the year ripens well, it is Heaven helping it; and rarely is it less than five harvests." Zhao Meng looked at the shadow and said, "Morning does not reach evening. Who can wait for five?" Houzi went out and told others, "Zhao Meng is going to die. He is master of the people, and yet he trifles with the years and idles away the days. How long can he have?"

On account of the disorder caused by You Chu, in the sixth month, on the day dingsi, the Earl of Zheng and his grandees made a covenant at the house of Gongsun Duan. Han Hu, Gongsun Qiao, Gongsun Duan, Yin Duan, You Ji, and Si Dai swore a private covenant outside the small gate, at the place called Xunsui. Gongsun Hei forced his way into the covenant and made the Grand Scribe write his name, saying moreover, "the seven gentlemen." Zichan did not punish him.

Muzi of the Zhonghang of Jin defeated Wuzhong and the several Di tribes at Taiyuan, by making much of foot soldiers. Before the battle Wei Shu said, "They are on foot and we in chariots, and the ground where we meet them is narrow besides. If ten men share one chariot's worth, we shall surely win; and if we press them in the narrows, we shall win again. Let us all become foot soldiers — beginning with me." So they broke up the chariots and made them into ranks. Five chariot teams were made into three files of five. A favorite of Xun Wu refused to take his place among the foot soldiers, and was beheaded and paraded through the ranks. They made five formations set apart from one another: a liang in front, a wu behind, a zhuan for the right horn, a can for the left horn, and a pian as the front screen, to draw the enemy on. The Di laughed at them; before the Di had formed their ranks the men of Jin closed upon them and utterly defeated them.

Zhanyu of Ju was set up as ruler and stripped the princes of their allowances. The princes summoned Quji back from Qi. In autumn, Prince Chu of Qi brought Quji in, and Zhanyu fled to Wu. Shu Gong led an army and marked out the boundaries of the fields of Yun, taking advantage of the disorder in Ju. At this time Wulou of Ju, Mou Hu, and Prince Mieming fled to Qi with the towns of Dapang and Changyimi. A gentleman said, "That Zhan of Ju could not keep his place — was it not because he cast men away? Can men be cast away? The Odes say, 'Nothing is so strong as men.' Well said."

The Marquis of Jin was ill. The Earl of Zheng sent Gongsun Qiao to Jin on a diplomatic visit and to ask after the illness. Shuxiang put a question to him, saying, "Our ruler's sickness is grave. The diviners say that Shichen and Taitai are working the curse. The scribes do not know them. May I ask what gods these are?" Zichan said, "Long ago Gaoxin had two sons; the elder was called Ebo and the younger Shichen. They lived in the Wide Forest and could not get on with each other. Day after day they took up shield and spear and made war upon one another. The Sovereign Emperor thought this bad, and moved Ebo to Shangqiu to preside over the star Chen; the people of Shang followed him there, and so Chen is the star of Shang. He moved Shichen to Daxia to preside over the constellation Shen; the people of Tang followed him there, and served Xia and Shang. In their last generation there was Tang Shu Yu. When King Wu's consort Yi Jiang was pregnant with Da Shu, she dreamed that the Emperor said to her, 'I name your son Yu, and will give him Tang. I assign him to Shen and will make his descendants many.' When the child was born there was a mark on his hand reading 'Yu,' and so he was named. When King Cheng destroyed Tang he enfeoffed Da Shu there; and so Shen is the star of Jin. Looking at it in this way, Shichen is the god of Shen. Long ago Jintian had a descendant called Mei, who was Master of Xuanming. He begot Yunge and Taitai. Taitai was able to carry on his father's office: he opened the courses of the Fen and the Tao, dammed the great marsh, and so made Taiyuan fit to dwell in. The Emperor commended him for it and enfeoffed him at the Fen river. Shen, Si, Ru, and Huang kept up his sacrifices; but now Jin holds the Fen and has extinguished them. Looking at it in this way, Taitai is the god of the Fen. Yet neither of these two reaches the ruler's own person. To the gods of mountains and rivers belong the calamities of flood, drought, and pestilence, and for these one makes the yong offering. To the gods of sun, moon, and stars belong snow, frost, wind, and rain out of season, and for these too one makes the yong offering. But the ruler's own person is a matter of his going out and coming in, his eating and drinking, his griefs and pleasures. What have the gods of mountains, rivers, and stars to do with that? I have heard that a gentleman has four times of the day: in the morning he attends to government, at midday he makes inquiry, in the evening he sets his commands in order, and at night he rests his body. In this way he regulates and lets out his breath, and does not let it be blocked, dammed, stagnant, or sunk so as to waste his body. Otherwise the mind loses its clearness and all measures fall into confusion. Now, if he makes everything one thing only, sickness will come of it. I have also heard that the women of the inner chambers should not include those of the same surname, for their offspring do not thrive; the beauty is exhausted first, and then they breed sickness in one another. A gentleman therefore hates it. So the record says, 'If you buy a concubine and do not know her surname, divine about it.' To go against these two rules is what the ancients were careful of. That man and woman distinguish their surnames is a great charge of the rites. Now your ruler has four women of the Ji surname in his inner chambers. Is this not the cause? If it is these two matters, nothing can be done. If the four Ji were reduced, he might still recover; if not, sickness will surely come." Shuxiang said, "Well said! I had not heard this. All of it is so." When Shuxiang went out, the herald Hui escorted him. Shuxiang asked about the affairs of Zheng, and asked also about Zixi. He replied, "How long can he have? He is without ritual propriety and loves to overbear others; he trusts in his wealth and looks down on his superiors. He cannot last long." When the Marquis of Jin heard Zichan's words he said, "He is a gentleman of wide knowledge of things," and gave him rich gifts.

The Marquis of Jin sought a physician from Qin. The Earl of Qin sent the physician He to look at him. He said, "The sickness cannot be cured. This is what is called drawing near the women's chambers. The sickness is like gu poisoning. It comes neither from ghosts nor from food: he has been beguiled and has lost his will. A good minister will die; Heaven's mandate does not favor him." The duke said, "Are women not to be approached?" He replied, "They must be kept in measure. The music of the former kings was the means of setting measure to all affairs. So there were five measures, slow and fast, root and branch, following one upon another; and when the central notes had come down, after the fifth descent no further plucking was allowed. Beyond that come restless fingering and licentious sounds, which gladden and choke the heart and the ears until one forgets evenness and harmony; a gentleman does not listen to such music. It is the same with all things: when they reach excess, one leaves off, and does not let sickness be bred. A gentleman draws near the zithers to set forms and measures, not to gladden his heart. Heaven has six vapors. Descending, they give birth to the five tastes; issuing forth, they become the five colors; made manifest, they become the five notes. In excess they give birth to the six sicknesses. The six vapors are called yin, yang, wind, rain, dark, and light. Divided, they make the four seasons; ordered, they make the five measures. In excess they become calamity. Excess of yin gives sickness of cold; excess of yang, sickness of heat; excess of wind, sickness of the extremities; excess of rain, sickness of the belly; excess of dark, sickness of delusion; excess of light, sickness of the heart. Woman is a thing of yang but belongs to the hours of darkness; in excess she gives rise to inner heat and to the sicknesses of delusion and of gu. Now your ruler keeps neither measure nor season. Can he fail to come to this?" He came out and told Zhao Meng. Zhao Meng said, "Who is the good minister that is meant?" He replied, "You, my lord, are the one meant. You have been chancellor of Jin now for eight years; in Jin there has been no disorder and among the lords no defection. You may be called good. I have heard that when a great minister of a state enjoys the glory of his emoluments and bears the charge of his high office, and calamity arises and he makes no change, he must take the blame of it. Now the ruler has come to such excess that sickness is bred of it, and he will no longer be able to plan for and care for the altars of the land and grain. What calamity is greater than that? You have not been able to check it; that is why I said what I said." Zhao Meng said, "What is gu?" He replied, "It is what is born of excess, drowning, delusion, and disorder. In writing, 'vessel' and 'insect' make the graph gu. Grain weevils in flight are also gu. In the Zhou Changes, woman beguiling man, and wind bringing down the mountain, is called Gu. All are the same thing." Zhao Meng said, "He is a good physician," and sent him back with generous gifts.

Prince Wei of Chu sent Prince Heigong and Bo Zhouli to wall Chou, Li, and Jia. The people of Zheng were afraid. Zichan said, "No harm. The chief minister is about to carry out a great affair and is first putting these two men out of the way. The calamity will not reach Zheng. Why be troubled?" In winter, Prince Wei of Chu was about to make a diplomatic visit to Zheng, with Wu Ju as his second. Before they had left the borders he heard that the king was ill and turned back; Wu Ju went on and made the visit. In the eleventh month, on the day jiyou, Prince Wei arrived. He went in to ask after the king's illness, strangled him, and so assassinated him. He then killed the king's two sons, Mu and Pingxia. The Governor of the Right, Zigan, fled to Jin; the Master of the Palace Stables, Zixi, fled to Zheng. The steward Bo Zhouli was killed at Jia. The king was buried at Jia, and was called Jia Ao. A death announcement was sent to Zheng, and Wu Ju asked what words should be used for the one who was to succeed. The answer was, "our humble grandee Wei." Wu Ju changed it to, "Among King Gong's sons, Wei is the eldest." Zigan fled to Jin with a following of five chariots. Shuxiang had him given the same allowance as the prince of Qin, each receiving provisions for a hundred men. Zhao Wenzi said, "The prince of Qin is rich." Shuxiang said, "Emolument is fixed by virtue; where virtue is equal, by age; where age is the same, by rank; and a prince by his state. I have never heard of fixing it by wealth. Besides, to leave one's own state with a thousand chariots is overbearing in the extreme. The Odes say:

He did not slight the widowed and the solitary;
he did not fear the strong and overbearing.

Qin and Chu are equals." When Houzi was to be ranked in order together with Zigan, he declined, saying, "I feared being called to account, and the prince of Chu did not get what he sought; that is why we both came, and in this too I obey your command. But for me to be ranked with a sojourner — would that not be improper?" Shi Yi had a saying: "If not for a sojourner, what need of deference?"

King Ling of Chu took the throne. Wei Ba became chief minister and Wei Qijiang steward. You Ji of Zheng went to Chu for the burial of Jia Ao and to pay a visit to the newly established ruler. On his return he said to Zichan, "Get the traveling gear ready. The king of Chu is arrogant and extravagant, and is pleased with his own doings. He will surely assemble the lords, and there will be no day when I am not going there." Zichan said, "Not for some years; he will not be able to yet."

In the twelfth month, after Jin had performed the zheng sacrifice, Zhao Meng went to Nanyang, intending to meet Mengzi Yu. On the first day of the month, jiachen, he performed the zheng sacrifice at Wen. On the day gengxu he died. The Earl of Zheng went to Jin to offer condolence; he got as far as Yong and then turned back.

Year 2 (昭公二年)

Annals.

• In the second year, in spring, the Marquis of Jin sent Han Qi to come on a diplomatic visit.
• In summer, Shu Gong went to Jin.
• In autumn, Zheng put to death its grandee Gongsun Hei.
• In winter, the duke went to Jin; he reached the Yellow River and then turned back. Jisun Su went to Jin.

Zuo.

In the second year, in spring, the Marquis of Jin sent Han Xuanzi to come on a diplomatic visit, and also to announce that he had taken charge of the government; his coming to present himself was according to ritual propriety. He looked at the documents in the house of the Grand Scribe, saw the Images of the Changes and the Spring and Autumn of Lu, and said, "The rites of Zhou are all here in Lu. Only now do I understand the virtue of the Duke of Zhou, and how Zhou came to be king." The duke feasted him. Ji Wuzi had the last stanza of 'Mian' recited; Hanzi had 'The Horn Bow' recited. Ji Wuzi bowed and said, "I venture to bow for your sewing up the rents of our poor city. Our ruler has hope now." Wuzi had the last stanza of 'Jie' recited. After the feast they drank at the house of the Ji. There was a fine tree there, and Xuanzi praised it. Wuzi said, "How should I not bank up and tend this tree, so as never to forget 'The Horn Bow'?" Then he had 'The Sweet Pear Tree' recited. Xuanzi said, "I am not equal to it. I have nothing by which to come near the Duke of Shao." Xuanzi then went to Qi to present the betrothal gifts. He saw Ziya, and Ziya called Ziqi and had him presented to Xuanzi. Xuanzi said, "He is not a lord who will preserve his house; he is unfit to be a subject." He saw Ziwei, and Ziwei presented Qiang; Xuanzi said of him what he had said of Ziqi. Many of the grandees laughed at him. Only Yanzi (晏子) believed him, saying, "That gentleman is a man of quality. A gentleman is trustworthy; he must have something by which he knows it." From Qi he went on a diplomatic visit to Wei. The Marquis of Wei feasted him; Beigong Wenzi had 'The Bend of the Qi' recited, and Xuanzi had 'The Quince' recited.

In summer, in the fourth month, Han Xu went to Qi to fetch the bride. Chen Wuyu of Qi escorted her and delivered Shao Jiang. Shao Jiang was favored by the Marquis of Jin, who called her Shao Qi. He said that Chen Wuyu was not a minister of the first rank, and had him seized at Zhongdu. Shao Jiang interceded for him, saying, "The escort follows the rank of the one who fetches the bride. It was done out of fear of the great state, and yet even so it is made light of; and it is from such things that disorder arises." Shu Gong made a diplomatic visit to Jin, in return for Xuanzi's. The Marquis of Jin sent officers to greet him with gifts in the suburbs. He declined, saying, "Our ruler sent me to come and continue the old friendship, and charged me firmly: 'Do not presume to act as a guest.' To have the message carried through by your officers is honor enough for our poor city; how should I demean your envoys with a greeting in the suburbs? I beg to decline." When lodgings were assigned him, he declined, saying, "Our ruler ordered his humble servant to come and continue the old friendship. If the friendship holds and the mission is completed, that is reward enough for me; how should I demean a great lodging by taking it?" Shuxiang said, "Zishuzi knows the rites! I have heard it said that loyalty and good faith are the vessels of ritual propriety, and humility and yielding its root. That in declining he did not forget his state is loyalty and good faith; that he put his state first and himself after is humility and yielding. The Odes say:

Be reverent and careful in your bearing,
so as to draw near to those who have virtue.

That gentleman has drawn near to virtue."

In autumn, Gongsun Hei of Zheng was about to raise a rebellion, wishing to remove the You family and take their place. His wound broke out again and it came to nothing. The Si family and the other grandees wished to kill him. Zichan was in the outer country; when he heard of it, fearing he would come too late, he took post horses and arrived, and had an officer enumerate the man's offenses, saying: "In the disorder of Boyou, because of business with the great states, you were not punished. You have a rebellious heart that is never satisfied, and the state cannot bear you. That you attacked Boyou on your own authority is your first offense. That you contended with your cousin over a wife is your second offense. That at the covenant of Xunsui you falsely took the ruler's place is your third. You have three capital offenses. How can you be borne with? If you do not die quickly, the great punishment will come." He bowed twice, touching his head to the ground, and pleaded, "Death is upon me morning or evening. Do not help Heaven to be cruel." Zichan said, "Who does not die? That an evil man should not come to a good end is fate. You have done evil deeds and made yourself an evil man. If I do not help Heaven, shall I help the evil man?" He asked that Yin be made Master of the Market. Zichan said, "If Yin has ability, the ruler will employ him; if he has not, he will follow you morning or evening. You take no thought for your own guilt — what have you to ask for? If you do not die quickly, the minister of crime will come."

In the seventh month, on the day renyin, he hanged himself. His body was exposed at the crossroads of the Zhou quarter, with a board laid upon it. Shao Jiang of Jin died. The duke set out for Jin, and when he reached the Yellow River, the Marquis of Jin sent Shi Wenbo to come and decline the visit, saying, "She was not a wedded consort; let your lordship not demean himself." The duke turned back, and Jisun Su then went and presented the mourning garments. Shuxiang spoke to the Marquis of Jin about Chen Wuyu: "What offense is his? Your lordship sent a member of the ducal clan to fetch her, and Qi sent a senior grandee to escort her, and still you say it was not respectful. Your lordship's demand was made out of greed, and so the state fell short of respect; and yet you have seized its envoy. Your lordship's punishments are already partial. How will you be master of covenants? Besides, Shao Jiang has pleaded for him."

In winter, in the tenth month, Chen Wuyu went home.

In the eleventh month, Yin Duan of Zheng went to Jin to offer condolence.

Year 3 (昭公三年)

Annals.

• In the third year, in spring, in the king's first month, on the day dingwei, Yuan, Viscount of Teng, died.
• In summer, Shu Gong went to Teng.
• In the fifth month, Duke Cheng of Teng was buried.
• In autumn, the Viscount of Little Zhu came to court.
• In the eighth month, the great rain sacrifice was held.
• In winter, there was a great fall of hail. Kuan, Earl of Northern Yan, fled to Qi.

Zuo.

In the third year, in spring, in the king's first month, You Ji (游吉) of Zheng went to Jin, arriving for the burial of Shao Jiang. Liang Bing and Zhang Chuo had an interview with him. Liang Bing said, "This is too much — that you should come on such an errand."

Zi Taishu said, "Could it be avoided? In former days, when Wen and Xiang held the hegemony, their care was not to burden the lords. They ordered the lords thus: every three years a diplomatic visit, every five years a court visit; when there was business, a meeting; when there was discord, a covenant. When a ruler passed away, a grandee came with condolence and a minister took part in the burial; when a ruler's wife died, an officer came with condolence and a grandee escorted the burial. That was enough to make plain the rites and the commands, and beyond it they only deliberated where something was lacking. No further commands were added. Now, for the funeral of a favorite, we dare not weigh our rank, and the observances are more frequent than for a lawful consort. We fear only to incur offense; how should we dare to shrink from the trouble? Shao Jiang was favored and has died, and Qi will certainly furnish a successor to the chamber; this very year I shall be coming again with congratulations. It is not this journey alone."

Zhang Chuo said, "Well said. I have been allowed to hear these rules. Yet from now on you will have no such business. It is like the Fire star: when Fire stands at the center, cold and heat withdraw. This is its highest point — can it fail to decline? Jin is about to lose the lords. The lords will ask to be burdened and will not obtain it."

The two grandees withdrew. Zi Taishu said to others, "Zhang Chuo has understanding. Will he not stand, though at the rear, among the noble men?"

On the day dingwei, Yuan, viscount of Teng, died. He was a partner in covenant, and therefore his name was recorded.

The marquis of Qi sent Yan Ying (晏嬰) to ask Jin for a successor to the chamber. He said, "My unworthy lord sent me, Ying, to say: I have wished to serve you, morning and evening without weariness, and to bring pledges and offerings so as to miss no season; but the state has had many troubles, and so I have not managed it. A daughter of my late lord's principal line, poor a gift as she was, was sent to fill a place among the inner offices and to make bright my hopes; but then she had no good fortune, and in an early generation her life fell away, and my hope is lost. If you do not forget the friendship of our former lords, if you kindly regard the state of Qi and condescend to gather me in, seeking blessing from the Grand Duke and Duke Ding, shining down upon our poor city and steadying its altars of soil and grain — there still remain daughters of my late lord's principal line, and surviving aunts and sisters, a certain number of them. If you do not cast off our poor city, but condescend to have them looked over and sifted, so as to fill out your consorts and attendants, that is my hope."

Han Xuanzi (韓宣子) had Shuxiang (叔向) reply, "This is my lord's own wish. My lord cannot bear the business of his altars alone, and he has no consort; but he is in the hempen band and sash of mourning, and so has not yet dared to ask. That you condescend to send this command — no kindness is greater. If you kindly regard our poor city, comfort and hold the state of Jin, and bestow upon it a mistress of the inner apartments, then it is not my lord alone: all his assembled servants will truly receive the gift, and from Tang Shu (唐叔) downward they will truly cherish and delight in it."

When the marriage had been settled, Yanzi received the ceremonial entertainment. Shuxiang joined him at the feast, and they talked together. Shuxiang said, "How does it stand with Qi?"

Yanzi said, "This is an age of decline. I do not know — Qi will belong to the Chen (陳). The duke casts off his people, and they turn to the Chen. Qi of old had four measures: the dou, the ou, the fu, and the zhong. Four sheng made a dou, and each rose by fours up to the fu; ten fu made a zhong. The Chen have raised each of three measures by one, so that their zhong is the larger. They lend by the family measure and collect by the ducal measure. Timber from the mountains reaches the market at no more than its price on the mountain; fish, salt, clams, and cockles at no more than their price at the sea. The people divide their strength in three parts: two go to the duke, and on one they clothe and feed themselves. The duke's stores rot and breed worms, while the aged of the three ranks freeze and starve. In all the markets of the capital, shoes are cheap and the footwear of the maimed is dear. The people are in pain and sickness, and there is one who warms and soothes them. They love him as a father and mother and turn to him like flowing water. Though he wished not to win the people, how could he avoid it? Ji Bo, Zhi Bing, Yu Sui, and Bo Xi, and Duke Hu and Da Ji whom they attend, are in Qi already."

Shuxiang said, "So it is. And even our own ducal house is now in an age of decline. War horses are not harnessed; ministers do not march with the army; the ducal chariots have no men; the ranks of soldiers have no commanders. The commoners are worn out, while the palaces grow ever more extravagant. Along the roads the starved dead are within sight of one another, while the wealth of the favored women overflows all bounds. When the people hear the duke's command, they flee as from bandits and enemies. The Luan, the Xi, the Xu, the Yuan, the Hu, the Xu, the Qing, and the Bo have sunk to the rank of grooms and bondsmen. Government lies with the private houses, and the people have nothing to lean on. The ruler does not mend his ways from day to day, and drowns his cares in pleasure. The lowering of the ducal house — how many days can it be? The inscription on the Chan tripod says, 'At the first faint light, greatly illustrious' — and even so later generations grew slack. How much more when a man does not mend his ways from day to day? Can he last long?"

Yanzi said, "What will you do?"

Shuxiang said, "The ducal kin of Jin are finished. I, Xi, have heard that when a ducal house is about to sink, the branches and leaves of its clan fall first, and the duke follows after them. Of my clan's eleven lineages, only the Yangshe remain, and I have no son. The ducal house is without measure. If I am lucky enough to die a natural death, how should I get sacrifices?"

Earlier, Duke Jing had wished to change Yanzi's dwelling. He said, "Your house is near the market — damp, cramped, noisy, and dusty; it is not fit to live in. Let me change it for one that is bright and dry."

He declined, saying, "Your lordship's servants before me found room in it, and I am not worthy to succeed to it; for me it is already extravagant. Besides, a small man near the market gets what he seeks morning and evening; that is a small man's profit. How should I dare trouble the officers of the ward?"

The duke laughed and said, "Living near the market, do you know what is dear and what is cheap?"

He replied, "Since I profit by it, how should I not know?"

The duke said, "What is dear and what is cheap?"

At this time Duke Jing was profuse in punishments, and there were men who sold the footwear of the maimed. So Yanzi answered, "The maimed man's footwear is dear and shoes are cheap." He had already told this to his lord, and so he cited it in speaking with Shuxiang. On this account Duke Jing reduced his punishments.

The noble man says: The words of a humane man — how broad their benefit! With one word Yanzi made the marquis of Qi lighten punishments. The Odes say:

If the noble man brings blessing,
disorder will swiftly come to an end.

Is this not what is meant?

When Yanzi went to Jin, the duke changed his dwelling, and on his return it was finished. Having made his bow of thanks, he pulled it down and rebuilt the houses of the ward all as they had been, and had the householders return to them. He said, "The proverb says: it is not the house that is divined about, but the neighbors. You gentlemen divined your neighbors first. To go against a divination is inauspicious. A noble man does not offend against the rites, and a small man does not offend against what is inauspicious. This is the rule of antiquity. Should I dare go against it?" In the end he restored his old dwelling. The duke would not allow it, but through Chen Huanzi (陳桓子) he made the request, and then it was allowed.

In summer, in the fourth month, the earl of Zheng went to Jin, with Gongsun Duan (公孫段) as his assistant. He was most respectful and humble, and in the rites there was nothing at fault. The marquis of Jin commended him and gave him a written charge, saying, "Zifeng had merit toward the state of Jin. I have heard of it and have not forgotten it. I grant you the fields of Zhou (州), to requite your old service." Boshi bowed twice, touching his head to the ground, received the charge, and went out.

The noble man says: Are the rites not urgent for a man? Boshi was arrogant, yet by once performing the rites in Jin he still bore away its emolument. How much more one who keeps the rites from beginning to end! The Odes say:

A man who has no rites —
why does he not swiftly die?

Is this not what is meant?

Earlier, the district of Zhou (州) had been the town of Luan Bao. When the Luan perished, Fan Xuanzi, Zhao Wenzi, and Han Xuanzi all wanted it. Wenzi said, "Wen is my district." The two Xuanzi said, "Since Xi Cheng it has been separate through three transmissions. The detached districts of Jin are not Zhou alone — who could set them all straight?" Wenzi was distressed by this and gave it up. The other two said, "We cannot argue the right of it and then take it for ourselves," and both gave it up. When Wenzi held the government, Zhao Huo said, "Now Zhou may be taken." Wenzi said, "Withdraw. What the two men said was righteous, and to go against righteousness is calamity. I cannot govern my own district; what use have I for Zhou? It would be inviting disaster."

The noble man says: Not to know is truly hard; but to know and not follow — no calamity is greater than that. Whoever spoke for Zhou was bound to die. The Feng house had the Han for its patron of old; and when Boshi obtained Zhou, it was Han Xuanzi who had asked it for him, for the sake of taking it back again.

In the fifth month, Shu Gong went to Teng for the burial of Duke Cheng of Teng, with Zifu Jiao as his second. When they reached the outskirts, the day fell on the taboo of Yibo, and Jingzi would not enter. Huibo said, "Public business has a public advantage, and no private taboo belongs to it. I, Jiao, ask leave to enter first." So he went in first and took the lodging, and Jingzi followed him.

Han Qi (韓起) of Jin went to Qi to fetch the bride. Gongsun Chai, because Shao Jiang had been favored, put his own daughter in place of the duke's daughter and married the duke's daughter elsewhere. Someone said to Xuanzi, "Zi Wei has cheated Jin. Why does Jin accept it?" Xuanzi said, "I wish to win Qi; if I hold its favorite at a distance, will his favor come to us?"

In autumn, in the seventh month, Han Hu (罕虎) of Zheng went to Jin to offer congratulations on the lady. At dawn he made his announcement, saying, "The men of Chu summon our poor city day after day, because we have not gone to court to the newly established king. If our city goes, we fear your officers will say that my unworthy lord has all along had a heart turned outward. If it does not go, there is what was said in the covenant of Song. Advance or hold back, it is an offense. My lord sent me, Hu, to lay this out."

Xuanzi had Shuxiang reply, "If your lordship condescends to hold my lord as your own, what harm is there in your being in Chu? It is the fulfilling of the covenant of Song. If your lordship keeps the covenant in mind, my lord knows that he is free of blame. If your lordship does not hold my lord as your own, then though you condescended to come to our poor city morning and evening, my lord would suspect you. It is your lordship's heart that is the substance of the matter; why condescend to ask a command? Go, by all means. If you hold my lord as your own, then to be in Chu is as to be in Jin."

Zhang Chuo sent word to Taishu, saying, "Since you went home, this small man has swept out his forefathers' shabby cottage, saying, 'He will surely come.' Now it is Zipi who has come, and this small man is disappointed." Taishu said, "I, Ji, am of low rank and could not come. We stand in awe of the great state and honor its lady. Besides, Meng himself said that I should have no such business; I rather hope for that."

Duke Mu of Little Zhu came to court. Ji Wuzi wished to treat him as of low rank. Mushu said, "It will not do. Cao, Teng, and the two Zhu truly do not forget us. Even if we meet them with goodwill and respect, we still fear they may turn double-hearted. To lower one who is at concord with us is to go against the goodwill of the whole company. Let it be as of old, with respect added. The record says, 'He who can be respectful has no calamity.' And again, 'To receive those who come with respect is what Heaven blesses.'" Jisun followed him.

In the eighth month there was the great rain sacrifice, because of drought.

The marquis of Qi was hunting in Ju. Lupu Pie had an audience and wept as he made his plea: "My hair is as scant as this — what am I able to do?" The duke said, "Very well; I will speak to the two men." On returning he told them. Zi Wei wished to bring him back; Zi Ya would not, saying, "His hair is short but his heart is very long. He may yet make his bed and lodging of us."

In the ninth month, Zi Ya banished Lupu Pie to Northern Yan.

Duke Jian of Yan had many favorites, and wished to remove the grandees and set up the men he favored. In winter the grandees of Yan joined together and killed the duke's outside favorites. The duke took fright and fled to Qi. The record says, "Kuan, earl of Northern Yan, fled to Qi" — laying the fault on him.

In the tenth month the earl of Zheng went to Chu, with Zichan (子產) as his assistant. The viscount of Chu feasted him and had the ode "The Auspicious Day" recited. When the feast was over, Zichan then made ready the hunting equipment, and the king went hunting with him in the Meng marsh south of the Yangzi.

Gongsun Zao of Qi died. Sima Zao saw Yanzi and said, "We have lost Zi Ya as well." Yanzi said, "A pity — Ziqi will not escape. It is perilous indeed. The Jiang clan grows weak, and the Gui are about to begin to flourish. While the two lines of Duke Hui vied in vigor, it was still bearable; now one more of them is weakened. The Jiang are in danger."

Year 4 (昭公四年)

Annals.

• In the fourth year, in spring, in the king's first month, there was a great fall of hail.
• In summer, the viscount of Chu, the marquis of Cai, the marquis of Chen, the earl of Zheng, the baron of Xu (許), the viscount of Xu (徐), the viscount of Teng, the viscount of Dun, the viscount of Hu, the viscount of Shen, the viscount of Little Zhu, Zuo the heir apparent of Song, and the Huai Yi met at Shen. The men of Chu seized the viscount of Xu (徐).
• In autumn, in the seventh month, the viscount of Chu, the marquis of Cai, the marquis of Chen, the baron of Xu (許), the viscount of Dun, the viscount of Hu, the viscount of Shen, and the Huai Yi attacked Wu. They seized Qing Feng of Qi and killed him, and then extinguished Lai.
• In the ninth month, Zeng was taken.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, on the day yimao, Shusun Bao died.

Zuo.

In the fourth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the baron of Xu (許) went to Chu. The viscount of Chu detained him, and then detained the earl of Zheng as well. Again he hunted south of the Yangzi, and the baron of Xu took part. He sent Jiao Ju (椒舉) to Jin to ask for the lords, and the two rulers waited there for the answer.

Jiao Ju delivered his charge, saying, "My unworthy lord sent me, Ju, to say: In former days your lordship showed kindness and granted the covenant at Song, which said that the followers of Jin and of Chu should visit one another in turn. Because the years have not been easy, I wish to knit friendship with the several rulers, and so have sent Ju to ask for a moment of leisure. If your lordship has no anxieties on the four quarters, I would beg to borrow your favor in making my request of the lords."

The marquis of Jin wished not to consent. Sima Hou said, "It will not do. The king of Chu is now extravagant. It may be that Heaven wishes to let his heart have its fill, thickening his poison so as to send punishment down upon him; that cannot be known. Or it may be that Heaven will let him come to a good end; that too cannot be known. Between Jin and Chu there is only Heaven; what Heaven assists cannot be contended with. Let your lordship consent, and cultivate virtue while waiting to see where it turns. If it turns to virtue, we ourselves shall serve him — how much more the lords! If he goes over to excess and cruelty, Chu will cast him off, and with whom then shall we have to contend?"

The duke said, "Jin has three things that keep it from peril; what enemy has it? The land is defensible and horses are many; and Qi and Chu have many troubles. With these three, where could we turn and not succeed?"

He replied, "To rely on defensible ground and horses, and to count on the troubles of neighboring states — these are three perils. The Four Marchmounts and the Santu pass, Yangcheng and Taishi, Jingshan and Zhongnan are the strongholds of the Nine Provinces, and they have not belonged to a single surname. The northern soil of Ji is where horses are born, yet no state has risen there. To rely on defensible ground and horses cannot make one secure; it has been so since antiquity. Therefore the former kings devoted themselves to cultivating the sound of virtue, so as to give satisfaction to spirits and to men; one does not hear that they devoted themselves to strongholds and horses. And the troubles of neighboring states cannot be counted on. One state has many troubles and by them makes itself firm and opens its borders; another has no troubles and by that loses its state and forfeits what it guards. How then count on troubles? Qi had the trouble of Zhongsun and thereby got Duke Huan, and relies on him to this day. Jin had the trouble of Li and Ping and thereby got Duke Wen, and so became master of covenants. Wei and Xing had no troubles, yet enemies destroyed them all the same. Therefore other men's troubles cannot be counted on. To rely on these three and not cultivate government and virtue is to perish before one has leisure. How could one succeed? Let your lordship consent. Zhou Xin practiced excess and cruelty, and King Wen was kind and harmonious. Thus Yin fell and Zhou rose. Was it by contending for the lords?"

So he consented to the Chu envoy's request, and had Shuxiang reply, "My lord has the business of his altars, and so cannot meet the lords at the seasons of spring and autumn. Your lordship may indeed have them; why condescend to ask a command?" Jiao Ju then asked for a marriage, and the marquis of Jin granted it.

The viscount of Chu asked Zichan, "Will Jin grant me the lords?" He replied, "He will grant you. The ruler of Jin is content with little, and his mind is not on the lords. His grandees seek much, and none of them corrects their lord. Moreover it was said in the covenant of Song that the two should be as one. If he did not grant you, what use would that covenant be?"

The king said, "Will the lords come?" He replied, "They will surely come. Following the covenant of Song and receiving your lordship's goodwill, with nothing to fear from the great state — why should they not come? Those who will not come are Lu, Wei, Cao, and Zhu. Cao fears Song; Zhu fears Lu; Lu and Wei are pressed by Qi and close to Jin. Only these will not come. The rest are within your lordship's reach; who would dare not to arrive?"

The king said, "Then is there nothing I seek that cannot be had?" He replied, "To seek your fill at another's cost cannot be. To share one desire with others succeeds in everything."

There was a great fall of hail. Ji Wuzi asked Shen Feng, "Can hail be warded off?" He replied, "When a sage is above, there is no hail; and if there is, it does not become a disaster. In antiquity, when the sun stood in the Northern Range they stored ice, and when the Western Range appeared at dawn they brought it out. In storing the ice they took it from deep mountains and remote valleys, where the shade is solid and the cold frozen fast. In bringing it out they used it for the salaried ranks of the court, for guest meals, funerals, and sacrifices. In storing it they offered a black male victim and black millet to the Master of Cold; in bringing it out they used a peachwood bow and thorn arrows to sweep away calamity. Its going out and coming in were timely, and all who had the emolument of eating meat shared in it. Grandees and titled ladies used ice for the washing at funerals. They sacrificed to Cold and stored it; they offered a lamb and opened the store; the duke was first to use it, and when the Fire star appeared the distribution was finished. From titled men and titled women down to the old and the sick, none failed to receive ice. The mountain men take it, the district men carry it, the cart men bring it in, and the bondsmen store it. Ice grows strong with the wind and goes out with the wind; its storing is thorough and its use universal. Then winter has no straying warmth, summer no hidden cold, spring no cutting wind, autumn no bitter rain; thunder comes forth without striking; there is no calamity; frost, hail, and pestilence do not descend, and the people do not die untimely of plague. Now they store ice from rivers and ponds, cast it aside, and do not use it. The wind does not pass over and yet kills; thunder does not issue and yet strikes. Hail becoming a calamity — who can ward it off? The last stanza of 'The Seventh Month' is the way of storing ice."

In summer the lords went to Chu. Lu, Wei, Cao, and Zhu did not attend the meeting. Cao and Zhu excused themselves on the ground of troubles; our duke excused himself on the ground of a seasonal sacrifice; the marquis of Wei excused himself on the ground of illness. The earl of Zheng waited beforehand at Shen. In the sixth month, on the day bingwu, the viscount of Chu assembled the lords at Shen.

Jiao Ju said to the viscount of Chu, "I have heard that the lords have no allegiance of their own, but take the rites for their allegiance. Now that your lordship has the lords for the first time, be careful of the rites. Whether the hegemony succeeds or not lies in this meeting. Qi of Xia had the feast at Juntai; Tang of Shang had the charge at Jingbo; Wu of Zhou had the oath at Mengjin; Cheng had the hunt at Qiyang; Kang had the court gathering at the Feng palace; Mu had the meeting at Tushan; Huan of Qi had the campaign at Zhaoling; Wen of Jin had the covenant at Jiantu. Which will your lordship use? Xiang Xu of Song and Gongsun Qiao of Zheng are among the best men of the lords; let your lordship choose from them." The king said, "I will use Huan of Qi's."

The king sent to ask about the rites from the Left Master and from Zichan. The Left Master said, "A small state practices them and a great state uses them; how should I dare not to present what I have heard?" And he presented the six rites by which a duke assembles the lords. Zichan said, "A small state fills its office; how should I dare not to present what I keep?" And he presented the six rites by which earls, viscounts, and barons meet a duke. The noble man said that He, the Left Master, was good at preserving the former ages, and that Zichan was good at assisting a small state.

The king had Jiao Ju attend behind him to correct his faults, but when the business ended he had corrected nothing. The king asked the reason. He replied, "Of the rites there were six I had never seen. With what should I have corrected you?"

Zuo, the heir apparent of Song, arrived late. The king was hunting at Wucheng and for a long time did not receive him. Jiao Ju asked leave to make an excuse. The king sent him to go and say, "It happens that there is business of the ancestral temple at Wucheng, and my lord is about to lay out the offerings there. He begs pardon for receiving you late."

The viscount of Xu (徐) was born of a woman of Wu, and was held to be double-hearted; so they seized him at Shen.

The viscount of Chu made a display of extravagance to the lords. Jiao Ju said, "The affairs of the Six Kings and the Two Dukes were all ways of showing the lords the rites, and were why the lords obeyed their commands. Jie of Xia held the meeting at Reng, and You Min revolted from him; Zhou Xin of Shang held the hunt at Li, and the Eastern Yi revolted; You of Zhou held the covenant at Taishi, and the Rong and Di revolted. These were all ways of showing the lords arrogance, and were why the lords cast off their commands. Now your lordship uses arrogance. Will it not fail?" The king did not listen.

Zichan saw the Left Master and said, "I no longer worry about Chu. Arrogant, and stubborn against remonstrance — it will not be more than ten years." The Left Master said, "So it is. If he is not extravagant for ten years, his evil will not reach far; and only when evil reaches far is a man cast off. It is the same with good: virtue must reach far before it rises."

In autumn, in the seventh month, the viscount of Chu led the lords in attacking Wu. The heir apparent of Song and the earl of Zheng went home first, while Hua Feisui of Song and a grandee of Zheng followed the army. He sent Qu Shen to besiege Zhufang. In the eighth month, on the day jiashen, they took it, seized Qing Feng of Qi, and wiped out his whole clan.

They were about to make a public execution of Qing Feng. Jiao Ju said, "I have heard that only a man without flaw may execute another. Qing Feng disobeyed his ruler's command, and that is why he is here. Will he consent to submit to execution? It will be spread abroad among the lords; what use is it?" The king did not listen. He had the axe laid on Qing Feng's back and paraded him among the lords, making him say, "Let no one be like Qing Feng of Qi, who assassinated his ruler, weakened his orphaned heir, and forced a covenant on his grandees." Qing Feng said, "Let no one be like Wei, son of a secondary consort of King Gong of Chu, who assassinated his ruler Jun, his own elder brother's son, and took his place, and forced a covenant on the lords." The king had him killed at once.

Then with the lords he extinguished Lai. The viscount of Lai came with his hands bound behind him and a jade disc in his mouth, his officers with shoulders bared and carrying a coffin, following him; they came before the central army. The king asked Jiao Ju about it, and he replied, "When King Cheng conquered Xu (許), Duke Xi of Xu did just this. The king himself untied his bonds, received his jade, and burned his coffin." The king followed this. He moved Lai to Yan.

The viscount of Chu wished to move Xu (許) to Lai. He sent Dou Weigui and Prince Qiji to wall the place, and then returned. Shen Wuyu said, "The head of Chu's calamity will lie here. He summons the lords and they come; he attacks a state and takes it; he walls the border and no one crosses him. When the king's heart is never crossed, will the people stay settled? And if the people do not stay in place, who will endure it? When the king's commands cannot be endured, that is calamity and disorder."

In the ninth month Zeng was taken. This says it was easy. Ju was in disorder; Duke Zhuqiu was established and did not comfort Zeng, so Zeng revolted and came over to us. Therefore it says "taken." In general, when a town is captured without using troops, it is called "taking."

Zichan of Zheng instituted the levy by qiu. The people of the capital reviled him, saying, "His father died on the road, and he himself is a scorpion's tail, giving orders to the state. What will become of the state?" Zikuan reported this. Zichan said, "What harm is there? If it profits the altars of soil and grain, I will pursue it in life or death. Besides, I have heard that one who does good does not alter his measure, and so is able to succeed. The people cannot be allowed their fill, and the measure cannot be altered. The Odes say:

If rites and righteousness are not transgressed,
why be troubled by the words of men?

I shall not shift."

Hunhan said, "Will the Guo clan be the first to perish? When a noble man makes law out of coldness, its abuse is still greed; when he makes law out of greed, what will its abuse be? Among the states of the Ji surname that hold rank, Cai, Cao, and Teng will perish first: they are hard pressed and without rites. Zheng will perish before Wei: it is hard pressed and without law. When government does not follow law but is decided by the heart, then every man has a heart of his own — where is there any superior?"

In winter Wu attacked Chu and entered Ji, Li, and Ma, in requital for the campaign at Zhufang. Shen Yin She of Chu hastened at command to the mouth of the Xia; Xian Yin Yijiu walled Zhongli; Wei Qijiang walled Chao; Ran Dan walled Zhoulai. The eastern region was under water and could not be walled, and Peng Sheng dismissed the army at Lai.

Earlier, when Muzi fled the Shusun house and reached Gengzong, he met a woman there, had her privately prepare food for him, and lodged with her. She asked where he was going, and he told her the reason; she wept and saw him off. He went to Qi and took a wife from the Guo clan, who bore him Meng Bing and Zhong Ren. He dreamed that Heaven pressed down upon him and he could not withstand it; looking round, he saw a man, dark, hunched in the upper back, with deep-set eyes and a boar's snout. He called out to him, "Niu, help me!" and then he overcame it. At dawn he summoned all his followers, but the man was not among them. He said, "Note this down."

When Xuanbo fled to Qi, Muzi sent him provisions. Xuanbo said, "Lu, for your late father's sake, will preserve my clan and will certainly summon you. How would it be if they summoned you?" He replied, "I have long wished for it." The men of Lu summoned him, and he went home without telling Xuanbo.

After he was established, the woman of Gengzong with whom he had lodged presented him with a pheasant. He asked after her children, and she replied, "My son is grown; he is able to carry the pheasant and follow me." He called the boy in and looked at him, and it was the man of his dream. Without asking his name he called out, "Niu!" and the man answered, "Yes." He summoned all his followers and had them look at him, and then made him a page. He was favored, and when he was grown he was put in charge of affairs.

Gongsun Ming had been friends with Shusun in Qi. When Shusun went home, he had not yet fetched Guo Jiang, and Ziming took her. Therefore he was angry with her sons, and only when they were grown did he send to fetch them.

He was hunting at Qiuyou, and there he fell ill. The page Niu wished to throw his household into disorder and possess it. He pressed Meng to covenant with him, and Meng refused. Shusun had a bell made for Meng and said, "You have not yet been presented; feast the grandees to inaugurate it." When all was ready, he sent the page Niu to ask for the day. Niu went in and did not announce it, and coming out named a day as if from his master. When the guests had arrived and the sound of the bell was heard, Niu said, "Meng has a guest with him, a woman from the north." Shusun grew angry and was about to go there, and Niu stopped him. When the guests had left, he had Meng arrested and killed outside.

Niu again pressed Zhong to covenant with him, and he refused. Zhong, together with Lai Shu, the duke's charioteer, attended an audience with the duke, and the duke gave him a jade ring. He sent Niu in to show it to his father. Niu went in and did not show it, and coming out told him to wear it as though so commanded. Then Niu said to Shusun, "What of receiving Zhong?" Shusun said, "What for?" He said, "You do not receive him, but he has presented himself already: the duke gave him a ring and he wears it." So Shusun drove him out, and he fled to Qi.

His illness grew urgent, and he ordered that Zhong be summoned. Niu agreed and did not summon him. Du Xie came in to see him, and he told him of his hunger and thirst and handed him a dagger-axe. Du Xie replied, "You sought the man out and he came; why now put him away?" The page Niu said, "The master is gravely ill and does not wish to see anyone." He had the food set down in a side chamber and withdrew. Niu did not bring it in, but set out the empty vessels and gave orders for them to be cleared away.

In the twelfth month, on the day guichou, Shusun ate nothing; on the day yimao he died. Niu set up Zhaozi and acted as his assistant.

The duke had Du Xie bury Shusun. The page Niu bribed Shuzhong Zhaozi and Nan Yi to speak ill of Du Xie to Jisun and have him removed. Du Xie intended to bury him with the state carriage and with the full rites of a minister. Nan Yi said to Jisun, "Shusun never rode the state carriage; what use is it at his burial? Besides, the chief minister has no state carriage, and an assistant minister is to be buried with one — is that not perverse?" Jisun said, "So it is," and told Du Xie to set the carriage aside. He would not, and said, "The master received his charge at court and went on a diplomatic visit to the king. The king, remembering old merit, granted him the carriage; on reporting back he presented it to our lord, and our lord did not dare go against the king's command and granted it back to him. He had the three offices record it. You, sir, as minister of education, recorded the name; the master, as marshal, together with the master of works, recorded the robes; Mengsun, as minister of works, recorded the merit. Now that he is dead, not to use it is to cast away our lord's command. The record stands in the ducal archive, and not to use it is to abolish the three offices. And as for robes of investiture: if in life he dared not wear them and in death they are not used, what use are they at all?" So he was allowed to use it in the burial.

Jisun planned to abolish the Central Army. The page Niu said, "The master had all along wished to abolish it."

Year 5 (昭公五年)

Annals.

• In the fifth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the Central Army was abolished. Chu put to death its grandee Qu Shen. The duke went to Jin.
• In summer, Mou Yi of Ju came to us as a fugitive with Moulou, and with Fang and Zi.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, the duke arrived from Jin. On the day wuchen, Shu Gong led an army and defeated the army of Ju at Fenquan. The earl of Qin died.
• In winter, the viscount of Chu, the marquis of Cai, the marquis of Chen, the baron of Xu (許), the viscount of Dun, the viscount of Shen, men of Xu (徐), and men of Yue attacked Wu.

Zuo.

In the fifth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the Central Army was abolished. This lowered the ducal house. They broke it up at the house of the Shi and completed the business at the house of the Zang.

When the Central Army was first created, they divided the ducal house in three, each holding one part: the Ji levied the whole of theirs; the Shusun made retainers of the sons and younger brothers; the Meng took half of theirs. When it was abolished, they divided the ducal house in four: the Ji chose two parts and the other two lords one each; all levied the whole of their share and paid tribute to the duke.

With a written document he had Du Xie make report at the coffin, saying, "You had all along wished the Central Army abolished. It has now been abolished, and so this is reported." Du Xie said, "The master was precisely the one who did not wish it abolished; that is why he swore the covenant at the Xi gate and pronounced the curse at the crossroads of Wufu." He took the document and threw it down, then led the officers and wailed for him.

Shuzhongzi said to Jisun, "I, Dai, received a charge from your Shusun, who said, 'One buried untimely goes out by the west gate.'" Jisun gave the order to Du Xie. Du Xie said, "A minister's funeral goes out from the court; that is the rite of Lu. You, sir, hold the government of the state. You have not changed the rites, and yet you would shift this one. Your servants fear death, and do not dare to take that way of themselves." When the burial was over, he left the state.

Zhong arrived from Qi, and Jisun wished to establish him. Nan Yi said, "If the Shusun grow thick, the Ji grow thin. Theirs is truly a household disorder; would it not be well for you to take no part in the knowledge of it?" Nan Yi had the people of the capital help the page Niu, and they attacked Zhong in the courtyard of the Great Storehouse. The palace warden shot him; he was struck in the eye and died. The page Niu took thirty towns of the eastern border and gave them to Nan Yi.

Zhaozi took his position and, holding court with his household, said, "The page Niu has brought calamity on the Shusun. He let disorder run to its full length, killed the legitimate sons and set up a son of the lesser line, and further split off our towns. He now means to be pardoned his crime — but no crime is greater. He must be killed at once." The page Niu took fright and fled to Qi. The sons of Meng and Zhong killed him outside the Sai pass and threw his head onto the thorn bushes of Ningfeng.

Zhongni said, "That Shusun Zhaozi would not count a private service — that is not easily done. Zhou Ren has a saying: 'He who governs does not reward private service nor punish private grudges.' The Odes say:

Where virtuous conduct stands upright,
the states of the four quarters comply."

Earlier, when Muzi was born, Zhuangshu divined about him by the Zhou Changes and got Mingyi, the Darkening of the Light, going over to Qian, Modesty. He showed it to the diviner Chuqiu, who said, "This one will travel abroad, and will come back to be the one who sacrifices for you. He will bring in a slanderer whose name is Niu, and will end by dying of starvation. Mingyi is the sun. The number of the sun is ten, and therefore there are ten hours, which correspond to ten ranks. From the king downward, the second is the duke and the third the minister. The sun is highest at its middle; the sun at the eating hour is the second, and the sun at dawn is the third. Mingyi going over to Qian is light not yet spread wide, and this must be the dawn; hence 'he will be the one who sacrifices for you.' The sun in Qian answers to a bird; hence 'the darkening of the light in flight.' The light is not yet spread wide; hence 'it lets its wings droop.' It images the sun's motion; hence 'the noble man on his journey.' It is the third and at dawn; hence 'for three days he does not eat.' Li is fire, and Gen is mountain. Li being fire, the fire burns the mountain and the mountain is ruined; in man this is speech, and ruined speech is slander. Hence 'there is somewhere to go; the host has words' — and the words must be slander. Pure Li is an ox. When the age is in disorder, slander prevails, and prevailing it goes over to Li; hence 'his name will be Niu.' Qian is insufficiency: the flight does not soar, the drooping is not steep, the wing is not broad. Hence, 'will he be your successor?' You, sir, are a second minister; but he will fall a little short and not come to a good end."

The viscount of Chu held Qu Shen to be double-hearted toward Wu, and put him to death. He made Qu Sheng Mo'ao and sent him with the chief minister Zidang to Jin to fetch the bride. They passed through Zheng, and the earl of Zheng greeted Zidang with gifts at Fan and Qu Sheng at Tushi. The marquis of Jin escorted the bride as far as Xingqiu. Zichan assisted the earl of Zheng, who met the marquis of Jin at Xingqiu.

The duke went to Jin. From the greeting with gifts in the outskirts to the parting presents, there was no failure in the rites. The marquis of Jin said to Nü Shuqi, "Is the marquis of Lu not good at the rites?" He replied, "How should the marquis of Lu know the rites?" The duke said, "How so? From the greeting in the outskirts to the parting presents there was nothing at fault in the rites. Why do you say he does not know them?" He replied, "That is decorum; it cannot be called rites. The rites are the means of guarding one's state, carrying out its government and commands, and not losing its people. Now the government and commands lie with the great houses, and he cannot take them back. He has Zijia Ji and cannot employ him. He violates the covenant of the great state, tramples on small states, profits by the troubles of others, and does not know what belongs to himself. The ducal house is divided in four; the people are fed by others; no thought turns to the duke; he does not plan for his end. He is the ruler of a state, trouble is about to reach his own person, and he takes no care for where he stands. Root and branch of the rites lie in these things; yet he is fussily busy practicing decorum in haste. To call him good at the rites — is that not far off the mark?" The noble man said that Shuhou here knew the rites.

Han Xuanzi of Jin went to Chu escorting the bride, with Shuxiang as his second. Zipi and Zi Taishu of Zheng greeted them with gifts at Shishi. Taishu said to Shuxiang, "The king of Chu is arrogant and extravagant beyond all measure. Be on your guard." Shuxiang said, "Arrogance and extravagance beyond all measure are a calamity to his own person; how should they reach another? If I present our offerings of silk, keep careful watch over my bearing, guard it with good faith and carry it out by the rites, reverent at the beginning and mindful of the end, then the end will not fail to answer the beginning. Complying without losing decorum, reverent without losing dignity, guiding it with words of instruction, upholding it with the old statutes, checking it against the former kings, and measuring it by the practice of the two states — though he be arrogant and extravagant, what can he do to me?"

When they reached Chu, the viscount of Chu held court with his grandees and said, "Jin is our enemy. If we can get our will of it, we need care for nothing else. Those who have now come are a chief minister and a chief grandee. If I make Han Qi a gatekeeper and Yangshe Xi a palace warden, that will be enough to shame Jin, and I too shall have my will. May it be done?" None of the grandees answered.

Wei Qijiang said, "It may. If you have the preparation for it, why should it not be done? To shame a common man one cannot be without preparation; how much more to shame a state! Therefore the sage kings devoted themselves to practicing the rites and did not seek to shame others. For court and diplomatic visits there is the gui tablet; for feasts and audiences the zhang tablet. Small states have the reporting of their duties; the great have the inspection tours of achievement. An armrest is set out and not leaned on; the goblet is filled and not drunk; at the banquet there are gifts of goods; at the meal there are extra tripods; on arrival there is the greeting with gifts in the outskirts, and on departure there are parting presents. Such is the perfection of the rites. When a state is ruined, it is by losing this way, and then calamity and disorder arise. At the campaign of Chengpu, Jin had no preparation against Chu, and so was defeated at Bi. At the campaign of Bi, Chu had no preparation against Jin, and so was defeated at Yan. Since Yan, Jin has not lost its preparation; it has added the rites to it and weighted it with concord, and that is why Chu could not requite it and sought kinship instead. Having obtained the marriage tie, you now wish to shame them, and so summon an enemy upon us. How would you prepare against it? Who would take that weight upon himself? If you have the man for it, shame them by all means; if you have not, let your lordship think it over.

"As for Jin's service to your lordship, I call it sufficient. You asked for the lords, and they came in a herd; you asked for a marriage, and they offered a daughter; their ruler himself escorted her, and a chief minister and a chief grandee delivered her. Still you wish to shame them; your lordship had better have his preparation. If not, what then?

"Below Han Qi are Zhao Cheng, Zhonghang Wu, Wei Shu (魏舒), Fan Yang, and Zhi Ying. Below Yangshe Xi are Qi Wu, Zhang Chuo, Ji Tan, Nü Qi, Liang Bing, Zhang Ge, Fu Li, and Miao Benhuang, all of them picked men among the lords. Han Xiang is a grandee of the ducal kin, and Han Xu has received his charge and goes out on missions. Ji Xiang, Xing Dai, Shu Qin, Shu Jiao, and Ziyu are all of great houses. Han's levy comes from seven towns, all of them full districts, and the Yangshe have four lineages, all strong houses. If the men of Jin were to lose Han Qi and Yangshe Xi, five ministers and eight grandees would support Han Xu and Yangshe Shi; drawing on their ten houses and nine districts, they would have nine hundred long-hubbed war chariots, with four thousand more left in garrison from the remaining forty districts. Rousing their martial fury to requite so great a shame, with Bohua planning it and Zhonghang Bo and Wei Shu leading it, there is nothing they would fail to accomplish. Your lordship would exchange kinship for enmity, would truly be without rites and so hasten the enemy on, and would still be without preparation. To send your servants out to be handed over as game, and so let your lordship's heart have its fill — what is there against it?"

The king said, "The fault is mine. Let my grandee not be put to shame." And he made rich ceremony for Han Qi. The king wished also to mock Shuxiang with matters he would not know and could not answer, but was unable to do it, and treated him too with rich ceremony.

When Han Qi returned, the earl of Zheng greeted him with gifts at Yu. He declined and did not dare to appear before him. This was according to the rites.

Zuo.

Han Hu (罕虎) of Zheng went to Qi and took a wife from the Ziwei lineage. Yanzi (晏子) called on him again and again. Chen Huanzi (陳桓子) asked the reason for it. He answered, "He is able to employ good men. He is a lord of the people."

In summer, Mouyi of Ju came to us as a fugitive, bringing Moulou and Fang and Zi. Mouyi was not a minister, and yet he is recorded: it is out of regard for the territory. The men of Ju laid a complaint before Jin, and the Marquis of Jin wished to detain our duke. Fan Xianzi said, "It will not do. To seize a man who has come to court is entrapment. To punish without an army, and to bring the thing about by luring him, is slackness. For the head of the covenant to commit both these faults — surely that cannot be. Let him be sent home; then watch for an opening and punish Ju with an army." So the duke was sent home.

In autumn, in the seventh month, the duke arrived from Jin. The men of Ju came to punish us and had made no preparations. On the day wuchen Shu Gong defeated them at Fenquan, for Ju had not drawn up its ranks.

In winter, in the tenth month, the Viscount of Chu, with the feudal lords and the Eastern Yi, attacked Wu, in requital for the campaigns of Ji, Li, and Ma. Wei Yi, with the troops of Fanyang, joined them at Xiarui. The Yue grandee Chang Shouguo led troops and joined the Viscount of Chu at Suo. Hearing that the army of Wu had come out, Wei Qiqiang (薳啟彊) led troops in pursuit of it; being in haste he made no preparations, and the men of Wu defeated him at Que'an. The Viscount of Chu came by post-horse to Luorui.

The Viscount of Wu sent his younger brother Jueyou to present provisions to the army. The men of Chu seized him and were about to smear the war drums with his blood. The king had him questioned: "Did your divination about coming here say that it was auspicious?"

He answered, "Auspicious. My unworthy ruler heard that your lordship was about to muster troops against our poor city, and divined it with the tutelary tortoise, saying, 'I shall promptly send a man to present provisions to the army, and ask leave to go and observe whether the king's anger is swift or slow, and prepare accordingly. May we be able to know it.' The cracks of the tortoise announced good fortune, saying that it could be known. Had your lordship been delighted, and had he received your servant the envoy kindly, our poor city would have grown ever more easy and idle and forgotten its mortal danger, and its ruin would have been but days away. Now your lordship has roused himself, thundering and flashing in swollen rage, cruelly seizing the envoy and about to blood the drums with him — and so Wu knows what it must prepare against. Weak though our poor city is, if it repairs and completes its defenses early it may yet bring your army to a halt. Whether what comes is hard or easy, we are prepared: this may be called auspicious. Moreover the divination was made for the altars of Wu — how should it be for one man? If your servant the envoy is used to blood the army's drums, while our poor city learns to prepare and so guards against the unforeseen, what good fortune could be greater? The tutelary tortoise of a state — what matter does it not divine? One answer is good and one is ill: who could ever answer for them all? The omen at Chengpu had its requital at Bi. Perhaps this expedition too carries a requital in it."

So they did not kill him.

The Chu army crossed at Luorui. Chi, governor of Shen, joined the Viscount of Chu, and they halted at Mount Lai. Wei Yi led the troops of Fanyang and entered Nanhuai first, and the Chu army followed him and reached Ruqing. Wu could not be entered, and the Viscount of Chu then made a display of his troops at Mount Chiji. On this expedition Wu had made its preparations early, and Chu returned without achievement, taking Jueyou back with them. The Viscount of Chu, fearing Wu, had Yi, governor of Shen, await orders at Chao, and Wei Qiqiang await orders at Yulou. This was proper.

Houzi of Qin returned to Qin, because Duke Jing had died.

Year 6 (昭公六年)

Annals.

• In the sixth year, in spring, in the king's first month, Yigu, Earl of Qi, died.
• Duke Jing of Qin was buried.
• In summer, Jisun Su went to Jin.
• Duke Wen of Qi was buried.
• Hua Hebi of Song fled to Wey.
• In autumn, in the ninth month, there was the great rain sacrifice.
• Wei Pi of Chu led an army and attacked Wu.
• In winter, Shu Gong went to Chu.
• The Marquis of Qi attacked Northern Yan.

Zuo.

In the sixth year, in spring, in the king's first month, Duke Wen of Qi died. We sent condolence as to a partner in covenant. This was proper. A grandee went to Qin for the burial of Duke Jing. This was proper.

In the third month the men of Zheng cast the penal code in bronze. Shuxiang (叔向) had a letter conveyed to Zichan (子產), saying: "At first I had expectations of you; now they are at an end. In antiquity the former kings deliberated each matter and so decided it, and did not make fixed penal statutes, fearing that the people would acquire a contentious heart. Even so it could not wholly be prevented, and therefore they fenced them in with righteousness, corrected them with government, carried it out with the rites, guarded it with good faith, and upheld it with benevolence. They fixed emoluments and ranks to encourage compliance, and judged punishments strictly to overawe excess. Fearing that even this was not enough, they instructed them with loyalty, roused them by their own conduct, taught them their proper tasks, employed them in harmony, presided over them with reverence, came before them with firmness, and decided matters with resolution. And still they sought sagely and wise men above, discerning officers, loyal and faithful chiefs, kind and generous teachers. Only then could the people be set to work without disaster and disorder arising.

"Once the people know that there are statutes, they will not stand in awe of their superiors. All alike will acquire a contentious heart; they will appeal to the written text and trust to luck to gain their ends by it, and then nothing can be done with them. Xia had disordered government and made the Punishments of Yu; Shang had disordered government and made the Punishments of Tang; Zhou had disordered government and made the Nine Punishments. The rise of all three codes came in the last age of a house. Now you, sir, as chief minister of Zheng, have made boundary dikes and ditches, set up a government that draws reviling, framed three codes, and cast the penal text in bronze; and by this you would bring the people to quiet. Will it not be hard? The Odes say:

Take as model and pattern the virtue of King Wen,
and day by day he brings the four quarters to peace.

And again:

Take King Wen as your pattern,
and the myriad states will trust you.

"If it were so, what need would there be of statutes? The people will now know the springs of contention. They will cast off the rites and appeal to the text, and over the point of an awl or the tip of a knife they will fight it out to the end. Disorderly lawsuits will grow abundant and bribes will run everywhere. By the end of your generation, will Zheng not be ruined? I, Xi, have heard that when a state is about to perish its regulations are sure to be many. Is this not what was meant?"

He wrote in reply: "It is as you say, sir. I, Qiao, have no talent, and cannot reach as far as sons and grandsons. I act to save the present age. Since I cannot obey your command, how should I dare to forget your great kindness?"

Shi Wenbo said, "When the Fire star appears, will Zheng burn? They have used fire before the Fire star has come out, to cast a penal vessel and to store contention and statutes in it. If fire takes it for its image, how should there not be a fire?"

In summer, Jisun Su went to Jin, to give thanks for the lands of Ju. The Marquis of Jin feasted him with additional bamboo dishes. Wuzi withdrew and sent his herald to say, "When a small state serves a great one, if only it escapes punishment it dare not ask for favors; and the favor it receives does not exceed three presentations. Now the dishes have been added to. Your humble servant cannot bear it. Surely this is a fault." Han Xuanzi (韓宣子) said, "My unworthy ruler does it for gladness." He answered, "My unworthy ruler would still not dare, and how much less your humble servant, who is your lordship's bondsman. How should I dare hear of an added favor?" He firmly asked that the additions be removed, and only then finished the ceremony. The men of Jin took him for one who knew the rites, and made rich the gifts of friendship.

The eunuch Liu of Song was a favorite, and the heir apparent Zuo hated him. Hua Hebi said, "I will kill him." Liu heard of it, and dug a pit, used a victim, and buried a covenant text; then he told the duke, "Hebi is about to bring in the lineage of the exiles; they have already covenanted at the northern outer wall." The duke sent men to look, and it was there. So Hua Hebi was driven out, and Hebi fled to Wey.

At this Hua Hai wished to take the place of Right Master. He made common cause with the eunuch Liu and joined him in bearing witness, saying, "I have heard of it long since." The duke made him take the place. He presented himself to the Left Master. The Left Master said, "You, sir, will surely perish. You have destroyed your own ancestral house. What regard have you for others, and what regard will others have for you? The Odes say:

The sons of the lineage are the city wall;
do not let the wall be broken,
do not be left alone in terror.

You should be in terror indeed."

In the sixth month, on the day bingxu, there was a fire in Zheng.

Prince Qiji (公子棄疾) of Chu went to Jin, in return for the visit of Han Zi. Passing through Zheng, Han Hu, Gongsun Qiao, and You Ji accompanied the Earl of Zheng to greet him with refreshment at Zha. He declined, not daring to be received; but when they pressed the request, he received them. The interview was conducted as an interview with the king, with a gift of his team of eight horses. In a private audience he saw Zipi as he would a chief minister, with six horses; he saw Zichan with four horses; he saw Zi Taishu with two horses. He forbade the cutting of fodder, the grazing of animals, and the gathering of firewood: they did not enter the fields, did not cut standing trees for fuel, did not pick what was planted, did not pull down houses, did not beg by force. He swore an oath, saying, "Whoever offends against the command shall be dismissed if he is a gentleman, and degraded if he is a common man." In their lodgings they did no violence; the host was not troubled by his guests. Coming and going they behaved thus, and the three ministers of Zheng all knew that he would become king.

When Han Xuanzi went to Chu, the men of Chu did not go out to meet him. When Prince Qiji reached the border of Jin, the Marquis of Jin was likewise going to refrain from meeting him. Shuxiang said, "Chu is crooked and we are upright. Why imitate crookedness? The Odes say:

What you teach,
the people will all imitate.

Let them only follow us. What use is there in imitating another's crookedness? The Documents say, 'The sage makes the rule.' Would it not be better to take good men for our rule than to take another man's crookedness for our rule? When a common man does good, the people still make him their rule; how much more the ruler of a state." The Marquis of Jin was pleased, and went out to meet him.

In autumn, in the seventh month, there was the great rain sacrifice, because of drought.

Yi Chu of Xu paid a diplomatic visit to Chu. The Viscount of Chu seized him, and he escaped home. Fearing that Xu would revolt, Chu sent Wei Xie to attack Xu. The men of Wu came to its rescue. The chief minister Zidang led an army and attacked Wu; he encamped at Yuzhang and halted at Ganxi. The men of Wu defeated his army at Fangzhong and took Qiji, superintendent of the palace stables. Zidang laid the blame on Wei Xie and killed him.

In winter, Shu Gong went to Chu on a diplomatic visit, and also to condole on the defeat.

In the eleventh month the Marquis of Qi went to Jin, to ask leave to attack Northern Yan. Shi Gai assisted Shi Yang in meeting him at the Yellow River. This was proper. The Marquis of Jin granted the request.

In the twelfth month the Marquis of Qi went on to attack Northern Yan, meaning to bring back Duke Jian. Yanzi said, "He will not get in. Yan has a ruler already, and the people are not divided in heart. Our ruler takes bribes, and those about him are flatterers. To undertake a great affair without good faith has never yet succeeded."

Year 7 (昭公七年)

Annals.

• In the seventh year, in spring, in the king's first month, peace was made with Qi.
• In the third month the duke went to Chu.
• Shusun Chuo went to Qi to attend the covenant.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the day jiachen, the first of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on the day wuchen, E, Marquis of Wey, died.
• In the ninth month the duke arrived from Chu.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, on the day guiwei, Jisun Su died.
• In the twelfth month, on the day guihai, Duke Xiang of Wey was buried.

Zuo.

In the seventh year, in spring, in the king's first month, peace was made with Qi. It was Qi that sought it. On the day guisi the Marquis of Qi halted at Guo. The men of Yan sued for terms, saying, "Our poor city knows its guilt; how should we dare not obey your command? We beg to offer the worn vessels of our former rulers in apology." Gongsun Xi said, "Accept their submission and withdraw; then wait for a rift and act. That will do." In the second month, on the day wuwu, they covenanted on the banks of the Ru. The men of Yan sent over the lady Ji of Yan, with a gift of a jasper jar, a jade casket, and an eared jia-cup. Qi returned without having accomplished its purpose.

When the Viscount of Chu was chief minister, he used the king's pennon when hunting, and Wuyu, the steward of Qian (芊尹無宇), cut it down, saying, "One state with two rulers — who could bear it?" When he came to the throne he built the palace of Zhanghua and brought in fugitives to fill it. Wuyu's gatekeeper went in there, and Wuyu seized him. The officer in charge would not give him up, saying, "To seize a man in the king's palace — the crime is great." So they took Wuyu and reported him to the king. The king was about to drink wine.

Wuyu pleaded, saying, "The Son of Heaven marks out the domains and the feudal lords set their borders straight: this is the institution of antiquity. Within the bounds of a fief, what is not the ruler's land? Among those who eat the growth of the soil, who is not the ruler's subject? Therefore the Odes say:

Under the whole of Heaven
there is no land that is not the king's;
to the farthest shore the land reaches,
there is no man who is not the king's subject.

"Heaven has ten suns and men have ten ranks; by them the lower serve the higher and the higher make offering to the spirits. Thus the king holds the duke as his subject, the duke the grandee, the grandee the officer, the officer the zao, the zao the yu, the yu the li, the li the liao, the liao the pu, and the pu the tai. Horses have their grooms and oxen their herdsmen, to meet the hundred businesses. Now the officer says, 'Why did you seize a man in the king's palace?' Then where am I to seize him? The law of King Wen of Zhou says, 'When there are runaways, make a great search.' It was by this that he won the world. Our former ruler King Wen made the law of Puqu, saying, 'He who conceals a thief's goods shares the thief's guilt.' It was by this that he gained the region of the Ru. If I follow the officer, then there is nowhere to seize a runaway servant; and if runaways are let go, there will be no underlings. Will not the king's business fall short?

"Formerly King Wu counted up the crimes of Zhou and announced them to the feudal lords, saying, 'Zhou is the patron of all the runaways of the world, a deep pool and a thicket where they gather.' Therefore men gave their lives against him. Your Majesty is only beginning to seek the allegiance of the lords, and yet takes Zhou for a model. Surely this will not do. If he be taken by the laws of the two rulers named Wen, then the receiver of the stolen thing is somewhere to be found."

The king said, "Take your servant and go. The thief has a patron, and cannot be got at." So he pardoned him.

The Viscount of Chu completed the terrace of Zhanghua, and wished to inaugurate it with the feudal lords. The grand steward Wei Qiqiang said, "Your servant can obtain the Marquis of Lu." Wei Qiqiang came to summon our duke. His message ran:

"Formerly your former ruler Duke Cheng charged our former grandee Yingqi, saying, 'I do not forget the friendship of our former rulers. I shall send Hengfu to shine upon the state of Chu, to steady and soothe its altars, and to bring concord and peace to your people.' Yingqi received the command at Shu, brought it back and upheld it, dared not let it fall, and presented it in the ancestral temple, saying:

"'Our former ruler King Gong stretched out his neck and gazed northward, hoping from month to month. The succession has been handed on, and there have now been four kings, and the gracious favor has not come. Only Duke Xiang condescended to attend our mourning. I, the orphaned one, with my two or three servants, was grieved at heart and lost my plans; we had no leisure even for the altars — how much less could we cherish the thought of your lordship's virtue?'

"Now if your lordship would move your jade footsteps and condescend to see my unworthy ruler, favoring and blessing the state of Chu, so as to make good the covenant of Shu and bring your lordship's gracious favor, then my unworthy ruler will already have received the gift. How should he dare hope for more from Shu? His former rulers, ghosts and spirits, would truly rejoice and rely upon it — and not my unworthy ruler alone. If your lordship will not come, your servant the envoy begs to ask the date of your journey; my unworthy ruler will take up pledges and silks and meet you at Shu, to ask for the gift that the former rulers promised."

The duke was about to go when he dreamed that Duke Xiang performed the sacrifice of the road. Zi Shen said, "Your lordship will not in the end go. When Duke Xiang went to Chu, he dreamed that the Duke of Zhou performed the sacrifice of the road, and he went. Now it is Duke Xiang who performs it; your lordship, I think, will not go." Zifu Huibo said, "Go. The former ruler had never gone to Chu, and so the Duke of Zhou performed the sacrifice to open his road. Duke Xiang has gone to Chu, and he performs the sacrifice to open the road. If your lordship does not go, where will you go?"

In the third month the duke went to Chu. The Earl of Zheng greeted him with refreshment at Shizhiliang. Meng Xizi was his second and could not assist him in the ceremonies; and when they reached Chu he could not answer the greeting at the suburbs.

In summer, in the fourth month, on the day jiachen, the first of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. The Marquis of Jin asked Shi Wenbo, "Who will bear this eclipse?" He answered, "Lu and Wey will suffer by it: Wey greatly, Lu but little." The duke said, "Why?" He answered, "It left the region of Wey and passed into the region of Lu; there is calamity in it, and Lu truly receives it. But the great blame — will it not fall on the ruler of Wey? And in Lu it will fall on the chief minister." The duke said, "What of the Odes' words:

That sun is eclipsed —
in what way is this not ill?

What do they mean?" He answered, "They mean bad government. When a state is without government and does not employ good men, it draws down upon itself the reproof of the calamities of sun and moon. Therefore government cannot but be careful. There are three things to attend to and no more: first, choosing men; second, relying on the people; third, following the seasons."

The men of Jin came to settle the matter of the lands of Qi. Jisun was about to give them Cheng. Xie Xi, who was holding it for Mengsun, refused, saying, "Men have a saying: 'Though a man's knowledge reach no further than the carrying of a jug, he knows that a keeper does not lend out the vessel.' That is the rite. My master is away in attendance on the ruler, and the servant who keeps his city loses it — even you, sir, would be suspicious of that." Jisun said, "The ruler's being in Chu is an offense in the eyes of Jin. If we also disobey Jin, the guilt of Lu is heavy. The army of Jin will surely come, and I have nothing to meet it with. Better to give it up, and when Jin is otherwise engaged to take it back from Qi. I will give you Tao; and when Cheng comes back, who will dare hold it? That is to gain two Chengs. Lu is freed from anxiety and Mengsun gains a city. What have you to complain of?" He objected that Tao had no hills, and was given Lai and Zuo. So he moved to Tao, and the men of Jin took Cheng for Qi.

The Viscount of Chu feasted our duke at the New Terrace, and had long-whiskered men attend the ceremony. He made him a present of the bow Daqu, and afterward regretted it. Wei Qiqiang heard of it and had an audience with the duke, and the duke told him of it. He bowed and offered congratulations. The duke said, "What is there to congratulate?" He answered, "Qi and Jin and Yue have wanted this thing for a long time. My unworthy ruler had no one fit to give it to, and has handed it on to your lordship. Your lordship must prepare to defend yourself against three neighbors and guard the treasure carefully. How should I not offer congratulations?" The duke was afraid, and gave it back.

Zichan of Zheng paid a diplomatic visit to Jin. The Marquis of Jin was ill. Han Xuanzi went out to meet the guest and spoke with him privately, saying, "My unworthy ruler has lain ill now for three months. We have hastened with offerings to all the mountains and rivers entitled to sacrifice, and he grows worse and does not mend. Now he has dreamed that a yellow bear entered the door of his chamber. What malignant ghost is this?"

He answered, "With your ruler's enlightenment, and with you, sir, conducting the great government, what malignancy should there be? Formerly Yao put Gun to death at Mount Yu, and his spirit changed into a yellow bear and entered the abyss of Yu. He was in truth the object of the suburban sacrifice of Xia, and the three dynasties sacrificed to him. Jin is head of the covenant; perhaps it has not sacrificed to him?" Han Zi performed the suburban sacrifice of Xia, and the Marquis of Jin grew somewhat better. He gave Zichan the two square tripods of Ju.

Zichan, on behalf of Feng Shi, returned the lands of Zhou to Han Xuanzi, saying, "In former days your lordship, holding that Gongsun Duan was able to bear his charge, bestowed on him the lands of Zhou. Now, unblessed, he has died early and has not been able long to enjoy your lordship's kindness. His son Fu dares not keep them, and dares not let your ruler hear of it; so he privately delivers them to you, sir." Xuanzi declined them.

Zichan said, "The ancients had a saying: 'The father splits the firewood, and the son cannot carry the load.' Shi fears he cannot bear even his forefather's emolument; how much less could he bear a great state's gift? Even if it were well while you, sir, hold the government, if the men who come after should raise some question of borders, our poor city would incur blame and the Feng family would bear the great punishment for it. If you, sir, take Zhou, that frees our poor city from blame and establishes the Feng family. I make bold to ask it." Xuanzi accepted them, and told the Marquis of Jin, and the Marquis of Jin gave them to Xuanzi. Because of what he had said at first, Xuanzi was uneasy at holding them, and exchanged them for the district of Yuan with Yue Daxin.

The men of Zheng frightened one another with Boyou. When one said, "Boyou has come," they all ran, not knowing where they went. In the second month of the year in which the penal code was cast, someone dreamed that Boyou walked past in armor, saying, "On the day renzi I shall kill Dai; and next year, on the day renyin, I shall kill Duan." When renzi came, Si Dai died, and the people of the capital grew more afraid. In the month when Qi and Yan made peace, on the day renyin, Gongsun Duan died, and the people grew still more afraid. In the following month Zichan installed Gongsun Xie and Liang Zhi to give them rest, and it stopped.

Zi Taishu asked the reason. Zichan said, "When a ghost has somewhere to return to, it does not become malignant. I have made it a place to return to." Taishu said, "And what of Gongsun Xie?" Zichan said, "It was to please them. To be without righteousness in oneself and scheme only to please would be wrong; but in conducting government there are times when one goes against the rule in order to win favor. Without favor there is no trust, and without trust the people will not follow."

When Zichan went to Jin, Zhao Jingzi asked him, "Can Boyou really become a ghost?" Zichan said, "He can. When a man is first born and takes shape, it is called the po; when the po has been produced, its yang part is called the hun. If a man uses many things and much of their essence, then his hun and po grow strong, and so he comes to have clarity of spirit, reaching even to divine brightness. When a common man or a common woman dies a violent death, the hun and po can still lean upon men and become a wandering malignancy. How much more Liang Xiao — a descendant of our former ruler Duke Mu, grandson of Ziliang, son of Zi'er, a minister of our poor city, whose house has been in the government three generations. Zheng may be of no great substance — as the proverb says, 'a tiny state' — yet for a man to have held the handle of its government three generations means that the things he used were ample and the essence he took was much. His clan too is great, and what he leans upon is thick. Dying a violent death, that he should be able to become a ghost — is it not fitting?"

Zipi's clan drank without measure, and so there was enmity between the Mashi family and the Zipi family. In the month when the army of Qi returned from Yan, Han Shuo killed Han Tui, and Han Shuo fled to Jin. Han Xuanzi asked Zichan what his rank should be. Zichan said, "A sojourning servant of your lordship, if only he be given room to escape death, how should he dare choose a rank? When a minister leaves his state he takes the place of a grandee, and a criminal is lowered according to his offense: that is the institution of antiquity. In our poor city Shuo was a grandee of the second rank, and his office was Master of the Horse. He has incurred guilt and fled; let those who hold the government place him where they will. To be let off with his life is kindness enough — how should he dare ask for a rank besides?" Xuanzi, admiring Zichan's quickness, put him among the lesser favored grandees.

In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Xiang of Wey died. A grandee of Jin said to Fan Xianzi, "Wey served Jin in friendship, and Jin has not treated it with the rites: it has sheltered its traitors and taken its lands, and therefore the feudal lords have turned away. The Odes say:

The wagtail is on the plain;
brothers hurry to each other's distress.

And again:

In the terror of death and mourning,
brothers greatly care.

When brothers are not at one, there is no condoling between them; how much less will distant men dare attach themselves? Now again we fail in the rites toward the successor of Wey. Wey will surely revolt from us, and that is to cut off the feudal lords." Xianzi told this to Han Xuanzi. Xuanzi was pleased, and sent Xianzi to Wey to condole and to give back the lands of Qi.

Qi'e of Wey announced the death at Zhou and asked for the charge. The king sent his servant Duke Jian to Wey to condole, and also to confer the posthumous charge upon Duke Xiang, saying, "Uncle, ascend in reverence, and be at the left and right of our former kings, to assist in serving the Lord on High. Should I dare forget Gaoyu and Yayu?"

In the ninth month the duke arrived from Chu. Meng Xizi was distressed that he had been unable to assist in the rites, and so he studied them, and whenever a man was competent in the rites he followed him. When he was about to die he summoned his grandees and said, "The rites are the trunk of a man. Without the rites there is no standing. I have heard that one is coming who will be eminent, named Kong Qiu (孔丘), a descendant of a sage whose line was extinguished in Song. His ancestor Fufu He, though he might have had Song, gave it up to Duke Li. Down to Zheng Kaofu, who assisted Dai, Wu, and Xuan, with each of his three appointments he grew the more respectful. So the inscription on his tripod says:

At the first appointment I bowed my head,
at the second I bent my back,
at the third I bowed to the ground.
I hurry along by the wall,
and none dares insult me.
Thick gruel in this, thin gruel in this,
to stop up my mouth.

Such was his reverence. Zangsun He said, 'When a sage has bright virtue, if he does not himself hold the age, his posterity will surely have an eminent man.' Now will it not be in Kong Qiu? If I get to die in my bed, I shall certainly commit Yue and Heji to that master, that they may serve him and learn the rites from him, and so make their positions firm." Therefore Meng Yizi and Nangong Jingshu served Zhongni (仲尼) as their teacher.

Zhongni said, "He who can mend his faults is a noble man. The Odes say, 'The noble man — him take for rule, him imitate.' Meng Xizi may be taken for rule and imitated."

Duke Xian of Shan cast off his kin and employed strangers. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day xinyou, the clans of Xiang and Qing killed Duke Xian and set up Duke Cheng.

In the eleventh month Ji Wuzi died.

The Marquis of Jin said to Boxia, "What I asked about the eclipse has come true. Can it be made a constant rule?" He answered, "It cannot. The six things are not the same, the hearts of the people are not one, the order of affairs is not alike, offices and duties follow no single pattern. What begins alike ends differently — how can it be made constant? The Odes say:

One is at ease and takes his rest,
another wastes away in the service of the state.

Such is the difference of their ends." The duke said, "What are the six things?" He answered, "The year, the seasons, the days, the moons, the stars, and the chen — these are meant." The duke said, "Men often speak to me of the chen, and none agree. What is the chen?" He answered, "The meeting of sun and moon is called a chen; and therefore it is paired with the days."

The wife of Duke Xiang of Wey, the lady Jiang, had no son. His favorite Zhou Yi bore Meng Zhi. Kong Chengzi dreamed that Kang Shu said to him, "Set up Yuan. I will have Yu, the grandson of Ji, and Shi Gou assist him." Shi Chao also dreamed that Kang Shu said to him, "I shall charge your son Gou, with Yu, the great-grandson of Kong Zengchu, to assist Yuan." Shi Chao saw Chengzi and told him his dream, and the dreams agreed. In the year when Han Xuanzi of Jin took the government and paid visits to the feudal lords, Zhou Yi bore a son, and he was named Yuan. Meng Zhi's feet were crippled, so that he could not walk well.

Kong Chengzi divined by the Zhou Changes, saying, "May Yuan possess the state of Wey and preside over its altars," and met with Zhun. Again he said, "Let me rather set up Zhi; may it be found good," and met with Zhun changing into Bi. He showed this to Shi Chao. Shi Chao said, "'Yuan: success.' What more is there to doubt?" Chengzi said, "Does it not mean the elder?" He answered, "Kang Shu named him; he may be called the elder. Meng is not a whole man; he will not be ranked in the ancestral temple, and cannot be called the elder. Besides, the oracle says, 'It is favorable to establish a lord.' If the heir were the auspicious one, what need would there be to establish? To establish is not the same as to succeed. Both hexagrams say, 'Establish him, sir.' Kang Shu commands it, the two hexagrams declare it, and the milfoil agrees with the dream: this is what King Wu relied on. What is there to do but follow it? A man with weak feet stays at home. A lord presides over the altars, attends the sacrifices, cares for the people, serves the ghosts and spirits, and goes to meetings and court visits. How could he stay at home? Let each take what suits him — is that not well?" So Kong Chengzi set up Duke Ling.

In the twelfth month, on the day guihai, Duke Xiang of Wey was buried.

Year 8 (昭公八年)

Annals.

• In the eighth year, in spring, Zhao, younger brother of the Marquis of Chen, killed Yanshi, heir apparent of Chen.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the day xinchou, Ni, Marquis of Chen, died.
• Shu Gong went to Jin.
• The men of Chu seized Gan Zhengshi, the herald of Chen, and killed him.
• Prince Liu of Chen fled to Zheng.
• In autumn, there was a hunting muster at Hong.
• The men of Chen killed their grandee Prince Guo.
• There was the great rain sacrifice.
• In winter, in the tenth month, on the day renwu, the army of Chu extinguished Chen.
• They seized Prince Zhao of Chen and banished him to Yue.
• They killed Kong Huan of Chen.
• Duke Ai of Chen was buried.

Zuo.

In the eighth year, in spring, a stone spoke at Weiyu in Jin. The Marquis of Jin asked Shi Kuang, "Why did the stone speak?" He answered, "A stone cannot speak; something leaned upon it. Otherwise the people heard amiss. Yet your servant has also heard it said: when works are undertaken out of season and grumbling and cursing stir among the people, then things that do not speak will speak. Now the palaces are lofty and extravagant, the people's strength is worn away, grumbling and cursing arise together, and no one can keep his life secure. Is it not fitting that a stone should speak?" At that time the Marquis of Jin was building the palace of Siqi.

Shuxiang said, "The words of Ziye are those of a noble man. A noble man's words are trustworthy and have evidence, and so resentment stays far from his person. A small man's words are presumptuous and without evidence, and so resentment and blame reach him. The Odes say:

Alas for him who cannot speak —
it is not his tongue that thrusts out,
it is his own person that is worn away.
Fortunate is he who can speak,
whose clever words flow like water,
and set his person at ease.

Is this not what is meant? When this palace is finished the feudal lords will surely revolt, and the ruler will surely have blame. The master knows it."

Duke Ai of Chen's principal consort, a Ji of Zheng, bore the heir apparent Dao, Yanshi. His second consort bore Prince Liu, and his lowest consort bore Prince Sheng. The second consort was a favorite and Liu was beloved, and the duke entrusted him to the minister of education Zhao and to Prince Guo. Duke Ai had a disabling illness.

In the third month, on the day jiashen, Prince Zhao and Prince Guo killed the heir apparent Dao, Yanshi, and set up Prince Liu.

In summer, in the fourth month, on the day xinhai, Duke Ai hanged himself. Gan Zhengshi went to Chu to announce the death, and also to report that a ruler had been set up. Prince Sheng laid a complaint against them at Chu, and the men of Chu seized him and killed him. Prince Liu fled to Zheng.

The record says, "Zhao, younger brother of the Marquis of Chen, killed Yanshi, heir apparent of Chen": the guilt was Zhao's. It says, "The men of Chu seized Gan Zhengshi, the herald of Chen, and killed him": the guilt was not the herald's.

Shu Gong went to Jin, to offer congratulations on Siqi. You Ji attended the Earl of Zheng in going to Jin, also to offer congratulations on Siqi. Shi Zhao saw Zi Taishu and said, "How grossly they deceive one another! It is a matter for condolence, and yet they congratulate over it." Zi Taishu said, "How should one condole? And it is not we alone who congratulate: all the world will congratulate."

In autumn there was a great hunting muster at Hong, from Genmou as far as Shang and Wey, with a thousand leather-covered war chariots.

In the seventh month, on the day jiaxu, Ziwei of Qi died. Ziqi wished to put his household in order, and on the day dingchou he killed Liang Ying.

In the eighth month, on the day gengxu, he drove out Zicheng, Zigong, and Ziche, who all came here as fugitives, and he set up a steward over the Ziliang family. Their retainers said, "The young master is grown, and yet this man manages our household: he means to swallow us up." They gave out armor and were about to attack him. Chen Huanzi was on good terms with Ziwei, and he too gave out armor and was going to help them.

Someone told Ziqi, and Ziqi did not believe it. Then several men told him that they were about to set out, and several more told him on the road. So he went to the Chen family. Huanzi was on the point of going out; hearing of it he turned back, put on informal dress, and went out to meet him and ask his commands. Ziqi answered, "I have heard that the Qiang family have given out armor and are about to attack you. Have you heard of it?" He said, "I have not heard it. Why do you not also give out armor? I, Wuyu, beg to follow you." Ziqi said, "Sir, how can you speak so? He is only a boy. I have taught him and still fear that he will not come to anything; and I have honored and ranked him besides. What would our forefathers say? Why do you not speak to him? The Documents of Zhou say, 'Be kind to the unkind, encourage the unencouraged.' It was by this that Kang Shu made the great and wide submit." Huanzi bowed his head to the ground and said, "May Qing and Ling bless you, sir. I have hope still." So they were reconciled as at first.

Prince Zhao of Chen laid the blame on Prince Guo and killed him.

In the ninth month Prince Qiji of Chu led an army, upholding Sun Wu, and besieged Chen. Dai E of Song joined him.

In winter, in the eleventh month, on the day renwu, Chen was extinguished. Yuan Ke, a favorite of the chariot service, killed horses and broke jades for the burial. The men of Chu were going to kill him. He begged to be spared, and afterward begged leave to relieve himself; and relieving himself behind a curtain he put mourning bands on his forehead and fled.

Chuanfeng Xu was made duke of Chen, because at the campaign of Chengjun he had not flattered. He was attending the king at wine, and the king said, "At the campaign of Chengjun, if you had known that I should come to this, would you have made way for me?" He answered, "If I had known that your lordship would come to this, your servant would surely have given his life for the rites, to bring Chu to rest."

The Marquis of Jin asked Shi Zhao, "Will Chen now perish for good?" He answered, "Not yet." The duke said, "Why?" He answered, "Chen is a clan of Zhuanxu. The year-star stood in Chunhuo, and therefore Chen was at last extinguished; and Chen will go the same way again. Now the star is at the ford of Ximu, and Chen will yet be restored. Moreover the Chen family will take the government in Qi, and only after that will Chen finally perish. From Mu down to Gusou there was no disobedience of the mandate; Shun added to it with bright virtue; the virtue was lodged in Sui, and Sui guarded it generation after generation; and down to Duke Hu there was no excess, and therefore Zhou granted them a surname and had them sacrifice to Emperor Shun. Your servant has heard that abundant virtue must have sacrifice for a hundred generations, and the generations of Yu are not yet complete. The keeping of it will pass to Qi, and the omens of that are already present."

Year 9 (昭公九年)

Annals.

• In the ninth year, in spring, Shu Gong met the Viscount of Chu at Chen.
• Xu was moved to Yi.
• In summer, in the fourth month, there was a fire in Chen.
• In autumn, Zhongsun Jue went to Qi.
• In winter, the park at Lang was built.

Zuo.

In the ninth year, in spring, Shu Gong, Hua Hai of Song, You Ji of Zheng, and Zhao Yan of Wey met the Viscount of Chu at Chen.

In the second month, on the day gengshen, Prince Qiji of Chu moved Xu to Yi, which is Chengfu, and took the lands of Zhoulai north of the Huai to enlarge it. Wu Ju handed over the lands to the Baron of Xu. Ran Dan moved the people of Chengfu to Chen, enlarging their holding with the fields west of the Yi and the Pu, and moved the people from outside Fangcheng to Xu.

The men of Gan in Zhou and Yan Jia of Jin contended over the lands of Yan, and Liang Bing and Zhang Chuo of Jin led the Yin Rong and attacked Ying. The king sent Zhan Huanbo to make remonstrance to Jin, saying:

"From the time of Xia, through Houji, Wei, Tai, Rui, Qi, and Bi were our western lands. When King Wu conquered Shang, Pugu and Shangyan were our eastern lands; Ba and Pu, Chu and Deng, our southern lands; Sushen, Yan, and Bo, our northern lands. What near boundary have we anywhere? When Wen, Wu, Cheng, and Kang established their younger brothers by the same mother to be a hedge and screen for Zhou, it was against just such a falling away as this. Are they like the cap and forelock of childhood, to be worn out and thrown aside?

"The former kings settled Taowu on the four frontiers, to ward off goblins and sprites, and so the wicked of the Yun surname dwelt at Guazhou. Uncle, Duke Hui returned from Qin and lured them to come, so that they pressed upon our Ji kinsmen and entered our suburbs and domain lands. It was from that source that the Rong got their hold. That the Rong hold lands of the central states — whose fault is it? Houji planted and settled the world, and now the Rong control it. Is that not hard to bear?

"Uncle, consider it. I stand to you, uncle, as the cap and crown to clothing, as the root and the spring to tree and water, as the chief counselor to the people. If uncle should tear the cap and destroy the crown, pull up the root and stop the spring, and utterly cast away the chief counselor, then even with the Rong and the Di, what would remain for me, the One Man?"

Shuxiang said to Xuanzi, "When Wen held the hegemony, did he change the ordering of things? He sheltered and upheld the Son of Heaven and added reverence to it. Since Wen's time the virtue has declined generation by generation, and now we savagely destroy the ancestral house of Zhou to make a display of our own extravagance. Is it any wonder that the feudal lords turn away? Besides, the king's words are straight. Consider it, sir." Xuanzi was pleased.

The king had a death among his wife's kin, and Jin sent Zhao Cheng to Zhou to condole, and to deliver the lands of Yan together with grave-clothes, and to return the captives taken at Ying. The king also sent Bin Hua to seize the Gan grandee Xiang, to make amends to Jin; and the men of Jin treated him with the rites and sent him back.

In summer, in the fourth month, there was a fire in Chen. Pi Zao of Zheng said, "In five years Chen will be re-enfeoffed; and fifty-two years after the enfeoffment it will perish for good." Zichan asked the reason. He answered, "Chen belongs to Water. Fire is Water's mate, and it is the element that presides over Chu. Now the Fire star has come out and has burned Chen: this drives out Chu and establishes Chen. Mates are completed by five, and therefore I say five years. When the year-star has reached Chunhuo five times, then Chen will at last perish and Chu will be able to hold it: this is the way of Heaven. Therefore I say fifty-two years."

Xun Ying of Jin went to Qi to fetch a bride. On the way back, in the sixth month, he died at Xiyang. He was coffined at Jiang, and before he was buried the Marquis of Jin was drinking and making merry. Tu Kuai, the master of the kitchen, hurried in and asked leave to assist the duke in the office of cup-bearer. It was granted, and he then poured a cup and gave it to the musician to drink, saying, "You are the ruler's ears, and your charge is hearing. When the chen falls on zi or on mao, those are called days of ill omen: the ruler puts away his feasting music and the students lay down their studies, because of the ill omen. The ruler's ministers and aides are called his thighs and arms; when a thigh or an arm is lost, what pain is like it? You have not heard of it and you make music: this is not hearing."

He then gave a cup to the outer favorite, the favorite Shu, saying, "You are the ruler's eyes, and your charge is seeing. Dress displays the rites, the rites carry out affairs, affairs have their proper objects, and objects their proper appearance. Now the ruler's appearance is not the proper thing, and you do not see it: this is not seeing."

He also drank a cup himself, saying, "Flavor sets the breath moving, breath fills the will, the will settles speech, and speech issues commands. Your servant is in charge of flavors. The two attendants have failed in their offices and the ruler has given no command: the fault is your servant's." The duke was pleased and had the wine taken away.

Earlier the duke had wished to abolish the Zhi family and set up his outer favorite; because of this he repented and stopped. In autumn, in the eighth month, he made Xun Li assistant commander of the lower army, to make amends.

Meng Xizi went to Qi. It was the grand diplomatic visit that the rites require.

In winter the park at Lang was built. It is recorded because it was done in season. Ji Pingzi wished it finished quickly. Shusun Zhaozi said, "The Odes say:

He began to lay it out and made no haste,
and the common people came like sons.

What need is there of quick completion? It only wears the people out. To be without a park is bearable; but to be without people — can that be borne?"

Year 10 (昭公十年)

Annals.

• In the tenth year, in spring, in the king's first month.
• In summer, Luan Shi of Qi came here as a fugitive.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, Jisun Yiru, Shu Gong, and Zhongsun Jue led an army and attacked Ju.
• On the day wuzi, Biao, Marquis of Jin, died.

Annals.

• In the ninth month, Shusun Chuo (叔孫婼) went to Jin; the burial of Duke Ping of Jin.
• In the twelfth month, on the day jiazi, Xu, Duke of Song, died.

Zuo.

In the tenth year, in spring, in the king's first month, a star appeared at Wunü. Pi Zao of Zheng said to Zichan (子產): "In the seventh month, on the day wuzi, the ruler of Jin will die. This year the year-star stands in the Void of Zhuanxu. The Jiang clan and the Ren clan in truth guard that region; it occupies the head of the cord, and there a baleful star has appeared. It gives warning concerning Yi Jiang. Yi Jiang was the ancestress of Jin. Heaven reckons by sevens. It was on a wuzi day that Duke Feng ascended, and this star has therefore now come forth. That is why I reckon it so."

The Luan and Gao clans of Qi, descendants of Duke Hui, were both fond of drink; they trusted their women of the inner chambers and had many who resented them. They were stronger than the Chen and the Bao clans, and they hated them. In summer, someone told Chen Huanzi (陳桓子): "Ziqi and Ziliang are about to attack Chen and Bao." The same was told to the Bao. Huanzi issued armor and went to the Bao. On the way he met Ziliang, drunk and galloping. He then saw Wenzi, and found that he too had issued armor. He sent men to watch the two men, and both were sitting at their drinking. Huanzi said, "Even if the report of them is untrue, once they hear that I have issued armor they will certainly drive me out. While they are at their wine, let us strike first." Chen and Bao were then on good terms, and so they attacked the Luan and Gao. Ziliang said, "Let us first get hold of the duke; then where can Chen and Bao go?" So they attacked the Tiger Gate. Yan Pingzhong (晏平仲), in court robe and cap, stood outside the Tiger Gate. The four clans summoned him; he went to none of them. His followers said, "Shall we help Chen and Bao?" He said, "What good is there in them?" "Shall we help Luan and Gao?" He said, "Are they any better?" "Then shall we go home?" He said, "The ruler is under attack — where is there to go home to?" When the duke summoned him, he went in. The duke divined about sending Wang Hei to lead with the Linggupi banner. It was auspicious. Wang Hei asked to cut three chi from it before using it. In the fifth month, on the day gengchen, they fought at Ji. Luan and Gao were defeated. They were defeated again in Zhuang, and the people of the capital pursued them and defeated them again at the Deer Gate. Luan Shi and Gao Qiang fled here. Chen and Bao divided their households. Yanzi said to Huanzi: "You must hand it all over to the duke. Yielding is the master of virtue; that is what is called excellent virtue. Everything that has blood and breath has a contending heart; therefore profit cannot be seized by force. To think of righteousness is better. Righteousness is the root of profit. Hoarded profit breeds calamity. For now let there be no hoarding, and it can grow and increase." Huanzi handed everything over to the duke and asked to retire to Ju. Huanzi summoned Zishan, privately furnished him with tents and hangings, vessels and utensils, and clothes and shoes for his followers, and restored Ji to him. He did the same for Zishang and returned his town; the same for Zizhou, and gave him Fuyu. He recalled Zicheng, Zigong, and Gongsun Jie, and increased the emoluments of them all. To all the ducal sons and grandsons who had no emolument he privately allotted towns; to the poor, the straitened, the orphaned, and the widowed of the state he privately gave grain. He said, "The Odes say, 'He spread out bounty and so bore up Zhou' — that is, he was able to give. It was by this that Duke Huan became hegemon." The duke offered Huanzi the towns adjoining Ju; he declined them. Mu Meng Ji asked Gaotang for him. The Chen clan now began to grow great.

In autumn, in the seventh month, Pingzi attacked Ju and took Geng. He presented the captives, and for the first time human victims were used at the altar of Bo. Zang Wuzhong was in Qi. Hearing of it, he said: "Will the Duke of Zhou not partake of the sacrifices of Lu? The Duke of Zhou partakes of righteousness, and Lu has no righteousness. The Odes say, 'His virtuous fame is very bright; he shows the people not to be frivolous.' This may be called frivolity of the extreme kind, and yet they have done it outright. Whom will it bless?"

On the day wuzi, Duke Ping of Jin died. The Earl of Zheng went to Jin; when he reached the Yellow River, the men of Jin declined him. You Ji then went on to Jin. In the ninth month Shusun Chuo, Guo Ruo of Qi, Hua Ding of Song, Beigong Xi of Wei, Han Hu of Zheng, and men of Xu, Cao, Ju, Zhu, Xue, Qi, and Lesser Zhu went to Jin — this was for the burial of Duke Ping. Zipi of Zheng was going to take gifts of silk with him. Zichan said: "At a funeral what use are gifts? To use gifts requires a hundred cartloads; a hundred cartloads requires a thousand men. Once a thousand men have arrived, the mission will not be turned back; and not being turned back, the whole of it will be used up. With thousands of men like that, how shall the state escape ruin?" Zipi insisted on taking them. After the burial, the grandees of the feudal lords wished to take the occasion to see the new ruler. Shusun Zhaozi said, "That is contrary to ritual." They did not listen. Shuxiang (叔向) declined for him, saying: "Your business, gentlemen, is finished, and yet you would lay a further charge on the orphaned one. The orphaned one is cut off in his hempen mourning. Were he to receive you in festive robes, the mourning rites would not yet be complete; were he to receive you in mourning garments, that would be to accept your condolences a second time. What will you gentlemen do?" None of them had anything to say for an audience. Zipi used up all his gifts. On returning he said to Ziyu: "It is not the knowing that is truly hard; the hardness lies in the doing. The master knew this; I fell short of it. The Documents say, 'Desire ruins measure; license ruins ritual.' That is said of me. The master knew measure and ritual; I indeed gave license to desire and could not master myself." Zhaozi arrived back from Jin. The grandees all had audience with him. Gao Qiang had audience and withdrew. Zhaozi said to the grandees: "One who is another man's son cannot but be careful. Formerly, when Qing Feng fled, Ziwei received many towns and gradually returned them to the ruler. The ruler thought him loyal and favored him greatly. When he was about to die, he fell ill in the ducal palace and was carried home in a hand-cart, and the ruler himself pushed it. His son could not carry the burden, and that is why he is here. Loyalty is an excellent virtue; yet because his son could not carry it, the guilt reached him all the same. How then can one fail to be careful? To waste the labor of such a man, to cast away virtue and leave the ancestral line desolate, until it comes home to his own person — is that not harm? The Odes say, 'Not before me, not after me' — is this not what is meant?"

In winter, in the twelfth month, Duke Ping of Song died. Earlier, Duke Yuan had hated the eunuch Liu and had wished to kill him. When the mourning came, Liu kindled charcoal at the duke's station, and removed it just as he was about to arrive. By the time of the burial he was again in favor.

Year 11 (昭公十一年)

Annals.

• In the eleventh year, in spring, in the king's second month, Shu Gong went to Song; the burial of Duke Ping of Song.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the day dingsi, Qian, the Viscount of Chu, lured Ban, the Marquis of Cai, and killed him at Shen. Prince Qiji of Chu led an army and besieged Cai.
• In the fifth month, on the day jiashen, the duke's wife of the Gui clan passed away. There was a great hunt at Bipu. Zhongsun Jue met the Viscount of Zhu and made a covenant at Jinxiang.
• In autumn, Jisun Yiru met with Han Qi of Jin, Guo Ruo of Qi, Hua Hai of Song, Beigong Tuo of Wei, Han Hu of Zheng, and men of Cao and Qi at Jueyin.
• In the ninth month, on the day jihai, we buried our lesser lady Qi Gui.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, on the day dingyou, the army of Chu extinguished Cai. They seized You, heir apparent of Cai, carried him off, and used him as a victim.

Zuo.

In the eleventh year, in spring, in the king's second month, Shu Gong went to Song — this was for the burial of Duke Ping.

King Jing asked Chang Hong: "Among the feudal lords this year, who in truth has good fortune, and who ill?" He answered: "Cai has ill fortune. This year corresponds to the year in which Ban, the Marquis of Cai, assassinated his ruler. The year-star stands in Shiwei, and it will not pass beyond this. Chu will take Cai, but that is a damming up. When the year-star reaches Daliang, Cai will be restored and Chu will have ill fortune. This is the way of Heaven."

The Viscount of Chu was at Shen and summoned Marquis Ling of Cai. Marquis Ling was about to go. The grandees of Cai said: "The king is greedy and without good faith, and it is against Cai alone that he bears a grudge. Now his gifts are heavy and his words are sweet — he is luring us. Better not to go." The Marquis of Cai would not have it. In the fifth month, on the day bingshen, the Viscount of Chu hid armored men and feasted the Marquis of Cai at Shen; when he was drunk, he seized him.

In summer, in the fourth month, on the day dingsi, he killed him and put seventy of his officers to death. Prince Qiji (棄疾) led an army and besieged Cai. Han Xuanzi (韓宣子) asked Shuxiang, "Will Chu prevail?" He answered: "It will prevail. The Marquis of Cai incurred guilt against his ruler and could not hold his people. Heaven is about to borrow the hand of Chu to strike him down. Why should it not prevail? Yet I, Xi, have heard that to succeed by luck and without good faith cannot happen twice. The king of Chu upheld Sun Wu in punishing Chen, saying, 'I shall settle your state.' The men of Chen obeyed his command, and then he made a county of it. Now again he has lured Cai and killed its ruler and laid siege to its state. Even should he prevail by luck, he will surely bear the blame for it; he cannot last long. Jie conquered You Min and thereby lost his state; Zhou conquered the Eastern Yi and thereby lost his person. Chu is small and its rank is low, and yet it is more violent than those two kings. Can it escape blame? When Heaven lends aid to the bad, it is not blessing him; it is thickening his evil in order to send down punishment upon him. Moreover it may be likened to this: Heaven has the five materials and will use them, and when their strength is spent it wears them out. Therefore there is no saving him; he cannot be raised up again."

In the fifth month, Qi Gui passed away. The great hunt at Bipu was contrary to ritual.

Meng Xizi met Duke Zhuang of Zhu and covenanted at Jinxiang, renewing friendly relations. This was in accord with ritual. A man of Quanqiu had a daughter who dreamed that she curtained the ancestral temple of the Meng clan with her own bed-hangings. She thereupon ran off to Xizi, and her companion went with her. They covenanted at the altar of Qingqiu, saying, "If we have sons, let us not abandon one another." Xizi had her placed as a secondary consort in the household of the Wei clan. Returning from Jinxiang, he lodged with the Wei clan. By the woman of Quanqiu he begot Yizi and Nangong Jingshu. Her companion had no son, and was set to nurse Jingshu.

The Chu army was in Cai. Xun Wu of Jin said to Han Xuanzi: "We could not save Chen, and now we cannot save Cai either. Men will feel no attachment to us, and Jin's incapacity may now be seen. We are the master of covenants, and yet we take no pity on a state that is perishing. What use is such leadership?"

In autumn there was a meeting at Jueyin, to plan the rescue of Cai. Zipi of Zheng was about to go. Zichan said: "You will not go far; Cai cannot be saved. Cai is small and disobedient; Chu is great and without virtue. Heaven is about to cast Cai away in order to dam up Chu, and when it is full, to punish it. Cai will surely perish. Moreover, few can hold out who have lost their ruler. In three years the king will surely meet with disaster. Good and evil, when their round is complete, must return, and the king's evil has completed its round." The men of Jin sent Hu Fu to ask Chu for Cai. It was not granted.

The Viscount of Shan met Han Xuanzi at Qi. His gaze was low and his speech was slow. Shuxiang said: "Will the Viscount of Shan die? At court there are fixed stations; at a meeting there are markers; a robe has its collar-seam; a belt has its knot. Words at meeting and at court must be heard at the marked and appointed stations — this is how the order of affairs is made clear. The gaze should not pass beyond the space between the belt-knot and the collar — this is how bearing is guided. Words give the charge; bearing makes it plain. When these are lost, there is a defect. Now the Viscount of Shan is the king's chief officer and gave charge of business at the meeting, yet his gaze did not rise to the belt and his words did not carry beyond a pace. His bearing did not guide his appearance, and his words were not made clear. What does not guide is not reverent; what is not clear is not followed. He has no vital breath left to guard him."

In the ninth month, Qi Gui was buried. The duke showed no grief. An officer of Jin who had escorted the funeral went back and spoke of it to Shi Zhao. Shi Zhao said, "He will surely end in the outskirts of Lu." An attendant said, "Why?" He said: "Gui means 'to return,' and it is her surname. He does not think of his kin, and so his ancestors will not return to him." Shuxiang said: "The ducal house of Lu will surely sink low. The ruler has a great mourning, and yet the state did not cancel the hunt. There is a mourning of three years, and yet not one day of grief. That the state takes no pity on the mourning means that it does not stand in awe of its ruler; that the ruler shows no grieving countenance means that he does not regard his kin. When the state does not stand in awe of its ruler, and the ruler does not regard his kin, can it fail to sink low? He is likely to lose his state."

In winter, in the eleventh month, the Viscount of Chu extinguished Cai and used the heir apparent Yin as a victim on Mount Gang. Shen Wuyu said: "This is not auspicious. The five sacrificial animals are not used one in place of another; how much less should a feudal lord be so used! The king will surely regret it."

In the twelfth month, Duke Cheng of Shan died. The Viscount of Chu walled Chen, Cai, and Buleng, and made Qiji Duke of Cai. The king asked Shen Wuyu, "What of Qiji's being in Cai?" He answered: "For choosing a son there is none like a father; for choosing a servant there is none like a ruler. Duke Zhuang of Zheng walled Li and placed Ziyuan there, and so Duke Zhao was not established. Duke Huan of Qi walled Gu and placed Guan Zhong there, and to this day Qi has the benefit of it. Your servant has heard that the five great ones should not be at the border, that the five small ones should not be in the court, that kinsmen should not be outside, and that strangers should not be within. Now Qiji is outside and Zheng Dan is within. Let my lord be a little on his guard." The king said, "What of a state's having a great walled city?" He answered: "It was Zheng's Jing and Li that killed Manbo; it was Song's Xiao and Bo that killed Ziyou; it was Qi's Quqiu that killed Wuzhi; it was Wei's Pu and Qi that drove out Duke Xian. Looking at it from these cases, they are a harm to the state. When the tip is too big it must snap; when the tail is too big it cannot be wagged. My lord knows this."

Year 12 (昭公十二年)

Annals.

• In the twelfth year, in spring, Gao Yan of Qi led an army and brought the Earl of Northern Yan into Yang.
• In the third month, on the day renshen, Jia, the Earl of Zheng, died.
• In summer, the Duke of Song sent Hua Ding on a diplomatic visit here. The duke went to Jin; reaching the Yellow River, he turned back.
• In the fifth month, Duke Jian of Zheng was buried. Chu killed its grandee Cheng Xiong.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Prince Yin fled to Qi. The Viscount of Chu attacked Xu. Jin attacked Xianyu.

Zuo.

In the twelfth year, in spring, Gao Yan of Qi brought Kuan, the Earl of Northern Yan, into Tang, relying on the multitude there.

In the third month, Duke Jian of Zheng died. They were clearing a way for the burial, and coming to the ancestral temple of the You clan, they were about to pull it down. Zi Taishu had his clearing crew stand holding their tools and not pull it down. He said: "When Zichan passes you and asks why you have not pulled it down, then say, 'We could not bear to harm the temple.' Then assent, and say that you are about to pull it down." When it happened so, Zichan had the temple avoided. Among the houses of the keepers of the graves there was one that stood in the road. If it were pulled down, the coffin could be lowered at dawn; if it were not, the lowering would be at midday. Zi Taishu asked that it be pulled down, saying, "What of the guests from the feudal lords?" Zichan said: "The guests of the feudal lords have been able to come and attend our mourning; will they shrink from waiting until midday? There is no loss to the guests and no harm to the people. Why should we not do so?" So it was not pulled down, and the burial took place at midday. The gentleman says that in this Zichan knew ritual. Ritual does not destroy others in order to complete oneself.

In summer, Hua Ding of Song came on a diplomatic visit, to open relations for the new ruler. He was feasted, and "Liao Xiao" was sung for him. He did not understand it, nor did he answer with an ode of his own. Zhaozi said: "He is sure to perish. He does not take to heart the words of the feast; he does not proclaim the favor and brilliance shown him; he does not recognize excellent virtue; he does not accept the blessing shared with him. How shall he continue?"

The Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Wei, and the Earl of Zheng went to Jin, to pay a court visit to the new ruler.

The duke went to Jin; reaching the Yellow River, he turned back. Because of the campaign in which Geng was taken, the men of Ju had complained to Jin. Jin was in mourning for Duke Ping and had not dealt with the matter, and therefore declined the duke. Prince Yin then went on to Jin. The Marquis of Jin feasted the feudal lords. Zichan assisted the Earl of Zheng and declined the feast, asking that he might await the end of his mourning before receiving commands. The men of Jin allowed it. This was in accord with ritual. The Marquis of Jin held a banquet with the Marquis of Qi; Zhonghang Muzi assisted, and they played pitch-pot. The Marquis of Jin went first. Muzi said: "There is wine like the Huai, there is meat like an islet. If my unworthy ruler hits this, he shall be master of the feudal lords." He hit it. The Marquis of Qi raised his arrow and said: "There is wine like the Sheng, there is meat like a hill. If I, the unworthy one, hit this, I shall rise in turn with my lord." He also hit it. Bo Xia said to Muzi: "You have misspoken. We are master of the feudal lords already; what has the pot to do with it? Was it by hitting the pot that we won? The ruler of Qi is weak; when our ruler goes home, he will not come again." Muzi said: "Our commanders are strong and firm; our foot and chariot troops vie in eagerness. Today is as it was of old. What will Qi do?" Gongsun Sou hurried forward and said, "The day is late and my lord is wearied; it is time to withdraw." With that he brought the Marquis of Qi out.

The Viscount of Chu said that Cheng Hu was a remnant of Ruo'ao, and so killed him. Someone had slandered Cheng Hu to the Viscount of Chu. Cheng Hu knew of it, but could not get away. The record says, "Chu killed its grandee Cheng Hu" — because he clung to favor.

In the sixth month, Duke Jian of Zheng was buried.

Xun Wu of Jin pretended that he was going to join the army of Qi and borrowed a road through Xianyu; he then entered Xiyang. In autumn, in the eighth month, on the day renwu, he extinguished Fei and returned with Mian Gao, the Viscount of Fei.

Yuan Bojiao of Zhou treated his common servants cruelly, and made them flee in a body. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day renshen, the first of the month, the commoners of Yuan drove out Jiao and set up Prince Gui. Soon afterward Jiao fled to the outskirts.

Duke Jian of Gan had no son, and set up his younger brother Guo. Guo intended to remove the families of Cheng and Jing. The families of Cheng and Jing bribed Duke Xian of Liu. On the day bingshen they killed Duke Dao of Gan and set up Chou, a grandson of Duke Cheng. On the day dingyou they killed the tutor of Xian's heir apparent, Guo the son of Yu Pi, and killed Xia Xin in the marketplace, together with Chuo the palace favorite, Wangsun Mo, Liu Zhoujiu, Yin Ji, and Lao Yangzi.

Ji Pingzi, once established, treated Nan Kuai (南蒯) without ritual courtesy. Nan Kuai said to Zizhong: "I will drive out the Ji clan and return their household to the duke. You shall take his place, and I with Fei will be a servant of the duke." Zizhong agreed to it. Nan Kuai spoke of it to Shuzhong Muzi and told him the reason. When Ji Daozi died, Shusun Zhaozi became a minister with the second grade of appointment; and when Pingzi attacked Ju and conquered it, he received instead the third grade. Shuzhongzi wished to set the two houses at odds, and said to Pingzi, "To hold the third grade is to overstep one's father and elder brothers; it is contrary to ritual." Pingzi said, "True," and therefore sent word to Zhaozi. Zhaozi said: "The Shusun clan had a disaster in the house — the legitimate heir was killed and the son of a concubine set up — and that is how I, Chuo, came to this. If you would use that disaster to strike me down, then I have heard your command. If the ruler's command is not to be set aside, then my station is already fixed." Zhaozi went to court and ordered the clerk: "I, Chuo, am going to litigate with the Ji clan. Write the pleadings without partiality." Jisun was afraid, and laid the blame on Shuzhongzi. Therefore Shuzhong Xiao, Nan Kuai, and Prince Yin plotted against the Ji clan. Yin told the duke, and then accompanied the duke toward Jin. Nan Kuai, fearing that he would not succeed, revolted with Fei and went over to Qi. Zizhong, on his way back, reached Wei, heard of the disorder, slipped away from his attendant officers and went on ahead. Reaching the outskirts, he heard that Fei had revolted, and so fled to Qi. When Nan Kuai was about to revolt, one of his fellow villagers knew of it. Passing by him he sighed and said: "Anxious, anxious! Sunk low and adrift! Deep in brooding but shallow in planning, near in his person but far in his ambition, a household retainer scheming a ruler's schemes. There is a man for you!" Nan Kuai divined by milfoil without naming his business, and got Kun changing to Bi, which said, "Yellow lower garment: supreme good fortune." He took this for great good fortune. He showed it to Zifu Huibo, saying, "If one wished to undertake something, how would this be?" Huibo said: "I have studied this. For an affair of loyalty and good faith it will serve; otherwise it must fail. Strong without and warm within — that is loyalty. Harmony that leads to correctness — that is good faith. Therefore it says, 'Yellow lower garment: supreme good fortune.' Yellow is the color of the center; the lower garment is the ornament of what is below; 'supreme' is the chief of goods. If the center is not loyal, one does not obtain that color; if the one below is not reverent, one does not obtain that ornament; if the affair is not good, one does not obtain that highest point. When outer and inner sing and answer together, that is loyalty; to lead affairs with good faith, that is reverence; to nourish these three virtues, that is goodness. Without these three, it does not apply. Moreover the Changes cannot be used to divine for a hazardous design. What affair have you in mind? And can it be adorned? If the center is beautiful, one can be yellow; if the upper is beautiful, it is 'supreme'; if the lower is beautiful, it is the 'lower garment.' Only when the three are complete may one consult the milfoil, and even then a defect may remain. Though the milfoil says auspicious, it is not yet so." He was about to go to Fei, and gave the villagers wine to drink. One of the villagers sang to him:

I have a garden,
and wolfberries grow in it.
He who follows me is a gentleman;
he who leaves me is base;
he who turns his back on his neighbors is a shame.
Enough! Enough!
He is no man of our company.

Pingzi wanted Zhaozi to drive out Shuzhong Xiao. Xiao heard of it and did not dare come to court. Zhaozi ordered a clerk to tell Xiao to await orders at court, saying, "I will not be a storehouse for other men's resentments."

The Viscount of Chu hunted at Zhoulai and halted at Yingwei. He sent Dang Hou, Pan Zi, the marshal Du, Wu the steward of Xiao, and Xi the steward of Ling to lead an army and besiege Xu, so as to strike fear into Wu. The Viscount of Chu halted at Qianxi to be their support. Snow fell. The king, in a leather cap, a Qin fur robe, a kingfisher-feather cape, and leopard-skin slippers, went out holding a whip, with Xi Fu the master of the carriage attending him. Zige (子革), the Right Steward, came for the evening audience. The king received him, took off his cap and cape, laid aside his whip, and talked with him, saying: "Long ago our former king Xiong Yi, together with Lü Ji, Wangsun Mou, Xie Fu, and Qin Fu, all served King Kang. The four states all had their allotted treasures; we alone had none. Now if I send men to Zhou and ask for a cauldron as our allotment, will the king give it to me?" He answered: "He will give it to my lord the king. Long ago our former king Xiong Yi dwelt remote at Mount Jing; in a brushwood cart and ragged clothes he lived among the weeds, tramping over mountains and forests to serve the Son of Heaven, and had only peachwood bows and thorn arrows to offer for the king's service. Qi was the king's mother's kin; Jin, Lu, and Wei were the king's own younger brothers. That is why Chu had no allotted treasure, while they all had theirs. Now Zhou and those four states serve my lord the king and will follow only his commands. Would they grudge a cauldron?" The king said: "Long ago our august ancestor and uncle Kunwu dwelt in old Xu. Now the men of Zheng greedily profit from that land and will not give it to me. If I ask for it, will they give it to me?" He answered: "They will give it to my lord the king. If Zhou does not grudge a cauldron, will Zheng dare grudge a field?" The king said: "Formerly the feudal lords kept far from me and feared Jin. Now I have greatly walled Chen, Cai, and Buleng, and each of them musters a thousand chariots — and you had a share in that labor. Will the feudal lords now fear me?" He answered: "They will fear my lord the king. Those four alone would be enough to fear; add Chu to them, and how should they dare not fear my lord the king?" Lu, the steward of works, asked: "My lord the king ordered jade to be pared for the haft of a battle-axe. I venture to ask for orders." The king went in to look at it. Xi Fu said to Zige: "You, sir, are one to whom the state of Chu looks up. Now you answer the king like an echo. What will become of the state?" Zige said: "I am whetting my blade and waiting. When the king comes out, my blade will cut." The king came out and resumed the talk. Yi Xiang, the scribe of the left, hurried past. The king said: "That is a fine scribe; look well upon him. He can read the Three Mounds, the Five Canons, the Eight Cords, and the Nine Hills." He answered: "Your servant once questioned him. Long ago King Mu wished to give free rein to his heart and travel all round the world, so that everywhere there should be his chariot ruts and horse tracks. Mou Fu, the Duke of Zhai, made the ode 'Qi Zhao' to check the king's heart, and thereby the king came to his end in the Zhi Palace. I asked him about that ode, and he did not know it. If he were asked about things more remote still, how could he know them?" The king said, "Can you?" He answered, "I can. The ode says:

Qi Zhao, calm and still,
makes bright thereby the sound of virtue.
Think upon our king's measure:
like jade,
like gold.
He shapes himself to the strength of the people
and has no heart for drunken surfeit."

The king bowed and went in. He did not eat what was set before him, and lay down without sleeping. For several days he could not master himself, and so came to his ruin. Zhongni said: "There is an old record: 'To master oneself and return to ritual is humanity.' How true and good it is! Had King Ling of Chu been able to do this, would he have been disgraced at Qianxi?"

Jin attacked Xianyu, on account of the campaign against Fei.

Year 13 (昭公十三年)

Annals.

• In the thirteenth year, in spring, Shu Gong led an army and besieged Fei.
• In summer, in the fourth month, Prince Bi of Chu returned to Chu from Jin and assassinated his ruler Qian at Qianxi. Prince Qiji of Chu killed Prince Bi.
• In autumn, the duke met the Viscount of Liu, the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu at Pingqiu. In the eighth month, on the day jiaxu, they made a joint covenant at Pingqiu. The duke did not take part in the covenant. The men of Jin seized Jisun Yiru and took him back with them. The duke arrived from the meeting. Lu, the Marquis of Cai, returned to Cai. Wu, the Marquis of Chen, returned to Chen.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Ling of Cai was buried. The duke went to Jin; reaching the Yellow River, he turned back. Wu extinguished Zhoulai.

Zuo.

In the thirteenth year, in spring, Shu Gong besieged Fei. He did not take it and was defeated there. Pingzi was angry and ordered that any man of Fei who was seen should be seized and held as a captive. Ye Oufu said: "That is wrong. If you see men of Fei, clothe those who are cold and feed those who are hungry; be a good lord to them and supply their want and distress. Then the men of Fei will come as though coming home, and the Nan clan is finished. The people will revolt from him, and with whom will he hold the town? But if you cow them with severity and frighten them with anger, the people will hate you and revolt, and that will be to gather them for him. If all the feudal lords act so, the men of Fei will have nowhere to return to, and though they have no love for the Nan clan, where else could they go?" Pingzi followed his advice, and the men of Fei revolted from the Nan clan.

When the Viscount of Chu was chief minister, he killed the grand marshal Wei Yan and took his household. When he came to the throne, he seized the fields of Wei Ju, moved Xu, and held Xu Wei as a hostage. Cai Wei was in favor with the king; when the king extinguished Cai, Wei's father died there. The king made him take part in the garrison, and went to the meeting at Shen, where a grandee of Yue was put to death. The king seized Zhongchou from Dou Weigui, and also seized Chengran's town, making him steward of the outskirts. Man Chengran therefore served the Duke of Cai. So the kin of the Wei clan, together with Wei Ju, Xu Wei, Cai Wei, and Man Chengran, were all men whom the king had treated without ritual courtesy. Making use of the families that had lost their offices, they induced the Yue grandee Chang Shouguo to raise a revolt. They besieged Gucheng, took Xizhou, walled it, and settled in it. When Guan Qi was put to death, his son Cong was in Cai. He served Chao Wu and said: "If Cai is not enfeoffed now, Cai will never be enfeoffed. Let me try it." Using the authority of the Duke of Cai, he summoned Zigan and Zixi. When they reached the outskirts he told them the truth of the matter, forced them into a covenant, and entered to surprise Cai. The Duke of Cai was about to eat; seeing them, he fled. Guan Cong (觀從) had Zigan drink at the pit with a victim, laid the covenant document upon it, and moved swiftly. Then he proclaimed throughout Cai: "The Duke of Cai has summoned the two princes and will bring them in. He has covenanted with them and sent them off, and will lead an army after them." The men of Cai gathered and were about to seize him. He said, "You have let the traitors go and let their army form; what good will killing me do?" So they released him. Chao Wu said: "Gentlemen, if you are able to die or to go into exile, then defy him and wait to see who succeeds; if you seek safety and settlement, then side with him and bring about what you desire. Besides, if you defy your superior, where can you go that will serve?" The multitude said, "Side with him." So they upheld the Duke of Cai, summoned the two princes, and covenanted at Deng, relying on the men of Chen and Cai for a state. Prince Bi of Chu, Prince Heigong, Prince Qiji, Man Chengran, and Chao Wu of Cai led the troops of Chen, Chu, Buleng, Xu, and She, and with the followers of the four clans entered Chu. Reaching the outskirts, the men of Chen and Cai wanted a name for it, and so asked to raise a victory mound. The Duke of Cai understood them and said, "I want speed, and moreover the troops are worn out. Let there be only a palisade." So they made a palisade for the camp. The Duke of Cai sent Xu Wumou and the scribe Pi in first; with the help of the chief of the servants they killed the heir apparent Lu and Prince Pidi. Prince Bi became king and Prince Heigong chief minister, and they halted at Yupi; Prince Qiji became marshal. He first cleared the royal palace, and sent Guan Cong to follow the army at Qianxi and there announce it, saying: "Those who return first will get back their places; those who come later will have their noses cut off." The army reached Ziliang and broke up. When the king heard of the death of the princes, he threw himself down from his chariot and said, "Do other men love their sons as I do?" An attendant said: "More so. When a common man is old and has no son, he knows that he will be thrust into a ditch." The king said, "I have killed the sons of many men. Could it fail to come to this?" Zige, the Right Steward, said, "Let us wait in the outskirts and hear what the people of the capital say." The king said, "The anger of the multitude cannot be braved." He said, "Then enter a great city and beg troops of the feudal lords." The king said, "They have all revolted." He said, "Then take refuge among the feudal lords, and hear what plan a great state may have for my lord." The king said, "Great good fortune does not come twice; I should only get disgrace by it." Ran Dan then went back to Chu. The king went down the Xia, meaning to enter Yan. Shen Hai, son of Wuyu the Mi steward, said: "My father twice offended against the king's command, and the king did not put him to death. What kindness is greater than that? A ruler cannot be forsaken; kindness cannot be cast aside. I will follow the king." So he sought out the king, met him at Jiwei, and brought him home.

In summer, in the fifth month, on the day guihai, the king hanged himself at the house of Shen Hai the Mi steward. Shen Hai had his own two daughters follow him in death and buried them with him. Guan Cong said to Zigan, "If you do not kill Qiji, then even though you get the state you will still suffer disaster." Zigan said, "I cannot bring myself to it." Ziyu said, "Others will bring themselves to it against you; I cannot bear to wait," and he departed. Every night the capital was in alarm, crying, "The king has entered!" On the night of the day yimao, Qiji sent men running all round to shout, "The king has come!" The people of the capital were greatly alarmed. He sent Man Chengran running to tell Zigan and Zixi: "The king has come. The people of the capital have killed your ruler, and the marshal is about to arrive. If my lord takes counsel with himself early, he may escape disgrace. The anger of the multitude is like water and fire; there is no planning against it." Then came another man running and shouting, "The multitude has come!" The two princes both killed themselves. On the day bingchen, Qiji came to the throne and took the name Xiong Ju. He buried Zigan at Zi; hence Zigan is called Zi'ao. He killed a prisoner, dressed him in royal robes, and set him afloat on the Han, then took the body up and buried it, in order to quiet the people of the capital. He made Ziqi chief minister. The Chu army came back from Xu, and the men of Wu defeated it at Yuzhang and captured its five commanders. King Ping re-enfeoffed Chen and Cai, restored the towns that had been moved, returned the various bribes, gave alms and relaxed the burdens on the people, pardoned offenses, and filled the offices. He summoned Guan Cong and said, "Whatever you desire." He answered, "My forefathers assisted at the opening of divination." So he was made steward of divination. He sent Zhiru Zigong on a diplomatic visit to Zheng, and also to hand over the fields of Chou and Li. When the business was finished, he did not hand them over. The men of Zheng asked: "We have heard on the roads that our unworthy ruler was to be given Chou and Li. We venture to ask for the command." He answered, "Your servant has heard no such command." When he had returned, the king asked about Chou and Li. He put off his robes and answered, "Your servant erred and lost the command, and did not hand them over." The king took him by the hand and said, "Do not trouble yourself. Go home for now. When I, the unworthy one, have business, I shall tell you." In a later year, Shen Hai the Mi steward reported where the king's coffin lay, and the king was reburied. Earlier, King Ling had divined, saying, "May I yet obtain the world." It was not auspicious. He threw down the tortoise-shell, railed at Heaven, and cried, "You will not grant me even this trifle! I shall certainly take it for myself." The people suffered from the king's insatiability, and therefore joined the revolt as if going home. Earlier, King Gong had no principal legitimate son. He had five favored sons, and among them was no legitimate heir to be set up. So he held a great sacrifice to the many mountains and rivers and prayed: "Let the spirits choose among these five, and make him master of the altars of soil and grain." Then he presented a jade disc to all the objects of that sacrifice, saying, "The one who bows facing the disc is the one whom the spirits have set up. Who will dare oppose it?" Afterward, with the lady Ba Ji, he secretly buried the disc in the courtyard of the great chamber, and had the five men purify themselves and enter in order of age to bow. King Kang straddled it; King Ling put his elbow over it; Zigan and Zixi were both far from it; King Ping was small and was carried in, and bowed twice, and both times pressed upon the knob of the disc. Dou Weigui attached Chengran to him, saying, "Cast away ritual and defy commands, and Chu will be in peril." When Zigan returned, Han Xuanzi asked Shuxiang, "Will Zigan succeed?" He answered, "It is hard." Xuanzi said, "Those who share a hatred seek one another out like traders in a market. What is hard about it?" He answered: "If he has none who share his likings, who will share his hatreds? There are five difficulties in taking a state. To have favor but no men is the first. To have men but no supporters within is the second. To have supporters but no plan is the third. To have a plan but no people is the fourth. To have people but no virtue is the fifth. Zigan has been in Jin thirteen years, and among his followers from Jin and Chu no man of note is heard of: he may be said to have no men. His clan is destroyed and his kin have revolted: he may be said to have no supporters. He moved without an opening: he may be said to have no plan. He has been a sojourner all his life: he may be said to have no people. In exile there was no sign of anyone's loving him: he may be said to have no virtue. The king was cruel and off his guard, and Zigan, as ruler of Chu, has waded through these five difficulties in killing the old ruler. Who can bring him through? The man who will possess the state of Chu — will it not be Qiji? He rules Chen and Cai, and the country beyond the walls belongs to him. Harshness and wickedness do not arise; robbers and thieves keep in hiding; his private desires do not run against the people, and the people have no resentful hearts. The former spirits appointed him; the people of the state trust him. When the Mi surname has disorder, it is always the youngest who is set up; that is the constant rule of Chu. He has the spirits, which is one; he has the people, which is two; he has excellent virtue, which is three; he has favor and rank, which is four; he stands in the constant rule, which is five. With five advantages to set against the five difficulties, who can harm him? As for Zigan's office, he is Right Steward; counting his rank and favor, he is the son of a concubine; by what the spirits appointed, he was far from the disc. His rank is gone and his favor cast away; the people do not cherish him and the state does not side with him. On what will he stand?" Xuanzi said, "Were not Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin the same?" He answered: "Duke Huan of Qi was the son of the lady Wei Ji and was in favor with Duke Xi. He had Bao Shuya, Bin Xuwu, and Xi Peng as his assistants; he had Ju and Wei as supporters abroad; he had the Guo and the Gao as supporters within. He followed the good as water flows down; he was kind to those below, reverent and grave; he stored up no bribes and did not follow his desires; he gave alms untiringly and sought the good insatiably. That he obtained the state — was it not fitting? Our former ruler Duke Wen was the son of the lady Hu Jiji and was in favor with Duke Xian. He loved learning and was not of two minds; at seventeen he had five officers about him. He had the former grandees Ziyu and Zifan as his belly and heart, Wei Chou and Jia Tuo as his thighs and arms, Qi, Song, Qin, and Chu as supporters abroad, and the Luan, the Xi, the Hu, and the Xian as supporters within. He was in exile nineteen years and held to his purpose ever more firmly. Dukes Hui and Huai cast off the people, and the people followed and sided with him. Duke Xian had no other close kin, and the people had no other hope; Heaven was then aiding Jin, and who was there to take the place of Duke Wen? These two rulers were unlike Zigan. King Gong had favored sons, and the state has a hidden lord. Zigan gave nothing to the people and had no support abroad. When he left Jin, no one escorted him; when he returned to Chu, no one met him. How can he hope for the state?"

Jin completed Siqi. Of the feudal lords who paid court there and went home, all had divided hearts. Because of the taking of Geng, Jin was about to come with the feudal lords to punish us. Shuxiang said, "The feudal lords must be shown our power." So a general summons to a meeting was issued, and word was sent to Wu.

In autumn, the Marquis of Jin was to meet the Viscount of Wu at Liang. The water route was impassable, and the Viscount of Wu declined; so he returned.

Zuo. In the seventh month, on the day bingyin, [Jin] reviewed its troops south of Zhu (邾): four thousand armored chariots. Yangshe Fu (羊舌鮒) acted as marshal. Then the marquis of Jin assembled the feudal lords at Pingqiu (平丘). Zichan (子產) and Zi Taishu (子大叔) attended the earl of Zheng as his assistants at the meeting. Zichan set out with nine tent-canopies, Zi Taishu with forty. Afterward Zi Taishu regretted it, and at every halting place he reduced them, so that by the time of the meeting his number was the same as Zichan's.

They halted in the territory of Wey (衛). Shu Fu sought goods from Wey, and let his grass-cutters and woodcutters run riot over the land. The men of Wey sent Tu Bo (屠伯) to present Shuxiang (叔向) with a bowl of soup and a hamper of brocade, saying: "The feudal lords serve Jin and dare not be of divided mind; how much less would Wey, which lies under your ruler's own eaves, dare harbor other intentions? Yet the grass-cutters and woodcutters behave otherwise than on former days. We venture to ask about it." Shuxiang accepted the soup and returned the brocade, saying: "Jin has a certain Yangshe Fu, insatiable in his greed for goods; retribution will reach him too. In this campaign, if you bestow this upon him in your ruler's name, he will stop." The guest did as he said, and before he had withdrawn the plundering was forbidden.

The men of Jin were about to renew the covenant, and the men of Qi would not agree. The marquis of Jin sent Shuxiang to inform Liu, Duke Xian (劉獻公): "But the men of Qi will not covenant. What is to be done?" He answered: "A covenant is the means of settling good faith. If your ruler has good faith, the feudal lords will not be of two minds; what is there to fear? Announce it to them in well-turned words; oversee them with armed force. Even if Qi does not consent, your ruler's merit will be great. I, an elder of the Son of Heaven, ask leave to lead the king's levies — ten great war-chariots — to open the march in front. Slow or swift, let it be as your ruler wishes."

Shuxiang announced to Qi: "The feudal lords sought a covenant, and here they now are. Now your ruler finds it not to his advantage, and our ruler therefore makes this request." The answer was: "When the feudal lords punish the disloyal, then there is a renewal of the covenant. If all obey commands, what covenant is there to renew?"

Shuxiang said: "The ruin of states. When there are affairs but no established duties, then the affairs are not regulated. When there are duties but no rites, then the regulation has no proper order. When there are rites but no awe-inspiring authority, then the order is not respected. When there is authority but it is not displayed, then the respect is not made manifest. When it is not manifest, respect is cast off; and when a hundred affairs are not carried through, that is the road by which states are overturned. Therefore the institution of the enlightened kings had the feudal lords send a diplomatic visit every year, to keep their duties in mind; at intervals make a court visit, to rehearse the rites; after two court visits hold a meeting, to display awe; and after two meetings make a covenant, to bring the manifest brightness into view. Duties are kept in mind through friendly relations; rites are rehearsed through rank; awe is displayed before the multitude; brightness is made manifest before the spirits. From antiquity down, this has never once been let go. The way of survival and of ruin always rises from this. Jin by the rites presides over the covenant, and fearing that something may go unmanaged, it reverently offers the purified victim and lays the matter before the rulers, seeking to bring the business to its end. Your ruler says, 'I will certainly set it aside.' Then what purity of reverence is left? Let your ruler consider it. Our ruler has heard your command."

The men of Qi were afraid and answered: "A small state speaks, a great state decides. Dare we not obey? We have heard the command. We will go in reverence and respect. Slow or swift, let it be as your ruler wishes."

Shuxiang said: "There are gaps among the feudal lords. We cannot but make a display before the multitude." In the eighth month, on xinwei, the troops were reviewed: the standards were raised, but the streamers were not let fly. On renshen the streamers were flown again, and the feudal lords feared them.

The men of Zhu and the men of Ju (莒) complained to Jin, saying: "Lu attacks us morning and evening; we are nearly destroyed. If we have failed in our service, Lu is the cause of it." The marquis of Jin would not receive our duke, and sent Shuxiang to turn him away, saying: "The feudal lords will covenant on the day jiaxu. Our ruler knows that he cannot be allowed to serve your ruler. Let your ruler not trouble himself." Zifu Huibo (子服惠伯) answered: "Your ruler credits the complaints of the Man and the Yi, and so cuts off a brother state and casts aside the descendants of the Duke of Zhou. That too rests with your ruler. Our ruler has heard the command." Shuxiang said: "Our ruler has four thousand armored chariots here. Even if he used them without principle, to set them in motion would surely be a thing to fear; how much more when he follows the right way — what enemy could stand? Though an ox be lean, if it topples onto a piglet, need one fear the piglet will not die? The troubles of Nan Kuai (南蒯) and Zizhong — can they simply be set aside? If we take up the multitude of Jin, employ the armies of the feudal lords, avail ourselves of the anger of Zhu, Ju, Qi (杞), and Zeng (鄫) to punish the offenses of Lu, and use the opening left by her two troubles, what could we seek and not achieve?" The men of Lu were afraid and submitted.

On jiaxu they made a joint covenant at Pingqiu, Qi having submitted. The feudal lords were ordered to arrive at the cleared altar-ground at midday. On guiyou, after the court had withdrawn, Zichan ordered his outer servants to pitch his tents quickly on the cleared ground. Zi Taishu stopped his own men and made them wait for the next day. Toward evening Zichan heard that Zi Taishu's tents had not been pitched and sent men to go quickly, but by then there was no place left to pitch them.

At the covenant Zichan contested the tribute assessment, saying: "In former times the Son of Heaven apportioned the tribute, its lightness and weight according to rank: the more honorable the rank, the heavier the tribute. This was the institution of Zhou. Those of low rank whose tribute is heavy are the lands of the royal domain. The ruler of Zheng is an earl, and a baron in tribute rank, yet he is made to render the tribute of dukes and marquises. We fear he cannot supply it, and we venture to make this request. The feudal lords have quieted their arms and made friendship their business; the commands carried by traveling envoys arrive in no month fewer than the last. Tribute has no fixed measure, and when a small state falls short, that is how it incurs guilt. The feudal lords keep up covenants in order to preserve the small states; if tribute offerings have no limit, our ruin may be looked for. Whether we survive or perish is decided now." He contested from midday until dusk, and the men of Jin granted it.

After the covenant Zi Taishu blamed him, saying: "If the feudal lords should come to punish us, can such a thing be treated so lightly?" Zichan said: "Government in Jin has many doors; they have no leisure even for their own duplicity and slackness — what leisure have they to punish a state? If we do not contend, we shall be trampled. What sort of state would we then be?"

Our duke did not take part in the covenant. The men of Jin seized Jisun Yiru (季孫意如), covered him with a tent-cloth, and set Di men to guard him. Siduo Yi (司鐸射) hid brocade in his robe, carried a jar of drink and ice, and crawled up to him. The guards blocked him; he gave them the brocade and got in. The men of Jin took Pingzi back with them, and Zifu Jiao (子服湫) went along.

Zichan returned; before he arrived he heard that Zipi (子皮) had died. He wept and said: "Now I have no one left for whose sake to do good. Only that man understood me."

Zhongni (仲尼) said of Zichan that on this expedition he was fit to be the foundation of a state. The Odes say:

Joyous is the noble man,
the foundation of state and house.

Zichan was a noble man who sought that joy. He also said: "To assemble the feudal lords and set a measure to the business of tribute — this accords with the rites."

The men of Xianyu (鮮虞), hearing that the army of Jin had gone out in its entirety, did not put their border on guard and did not repair their defenses. Xun Wu (荀吳) of Jin raided Xianyu from Zhuoyong with the upper army, reached Zhongren, drove and charged them at speed, and returned with great spoil.

When Chu extinguished Cai, King Ling had moved Xu, Hu, Shen, Dao, Fang, and Shen to Jing. When King Ping came to the throne, having re-enfeoffed Chen and Cai, he restored them all to their old seats. This accorded with the rites. Lu, son of the heir apparent Yin, returned to Cai. This accorded with the rites. Wu, son of the heir apparent Dao, returned to Chen. This accorded with the rites.

In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Ling of Cai was buried. This accorded with the rites.

Our duke went to Jin. Xun Wu said to Han Xuanzi (韓宣子): "When the feudal lords visit one another's courts, it is to rehearse an old friendship. To hold their minister prisoner and yet receive their ruler at court has no friendship in it. Better to turn him back." So they sent Shi Jingbo (士景伯) to turn our duke back at the Yellow River.

Wu extinguished Zhoulai (州來). The chief minister Ziqi asked leave to attack Wu. The king would not permit it, and said: "I have not yet comforted the people, not yet served the ghosts and spirits, not yet repaired the defenses, not yet settled the state. To use the people's strength now, and be defeated, would leave no room for regret. Zhoulai in Wu's hands is as good as in Chu's. Wait for it, sir."

Jisun was still in Jin. Zifu Huibo said privately to Zhonghang Muzi: "In serving Jin, how is Lu inferior to the small states of the Yi? Lu is a brother state; its territory is still large, and whatever is commanded it can supply. If for the sake of the Yi you cast it off and drive it to serve Qi or Chu, what cure will that be for Jin? To treat kin as kin and to side with the great, to reward the respectful and punish the negligent — this is what makes a covenant chief. Consider it, sir. The proverb says, 'A vassal is one; masters are two.' Are we without great states to turn to?" Muzi reported this to Han Xuanzi, and added: "When Chu extinguished Chen and Cai we could not rescue them; and now for the sake of the Yi we hold a kinsman prisoner. What use is that?" So they released Jisun.

Huibo said: "Our ruler does not yet know his offense. You assembled the feudal lords and seized his elder minister. If he is indeed guilty, he may die at your command. If you say he is not guilty and graciously release him without the feudal lords hearing of it, that is fleeing from a sentence — what release is that? Let us receive your ruler's grace before the assembly." Xuanzi was troubled by this and said to Shuxiang: "Can you get Jisun to go home?" He answered: "I cannot. Fu can." So they sent Shuyu (叔魚). Shuyu saw Jisun and said: "In former days I, Fu, offended the ruler of Jin and took myself to the ruler of Lu. Had it not been for Wuzi's bounty I should not have lived till now. Though I got my bones back to Jin, it was you who put flesh on them. Dare I not speak with full sincerity? They would send you home, and you do not go home. I have heard from the officers that they intend to clear lodgings for you on the Western River. What will you do then?" And he wept. Pingzi took fright and went home first; Huibo stayed for the proper ceremony.

Year 14 (昭公十四年)

Annals.

• In the fourteenth year, in spring, Yiru arrived from Jin.
• In the third month, Teng, earl of Cao, died.
• In summer, the fourth month.
• In autumn, Duke Wu of Cao was buried.
• In the eighth month, Quji, viscount of Ju, died.
• In winter, Ju killed its prince Yihui.

Zuo. In the fourteenth year, in spring, Yiru arrived from Jin. The record honors Jin and lays the blame on ourselves. To honor Jin and blame ourselves accords with the rites.

When Nan Kuai was about to revolt, he had the people of Bi (費) swear a covenant. The minister of education Lao Qi and Lü Gui feigned a crippling illness and had this said to Nan Kuai: "Your servants wish to take the covenant, but sickness has come upon us. If by your lordship's spiritual power we do not die, we ask to wait for a remission and then swear." He allowed it. The two men, taking advantage of the people's wish to turn against him, asked that the multitude be assembled at dawn for the covenant, and then seized Nan Kuai, saying: "Your officers have not forgotten their ruler; it is fear of you that has brought them to this day. For three years they have obeyed your commands. If you do not consider this, the men of Bi, who cannot bear to be parted from their ruler, will no longer be able to fear you. Where could you not have your desires fulfilled? We ask leave to escort you away." He asked for a term of five days, and then fled to Qi. He was in attendance at a drinking party of Duke Jing. The duke said: "Rebel!" He answered: "Your servant wished to enlarge the ducal house." Zi Han Xi said: "For a house-servant to wish to enlarge the ducal house — no crime is greater than that." The minister of education Lao Qi and Lü Gui came and gave Bi back, and the marquis of Qi sent Bao Wenzi to make the delivery.

In summer, the viscount of Chu sent Ran Dan to muster the troops of the upper region at Zongqiu, and also to comfort the people there: to share out to the poor and relieve the destitute, to rear orphans and the young, to nourish the aged and the sick, to gather in the solitary and unattached, to relieve those in disaster and distress, to be lenient to orphans and widows, to pardon offenses, to investigate the wicked and treacherous, to raise up those long passed over, to treat newcomers with courtesy and give the old their due order, to grant emoluments for merit and draw kin together, to employ the good and match men to offices. He sent Qu Ba to muster the troops of the eastern region at Zhaoling and to do likewise. He kept good relations on the frontiers, gave the people five years of rest, and only then employed his armies. This accorded with the rites.

In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Zhuqiu of Ju died. Duke Jiao showed no grief; the people of the state would not follow him, and wished to set up Gengyu, the younger brother of Duke Zhuqiu. The Marquis of Puyu hated prince Yihui and was on good terms with Gengyu; Duke Jiao hated prince Duo and was on good terms with Yihui. Prince Duo approached the Marquis of Puyu and plotted with him, saying: "You kill Yihui; I will drive out the ruler and bring in Gengyu." He agreed.

The chief minister of Chu, Ziqi, had done the king a service, but he knew no measure. He allied himself with the Yang clan, and his demands were insatiable. The king was troubled by him.

In the ninth month, on jiawu, the viscount of Chu killed Dou Chengran (鬥成然) and extinguished the Yang clan. He settled Dou Xin at Yun, so that the old merit should not be forgotten.

In winter, in the twelfth month, Zifu, the Marquis of Puyu, killed prince Yihui of Ju. Duke Jiao fled to Qi. Prince Duo went to Qi to meet Gengyu; Xi Dang of Qi and prince Chu escorted him, and lands were given as a bribe.

In Jin, the Marquis of Xing and Yongzi contended over the fields of Chu, and it dragged on with no settlement. Shi Jingbo had gone to Chu, and Shuyu was acting as chief judge. Han Xuanzi ordered the old case decided, and the guilt lay with Yongzi. Yongzi gave his daughter to Shuyu, and Shuyu delivered judgment against the Marquis of Xing. The Marquis of Xing in his rage killed Shuyu and Yongzi at court. Xuanzi asked Shuxiang about their guilt. Shuxiang said: "All three are equally guilty. Put the living to death and expose the corpses of the dead — that will do. Yongzi knew his own guilt and used a bribe to buy a favorable verdict; Fu sold judgment; the Marquis of Xing killed on his own authority. Their guilt is one and the same. To harbor evil in oneself and steal another's good name is hun, moral darkness; to be greedy and so ruin one's office is mo, corruption; to kill men without scruple is zei, villainy. The Documents of Xia say: 'For hun, for mo, for zei — death.' This was the punishment of Gao Yao. I ask that we follow it." So they put the Marquis of Xing to death and exposed the corpses of Yongzi and Shuyu in the market.

Zhongni said: "Shuxiang was an upright man left over from antiquity. In governing the state and settling punishments he did not shield his own kin. Three times he reckoned up Shuyu's evils and did not lessen them in the least. Righteous indeed! He may be called upright. At the meeting of Pingqiu he reckoned up his bribe-taking, and by that relieved the state of Wey, so that Jin did not act the oppressor. In sending Jisun of Lu home he named his deceit, and by that relieved the state of Lu, so that Jin did not act cruelly. In the case of the Marquis of Xing he spoke of his greed, and by that made the penal code straight, so that Jin was not partial. With three utterances he removed three evils and added three benefits. He put a kinsman to death and his glory grew — that too was righteousness."

Year 15 (昭公十五年)

Annals.

• In the fifteenth year, in spring, in the king's first month, Yimo, viscount of Wu, died.
• In the second month, on guiyou, there was a sacrifice in the temple of Duke Wu; as the flute-dancers entered, Shu Gong died. The music was removed and the service completed.
• In summer, Chao Wu of Cai fled to Zheng.
• In the sixth month, on dingsi, the first day of the month, the sun was eclipsed.
• In autumn, Xun Wu of Jin led an army and attacked Xianyu.
• In winter, our duke went to Jin.

Zuo. In the fifteenth year, in spring, a di sacrifice was to be offered to Duke Wu, and the hundred officers were warned to prepare. Zi Shen (梓慎) said: "On the day of the di there will be a calamity. I have seen a red and black vapor of ill omen; it is no auspice of sacrifice but a miasma of mourning, and it will fall upon the one who presides over the service." In the second month, on guiyou, the di was held. Shu Gong presided over the service; as the flute-dancers came in, he died. The music was removed and the service completed. This accorded with the rites.

Fei Wuji (費無極) of Chu was jealous of Chao Wu's position in Cai and wished to be rid of him. So he said to Chao Wu: "The king trusts you alone, and therefore placed you in Cai. You are now advanced in years, yet you hold a lower post; it is a disgrace. You must ask for more, and I will help you make the request." And he said to those set above Chao Wu: "The king trusts Wu alone, and therefore placed him in Cai. Not one of you is his equal, yet you stand above him. Is that not perilous? If you do not plan against it, calamity will surely reach you." In summer the men of Cai drove out Chao Wu, and Chao Wu fled to Zheng. The king was angry and said: "I trusted Wu alone, and therefore set him in Cai. Moreover, without Wu I should not have come to this. Why have you driven him out?" Wuji answered: "How should your servant not want Wu? But I foresaw that he is a man of an unusual kind. With Wu in Cai, Cai will surely fly up quickly; to be rid of Wu is the way to clip her wings."

In the sixth month, on yichou, the king's heir apparent Shou died.

In autumn, in the eighth month, on wuyin, the king's Queen Mu passed away.

Xun Wu of Jin led an army and attacked Xianyu, laying siege to Gu (鼓). Someone among the men of Gu offered to betray the city to him, and Muzi would not allow it. Those about him said: "The troops need not toil, and yet the city can be got. Why not do it?" Muzi said: "I heard this from Shuxiang: when likes and dislikes do not go astray, the people know where to turn, and there is no undertaking that fails. If someone were to betray a city of mine, that is what I should most hate. When a man brings me a city, why should I alone find it pleasing? To reward what I most hate — then what of what I like? And if I do not reward him, that is a breach of good faith; how then should I shelter the people? If my strength suffices, I advance; if not, I withdraw. I measure my strength and act. I cannot covet a city and so bring treachery near; what I should lose by it would be far greater." He had the men of Gu put the traitor to death and repair their defenses.

He besieged Gu for three months. Someone in Gu asked to surrender. He had their people brought before him and said: "They still have the color of men who eat. Go and repair your walls for the present." The officers of the army said: "To have the city within reach and not take it, to wear out the men and blunt the weapons — how is this serving our ruler?" Muzi said: "This is precisely how I serve my ruler. To gain one town and thereby teach the people slackness — what use would the town be? To buy slackness with a town is worse than keeping whole what we already have. Bought slackness comes to no good end, and casting off the old is unlucky. The men of Gu are able to serve their ruler; I too am able to serve mine. To follow righteousness without swerving, to keep likes and dislikes from going astray — then the city can be taken and the people will know righteousness, holding to death by their orders and having no divided heart. Is that not well?" When the men of Gu reported that their food was exhausted and their strength spent, he took the city. He overcame Gu and returned without putting a single man to death, taking Jiedi, the viscount of Gu, back with him.

In winter, our duke went to Jin, on account of the meeting at Pingqiu.

In the twelfth month, Xun Li of Jin went to Zhou for the burial of Queen Mu, with Ji Tan (籍談) as his second. After the burial, when the mourning had been put off, the king feasted Wenbo, using the Lu jar as the wine vessel. The king said: "Bo, the feudal lords all have something with which to steady and support the royal house; Jin alone has nothing. Why is that?" Wenbo bowed to Ji Tan, and Ji Tan answered: "When the feudal lords were enfeoffed, they all received bright vessels from the royal house with which to steady and support their altars of soil and grain; therefore they can present ritual vessels to the king. Jin dwells among deep mountains, with the Rong and the Di for neighbors and far from the royal house; the king's spiritual power did not reach us, and we had no leisure but to bow before the Rong. With what should we present vessels?"

The king said: "Shu, have you forgotten it? Your uncle Tang Shu was the full younger brother of King Cheng. Could he on the contrary have had no share? The drum of Misu and its great chariot, with which King Wen held the grand hunt; the armor of Quegong, with which King Wu overcame Shang — Tang Shu received them, and with them took his seat in the field of Shen, and set the Rong and the Di in order and held them. Later, the two chariots of King Xiang, the battle-axe and the halberd, the black-millet fragrant wine, the vermilion bow and the tiger-braves — Duke Wen received them, and thereby held the fields of Nanyang, comforting and campaigning through the eastern Xia lands. If these were not a share, what were they? To have merit and not be set aside, to have achievement and have it recorded, to be endowed with lands and fields, sustained with ritual vessels, distinguished with chariots and robes, made manifest with insignia and patterns, so that sons and grandsons do not forget — this is what is called blessing. If blessing and favor had not been entered in the register, where would your uncle now stand? Moreover, in old days your high ancestor Sun Boyan had charge of the records and registers of Jin and made of it a great office; hence the name of the Ji clan. And when the second son of Xin You supervised them, Jin thereby came to have the Dong scribes. You are the descendant of those who had charge of the records. Why then have you forgotten it?"

Ji Tan could not answer. When the guests had gone out, the king said: "Father Ji will surely have no posterity. He reckoned up the records and forgot his own ancestors."

Ji Tan returned and told Shuxiang. Shuxiang said: "The king will not come to a good end. I have heard that a man ends in what he takes joy in. Now the king takes joy in mourning; if he ends in mourning, it cannot be called a good end. In one year the king has had two deaths that require three years of mourning, and in that time he feasts guests who came for a funeral and asks for ritual vessels besides. His joy in mourning is extreme, and it is contrary to the rites. Ritual vessels come by way of praising merit, not by way of mourning. For a three-year mourning, even the noble carry it through; that is the rite. Though the king does not carry it through, to feast and make merry so early is likewise contrary to the rites. Rites are the king's great constant; in one act he has failed in two rites, and he has no great constant left. Words are the means of examining the records, and the records are the means of registering the constant. If he forgets the constant and multiplies words, what use is it for him to bring the records up?"

Year 16 (昭公十六年)

Annals.

• In the sixteenth year, in spring, the marquis of Qi attacked Xu. The viscount of Chu lured the viscount of the Rong Man and killed him.
• In summer, our duke arrived from Jin.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on jihai, Yi, marquis of Jin, died.
• In the ninth month, the great rain sacrifice. Jisun Yiru went to Jin.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Zhao of Jin was buried.

Zuo. In the sixteenth year, in spring, in the king's first month, our duke was in Jin, and the men of Jin detained him. It is not written in the annals: the matter was concealed.

The marquis of Qi attacked Xu. The viscount of Chu, hearing of the disorder among the Man and that the viscount of the Man had no good faith, sent Ran Dan to lure Jia, viscount of the Rong Man, and killed him, and then took the Man territory. Afterward he set up the dead man's son in his place. This accorded with the rites.

In the second month, on bingshen, the army of Qi reached Pusui. The men of Xu sued for peace. The viscount of Xu, together with men of Tan and men of Ju, met the marquis of Qi and covenanted at Pusui, offering as a bribe the caldron of Jiafu. Shusun Zhaozi said: "That the feudal lords have no hegemon is a harm indeed. The ruler of Qi is without principle: he raises an army and attacks a distant region, brings the meeting to a settlement, and returns with none to withstand him. Truly there is no hegemon. The Odes say:

The ancestral Zhou is destroyed;
there is nowhere to come to rest.
The chief grandees have scattered from their homes;
none knows what we endure.

Is this not what is meant?"

In the second month, Han Qi of Jin paid a diplomatic visit to Zheng, and the earl of Zheng feasted him. Zichan gave warning: "Whoever holds a place at the court must be respectful and reverent without exception." Kong Zhang arrived late and stood among the guests. The chief minister moved him back; he went behind the guests, and was moved back again; he went in among the hanging bells and chimes. The guests thereupon laughed at him. When the affair was over, Fuzi remonstrated, saying: "With the men of a great state one cannot but be careful. They have come near to laughing at us — will they not go on to trample us? Even when we keep every rite they still hold us cheap; and if a state is without rites, how shall it seek honor? Kong Zhang's losing his place is your disgrace, sir."

Zichan was angry and said: "Orders issued that are not upright, commands sent out that are not trusted, punishments partial and inconsistent, litigation loose and confused, meetings and court audiences without reverence, missions whose charges are not heeded, being trampled by a great state, wearing out the people to no result, guilt reaching us before we are aware of it — these are Qiao's disgraces. Kong Zhang is a grandson of the ruler's elder line, a descendant of Zi Kong, and the heir of a chief minister. As an hereditary grandee he has taken charge of commissions and gone as an envoy round among the feudal lords. The people of the state honor him; the feudal lords know him. He stands at court and sacrifices at home; he has an emolument in the state and a levy in the army; at funerals and sacrifices he has his charge; he receives the sacrificial flesh and returns the offering flesh; his sacrifices are in the ancestral temple. He has long had his marked position, has held it several generations, and generation after generation has kept up the family office — and yet he forgot where his place is. How could Qiao be disgraced by it? If the deeds of every crooked and depraved man were laid at the chief minister's door, then the former kings had no punishments at all. Sir, admonish me on some other point."

Xuanzi had a jade ring, and the other of the pair was in the hands of a merchant of Zheng. Xuanzi asked the earl of Zheng for it, and Zichan would not give it, saying: "It is not among the vessels kept in the state offices; our ruler knows nothing of it." Zi Taishu and Zi Yu said to Zichan: "Master Han does not ask for much, and Jin is not a state we can afford to be divided from. Jin, and Master Han, must not be slighted. If there should be a slanderer to set them against us, and the ghosts and spirits helped him so as to rouse his baleful anger, what regret could then avail? Why should you begrudge one ring and by it earn the hatred of a great state? Why not obtain it and give it to him?"

Zichan said: "It is not that I slight Jin or have a divided heart. I intend to serve Jin to the end, and that is why I do not give it, for the sake of loyalty and good faith. Qiao has heard that for a noble man the difficulty is not to be without goods, but that, being established, he should be without a good name. Qiao has heard that in governing a state the difficulty is not the inability to serve the great and cherish the small, but the danger of having no ritual propriety by which to fix one's place. If the men of a great state give orders to a small state and all of them get what they ask, how could it ever be supplied? To grant one and refuse another only makes the offense the greater. If the demands of a great state are not turned aside by ritual propriety, what will ever satisfy them? We should become a mere border town of theirs, and lose our standing. And if Master Han, sent out on a commission, asks for jade, his greed and excess are extreme; is that not itself an offense? To hand over one piece of jade and thereby raise two offenses — I lose my standing, and Master Han is made a greedy man. What good would that be? And for me to buy guilt with a piece of jade — would that not be too rash?"

Master Han bought the ring from the trader, and the bargain was already struck, when the merchant said: "I must inform the ruler and his grandees." Master Han made request of Zichan, saying: "The other day I asked for that ring; the chief minister thought it not right, and I did not dare press it again. Now I have bought it from a merchant, and the merchant says it must be reported. I venture to make this request."

Zichan answered: "In old days our former ruler Duke Huan came out of Zhou together with the merchants. Working side by side and pairing their labor, they cleared this land, cut down its thistles and weeds, its goosefoot and bean-leaf, and dwelt in it together. For generations they have had a sworn covenant by which they trust one another, which says: 'You shall not betray me; I shall not force your sales, nor beg nor seize from you. If you have profitable trade or precious goods, I will not so much as ask about it.' Relying on this pledged oath they have been able to protect one another down to this day. Now you, sir, have honored us by coming in friendship, and yet you bid our poor city forcibly take from a merchant. That is to teach our city to break its sworn covenant. Surely that will not do? To get the jade and lose the feudal lords — you would surely not do it. And if a great state commands, and we supply without limit, Zheng becomes a border town; that too we will not do. If Qiao presented the jade, I do not know what would be accomplished by it. I venture to lay this before you privately." Master Han declined the jade, saying: "Qi is not clever. Was I to seek a piece of jade and so court two offenses? I beg leave to decline it."

In summer, in the fourth month, the six ministers of Zheng gave Xuanzi a farewell feast in the outskirts. Xuanzi said: "Gentlemen, I ask that you all recite an ode; by them I too shall come to know the mind of Zheng." Zi Cuo recited "In the Fields There Is Creeping Grass." Xuanzi said: "Well done, young sir; I have hope now." Zichan recited the "Lambskin Robe" of Zheng. Xuanzi said: "Qi is not equal to it." Zi Taishu recited "Lift Up Your Skirts." Xuanzi said: "While Qi is here, would he dare put you to the trouble of going to anyone else?" Zi Taishu bowed. Xuanzi said: "Well said. Your words are right; without the deeds to match them, could it hold to the end?" Zi You recited "Wind and Rain." Ziqi recited "There Is a Girl in the Carriage." Zi Liu recited "Withered Leaves." Xuanzi was pleased and said: "Zheng is near to it. You gentlemen have favored Qi by your ruler's command, and the odes you recited do not go outside the airs of Zheng — all of them songs of intimate feasting and friendship. You gentlemen will be lords for generations; I need have no fear." Xuanzi presented horses to them all, and recited "I Offer." Zichan bowed and made the five ministers all bow, saying: "You, sir, have quieted disorder; dare we not bow for such virtue?" Xuanzi had a private audience with Zichan and gave him jade and horses, saying: "You bade Qi give up that jade. That was to bestow the jade upon me and to spare my life. I venture to offer these by way of thanks."

Our duke arrived from Jin. Zifu Zhaobo said to Ji Pingzi: "The ducal house of Jin will now sink low. The ruler is young and weak; the six ministers are strong, extravagant, and haughty. They will grow accustomed to this, and habit becomes the norm. Can it fail to sink low?" Pingzi said: "You are young. What do you know of states?"

In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Zhao of Jin died.

In the ninth month, the great rain sacrifice, because of drought. There was a great drought in Zheng. Tu Ji, Zhu Kuan, and Shu Fu were sent to sacrifice at Mount Sang. They cut down its trees, and no rain came. Zichan said: "To sacrifice at a mountain is to plant its forests; yet they cut down its trees. Their offense is great." He stripped them of their offices and towns.

In winter, in the tenth month, Ji Pingzi went to Jin for the burial of Duke Zhao. Pingzi said: "The words of Zifu Hui have proved true after all. The Zifu clan has a son indeed."

Year 17 (昭公十七年)

Annals.

• In the seventeenth year, in spring, the viscount of Little Zhu came to court.
• In summer, in the sixth month, on jiaxu, the first day of the month, the sun was eclipsed.
• In autumn, the viscount of Tan came to court.
• In the eighth month, Xun Wu of Jin led an army and extinguished the Rong of Luhun.
• In winter, a comet appeared at Dachen. The men of Chu fought with Wu at Chang'an.

Zuo. In the seventeenth year, in spring, Duke Mu of Little Zhu came to court, and our duke feasted him. Ji Pingzi recited "Gathering the Beans"; Duke Mu recited "Luxuriant Is the Tarragon." Zhaozi said: "Having nothing by which to hold his state, can he last long?"

In summer, in the sixth month, on jiaxu, the first day of the month, the sun was eclipsed. The invocators and scribes asked what offerings of silk should be used. Zhaozi said: "When the sun is eclipsed, the Son of Heaven takes no full meal and drums are beaten at the altar of the soil; the feudal lords present silk at the altar of the soil and beat drums at their courts. That is the rite." Pingzi opposed him and said: "Stop. Only when the sun is eclipsed on the first day of the first month, before the noxious vapors have risen, is there drum-beating and the use of silk. That is the rite; for the rest, no." The grand scribe said: "It is in this very month. The sun has passed the equinox and not yet reached the solstice; when the three luminaries suffer calamity, then the hundred officers put off their colors, the ruler takes no full meal and withdraws from his usual place until the hour has passed, the musicians beat the drums, the invocator uses silk, and the scribe uses a written prayer. Therefore the Documents of Xia say: 'The sun did not meet its lodging in Fang; the blind musicians beat their drums, the lesser officers galloped, the common people ran.' This refers to the first day of such a month. It corresponds to the fourth month of the Xia calendar, which is called the first month of summer." Pingzi would not follow him. Zhaozi withdrew and said: "That man will have designs of his own. He no longer treats the ruler as ruler."

In autumn, the viscount of Tan came to court, and our duke feasted him. Zhaozi asked him: "The house of Shao Hao named its offices after birds. Why was that?" The viscount of Tan said: "He was my ancestor; I know of it. In old times the house of the Yellow Emperor kept its records by clouds, and therefore had cloud officers and cloud names. The house of the Fiery Emperor kept its records by fire, and therefore had fire officers and fire names. The house of Gong Gong kept its records by water, and therefore had water officers and water names. The house of Tai Hao kept its records by dragons, and therefore had dragon officers and dragon names. When my high ancestor Shao Hao, Zhi, was established, a phoenix happened to arrive; therefore he kept his records by birds, and had bird officers and bird names. The Phoenix clan was the regulator of the calendar; the Dark Bird clan had charge of the equinoxes; the Bozhao clan had charge of the solstices; the Blue Bird clan had charge of the openings; the Cinnabar Bird clan had charge of the closings. The Zhu-dove clan was the minister of education; the Ju-dove clan was the marshal; the Shi-dove clan was the minister of works; the Shuang-dove clan was the minister of crime; the Gu-dove clan was the minister of affairs. The five dove clans were those who gathered the people together. The five pheasant clans were the five directors of crafts, who made tools and vessels serviceable and made weights and measures correct, and so brought the people to a level. The nine hu-bird clans were the nine directors of agriculture, who restrained the people from excess. From Zhuan Xu onward they could no longer keep their records by distant things, and so kept them by near ones: they made officers of the people and named them after the people's affairs, because they were no longer able to do as before." Zhongni heard of this, went to see the viscount of Tan and learned from him, and afterward told people: "I have heard it said that when the Son of Heaven has lost his offices, learning is to be found among the four Yi. It is true after all."

The marquis of Jin sent Tu Kuai to Zhou to ask leave to sacrifice at the Luo and at Santu. Chang Hong said to the Liu lord: "The guest's bearing is fierce; this is not about sacrifice. Surely it is an attack on the Rong. The house of Luhun is on very good terms with Chu; that must be the reason. Let my lord make ready." So the guard was set in readiness.

In the ninth month, on dingmao, Xun Wu of Jin led an army and crossed at Jijin. He sent the sacrificial scribe ahead to offer a victim at the Luo. The men of Luhun knew nothing of it, and the army came on behind. On gengwu he extinguished Luhun, reckoning against them their double dealing with Chu. The viscount of Luhun fled to Chu; his people fled to Ganlu, and Zhou took great spoil. Xuanzi had dreamed that Duke Wen took Xun Wu by the hand and gave him Luhun; therefore he sent Muzi to lead the army. The captives were presented in the temple of Duke Wen.

In winter, a comet appeared at Dachen, reaching westward as far as the River of Heaven. Shen Xu said: "A comet is that by which the old is swept away and the new spread out. Heaven's affairs are always in images. Now it sweeps at the Fire star; when the Fire star comes forth, fire will surely be spread abroad. Will the feudal lords not have disasters of fire?" Zi Shen said: "Last year I saw it, and that was the sign of this. It appeared when the Fire star came out; this year, when the Fire star came out, it grew bright. It will surely go into hiding when the Fire star sets. It has dwelt at the Fire star long; can it be otherwise? The coming forth of the Fire star falls in the third month by the Xia calendar, the fourth by the Shang, and the fifth by the Zhou; and the Xia reckoning accords with Heaven. If fire breaks out, four states will meet it — Song, Wey, Chen, and Zheng. Song is the old seat of Dachen, Chen the old seat of Tai Hao, Zheng the old seat of Zhu Rong; all are chambers of fire. The comet reaches the River of Heaven, and the River is the token of water. Wey is the old seat of Zhuan Xu, and is therefore called Diqiu; its star is the Great Water. Water is the male of fire. The fire will break out on a bingzi or a renwu day, for on those days water and fire meet. If it goes into hiding when the Fire star sets, it will surely be on a renwu, and not beyond the month of its appearance." Pi Zao of Zheng said to Zichan: "Song, Wey, Chen, and Zheng will burn on the same day. If we use the jade libation cup and the jade ladle, Zheng will surely not burn." Zichan would not give them.

Wu attacked Chu. Yang Gai was chief minister. The divination about giving battle was inauspicious. The marshal Ziyu said: "We hold the upstream position. Why should it be inauspicious? Besides, by Chu's own precedent it is the marshal who charges the tortoise. I ask that the divination be made again." His charge ran: "Let Fang, with those under him, die in the fight, and let the army of Chu follow after: may we greatly overcome them." It was auspicious. They fought at Chang'an. Ziyu died first, the army of Chu followed after, and they greatly defeated the army of Wu and captured its state barge, the Yuhuang. They set men of Sui and the latecomers to guard it, dug a trench all around it down to the water, filled the trench-way with charcoal, and drew up in line to await orders. Prince Guang of Wu made a request of his troops, saying: "The loss of the former kings' state barge is not Guang's fault alone; you too have a share in it. I ask leave to borrow your strength to take it back, and so save ourselves from death." The troops agreed. He had three long-bearded men lie hidden beside the boat, saying: "When I call 'Huang!' you are to answer." The army followed by night. He called three times, and each time they answered in turn. The men of Chu went after them and killed them. The Chu army fell into confusion, the men of Wu greatly defeated them, and they took the Yuhuang back.

Year 18 (昭公十八年)

Annals.

• In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the king's third month, Xu, earl of Cao, died.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on renwu, there were fires in Song, Wey, Chen, and Zheng.
• In the sixth month, the men of Zhu entered Yu.
• In autumn, Duke Ping of Cao was buried.
• In winter, Xu moved to Baiyu.

Zuo. In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the king's second month, on yimao, Mao De of Zhou killed Mao Bo Guo and took his place. Chang Hong said: "Mao De will surely perish. This is the very day on which Kun Wu's guilt came ripe, and it was extravagance that brought it about. Now Mao De has carried extravagance to its height in the royal capital. What can he look for but ruin?"

In the third month, Duke Ping of Cao died.

Zuo.

In summer, in the fifth month, the Fire star first became visible at dusk. On the day bingzi there was wind. Zi Shen (梓慎) said, "This is what is called the Rong wind. It is the beginner of fire. In seven days will there not be a conflagration?" On wuyin the wind was strong; on renwu it was very strong. Song, Wei (衛), Chen, and Zheng all had fires. Zi Shen climbed the storehouse of the Dating clan to look out from it and said, "It is Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng." Within a few days they all came to report their fires.

Bi Zao (裨灶) said, "Because my words were not used, Zheng will burn again." The men of Zheng asked that his advice be followed. Zichan (子產) would not have it. Zi Taishu (子大叔) said, "Treasures are for the protection of the people. If there is a fire, the state comes near to perishing. If they can save it from perishing, why do you grudge them?" Zichan said, "The Way of Heaven is far off; the way of man is near. The one does not reach the other, and how is it to be known from the other? How should Zao know the Way of Heaven? He is a man of many words as well: is it strange that now and then one of them comes true?" So he did not give up the vessels, and there was no second fire.

Before Zheng suffered its disaster, Li Xi had said to Zichan, "There will be a great portent. The people will be shaken and the state will come near to perishing. I myself shall have vanished and shall not live to see it. If the state were moved — would that do?" Zichan said, "Even if it would do, I have not weight enough to settle a removal." When the fire came, Li Xi was dead and not yet buried, and Zichan sent thirty bearers to move his coffin.

When the fire broke out, Zichan declined to receive the sons and grandsons of the Jin ducal house at the east gate. He had the minister of justice send out the newly arrived guests and restrain the older ones, not letting them come out of their lodgings. He had Zi Kuan and Zi Shang patrol the screened altars as far as the Great Temple. He had Gongsun Deng move the great tortoise shells; he had the invocators and scribes move the spirit tablets in their stone shrines to the temple of Zhou, and make announcement to the former rulers. He had the keepers of the treasury and the keepers of the arsenal each stand guard over his charge. Shang Chenggong warned the superintendent of the palace to bring out the women of the old palace and place them where the fire would not reach. The marshal and the minister of justice took up their stations along the path of the fire and went over the ground the fire had scorched. The people below the wall were ranged in files of five and went up onto the wall. The next day he had the ministers of justice of the countryside each secure his own levies. The men of the suburbs helped the invocators and scribes clear a place north of the capital and make an averting sacrifice against fire to Xuanming and Huilu, and prayed at the four sides of the ramparts. He recorded the burned houses and remitted their taxes and gave them timber. For three days there was wailing, and the state held no market. He sent the messengers to make report to the feudal lords. Song and Wei did likewise. Chen did not fight its fire, and Xu (許) did not condole upon the disaster. By this the gentleman knew that Chen and Xu would be the first to perish.

In the sixth month the men of Yu (鄅) were at work in their rice fields, and the men of Zhu made a surprise attack on Yu. The men of Yu were about to shut the gate when Yang Luo of Zhu took off the head of one of them, and so they entered. They carried off the whole people as captives and went home. The Viscount of Yu said, "I have no home to return to," and followed his wife and children to Zhu. Duke Zhuang of Zhu sent back the wife of the Viscount of Yu, but kept her daughter.

In autumn, Duke Ping of Cao was buried. Those who went saw Yuan Bolu of Zhou there and talked with him, and he took no pleasure in learning. On their return they told Min Zima of it. Min Zima said, "Will Zhou not fall into disorder? Such talk must first be widespread, and only then does it reach the great men. The great men, fearing to lose their places and being confused, then say, 'One may do without learning; not to learn does no harm.' If it does no harm and one does not learn, then careless ease will serve. Then those below encroach and those above decay: can there fail to be disorder? Learning is a planting; without learning a man withers and falls. Will the Yuan clan not perish?"

In the seventh month Zichan of Zheng, because of the fire, made a great sacrifice at the altar of the soil, performed purifying and averting rites toward the four quarters, and swept away the calamity of fire. This was according to rite. Then the troops were inspected for a grand review, and ground was to be cleared for it. Zi Taishu's ancestral temple stood south of the road and its rear chamber north of the road; its courtyard was small, and the clearing was three days past the appointed time. He had the clearing gang drawn up south of the road and north of the temple, and said, "When Zichan passes you and orders you to clear quickly, then demolish on the side toward you." Zichan went to court, passed by, and was angry with them, and the clearers began to demolish on the south. When Zichan reached the crossroads he sent an attendant to stop them, saying, "Demolish on the north side."

When the fire broke out, Zichan issued weapons and manned the parapets. Zi Taishu said, "Will Jin not call us to account?" Zichan said, "I have heard that when a small state forgets its defenses it is in danger — how much more when it has suffered a calamity. That a state is not to be slighted comes of its being prepared." Afterwards the border officers of Jin reproached Zheng, saying, "When the state of Zheng had its calamity, the ruler and grandees of Jin did not dare rest at ease. They consulted tortoise and yarrow and hurried to sacrifice toward the distant places, grudging neither victims nor jade. Zheng's calamity was our ruler's own grief. Now your officers fiercely issue weapons and man the parapets: whom do you mean to charge with guilt? We of the border are afraid and dare not fail to report it." Zichan replied, "As you say, our poor city's calamity was your ruler's grief. Our poor city lost the right ordering of its government, and Heaven sent down calamity upon it; and we further feared that slanderous and evil men might spy upon us and plot against us, and so open a way for the covetous, bringing repeated harm upon our poor city and adding to your ruler's grief. If by good fortune we do not perish, an explanation can still be made. If by ill fortune we perish, then though your ruler grieve for us it will be past helping. Zheng has other frontiers, but the quarter it looks and runs to is Jin. Having already served Jin, would it dare hold a divided heart?"

Wangzi Sheng, Left Governor of Chu, said to the Viscount of Chu, "Xu is an enemy of Zheng, yet it dwells on Chu's land and behaves toward Zheng without propriety. Jin and Zheng are now on good terms. If Zheng attacks Xu and Jin helps it, Chu will have lost the land. Why does my lord not move Xu? Xu is not wholly given to Chu, and Zheng now has good government. Xu says, 'This is my old state'; Zheng says, 'This is a town of mine taken captive.' She (葉) lies within the state of Chu and is the screen outside the Fang Wall. Land must not be lightly given away; a state must not be belittled; Xu must not be let fall captive; an enemy must not be given an opening. Let my lord consider it." The Viscount of Chu was pleased.

In winter the Viscount of Chu sent Wangzi Sheng to move Xu to Xi, which is Baiyu.

Year 19 (昭公十九年)

Annals.

• In the nineteenth year, in spring, the Duke of Song attacked Zhu.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on wuchen, Zhi, heir apparent of Xu, assassinated his ruler Mai. On jimao there was an earthquake.
• In autumn, Gao Fa of Qi led an army and attacked Ju.
• In winter, Duke Dao of Xu was buried.

Zuo.

In the nineteenth year, in spring, Chi, artisan governor of Chu, moved the people of Yin to Xiayin, and Zixia, the chief minister, walled Jia. Shusun Zhaozi said, "Chu's mind is no longer on the feudal lords. It is barely making itself whole, so as to hold its own generation, and no more."

When the Viscount of Chu was in Cai, the daughter of the border warden of Juyang fled to him, and she bore the heir apparent Jian. When he came to the throne he made Wu She (伍奢) the heir's tutor and Fei Wuji (費無極) his junior tutor. Wuji had no favor with the heir and wished to slander him to the king. He said, "Jian may take a wife." The king sought a bride for him in Qin. Wuji took part in fetching her and urged the king to take her himself. In the first month the lady of Chu, of the Ying clan, arrived from Qin.

The wife of the Viscount of Yu was a daughter of Xiang Xu of Song; therefore Xiang Ning asked for troops.

In the second month the Duke of Song attacked Zhu and besieged Chong. In the third month he took it, and then returned all the captives of Yu.

In summer, Duke Dao of Xu had a recurrent fever.

In the fifth month, on wuchen, he drank the medicine of the heir apparent Zhi and died, and the heir apparent fled to Jin. The record says, "he assassinated his ruler." The gentleman said, "In serving one's ruler with all one's heart and strength, one may leave the medicines aside."

The men of Zhu, of Ni, and of Xu (徐) met the Duke of Song; on yihai they swore a joint covenant at Chong.

The Viscount of Chu made a boat force and attacked the Pu.

Fei Wuji said to the Viscount of Chu, "Jin's hegemony rests on its nearness to the states of Xia, while Chu is remote and out of the way, and so cannot contend with it. If you build a great wall at Chengfu and station the heir apparent there to open the way to the north, while the king gathers in the south, this is to gain all under Heaven." The king was pleased and followed him. Therefore the heir apparent Jian dwelt at Chengfu.

Zixia, the chief minister, went on a diplomatic visit to Qin, to give thanks for the lady.

In autumn, Gao Fa of Qi led an army and attacked Ju. The Viscount of Ju fled to Jizhang, and Sun Shu was sent to attack it. Earlier there had been a woman of Ju whose husband the Viscount of Ju had killed, so that she was left a widow. When she grew old she took refuge in Jizhang, and there she spun thread, measured the wall with it, and stored it away. When the army arrived she threw it out over the wall, and someone brought it to Zizhan (子占). Zizhan had the army climb by ropes in the night. Sixty men had gone up when the rope broke. The army beat the drums and shouted, and the men on the wall shouted too. Duke Gong of Ju was afraid, opened the west gate, and went out. In the seventh month, on bingzi, the army of Qi entered Ji.

In that year Si Yan of Zheng died. Ziyou had married a daughter of a grandee of Jin, who bore him Si, still a child. His uncles set up Zixia, and Zichan hated the man's character and moreover held the thing to be contrary to order; he neither approved it nor stopped it, and the Si clan were alarmed. On a later day Si told his mother's brother of it. In winter the men of Jin sent an envoy with gifts to Zheng to ask the reason for setting up Si Qi. The Si clan were afraid. Si Qi wished to flee, and Zichan would not send him away; he asked for the tortoise to divine with, and Zichan would not give it either. The grandees were deliberating what to answer, but Zichan did not wait for them and answered the guest, saying, "Zheng has not had Heaven's favor. Several of our ruler's ministers have died of pestilence and untimely death, and now we have lost our late grandee Yan as well. His son is a child, and one or two of his uncles, fearing that the headship of the lineage would fall, took counsel privately within the clan and set up the eldest of the near kin. Our ruler and his few elders said, 'It is Heaven that is truly stripping and disordering us. What do we know of it?' The proverb says, 'Do not pass by the gate of disorder.' When the people have weapons out in disorder, men still shrink from passing them; how much more should we dare to claim knowledge of what Heaven has thrown into disorder? Now the grandee comes to ask the reason for it; but our ruler truly does not dare to know it, and who then really knows it? At the meeting of Pingqiu your ruler renewed the old covenant, saying, 'Let none fail in his duty.' If, when one of our ruler's ministers goes to his end, a grandee of Jin is to dispose of his place at will, then this is a border district of Jin — what sort of state would it be?" He declined the guest's gifts and sent an answer back by the envoy. The men of Jin let the matter go.

The men of Chu walled Zhoulai. Xu, governor of Shen (沈尹戌), said, "The men of Chu will surely be defeated. Formerly, when Wu extinguished Zhoulai, Ziqi asked to attack them, and the king said, 'I have not yet comforted my people.' Now it is the same as then, and yet they wall Zhoulai to provoke Wu. Can they fail to be defeated?" An attendant said, "The king is untiring in giving and remitting, and has rested the people for five years. This may be called comforting them." Xu said, "I have heard that one who comforts the people is sparing of expenditure within and plants virtue without, so that the people delight in their lives and have no enemies. Now the palaces are built without measure and the people are startled day by day; they toil until they are spent, they die and are carted away, they forget sleep and food. This is not comforting them."

There was a great flood in Zheng, and dragons fought in the Wei pool outside the Shi gate. The people of the capital asked to make a sacrifice for it. Zichan would not allow it, saying, "When we fight, the dragons do not look on us; when dragons fight, why should we alone look on them? To perform the averting rite would be to claim what is their own dwelling. I ask nothing of the dragons, and the dragons ask nothing of me." So it was stopped.

Zixia, the chief minister, spoke of Jue You to the Viscount of Chu, saying, "What crime is his? The proverb about being angry in one's chamber and showing the color of it in the market is a saying about Chu. It would be well to lay aside the old resentment." So Jue You was sent home.

Year 20 (昭公二十年)

Annals.

• In the twentieth year.
• In spring, in the king's first month.
• In summer, Gongsun Hui of Cao fled from Meng to Song.
• In autumn, robbers killed Zhi, the elder brother of the Marquis of Wei.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Hua Hai, Xiang Ning, and Hua Ding of Song fled to Chen.
• In the eleventh month, on xinmao, Lu, Marquis of Cai, died.

Zuo.

In the twentieth year, in spring, in the king's second month, on jichou, the sun reached its southern limit. Zi Shen watched the vapors and said, "This year Song will have disorder, and the state will come near to perishing; only after three years will it be quelled. Cai will have a great mourning." Shusun Zhaozi said, "Then it will be the Dai and Huan lineages. Their arrogance, excess, and want of propriety are already extreme; that is where the disorder lies."

Fei Wuji said to the Viscount of Chu, "Jian and Wu She are about to revolt with the country outside the Fang Wall. They take themselves to be the equals of Song and Zheng, and Qi and Jin support them on either hand. They mean to harm Chu, and the business is already complete." The king believed him and questioned Wu She. Wu She answered, "My lord's one fault is already too much; why give further belief to slander?" The king seized Wu She and sent Fen Yang, marshal of Chengfu, to kill the heir apparent; but before he arrived he sent a man to warn him away. In the third month the heir apparent Jian fled to Song. The king summoned Fen Yang, and Fen Yang had the men of Chengfu arrest him and bring him in. The king said, "The words went out of my mouth and into your ears. Who told Jian?" He answered, "Your servant told him. My lord commanded your servant, saying, 'Serve Jian as you serve me.' Your servant is without talent and could not lightly be of two minds; I held to the first command and came back to it, and could not bring myself to the later one, and so I sent him away. Afterwards I repented of it, but it was too late." The king said, "And you dare to come. Why?" He answered, "Sent out, I failed of my commission; summoned, if I did not come, that would be a second offense. And I have nowhere to flee to." The king said, "Go back, and attend to your office as before."

Wuji said, "She's sons are able men. If they get to Wu they will surely trouble the state of Chu. Why not summon them by the promise of pardoning their father? Being dutiful, they will surely come. Otherwise they will become a calamity." The king sent to summon them, saying, "Come, and I will pardon your father." Shang, governor of Tang, said to his younger brother Yun, "You go to Wu; I shall go back and die. My wisdom does not reach yours. I can die; you can take revenge. Having heard the command that would free our father, one cannot but hasten to it; when kin are put to death, one cannot but avenge them. To run to death in order to free a father is filial piety; to weigh what can be accomplished and then act is benevolence; to choose one's charge and go to it is wisdom; to know it is death and not avoid it is courage. A father may not be abandoned; a name may not be destroyed. Do you exert yourself. That each of us follow his own part is the better way." Wu Shang went back. When She heard that Yun had not come, he said, "The ruler and grandees of Chu will be eating their meals late." The men of Chu killed them both. Yun went to Wu and spoke to Zhouyu (州于) of the advantage of attacking Chu. Prince Guang said, "His lineage has been put to death and he wishes to turn upon his enemy. He is not to be followed." Yun said, "He has another purpose. I will for the present seek out a bold man for him, and wait in the border country." So he presented Zhuan Shezhu to him, and went to farm in the border country.

Duke Yuan of Song was without good faith, full of private favor, and hated the Hua and the Xiang. Hua Ding and Hua Hai plotted with Xiang Ning, saying, "Exile is better than death. Let us be first." Hua Hai feigned illness in order to lure the ducal sons, and when the ducal sons came to ask after him he seized them. In summer, in the sixth month, on bingshen, they killed Gongzi Yin, Gongzi Yurong, Gongzi Zhu, Gongzi Gu, Gongsun Yuan, and Gongsun Ding, and shut up Xiang Sheng and Xiang Xing in his granary. The duke went to the Hua and asked for them, and they refused, and then held him under duress. On guimao they took the heir apparent Luan, with his full brother Chen and Gongzi Di, as hostages. The duke likewise took Hua Hai's son Wuqi, Xiang Ning's son Luo, and Hua Ding's son Qi, and swore a covenant with the Hua, holding them as hostages.

Gongmeng Zhi of Wei treated Qi Bao with contempt, taking from him the office of minister of justice and the town of Juan: when there was service to be done he gave them back, and when there was none he took them away. Gongmeng hated Beigong Xi and Chushi Pu and wished to be rid of them. Prince Chao had illicit relations with Xuan Jiang, the wife of Duke Xiang, and being afraid he wished to raise a revolt. Therefore Qi Bao, Beigong Xi, Chushi Pu, and Prince Chao raised a revolt. Earlier Qi Bao had recommended Zong Lu to Gongmeng, and he had become his companion on the right of the chariot. When Qi Bao was about to raise the revolt he said to him, "You know Gongmeng's wickedness. Do not ride with him: I am going to kill him." He answered, "It was through you that I came to serve Gongmeng; you lent me a name, and therefore he did not keep me at a distance. Wicked though he is, I too know it; but for gain's sake I could not leave him, and that is my fault. Now to hear of the trouble and run away would be to make you out a liar. Do what you have to do; I shall die for him. So I shall have served you to the end and still go and die for Gongmeng — that may be allowed." On bingchen the Marquis of Wei was at Pingshou, and Gongmeng had a sacrifice to perform outside the Gaihuo gate. The Qi clan pitched a curtained enclosure outside the gate and hid armored men in it. They had Zhu Wa lay dagger-axes among the firewood of a cart and station it facing the gate, and sent one chariot to follow Gongmeng out. Hua Qi drove for Gongmeng, with Zong Lu as companion on the right. When they came within the gateway the Qi clan struck at Gongmeng with a dagger-axe. Zong Lu shielded him with his back; his arm was cut through, and the blow reached Gongmeng's shoulder. They killed them both. When the duke heard of the revolt he drove in through the Yue gate. Qing Bi drove for the duke, Gongnan Chu was companion on the right, and Hua Yin rode in the second chariot. When they came to the ducal palace, Hongliu Tui rode as fourth man with the duke, and the duke loaded his treasures and went out. Chushi Zishen met the duke at the crossroads of the Horse Road and followed him. As they passed the Qi clan's house they had Hua Yin bare his flesh and hold up a canopy against the gap. The Qi clan shot at the duke and hit Gongnan Chu in the back. The duke got out. Yin shut the outer gate of the city, then climbed over it and followed the duke. The duke went to Siniao. Xi Zhuchu went out by night through a drain and followed the duke on foot.

The Marquis of Qi sent Gongsun Qing on a diplomatic visit to Wei. After he had set out he heard of the disorder in Wei and sent back to ask to whom he should make the visit. The duke said, "While he is still within the borders, he is the ruler of Wei." So he went to perform his errand, and followed him to Siniao. He asked leave to perform his errand, and the Marquis declined, saying, "A fugitive without ability, I have failed to keep the altars of land and grain and am cast away among the grass and weeds. There is nothing here on which you should demean your ruler's command." The guest said, "Our ruler commanded your servant in his court, saying, 'Attend humbly upon his officers.' Your servant dare not be of two minds." The host said, "If your ruler kindly regards the friendship of our former rulers, and looks in brightness upon our poor city, and settles and comforts its altars, then there are the ancestral temples for it." So he desisted. The Marquis of Wei firmly asked to see him, and, having no leave to refuse, he presented his good horse, because he had not delivered his commission. The Marquis of Wei made it one of his chariot horses. The guest was going to take a turn at the night watch, and the host declined, saying, "A fugitive's troubles must not be allowed to reach you. Here in the midst of the grass and weeds there is nothing worth demeaning your followers with. I venture to decline." The guest said, "Your servant, the meanest of our ruler's servants, is your herdsman and groom. If I am not allowed to ward off the outer duties, that is to disown my ruler. Your servant fears he would not escape guilt; I ask leave to do this to avoid death." He himself took the bell in hand and was at the watch fires the whole night through.

Quzi, the steward of the Qi clan, summoned Beigong Zi; the steward of the Beigong clan, who had not been party to the plot, killed Quzi, and then attacked the Qi clan and destroyed it. On dingsi, the last day of the month, the duke came in and swore a covenant with Beigong Xi on the bank of the Peng. In autumn, in the seventh month, on wuwu, the first day of the month, he then swore a covenant with the people of the capital. In the eighth month, on xinhai, Prince Chao, Chushi Pu, Ziyu Xiao, and Zigao Fang fled to Jin. In the intercalary month, on wuchen, they killed Xuan Jiang. The Marquis of Wei bestowed on Beigong Xi the honorific name Zhenzi and on Xi Zhuchu the honorific name Chengzi, and gave him the burial ground of the Qi clan. The Marquis of Wei reported his restored peace to Qi and spoke well of Zishi besides. The Marquis of Qi, about to hold a drinking, gave presents to all his grandees, saying, "This is the fruit of your teaching." Yuan Heji declined, saying, "To share in Qing's reward must mean to share in his punishment as well. In the Announcement to Kang it is said, 'Father and son, elder and younger brother — the guilt of one does not reach the other.' How much more among a body of ministers. Would your servant dare covet his ruler's gift and so offend against the former kings?"

Qin Zhang, hearing that Zong Lu had died, was going to condole for him. Zhongni (仲尼) said, "He is what made Qi Bao a robber and Meng Zhi a murdered man. What have you to condole for? The gentleman does not eat the food of wickedness, does not accept disorder, does not for gain sicken himself with crookedness, does not deal crookedly with others, does not cover up what is unrighteous, and does not offend against propriety."

In the revolt of the Hua and the Xiang in Song, Gongzi Cheng, Gongsun Ji, Yue She, Sima Qiang, Xiang Yi, Xiang Zheng, Jian of Chu, and Ni Jia fled to Zheng. Their followers fought the Hua at Guiyan and defeated Zicheng, and Zicheng went to Jin. Hua Hai and his wife would always wash and feed the ducal sons they held as hostages before eating themselves; and the duke and his lady went every day to the Hua house, fed the ducal sons, and then returned. Hua Hai was troubled by this and wished to send the ducal sons back. Xiang Ning said, "It is just because there is no good faith that we hold his sons as hostages. If we send them back as well, our death is not far off." The duke asked leave of Hua Feisui (華費遂), meaning to attack the Hua. He answered, "Your servant does not dare grudge his life; but may it not be that in seeking to remove a trouble you will make it grow? That is why your servant is afraid. Yet dare I not obey the command?" The duke said, "Death and exile are matters of fate. I cannot endure their outrage." In winter, in the tenth month, the duke killed the hostages of the Hua and the Xiang and attacked them. On wuchen the Hua and the Xiang fled to Chen, and Hua Deng fled to Wu. Xiang Ning wished to kill the heir apparent. Hua Hai said, "We have offended our ruler and are going out; if we kill his son as well, who will take us in? Besides, to send him back will earn us merit." They had Keng, the assistant minister of justice, take them back, saying, "Your years are advanced and you cannot serve another; with the three ducal sons as your surety you will surely be spared." When the ducal sons had entered, Hua Keng was about to go off from the gate, and the duke hurried to see him, took his hand, and said, "I know that you are without guilt. Come in and take up your place again."

The Marquis of Qi had a skin fever and then a recurrent fever, and a full year passed without recovery. Many guests from the feudal lords were there to ask after his illness. Liangqiu Ju and Yi Kuan said to the duke, "We serve the ghosts and spirits richly, and more than our former rulers did. Now that our lord is ill and has become a cause of anxiety to the feudal lords, this is the fault of the invocators and scribes. The feudal lords do not know it, and will say that we are irreverent. Why does my lord not put to death the invocator Gu and the scribe Yin, and so make his answer to the guests?" The duke was pleased and told Yanzi (晏子) of it. Yanzi said, "Formerly at the covenant of Song, Qu Jian asked Zhao Wu about the virtue of Fan Hui. Zhao Wu said, 'That master's household affairs were well ordered, and in what he said in the state of Jin he poured out his feeling without private ends. When his invocators and scribes sacrificed, they set forth the truth without shame. In his household there was nothing to suspect, and his invocators and scribes had nothing to pray away.' Jian told this to King Kang, and King Kang said, 'Neither spirits nor men had any resentment against him. Fitly did that master gloriously assist five rulers and become the leader of the feudal lords.'" The duke said, "Ju and Kuan say that I am able to serve the ghosts and spirits, and therefore they wish the invocators and scribes put to death. You cite these words: for what reason?" He answered, "In the case of a ruler who has virtue, nothing without or within is neglected, above and below there is no resentment, and in his actions there is nothing contrary; his invocators and scribes present the truth and have no shame in their hearts. Therefore the ghosts and spirits accept the offerings and the state receives their blessing, and the invocators and scribes have their share in it. The reason such men have abundant good fortune and long life is that they are the messengers of a truthful ruler, and their words to the ghosts and spirits are loyal and true. But if it happens to be a licentious ruler, in whom without and within are partial and crooked, above and below resentful and sick, whose actions are wayward and contrary, who follows his desires and glutts his private wants, with high terraces and deep pools, striking bells and dancing women, cutting down the strength of the people, carrying off and plundering their stores to complete his transgressions, with no pity for those who come after, cruel and violent and dissolute, doing at his pleasure what is beyond all measure, avoiding and dreading nothing, giving no thought to reviling and complaint and no fear to ghosts and spirits, so that the spirits are angry and the people in pain and there is no repentance in his heart — then if his invocators and scribes present the truth, that is to speak of his crimes; and if they cover his failings and recount his merits, that is falsehood and deceit. Having nothing to say either way, they use empty words to seek favor. Therefore the ghosts and spirits do not accept that state's offerings but send calamity upon it, and the invocators and scribes have their share in it. The reason such men die young, are left orphaned and sick, is that they are the messengers of a cruel ruler, and their words to the ghosts and spirits are false and slighting." The duke said, "Then what is to be done?" He answered, "It cannot be done. The trees of hill and forest are guarded by the forest wardens; the reeds and rushes of the marshes are guarded by the marsh wardens; the firewood and brush of the fens are guarded by the fen wardens; the salt and shellfish of the sea are guarded by the sea wardens. The people of the districts and border towns come in to labor at his works; the barriers pressed close upon them exact violent tolls upon their private goods; the grandees who inherit office take their property by force. Ordinances are issued without standard and levies exacted without measure; the palaces are altered day by day and excessive pleasures are never checked. The favored concubines within seize at will in the market; the favored ministers without issue false orders in the border towns. Private desires must be fed by demands, and when the demands are not met they are answered with punishment. The people are sick with suffering, and husbands and wives alike curse him. If invocation has its profit, cursing has its harm as well. From Liao and She eastward, from the Gu and the You westward, the people are very many; and though the invocators be skilled, how could they prevail against the curses of a hundred million? If my lord wishes to put the invocators and scribes to death, let him first cultivate virtue, and then it may be done." The duke was pleased, and had his officers relax the government, pull down the barriers, remove the prohibitions, lighten the levies, and cancel the debts.

In the twelfth month the Marquis of Qi hunted at Pei. He summoned the forester with a bow, and the man did not come forward, and the duke had him arrested. He excused himself, saying, "When our former rulers hunted, they summoned a grandee with a pennon, an officer with a bow, and a forester with a leather cap. Your servant did not see the leather cap, and therefore did not dare come forward." So they let him go. Zhongni said, "Keeping to the Way is not so good as keeping to one's office. The gentleman agrees with him."

The Marquis of Qi came back from the hunt, and Yanzi was attending him at the Chuan Terrace when Ziyou came galloping up. The duke said, "It is only Ju who is in harmony with me." Yanzi answered, "Ju is merely the same as you. How can that be harmony?" The duke said, "Are harmony and sameness different?" He answered, "They are different. Harmony is like a broth. With water, fire, vinegar, pickles, salt, and plums one cooks fish and meat, heating it with firewood; the cook blends them, evening them out by taste, adding what is deficient and drawing off what is in excess. The gentleman eats it, and his mind is made even. So it is with ruler and minister. When the ruler calls a thing permissible and there is in it what is not, the minister sets forth what is not, so as to perfect what is permissible. When the ruler calls a thing not permissible and there is in it what is, the minister sets forth what is, so as to take away what is not. Thus the government is even and does not transgress, and the people have no contentious hearts. Therefore the Odes say:

There is the harmonized broth as well,
already seasoned, already evened;
silently they bring the offering,
and in that hour there is no strife.

The former kings evened the five tastes and harmonized the five notes in order to make their minds even and to perfect their government. Sound too is like taste: the one breath, the two forms, the three kinds, the four instruments, the five notes, the six pitch pipes, the seven tones, the eight winds, the nine songs — these complete one another. Clear and muddy, great and small, long and short, quick and slow, sad and glad, hard and soft, lingering and swift, high and low, going out and coming in, close and sparse — these supply one another. The gentleman listens to it and his mind is made even; his mind being even, his virtue is in harmony. Therefore the Odes say:

The sound of his virtue is without flaw.

Now Ju is not so. What my lord calls permissible, Ju also calls permissible; what my lord calls not permissible, Ju also calls not permissible. It is like supplying water with water: who could eat it? It is like a zither of one single note: who could listen to it? Such is the unfitness of sameness." They drank and were merry. The duke said, "If from of old there had been no dying, what a joy that would be." Yanzi answered, "If from of old there had been no dying, then the joy would be the ancients' joy; what would my lord get from it? Long ago the Shuangjiu clan first dwelt in this land; Ji Ze followed them, You Feng Boling followed him, the Pugu clan followed him, and after them came the Grand Duke. If the ancients had not died, the joy would be the Shuangjiu clan's, and that is not what my lord would wish."

Zichan of Zheng fell ill and said to Zi Taishu, "When I die you will surely take charge of the government. Only a man of virtue can subdue the people by leniency; failing that, nothing is better than severity. Fire is fierce, and the people look at it and fear it, so few die by it. Water is soft and weak, and the people make light of it and play with it, so many die by it. Therefore leniency is hard." He was ill for some months and died. Taishu took charge of the government, and, unable to bring himself to severity, was lenient. Robbers multiplied in Zheng, seizing men in the marsh of Huanfu. Taishu repented of it and said, "If I had followed the master sooner, it would not have come to this." He raised foot soldiers and attacked the robbers of Huanfu and killed them all, and robbery somewhat abated. Zhongni said, "Well done. When the government is lenient the people grow careless; when they are careless, correct them with severity. When it is severe the people are injured; when they are injured, apply leniency to them. Leniency supplies severity and severity supplies leniency, and by this the government is harmonious. The Odes say:

The people indeed are worn with toil;
they may perhaps be given a little ease.
Show kindness to this central kingdom
and so give peace to the four quarters —

that is the applying of leniency.

Do not follow the crafty and compliant,
so as to be wary of the ill-behaved;
restrain the robbers and the cruel
who have no fear of the bright law —

that is correcting with severity.

Be gentle to the far and kind to the near,
and so establish our king —

that is evening things by harmony. And again:

Not contentious, not hasty,
not hard, not soft;
he spreads his government abundantly,
and all blessings gather to him —

this is the perfection of harmony." When Zichan died and Zhongni heard of it, he shed tears and said, "He was a legacy of the loving-kindness of antiquity."

Year 21 (昭公二十一年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-first year, in spring, in the king's third month, Duke Ping of Cai was buried.
• In summer, the Marquis of Jin sent Shi Yang on a diplomatic visit here. Hua Hai, Xiang Ning, and Hua Ding of Song came from Chen into Nanli in Song and rebelled.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on renwu, the first day of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun.
• In the eighth month, on yihai, Shu Zhe died.
• In winter, Zhu, Marquis of Cai, fled to Chu. The duke went to Jin, reached the Yellow River, and turned back.

Zuo.

In the twenty-first year, in spring, the King of Heaven was about to cast the bell Wuyi. Ling Zhoujiu said, "Will the king not die of a sickness of the heart? Music is the office of the Son of Heaven; sound is the carriage of music, and the bell is the vessel of sound. The Son of Heaven examines the winds in order to make music; vessels gather it in and the carriage carries it abroad. If the small notes are not so thin as to be slight and the great not so wide as to be coarse, then there is harmony with things; and when things are in harmony, what is fine is brought to completion. Therefore harmonious sound enters the ear and is stored in the heart, and when the heart is at ease there is joy. What is too slight does not fill, and what is too gross finds no room; the heart is thereby disturbed, and disturbance truly gives birth to sickness. Now the bell is too wide. The king's heart will not bear it. Can he last long?"

In the third month Duke Ping of Cai was buried. Zhu, heir apparent of Cai, lost his proper place, and his place was among the lower ranks. A grandee who had escorted the funeral came back and saw Zhaozi. Zhaozi asked about Cai, and he told him the reason. Zhaozi sighed and said, "Will Cai not perish? And if it does not perish, this ruler will surely not come to a good end. The Odes say:

Not remiss in his place,
he is what the people rest upon.

Now the Marquis of Cai at his very accession goes to a low place; his person will follow it."

In summer, Shi Yang of Jin came on a diplomatic visit. Shusun was in charge of the government, and Jisun wished to make him hated in Jin; so he had the officers use for Shi Yang the ceremony given to Bao Guo of Qi when he restored Bi. Shi Yang was angry and said, "Bao Guo's rank is low and his state small, and yet you make Yang take the same ceremony of victims as he. This is to belittle my poor city. I shall report it to my ruler." The men of Lu were afraid and added four sets of victims, making eleven.

Hua Feisui of Song begot Hua Chu, Hua Duoliao, and Hua Deng. Chu was assistant marshal and Duoliao a chariot officer, and he and Chu hated each other; so he slandered him to the duke, saying, "Chu is going to bring in the exiles," and said it again and again. The duke said, "The marshal has lost his good son for my sake. Death and exile are matters of fate; I cannot make him lose a second." He answered, "If my lord loves the marshal, then it is better that Chu go into exile. If death can be escaped by going, what does distance matter?" The duke was afraid, and had his attendant summon Yiliao, the marshal's attendant, gave him wine to drink, and had him tell the marshal. The marshal sighed and said, "It must be Duoliao. I have a slanderous son and cannot kill him, and I myself do not die; but the ruler has given his command, and what is to be done?" So he plotted with the duke to drive out Hua Chu: he was to hunt at Mengzhu and be sent away from there. The duke gave him wine, toasted him generously, and gave presents down to his followers, and the marshal did the same. Zhang Gai thought it strange and said, "There must be a reason." He had Zipi hold Yiliao at sword's point and question him, and Yiliao told him everything. Zhang Gai wished to kill Duoliao. Zipi said, "The marshal is old. What was done to Deng is bad enough; if we add to it, that is worse. It would be better to go into exile."

In the fifth month, on bingshen, Zipi was about to see the marshal and then depart when he met Duoliao driving the marshal to court. Zhang Gai could not master his anger, and together with Zipi, Jiu Ren, and Zheng Pian he killed Duoliao, seized the marshal, revolted, and summoned the exiles. On renyin the Hua and the Xiang came in. Yue Daxin, Feng Qian, and Hua Keng resisted them at Heng. The Hua occupied the Lu gate and revolted with Nanli. In the sixth month, on gengwu, Song walled the old rampart and the gate of Sanglin and garrisoned them.

In autumn, in the seventh month, on renwu, the first day of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. The duke asked Zi Shen, "What thing is this? What does it work of ill or of good?" He answered, "At the two solstices and the two equinoxes an eclipse of the sun is no calamity. It is the course of the sun and the moon: at the equinoxes they are on the same path, at the solstices they pass one another. In the other months it is a calamity, for the yang does not prevail; and therefore it commonly means flood." Thereupon Shu Zhe wailed at the eclipse. Zhaozi said, "Zishu will die. This is not a thing to wail at." In the eighth month Shu Zhe died.

In winter, in the tenth month, Hua Deng came with an army of Wu to rescue the Hua, and Wu Zhiming of Qi was on garrison duty in Song. Pu the cook said, "The book of war has it: 'He who is first takes away the other's heart; he who is later waits for the other's decline.' Why not take them while they are weary and not yet settled, and strike them? If they get in and make themselves firm, the Hua will be many, and repentance will come too late." They followed him. On bingyin the armies of Qi and Song defeated the army of Wu at Hongkou and captured its two commanders, Prince Kuqian and Yanzhou Yuan. Hua Deng led the remainder and defeated the army of Song. The duke wished to go out. Pu the cook said, "I am a small man. I can lend my death, but I cannot escort a flight. Let my lord wait." Then he proclaimed, "Those who show the poplar badge are the duke's men," and the multitude followed him. The duke looked on them from the Yang gate, came down and went among them, and said, "If the state perishes and the ruler dies, it is the shame of you all; how should it be my fault alone?" Wu Zhiming of Qi said, "In using few men nothing is better than that all alike go to the death; and for all alike to go to the death nothing is better than to lay aside armor. They have weapons in plenty; let us all use swords." They followed him. The Hua turned in flight, then closed again. Pu the cook wrapped a head in a skirt, shouldered it, and ran shouting, "We have taken Hua Deng!" So they defeated the Hua at Xinli. Di Louxin was living at Xinli; when the battle was over he took off his armor before the duke and went home. Hua Xing was living at Gongli and did the same.

In the eleventh month, on guiwei, Gongzi Cheng arrived with an army of Jin. Han Hu of Cao joined Xun Wu of Jin, Yuan Heji of Qi, and Prince Chao of Wei in rescuing Song. On bingxu they fought the Hua at Zhuqiu. Zheng Pian wished to form the stork array, and his driver wished to form the goose. Zilu drove for Gongzi Cheng, with Zhuang Jin on the right; Ganchou drove for Hua Bao, the border warden of Lü, with Zhang Gai on the right. They met, and Cheng turned aside. Hua Bao called out, "Cheng!" Cheng was angry and turned back upon him. He was about to level his arrow, and Bao had already drawn. He said, "Spirit of Duke Ping, help me!" Bao shot, and the arrow passed between. He was about to level his arrow, and Bao had drawn again. He said, "Not to take turns is base." Bao drew out an arrow, and Cheng shot him and he fell dead. Zhang Gai drew his mace and got down; Cheng shot him and broke his thigh. He crawled forward and struck, and broke the crossbar of the chariot; Cheng shot him again and he died. Ganchou asked for one arrow. Cheng said, "I will speak for you to the ruler." He answered, "Not to die with one's file and chariot mates is a great crime in the army. To offend against the punishment and follow you — what use would the ruler have for me? Be quick about it." So Cheng shot him and he fell dead. They greatly defeated the Hua and besieged them in Nanli. Hua Hai beat his breast and cried out, and seeing Hua Chu he said, "I have become like the Luan clan." Chu said, "Do not deceive me. Only after misfortune shall we flee." They sent Hua Deng to Chu to beg for troops. Hua Chu, with fifteen chariots and seventy footmen, broke through the besieging army and got out. They ate on the bank of the Sui, and he wept as he saw him off and then went back in. Wei Yue of Chu led an army and was about to meet the Hua. Fan, the grand steward, remonstrated, saying, "Among the feudal lords only Song serves its ruler, and now they are contending for the state. To let go the ruler and help the subjects — surely this will not do?" The king said, "Your telling me comes too late. I have already promised them."

Zuo. Zhu, Marquis of Cai, fled to Chu. Fei Wuji (費無極) took goods from Dongguo (東國) and said to the men of Cai, "Zhu does not obey the commands of Chu. The king is going to establish Dongguo. If you do not comply beforehand with the king's wish, Chu will certainly besiege Cai." The men of Cai were afraid; they expelled Zhu and set up Dongguo. Zhu laid his complaint before Chu, and the Viscount of Chu was about to call Cai to account. Wuji said, "Marquis Ping had a covenant with Chu, and therefore his son was invested. He had a divided heart, and therefore he has been set aside. King Ling killed the heir apparent Yin; Yin's son hates the same man your lordship hates, and his gratitude to your lordship will be deep. If you go on to have him established, would that not be well? Besides, to depose and to install rests with your lordship, and Cai will have no other thought."

The duke went to Jin. When he reached the Yellow River, Gu had revolted from Jin. Jin was about to attack Xianyu, and therefore declined to receive the duke.

Year 22 (昭公二十二年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-second year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi attacked Ju. Hua Hai (華亥), Xiang Ning (向寧), and Hua Ding of Song fled from Nanli in Song to Chu. There was a grand muster at Changjian.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the day yichou, the King died. In the sixth month Shu Yang went to the royal capital for the burial of King Jing (景王). The royal house fell into disorder. The Viscount of Liu and the Viscount of Shan took Wang Meng and dwelt at Huang.
• In autumn the Viscount of Liu and the Viscount of Shan brought Wang Meng into the Royal City.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Prince Meng died.
• In the twelfth month, on the day guiyou, the first of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun.

Zuo. In the twenty-second year, in spring, in the king's second month, on the day jiazi, Beiguo Qi of Qi led an army and attacked Ju. The Viscount of Ju was about to give battle. Yuanyang Muzhi (苑羊牧之) remonstrated, saying, "The commander from Qi is of low rank, and what he asks is not much. Better to yield to him. A great state must not be provoked to anger." He would not listen, and defeated the army of Qi at Shouyu. The Marquis of Qi then attacked Ju, and the Viscount of Ju sued for peace. Sima Zao went to Ju to attend the covenant, and the Viscount of Ju went to Qi to attend the covenant; they swore outside the Ji Gate. At this the men of Ju came greatly to hate their ruler.

Wei Yue (薳越) of Chu sent word to Song, saying, "Our unworthy ruler has heard that your lordship has subjects who will not obey, who are a trouble to your lordship — nay, rather a disgrace to your ancestral house. Our unworthy ruler asks to receive them and put them to death." The answer was: "I, the solitary one, being without talent, have not been able to win the goodwill of my elders and kinsmen, and so have become a trouble to your lordship. I bow for the honor of your command. But if ruler and subject here say 'war,' and your lordship should say, 'I shall certainly help the subject' — that too shall be as you command. Men have a saying: 'Only pass not by the gate of a house in disorder.' If your lordship would kindly protect our poor city and not shield what is crooked so as to encourage rebels, that is my hope. Let your lordship consider it." The men of Chu were troubled by this.

The garrison forces of the feudal lords took counsel, saying, "If the Hua clan know themselves trapped and fight to the death, and Chu, ashamed of gaining nothing, fights hard, that is no advantage to us. Better to let them out and make it Chu's achievement; then they too will be able to do nothing more. And there is an end of it: we have rescued Song and removed its harm — what more should we seek?" So they firmly asked that the men be let out, and the men of Song complied. On the day jisi, Hua Hai, Xiang Ning, Hua Ding, Hua Chu, Hua Deng, Huang Yanshang, Sheng Zang, and Shi Ping of Song fled to Chu. The Duke of Song made Gongsun Ji grand marshal, Bian Ang grand minister of education, Yue Qi (樂祁) marshal, Zhong Ji (仲幾) Master of the Left, Yue Daxin (樂大心) Master of the Right, and Yue Wan grand minister of justice, so as to quiet the people of the capital.

Prince Chao (王子朝) and Bin Qi (賓起) were favorites of King Jing (景王). The king and Bin Meng — Bin Qi — were pleased with the prince and wished to set him up as heir. Bo Fen (伯蚡), a son by a secondary wife of Duke Xian of Liu, served Duke Mu of Shan (單穆公). He hated Bin Meng's character and wished to kill him; he also hated Prince Chao's talk, holding it to make for disorder, and wished to be rid of him. Bin Meng went out to the suburbs and saw a cock cut off its own tail. He asked about it, and an attendant said, "It shrinks from being made a sacrificial victim." He hurried back and told the king, saying moreover, "Does the cock then shrink from being used by men? With men it is otherwise: the one who offers the sacrifice in truth uses men. To be another's victim is hard indeed; to be one's own victim, what harm is there?" The king made no answer.

In summer, in the fourth month, the king hunted on the Northern Mountain and had the dukes and ministers all attend him, meaning to kill the Viscount of Shan and the Viscount of Liu. The king had a disease of the heart, and on the day yichou he died at the house of the Rongqi clan. On the day wuchen, Zhi, the Viscount of Liu, died leaving no son, and the Viscount of Shan set up Liu Fen. In the fifth month, on the day gengchen, they had audience with the king; then they attacked Bin Qi and killed him, and made a covenant with the princes at the house of Shan.

When Jin took Gu, after presenting the spoils it sent the Viscount of Gu back; but Gu again revolted and went over to Xianyu. In the sixth month Xun Wu (荀吳) overran Dongyang. He had his troops pose as grain buyers, carrying armor on their backs, and rest outside the gate of Xiyang. Then he made a surprise attack on Gu and extinguished it, and returned with Yuandi, Viscount of Gu, setting She Tuo to hold the place.

On the day dingsi King Jing (景王) was buried. Prince Chao, relying on the old officers and the hundred artisans who had lost their offices and stipends, and joined by the kindred of Kings Ling and Jing, raised a revolt. He led the armored men of Jiao, Yao, and Jian to drive out the Viscount of Liu. On the day renxu the Viscount of Liu fled to Yang. The Viscount of Shan met King Dao at the Zhuang Palace and brought him back. Prince Huan by night seized the king and took him to the Zhuang Palace. On the day guihai the Viscount of Shan went out. Prince Huan plotted with Duke Zhuang of Shao, saying, "If we do not kill Shan Qi, we shall not succeed. Make a solemn covenant with him, and he will surely come; men who have broken a covenant and yet prevailed are many." They did so. Fan Qingzi said, "That is no way to speak. You will surely not prevail." They then took the king with them in pursuit of the Viscount of Shan. Reaching Ling, they made a grand covenant and returned, killing Zhi Huang to give satisfaction. The Viscount of Liu went to Liu. The Viscount of Shan fled, and on the day yichou he fled to Pingzhi. The princes pursued him, and the Viscount of Shan killed Huan, Gu, Fa, Ruo, Zong, Yan, Ding, and Chou. Chao fled to Jing. On the day bingyin they attacked it, and the people of Jing fled into the hills. The Viscount of Liu entered the Royal City. On the day xinwei Duke Jian of Gong was routed at Jing, and on the day yihai Duke Ping of Gan was defeated there as well. Shu Yang returned from the royal capital and reported the disorder of the royal house. Min Mafu said, "Chao will surely not prevail. Those he has sided with are the ones Heaven has cast away." The Viscount of Shan wished to report the emergency to Jin. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day wuyin, he took the king to Pingzhi, then went on to Puche and halted at Huang. The Viscount of Liu went to Liu. The Viscount of Shan had Prince Chu hold the Royal City, and made a covenant with the hundred artisans at the Ping Palace. On the day xinmao Xun Xi attacked Huang and was heavily defeated, and Xun Xi was taken. On the day renchen they burned him in the market of the Royal City. In the eighth month, on the day xinyou, Chou, the minister of education, was routed with the royal army at Qiancheng. The hundred artisans revolted. On the day jisi they attacked the palace of the Shan clan and were beaten there. On the day gengwu the Shan clan attacked them in return. On the day xinwei they attacked Dongyu. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day dingsi, Ji Tan (籍談) and Xun Li (荀躒) of Jin led the Rong of the Nine Provinces together with the commanders of Jiao, Xia, Wen, and Yuan, and brought the king into the Royal City. On the day gengshen the Viscount of Shan and Liu Fen were routed with the royal army at Jiao, and the men of Qiancheng defeated the Luhun at She. In the eleventh month, on the day yiyou, Prince Meng died; his obsequies were not completed. On the day jichou King Jing (敬王) took the throne, lodging at the house of the Zilü clan.

In the twelfth month, on the day gengxu, Ji Tan, Xun Li, Jia Xin, and Sima Du of Jin led an army and encamped at Yin, at Houshi, and at Xiquan, halting at She. The royal army encamped at Fan and at Xie, halting at Renren. In the intercalary month Ji Yi, Yue Zheng, and Youhang Gui of Jin brought reinforcements across, took Qiancheng, and encamped to its southeast. The royal army encamped at Jingchu. On the day xinchou they attacked Jing and pulled down its southwestern quarter.

Year 23 (昭公二十三年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-third year, in spring, in the king's first month, Shusun Chuo (叔孫婼) went to Jin. On the day guichou Shu Yang died. The men of Jin seized our envoy Shusun Chuo. The men of Jin besieged Jiao.
• In summer, in the sixth month, Dongguo, Marquis of Cai, died in Chu.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, Gengyu, Viscount of Ju, fled here. On the day wuchen Wu defeated the armies of Dun, Hu, Shen, Cai, Chen, and Xu at Jifu. Kun, Viscount of Hu, and Cheng, Viscount of Shen, perished, and Xia Nie of Chen was captured. The King took up residence at Diquan. The Yin clan set up Prince Chao.
• In the eighth month, on the day yiwei, there was an earthquake.
• In winter the duke went to Jin. Reaching the Yellow River he fell ill and turned back.

Zuo. In the twenty-third year, in spring, in the king's first month, on the day renyin, the first of the month, the two armies besieged Jiao. On the day guimao, Jiao and Xun collapsed. On the day dingwei the army of Jin was at Pingyin and the royal army at Zeyi. The king sent word that there was a lull, and on the day gengxu they withdrew.

The men of Zhu walled Yi. On the way back they were going to go by way of Ligu. Gongsun Chu said, "Lu will block us," and wished to return by way of Wucheng, following the hills southward. Xu Chu, Qiu Ruo, and Mao Di said, "That road lies low; if we meet rain we shall not get through, and that is not returning at all." So they went by way of Ligu. The men of Wucheng blocked the way before them, and cut the trees behind them without severing them through. When the Zhu army had passed, they pushed the trees over and hemmed them in, and so took the Zhu army, capturing Chu, Ruo, and Di. The men of Zhu complained to Jin, and the men of Jin came to call us to account. Shusun Chuo went to Jin, and the men of Jin seized him. The record says, "The men of Jin seized our envoy Shusun Chuo" — this states that he had been sent as an emissary. The men of Jin wished to set him face to face with the grandee of Zhu in court. Shusun said, "A minister of a state of the first rank matches the ruler of a small state; that is the settled institution of Zhou. Zhu, moreover, is a Yi state. My ruler's appointed second, Zifu Hui, is here; let him be set against the man. I dare not set aside the institutions of Zhou." In the end there was no confrontation. Han Xuanzi (韓宣子) had the men of Zhu take back their people, and was about to hand Shusun over to them. Shusun heard of it and went to court without followers or weapons. Shi Mimou (士彌牟) said to Han Xuanzi, "If you do not plan well, and hand Shusun over to his enemy, Shusun will certainly die for it. If Lu loses Shusun, it will certainly destroy Zhu; and when the ruler of Zhu has lost his state, where will he go? Though you repent it, what good will that be? What is called a master of covenants punishes those who disobey commands. If all are to seize one another, what use is a master of covenants?" So he did not hand him over. He had each of them lodge in a separate hostel. Shi Bo heard their pleas and reported to Xuanzi, who then had both of them held. Shi Bo drove Shusun's carriage, with four attendants, and passed the Zhu lodging on the way to the officers; the Viscount of Zhu had been sent home first. Shi Bo said, "Because fodder and firewood are hard to come by here, and your followers are in distress, I shall lodge you in the capital." Shusun stood waiting from dawn for the appointed time; then they lodged him at Ji, and Zifu Zhaobo was housed in another town. Fan Xianzi (范獻子) sought goods from Shusun, sending to ask him for a cap. Shusun took the pattern of his cap and gave him two caps, saying, "That is the whole of it." On Shusun's account Shen Feng went to Jin with goods. Shusun said, "See me, and I will tell you where the goods are to go." He had his audience, and the goods were never brought out. An officer who was quartered with Shusun at Ji asked him for his watchdog, and he would not give it; but when he was about to go home he killed it and gave it to the man to eat. Wherever Shusun lodged, though for a single day, he would always mend the walls and the roof, and leave the place as it had been when he came.

In summer, in the fourth month, on the day yiyou, the Viscount of Shan took Zi, and the Viscount of Liu took Qiangren and Zhiren. In the sixth month, on the day renwu, Prince Chao entered Yin. On the day guiwei Yin Yu lured Liu Tuo out and killed him. On the day bingxu the Viscount of Shan went by the Ban road and the Viscount of Liu by the Yin road to attack Yin; the Viscount of Shan arrived first and was beaten, and the Viscount of Liu turned back. On the day jichou Shao Bo Huan and Nangong Ji garrisoned Yin with men of Chengzhou. On the day gengyin the Viscount of Shan, the Viscount of Liu, and Fan Qi took the king to Liu. On the day jiawu Prince Chao entered the Royal City and halted in the Left Lane. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day wushen, Xun Luo brought him into the Zhuang Palace. Yin Xin defeated the army of Liu at Tang, and on the day bingchen defeated it again at Xun. On the day jiazi Yin Xin took the Western Gate. On the day bingyin he attacked Kuai, and Kuai collapsed.

Gengyu, Viscount of Ju, was cruel and fond of swords. Whenever he had a sword cast he would always test it on a man, and the people of the state were distressed by him; he was moreover about to revolt. Wu Cun of Qi led the people of the state to drive him out. As Gengyu was about to leave, he heard that Wu Cun was standing at the left of the road with a lance in his hand. He was afraid, and wished to halt there and die. Yuanyang Muzhi said, "Pass him by, my lord. It is enough for Wu Cun to be known for his strength; why should he make his name by killing a ruler?" So Gengyu fled here, and the men of Qi installed Duke Jiao.

The men of Wu attacked Zhoulai. Wei Yue of Chu led an army, together with the armies of the feudal lords, hurrying to the rescue of Zhoulai. The men of Wu opposed them at Zhongli. Zixia died, and the fire of the Chu army went out. Prince Guang (公子光) of Wu said, "Those of the feudal lords who follow Chu are many, but they are all small states; they fear Chu and cannot help themselves, and that is why they have come. I have heard it said that in undertaking affairs, if awe prevails over affection, though the force be small it will surely succeed. The rulers of Hu and Shen are young and reckless; Nie, the grandee of Chen, is in his prime but stubborn; Dun, Xu, and Cai detest the rule of Chu. The chief minister of Chu is dead and the fire of his army is out; the commanders are of low rank and the favorites are many; orders are not unified. Seven states share the campaign but not one heart; the commanders are of low rank and cannot keep order, and there is no great authority in the commands. Chu can be beaten. If we divide our force and first strike Hu, Shen, and Chen, they will certainly be the first to run. When the three states are beaten, the armies of the feudal lords will waver in heart; when the lords fall into disarray, Chu will surely be routed outright. Let those who go first strip off their equipment and make a slight show of force, while those behind form solid ranks and keep their companies in order." The Viscount of Wu followed him. On the day wuchen, the last day of the month, they fought at Jifu. The Viscount of Wu used three thousand convicts to strike first at Hu, Shen, and Chen, and the three states scrambled after them. Wu formed three armies to follow close behind: the center army with the king, Guang leading the right, Yanyu leading the left. The convicts of Wu, some fleeing and some standing fast, threw the three states into confusion, and the army of Wu struck them. The three states were beaten, and the rulers of Hu and Shen and the grandee of Chen were taken. They released the prisoners of Hu and Shen and sent them running to Xu, Cai, and Dun, crying, "Our rulers are dead!" The army raised a shout and came after them. The three states fled, and the army of Chu was utterly routed. The record says, "Kun, Viscount of Hu, and Cheng, Viscount of Shen, perished; Xia Nie of Chen was captured" — this is the wording proper to rulers and to subjects. It does not say "they fought," because Chu had not drawn up its ranks.

In the eighth month, on the day dingyou, Nangong Ji was struck by lightning. Chang Hong (萇弘) said to Duke Wen of Liu, "Exert yourself, my lord: the strength of your late lord can carry this through. When Zhou was falling, its three rivers were shaken; now the great minister of the Western King has likewise been struck. Heaven has cast him off. The Eastern King will surely win a great victory."

The mother of Jian, heir apparent of Chu, was there. She summoned the men of Wu and opened the way for them. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day jiashen, Zhufan, heir apparent of Wu, entered, took the lady of Chu with her precious vessels, and returned. Wei Yue, marshal of Chu, pursued them but did not overtake them, and was about to die. His men said, "Let us go on and attack Wu to get her back." Wei Yue said, "Twice I have brought defeat on my ruler's army; to die still leaves me guilty. I have lost my ruler's lady — there can be no one but me to die for it." So he hanged himself at Weishi.

The duke went to Jin on Shusun's account. Reaching the Yellow River, he fell ill and turned back.

Nang Wa (囊瓦) of Chu became chief minister and walled Ying. Shen Yin Xu (沈尹戌) said, "Zichang will surely lose Ying. If a man cannot defend, walls are of no use. In antiquity the Son of Heaven's defense lay among the four Yi; when the Son of Heaven was brought low, his defense lay with the feudal lords. A feudal lord's defense lies with his four neighbors; when a lord is brought low, his defense lies at his four borders. He guards his four borders carefully, binds to himself four supports, lets the people be at ease in their fields, and brings the three seasonal labors to completion; and when the people have no trouble within and no fear from without, what use has a state for walls? Now it is Wu that is feared, and he walls Ying: the defense has grown small indeed. Brought so low and getting nothing by it, can he fail to be lost? Long ago the Earl of Liang dug a moat about his ducal palace, and his people scattered. When the people abandon their superior, what is there to wait for but ruin? Let a man set his boundaries straight, put his lands and fields in order, make his outposts strong, treat his people as kin, keep his files and watchmen clear, keep faith with his neighboring states, be careful in his officers' charges, observe the rites of intercourse, be neither overreaching nor greedy, neither timid nor overbearing, and complete his defenses so as to be ready for the unforeseen — then what has he to fear? The Odes say:

Do you not think upon your ancestor?
Then cultivate his virtue.

Should he not take that for his mirror? Ruo'ao and Fenmao, down to Kings Wu and Wen, had land of no more than a single tong; they guarded their four borders carefully, and even so did not wall Ying. Now the land is several qi, and Ying is walled — is that not a hard case?"

Year 24 (昭公二十四年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-fourth year, in spring, in the king's third month, on the day bingxu, Zhongsun Jue died. Chuo returned from Jin.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on the day yiwei, the first of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, there was a great rain sacrifice. On the day dingyou, Yuli, Earl of Qi (杞), died.
• In winter Wu extinguished Chao. Duke Ping of Qi (杞) was buried.

Zuo. In the twenty-fourth year, in spring, in the king's first month, on the day xinchou, Duke Jian of Shao and Nangong Yin brought Duke Huan of Gan to see Prince Chao. The Viscount of Liu said to Chang Hong, "The Gan clan too has gone over." He answered, "What harm? Those of one virtue take righteousness for their measure. The Great Declaration says, 'Zhou had commoners by the myriad and the million, but their hearts were divided; I have ten ministers who bring order, of one heart and one virtue.' This is how Zhou rose. Let my lord attend to virtue and not fret over having no men." On the day wuwu Prince Chao entered Wu.

Shi Mimou of Jin came to Ji to escort Shusun. Shusun had Liang Qijing wait inside the gate, saying, "If I look to the left and cough, kill him; if I look to the right and smile, hold your hand." Shusun saw Shi Bo, and Shi Bo said, "It was because of his office as master of covenants that my ruler kept you so long. The unhandsome courtesies of our poor city will be presented to your followers; he has sent Mimou to escort you, sir." Shusun accepted the gifts and went home. In the second month Chuo returned from Jin: this was recorded to honor Jin.

In the third month, on the day gengxu, the Marquis of Jin sent Shi Jingbo to inquire into the affairs of Zhou. Shi Bo took his stand at Ganji and questioned the great multitude. Thereupon the men of Jin refused Prince Chao and would not receive his envoys.

In summer, in the fifth month, on the day yiwei, the first of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. Zi Shen (梓慎) said, "There will be flooding." Zhaozi said, "It will be drought. The sun has passed the equinox; lacking yang it still does not prevail, and when it prevails it must prevail excessively — can there fail to be drought? The yang has not yet prevailed, and it will be gathering itself up."

In the sixth month, on the day renshen, Prince Chao's army attacked Xia and Xing, and both collapsed. The Earl of Zheng went to Jin, with Zi Taishu (子大叔) as his assistant, and saw Fan Xianzi. Xianzi said, "What is to be done about the royal house?" He answered, "This old man cannot even care for his own state and household; how should he presume to reach the royal house? Yet men have a saying: 'The widow does not fret over her unfinished weft, but grieves that the house of Zhou may fall' — for it will come upon her too. Now the royal house is truly in commotion, and we of a small state are afraid; but the worry belongs to the great states, and what should the likes of us know of it? Let my lord plan for it early. The Odes say:

When the small jar is empty,
it is the great vessel's shame.

That the royal house is not at peace is the shame of Jin." Xianzi was alarmed and took counsel with Xuanzi, and they summoned the feudal lords to a meeting, appointing it for the next year.

In autumn, in the eighth month, there was a great rain sacrifice: it was because of drought.

In winter, in the tenth month, on the day guiyou, Prince Chao offered the precious jade tablet of Chengzhou to the Yellow River. On the day jiaxu a ferryman found it on the riverbank. Yin Buning, raiding southward with men of Wen, arrested the man who had found the jade and took it from him; and when he was about to sell it, it had turned to stone. When the king was settled on his throne, he presented it to him, and was given Dongzi.

The Viscount of Chu made a boat force to overrun the borders of Wu. Shen Yin Xu said, "On this expedition Chu will certainly lose towns. He does not soothe the people but wearies them; Wu was not stirring, and he hastens it on. Wu will come at Chu's heels, and the frontier is unprepared — can the towns fail to be lost?" Xu Han, a grandee of Yue, entertained the king at the bend of the Yuzhang. Prince Cang of Yue presented the king with a boat to ride in, and Cang and Shoumeng led troops in the king's train. The king reached Yuyang and turned back. The men of Wu came at Chu's heels, and the frontier men were unprepared; so Wu extinguished Chao and Zhongli and went home. Shen Yin Xu said, "The beginning of Ying's fall lies here. With one movement the king has lost the commanders of two clans. How many such movements before it reaches Ying? The Odes say:

Who gave birth to this stair of evil,
that to this day is a bane?

Is this not said of the king?"

Year 25 (昭公二十五年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, Shusun Chuo went on a diplomatic visit to Song.
• In summer Shu Yi met Zhao Yang of Jin, Yue Daxin of Song, Beigong Xi of Wey, You Ji of Zheng, and men of Cao, Zhu, Teng, Xue, and Little Zhu at Huangfu. Mynahs came and nested.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the first xin day, there was a great rain sacrifice; on the last xin day there was another.
• In the ninth month, on the day jihai, the duke withdrew to Qi and halted at Yangzhou. The Marquis of Qi condoled with the duke at Yejing.
• In winter, in the tenth month, on the day wuchen, Shusun Chuo died.
• In the eleventh month, on the day jihai, Zuo, Duke of Song, died at Quji.
• In the twelfth month the Marquis of Qi took Yun.

Zuo. In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, Shusun Chuo made a diplomatic visit to Song. The Master of the Right of the Tong Gate met him, and in his talk belittled the grandees of Song and made light of the Sicheng clan. Zhaozi said to his people, "Will not the Master of the Right be ruined? A gentleman holds his own person in honor, and only then can he reach others; that is how there comes to be ritual propriety. Now this gentleman belittles his own grandees and makes light of his own kin, and that is to make light of himself. Can he have ritual propriety? Without ritual propriety he must be ruined." The Duke of Song feasted Zhaozi and had the ode "The New Palace" recited; Zhaozi had "The Linchpin" recited. The next day, at the banquet, when the drinking and the music were merry, the Duke of Song seated Zhaozi at his right, and as they talked they wept together. Yue Qi, who was assisting, withdrew and said to others, "This year the ruler and Shusun will both die, will they not? I have heard that to grieve at what is joyful and to be glad at what is mournful are alike a loss of mind. The essence and brightness of the mind are what we call the hun and po souls; and when the hun and po leave a man, how can he last long?"

The elder sister of Ji Gongruo was the lady of Little Zhu, and bore the lady who became the wife of Duke Yuan of Song; that lady bore a daughter, who was to be given in marriage to Ji Pingzi (季平子). Zhaozi went to Song on the diplomatic visit and also to fetch her. Gongruo went with him and told the lady of the Cao clan not to give her, saying that Lu was going to drive Pingzi out. The lady of the Cao clan told the duke, and the duke told Yue Qi. Yue Qi said, "If she is given him on such terms, the ruler of Lu will certainly be driven out. Government has been in the hands of the Ji clan for three generations, and the rulers of Lu have been without government for four reigns. There has never been a man who could accomplish his will without the people; it is for this that the ruler of a state settles and soothes his people. The Odes say:

When the men are gone,
the heart is grieved.

The ruler of Lu has lost his people; how should he accomplish his will? To stay quiet and await what is decreed might still do; if he stirs, there will surely be sorrow."

In summer there was a meeting at Huangfu, to take counsel about the royal house. Zhao Jianzi (趙簡子) ordered the grandees of the feudal lords to send grain to the king and to furnish garrison men, saying, "Next year we shall restore the king." Zi Taishu saw Zhao Jianzi, and Jianzi asked him about the rites of bowing, yielding, and turning about. He answered, "That is deportment, not ritual propriety." Jianzi said, "May I ask what is meant by ritual propriety?" He answered, "I, Ji, heard it from the late grandee Zichan (子產): ritual propriety is the constancy of Heaven, the rightness of Earth, and the conduct of the people. The constancies of Heaven and Earth are what the people take for their pattern: they pattern themselves on the brightness of Heaven and follow the nature of Earth. Heaven and Earth engender the six vapors and put to use the five phases. The vapors become the five flavors, break out as the five colors, and are displayed as the five notes; and when these are indulged to excess there is darkness and disorder, and the people lose their nature. Therefore ritual was made to sustain them. There were made the six domestic animals, the five sacrificial beasts, and the three victims, to serve the five flavors; the nine patterns, the six pigments, and the five emblazonings, to serve the five colors; the nine songs, the eight winds, the seven tones, and the six pitch-pipes, to serve the five notes. Ruler and subject, superior and inferior, were made to pattern the rightness of Earth. Husband and wife, outer and inner, were made to give order to the two spheres. Father and son, elder and younger brother, aunt and elder sister, nephew and uncle, marriage kin and connections by marriage, were made in the likeness of Heaven's brightness. Affairs of government, the employment of strength and the doing of tasks, were made to follow the four seasons. Punishments and penalties, and awe-inspiring prisons, were made to make the people fearful and wary, on the model of Heaven's thunder and lightning and its slaying. Warmth, kindness, generosity, and harmony were made in imitation of Heaven's begetting and breeding, its nourishing and rearing. The people have liking and loathing, joy and anger, grief and delight, born of the six vapors. Therefore one examines the patterns and matches the kinds, so as to regulate the six impulses. Grief has its weeping, delight its song and dance, joy its giving and remitting, anger its fighting. Joy is born of liking, anger of loathing. Therefore one examines conduct and makes commands trustworthy, and by calamity and blessing, reward and punishment, governs death and life. Life is a thing liked; death is a thing loathed. What is liked brings delight, and what is loathed brings grief. When grief and delight do not go astray, one can accord with the nature of Heaven and Earth, and so endure long." Jianzi said, "How great, then, is ritual propriety!" He answered, "Ritual is the cord of high and low, the warp and weft of Heaven and Earth, that by which the people live; and therefore the former kings honored it. Thus a man who can bend or straighten himself so as to come up to ritual is called a complete man. Is it not fitting that it should be called great?" Jianzi said, "I, Yang, beg to hold to these words all my life."

Yue Daxin of Song said, "I will not send grain. Toward Zhou we are guests; how should a guest be put to service?" Shi Bo of Jin said, "Since Jiantu, what campaign has Song not joined, and what covenant has it not shared in? The words were, 'Together we shall care for the royal house.' How can you evade it? You bear your ruler's command to a meeting on a great matter, and yet Song turns its back on the covenant — surely that will not do." The Master of the Right did not dare answer, but took the tablet and withdrew. Shi Bo told Jianzi, "The Master of the Right of Song will surely be ruined. He bears his ruler's command on a mission, and yet would break a covenant and offend the master of covenants. There is no greater ill omen than that."

Mynahs came and nested. It was recorded because such a thing had not been. Shi Ji said, "Strange! I have heard that in the age of Kings Wen and Wu there was a children's rhyme that ran:

The mynah, ah, the mynah!
The duke goes out and is shamed.
Feathers of the mynah —
the duke is in the outer wilds,
and they go and send him horses.
The mynah hops and hops —
the duke is at Ganhou,
and asks for leggings and a jacket.
The mynah's nest —
far away, far and far;
Choufu dies in his toil,
Songfu grows proud by it.
Mynah, oh mynah!
Going, they sing; coming, they weep.

Such was the children's rhyme. Now the mynahs have come and nested. Will it not come to pass?"

In autumn the record notes a second rain sacrifice: the drought was severe.

Earlier, Ji Gongniao had taken a wife from Qi, a daughter of Bao Wenzi, who bore Jia. When Gongniao died, Ji Gonghai, together with Gongsi Zhan and Shen Yegu, a retainer of Gongniao, managed his household. Now Ji Si had illicit dealings with Tan the cook, and grew afraid; so she had her maidservant beat her, and showed the marks to the wife of Qin Chuan, saying, "Gongruo wanted to have me, and when I refused he beat me." She also complained to Gongfu, saying, "Zhan and Yegu meant to force me." The lady Qin told Gongzhi, and Gongzhi and Gongfu told Pingzi. Pingzi confined Zhan at Bian and seized Yegu, meaning to put him to death. Gongruo wept and grieved for him, saying, "To kill this man is to kill me," and was going to plead for him. Pingzi ordered the pages not to let him in, and by noon he had not been able to make his plea. The officer came for orders, and Gongzhi told him to kill the man at once. Therefore Gongruo bore a grudge against Pingzi. The cocks of the Ji and the Hou fought: the Ji clan armored their cock, and the Hou clan gave theirs metal spurs. Pingzi was angry, enlarged his residence at the expense of the Hou clan, and rebuked them besides; and therefore Hou Zhaobo also bore a grudge against Pingzi. Hui, a younger cousin of Zang Zhaobo, spread slander in the Zang clan and fled to the Ji, and the Zang seized him there. Pingzi was angry and confined the steward of the Zang clan. A di sacrifice was to be held for Duke Xiang, but only two men performed the wan dance, the rest of the dancers performing the wan at the Ji clan's. Zangsun said, "This is what is called being unable to serve the temple of a former ruler." So the grandees came to resent Pingzi. Gongruo presented a bow to Gongwei, went out with him to shoot beyond the city, and plotted with him to be rid of the Ji clan. Gongwei told Gongguo and Gongben, and Gongguo and Gongben sent the attendant Liao Zu to tell the duke. The duke was in his chamber; he made to strike him with a dagger-axe, and the man ran off. The duke said, "Seize him," but gave no further order. Liao Zu was afraid and did not come out, and for some months was not seen. The duke was not angry, and they sent him to speak again; the duke took up a dagger-axe to frighten him, and he ran off. They sent him to speak again, and the duke said, "This is not a matter within a small man's reach." Then Gongguo spoke of it himself. The duke told Zangsun, and Zangsun held it hard to do. He told Housun, and Housun urged that it could be done. He told Zijia Yibo (子家懿伯), and Yibo said, "Slanderers are using my lord to seek their own luck. If the thing does not succeed, my lord will bear the name of it; it cannot be done. To have left the people to others for generations and then to seek to overcome — such a thing cannot be made certain. Besides, the government is in their hands, and it is hard to plan against them." The duke bade him withdraw, but he declined, saying, "Your servant has shared in hearing the command. If the word leaks out, your servant will not be granted even a proper death." So he lodged with the duke. Shusun Zhaozi went to Kan, and the duke took up quarters in the Long Treasury. In the ninth month, on the day wuxu, they attacked the Ji clan, killed Gongzhi at the gate, and forced their way in. Pingzi climbed a tower and pleaded, saying, "My lord has not examined your servant's offense, but has sent officers against him with shield and spear. Your servant asks to wait on the bank of the Yi until the offense is examined." It was not allowed. He asked to be imprisoned at Bi; that was not allowed. He asked to go into exile with five chariots; that was not allowed. Zijiazi said, "Let my lord allow it. Government has issued from him this long while; the hidden folk get their food from him, and his followers are many. When the sun goes down, wickedness stirs, and there is no knowing what may come. The anger of the multitude must not be stored up; stored and not dealt with, it will ferment; fermenting and stored, the people will conceive designs; conceiving designs and seeking the same thing, they will join together. My lord will surely repent it." He would not listen. Housun said, "He must be killed," and the duke sent Housun to fetch Meng Yizi. Zong Li, the marshal of the Shusun clan, said to his people, "What shall we do?" No one answered. He said again, "We are household retainers and dare not concern ourselves with the state. Simply this: with the Ji clan or without it, which is better for us?" All said, "If there is no Ji clan, there is no Shusun clan." Zong Li said, "Then let us rescue them." He led his followers there, broke in at the northwest corner, and entered. The duke's followers took off their armor, held their bow-cases and squatted down, and so were driven out. The Meng clan sent men up to the northwest corner to look toward the Ji clan's, and they saw the banner of the Shusun clan and reported it. The Meng clan seized Hou Zhaobo and killed him west of the South Gate, and then attacked the duke's followers. Zijiazi said, "Let the ministers pretend to have coerced my lord, and go out bearing the guilt, while my lord stays. Yiru, in serving his ruler, will not dare fail to mend his ways." The duke said, "I cannot bear it." He went with Zangsun to the graveyard to take counsel, and then set out. On the day jihai the duke withdrew to Qi and halted at Yangzhou. The Marquis of Qi was going to condole with the duke at Pingyin, but the duke came on first to Yejing. The Marquis of Qi said, "The fault is mine. I sent officers to wait at Pingyin because it was near." The record says, "The duke withdrew to Qi and halted at Yangzhou; the Marquis of Qi condoled with the duke at Yejing." This was according to ritual. When one is about to ask something of another, one first humbles oneself before him: that is a good thing in ritual. The Marquis of Qi said, "From the border of Ju westward, I ask to make over a thousand she, to await my lord's commands. I shall lead my poor levies to follow your officers and obey whatever you command. My lord's trouble is my trouble." The duke was pleased. Zijiazi said, "Heaven's bounty does not come twice. If Heaven blesses my lord, it will not go beyond the Duke of Zhou, and Lu is enough. To lose Lu and become a subject for a thousand she — who will stand with you? Besides, the ruler of Qi has no good faith; better to go early to Jin." He would not follow this. Zang Zhaobo led the followers in making a covenant, and the text of the covenant read: "We shall join our strength and be of one heart, sharing the same likes and dislikes; whether guilt be real or not, we shall cleave faithfully to the duke and pass no word between outside and inside." By the duke's command it was shown to Zijiazi. Zijiazi said, "If it is like this, I, a stranger here, cannot swear to it. I am without ability, and cannot be of one heart with you gentlemen in holding that all are guilty, and that some wish to pass word between outside and inside and moreover to be rid of the ruler. You gentlemen love exile and hate a settlement — how can we be of one mind? To have brought the ruler into this trouble — what guilt is greater than that? If passing word between outside and inside would take away the ruler's trouble, the ruler would return the sooner; and if no word passes, what is being done, and what is there to guard?" So he did not join the covenant. Zhaozi returned from Kan and saw Pingzi. Pingzi bowed his head to the ground and said, "What will you do with me?" Zhaozi said, "Who among men does not die? You have made your name by driving out your ruler, and your sons and grandsons will not forget it. Is that not a grievous thing? What is to be done with you?" Pingzi said, "If only Yiru may be allowed to mend his service to his ruler, that would be what is called bringing the dead to life and putting flesh on bones." Zhaozi followed the duke to Qi and spoke with him. Zijiazi ordered that whoever came to the duke's lodging be seized. The duke and Zhaozi spoke inside the tent, and Zhaozi said that he would settle the multitude and bring the duke back. The duke's followers meant to kill Zhaozi and lay in ambush on the road; Zuo Shizhan told the duke, and the duke had Zhaozi go home by way of Zhu. Pingzi harbored other designs. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day xinyou, Zhaozi purified himself in his chamber and had the invocator and the ancestral officer pray for his death. On the day wuchen he died. Zuo Shizhan was going to take the duke back on horseback, but the duke's followers seized him.

On the day renshen Duke Wen of Yin crossed at Gong and burned Dongzi, but did not take it.

In the eleventh month Duke Yuan of Song was about to go to Jin on the duke's account. He dreamed that the heir apparent Luan took the throne in the temple, and that he himself, with Duke Ping, in mourning dress, assisted him. At dawn he summoned the six ministers, and the duke said, "I am without ability, and have not been able to serve my elders and kinsmen, and so have become a trouble to you gentlemen; the fault is mine. If, by the good spirit of you gentlemen, I keep my head and neck to the end, then as for the boards that shall bear up my body, I ask that they not match those of the former rulers." Zhong Ji answered, "If for the sake of the altars of soil and grain my lord privately lowers his intimate feasting, your servants dare not concern themselves with it. But as for the law of the state of Song and the measure of death and life, the former rulers have left their commands; your servants keep them at the cost of their lives and dare not let them fall. If a servant fails in his charge, the standing punishment grants no pardon. Your servant cannot bear such a death, and my lord's command only brings dishonor." So the Duke of Song set out, and on the day jihai he died at Quji.

In the twelfth month, on the day gengchen, the Marquis of Qi besieged Yun.

Earlier, when Zang Zhaobo went to Jin, Zang Hui stole his precious tortoise, Loujü, and divined by it whether to be truthful or false, and "false" was auspicious. The steward of the Zang clan was about to go to Jin to make inquiries, and Hui asked to go in his place. Zhaobo asked about the affairs of the household, and Hui answered everything; but when it came to the wife of the house and to Zhaobo's younger brother by the same mother, Shusun, he did not answer. Asked two and three times, he still did not answer. On the way home, when Zhaobo reached the suburbs, Hui came out to meet him. He asked again, and it was as before. When they arrived, Zhaobo halted outside and had the matter looked into: none of it was so. He seized Hui to put him to death, but Hui slipped away and fled to Hou. Fang Jia of Hou made him a market officer there, and he kept accounts with the Ji clan. The Zang clan sent five men to lie in wait with dagger-axes and shields in the lane of Tongru. When Hui came out they chased him; he turned and fled, and they seized him outside the middle gate of the Ji clan. Pingzi was angry and said, "Why do you come armed into my gate?" and confined the steward of the Zang clan. So there was ill feeling between the Ji and the Zang. When Zhaobo followed the duke into exile, Pingzi set up Zang Hui as head of the clan, and Hui said, "Loujü did not deceive me."

The Viscount of Chu sent Wei Yi to wall Zhouqu and to settle the people of Jia there again, and to wall Qiuhuang and move the people of Zi there. He had Xiongxiang Mei build an outer wall at Chao, and Ji Ran an outer wall at Juan. Zi Taishu heard of it and said, "The king of Chu will soon die. He makes the people unsettled in their lands; the people will surely grieve, and their grief will reach the king. He cannot last long."

Year 26 (昭公二十六年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-sixth year, in spring, in the king's first month, Duke Yuan of Song was buried.
• In the third month the duke returned from Qi and dwelt at Yun.
• In summer the duke besieged Cheng.
• In autumn the duke met the Marquis of Qi, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, and the Earl of Qi (杞), and made a covenant at Zhuanling. The duke returned from the meeting and dwelt at Yun.
• In the ninth month, on the day gengshen, Ju, Viscount of Chu, died.
• In winter, in the tenth month, the King entered Chengzhou. The Yin clan, the Earl of Shao, and the Earl of Mao fled to Chu with Prince Chao.

Zuo. In the twenty-sixth year, in spring, in the king's first month, on the day gengshen, the Marquis of Qi took Yun. Duke Yuan of Song was buried as the former rulers had been: this was according to ritual.

Zuo.

In the third month the duke returned from Qi and took up residence at Yun. The record says this because Yun was Lu territory.

In summer the marquis of Qi was about to restore the duke, and gave orders that no goods from Lu were to be accepted. Shen Feng, together with Nü Jia, took two lengths of brocade as a present, bound one of them up so that it looked like an ear-stopper, and went to the Qi army. They spoke to Gao Yi, a retainer of Ziyou (子猶), saying that if he could get Ziyou to take the goods, he would be made heir of the Gao house, with five thousand yu of grain. Gao Yi showed the brocade to Ziyou, and Ziyou wanted it. Yi said, "The men of Lu are offering it — a hundred lengths in a single consignment. Because the roads are not open, they have sent the gift-goods on ahead." Ziyou accepted it, and said to the marquis of Qi: "That your servants have not put out their full strength for the ruler of Lu is not because they are unable to serve you. Yet I, Ju, find something strange in the business. Duke Yuan of Song, going to Jin on behalf of the ruler of Lu, died at Quji. Shusun Zhaozi sought to restore his own ruler and died without illness. I do not know whether Heaven has cast Lu off, or whether the ruler of Lu has offended against the ghosts and spirits, and so it has come to this. If my lord will wait at Quji and send your servants to escort the ruler of Lu, so as to test the matter by the outcome: if it goes well and the army succeeds, then my lord may follow it up, and there will be none to withstand you. If it comes to nothing, my lord will not have been disgraced." The marquis of Qi followed this advice. He sent Prince Chu to lead an army and escort the duke.

Gongsun Chao, grandee of Cheng, said to Pingzi, "A walled town exists to defend the state. Let me be the one to receive their army." This was granted. He asked to send a hostage; that was not granted, and Pingzi said, "To trust you is enough." He then announced to the Qi army: "The Meng lineage is a decayed house of Lu. Their use of Cheng has grown past bearing, and we cannot endure it. We ask to lay our shoulders' burden down under Qi." The Qi army laid siege to Cheng. The men of Cheng attacked those of the Qi army who were watering their horses at the Zi River, saying that it was to satisfy their own people; and Cheng of Lu completed its defenses and only then reported to Qi, saying, "We could not prevail against the multitude."

The Lu army fought the Qi army at Chuibi. Zi Yuanjie of Qi pursued Xie Shengzi and shot at him, striking the boss of his shield; the arrow glanced along the yoke-bar, and its head sank three inches into the chariot pole. Shengzi shot at his horse, cut through the breast-strap, and the horse fell dead. Yuanjie harnessed a fresh team; men took him for Zong Li and came to his aid. Zi Ju said, "He is a man of Qi!" They were about to strike Zi Ju; Zi Ju shot at them, and one fell dead. His charioteer said, "Again!" Zi Ju said, "A multitude may be frightened, but it must not be angered." Zi Nangdai pursued Ye Xie and shouted at him. Xie said, "In an army there is no private anger; to take revenge would be a private thing. I will stand against you." Nangdai shouted at him again, and he shouted back. Ran Shu shot Chen Wuzi and hit his hand; Wuzi dropped his bow and cursed. Ran Shu reported to Pingzi, "There was a gentleman there, fair of skin, with thick beard and eyebrows, and a very foul mouth." Pingzi said, "That must have been Ziqiang. Did you not stand up to him?" He answered, "Since I called him a gentleman, how should I dare stand up to him?" Lin Yong was ashamed to serve as the right-hand man of Yan Ming, and got down from the chariot. Yuan Heji cut off his ear. Yan Ming drove Yuan off. Yuanzi's charioteer said, "Look at the man below — he is turning round." Yuanzi slashed at Lin Yong and cut off his foot. Lin Yong hopped away on one leg, mounted another chariot, and got back. Yan Ming charged three times into the Qi army, calling out, "Lin Yong is mounted!"

In the fourth month Shanzi went to Jin to report the emergency.

In the fifth month, on the day wuwu, the men of Liu defeated the army of Wangcheng at Shishi. On the day wuchen the men of Wangcheng and the men of Liu fought at Shigu, and the army of Liu was routed.

In autumn there was a covenant at Zhuanling. It was to plan the restoration of the duke.

In the seventh month, on the day jisi, Liuzi took the king out of the city. On gengwu they halted at Qu. The men of Wangcheng burned Liu. On bingzi the king lodged at Chushi. On dingchou the king halted at Huangu. On gengchen the king entered Xumi. On xinsi the king halted at Hua. Zhi Li and Zhao Yang of Jin led an army to restore the king, and sent Ru Kuan to guard the pass and the barrier.

In the ninth month King Ping of Chu died. The chief minister Zichang wished to set up Zixi. He said, "The heir apparent Ren is young, and his mother was not the principal wife: it was Prince Jian who had in fact been betrothed to her. Zixi is the elder, and he loves what is good. To set up the elder accords with right order; to establish the good man brings good government. When the king accords with right order and the state is well governed — can we not strive for this?" Zixi answered angrily, "This is to throw the state into disorder and to work evil against the king. The state has support from outside; it must not be treated lightly. The king has a legitimate heir; the succession must not be disordered. To ruin kinship, to hasten enmity, to disorder the succession — these are unlucky things, and I should bear the name of them. Though you bribed me with all under Heaven, I would refuse the more. What is to become of the state of Chu? I shall certainly kill the chief minister." The chief minister was afraid, and so set up King Zhao.

In winter, in the tenth month, on bingshen, the king raised his army at Hua. On xinchou he was in the suburbs, and then halted at Shi.

In the eleventh month, on xinyou, the army of Jin took Gong. Zhao Boying drove out Prince Chao. Prince Chao, with the Zhao lineage, De of the Mao lineage, Gu of the Yin lineage, and Nangong Yin, carried off the canonical books and records of Zhou and fled with them to Chu. Yin Ji fled to Ju and revolted. The earl of Zhao met the king at Shi and made a covenant with Liuzi and Shanzi; then he encamped at Yuze and halted at Dishang. On guiyou the king entered Chengzhou. On jiaxu they made a covenant in the temple of King Xiang. Cheng Gongban of the Jin army garrisoned Zhou, and the rest returned home.

In the twelfth month, on guiwei, the king entered the temple of King Zhuang.

Prince Chao sent word to the feudal lords, saying:

"Formerly King Wu conquered Yin, King Cheng pacified the four quarters, and King Kang gave rest to the people; and together they established their full brothers to be a hedge and a screen for Zhou. They said also, 'We will not enjoy alone the achievement of Wen and Wu'; and further, that should later generations go astray, fail, and be overturned, and sink into calamity, the brothers would raise them up and rescue them.

"Down to King Yi, the king suffered in his own body, and there was not a feudal lord who did not hasten alike to the mountains and rivers of his own sacrifices to pray for the king's person.

"Down to King Li, the king's heart was perverse and cruel, and the myriad people could not bear it, and they lodged the king at Zhi. The feudal lords laid aside their own posts to take up the royal government in the interval; and when King Xuan showed his purpose, only then did they give back their offices.

"Down to King You, Heaven did not favor Zhou. The king was benighted and would not follow what was right, and so he lost his place. The Xie King usurped the mandate; the feudal lords deposed him and established the rightful royal heir, and so removed the seat to Jiaru. This was the brothers being able to spend their strength for the royal house.

"Down to King Hui, Heaven did not settle Zhou: it bred in Tui a heart bent on calamity, and that reached down to Shu Dai. Kings Hui and Xiang fled from disaster and departed from the royal capital; then there were Jin and Zheng, which put down all that was crooked and brought peace and settlement to the royal house. This was the brothers being able to follow out the commands of the former kings.

"In the sixth year of King Ding a prodigy appeared among the men of Qin, saying: 'Zhou shall have a mustached king, who will also be able to attend to his office. The feudal lords will submit and bring tribute, and for two generations they will serve their duties together. But in the royal house there will be one who usurps the royal seat; the feudal lords will take no thought, and will suffer the disorder and the disaster of it.' Down to King Ling, who was born with a mustache: the king was most holy and wise, and did no evil to the feudal lords. Kings Ling and Jing were both able to complete their generations.

"Now the royal house is in disorder. Shan Qi and Liu Di flay and disorder all under Heaven and act in everything contrary to right. They say, 'What constancy have the former kings? Only what my own heart commands — and who shall dare to question it?' They lead a band of unblessed men to work disorder in the royal house. Their encroaching greed is insatiable, their seeking without measure. They habitually profane the ghosts and spirits, they slight and cast away punishments and laws, they turn their backs on sworn covenants and violate them, they are arrogant and stubborn against dignified conduct, and they falsify and misrepresent the former kings. Jin acts without the Way and supports and abets them, thinking to give free rein to their boundless desire. So it is that I, the Unworthy One, am shaken and tossed and driven into wandering, hidden away among the Jing Man, with no place to settle.

"If my one or two brothers and kinsmen by marriage would uphold and follow the law of Heaven, give no help to the cunning, follow out the commands of the former kings, not hasten the punishment of Heaven, and pardon and take thought for the Unworthy One — that is what I desire. I venture to spread out fully what is in my heart, together with the standing rule of the former kings, and let the feudal lords indeed weigh it deeply.

"Formerly the command of the former kings said: 'If the queen has no son of the principal line, then choose and set up the eldest. If they are equal in years, decide by virtue; if equal in virtue, decide by divination. The king does not set up the one he loves, and the dukes and ministers act without private favor.' That is the institution of antiquity. Queen Mu and the heir apparent Shou died young and passed from the world; Shan and Liu, furthering their private interest, set up a younger son, and so broke in upon the former kings. Let my brothers, eldest and second and third and youngest, all consider it."

Min Mafu, hearing the words of Zichao, said, "Fine language serves to carry out the rites. Zichao offended against King Jing's command, held himself far off from the greatness of Jin, and followed only his own will. His want of ritual propriety is extreme. What use is fine language?"

In Qi a comet appeared, and the marquis of Qi ordered a sacrifice to avert it. Yanzi said, "It is of no benefit; it only earns you falsehood. The way of Heaven does not flatter and does not waver. How should its mandate be altered by averting it? Moreover, Heaven's having a comet is for sweeping away filth. If my lord has no filth in his virtue, what is there to avert? And if his virtue is filthy, what does averting take away from it? The Odes say:

This King Wen,
careful and reverent,
served the Lord on High with brightness,
and so drew to himself much blessing.
His virtue did not swerve,
and so he received the states of the four quarters.

If my lord's virtue does not swerve, the states of the four quarters will come. What is there to fear from a comet? The Odes say:

I have no mirror to look into
but the sovereigns of Xia and Shang;
because of their disorder
the people were scattered and lost at last.

If your virtue is crooked and disordered, the people will be scattered and lost, and what the invocators and scribes do can mend nothing." The duke was pleased, and desisted.

The marquis of Qi was sitting with Yanzi in the main audience chamber. The duke sighed and said, "How beautiful this hall is! Who shall possess it?" Yanzi said, "May I ask what you mean?" The duke said, "I take it that it will depend on virtue." He answered, "By what my lord says, it will be the Chen lineage. The Chen, though they have no great virtue, do bestow upon the people. In the measures of the dou, the ou, the fu, and the zhong, what they take from the ducal house is light, and what they give out to the people is generous. My lord gathers heavily, the Chen give heavily, and the people have turned to them. The Odes say:

Though I have no virtue to give you,
yet let there be singing and dancing.

For the giving of the Chen, the people sing and dance. If in later generations the ducal house slackens a little and the Chen do not perish, then the state will be their state." The duke said, "Well spoken. What can be done about it?" He answered, "Only ritual propriety can stop it. Under the rites, the bestowals of a great house do not reach into the state; the people do not shift about, the farmers do not move, artisans and merchants do not change their callings, officers do not overstep, officials do not slacken, and grandees do not gather in the duke's revenues." The duke said, "Well spoken. But I am not able. From this time on I know that ritual propriety can be used to govern a state." He answered, "That ritual propriety can govern a state is a long-standing thing; it stands together with Heaven and Earth. The ruler commands and the servant is respectful; the father is kind and the son filial; the elder brother loves and the younger brother reveres; the husband is harmonious and the wife gentle; the mother-in-law is kind and the son's wife obedient — this is ritual propriety. The ruler commands and does not transgress; the servant is respectful and not double-hearted; the father is kind and instructs; the son is filial and admonishes; the elder brother loves and is friendly; the younger brother reveres and complies; the husband is harmonious and righteous; the wife is gentle and correct; the mother-in-law is kind and yielding; the son's wife obeys and is gracious — these are the good things of ritual propriety." The duke said, "Well spoken! Only now have I heard this — the highest of ritual propriety." He answered, "It is what the former kings received from Heaven and Earth, and made to serve their people; and that is why the former kings set it highest."

Year 27 (昭公二十七年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, the duke went to Qi. The duke came back from Qi. He dwelt at Yun.
• In summer, in the fourth month, Wu assassinated its ruler Liao. Chu put to death its grandee Xi Wan.
• In autumn, Shi Yang of Jin, Yue Qili of Song, Beigong Xi of Wei (衛), a man of Cao, a man of Zhu, and a man of Teng met at Hu.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Wu, earl of Cao, died. Kuai of Zhu fled here. The duke went to Qi. The duke came back from Qi. He dwelt at Yun.

Zuo.

In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, the duke went to Qi. The duke came back from Qi and took up residence at Yun. The record says this to show that he was outside the state.

The viscount of Wu wished to take advantage of Chu's mourning and attack it. He sent Prince Yanyu and Prince Zhuyong to lead an army and besiege Qian, and he sent Jizi of Yanzhoulai on a diplomatic visit to the states of the upper country, and thence to Jin, in order to observe the feudal lords. You Yin Ran and Gong Yin Qun of Chu led an army to relieve Qian, and the marshal of the left, Shen Yin Xu, led the gentlemen of the capital and the men of the royal horse to reinforce the army. They met the army of Wu at Qiong. The chief minister Zichang went with the boat force as far as Sharui and then turned back. Xi Wan, overseer of the left, and Gong Yin Shou led an army as far as Qian, and the army of Wu could not withdraw. Prince Guang of Wu said, "This is the moment; it must not be lost." He said to Zhuan Shezhu, "The states of the upper country have a saying: 'If you do not seek, what will you get?' I am the rightful heir to the throne, and I mean to seek it. If the affair succeeds, then even should Jizi come, he will not set me aside." Zhuan Shezhu said, "The king can be killed. But my mother is old and my son is young, and for them there is nothing I can do." Guang said, "I am your own person."

In summer, in the fourth month, Guang hid armored men in an underground chamber and gave a feast for the king. The king had armored men posted along the road and at the gate; at the gate, on the steps, at the door, and by the mat, all were the king's own kin, flanking the way with long lances. Those who brought in the food bared their bodies and changed their clothes outside the gate; the food-bearers came forward on their knees, with the lance-bearers pressing close on either side, their blades against the bearers' bodies as the dishes were passed from hand to hand. Guang feigned an ailment of the foot and went down into the underground chamber. Zhuan Shezhu set a sword inside a fish and brought it forward; he drew the sword and stabbed the king, and the lances crossed in his own breast; and so he assassinated the king. He Lu made Zhuan Shezhu's son a minister. Jizi arrived and said, "If the sacrifices of the former rulers are not abandoned, if the people are not left without a lord, if the altars of soil and grain are still served and the state is not overthrown, then he is my ruler. Whom should I dare resent? To mourn the dead and serve the living, and so to await the mandate of Heaven; I did not raise the disorder, and I follow whoever is established — this is the way of our forebears." He reported on his mission, wept at the grave, returned to his place, and waited. Prince Yanyu of Wu fled to Xu, and Prince Zhuyong fled to Zhongwu. The army of Chu, hearing of the disorder in Wu, turned back.

Xi Wan was upright and harmonious, and the people of the capital were pleased with him. Yan Jiangshi, who was commander of the right, joined with Fei Wuji and hated him. The chief minister Zichang was greedy for goods and trusted slander, and Wuji slandered Xi Wan to him. He said to Zichang, "Zi'e wishes to give you wine." And he said to Zi'e, "The chief minister wishes to drink wine at your house." Zi'e said, "I am a man of low station, not worth the chief minister's condescension. If the chief minister must indeed come and honor me, his kindness will be too great, and I have nothing to repay it with. What shall I do?" Wuji said, "The chief minister is fond of armor and weapons. Bring yours out and I will choose among them." He took five suits of armor and five sets of weapons and said, "Set them at the gate. When the chief minister comes he will surely look at them, and you can follow that up by presenting them." When the day of the feast came they were curtained off to the left of the gate. Wuji then said to the chief minister, "I nearly brought disaster upon you. Zi'e means you harm — there are armed men at his gate; you must not go. Moreover, in that campaign Wu could have been mastered, and Zi'e took a bribe from them and turned back, and misled the commanders and made them withdraw their troops. He said, 'To take advantage of disorder is inauspicious.' But Wu took advantage of our mourning; for us to take advantage of their disorder — would that not have been proper?" The chief minister sent men to look at the Xi household, and there was armor there; so he did not go. He summoned Yan Jiangshi and told him. Jiangshi withdrew and then gave orders to attack the Xi household and to burn it. When Zi'e heard of this, he killed himself. The people of the capital would not set the fire. The order was given: "Whoever does not burn the Xi house shares their crime." Some took a single bundle of rushes, some a single handful of straw; the people threw them down, and so the house was not burned. The chief minister had it fired himself, and wiped out the whole Xi clan and its adherents. He killed Yang Lingzhong and his younger brothers Wan and Tuo, and Jin and Chen and their sons and younger brothers. The kin of Jin and Chen cried out through the capital, saying, "The Yan and the Fei make themselves kings; they monopolize calamity for the state of Chu, weaken and diminish the royal house, and blind the king and the chief minister for their own profit. The chief minister believes them in everything. What is to become of the state?" The chief minister was troubled by it.

In autumn there was the meeting at Hu. It gave orders about Chengzhou, and it also planned the restoration of the duke. Song and Wei both thought it to their advantage that the duke be restored, and pressed for it firmly. Fan Xianzi had taken goods from Jisun. He said to Sicheng Ziliang and Beigong Zhenzi, "Jisun did not yet know his offense when his ruler attacked him. He asked to be imprisoned, he asked to go into exile, and in this he did not obtain his wish; and the ruler could not overcome him, and so went out of his own accord. Could men drive out their ruler with no preparation? That the Ji lineage was restored — it was Heaven that saved them. It quieted the anger of the duke's followers and opened the heart of the Shusun. Otherwise, how could men who were attacking another loosen their armor and stroll about with their quiver-covers in hand? The Shusun feared that the calamity would spread to them, and made themselves one with the Ji. This is the way of Heaven. The ruler of Lu has clung to Qi for three years without success. The Ji have thoroughly won their people; the Huai Yi side with them; they have provisions for ten years, the support of Qi and Chu, the help of Heaven, the aid of the people, a firm resolve to hold out, and weight among the several states — and still they do not dare make a display of it, and they serve their ruler as though he were still in the state. Therefore I, Yang, hold the thing to be hard. You two are men who plan for your states, and you wish to restore the ruler of Lu; that is my wish also. Let me follow you two and besiege Lu, and if it does not succeed, I will die for it." The two men were alarmed and both declined. So Jin dismissed the small states, and reported back that the thing was difficult.

Meng Yizi and Yang Hu attacked Yun. The men of Yun were about to fight. Zijiazi said, "The mandate of Heaven has long been past doubting. Those who made our ruler an exile are surely this very multitude. Heaven has already brought calamity upon him, and we would make good fortune of our own — is that not hard? If there are indeed ghosts and spirits, this must end in defeat. Alas! There is nothing to hope for. Shall we die here?" The duke sent Zijiazi to Jin. The duke's followers were defeated at Juzhi.

After the trouble of Xi Wan in Chu, talk in the state did not cease, and none who brought sacrificial meat failed to revile the chief minister. Shen Yin Xu said to Zichang, "As for the overseer of the left and the overseer of the middle stables, no one knew what their crime was, and you killed them, and so stirred up reviling and resentment that has not ceased to this day. I, Xu, am perplexed by it. A humane man would not kill even to smother reviling; now you kill men and so stir reviling up, and you do not consider it. Is that not strange? Wuji is the slanderer of Chu, as every one of the people knows. He drove out Chao Wu, he expelled Song, marquis of Cai, he caused the loss of the heir apparent Jian, he killed She, the lian overseer, and he screened the king's ears and eyes so that the king could neither hear nor see clearly. Were it not so, King Ping's warmth and kindness, his respectfulness and frugality, went beyond Kings Cheng and Zhuang and fell short of them in nothing; the reason he did not win the feudal lords was that nothing reached even those near at hand. Now again three innocent men have been killed and great reviling stirred up, and it has nearly reached you. If you take no thought, what use will your office be? Yan Jiangshi falsified your command and destroyed three clans, men who were the good of the state and had not erred in their offices. Wu has a new ruler and the borders are alarmed daily; if some great affair should fall upon Chu, you will be in danger. A wise man removes slanderers to make himself safe; now you cherish a slanderer and put yourself in danger. Great indeed is your delusion." Zichang said, "This is Wa's own fault. I dare not fail to plan well."

In the ninth month, on jiwei, Zichang killed Fei Wuji and Yan Jiangshi and wiped out their clans, to please the state; and the reviling then ceased. In winter the duke went to Qi, and the marquis of Qi asked to give him a banquet. Zijiazi said, "He stands at their court morning and evening — what banquet can there be? Let it be a drinking of wine." So they drank wine, and the marquis had his steward present the cups and asked leave to withdraw. The daughter of Zizhong, named Chong, was a wife of the marquis of Qi, and he said, "Let Chong be presented." At that Zijiazi took the ruler and left.

In the twelfth month Ji Qin of Jin brought up the garrison troops of the feudal lords to Zhou. The men of Lu excused themselves on account of their troubles.

Year 28 (昭公二十八年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-eighth year, in spring, in the king's third month, Duke Dao of Cao was buried. The duke went to Jin and halted at Ganhou.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on bingxu, Ning, earl of Zheng, died.
• In the sixth month Duke Ding of Zheng was buried.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on guisi, Ning, viscount of Teng, died. In winter Duke Dao of Teng was buried.

Zuo.

In the twenty-eighth year, in spring, the duke went to Jin, meaning to go to Ganhou. Zijiazi said, "To have a request of another and then settle down at your ease — who will feel for you? Go to the border." The duke did not listen, and sent to ask Jin to come and receive him. The men of Jin said, "Heaven has sent calamity upon the state of Lu, and its ruler has long been in distress abroad. Yet the ruler has not sent so much as one man to condescend to me, but settles at his ease among his kin by marriage. Let them be the ones to send and receive him." They made the duke return to the border, and only then received him.

In Jin, Qi Sheng and Wu Zang exchanged wives. Qi Ying was about to arrest them, and consulted the marshal Shu You. Shu You said, "The Book of Zheng has it: 'Those who hate the straight and loathe the correct are indeed many, and they have their followers.' Lawlessness is established. I fear you will not escape. The Odes say:

The people are full of crookedness;
do not set up ordinances of your own.

Would it not be better to let the matter drop for now?" Ying said, "The Qi house is punishing within its own household. What has the state to do with it?" And he arrested them. Qi Sheng bribed Xun Li, and Xun Li spoke for him to the marquis of Jin, and the marquis of Jin arrested Qi Ying. Qi Ying's retainers said, "Since we shall all die alike, better that our master should hear of the deaths of Sheng and Zang and take pleasure in it." So they killed them.

In summer, in the sixth month, Jin put to death Qi Ying and Yang Shiwo. Shiwo was of Qi Ying's party and had helped in the disorder, and so was killed. Thereupon the Qi lineage and the Yangshe lineage were wiped out.

Earlier, Shuxiang had wished to take a wife from the house of Wuchen, duke of Shen. His mother wished him to marry within her own kin. Shuxiang said, "My father's wives are many, but the sons by them are few. I have taken my warning from my mother's kin." His mother said, "The wife of Ziling killed three husbands, one ruler, and one son, and ruined one state and two ministers. Ought you not to take warning? I have heard that great beauty must have great evil with it. She was the daughter of the junior consort of Duke Mu of Zheng, the lady Yao, and the younger sister of Zimo. Zimo died young and left no heir, and Heaven concentrated beauty in her; surely by this there will be great ruin. Formerly the You Reng clan bore a daughter whose hair was jet-black and very beautiful, so glossy that one could see one's face in it; she was called the Dark Wife. Kui, the master of music, took her, and she bore Bo Feng, who had the heart of a boar: greed without satisfaction, and rage and malice without limit. They called him the Great Boar, and Yi, sovereign of Youqiong, destroyed him; and for this reason Kui receives no sacrifice. Moreover, the fall of the Three Dynasties and the deposing of Prince Gong were all through such creatures. What will you do with her? A creature of surpassing beauty is enough to alter a man; and unless he has virtue and righteousness, disaster must follow." Shuxiang was afraid and did not dare take her. Duke Ping forced him to take her, and she bore Boshi. When Boshi was newly born, Zirong's mother hurried to tell her husband's mother, saying, "The lady Shu Si has borne a boy." The mother-in-law went to see him; she reached the hall, heard his cry, and turned back, saying, "This is the cry of a jackal or a wolf. A wolf's cub has a wild heart. If it is not this one, no one will ruin the Yangshe lineage." And she would not look at him.

In autumn Han Xuanzi of Jin died, and Wei Xianzi (魏獻子) took charge of the government. He divided the lands of the Qi lineage into seven districts, and the lands of the Yangshe lineage into three districts. Sima Mimou became grandee of Wu; Jia Xin, grandee of Qi; Sima Wu, grandee of Pingling; Wei Wu, grandee of Gengyang; Zhi Xuwu, grandee of Tushui; Han Gu, grandee of Mashou; Meng Bing, grandee of Yu; Yue Xiao, grandee of Tongdi; Zhao Chao, grandee of Pingyang; and Liao An, grandee of Yangshi. It was said of Jia Xin and Sima Wu that they had exerted themselves for the royal house, and so were promoted. It was said of Zhi Xuwu, Zhao Chao, Han Gu, and Wei Wu that they were younger sons who had not failed in their duties and could maintain their family callings. The other four all received their districts before they presented themselves to Wei Xianzi; they were promoted for their worth.

Wei Xianzi said to Cheng Zhuan, "I have given Wu a district. Will people take me for one who favors his own party?" He answered, "How so? Wu is a man who, far off, does not forget his ruler; near at hand, does not press upon his equals; in prosperity thinks of righteousness; in straitness thinks of purity; who has a heart that holds fast and no excessive conduct. Even to give him a district — is that not proper? Formerly King Wu conquered Shang and gloriously possessed all under Heaven. Fifteen of his brothers received states, and forty states were of the Ji surname; all were promotions of kin. Promotion has no other rule than where goodness lies; near kin and distant are one in this. The Odes say:

This King Wen —
the Lord measured his heart
and stilled the fame of his virtue.
His virtue was able to be bright;
bright, and able to sort;
able to lead, able to rule.
He was king over this great state,
able to comply, able to draw close.
When it came to King Wen,
his virtue was without regret.
He had received the Lord's blessing,
and it reached down to his sons and grandsons.

When the heart can settle what is right, this is called measuring; when virtue is correct and answers in harmony, this is called stilling; to shine upon the four quarters is called brightness; to be diligent in giving and without private favor is called sorting; to instruct without weariness is called leading; to reward and to bless, to punish and to awe, is called ruling; to be kind and harmonious so that all submit is called complying; to choose the good and follow it is called drawing close; to weave the warp and woof of Heaven and Earth is called the cultured. These nine virtues without fault, and deeds done without regret — therefore he inherited the emolument of Heaven, and his sons and grandsons leaned upon it. My lord's promotions come near to the virtue of Wen. How far their reach will be!"

When Jia Xin was about to go to his district, he presented himself to Wei Xianzi. Wei Xianzi said, "Xin, come here. Formerly Shuxiang went to Zheng. Zong Mie was ugly, but wished to look upon Shuxiang, and so followed the men who were clearing away the vessels and went and stood below the hall. He spoke a single sentence, and it was good. Shuxiang was about to drink; he heard it and said, 'That must be Zong Ming.' He went down, took him by the hand, brought him up, and said: 'Formerly the grandee of Jia was ugly. He married a beautiful wife, and for three years she neither spoke nor smiled. He drove her out to the marsh, shot at a pheasant and got it, and then his wife first smiled and spoke. The grandee of Jia said, "Ability cannot be dispensed with. Had I not been able to shoot, you would never have spoken or smiled." Now you are somewhat unhandsome; had you not spoken, I should nearly have lost you. So it is that speech cannot be dispensed with.' And they became as old acquaintances. Now you have exerted yourself for the royal house, and for that I promote you. Go, and be reverent in it; do not let your strength slacken."

Zhongni, hearing of Wei Xianzi's promotions, held them righteous, and said, "Near at hand he did not fail his kin; far off he did not fail in promotion. This may be called righteousness." Hearing also his charge to Jia Xin, he held it loyal, and said, "The Odes say, 'Ever be worthy of the mandate, and seek for yourself much blessing' — this is loyalty. Wei Xianzi's promotions were righteous and his charge was loyal. Surely he will long have descendants in the state of Jin."

In winter there was a lawsuit among the men of Gengyang, and Wei Wu could not decide it and sent the case up to the head of his lineage. A bribe of women musicians was offered, and Wei Xianzi was about to accept it. Wei Wu said to Yan Mo and Nü Kuan, "Our lord is known among the feudal lords for taking no bribes. If he accepts a bribe from the men of Gengyang, nothing could be worse. You must remonstrate." Both agreed. When the court withdrew they waited in the courtyard, and when the food was brought in he summoned them. While the dishes were being set out they sighed three times. When the meal was over he had them sit down, and Wei Xianzi said, "I have heard a saying of my uncles: 'Only in eating are cares forgotten.' While the food was being set out you sighed three times. Why was that?" They answered with one voice, "Someone gave us two little men wine, and we had eaten no evening meal. When the food first came we feared it would not be enough, and so we sighed. In the midst of the setting-out we blamed ourselves, saying, 'How should there not be enough, when the general gives food?' — and so we sighed a second time. And when the serving was done, we wished that the belly of little men might serve as the heart of a gentleman: to be filled just to sufficiency, and no more." Xianzi refused the men of Gengyang.

Year 29 (昭公二十九年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-ninth year, in spring, the duke came back from Ganhou and dwelt at Yun. The marquis of Qi sent Gao Zhang to come and condole with the duke. The duke went to Jin and halted at Ganhou.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on gengzi, Shu Yi died.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, in the tenth month, Yun collapsed.

Zuo.

In the twenty-ninth year, in spring, the duke came back from Ganhou and took up residence at Yun. The marquis of Qi sent Gao Zhang to come and condole with the duke, addressing him as "master of the house." Zijiazi said, "Qi has lowered our ruler; my lord only earns disgrace here." The duke went to Ganhou.

In the third month, on jimao, the royal capital put to death Zhao Boying, Gu of the Yin lineage, and the son of Yuan Bolu. When Yin Gu was on his way back, a woman met him in the suburbs of Zhou and reproached him, saying, "At home he urges men to make trouble; abroad he is back again within a few days. This fellow — will he outlast three years?"

In summer, in the fifth month, on gengyin, Prince Zhaoju entered Lian and revolted, and Yin Buning defeated him.

Every year Pingzi bought horses and provided clothes and shoes for the followers, and sent them to Ganhou. The duke seized the men who brought the horses and sold them, and after that no horses were sent. The marquis of Wei came and presented his carriage horse, named Qifu; it fell into a ditch and died, and the duke was going to make a coffin for it. Zijiazi said, "The followers are in want; let it be given them to eat." So it was wrapped in a curtain.

The duke gave Gong Yan a lambskin coat and sent him to present a dragon-jade to the marquis of Qi, and he brought in the lambskin coat as well. The marquis of Qi was delighted, and gave him Yanggu. When Gong Yan and Gong Wei were born, their mothers withdrew together. Gong Yan was born first. Gong Wei's mother said, "We withdrew together; let us report together." After three days Gong Wei was born, and his mother reported first, and Gong Wei was reckoned the elder. The duke privately rejoiced over Yanggu, and thought about Lu, saying, "It was Wuren who caused this calamity. And he was born later and yet counted as the elder — the falsehood has stood a long time." So he set him aside, and made Gong Yan heir apparent.

In autumn a dragon appeared in the outskirts of Jiang.

Wei Xianzi asked Cai Mo (蔡墨), "I have heard that among creatures none is wiser than the dragon, because it is never taken alive. Is it true that it is called wise?"

He answered, "It is men who in truth do not know; it is not that the dragon is wise. In antiquity dragons were kept, and so the state had the Dragon-Feeder clan and the Dragon-Driver clan."

Xianzi said, "Of these two clans I too have heard, but I do not know their origin. What is meant by them?"

He answered, "Formerly there was Shu An of Liao, who had a distant descendant named Dong Fu. He greatly loved dragons and could find out their appetites and desires so as to feed them, and many dragons came to him. So he tamed and kept dragons and served the emperor Shun with them. The emperor granted him the surname Dong and the clan name Huanlong, the Dragon-Feeder, and enfeoffed him at Zongchuan; the Zongyi clan are his descendants. Thus in the generations of the emperor Shun there were keepers of dragons. When Kong Jia of the Xia came, he was obedient to the Lord, and the Lord bestowed on him team-dragons, two from the He and two from the Han, each pair male and female. Kong Jia could not feed them, and he had not obtained the Dragon-Feeder clan. The Taotang clan had already declined, and among its descendants was Liu Lei, who learned the taming of dragons from the Dragon-Feeder clan and served Kong Jia and was able to feed them. The Xia sovereign commended him and granted him the clan name Yulong, the Dragon-Driver, to take the place of the descendants of Shiwei. One of the female dragons died, and he secretly made it into a hash and fed it to the Xia sovereign. The sovereign enjoyed it, and afterwards sent for more; and in fear he moved away to the district of Lu. The Fan lineage are his descendants."

Xianzi said, "Why then are there none now?"

He answered, "Every kind of creature has its officer, and the officer cultivates his art and thinks on it morning and evening. If for one day he fails in his duty, death comes upon him; and losing his office, he has nothing to eat. When the officer keeps to his calling, then the creature comes; if it is neglected and cast away, the creature hides itself, sinks out of sight, and does not breed. Therefore there were the officers of the five phases, called the Five Officers. They received clan names and surnames in their order, were enfeoffed as dukes of the highest rank, and are sacrificed to as honored spirits. In the sacrifices to soil and grain and the five sacrifices, these are honored and served. The director of wood is called Goumang; the director of fire, Zhurong; the director of metal, Rushou; the director of water, Xuanming; the director of earth, Houtu. The dragon is a creature of water. The office of water has been cast away, and so dragons are not taken alive. Were it not so — the Zhou Changes has it. In Qian going to Gou it says, 'The hidden dragon: do not act.' In its Tongren it says, 'The dragon appears in the field.' In its Dayou it says, 'The flying dragon is in the sky.' In its Guai it says, 'The overreaching dragon has cause for regret.' In its Kun it says, 'A host of dragons appears without heads: auspicious.' And Kun going to Bo says, 'Dragons fight in the wilds.' If they had not been seen morning and evening, who could have described them as creatures?"

Xianzi said, "The sacrifices to soil and grain and the five sacrifices — whose Five Officers were they?"

He answered, "The Shaohao clan had four younger sons, named Chong, Gai, Xiu, and Xi, who were able in metal, in wood, and in water. Chong was made Goumang, Gai was made Rushou, and Xiu and Xi were made Xuanming; for generations they did not fail in their duties, and so brought Qiongsang through to prosperity. These are three of the sacrifices. The Zhuanxu clan had a son named Li, who became Zhurong; the Gonggong clan had a son named Goulong, who became Houtu. These are the other two sacrifices. Houtu is the god of the soil. Ji is the director of the fields. A son of the Lieshan clan named Zhu was Ji, and was sacrificed to from the Xia and earlier. Qi of Zhou was also Ji, and has been sacrificed to since the Shang."

In winter Zhao Yang and Xun Yin of Jin led an army to wall the banks of the Ru, and then levied one gu of iron from the state of Jin to cast a penal cauldron, inscribing on it the penal code that Fan Xuanzi had made.

Zhongni said, "Jin will surely perish! It has lost its measure. Jin ought to keep the laws and measures that Tang Shu received, and by them weave its people together, the ministers and grandees maintaining them in due order. By this the people were able to honor the noble, and the noble were able to keep their inheritance. That noble and base do not go astray — this is what is called measure. It was thus that Duke Wen created the office of keeper of ranks and made the code of Beilu, and so became leader of the covenant. Now that measure is cast aside and a penal cauldron is made. The people will look to the cauldron; how then will they honor the noble? And what inheritance will the noble keep? When noble and base have no order, how can there be a state? Moreover, Xuanzi's penal code was made at the review at Yi — a disordered institution of Jin. How can it be made law?"

Cai Mo the scribe said, "Will not the Fan and the Zhonghang perish? Zhonghang Yin is a minister of the lower rank, and yet he has offended against his superior's command, presumed to make a penal vessel, and set it up as the law of the state. This is to make lawlessness into law. And he has added the Fan lineage to it as well; to change the law thus is ruin. It will reach the Zhao lineage too, for Zhao Meng took part in it. Yet he could not help it; if he has virtue, he may escape."

Year 30 (昭公三十年)

Annals.

• In the thirtieth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was at Ganhou.
• In summer, in the sixth month, on gengchen, Quji, marquis of Jin, died.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Qing of Jin was buried.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, Wu extinguished Xu. Zhangyu, viscount of Xu, fled to Chu.

Zuo.

In the thirtieth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was at Ganhou. That Yun and Ganhou were not written first is a censure of the duke, and brings his fault to light.

In summer, in the sixth month, Duke Qing of Jin died.

Zuo.

In autumn, in the eighth month, the burial took place. You Ji (游吉) of Zheng came to offer condolences and also to escort the burial. Wei Xianzi (魏獻子) had Shi Jingbo (士景伯) put a question to him: "At the funeral of Duke Dao, Zixi came to condole and Zijiao escorted the burial. Now you come without a second man. Why is that?"

He answered: "That by which the feudal lords give their allegiance to the ruler of Jin is ritual propriety. And ritual propriety means this: that the small serves the great and the great cherishes the small. Serving the great lies in supplying its commands at their seasons; cherishing the small lies in showing concern for what it lacks. My unworthy city lies between great states. We supply the tribute of our office, and our defences against unlooked-for troubles besides. How should we forget to answer your commands? By the institutions of the former kings, at the funeral of a feudal lord an officer comes to condole and a grandee escorts the burial; only for occasions of goodwill — diplomatic visits and presentations of gifts — and for the affairs of the three armies is a minister sent. When Jin has had a funeral and my unworthy city was at leisure, our former rulers have sometimes come and helped to hold the ropes of the hearse. When it was not at leisure, then even an officer or a grandee could not always be counted among those present. The kindness of a great state is to welcome what is added and not to reprove what is wanting, to see clearly to the true circumstances and simply to accept what can be provided. This is held to be ritual propriety. At the funeral of King Ling, our former ruler Duke Jian was in Chu, and the man who went was our former grandee Yin Duan (印段), a junior minister of my unworthy city. The king's officers did not reprove it; they had concern for what we lacked. Now you say to me, 'Why do you not follow the old practice?' But the old practice has both the ample and the reduced, and I do not know which to follow. If I followed the ample, my ruler is young and weak, and for that reason it could not be supplied. If I followed the reduced, then I, Ji, am here. Let you, sir, consider it." The men of Jin could not press the question further.

The Viscount of Wu had the men of Xu seize Yanyu (掩餘) and the men of Zhongwu seize Zhuyong (燭庸). The two princes fled to Chu. The Viscount of Chu granted them large fiefs and gave their removal a settled place. He sent Daxin, the Overseer of Horses (監馬尹大心), to meet the princes of Wu, and had them dwell at Yang. Ran the Yuyin (莠尹然) and Shen Yinxu (沈尹戌), Marshal of the Left, walled the place; and they took land from Chengfu and the fields of Hu and gave it to them, meaning by this to injure Wu. Zixi (子西) remonstrated: "Guang of Wu has newly obtained his state and is close to his people. He looks on the people as his children and shares their toil and hardship with them, for he means to use them. Even if we kept good relations along the Wu frontier and made them gentle and submissive, we should still have to fear their coming. Now we are further establishing their enemies with territory and so doubling their anger. Surely this will not do? Wu is a descendant branch of Zhou, but it was cast away on the seacoast and had no dealings with the Ji clan. Now for the first time it has grown great and ranks with the states of Hua. Guang, moreover, is a man of much refinement, and will set himself on a level with the former kings. I do not know whether Heaven means to make him a tyrant, so as to cut off and destroy the state of Wu and greatly enfeoff men of another surname; or whether in the end it will bestow its blessing upon Wu. Either way the issue is not far off. Why do we not for the present set our own ghosts and spirits at rest, and bring quiet to our own clan and surname, and so wait to see where the matter comes to rest? What use is there in scattering ourselves abroad?" The king would not listen. The Viscount of Wu was enraged.

In winter, in the twelfth month, the Viscount of Wu seized the Viscount of Zhongwu, and then attacked Xu. He dammed the hills to flood it. On jimao he extinguished Xu. Zhangyu (章禹), Viscount of Xu, cut off his hair and, leading his wife, went out to meet the Viscount of Wu. The Viscount of Wu condoled with him and sent him on his way, ordering his own close attendants to go with him; and he fled to Chu. Shen Yinxu of Chu led an army to rescue Xu but did not come up in time. He then walled Yi and settled the Viscount of Xu there. The Viscount of Wu asked Wu Yun (伍員): "Formerly, when you spoke of attacking Chu, I knew that it could be done; but I feared he would send me to go, and I disliked that another man should have what would have been my merit. Now I shall have it for myself. What of attacking Chu?" He answered: "Chu's holders of government are many and at odds with one another, and not one of them is fit to take charge of a crisis. If we form three divisions to harry them, and one division arrives, they are sure to come out in full. When they come out we go back; when they go back we come out. Chu will certainly be worn out on the roads. Harry them again and again to exhaust them; use many devices to lead them into error; and when they are exhausted, follow with the three armies. We shall surely gain a great victory over them." Helü followed this counsel, and from this time Chu began to suffer.

Year 31 (昭公三十一年)

Annals.

• In the thirty-first year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was at Ganhou. Jisun Yiru met Xun Li of Jin at Shili.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on dingsi, Gu, Earl of Xue, died. The Marquis of Jin sent Xun Li to condole with the duke at Ganhou.
• In autumn, Duke Xian of Xue was buried.
• In winter, Heigong came as a fugitive, bringing Lan with him.
• In the twelfth month, on xinhai, the first day of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun.

Zuo.

In the thirty-first year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was at Ganhou. This says that he could manage neither abroad nor at home.

The Marquis of Jin was about to restore the duke with an army. Fan Xianzi said: "If we summon Jisun and he does not come, then it is proved that he is no subject, and we may attack him after that. How would that be?" The men of Jin summoned Jisun, and Xianzi sent him a private word: "You must come. I take it upon myself that no harm shall befall you." Jisun Yiru (季孫意如) met Xun Li (荀躒) of Jin at Shili. Xun Li said: "My ruler has sent me, Li, to say to you: on what account did you drive out your ruler? To have a ruler and not serve him — Zhou has a settled punishment for it. Consider it well." Jisun, in a mourning cap of boiled silk and hempen garments, came barefoot, prostrated himself, and answered: "To serve my ruler is what I have not been permitted to do. Should I dare to flee the sentence of punishment? If your ruler holds me guilty, let me be imprisoned at Bi to await his investigation; that too rests with him. If, for the sake of my forebears in his service, he does not cut off the Ji lineage but grants me my death, or if he neither kills me nor banishes me, that is his kindness, and though I die I shall not decay. If I may follow my ruler home, that is truly my wish. How should I dare harbour a divided heart?"

In summer, in the fourth month, Jisun followed the Earl of Zhi to Ganhou. Zijiazi said: "Let my ruler go home with him. Will you not endure one moment's shame, and so be ashamed all your life?" The duke said, "Agreed." The company said: "It hangs upon a single word. Our ruler must drive him out." Xun Li condoled with the duke by the command of the Marquis of Jin, and said: "My ruler sent me, Li, to call Yiru to account in your name. Yiru does not dare to flee death. Let my lord go back." The duke said: "Your ruler in his kindness has looked to the friendship of our former rulers and extended it to a man in exile, and would send me back to sweep clean the ancestral temple and serve him. But I cannot look upon that man. If ever I can look upon that man — let the River be my witness." Xun Li covered his ears and hurried away, saying: "My ruler fears blame for this himself. How should I dare to have any part in the knowledge of Lu's troubles? Let me report back to my ruler." He withdrew and said to Jisun: "The ruler's anger has not yet slackened. For the present go home and offer the sacrifices." Zijiazi said: "Let my ruler go with a single chariot into the army of Lu, and Jisun will certainly return home with him." The duke wished to do so, but his followers in a body coerced him, and he could not return. Gu, Earl of Xue, died; because he was a covenant partner it was recorded.

In autumn, the men of Wu raided Chu, attacked Yi, and raided Qian and Liu. Shen Yinxu of Chu led an army to rescue Qian, and the army of Wu withdrew. The Chu army moved Qian to Nangang and withdrew. The Wu army besieged Xian. Xu, Marshal of the Left, and Ji, Marshal of the Right, led armies to rescue Xian; when they reached Yuzhang the Wu army withdrew. This was the first use of Zixu's plan.

In winter, Heigong of Zhu came as a fugitive with Lan. Though of low rank his name was written, because land is a weighty matter. A gentleman said: "So it is that a name cannot but be treated with care. There are cases where a man gets a name, and it would have been better for him to have left the thing undone. He who rebels with land, though of low rank, is certain to be recorded; the land gives a name to the man, and to the end he stands as unrighteous, and it cannot be blotted out. Therefore the gentleman, when he stirs, thinks of ritual propriety; when he acts, thinks of righteousness. He is not turned aside by gain, and he does nothing that righteousness would make him sick over. Some seek a name and do not get it; some wish to cover themselves and their name is made manifest — this is the chastisement of unrighteousness. Qi Bao was minister of crime in Wey and a grandee holding his inherited office; he made his stroke, and it was unrighteous, and so he is written down as 'a bandit.' Shuqi of Zhu, Mouyi of Ju, and Heigong of Zhu went out with lands; they sought nothing but food, and did not seek a name, yet though of low rank they were certain to be recorded. These two kinds of case are the means of chastising licence and putting away greed. For if a man toiled and endangered his own person in order to imperil great men, and got a name that was manifest and far-carrying, then officers who make assaults and disorders would run to do the same; and if a man stole a city and rebelled against his ruler in pursuit of great profit, and got no name for it, then greedy and reckless people would put out their strength for it. This is why the Spring and Autumn writes of Qi Bao 'a bandit,' and names the three rebels, so as to chastise unrighteousness and to number up the wickedness of those who are without ritual propriety. It is good recording. Therefore it is said that the terms of the Spring and Autumn are subtle and yet plain, roundabout and yet discriminating. Those above are able by them to make matters bright and clear, so that good men are encouraged and dissolute men are afraid. This is why the gentleman prizes it."

In the twelfth month, on xinhai, the first day of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. On that night Zhao Jianzi (趙簡子) dreamed of a naked boy who rolled about and sang. At dawn he had it divined by Scribe Mo (史墨), saying: "My dream was of this kind, and now there is an eclipse. What does it mean?" He answered: "In six years, when this month comes round, Wu will enter Ying; but in the end it will not prevail. They will enter Ying on a gengchen day. The sun and moon stand in the Tail of the Dragon, and on the gengwu day the sun first showed a blemish. Fire overcomes metal, and therefore they will not prevail."

Year 32 (昭公三十二年)

Annals.

• In the thirty-second year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was at Ganhou. Kan was taken.
• In summer, Wu attacked Yue.
• In autumn, the seventh month.
• In winter, Zhongsun Heji met Han Buxin of Jin, Gao Zhang of Qi, Zhongji of Song, Shishu Shen of Wey, Guo Can of Zheng, and men of Cao, of Ju, of Xue, of Qi, and of Lesser Zhu, and walled Chengzhou.
• In the twelfth month, on jiwei, the duke passed away at Ganhou.

Zuo.

In the thirty-second year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was at Ganhou. This says that he could manage neither abroad nor at home, and further that he could not use his own men.

In summer, Wu attacked Yue. This was the first employment of troops against Yue. Scribe Mo said: "In less than forty years Yue will possess Wu. Yue holds the Year Star, and Wu attacks it; Wu will certainly receive the misfortune of it."

In autumn, in the eighth month, the king sent Fu Xin and Shi Zhang to Jin to ask that Chengzhou be walled. The Son of Heaven said: "Heaven has sent down calamity upon Zhou, so that my brothers alike hold rebellious hearts and my uncle is put to trouble. My few near kinsmen, nephews and uncles by marriage, have had no leisure to settle in their places; it is now ten years, and for five of them they have laboured at garrison duty. I, the One Man, have not forgotten it for a single day. I am anxious as a farmer watching for the harvest, waiting upon the season in fear. If my uncle would extend a great kindness, restore the work of the two Wens, loosen the anxiety of the house of Zhou, and seek the blessing of Wen and Wu, thereby making firm his place as lord of the covenant and spreading abroad a good name, then I, the One Man, should have my great desire. Formerly King Cheng assembled the feudal lords and walled Chengzhou to be the eastern capital, and there exalted the virtue of civil order. Now I wish to seek blessing and borrow the spirit-power of King Cheng, and to repair the wall of Chengzhou, so that the garrison men may have no toil, the feudal lords may be at peace, and the pests and robbers be screened far off. This lies within the strength of Jin. I entrust it to my uncle, and let my uncle weigh it gravely, so that I, the One Man, may draw no resentment from the hundred families, and my uncle may have a glorious bounty, which the former kings will requite."

Fan Xianzi said to Wei Xianzi: "Rather than garrison Zhou it is better to wall it. The Son of Heaven has said so himself. Even if there are later affairs, Jin may well take no part in them. To follow the king's command and so relieve the feudal lords — then Jin will have no anxiety. If we do not devote ourselves to this, to what else shall we attend?" Wei Xianzi said, "Good," and had Boyin reply: "The Son of Heaven has given a command; how should we dare not to receive and carry it out? We will hasten to announce it to the feudal lords. Who is to come early and who late, and what the graded shares are to be, shall be settled then."

In winter, in the eleventh month, Wei Shu and Han Buxin of Jin went to the royal capital, assembled the grandees of the feudal lords at Diquan, renewed the covenant, and gave orders for the walling of Chengzhou. Weizi took the place facing south. Biao Xi of Wey said: "Weizi will surely meet with a great calamity. To usurp the ruler's position in order to command a great affair is not his office. The Odes say:

Revere the anger of Heaven,
and do not presume to sport or take your ease;
revere the changes of Heaven,
and do not presume to gallop and drive.

How much less may one presume to usurp the ruler's place and undertake a great affair!"

On jichou, Shi Mimou laid out Chengzhou. He reckoned the number of feet, estimated the heights and the depths, measured the thicknesses, sounded the ditches and channels, examined the soil and its regions, deliberated on the distances, calculated the term of the work, counted the labourers and the hired men, considered the materials and expenses, and wrote down the dry provisions; and with all this he assigned the labour among the feudal lords. He apportioned the work and levied the footage, wrote it out and handed it to the commanders, and presented it to the Liu lord. Han Jianzi presided over it, and it was made a settled command.

In the twelfth month the duke fell ill. He gave gifts to all the grandees, and the grandees would not receive them. He gave Zijiazi a pair of tiger jades, a jade ring, a jade disc, and light garments, and Zijiazi received them; and then all the grandees received their gifts. On jiwei the duke passed away. Zijiazi returned his gifts to the keeper of the storehouse, saying: "I did not dare to refuse my ruler's command." And all the grandees returned their gifts. The record says, "The duke passed away at Ganhou." This says that he had lost his proper place.

Zhao Jianzi asked Scribe Mo: "The Ji clan drove out their ruler, and the people submit to them; the feudal lords side with them; the ruler died abroad, and no one holds them guilty of it." He answered: "Things are brought forth in twos, in threes, and in fives, and they have their adjuncts and their seconds. Therefore Heaven has the three luminaries, Earth has the five phases, the body has a left and a right, and each has its mate and match. The king has his dukes, the feudal lords have their ministers; all have their seconds. Heaven brought forth the Ji clan to be second to the Marquis of Lu, and it has been so for many a day. That the people submit to them — is it not fitting? The rulers of Lu generation after generation followed their own faults; the Ji clan generation after generation cultivated their diligence. The people have forgotten their ruler. Though he died abroad, who is there to pity him? The altars of soil and grain have no one who serves them always; ruler and subject have no fixed positions. It has been so from antiquity. Therefore the Odes say:

The high bank becomes a valley,
the deep valley becomes a ridge.

The surnames of the three sovereigns are commoners today; the king knows this. In the hexagrams of the Changes, Thunder riding upon Qian is called Great Strength. This is the way of Heaven. Formerly Cheng Ji You was the youngest son of Duke Huan and the beloved son of Wen Jiang. When she first quickened with him, divination was made, and the diviner announced: 'He shall be born to a fine repute; his name shall be You; he shall be a support to the ducal house.' When he was born it was as the diviner had said: there was a mark upon his hand reading 'You,' and he was named accordingly. Afterwards he did great service for Lu and received Bi, becoming a chief minister. Down to Wenzi and Wuzi, generation by generation they increased their inheritance and did not waste the old achievements. When Duke Wen of Lu passed away, Dongmen Sui killed the rightful heir and set up a son of a secondary wife; and from then the rulers of Lu lost their state, and the government lay with the Ji clan. Reckoning to this ruler, that is four dukes. The people do not know their ruler; by what means should he hold the state? Therefore he who is a ruler is careful of the emblems and the titles, and may not lend them to another man."

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 Zhao section of the Zuo Commentary, which carries both layers together across all thirty-two years: the Chunqiu annal entries, marked jing (經), set here as bulleted Annals blocks with one bullet per entry, and the Zuo narrative, marked zhuan (傳), set as Zuo blocks. Every year keeps its own heading, every annal entry and every narrative paragraph is translated in full, and the alternation and order of the two layers follow the source exactly. Speeches, remonstrances, and the frequent exchanges of envoys 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 Ch'un Ts'ew with the Tso Chuen, and Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li, and David Schaberg's complete Zuo Tradition / Zuozhuan (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. Two states are both romanized Xu in pinyin: Xu (許), a barony repeatedly moved by Chu in this reign, and Xu (徐), a viscounty near Wu whose ruler was seized by Chu in the fourth year; they are kept distinct here by their characters at first mention. The same is true of two Zhou kings both named Jing: King Jing (景王), who died in the duke's twenty-second year, and his son King Jing (敬王), who succeeded after the revolt of Prince Chao; and of Qi (杞), a small state, against Qi (齊), the great state whose government the narrative follows into the hands of the Chen lineage. Among recurring technical terms, ling yin (令尹) is chief minister of Chu, si ma (司馬) marshal, si tu (司徒) minister of education, si kou (司寇) minister of crime, li (禮) ritual propriety, zhong xin (忠信) loyalty and good faith, meng (盟) covenant, pin (聘) diplomatic visit, chao (朝) court visit, shi (弒) assassinate, zu (卒) died, and she ji (社稷) the altars of soil and grain. Zichan's casting of the penal code in bronze and the recurring judgment formula junzi yue, rendered here as the noble man said or the gentleman said as the source varies its wording, are kept as the text presents them.

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 昭公

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

昭公元年

經

元年春．王正月．公即位．叔孫豹會晉趙武．楚公子圍．齊國弱．宋向戌．衛齊惡．陳公子招．蔡公孫歸生．鄭罕虎．許人．曹人．于虢．

三月. 取鄆．

夏．秦伯之弟鍼出奔晉．

六月丁巳．邾子華卒．晉荀吳帥師敗狄于大鹵．

秋．莒去疾自齊入于莒．莒展輿出奔吳．叔弓帥師疆鄆田．葬邾悼公．

冬．十有一月．己酉．楚子麇卒．公子比出奔晉．

傳

元年春．楚公子圍聘于鄭．且娶於公孫段氏．伍舉為介．將入館．鄭人惡之．使行人子羽與之言．乃館於外．既聘．將以眾逆．子產患之．使子羽辭曰．以敝邑褊小．不足以容從者．請墠聽命．令尹命大宰伯州犁對曰．君辱貺寡大夫圍．謂圍將使豐氏．撫有而室．圍布几筵．告於莊共之廟而來．若野賜之．是委君貺於草莽也．是寡大夫不得列於諸卿也．不寧唯是．又使圍蒙其先君．將不得為寡君老,其蔑以復矣．唯大夫圖之．子羽曰．小國無罪．恃實其罪．將恃大國之安靖己．而無乃包藏禍心以圖之．小國失恃．而懲諸侯．使莫不憾者．距違君命．而有所壅塞不行是懼．不然．敝邑館人之屬也．其敢愛豐氏之祧．伍舉知其有備也．請垂櫜而入．許之．正月乙未．入逆而出．遂會於虢．尋宋之盟也．祁午謂趙文子曰．宋之盟．楚人得志於晉．今令尹之不信．諸侯之所聞也．子弗戒．懼又如宋．子木之信．稱於諸侯．猶詐晉而駕焉．況不信之尤者乎．楚重得志於晉．晉之恥也．子相晉國．以為盟主．於今七年矣．再合諸侯．三合大夫．服齊狄．寧東夏．平秦亂．城淳于．師徒不頓．國家不罷．民無謗讟．諸侯無怨．天無大災．子之力也．有令名矣．而終之以恥午也是懼．吾子其不可以不戒．文子曰．武受賜矣．然宋之盟．子木有禍人之心．武有仁人之心．是楚所以駕於晉也．今武猶是心也．楚又行僭．非所害也．武將信以為本．循而行之．譬如農夫．是穮是蔉．雖有饑饉．必有豐年．且吾聞之．能信不為人下．吾未能也．詩曰．不僭不賊．鮮不為則．信也．能為人則者．不為人下矣．吾不能是難．楚不為患．楚令尹圍請用牲．讀舊書．加于牲上而已．晉人許之．

三月．甲辰．盟．楚公子圍設服離衛．叔孫穆子曰．楚公子美矣．君哉．鄭子皮曰．二執戈者前矣．蔡子家曰．蒲宮有前．不亦可乎．楚伯州犁曰．此行也．辭而假之寡君．鄭行人揮曰．假不反矣．伯州犁曰．子姑憂子皙之欲背誕也．子羽曰．當璧猶在．假而不反．子其無憂乎．齊國子曰．吾代二子愍矣．陳公子招曰．不憂何成．二子樂矣．衛齊子曰．苟或知之．雖憂何害．宋合左師曰．大國令．小國共．吾知共而已．晉樂王鮒曰．小旻之卒章善矣．吾從之．退會．子羽謂子皮曰．叔孫絞而婉．宋左師簡而禮．樂王鮒字而敬．子與子家持之．皆保世之主也．齊衛陳大夫．其不免乎．國子代人憂．子招樂憂．齊子雖憂弗害．夫弗及而憂．與可憂而樂．與憂而弗害．皆取憂之道也．憂必及之．大誓曰．民之所欲．天必從之．三大夫兆憂．能無至乎．言以知物．其是之謂矣．

季武子伐莒．取鄆．莒人告於會．楚告於晉曰．尋盟未退．而魯伐莒．瀆齊盟．請戮其使．樂桓子相趙文子．欲求貨於叔孫．而為之請．使請帶焉弗與．梁其脛曰．貨以藩身．子何愛焉．叔孫曰．諸侯之會．衛社稷也．我以貨免．魯必受師．是禍之也．何衛之為．人之有牆．以蔽惡也．牆之隙壞．誰之咎也．衛而惡之．吾又甚焉．雖怨季孫．魯國何罪．叔出季處．有自來矣．吾又誰怨．然鮒也賄．弗與不已．召使者裂裳帛而與之．曰帶其褊矣．趙孟聞之曰．臨患不忘國．忠也．思難不越官．信也．圖國忘死．貞也．謀主三者．義也．有是四者．又可戮乎．乃請諸楚．曰．魯雖有罪．其執事不辟難．畏威而敬命矣．子若免之．以勸左右可也．若子之群吏．處不辟污．出不逃難．其何患之有．患之所生．污而不治．難而不守．所由來也．能是二者．又何患焉．不靖其能．其誰從之．魯叔孫豹可謂能矣．請免之以靖能者．子會而赦有罪．又賞其賢．諸侯其誰不欣焉．望楚而歸之．視遠如邇．疆場之邑．一彼一此．何常之有．王伯之令也．引其封疆．而樹之官．舉之表旗．而著之制令．過則有刑．猶不可壹．於是乎虞有三苗．夏有觀扈．商有姺邳．周有徐奄．自無令王諸侯逐進．狎主齊盟．其又可壹乎．恤大舍小．足以為盟主．又焉用之．封疆之削．何國蔑有．主齊盟者．誰能辯焉．吳濮有釁．楚之執事．豈其顧盟．莒之疆事．楚勿與知．諸侯無煩．不亦可乎．莒魯爭鄆．為日久矣．苟無大害於其社稷．可無亢也．去煩宥善．莫不競勸．子其圖之．固請諸楚．楚人許之．乃免叔孫．令尹享趙孟．賦大明之首章．趙孟賦小宛之二章．事畢．趙孟謂叔向曰．令尹自以為王矣．何如．對曰．王弱．令尹疆．其可哉．雖可不終．趙孟曰．何故．對曰．彊以克弱而安之．彊不義也．不義而彊．其斃必速．詩曰．赫赫宗周．褒姒滅之．彊不義也．令尹為王．必求諸侯．晉少懦矣．諸侯將往．若獲諸侯．其虐滋甚．民弗堪也．將何以終．夫以彊取．不義而克．必以為道．道以淫虐．弗可久已矣．

夏．四月．趙孟．叔孫豹．曹大夫．入于鄭．鄭伯兼享之．子皮戒趙孟．禮終．趙孟賦瓠葉．子皮遂戒穆叔．且告之．穆叔曰．趙孟欲一獻．子其從之．子皮曰．敢乎．穆叔曰．夫人之所欲也．又何不敢．及享．具五獻之籩豆於幕下．趙孟辭．私於子產曰．武請於冢宰矣．乃用一獻．趙孟為客．禮終乃宴．穆叔賦鵲巢．趙孟曰．武不堪也．又賦采蘩．曰．小國為蘩．大國省穡而用之．其何實非命．子皮賦野有死麇之卒章．趙孟賦常棣．且曰吾兄弟比以安．尨也可使無吠．穆叔．子皮．及曹大夫．興拜．舉兕爵曰．小國賴子．知免於戾矣．飲酒樂．趙孟出．曰．吾不復此矣．

天王使劉定公勞趙孟於潁．館於雒汭．劉子曰．美哉禹功．明德遠矣．微禹．吾其魚乎．吾與子弁冕端委．以治民臨諸侯．禹之力也．子盍亦遠績禹功．而大庇民乎．對曰．老夫罪戾是懼．焉能恤遠．吾儕偷食．朝不謀夕．何其長也．劉子歸以語王曰．諺所為老將知而耄及之者．其趙孟之謂乎．為晉正卿．以主諸侯．而儕於隸入．朝不謀夕．棄神人矣．神怒民叛．何以能久．趙孟不復年矣．神怒不歆其祀．民叛不即其事．祀事不從．又何以年．

叔孫歸．曾夭御季孫以勞之．旦及日中．不出．曾夭謂曾阜曰．旦及日中．吾知罪矣．魯以相忍為國也．忍其外．不忍其内．焉用之．阜曰．數月於外．一旦於是．庸何傷．賈而欲贏．而惡囂乎．阜謂叔孫曰．可以出矣．叔孫指楹曰．雖惡是．其可去乎．乃出見之．

鄭徐吾犯之妹美．公孫楚聘之矣．公孫黑又使強委禽焉．犯懼．告子產．子產曰．是國無政．非子之患也．唯所欲與．犯請於二子．請使女擇焉．皆許之．子皙盛飾入．布幣而出．子南戎服入．左右射．超乘而出．女自房觀之．曰．子皙信美矣．抑子南夫也．夫夫婦婦．所謂順也．適子南氏．子皙怒．既而櫜甲以見子南．欲殺之．而取其妻．子南知之．執戈逐之．及衝．擊之以戈．子皙傷而歸．告大夫曰．我好見之．不知其有異志也．故傷．大夫皆謀之．子產曰．直鈞幼賤．有罪．罪在楚也．乃執子南而數之曰．國之大節有五．女皆奸之．畏君之威．聽其政．尊其貴．事其長．養其親．五者所以為國也．今君在國．女用兵焉．不畏威也．奸國之紀．不聽政也．子皙上大夫．女嬖大夫．而弗下之．不尊貴也．幼而不忌．不事長也．兵其從兄．不養親也．君曰．余不女忍殺．宥女以遠．勉速行乎．無重而罪．五月．庚辰．鄭放游楚於吳．將行子南．子產咨於大叔．大叔曰．吉不能亢身．焉能亢宗．彼國政也．非私難也．子圖鄭國．利則行之．又何疑焉．周公殺管叔而蔡蔡叔．夫豈不愛．王室故也．吉若獲戾．子將行之．何有於諸游．

秦后子有寵於桓．如二君於景．其母曰．弗去懼選．癸卯．鍼適晉．其車千乘．書曰．秦伯之弟鍼出奔晉．罪秦伯也．后子享晉侯．造舟于河．十里舍車．自雍及絳．歸取酬幣．終事八反．司馬侯問焉．曰．子之車盡於此而已乎．對曰．此之謂多矣．若能少此．吾何以得見．女叔齊以告公．且曰．秦公子必歸．臣聞君子能知其過．必有令圖．令圖．天所贊也．后子見趙孟．趙孟曰．吾子其曷歸．對曰．鍼懼選於寡君．是以在此．將待嗣君．趙孟曰．秦君何如．對曰．無道．趙孟曰．亡乎．對曰．何為．一世無道．國未艾也．國於天地．有與立焉．不數世淫．弗能斃也．趙孟曰．天乎．對曰．有焉．趙孟曰．其幾何．對曰．鍼聞之．國無道而年穀和熟．天贊之也．鮮不五稔．趙孟視蔭曰．朝夕不相及．誰能待五．后子出而告人曰．趙孟將死矣．主民．翫歲而愒日．其與幾何．

鄭為游楚亂故．六月．丁巳．鄭伯及其大夫盟于公孫段氏．罕虎．公孫僑．公孫段．印段．游吉．駟帶．私盟于閨門之外．實薰隧．公孫黑強與於盟．使大史書其名．且曰七子．子產弗討．

晉中行穆子敗無終及群狄于大原．崇卒也．將戰．魏舒曰．彼徒我車．所遇又阨．以什共車．必克．困諸阨．又克．請皆卒．自我始．乃毀車以為行．五乘為三伍．荀吳之嬖人不肯即卒．斬以徇．為五陳以相離．兩於前．伍於後．專為右角．參為左角．偏為前拒．以誘之．翟人笑之．未陳而薄之．大敗之．

莒展輿立．而奪群公子秩．公子召去疾于齊．秋．齊公子鉏納去疾．展輿奔吳．叔弓帥師疆鄆田．因莒亂也．於是莒務婁．瞀胡．及公子滅明．以大厖．與常儀靡．奔齊．君子曰．莒展之不立．棄人也夫．人可棄乎．詩曰．無競維人．善矣．

晉侯有疾．鄭伯使公孫僑如晉聘．且問疾．叔向問焉．曰．寡君之疾病．卜人曰．實沈臺駘為祟．史莫之知．敢問此何神也．子產曰．昔高辛氏有二子．伯曰閼伯．季曰實沈．居于曠林．不相能也．日尋干戈．以相征討．后帝不臧．遷閼伯于商丘．主辰．商人是因．故辰為商星．遷實沈于大夏．主參．唐人是因．以服事夏商．其季世曰唐叔虞．當武王邑姜．方震大叔．夢帝謂已．余命而子曰虞．將與之唐．屬諸參而蕃育其子孫．及生有文在其手．曰虞．遂以命之．及成王滅唐而封大叔焉．故參為晉星．由是觀之．則實沈．參神也．昔金天氏有裔子曰昧．為玄冥師．生允格．臺駘．臺駘能業其官．宣汾洮．障大澤．以處大原．帝用嘉之．封諸汾川．沈．姒．蓐．黃．實守其祀．今晉主汾而滅之矣．由是觀之．則臺駘．汾神也．抑此二者．不及君身．山川之神．則水旱癘疫之災．於是乎禜之．日月星辰之神．則雪霜風雨之不時．於是乎禜之．若君身．則亦出入飲食哀樂之事也．山川星辰之神．又何為焉．僑聞之．君子有四時．朝以聽政．晝以訪問．夕以脩令．夜以安身．於是乎節宣其气．勿使有所壅閉湫底．以露其體．茲心不爽．而昏亂百度．今無乃壹之．則生疾矣．僑又聞之．内官不及同姓．其生不殖．美先盡矣．則相生疾．君子是以惡之．故志曰．買妾不知其姓．則卜之．違此二者．古之所慎也．男女辨姓．禮之大司也．今君内實有四姬焉．其無乃是也乎．若由是二者．弗可為也已．四姬有省．猶可無則．必生疾矣．叔向曰．善哉．肸未之聞也．此皆然矣．叔向出．行人揮送之．叔向問鄭故焉．且問子皙．對曰．其與幾何．無禮而好陵人．怙富而卑其上．弗能久矣．晉侯聞子產之言曰．博物君子也．重賄之．

晉侯求醫於秦．秦伯使醫和視之．曰．疾不可為也．是謂近女室．疾如蠱．非鬼非食．惑以喪志．良臣將死．天命不祐．公曰．女不可近乎對曰．節之．先王之樂．所以節百事也．故有五節遲速本末以相及．中聲以降．五降之後．不容彈矣．於是有煩手淫聲．慆堙心耳．乃忘平和．君子弗聽也．物亦如之．至於煩．乃舍也已．無以生疾．君子之近琴瑟．以儀節也．非以慆心也．天有六气．降生五味．發為五色．徵為五聲．淫生六疾．六气曰陰．陽．風．雨．晦明也．分為四時．序為五節．過則為菑．陰淫寒疾．陽淫熱疾．風淫末疾．雨淫腹疾．晦淫惑疾．明淫心疾．女陽物而晦時．淫則生内熱惑蠱之疾．今君不節不時能無及此乎．出告趙孟．趙孟曰．誰當良臣．對曰．主是謂矣．主相晉國．於今八年．晉國無亂．諸侯無闕．可謂良矣．和聞之．國之大臣．榮其寵祿．任其寵節．有菑禍興而無改焉．必受其咎．今君至於淫以生疾．將不能圖恤社稷．禍孰大焉．主不能禦．吾是以云也．趙孟曰．何謂蠱．對曰．淫溺惑亂之所生也．於文．皿蟲為蠱．穀之飛亦為蠱．在周易．女惑男．風落山．謂之蠱．皆同物也．趙孟曰．良醫也．厚其禮而歸之．

楚公子圍使公子黑肱．伯州犁．城犨．櫟．郟．鄭人懼．子產曰．不害．令尹將行大事．而先除二子也．禍不及鄭．何患焉．冬．楚公子圍將聘于鄭．伍舉為介．未出竟．聞王有疾而還．伍舉遂聘．十一月．己酉．公子圍至．入問王疾．縊而弒之．遂殺其二子幕及平夏．右尹子干出奔晉．宮廄尹子皙出奔鄭．殺大宰伯州犁于郟．葬王于郟．謂之郟敖．使赴于鄭．伍舉問應為後之辭焉．對曰．寡大夫圍．伍舉更之曰．共王之子圍為長．子干奔晉．從車五乘．叔向使與秦公子同食．皆百人之餼．趙文子曰．秦公子富．叔向曰．底祿以德．德鈞以年．年同以尊．公子以國．不聞以富．且夫以千乘去其國．彊禦已甚．詩曰．不侮鰥寡．不畏彊禦．秦楚匹也．使后子與子干齒辭．曰．鍼懼選．楚公子不獲．是以皆來．亦唯命．且臣與羇齒．無乃不可乎．史佚有言曰．非羇何忌．

楚靈王即位．薳罷為令尹．薳啟彊為大宰．鄭游吉如楚葬郟敖．且聘立君．歸．謂子產曰．具行器矣．楚王汰侈．而自說其事．必合諸侯．吾往無日矣．子產曰．不數年．未能也．

十二月．晉既烝．趙孟適南陽將會孟子餘．甲辰朔．烝于溫．庚戌．卒．鄭伯如晉．弔及雍乃復．

昭公二年

經

二年春．晉侯使韓起來聘．

夏．叔弓如晉．

秋．鄭殺其大夫公孫黑．

冬．公如晉．至河乃復．季孫宿如晉．

傳

二年春．晉侯使韓宣子來聘．且告為政．而來見禮也．觀書於大史氏．見易象與魯春秋．曰．周禮盡在魯矣．吾乃今知周公之德．與周之所以王也．公享之．季武子賦綿之卒章．韓子賦角弓．季武子拜曰．敢拜子之彌縫敝邑．寡君有望矣．武子賦節之卒章．既享．宴于季氏．有嘉樹焉．宣子譽之．武子曰．宿敢不封殖此樹以無忘角弓．遂賦甘棠．宣子曰．起不堪也．無以及召公．宣子遂如齊納幣．見子雅．子雅召子旗．使見宣子．宣子曰．非保家之主也．不臣．見子尾．子尾見彊．宣子謂之如子旗．大夫多笑之．唯晏子信之．曰．夫子君子也．君子有信．其有以知之矣．自齊聘於衛．衛侯享之．北宮文子賦淇澳．宣子賦木瓜．

夏．四月．韓須如齊逆女．齊陳無宇送女．致少姜．少姜有寵於晉侯．晉侯謂之少齊．謂陳無宇非卿．執諸中都．少姜為之請曰．送從逆班．畏大國也．猶有所易．是以亂作．叔弓聘于晉．報宣子也．晉侯使郊勞．辭曰．寡君使弓來繼舊好．固曰．女無敢為賓．徹命於執事．敝邑弘矣．敢辱郊使．請辭．致館．辭曰．寡君命下臣來繼舊好．好合使成．臣之祿也．敢辱大館．叔向曰．子叔子知禮哉．吾聞之曰．忠信．禮之器也．卑讓．禮之宗也．辭不忘國．忠信也．先國後己．卑讓也．詩曰．敬慎威儀．以近有德．夫子近德矣．

秋．鄭公孫黑將作亂．欲去游氏而代其位．傷疾作而不果．駟氏與諸大夫欲殺之．子產在鄙．聞之．懼弗及．乘遽而至．使吏數之．曰．伯有之亂．以大國之事．而未爾討也．爾有亂心無厭．國不女堪．專伐伯有．而罪一也．昆弟爭室．而罪二也．薰隧之盟．女矯君位．而罪三也．有死罪三．何以堪之．不速死．大刑將至．再拜稽首辭曰．死在朝夕．無助天為虐．子產曰．人誰不死．凶人不終．命也．作凶事．為凶人．不助天．其助凶人乎．請以印為褚師．子產曰．印也若才．君將任之．不才．將朝夕從女．女罪之不恤．而又何請焉．不速死．司寇將至．

七月．壬寅．縊．尸諸周氏之衢．加木焉．晉少姜卒．公如晉．及河．晉侯使士．文伯來辭曰．非伉儷也．請君無辱．公還．季孫宿遂致服焉叔．向言陳無宇於晉侯曰．彼何罪．君使公族逆之．齊使上大夫送之．猶曰不共．君求以貪．國則不共．而執其使．君刑已頗．何以為盟主．且少姜有辭．

冬．十月．陳無宇歸．

十一月．鄭印段如晉弔．

昭公三年

經

三年春．王正月．丁未．滕子原卒．

夏．叔弓如滕．

五月．葬滕成公．

秋．小邾子來朝．

八月．大雩．

冬．大雨雹．北燕伯款出奔齊．

傳

三年春．王正月．鄭游吉如晉．至少姜之葬．梁丙與張趯見之．梁丙曰．甚矣哉．子之為此來也．子大叔曰．將得已乎．昔文襄之霸也．其務不煩諸侯．令諸侯三歲而聘．五歲而朝．有事而會．不協而盟．君薨大夫弔．卿共葬事．夫人士弔．大夫送葬．足以昭禮命．事謀闕而已．無加命矣．今嬖寵之喪．不敢擇位．而數於守適．唯懼獲戾．豈敢憚煩．少姜有寵而死．齊必繼室．今茲吾又將來賀．不唯此行也．張趯曰．善哉．吾得聞此數也．然自今子其無事矣．譬如火焉．火中．寒暑乃退．此其極也．能無退乎．晉將失諸侯．諸侯求煩不獲．二大夫退．子大叔告人曰．張趯有知．其猶在君子之後乎．丁未．滕子原卒．同盟．故書名．齊侯使晏嬰請繼室於晉．曰．寡君使嬰曰．寡人願事君．朝夕不倦．將奉質幣．以無失時．則國家多難．是以不獲．不腆先君之適．以備内官．焜燿寡人之望．則又無祿．早世隕命．寡人失望．君若不忘先君之好．惠顧齊國．辱收寡人．徼福於大公丁公．照臨敝邑．鎮撫其社稷．則猶有先君之適．及遺姑姊妹若而人．君若不棄敝邑．而辱使董振擇之．以備嬪嬙．寡人之望也．韓宣子使叔向對曰．寡君之願也．寡君不能獨任其社稷之事．未有伉儷．在縗絰之中．是以未敢請．君有辱命．惠莫大焉．若惠顧敝邑．撫有晉國．賜之内主．豈惟寡君．舉群臣實受其貺其自唐叔以下．實寵嘉之．既成昏．晏子受禮．叔向從之晏．相與語．叔向曰．齊其何如．晏子曰．此季世也．吾弗知．齊其為陳氏矣．公棄其民．而歸於陳氏．齊舊四量．豆．區．釜．鍾．四升為豆．各自其四．以登於釜．釜十則鍾．陳氏三量．皆登一焉．鍾乃大矣．以家量貸．而以公量收之．山木如市．弗加於山．魚鹽蜃蛤．弗加於海．民參其力．二入於公．而衣食其一．公聚朽蠹．而三老凍餒．國之諸市．屨賤踊貴．民人痛疾．而或燠休之．其愛之如父母．而歸之如流水．欲無獲民．將焉辟之．箕伯．直柄．虞遂．伯戲．其相胡公大姬．已在齊矣．叔向曰．然．雖吾公室．今亦季世也．戎馬不駕．卿無軍行．公乘無人．卒列無長．庶民罷敝．而宮室滋侈．道殣相望．而女富溢尤．民聞公命．如逃寇讎．欒．郤．胥．原．狐．續．慶．伯．降在皁隸．政在家門．民無所依．君日不悛．以樂慆憂．公室之卑．其何日之有．讒鼎之銘曰．昧旦丕顯．後世猶怠．況日不悛．其能久乎．晏子曰．子將若何．叔向曰．晉之公族盡矣．肸聞之．公室將卑．其宗族枝葉先落．則公從之．肸之宗十一族．唯羊舌氏在而已．肸又無子．公室無度．幸而得死．豈其獲祀．初．景公欲更晏子之宅．曰．子之宅近市．湫隘囂塵．不可以居．請更諸爽塏者．辭曰．君之先臣容焉．臣不足以嗣之．於臣侈矣．且小人近市．朝夕得所求．小人之利也．敢煩里旅．公笑曰．子近市．識貴賤乎．對曰．既利之．敢不識乎．公曰．何貴何賤．於是景公繁於刑．有鬻踊者．故對曰．踊貴屨賤．既已告於君．故與叔向語而稱之．景公為是省於刑．君子曰．仁人之言．其利博哉．晏子一言而齊侯省刑．詩曰．君子如祉．亂庶遄已．其是之謂乎．及晏子如晉．公更其宅．反則成矣．既拜乃毀之．而為里室．皆如其舊．則使宅人反之．且諺曰．非宅是卜．唯鄰是卜．二三子先卜鄰矣．違卜不祥．君子不犯非禮．小人不犯不祥．古之制也．吾敢違諸乎．卒復其舊宅．公弗許．因陳桓子以請．乃許之．

夏．四月．鄭伯如晉．公孫段相．甚敬而卑．禮無違者．晉侯嘉焉．授之以策．曰．子豐有勞於晉國．余聞而弗忘．賜女州田．以胙乃舊勳．伯石再拜稽首．受策以出．君子曰．禮其人之急也乎．伯石之汏也．一為禮於晉．猶荷其祿．況以禮終始乎．詩曰．人而無禮．胡不遄死．其是之謂乎．初．州縣欒豹之邑也．及欒氏亡．范宣子．趙文子．韓宣子．皆欲之．文子曰．溫吾縣也．二宣子曰．自郤稱以別三傳矣．晉之別縣．不唯州．誰獲治之．文子病之．乃舍之．二子曰．吾不可以正議而自與也．皆舍之．及文子為政．趙獲曰．可以取州矣．文子曰．退．二子之言義也．違義禍也．余不能治余縣．又焉用州．其以徼禍也．君子曰．弗知實難．知而弗從．禍莫大焉．有言州必死．豐氏故主．韓氏伯石之獲州也．韓宣子為之請之．為其復取之之故．

五月．叔弓如滕．葬滕成公．子服椒為介．及郊．遇懿伯之忌．敬子不入．惠伯曰．公事有公利．無私忌．椒請先入．乃先受館．敬子從之．晉韓起如齊逆女．公孫蠆為少姜之有寵也．以其子更公女．而嫁公子．人謂宣子．子尾欺晉．晉胡受之．宣子曰．我欲得齊而遠其寵．寵將來乎．

秋．七月．鄭罕虎如晉．賀夫人．旦告曰．楚人日徵敝邑．以不朝立王之故．敝邑之往．則畏執事．其謂寡君．而固有外心．其不往．則宋之盟云．進退罪也．寡君使虎布之．宣子使叔向對曰．君若辱有寡君．在楚何害．脩宋盟也．君苟思盟．寡君乃知免於戾矣．君若不有寡君．雖朝夕辱於敝邑．寡君猜焉．君實有心．何辱命焉．君其往也．苟有寡君．在楚猶在晉也．張趯使謂大叔曰．自子之歸也．小人糞除先人之敝廬．曰．子其將來．今子皮實來．小人失望．大叔曰．吉賤不獲來．畏大國尊夫人也．且孟曰而將無事．吉庶幾焉．
小邾穆公來朝．季武子欲卑之．穆叔曰．不可．曹滕二邾．實不忘我．好敬以逆之．猶懼其貳．又卑一睦焉．逆群好也．其如舊而加敬焉志曰．能敬無災．又曰．敬逆來者．天所福也．季孫從之．

八月．大雩．旱也．齊侯田於莒．盧蒲嫳見．泣且請曰．余髮如此種種．余奚能為．公曰．諾．吾告二子．歸而告之．子尾欲復之．子雅不可．曰．彼其髮短而心甚長．其或寢處我矣．

九月．子雅放盧蒲嫳于北燕．燕簡公多嬖寵．欲去諸大夫．而立其寵人．冬．燕大夫比以殺公之外嬖．公懼奔齊．書曰．北燕伯款出奔齊．罪之也．

十月．鄭伯如楚．子產相．楚子享之．賦吉日既享．子產乃具田備．王以田江南之夢．齊公孫灶卒．司馬灶見晏子曰．又喪子雅矣．晏子曰．惜也子旗不免．殆哉姜族弱矣．而媯將始昌．二惠競爽．猶可．又弱一個焉．姜其危哉．

昭公四年

經

四年春．王正月．大雨雹．

夏．楚子．蔡侯．陳侯．鄭伯．許男．徐子．滕子．頓子．胡子．沈子．小邾子．宋世子．佐淮夷會于申．楚人執徐子．

秋．七月．楚子．蔡侯．陳侯．許男．頓子．胡子．沈子．淮夷．伐吳．執齊慶封．殺之．遂滅賴．

九月．取鄫．

冬．十有二月．乙卯．叔孫豹卒．

傳

四年春．王正月．許男如楚．楚子止之．遂止鄭伯．復田江南．許男與焉．使椒舉如晉求諸侯．二君待之椒舉致命曰．寡君使舉曰．日君有惠．賜盟于宋．曰．晉楚之從．交相見也．以歲之不易．寡人願結驩於二三君．使舉請間．君若苟無四方之虞．則願假寵以請於諸侯．晉侯欲勿許．司馬侯曰．不可．楚王方侈．天或者欲逞其心．以厚其毒而降之罰．未可知也．其使能終．亦未可知也．晉楚唯天．所相不可與爭．君其許之．而脩德以待其歸．若歸於德．吾猶將事之．況諸侯乎．若適淫虐．楚將棄之．吾又誰與爭．曰．晉有三不殆．其何敵之有．國險而多馬．齊楚多難．有是三者．何鄉而不濟．對曰．恃險與馬．而虞鄰國之難．是三殆也．四獄三塗．陽城大室．荊山中南．九州之險也．是不一姓．冀之北土．馬之所生．無興國焉．恃險與馬．不可以為固也．從古以然．是以先王務脩德音．以亨神人．不聞其務險與馬也．鄰國之難．不可虞也．或多難以固其國．啟其疆土．或無難以喪其國．失其守宇．若何虞難．齊有仲孫之難．而獲桓公．至今賴之．晉有里平之難．而獲文公．是以為盟主．衛邢無難．敵亦喪之．故人之難．不可虞也．恃此三者．而不脩政德．亡於不暇．又何能濟．君其許之．紂作淫虐．文王惠和．殷是以隕．周是以興．夫豈爭諸侯．乃許楚使．使叔向對曰．寡君有社稷之事．是以不獲春秋時見諸侯．君實有之．何辱命焉．椒舉遂請昏．晉侯許之．楚子問於子產曰．晉其許我諸侯乎．對曰．許君．晉君少安．不在諸侯．其大夫多求．莫匡其君．在宋之盟．又曰如一．若不許君．將焉用之．王曰．諸侯其來乎．對曰．必來．從宋之盟．承君之歡．不畏大國．何故不來．不來者．其魯衛曹邾乎．曹畏宋．邾畏魯．魯衛偪於齊而親於晉．唯是不來．其餘君之所及也．誰敢不至．王曰．然則吾所求者．無不可乎．對曰．求逞於人．不可．與人同欲．盡濟．

大雨雹．季武子問於申豐曰．雹可禦乎．對曰．聖人在上．無雹．雖有不為災．古者日在北陸．而藏冰西陸．朝覿而出之．其藏冰也．深山窮谷．固陰沍寒．於是乎取之．其出之也．朝之祿位．賓食喪祭．於是乎用之．其藏之也．黑牡秬黍．以享司寒．其出之也．桃弧棘矢．以除其災．其出入也．時食肉之祿．冰皆與焉．大大命婦．喪浴用冰．祭寒而藏之．獻羔而啟之．公始用之．火出而畢賦．自命夫命婦．至於老疾．無不受冰．山人取之．縣人傳之．輿人納之．隸人藏之．夫冰以風壯．而以風出．其藏之也周．其用之也遍．則冬無愆陽．夏無伏陰．春無凄風．秋無苦雨．雷出不震．無菑霜雹癘疾不降．民不夭札．今藏川池之冰．棄而不用．風不越而殺．雷不發而震．雹之為菑．誰能禦之．七月之卒章．藏冰之道也．

夏．諸侯如楚．魯．衛．曹．邾．不會．曹邾辭以難．公辭以時祭．衛侯辭以疾．鄭伯先待于申．六月丙午．楚子合諸侯于申．椒舉言於楚子曰．臣聞諸侯無歸．禮以為歸．今君始得諸侯．其慎禮矣．霸之濟否．在此會也．夏啟有鈞臺之享．商湯有景亳之命．周武有孟津之誓．成有岐陽之蒐．康有酆宮之朝．穆有塗山之會．齊桓有召陵之師．晉文有踐土之盟．君其何用．宋向戌．鄭公孫僑．在諸侯之良也．君其選焉．王曰．吾用齊桓．王使問禮於左師與子產．左師曰．小國習之．大國用之．敢不薦聞．獻公合諸侯之禮六．子產曰．小國共職．敢不薦守．獻伯子男會公之禮六．君子謂合左師善守先代．子產善相小國．王使椒舉侍於後以規過．卒事不規．王問其故．對曰．禮吾未見者有六焉．又何以規．宋大子佐後至．王田於武城．久而弗見．椒舉請辭焉．王使往曰．屬有宗祧之事於武城．寡君將墮幣焉．敢謝後見．徐子吳出也．以為貳焉．故執諸申．楚子示諸侯侈．椒舉曰．夫六王二公之事．皆所以示諸侯．禮也．諸侯所由用命也．夏桀為仍之會．有緡叛之．商紂為黎之蒐．東夷叛之．周幽為大室之盟．戎狄叛之．皆所以示諸侯．汏也．諸侯所由棄命也．今君以汏．無乃不濟乎．王弗聽．子產見左師曰．吾不患楚矣．汏而愎諫．不過十年．左師曰．然．不十年侈．其惡不遠．遠惡而後棄．善亦如之．德遠而後興．

秋‧七月．楚子以諸侯伐吳．宋大子鄭伯先歸．宋華費遂鄭大夫從．使屈申圍朱方。八月．甲申．克之．執齊慶封而盡滅其族．將戮慶封．椒舉曰．臣聞無瑕者可以戮人．慶封惟逆命．是以在此．其肯從於戮乎．播於諸侯．焉用之．王弗聽．負之釜鉞．以徇於諸侯．使言曰．無或如齊慶封．弒其君．弱其孤．以盟其大夫．慶封曰．無或如楚共王之庶子圍．弒其君兄之子．麇而代之．以盟諸侯．王使速殺之．遂以諸侯滅賴．賴子面縛銜璧．士袒輿櫬．從之．造於中軍．王問諸椒舉．對曰．成王克許．許僖公如是．王親釋其縛．受其璧．焚其櫬．王從之．遷賴於鄢．楚子欲遷許於賴．使鬥韋龜與公子棄疾．城之而還．申無宇曰．楚禍之首．將在此矣．召諸侯而來．伐國而克．城竟莫校．王心不違．民其居乎．民之不處．其誰堪之．不堪王命．乃禍亂也．

九月．取鄫．言易也．莒亂．著丘公立而不撫鄫．鄫叛而來．故曰取．凡克邑．不用師徒曰取．

鄭子產作丘賦．國人謗之．曰．其父死於路．己為蠆尾．以令於國．國將若之何．子寬以告．子產曰．何害．苟利社稷．死生以之．且吾聞為善者不改其度．故能有濟也．民不可逞．度不可改．詩曰．禮義不愆．何恤於人言．吾不遷矣．渾罕曰．國氏其先亡乎．君子作法於涼．其敝猶貪．作法於貪．敝將若之何．姬在列者．蔡及曹滕．其先亡乎．偪而無禮．鄭先衛亡．偪而無法．政不率法．而制於心．民各有心．何上之有．

冬．吳伐楚入．棘．櫟．麻．以報朱方之役．楚沈尹射奔命於夏汭．咸尹宜咎城鍾離．薳啟疆城巢．然丹城州來．東國水．不可以城．彭生罷賴之師．

初．穆子去叔孫氏．及庚宗．遇婦人．使私為食而宿焉．問其行．告之故．哭而送之．適齊娶於國氏．生孟丙仲壬．夢天壓己．弗勝．顧而見人．黑而上僂．深目而豭喙．號之曰．牛助余．乃勝之．旦而皆召其徒．無之．且曰．志之．及宣伯奔齊．饋之．宣伯曰．魯以先子之故．將存吾宗．必召女．召女何如．對曰．願之久矣．魯人召之．不告而歸．既立．所宿庚宗之婦人．獻以雉．問其姓．對曰．余子長矣．能奉雉而從我矣．召而見之．則所夢也．未問其名．號之曰牛．曰唯．皆召其徒．使視之．遂使為豎．有寵．長使為政．公孫明知叔孫於齊．歸．未逆國姜．子明取之．故怒其子．長而後使逆之．田於丘蕕．遂遇疾焉．豎牛欲亂其室而有之．強與孟盟．不可．叔孫為孟鍾曰．爾未際．饗大夫以落之．既具．使豎牛請．日入弗謁．出命之日．及賓至．聞鍾聲．牛曰．孟有北婦人之客．怒將往．牛止之．賓出．使拘而殺諸外．牛又強與仲盟．不可．仲與公御萊書．觀於公．公與之環．使牛入示之．入不示．出命佩之．牛謂叔孫見仲而何．叔孫曰．何為．曰不見．既自見矣．公與之環而佩之矣．遂逐之．奔齊．疾急．命召仲．牛許而不召．杜洩見．告之飢渴．授之戈．對曰．求之而至．又何去焉．豎牛曰．夫子疾病．不欲見人．使寘饋于個而退．牛弗進．則置虛命徹．

十二月．癸丑．叔孫不食．乙卯．卒．牛立昭子而相之．公使杜洩葬叔孫．豎牛賂叔仲昭子與南遺．使惡杜洩於季孫而去之．杜洩將以路葬．且盡卿禮．南遺謂季孫曰．叔孫未乘．路葬焉．用之．且冢卿無路．介卿以葬．不亦左乎．季孫曰．然．使杜洩舍路．不可．曰．夫子受命於朝．而聘于王．王思舊勳為賜之路．復命而致之君．君不敢逆王命．而復賜之．使三官書之．吾子為司徒．實書名．夫子為司馬．與工正書服．孟孫為司空以書勳．今死而弗以．是棄君命也．書在公府而弗以．是廢三官也．若命服．生弗敢服．死又不以．將焉用之．乃使以葬．季孫謀去中軍．豎牛曰．夫子固欲去之．

昭公五年

經

五年春．王正月．舍中軍．楚殺其大夫屈申．公如晉．

夏．莒牟夷以牟婁及防茲來奔．

秋．七月．公至自晉．戊辰．叔弓帥師敗莒師于蚡泉．秦伯卒．

冬．楚子．蔡侯．陳侯．許男．頓子．沈子．徐人．越人．伐吳．

傳

五年春．王正月．舍中軍．卑公室也．毀中軍于施氏．成諸臧氏．初作中軍．三分公室而各有其一．季氏盡征之．叔孫氏臣其子弟．孟氏取其半焉．及其舍之也．四分公室．季氏檡二．二子各一．皆盡征之．而貢于公．以書使杜洩告於殯曰．子固欲毀中軍．既毀之矣．故告杜洩曰．夫子唯不欲毀也．故盟諸僖閎．詛諸五父之衢．受其書而投之．帥士而哭之．叔仲子謂季孫曰．帶受命於子叔孫曰．葬鮮者自西門．季孫命杜洩．杜洩曰．卿喪自朝．魯禮也．吾子為國政．未改禮而又遷之．群臣懼死．不敢自也．既葬而行．仲至自齊．季孫欲立之．南遺曰．叔孫氏厚．則季氏薄．彼實家亂．子勿與知．不亦可乎．南遺使國人助豎牛．以攻諸大庫之庭．司宮射之．中目而死．豎牛取東鄙三十邑．以與南遺．昭子即位．朝其家眾曰．豎牛禍叔孫氏．使亂大從．殺適立庶．又披其邑．將以赦罪．罪莫大焉．必速殺之．豎牛懼．奔齊．孟、仲之子．殺諸塞關之外．投其首於寧風之棘上．仲尼曰．叔孫昭子之不勞．不可能也．周任有言曰．為政者不賞私勞．不罰私怨．詩云．有覺德行．四國順之．初．穆子之生也．莊叔以周易筮之．遇明夷之謙．以示卜楚丘．曰．是將行．而歸為子祀．以讒人入．其名曰牛．卒以餒死．明夷．日也．日之數十．故有十時．亦當十位．自王已下．其二為公．其三為卿．日上其中．食日為二．旦日為三．明夷之謙．明而未融．其當旦乎．故曰為子祀．日之謙當鳥．故曰明夷于飛．明之未融．故曰垂其翼象．日之動．故曰君子于行．當三在旦．故曰三日不食．離．火也．艮．山也．離為火．火焚山．山敗．於人為言．敗言為讒．故曰有攸往．主人有言．言必讒也．純離為牛．世亂讒勝．勝將適離．故曰其名曰牛．謙不足．飛不翔．垂不峻．翼不廣．故曰其為子後乎．吾子亞卿也．抑少不終．

楚子以屈伸為貳於吳．乃殺之．以屈生為莫敖．使與令尹子蕩如晉逆女．過鄭．鄭伯勞子蕩于氾．勞屈生于菟氏．晉侯送女于邢丘．子產相鄭伯．會晉侯于邢丘．

公如晉．自郊勞至于贈賄．無失禮．晉侯謂女叔齊曰．魯侯不亦善於禮乎．對曰．魯侯焉知禮．公曰．何為．自郊勞至于贈賄．禮無違者．何故不知．對曰．是儀也．不可謂禮．禮所以守其國．行其政令．無失其民者也．今政令在家．不能取也．有子家羈．弗能用也．奸大國之盟．陵虐小國．利人之難．不知其私．公室四分．民食於他．思莫在公．不圖其終．為國君．難將及身．不恤其所．禮之本末．將於此乎在．而屑屑焉習儀以亟．言善於禮．不亦遠乎．君子謂叔侯於是乎知禮．

晉韓宣子如楚送女．叔向為介．鄭子皮．子大叔．勞諸索氏．大叔謂叔向曰．楚王汏侈已甚．子其戒之．叔向曰．汏侈已甚．身之災也．焉能及人．若奉吾幣帛．慎吾威儀．守之以信．行之以禮．敬始而思終．終無不復．從而不失儀．敬而不失威．道之以訓辭．奉之以舊法．考之以先王．度之以二國．雖汏侈若我何．及楚．楚子朝其大夫曰．晉．吾仇敵也．苟得志焉．無恤其他．今其來者．上卿上大夫也．若吾以韓起為閽．以羊舌肸為司宮．足以辱晉．吾亦得志矣．可乎．大夫莫對．薳啟彊曰．可．苟有其備．何故不可．恥匹夫不可以無備．況恥國乎．是以聖王務行禮．不求恥人．朝聘有珪．享覜有璋．小有述職．大有巡功．設机而不倚．爵盈而不飲．宴有好貨．飧有陪鼎．入有郊勞．出有贈賄．禮之至也．國家之敗．失之道也．則禍亂興．城濮之役．晉無楚備．以敗於邲．邲之役．楚無晉備．以敗於鄢．自鄢以來．晉不失備．而加之以禮．重之以睦．是以楚弗能報．而求親焉．既獲姻親．又欲恥之．以召寇讎．備之若何．誰其重此．若有其人．恥之可也．若其未有．君亦圖之．晉之事君．臣曰可矣．求諸侯而麇至．求昏而薦女．君親送之．上卿及上大夫致之．猶欲恥之．君其亦有備矣．不然奈何．韓起之下．趙成．中行吳．魏舒．范鞅．知盈．羊舌肸之下．祁午．張趯．籍談．女齊．梁丙．張骼．輔躒．苗賁皇．皆諸侯之選也．韓襄為公族大夫．韓須受命而使矣．箕襄．邢帶．叔禽．叔椒．子羽．皆大家也．韓賦七邑．皆成縣也．羊舌四族．皆彊家也．晉人若喪韓起．楊肸．五卿．八大夫．輔韓須．楊石．因其十家九縣．長轂九百．其餘四十縣．遺守四千．奮其武怒．以報其大恥．伯華謀之．中行伯魏舒帥之．其蔑不濟矣．君將以親易怨．實無禮以速寇．而未有其備．使群臣往遺之禽．以逞君心．何不可之有．王曰．不穀之過也．大夫無辱．厚為韓子禮．王欲敖叔向以其所不知而不能．亦厚其禮．韓起反．鄭伯勞諸圉．辭不敢見．禮也．

鄭罕虎如齊．娶於子尾氏．晏子驟見之．陳桓子問其故．對曰．能用善人．民之主也．

夏．莒牟夷以牟婁及防茲來奔．牟夷非卿而書．尊地也．莒人愬于晉．晉侯欲止公．范獻子曰．不可．人朝而執之．誘也．討不以師．而誘以成之．惰也．為盟主而犯此二者．無乃不可乎．請歸之．間而以師討焉．乃歸公．

秋．七月．公至自晉．莒人來討．不設備．戊辰．叔弓敗諸蚡泉．莒未陳也．

冬．十月．楚子以諸侯及東夷伐吳．以報棘．櫟．麻．之役．薳射以繁揚之師．會於夏汭．越大夫常壽過．帥師會楚子于瑣．聞吳師出．薳啟彊帥師從之．遽不設備．吳人敗諸鵲岸．楚子以馹至於羅汭．吳子使其弟蹶由犒師．楚人執之．將以釁鼓．王使問焉．曰．女卜來吉乎．對曰．吉．寡君聞君將治兵於敝邑．卜之以守龜．曰．余亟使人犒師．請行以觀王怒之疾徐．而為之備．尚克知之．龜兆告吉．曰克可知也．君若驩焉．好逆使臣．滋敝邑休殆而忘其死．亡無日矣．今君奮焉．震電馮怒．虐執使臣．將以釁鼓．則吳知所備矣．敝邑雖羸．若早脩完．其可以息師．難易有備．可謂吉矣．且吳社稷是卜．豈為一人．使臣獲釁軍鼓．而敝邑知備．以禦不虞．其為吉孰大焉．國之守龜．其何事不卜．一臧一否．其誰能當之．城濮之兆．其報在邲．今此行也．其庸有報志．乃弗殺．楚師濟於羅汭．沈尹赤會楚子次於萊山．薳射帥繁揚之師．先入南懷．楚師從之．及汝清．吳不可入．楚子遂觀兵於坻箕之山．是行也．吳早設備．楚無功而還．以蹶由歸．楚子懼吳．使沈尹射待命于巢．薳啟彊待命于雩婁．禮也．

秦后子復歸於秦．景公卒故也．

昭公六年

經

六年春．王正月．杞柏益姑卒．葬秦景公．

夏．季孫宿如晉．葬杞文公．宋華合比．出奔衛．

秋．九月．大雩．楚薳罷帥師伐吳．

冬．叔弓如楚．齊侯伐北燕．

傳

六年春．王正月．杞文公卒．弔如同盟．禮也．大夫如秦葬景公．禮也．

三月．鄭人鑄刑書．叔向使詒子產書曰．始吾有虞於子．今則已矣．昔先王議事以制．不為刑辟．懼民之有爭心也．猶不可禁禦．是故閑之以義．糾之以政．行之以禮．守之以信．奉之以仁．制為祿位．以勸其從．嚴斷刑罰．以威其淫．懼其未也．故誨之以忠．聳之以行．教之以務．使之以和．臨之以敬．蒞之以彊．斷之以剛．猶求聖哲之上．明察之官．忠信之長．慈惠之師．民於是乎可任使也．而不生禍亂．民知有辟．則不忌於上．並有爭心．以徵於書．而徼幸以成之．弗可為矣．夏有亂政而作禹刑．商有亂政而作湯刑．周有亂政而作九刑．三辟之興．皆叔世也．今吾子相鄭國．作封洫．立謗政．制參辟．鑄刑書．將以靖民．不亦難乎．詩曰．儀式刑文王之德．日靖四方．又曰．儀刑文王．萬邦作孚．如是何辟之有．民知爭端矣．將棄禮而徵於書．錐刀之末．將盡爭之．亂獄滋豐．賄賂並行．終子之世．鄭其敗乎．肸聞之．國將亡．必多制．其此之謂乎．復書曰．若吾子之言．僑不才．不能及子孫．吾以救世也．既不承命．敢忘大惠．士文伯曰．火見．鄭其火乎．火未出而作火．以鑄刑器．藏爭辟焉．火如象之．不火何為．

夏．季孫宿如晉．拜莒田也．晉侯享之有加籩．武子退．使行人告曰．小國之事大國也．苟免於討．不敢求貺．得貺不過三獻．今豆有加．下臣弗堪．無乃戾也．韓宣子曰．寡君以為驩也．對曰．寡君猶未敢．況下臣．君之隸也．敢聞加貺．固請徹加．而後卒事．晉人以為知禮．重其好貨．宋寺人柳有寵．大子佐惡之．華合比曰．我殺之．柳聞之．乃坎用牲埋書．而告公曰．合比將納亡人之族．既盟于北郭矣．公使視之．有焉．遂逐華合比．合比奔衛．於是華亥欲代右師．乃與寺人柳比．從為之徵曰．聞之久矣．公使代之．見於左師．左師曰．女夫也必亡．女喪而宗室．於人何有．人亦於女何有．詩曰．宗子維城．毋俾城壞．毋獨斯畏．女其畏哉．

六月．丙戌．鄭災．楚公子棄疾如晉．報韓子也．過鄭．鄭罕虎．公孫僑．游吉．從鄭伯以勞諸柤．辭不敢見．固請見之．見如見王．以其乘馬八匹．私面見子皮．如上卿．以馬六匹．見子產以馬四匹．見子大叔以馬二匹．禁芻牧採樵．不入田．不樵樹．不采蓺．不抽屋．不強匄．誓曰．有犯命者．君子廢．小人降．舍不為暴．主不慁賓．往來如是．鄭三卿皆知其將為王也．韓宣子之適楚也．楚人弗逆．公子棄疾及晉竟．晉侯將亦弗逆．叔向曰．楚辟我衷．若何效辟．詩曰．爾之教矣．民胥效矣．從我而已焉．用效人之辟．書曰．聖作則．無寧以善人為則．而則人之辟乎．匹夫為善．民猶則之．況國君乎．晉侯說．乃逆之．

秋．七月．大雩．旱也．徐儀楚聘于楚．楚子執之．逃歸．懼其叛也．使薳洩伐徐．吳人救之．令尹子蕩帥師伐吳．師于豫章．而次于乾谿．吳人敗其師於房鍾．獲宮廄尹棄疾．子蕩歸罪於薳洩而殺之．

冬．叔弓如楚聘．且弔敗也．

十一月．齊侯如晉．請伐北燕也．士匄相士鞅逆諸河．禮也．晉侯許之．

十二月．齊侯遂伐北燕．將納簡公．晏子曰．不入．燕有君矣．民不貳．吾君賄．左右諂諛．作大事不以信．未嘗可也．

昭公七年

經

七年春．王正月．暨齊平．

三月．公如楚．叔孫婼如齊蒞盟．

夏．四月．甲辰．朔．日有食之．

秋．八月．戊辰．衛侯惡卒．

九月．公至自楚．

冬．十有一月．癸未．季孫宿卒．

十有二月．癸亥．葬衛襄公．

傳

七年春．王正月．暨齊平．齊求之也．癸巳．齊侯次于虢．燕人行成．曰．敝邑知罪．敢不聽命．先君之敝器．請以謝罪公孫皙曰．受服而退．俟釁而動．可也．二月．戊午．盟于濡上．燕人歸燕姬．賂以瑤罋玉櫝斝耳．不克而還．

楚子之為令尹也．為王旌以田．芊尹無宇斷之．曰．一國兩君．其誰堪之．及即位．為章華之宮．納亡人以實之．無宇之閽入焉．無宇執之．有司弗與．曰．執人於王宮．其罪大矣．執而謁諸王．王將飲酒．無宇辭曰．天子經略．諸侯正封．古之制也．封略之内．何非君土．食土之毛．誰非君臣．故詩曰．普天之下．莫非王土．率土之濱．莫非王臣．天有十日．人有十等．下所以事上．上所以共神也．故王臣公．公臣大夫．大夫臣士．士臣皁．皁臣輿．輿臣隸．隸臣僚．僚臣僕．僕臣臺．馬有圉．牛有牧．以待百事．今有司曰．女胡執人於王宮．將焉執之．周文王之法曰．有亡荒閱．所以得天下也．吾先君文王作僕區之法曰．盜所隱器．與盜同罪．所以封汝也．若從有司．是無所執逃臣也．逃而舍之．是無陪臺也．王事無乃闕乎．昔武王數紂之罪．以告諸侯曰．紂為天下逋逃主．萃淵藪．故夫致死焉．君王始求諸侯而則紂．無乃不可乎．若以二文之法取之．盜有所在矣．王曰．取而臣以往．盜有寵．未可得也．遂赦之．

楚子成章華之臺．願以諸侯落之．大宰薳啟彊曰．臣能得魯侯．薳啟彊來召公．辭曰．昔先君成公．命我先大夫嬰齊曰．吾不忘先君之好．將使衡父照臨楚國．鎮撫其社稷．以輯寧爾民．嬰齊受命于蜀．奉承以來．弗敢失隕．而致諸宗祧曰．我先君共王．引領北望．日月以冀．傳序相授．於今四王矣．嘉惠未至．唯襄公之辱臨我喪．孤與其二三臣．悼心失圖．社稷之不皇．況能懷思君德．今君若步玉趾．辱見寡君．寵靈楚國．以信蜀之役．致君之嘉惠．是寡君既受貺矣．何蜀之敢望．其先君鬼神實嘉賴之．豈唯寡君．君若不來．使臣請問行期．寡君將承質幣而見于蜀．以請先君之貺．公將往．夢襄公祖．梓慎曰．君不果行．襄公之適楚也．夢周公祖而行．今襄公實祖．君其不行．子服惠伯曰．行．先君未嘗適楚．故周公祖以道之．襄公適楚矣．而祖以道．君不行何之．三月．公如楚．鄭伯勞于師之梁．孟僖子為介．不能相儀．及楚．不能荅郊勞．

夏．四月．甲辰．朔．日有食之．晉侯問於士文伯曰．誰將當日食．對曰．魯衛惡之．衛大魯小．公曰．何故．對曰．去衛地．如魯地．於是有災．魯實受之．其大咎．其衛君乎．魯將上卿．公曰．詩所謂彼日而食．于何不臧者．何也．對曰．不善政之謂也．國無政．不用善．則自取謫于日月之災．故政不可不慎也．務三而已．一曰擇人．二曰因民．三曰從時．

晉人來治杞田．季孫將以成與之．謝息為孟孫守．不可．曰．人有言曰．雖有挈缾之知．守不假器．禮也．夫子從君．而守臣喪邑．雖吾子亦有猜焉．季孫曰．君之在楚．於晉罪也．又不聽晉．魯罪重矣．晉師必至．吾無以待之．不如與之．間晉而取諸杞．吾與子桃．成反．誰敢有之．是得二成也．魯無憂．而孟孫益邑．子何病焉．辭以無山．與之萊柞．乃遷于桃．晉人為杞取成．

楚子享公于新臺．使長鬣者相．好以大屈．既而悔之．薳啟彊聞之．見公．公語之．拜賀．公曰．何賀．對曰．齊與晉越．欲此久矣．寡君無適與也．而傳諸君．君其備禦三鄰．慎守寶矣．敢不賀乎．公懼．乃反之．

鄭子產聘于晉．晉侯疾．韓宣子逆客．私焉．曰．寡君寢疾．於今三月矣．並走群望．有加而無瘳．今夢黃熊入于寢門．其何厲鬼也．對曰．以君之明．子為大政．其何厲之有．昔堯殛鯀于羽山．其神化為黃熊．以入于羽淵．實為夏郊．三代祀之．晉為盟主．其或者未之祀也乎．韓子祀夏郊．晉侯有間．賜子產莒之二方鼎．子產為豐施歸州田於韓宣子．曰．日君以夫公孫段．為能任其事．而賜之州田．今無祿早世．不獲久享君德．其子弗．敢有不敢以聞於君．私致諸子．宣子辭．子產曰．古人有言曰．其父析薪．其子弗克負荷．施將懼不能任其先人之祿．其況能任大國之賜．縱吾子為政而可．後之人若屬有疆埸之言．敝邑獲戾．而豐氏受其大討．吾子取州．是免敝邑於戾．而建置豐氏也．敢以為請．宣子受之．以告晉侯．晉侯以與宣子．宣子為初言．病有之．以易原縣於樂大心．

鄭人相驚以伯有．曰伯有至矣．則皆走．不知所往．鑄刑書之歲二月．或夢伯有介而行．曰壬子．余將殺帶也．明年壬寅．余又將殺段也．及壬子．駟帶卒．國人益懼．齊燕平之月．壬寅．公孫段卒．國人愈懼．其明月．子產立公孫洩及良止以撫之．乃止．子大叔問其故．子產曰．鬼有所歸．乃不為厲．吾為之歸也．大叔曰．公孫洩何為．子產曰．說也．為身無義而圖說．從政有所反之以取媚也．不媚不信．不信．民不從也．及子產適晉．趙景子問焉．曰．伯有猶能為鬼乎．子產曰．能．人生始化曰魄．既生魄．陽曰魂．用物精多．則魂魄強．是以有精爽．至於神明．匹夫匹婦強死．其魂魄猶能馮依於人．以為淫厲．況良霄．我先君穆公之冑．子良之孫．子耳之子．敝邑之卿．從政三世矣．鄭雖無腆．抑諺曰．蕞爾國．而三世執其政柄．其用物也弘矣．其取精也多矣．其族又大．所馮厚矣．而強死．能為鬼．不亦宜乎．

子皮之族．飲酒無度．故馬師氏與子皮氏有惡．齊師還自燕之月．罕朔殺罕魋．罕朔奔晉．韓宣子問其位於子產．子產曰．君之羈臣．苟得容以逃死．何位之敢擇．卿違．從大夫之位．罪人．以其罪降．古之制也．朔於敝邑．亞大夫也．其官馬師也．獲戾而逃．唯執政所寘之．得免其死．為惠大矣．又敢求位．宣子為子產之敏也．使從嬖大夫．

秋．八月．衛襄公卒．晉大夫言於范獻子曰．衛事晉為睦．晉不禮焉．庇其賊人．而取其地．故諸侯貳．詩曰．鶺鴒在原．兄弟急難．又曰．死喪之威．兄弟孔懷．兄弟之不睦．於是乎不弔．況遠人誰敢歸之．今又不禮於衛之嗣．衛必叛我．是絕諸侯也．獻子以告韓宣子．宣子說．使獻子如衛弔．且反戚田．衛齊惡告喪于周．且請命．王使臣簡公如衛弔．且追命襄公曰．叔父陟恪．在我先王之左右．以佐事上帝．余敢忘高圉．亞圉．

九月．公至自楚．孟僖子病不能相禮．乃講學之．苟能禮者從之．及其將死也．召其大夫曰．禮．人之幹也．無禮無以立．吾聞將有達者．曰孔丘．聖人之後也．而滅於宋．其祖弗父何．以有宋而授厲公．及正考父佐戴．武．宣．三命茲益共．故其鼎銘云．一命而僂．再命而傴．三命而俯．循牆而走．亦莫余敢侮．饘於是．鬻於是．以餬余口．其共也如是．臧孫紇有言曰．聖人有明德者．若不當世．其後必有達人．今其將在孔丘乎．我若獲沒必屬說與何忌於夫子．使事之而學禮焉．以定其位．故孟懿子．與南宮敬叔．師事仲尼．仲尼曰．能補過者．君子也．詩曰．君子是則是效．孟僖子可則效已矣．

單獻公棄親用羈．冬．十月．辛酉．襄頃之族．殺獻公而立成公．

十一月．季武子卒．晉侯謂伯瑕曰．吾所問日食從矣．可常乎．對曰．不可．六物不同．民心不壹．事序不類．官職不則．同始異終．胡可常也．詩曰．或燕燕居息．或憔悴事國．其異終也如是．公曰．何謂六物對曰．歲時日月星辰是謂也．公曰．多語寡人辰．而莫同．何謂辰．對曰．日月之會是謂辰．故以配日．

衛襄公．夫人姜氏無子．嬖人婤姶生孟縶．孔成子夢康叔謂己．立元．余使羈之孫圉與史苟相之．史朝亦夢康叔謂己．余將命而子苟．與孔烝鉏之曾孫圉．相元．史朝見成子．告之夢．夢協．晉韓宣子為政．聘于諸侯之歲．婤姶生子．名之曰元．孟縶之足不良．能行孔成子以周易筮之曰．元尚享衛國．主其社稷．遇屯．又曰．余尚立縶．尚克嘉之．遇屯之比以示史朝．史朝曰．元亨．又何疑焉．成子曰．非長之謂乎．對曰．康叔名之．可謂長矣．孟非人也．將不列於宗．不可謂長．且其繇曰．利建侯．嗣吉．何建．建非嗣也．二卦皆云子其建之．康叔命之．二卦告之．筮襲於夢．武王所用也．弗從何為．弱足者居．侯主社稷．臨祭祀．奉民人．事鬼神．從會朝．又焉得居．各以所利．不亦可乎．故孔成子立靈公．

十二月．癸亥．葬衛襄公．

昭公八年

經

八年春．陳侯之弟招．殺陳世子偃師．

夏．四月．辛丑．陳侯溺卒．叔弓如晉．楚人執陳行人干徵師．殺之．陳公子留．出奔鄭．

秋．蒐于紅．陳人殺其大夫公子過．大雩．

冬．十月．壬午．楚師滅陳．執陳公子招．放之于越．殺陳孔奐．葬陳哀公．

傳

八年春．石言于晉魏榆．晉侯問於師曠曰．石何故言．對曰石不能言．或馮焉．不然．民聽濫也．抑臣又聞之曰．作事不時．怨讟動于民．則有非言之物而言．今宮室崇侈．民力彫盡．怨讟並作．莫保其性．石言不亦宜乎．於是晉侯方築虒祁之宮．叔向曰．子野之言君子哉．君子之言．信而有徵．故怨遠於其身．小人之言僭而無徵．故怨咎及之．詩曰．哀哉不能言．匪舌是出．唯躬是瘁．哿矣能言．巧言如流．俾躬處休．其是之謂乎．是宮也成．諸侯必叛．君必有咎．夫子知之矣．陳哀公元妃鄭姬生悼大子偃師．二妃生公子留．下妃生公子勝．二妃嬖．留有寵．屬諸司徒招與公子過．哀公有廢疾．

三月甲申．公子招．公子過．殺悼大子偃師而立公子留．

夏．四月．辛亥．哀公縊．干徵師赴于楚．且告有立君．公子勝愬之于楚．楚人執而殺之．公子留奔鄭．書曰．陳侯之弟招殺陳世子偃師．罪在招也．楚人執陳行人干徵師殺之．罪不在行人也．叔弓如晉．賀虒祁也．游吉相鄭伯以如晉．亦賀虒祁也．史趙見子大叔曰．甚哉其相蒙也．可弔也而又賀之．子大叔曰．若何弔也．其非唯我賀．將天下實賀．

秋．大蒐于紅．自根牟至于商衛．革車千乘．

七月．甲戌．齊子尾卒．子旗欲治其室．丁丑．殺梁嬰．

八月．庚戌．逐子成．子工．子車．皆來奔．而立子良氏之宰．其臣曰．孺子長矣．而相吾室．欲兼我也．授甲將攻之．陳桓子善於子尾．亦授甲將助之．或告子旗．子旗不信．則數人告將往．又數人告於道．遂如陳氏．桓子將出矣．聞之而還．游服而逆之．請命．對曰．聞彊氏授甲將攻子．子聞諸．曰．弗聞．子盍亦授甲．無宇請從．子旗曰．子胡然．彼孺子也．吾誨之．猶懼其不濟．吾又寵秩之．其若先人何．子盍謂之．周書曰．惠不惠．茂不茂．康叔所以服弘大也．桓子稽顙曰．頃靈福子．吾猶有望．遂和之如初．陳公子招歸罪於公子過而殺之．

九月．楚公子棄疾帥師奉孫吳圍陳．宋戴惡會之．

冬．十一月．壬午．滅陳．輿嬖袁克．殺馬毀玉以葬．楚人將殺之．請寘之．既又請私．私於幄．加絰於顙而逃．使穿封戌．為陳公曰．城麇之役不諂．侍飲酒於王．王曰．城麇之役．女知寡人之及此．女其辟寡人乎．對曰．若知君之及此．臣必致死禮以息楚．晉侯問於史趙曰．陳其遂亡乎．對曰．未也．公曰何故．對曰．陳顓頊之族也．歲在鶉火．是以卒滅．陳將如之．今在析木之津．猶將復由．且陳氏得政于齊．而後陳卒亡．自幕至于瞽瞍．無違命．舜重之以明德．寘德于遂．遂世守之．及胡公不淫．故周賜之姓．使祀虞帝．臣聞盛德必百世祀．虞之世數未也．繼守將在齊．其兆既存矣．

昭公九年

經

九年春．叔弓會楚子于陳．許遷于夷．

夏．四月．陳災．

秋．仲孫貜如齊．

冬．築郎囿．

傳

九年春．叔弓．宋華亥．鄭游吉．衛趙黶．會楚子于陳．

二月．庚申．楚公子棄疾．遷許于夷．實城父．取州來淮北之田以益之．伍舉授許男田．然丹遷城父人於陳．以夷濮西田益之．遷方城外人於許．周甘人與晉閻嘉爭閻田．晉梁丙．張趯．率陰戎伐潁．王使詹桓伯辭於晉曰．我自夏以后稷．魏．駘．芮．岐．畢．吾西土也．及武王克商．蒲姑．商奄．吾東土也．巴濮．楚鄧．吾南土也．肅慎．燕．亳．吾北土也．吾何邇封之有．文武成康之建母弟．以蕃屏周．亦其廢隊是為．豈如弁髦．而因以敝之．先王居檮杌于四裔．以禦螭魅．故允姓之姦．居于瓜州．伯父惠公歸自秦．而誘以來．使偪我諸姬．入我郊甸．則戎焉取之．戎有中國．誰之咎也．后稷封殖天下．今戎制之．不亦難乎．伯父圖之．我在伯父．猶衣服之有冠冕．木水之有本原．民人之有謀主也．伯父若裂冠毀冕．拔本塞原．專棄謀主．雖戎狄其何有余一人．叔向謂宣子曰．文之伯也．豈能改物．翼戴天子．而加之以共．自文以來．世有衰德．而暴滅宗周．以宣示其侈．諸侯之貳．不亦宜乎．且王辭直．子其圖之．宣子說．王有姻喪．使趙成如周弔．且致閻田與襚．反潁俘．王亦使賓滑執甘大夫襄以說於晉．晉人禮而歸之．

夏．四月．陳災．鄭裨灶曰．五年．陳將復封．封五十二年而遂亡．子產問其故．對曰．陳．水屬也．火．水妃也．而楚所相也．今火出而火陳．逐楚而建陳也．妃以五成．故曰五年．歲五及鶉火．而後陳卒亡．楚克有之．天之道也．故曰五十二年．

晉荀盈如齊逆女．還．六月．卒于戲陽．殯于絳．未葬．晉侯飲酒樂．膳宰屠蒯趨入．請佐公使尊．許之．而遂酌以飲．工曰．女為君耳．將司聰也．辰在子卯．謂之疾日．君徹宴樂．學人舍業．為疾故也．君之卿佐．是謂股肱．股肱或虧．何痛如之．女弗聞而樂．是不聰也．又飲外嬖嬖叔曰．女為君目．將司明也．服以旌禮．禮以行事．事有其物．物有其容．今君之容．非其物也．而女不見．是不明也．亦自飲也．曰．味以行气．气以實志．志以定言．言以出令．臣實司味．二御失官．而君弗命．臣之罪也．公說．徹酒．初．公欲廢知氏而立其外嬖．為是悛而止．秋．八月．使荀躒佐下軍以說焉．

孟僖子如齊．殷聘禮也．

冬．築郎囿．書時也．季平子欲其速成也．叔孫昭子曰．詩曰．經始勿亟．庶民子來．焉用速成．其以勦民也．無囿猶可．無民其可乎．

昭公十年

經

十年春，王正月。

夏，齊欒施來奔。

秋，七月．季孫意如、叔弓、仲孫貜帥師伐莒。

戊子，晉侯彪卒。

九月，叔孫婼如晉．葬晉平公。

十有二月，甲子，宋公戌卒。

傳

十年春．王正月．有星出于婺女．鄭裨灶言於子產曰．七月．戊子．晉君將死．今茲歲在顓頊之虛．姜氏任氏．實守其地．居其維首．而有妖星焉．告邑姜也．邑姜．晉之妣也．天以七紀．戊子．逢公以登星斯於是乎出．吾是以譏之．

齊惠欒．高氏．皆耆酒．信内多怨．彊於陳鮑氏而惡之．夏．有告陳桓子曰．子旗．子良．將攻陳鮑．亦告鮑氏．桓子授甲而如鮑氏．遭子良醉而騁．遂見文子．則亦授甲矣．使視二子．則皆從飲酒．桓子曰．彼雖不信．聞我授甲．則必逐我．及其飲酒也．先伐諸．陳鮑方睦．遂伐欒高氏．子良曰．先得公．陳鮑焉往．遂伐虎門．晏平仲端委立于虎門之外．四族召之．無所往．其徒曰．助陳鮑乎．曰．何善焉．助欒高乎．曰．庸愈乎．然則歸乎．曰．君伐焉歸．公召之而後入．公卜使王黑以靈姑銔率．吉．請斷三尺焉而用之．五月．庚辰．戰于稷．欒高敗．又敗諸莊．國人追之．又敗諸鹿門．欒施．高彊．來奔．陳鮑分其室．晏子謂桓子．必致諸公．讓德之主也．謂懿德．凡有血气．皆有爭心．故利不可強．思義為愈．義．利之本也．蘊利生孽．姑使無蘊乎．可以滋長．桓子盡致諸公．而請老于莒．桓子召子山．私具幄幕器用．從者之衣屨．而反棘焉．子商亦如之．而反其邑．子周亦如之．而與之夫于．反子城．子公．公孫捷．而皆益其祿．凡公子公孫之無祿者．私分之邑．國之貧約孤寡者．私與之粟．曰．詩云．陳錫載周．能施也．桓公是以霸．公與桓子莒之旁邑．辭．穆孟姬為之請高唐．陳氏始大．

秋．七月．平子伐莒．取郠．獻俘．始用人於亳社．臧武仲在齊．聞之．曰．周公其不饗魯祭乎．周公饗義．魯無義．詩曰．德音孔昭．視民不佻．佻之謂甚矣．而壹用之．將誰福哉．

戊子．晉平公卒．鄭伯如晉．及河．晉人辭之．游吉遂如晉．九月．叔孫婼．齊國弱．宋華定．衛北宮喜．鄭罕虎．許人．曹人．莒人．邾人．薛人．杞人．小邾人．如晉．葬平公也．鄭子皮將以幣行．子產曰．喪焉用幣．用幣必百兩．百兩必千人．千人至．將不行．不行．必盡用之．幾千人而國不亡．子皮固請以行．既葬．諸侯之大夫欲因見新君．叔孫昭子曰．非禮也．弗聽．叔向辭之．曰．大夫之事畢矣．而又命孤．孤斬焉在衰絰之中．其以嘉服見．則喪禮未畢．其以喪服見．是重受弔也．大夫將若之何．皆無辭以見．子皮盡用其幣．歸．謂子羽曰．非知之實難．將在行之．夫子知之矣．我則不足．書曰．欲敗度．縱敗禮．我之謂矣．夫子知度與禮矣．我實縱欲．而不能自克也．昭子至自晉．大夫皆見．高彊見而退．昭子語諸大夫曰．為人子．不可不慎也哉．昔慶封亡．子尾多受邑而稍致諸君．君以為忠．而甚寵之．將死．疾于公宮．輦而歸．君親推之．其子不能任．是以在此．忠為令德．其子弗能任．罪猶及之．難不慎也．喪夫人之力．棄德曠宗．以及其身．不害乎．詩曰．不自我先．不自我後．其是之謂乎．

冬．十二月．宋平公卒．初．元公惡寺人柳．欲殺之．及喪．柳熾炭于位．將至．則去之．比葬．又有寵．

昭公十一年

經

十有一年春．王二月．叔弓如宋．葬宋平公．

夏．四月．丁巳．楚子虔誘蔡侯般．殺之于申．楚公子杞疾帥師圍蔡．

五月．甲申．夫人歸氏薨．大蒐于比蒲．仲孫貜會邾子盟于祲祥．

秋．季孫意如會．晉韓起．齊國弱．宋華亥．衛北宮佗．鄭罕虎．曹人．杞人．于厥憖．

九月．己亥．葬我小君齊歸．

冬．十有一月．丁酉．楚師滅蔡．執蔡世子有以歸用之．

傳

十一年春．王二月．叔弓如宋．葬平公也．

景王問於萇弘曰．今茲諸侯．何實吉．何實凶．對曰．蔡凶．此蔡侯般弒其君之歲也．歲在豕韋．弗過此矣．楚將有之然壅也．歲及大梁．蔡復楚凶．天之道也．楚子在申．召蔡靈侯．靈侯將往．蔡大夫曰．王貪而無信．唯蔡於感．今幣重而言甘．誘我也．不如無往．蔡侯不可．五月．丙申．楚子伏甲而饗蔡侯於申．醉而執之．

夏．四月．丁巳．殺之．刑其士七十人．公子棄疾帥師圍蔡．韓宣子問於叔向曰．楚其克乎．對曰．克哉．蔡侯獲罪於其君．而不能其民．天將假手於楚以斃之．何故不克．然肸聞之．不信以幸．不可再也．楚王奉孫吳以討於陳曰．將定而國．陳人聽命．而遂縣之．今又誘蔡而殺其君．以圍其國．雖幸而克．必受其咎．弗能久矣．桀克有緡．以喪其國．紂克東夷．而隕其身．楚小位下．而亟暴於二王．能無咎乎．天之假助不善．非祚之也．厚其凶惡．而降之罰也．且譬之如天．其有五材．而將用之．力盡而敝之．是以無拯．不可沒振．

五月．齊歸薨大蒐于比蒲．非禮也．

孟僖子會邾莊公盟于祲祥．脩好．禮也．泉丘人有女．夢以其帷幕孟氏之廟．遂奔僖子．其僚從之．盟于清丘之社．曰有子．無相棄也．僖子使助薳氏之簉．反自祲祥．宿于薳氏．生懿子及南宮敬叔於泉丘人．其僚無子．使字敬叔．
楚師在蔡．晉荀吳謂韓宣子曰．不能救陳．又不能救蔡．物以無親．晉之不能．亦可知也．己為盟主．而不恤亡國．將焉用之．

秋．會于厥憖．謀救蔡也．鄭子皮將行．子產曰．行不遠．不能救蔡也．蔡小而不順．楚大而不德．天將棄蔡以壅楚．盈而罰之．蔡必亡矣．且喪君而能守者鮮矣．三年．王其有咎乎．美惡周必復．王惡周矣．晉人使狐父請蔡于楚．弗許．

單子會韓宣子于戚．視下言徐．叔向曰．單子其將死乎．朝有著定．會有表．衣有襘．帶有結．會朝之言．必聞于表著之位．所以昭事序也．視不過結襘之中．所以道容貌也．言以命之．容貌以明之．失則有闕．今單子為王官伯．而命事於會．視不登帶言不過步．貌不道容．而言不昭矣．不道不共．不昭不從．無守气矣．

九月．葬齊歸．公不慼．晉士之送葬者．歸以語史趙．史趙曰．必為魯郊．侍者曰．何故．曰．歸．姓也．不思親．祖不歸也．叔向曰．魯公室其卑乎．君有大喪．國不廢蒐．有三年之喪．而無一日之慼．國不恤喪．不忌君也．君無慼容．不顧親也．國不忌君．君不顧親．能無卑乎．殆其失國．

冬．十一月．楚子滅蔡．用隱大子于岡山．申無宇曰．不祥．五牲不相為用．況用諸侯乎．王必悔之．

十二月．單成公卒．楚子城陳蔡不羹．使棄疾為蔡公．王問於申無宇曰．棄疾在蔡何如．對曰．擇子莫如父．擇臣莫如君．鄭莊公城櫟而寘子元焉．使昭公不立．齊桓公城穀而寘管仲焉．至于今賴之．臣聞五大不在邊．五細不在庭．親不在外．羈不在内．今棄疾在外．鄭丹在内．君其少戒．王曰．國有大城何如．對曰．鄭亰櫟實殺曼伯．宋蕭亳實殺子游．齊渠丘實殺無知．衛蒲戚實出獻公．若由是觀之．則害於國．末大必折．尾大不掉．君所知也．

昭公十二年

經

十有二年春．齊高偃帥師納北燕伯于陽．

三月．壬申．鄭伯嘉卒．

夏．宋公使華定來聘．公如晉至河乃復．

五月．葬鄭簡公．楚殺其大夫成熊．

秋．七月．

冬．十月．公子憖出奔齊．楚子伐徐．晉伐鮮虞．

傳

十二年春．齊高偃納北燕伯款于唐．因其眾也．

三月．鄭簡公卒．將為葬除．及游氏之廟．將毀焉．子大叔使其除徒執用以立．而無庸毀．曰．子產過女．而問何故不毀．乃曰．不忍廟也．諾．將毀矣．既如是．子產乃使辟之．司墓之室．有當道者．毀之．則朝而塴．弗毀．則日中而塴．子大叔請毀之．曰．無若諸侯之賓何．子產曰．諸侯之賓．能來會吾喪．豈憚日中．無損於賓．而民不害．何故不為．遂弗毀．日中而葬．君子謂子產於是乎知禮．禮無毀人．以自成也．

夏．宋華定來聘．通嗣君也．享之．為賦蓼蕭．弗知．又不荅賦．昭子曰．必亡．宴語之不懷．寵光之不宣．令德之不知．同福之不受．將何以在．

齊侯．衛侯．鄭伯．如晉．朝嗣君也．

公如晉．至河乃復．取郠之役．莒人愬于晉．晉有平公之喪．未之治也．故辭公．公子憖遂如晉．晉侯享諸侯．子產相鄭伯．辭於享．請免喪而後聽命．晉人許之．禮也．晉侯以齊侯宴．中行穆子相．投壺．晉侯先．穆子曰．有酒如淮．有肉如坻．寡君中此．為諸侯師．中之．齊侯舉矢曰．有酒如澠．有肉如陵．寡人中此．與君代興．亦中之．伯瑕謂穆子曰．子失辭．吾固師諸侯矣．壺何為焉．其以中雋也．齊君弱．吾君歸．弗來矣．穆子曰．吾軍帥彊禦．卒乘競勸．今猶古也．齊將何事．公孫傁趨進曰．日旰君勤．可以出矣．以齊侯出．

楚子謂成虎．若敖之餘也．遂殺之．或譖成虎於楚子．成虎知之．而不能行．書曰．楚殺其大夫成虎．懷寵也．

六月．葬鄭簡公．

晉荀吳偽會齊師者．假道於鮮虞．遂入昔陽．秋．八月．壬午．滅肥．以肥子綿皋歸．

周原伯絞虐其輿臣．使曹逃．冬．十月．壬申．朔．原輿人逐絞而立公子跪．尋絞奔郊．

甘簡公無子．立其弟過．過將去成景之族．成景之族賂劉獻公．丙申．殺甘悼公而立成公之孫鰌．丁酉．殺獻太子之傅．庾皮之子過．殺瑕辛于市．及宮嬖綽．王孫沒．劉州鳩．陰忌．老陽子．

季平子立而不禮於南蒯．南蒯謂子仲．吾出季氏．而歸其室於公．子更其位．我以費為公臣．子仲許之．南蒯語叔仲穆子．且告之故．季悼子之卒也．叔孫昭子以再命為卿．及平子伐莒．克之．更受三命．叔仲子欲構二家．謂平子曰．三命踰父兄．非禮也．平子曰．然．故使昭子．昭子曰．叔孫氏有家禍．殺適立庶．故婼也及此．若因禍以斃之．則聞命矣．若不廢君命．則固有著矣．昭子朝而命吏曰．婼將與季氏訟．書辭無頗．季孫懼．而歸罪於叔仲子．故叔仲小．南蒯．公子憖．謀季氏．憖告公．而遂從公如晉．南蒯懼不克．以費叛如齊．子仲還及衛．聞亂．逃介而先．及郊．聞費叛．遂奔齊．南蒯之將叛也．其鄉人或知之．過之而歎．且言曰．恤恤乎．湫乎攸乎．深思而淺謀．邇身而遠志．家臣而君圖．有人矣哉．南蒯枚筮之．遇坤之比曰．黃裳元吉．以為大吉也．示子服惠伯曰．即欲有事何如．惠伯曰．吾嘗學此矣．忠信之事則可．不然必敗．外彊内溫．忠也．和以率貞．信也．故曰黃裳元吉．黃．中之色也．裳．下之飾也．元．善之長也．中不忠．不得其色．下不共．不得其飾．事不善．不得其極．外内倡和為忠．率事以信為共．供養三德為善．非此三者弗當．且夫易．不可以占險．將何事也．且可飾乎．中美能黃．上美為元．下美則裳．參成可筮．猶有闕也．筮雖吉．未也．將適費．飲鄉人酒．鄉人或謌之曰．我有圃．生之杞乎．從我者子乎．去我者鄙乎．倍其鄰者恥乎．已乎已乎．非吾黨之士乎．平子欲使昭子逐叔仲小．小聞之．不敢朝．昭子命吏謂小待政於朝．曰．吾不為怨府．

楚子狩于州來．次于潁尾．使蕩侯．潘子．司馬督．囂尹．午陵．尹喜．帥師圍徐．以懼吳．楚子次于乾谿．以為之援．雨雪．王皮冠．秦復陶．翠被．豹舄．執鞭以出．僕析父從．右尹子革夕．王見之．去冠被舍鞭．與之語曰．昔我先王熊繹．與呂級．王孫牟．燮父．禽父．並事康王．四國皆有分．我獨無有．今吾使人於周．求鼎以為分．王其與我乎．對曰．與君王哉．昔我先王熊繹．辟在荊山．篳路藍縷．以處草莽．跋涉山林．以事天子．唯是桃弧棘矢．以共禦王事．齊王舅也．晉及魯衛．王母弟也．楚是以無分．而彼皆有．今周與四國．服事君王．將唯命是從．豈其愛鼎．王曰．昔我皇祖伯父昆吾．舊許是宅．今鄭人貪賴其田．而不我與我．若求之．其與我乎．對曰．與君王哉．周不愛鼎．鄭敢愛田．王曰．昔諸侯遠我而畏晉．今我大城．陳蔡不羹．賦皆千乘．子與有勞焉．諸侯其畏我乎．對曰．畏君王哉．是四國者．專足畏也．又加之以楚．敢不畏君王哉．工尹路請曰．君王命剝圭以為鏚柲．敢請命．王入視之．析父謂子革．吾子．楚國之望也．今與王言如響．國其若之何．子革曰．摩厲以須．王出．吾刃將斬矣．王出復語．左史倚相趨過．王曰．是良史也．子善視之．是能讀三墳五典．八索九丘．對曰．臣嘗問焉．昔穆王欲肆其心．周行天下．將皆必有車轍馬跡焉．祭公謀父作祈招之詩．以止王心．王是以獲沒於祗宮．臣問其詩而不知也．若問遠焉．其焉能知之．王曰．子能乎．對曰．能．其詩曰．祈招之愔愔．式昭德音．思我王度．式如玉．式如金．形民之力．而無醉飽之心．王揖而入．饋不食．寢不寐．數日不能自克．以及於難．仲尼曰．古也有志．克己復禮．仁也．信善哉．楚靈王若能如是．豈其辱於乾谿．

晉伐鮮虞．因肥之役也．

昭公十三年

經

十有三年春．叔弓帥師圍費．

夏．四月．楚公子比自晉歸于楚．弒其君虔于乾谿．楚公子棄疾殺公子比．

秋．公會劉子．晉侯．齊侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．于平丘．八月．甲戌．同盟于平丘．公不與盟．晉人執季孫意如以歸．公至自會．蔡侯廬歸于蔡．陳侯吳歸于陳．

冬．十月．葬蔡靈公．公如晉．至河乃復．吳滅州來．

傳

十三年春．叔弓圍費．弗克敗焉．平子怒．令見費人執之．以為囚俘．冶區夫曰．非也．若見費人．寒者衣之．飢者食之．為之令主．而共其乏困．費來如歸．南氏亡矣．民將叛之．誰與居邑．若憚之以威．懼之以怒．民疾而叛．為之聚也．若諸侯皆然．費人無歸．不親南氏．將焉入矣．平子從之．費人叛南氏．

楚子之為令尹也．殺大司馬薳掩而取其室．及即位．奪薳居田．遷許而質許圍．蔡洧有寵於王．王之滅蔡也．其父死焉．王使與於守．而行申之會．越大夫戮焉．王奪鬥韋龜中犨．又奪成然邑．而使為郊尹．蔓成然故事蔡公．故薳氏之族．及薳居．許圍．蔡洧．蔓成然．皆王所不禮也．因群喪職之族．啟越大夫常壽過作亂．圍固城．克息舟城而居之．觀起之死也．其子從在蔡．事朝吳曰．今不封蔡．蔡不封矣．我請試之．以蔡公之命召子干．子皙．及郊而告之情．強與之盟．入襲蔡．蔡公將食．見之而逃．觀從使子干飲坎用牲．加書而速行．已徇於蔡曰．蔡公召二子．將納之．與之盟而遣之矣．將師而從之．蔡人聚．將執之．辭曰．失賊成軍．而殺余何益．乃釋之．朝吳曰．二三子若能死亡．則如違之．以待所濟．若求安定．則如與之．以濟所欲．且違上何適而可．眾曰與之．乃奉蔡公召二子．而盟于鄧．依陳蔡人以國．楚公子比．公子黑肱．公子棄疾．蔓成然．蔡朝吳．帥陳．楚．不羹．許．葉．之師．因四族之徒以入楚．及郊．陳蔡欲為名．故請為武軍．蔡公知之．曰欲速．且役病矣．請藩而巳．乃藩為軍．蔡公使須務牟與史猈先入．因正僕人殺大子祿．及公子罷敵．公子比為王．公子黑肱為令尹．次于魚陂．公子棄疾為司馬．先除王宮．使觀從從師于乾谿．而遂告之．且曰．先歸復所．後者劓．師及訾梁而潰．王聞群公子之死也．自投于車下．曰．人之愛其子也．亦如余乎．侍者曰．甚焉．小人老而無子．知擠于溝壑矣．王曰．余殺人子多矣．能無及此乎．右尹子革曰．請待于郊．以聽國人．王曰．眾怒不可犯也．曰．若入於大都．而乞師於諸侯．王曰．皆叛矣．曰．若亡於諸侯．以聽大國之圖君也．王曰．大福不再．祇取辱焉．然丹乃歸于楚．王沿夏．將欲入鄢．芊尹無宇之子申亥曰．吾父再奸王命．王弗誅．惠孰大焉．君不可忍．惠不可棄．吾其從王．乃求王．遇諸棘圍．以歸．

夏．五月．癸亥．王縊于芊尹申亥氏．申亥以其二女．殉而葬之．觀從謂子干曰．不殺棄疾．雖得國．猶受禍也．子干曰．余不忍也．子玉曰．人將忍子．吾不忍俟也．乃行．國每夜駭曰．王入矣．乙卯．夜．棄疾使周走而呼曰．王至矣．國人大驚．使蔓成然走告子干．子皙曰．王至矣．國人殺君．司馬將來矣．君若早自圖也．可以無辱．眾怒如水火焉．不可為謀．又有呼而走至者曰．眾至矣．二子皆自殺．丙辰．棄疾即位．名曰熊居．葬子于于訾實．訾敖殺囚．衣之王服．而流諸漢．乃取而葬之．以靖國人．使子旗為令尹．楚師還自徐．吳人敗諸豫章．獲其五帥．平王封陳蔡．復遷邑．致群賂．施舍寬民．宥罪舉職．召觀從王曰．唯爾所欲．對曰．臣之先佐開卜．乃使為卜尹．使枝如子躬聘于鄭．且致犨櫟之田．事畢．弗致．鄭人請曰．聞諸道路．將命寡君以犨櫟．敢請命．對曰．臣未聞命．既復．王問犨櫟．降服而對曰．臣過失命未之致也．王執其手曰．子毋勤．姑歸．不穀有事．其告子也．他年．芊尹申亥以王柩告．乃改葬之．初．靈王卜曰．余尚得天下．不吉．投龜詬天而呼曰．是區區者而不余畀．余必自取之．民患王之無厭也．故從亂如歸．初．共王無．適有寵子五人．無適立焉．乃大有事于群望而祈曰．請神擇於五人者．使主社稷．乃遍以璧見於群望曰．當璧而拜者．神所立也．誰敢違之．既乃與巴姬密埋璧於大室之庭．使五人齊而長入拜．康王跨之．靈王肘加焉．子干子皙皆遠之．平王弱．抱而入．再拜．皆厭紐．鬥韋龜屬成然焉．且曰．棄禮違命．楚其危哉．子干歸．韓宣子問於叔向曰．子干其濟乎．對曰．難．宣子曰．同惡相求．如市賈焉．何難．對曰．無與同好．誰與同惡．取國有五難．有寵而無人．一也．有人而無主．二也．有主而無謀．三也．有謀而無民．四也．有民而無德．五也．子干在晉．十三年矣．晉楚之從．不聞達者．可謂無人．族盡親叛．可謂無主．無釁而動．可謂無謀．為羇終世．可謂無民．亡無愛徵．可謂無德．王虐而不忌．楚君子干涉．五難以殺舊君．誰能濟之．有楚國者．其棄疾乎．君陳蔡．城外屬焉．苛慝不作．盜賊伏隱．私欲不違．民無怨心．先神命之．國民信之．芊姓有亂．必季實立．楚之常也．獲神．一也．有民．二也．令德．三也．寵貴．四也．居常．五也．有五利以去五難．誰能害之．子干之官．則右尹也．數其貴寵．則庶子也．以神所命．則又遠之．其貴亡矣．其寵棄矣．民無懷焉．國無與焉．將何以立．宣子曰．齊桓晉文．不亦是乎．對曰．齊桓．衛姬之子也．有寵於僖．有鮑叔牙．賓須無．隰朋．以為輔佐．有莒．衛．以為外主．有國．高．以為内主．從善如流．下善齊肅．不藏賄．不從欲．施舍不倦．求善不厭．是以有國．不亦宜乎．我先君文公．狐季姬之子也．有寵於獻．好學而不貳．生十七年．有士五人．有先大夫子餘．子犯．以為腹心．有魏犨．賈佗．以為股肱．有齊．宋．秦．楚．以為外主．有欒．郤．狐．先．以為内主．亡十九年．守志彌篤．惠懷棄民．民從而與之．獻無異親．民無異望．天方相晉．將何以代文．此二君者．異於子干．共有寵子．國有奧主．無施於民．無援於外．去晉而不送．歸楚而不逆．何以冀國．晉成虒祁．諸侯朝而歸者．皆有貳心．為取郠故．晉將以諸侯來討．叔向曰．諸侯不可以不示威．乃並徵會告于吳．

秋．晉侯會吳子干良．水道不可．吳子辭．乃還．

七月．丙寅．治兵于邾．南甲車四千乘．羊舌鮒攝司馬．遂合諸侯于平丘．子產．子大叔．相鄭伯以會．子產以幄幕九張行．子大叔以四十．既而悔之．每舍損焉．及會亦如之．次于衛地．叔鮒求貨於衛．淫芻蕘者．衛人使屠伯饋叔向羹．與一篋錦．曰．諸侯事晉．未敢攜貳．況衛在君之宇下．而敢有異志．芻蕘者異於他日．敢請之．叔向受羹．反錦曰．晉有羊舌鮒者．瀆貨無厭．亦將及矣．為此役也．子若以君命賜之．其已．客從之．未退而禁之．晉人將尋盟．齊人不可．晉侯使叔向告劉獻公曰．抑齊人不盟．若之何．對曰．盟以厎信．君苟有信．諸侯不貳．何患焉．告之以文辭．董之以武師．雖齊不許．君庸多矣．天子之老．請帥王賦．元戎十乘．以先啟行．遲速唯君．叔向告于齊曰．諸侯求盟．已在此矣．今君弗利．寡君以為請．對曰．諸侯討貳．則有尋盟．若皆用命．何盟之尋．叔向曰．國家之敗．有事而無業．事則不經．有業而無禮．經則不序．有禮而無威．序則不共．有威而不昭．共則不明．不明棄共百事．不終所由傾覆也．是故明王之制．使諸侯歲聘以志業．間朝以講禮．再朝而會以示威．再會而盟以顯昭明．志業於好．講禮於等．示威於眾．昭明於神．自古以來．未之或失也．存亡之道．恆由是興．晉禮主盟．懼有不治．奉承齊犧．而布諸君．求終事也．君曰余必廢之．何齊之有．唯君圖之．寡君聞命矣．齊人懼．對曰．小國言之．大國制之．敢不聽從．既聞命矣．敬共以往．遲速唯君．叔向曰．諸侯有間矣．不可以不示眾．八月．辛未．治兵．建而不旆．壬申．復旆之．諸侯畏之．邾人．莒人．愬于晉曰．魯朝夕伐我．幾亡矣．我之不共．魯故之以．晉侯不見公．使叔向來辭曰．諸侯將以甲戌盟．寡君知不得事君矣．請君無勤．子服惠伯對曰．君信蠻夷之訴．以絕兄弟之國．棄周公之後．亦惟君．寡君聞命矣．叔向曰．寡君有甲車四千乘在．雖以無道．行之必可畏也．況其率道．其何敵之有．牛雖瘠．僨於豚上．其畏不死．南蒯子仲之憂．其庸可棄乎．若奉晉之眾．用諸侯之師．因邾莒杞鄫之怒．以討魯罪．間其二憂．何求而弗克．魯人懼聽命．甲戌．同盟于平丘．齊服也．令諸侯日中造于除．癸酉退朝．子產命外僕速張於除．子大叔止之．使待．明白．及夕．子產聞其未張也．使速往．乃無所張矣．及盟．子產爭承．曰．昔天子班貢．輕重以列．列尊貢重．周之制也．卑而貢重者．甸服也．鄭伯．男也．而使從公侯之貢．懼弗給也．敢以為請．諸侯靖兵．好以為事．行理之命．無月不至．貢之無藝．小國有闕．所以得罪也．諸侯脩盟存小國也．貢獻無極．亡可待也．存亡之制．將在今矣．自日中以爭．至于昏．晉人許之．既盟．子大叔咎之．曰．諸侯若討．其可瀆乎．子產曰．晉政多門．貳偷之不暇．何暇討國．不競亦陵．何國之為．公不與盟．晉人執季孫意如．以幕蒙之．使狄人守之．司鐸射懷錦奉壺飲冰．以蒲伏焉．守者御之．乃與之錦而入．晉人以平子歸．子服湫從．子產歸．未至．聞子皮卒．哭且曰．吾已無為為善矣．唯夫子知我．仲尼謂子產於是行也．足以為國基矣．詩曰．樂只君子．邦家之基．子產．君子之求樂者也．且曰．合諸侯．藝貢事．禮也．鮮虞人聞晉師之悉起也．而不警邊．且不脩備．晉荀吳自著雍以上軍侵鮮虞．及中人．驅衝競．大獲而歸．
楚之滅蔡也．靈王遷許．胡．沈．道．房．申．於荊焉．平王即位．既封陳蔡．而皆復之．禮也．隱大子之子廬．歸于蔡．禮也．悼大子之子吳．歸于陳．禮也．

冬．十月．葬蔡靈公．禮也．公如晉．荀吳謂韓宣子曰．諸侯相朝．講舊好也．執其卿而朝其君．有不好焉．不如辭之．乃使士景伯辭公于河．吳滅州來．令尹子期請伐吳．王弗許．曰．吾未撫民人．未事鬼神．未脩守備．未定國家．而用民力．敗不可悔．州來在吳．猶在楚也．子始待之．季孫猶在晉．子服惠伯私於中行穆子．曰．魯事晉何以不如夷之小國．魯．兄弟也．土地猶大．所命能具．若為夷棄之．使事齊楚．其何瘳於晉．親親與大．賞共罰否．所以為盟主也．子其圖之．諺曰．臣一主二．吾豈無大國．穆子告韓宣子．且曰．楚滅陳蔡．不能救而為夷執親．將焉用之．乃歸季孫．惠伯曰．寡君未知其罪．合諸侯而執其老．若猶有罪．死命可也．若曰無罪．而惠免之．諸侯不聞．是逃命也．何免之為．請從君惠於會．宣子患之．謂叔向曰．子能歸季孫乎．對曰不能．鮒也能乃使叔魚．叔魚見季孫曰．昔鮒也得罪於晉君．自歸於魯君．微武子之賜．不至於今．雖獲歸骨於晉．猶子則肉之．敢不盡情．歸子而不歸鮒也．聞諸吏將為子除館於西河．其若之何．且泣．平子懼．先歸．惠伯待禮．

昭公十四年

經

十有四年春．意如至自晉．

三月．曹伯滕卒．

夏．四月．

秋．葬曹武公．

八月．莒子去疾卒．

冬．莒殺其公子意恢．

傳

十四年春．意如至自晉．尊晉罪己也．尊晉罪己．禮也．南蒯之將叛也．盟費人．司徒老祁．慮癸．偽廢疾．使請於南蒯曰．臣願受盟而疾興．若以君靈不死．請侍間而盟．許之．二子因民之欲叛也．請朝眾而盟．遂劫南蒯．曰．群臣不忘其君．畏子以及今．三年聽命矣．子若弗圖．費人不忍其君．將不能畏子矣．子何所不逞欲．請送子．請期五日．遂奔齊．侍飲酒於景公．公曰．叛夫．對曰．臣欲張公室也．子韓皙曰．家臣而欲張公室．罪莫大焉．司徒老祁．慮癸來歸費．齊侯使鮑文子致之．

夏．楚子使然丹簡上國之兵於宗丘．且撫其民．分貧振窮．長孤幼．養老疾．收介特．救災患．宥孤寡．赦罪戾．詰姦慝．舉淹滯．禮新敘舊．祿勳合親．任良物官．使屈罷簡東國之兵於召陵．亦如之．好於邊疆息．民五年．而後用師．禮也．

秋．八月．莒著丘公卒．郊公不慼．國人弗順．欲立著丘公之弟庚與．蒲餘侯惡公子意恢．而善於庚與．郊公惡公子鐸．而善於意恢．公子鐸因蒲餘侯而與之謀．曰．爾殺意恢．我出君而納庚與．許之．楚令尹子旗有德於王．不知度與養氏比．而求無厭．王患之．

九月．甲午．楚子殺鬥成然而滅養氏之族．使鬥辛居鄖．以無忘舊勳．

冬．十二月．蒲餘侯茲夫殺莒公子意恢．郊公奔齊．公子鐸逆庚與於齊．齊隰黨．公子鉏．送之．有賂田．晉邢侯與雍子爭鄐田．久而無成．士景伯如楚．叔魚攝理．韓宣子命斷舊獄．罪在雍子．雍子納其女於叔魚．叔魚蔽罪邢侯．邢侯怒．殺叔魚．與雍子於朝．宣子問其罪於叔向．叔向曰．三人同罪．施生戮死．可也．雍子自知其罪．而賂以買直．鮒也鬻獄．邢侯專殺．其罪一也．已惡而掠美為昏．貪以敗官為墨．殺人不忘為賊．夏書曰．昏墨賊殺．皋陶之刑也．請從之．乃施邢侯．而尸雍子．與叔魚於市．仲尼曰．叔向．古之遺直也．治國制刑．不隱於親．三數叔魚之惡．不為末減．曰．義也夫．可謂直矣．平丘之會．數其賄也．以寬衛國．晉不為暴．歸魯季孫．稱其詐也．以寬魯國．晉不為虐．邢侯之獄．言其貪也．以正刑書．晉不為頗．三言而除．三惡加三利．殺親益榮．猶義也夫．

昭公十五年

經

十有五年春．王正月．吳子夷末卒．

二月．癸酉．有事于武宮籥入叔弓卒．去樂卒事．

夏．蔡朝吳出奔鄭．

六月．丁巳．朔日有食之．

秋．晉荀吳帥師伐鮮虞．

冬．公如晉．

傳

十五年春．將禘于武公．戒百官．梓慎曰．禘之日．其有咎乎．吾見赤墨之祲．非祭祥也．喪氛也．其在蒞事乎．二月．癸酉．禘．叔弓蒞事．籥入而卒．去樂卒事．禮也．

楚費無極害朝吳之在蔡也．欲去之．乃謂之曰．王唯信子．故處子於蔡．子亦長矣．而在下位．辱．必求之．吾助子請．又謂其上之人曰．王唯信吳．故處諸蔡．二三子莫之如也．而在其上．不亦難乎．弗圖．必及於難．夏．蔡人逐朝吳．朝吳出奔鄭．王怒曰．余唯信吳．故寘諸蔡．且微吳．吾不及此．女何故去之．無極對曰．臣豈不欲吳．然而前知其為人之異也．吳在蔡．蔡必速飛．去吳．所以翦其翼也．

六月．乙丑．王大子壽卒．

秋．八月．戊寅．王穆后崩．

晉荀吳帥師伐鮮虞，圍鼓，鼓人或請以城叛，穆子弗許。左右曰：師徒不勤．而可以獲城．何故不為？穆子曰．吾聞諸叔向曰．好惡不愆．民知所適．事無不濟．或以吾城叛．吾所甚惡也．人以城來．吾獨何好焉？賞所甚惡．若所好何？若其弗賞．是失信也．何以庇民？力能則進．否則退．量力而行．吾不可以欲城而邇姦．所喪滋多．使鼓人殺叛人而繕守備．圍鼓三月．鼓人或請降．使其民見曰．猶有食色．姑脩而城．軍吏曰．獲城而弗取．勤民而頓兵．何以事君．穆子曰．吾以事君也．獲一邑而教民．怠將焉用邑？邑以賈怠．不如完舊．賈怠無卒．棄舊不祥．鼓人能事其君．我亦能事吾君．率義不爽．好惡不愆．城可獲而民知義．所有死命．而無二心．不亦可乎？鼓人告食竭力盡．而後取之．克鼓而反．不戮一人．以鼓子截鞮歸。

冬．公如晉．平丘之會故也．

十二月．晉荀躒如周葬穆后．籍談為介．既葬除喪．以文伯宴．樽以魯壺．王曰．伯氏．諸侯皆有以鎮撫王室．晉獨無有．何也．文伯揖籍談對曰．諸侯之封也．皆受明器於王室．以鎮撫其社稷．故能薦彝器於王．晉居深山．戎狄之與鄰．而遠於王室．王靈不及．拜戎不暇．其何以獻器．王曰．叔氏而忘諸乎．叔父唐叔．成王之母弟也．其反無分乎．密須之鼓．與其大路．文所以大蒐也．闕鞏之甲．武所以克商也．唐叔受之．以處參虛．匡有戎狄．其後襄之二路．鏚鉞秬鬯．彤弓虎賁．文公受之．以有南陽之田．撫征東夏．非分而何．夫有勳而不廢．有績而載．奉之以土田．撫之以彝器．旌之以車服．明之以文章．子孫不忘．所謂福也．福祚之不登．叔父焉在．且昔而高祖孫伯黶司晉之典籍．以為大政．故曰籍氏．及辛有之二子董之．晉於是乎有董史．女司典之後也．何故忘之．籍談不能對．賓出．王曰．籍父其無後乎．數典而忘其祖．籍談歸以告叔向．叔向曰．王其不終乎．吾聞之．所樂必卒焉．今王樂憂．若卒以憂．不可謂終．王一歲而有三年之喪二焉．於是乎以喪賓宴．又求彝器．樂憂甚矣．且非禮也．彝器之來．嘉功之由．非由喪也．三年之喪．雖貴遂服．禮也．王雖弗遂．宴樂以早．亦非禮也．禮．王之大經也．一動而失二禮．無大經矣．言以考典．典以志經．忘經而多言．舉典將焉用之．

昭公十六年

經

十有六年春．齊侯伐徐．楚子誘戎蠻子殺之．

夏．公至自晉．

秋．八月．己亥．晉侯夷卒．

九月．大雩．季孫意如如晉．

冬．十月．葬晉昭公．

傳

十六年春．王正月．公在晉．晉人止公．不書．諱之也．齊侯伐徐．楚子聞蠻氏之亂也．與蠻子之無質也．使然丹誘戎蠻子嘉．殺之．遂取蠻氏．既而復立其子焉．禮也．

二月．丙申．齊師至于蒲隧．徐人行成．徐子及郯人．莒人．會齊侯盟于蒲隧．賂以甲父之鼎．叔孫昭子曰．諸侯之無伯．害哉．齊君之無道也．興師而伐遠方．會之有成．而還莫之亢也．無伯也夫．詩曰．宗周既滅．靡所止戾．正大夫離居．莫知我肄．其是之謂乎．

二月．晉韓起聘于鄭．鄭伯享之．子產戒曰．苟有位於朝．無有不共恪．孔張後至．立於客間．執政禦之．適客後．又禦之．適縣間．客從而笑之．事畢．富子諫．曰．夫大國之人．不可不慎也．幾為之笑．而不陵我．我皆有禮．夫猶鄙我．國而無禮．何以求榮．孔張失位．吾子之恥也．子產怒曰．發命之不衷．出令之不信．刑之頗類．獄之放紛．會朝之不敬．使命之不聽．取陵於大國．罷民而無功．罪及而弗知．僑之恥也．孔張．君之昆孫．子孔之後也．執政之嗣也．為嗣大夫．承命以使．周於諸侯．國人所尊．諸侯所知．立於朝而祀於家．有祿於國．有賦於軍．喪祭有職．受脤歸賑．其祭在廟．已有著位．在位數世．世守其業．而忘其所僑．焉得恥之．辟邪之人．而皆及執政．是先王無刑罰也．子寧以他規我．

宣子有環．其一在鄭商．宣子謁諸鄭伯．子產弗與．曰．非官府之守器也．寡君不知．子大叔．子羽．謂子產曰．韓子亦無幾求．晉國亦未可以貳．晉國韓子．不可偷也．若屬有讒人．交鬥其間．鬼神而助之．以興其凶怒．悔之何及．吾子何愛於一環．其以取憎於大國也．盍求而與之．子產曰．吾非偷晉而有二心．將終事之．是以弗與．忠信故也．僑聞君子非無賄之難立．而無令名之患．僑聞為國非不能事大．字小之難．無禮以定其位之患．夫大國之人．令於小國．而皆獲其求．將何以給之．一共一否．為罪滋大．大國之求．無禮以斥之．何饜之有．吾且為鄙邑．則失位矣．若韓子奉命以使而求玉焉．貪淫甚矣．獨非罪乎．出一玉以起二罪．吾又失位．韓子成貪．將焉用之．且吾以玉賈罪．不亦銳乎．韓子買諸賈人．既成賈矣．商人曰．必告君大夫．韓子請諸子產曰．日起請夫環．執政弗義．弗敢復也．今買諸商人．商人曰．必以聞．敢以為請．子產對曰．昔我先君桓公．與商人皆出自周．庸次比耦．以艾殺此地．斬之蓬蒿藜藿而共處之．世有盟誓．以相信也．曰爾無我叛．我無強賈．毋或匄奪．爾有利市寶賄．我勿與知．恃此質誓．故能相保．以至于今．今吾子以好來辱．而謂敝邑強奪商人．是教敝邑背盟誓也．毋乃不可乎．吾子得玉而失諸侯．必不為也．若大國令．而共無藝．鄭鄙邑也．亦弗為也僑若獻玉．不知所成．敢私布之．韓子辭玉曰．起不敏．敢求玉以徼二罪．敢辭之．

夏．四月．鄭六卿餞宣子於郊．宣子曰．二三君子請皆賦．起亦以知鄭志．子齹賦野有蔓草．宣子曰．孺子善哉．吾有望矣．子產賦鄭之羔裘．宣子曰．起不堪也．子大叔賦褰裳．宣子曰．起在此．敢勤子．至於他人乎．子大叔拜．宣子曰．善哉．子之言．是不有是事．其能終乎．子游賦風雨．子旗賦有女同車．子柳賦蘀兮．宣子喜曰．鄭其庶乎．二三君子．以君命貺起．賦不出鄭志．皆昵燕好也．二三君子．數世之主也．可以無懼矣．宣子皆獻馬焉．而賦我將．子產拜．使五卿皆拜．曰．吾子靖亂．敢不拜德．宣子私覲於子產．以玉與馬曰．子命起．舍夫玉．是賜我玉而免吾死也．敢藉手以拜．公至自晉．子服昭伯語季平子曰．晉之公室．其將遂卑矣．君幼弱．六卿彊而奢傲．將因是以習．習實為常．能無卑乎．平子曰．爾幼．惡識國．

秋．八月．晉昭公卒．

九月．大雩．旱也．鄭大旱．使屠擊．祝款．竪柎．有事於桑山．斬其木不雨．子產曰．有事於山．蓺山林也．而斬其木．其罪大矣．奪之官邑．

冬．十月．季平子如晉．葬昭公．平子曰．子服回之言猶信．子服氏有子哉．

昭公十七年

經

十有七年春．小邾子來朝．

夏．六月．甲戌．朔．日有食之．

秋．郯子來朝．

八月．晉荀吳帥師滅陸渾之戎．

冬．有星孛于大辰．楚人及吳戰于長岸．

傳

十七年春．小邾穆公來朝．公與之燕．季平子賦采叔．穆公賦菁菁者莪．昭子曰．不有以國．其能久乎．

夏．六月．甲戌．朔．日有食之．祝史請所用幣．昭子曰．日有食之．天子不舉．伐鼓於社．諸侯用幣於社．伐鼓於朝．禮也．平子禦之．曰．止也．唯正月朔．慝未作．日有食之．於是乎有伐鼓用幣．禮也．其餘則否．大史曰．在此月也．日過分而未至．三辰有災．於是乎百官降物．君不舉辟．移時樂奏鼓．祝用幣．史用辭．故夏書曰．辰不集于房．瞽奏鼓．嗇夫馳．庶人走．此月朔之謂也．當夏四月．是謂孟夏．平子弗從．昭子退曰．夫子將有異志．不君君矣．

秋．郯子來朝．公與之宴．昭子問焉．曰．少皞氏鳥名官．何故也．郯子曰．吾祖也．我知之．昔者黃帝氏以雲紀．故為雲師而雲名．炎帝氏以火紀．故為火師而火名．共工氏以水紀．故為水師而水名．大皞氏以龍紀．故為龍師而龍名．我高祖少皞．摯之立也．鳳鳥適至．故紀於鳥．為鳥師而鳥名．鳳鳥氏歷正也．玄鳥氏司分者也．伯趙氏司至者也．青鳥氏司啟者也．丹鳥氏司閉者也．祝鳩氏司徒也．鴡鳩氏司馬也．鳲鳩氏司空也．爽鳩氏司寇也．鶻鳩氏司事也．五鳩．鳩民者也．五雉為五工正．利器用．正度量．夷民者也．九扈為九農正．扈民無淫者也．自顓頊以來．不能紀遠．乃紀於近．為民師而命以民事．則不能故也．仲尼聞之．見於郯子而學之．既而告人曰．吾聞之．天子失官．學在四夷．猶信．晉侯使屠蒯如周．請有事於雒．與三塗．萇弘謂劉子曰．客容猛．非祭也．其伐戎乎．陸渾氏甚睦於楚．必是故也．君其備之．乃警戎備．

九月．丁卯．晉荀吳帥師．涉自棘津．使祭史先用牲于雒．陸渾人弗知．師從之．庚午．遂滅陸渾．數之以其貳於楚也．陸渾子奔楚．其眾奔甘鹿．周大獲．宣子夢文公攜荀吳．而授之陸渾．故使穆子帥師．獻俘于文宮．

冬．有星孛于大辰．西及漢．申須曰．彗所以除舊布新也．天事恆象．今除於火．火出必布焉．諸侯其有火災乎．梓慎曰．往年吾見之．是其徵也．火出而見．今茲火出而章．必火入而伏．其居火也久矣．其與不然乎．火出．於夏為三月於商為四月．於周為五月．夏數得天．若火作．其四國當之．在宋衛陳鄭乎．宋．大辰之虛也．陳．大皞之虛也．鄭．祝融之虛也．皆火房也．星孛天漢．漢．水祥也．衛．顓頊之虛也．故為帝丘．其星為大水．水火之牡也．其以丙子若壬午作乎．水火所以合也．若火入而伏．必以壬午．不過其見之月．鄭裨灶言於子產曰．宋衛陳鄭．將同日火．若我用瓘斝玉瓚．鄭必不火．子產弗與．

吳伐楚．陽匄為令尹．卜戰不吉．司馬子魚曰．我得上流．何故不吉．且楚故．司馬令龜．我請改卜．令曰．魴也．以其屬死之．楚師繼之．尚大克之．吉．戰于長岸．子魚先死．楚師繼之．大敗吳師．獲其乘舟餘皇．使隨人與後至者守之．環而塹之．及泉．盈其隧炭．陳以待命．吳公子光請於其眾曰．喪先王之乘舟．豈唯光之罪．眾亦有焉．請藉取之．以救死．眾許之．使長鬣者三人．潛伏於舟側．曰．我呼皇則對．師夜從之．三呼皆迭對．楚人從而殺之．楚師亂．吳人大敗之．取餘皇以歸．

昭公十八年

經

十有八年春．王三月．曹伯須卒．

夏．五月．壬午．宋．衛．陳．鄭．災．

六月．邾人入鄅．

秋．葬曹平公．

冬．許遷于白羽．

傳

十八年春．王二月．乙卯．周毛得殺毛伯過而代之．萇弘曰．毛得必亡．是昆吾稔之日也．侈故之以．而毛得以濟侈於王都．不亡何待．

三月．曹平公卒．

夏．五月．火始昏見．丙子．風．梓慎曰．是謂融風．火之始也．七日其火作乎．戊寅．風甚．壬午．大甚．宋衛．陳．鄭．皆火．梓慎登大庭氏之庫以望之．曰．宋．衛．陳．鄭．也．數日皆來告火．裨灶曰．不用吾言．鄭又將火．鄭人請用之．子產不可．子大叔曰．寶以保民也．若有火．國幾亡．可以救亡．子何愛焉．子產曰．天道遠．人道邇．非所及也．何以知之．灶焉知天道．是亦多言矣．豈不或信．遂不與．亦不復火．鄭之未災也．里析告子產曰．將有大祥．民震動．國幾亡．吾身泯焉．弗良及也．國遷．其可乎．子產曰．雖可．吾不足以定遷矣．及火．里析死矣．未葬．子產使輿三十人遷其柩．火作．子產辭晉公子公孫于東門．使司寇出新客．禁舊客．勿出於宮．使子寬．子上．巡群屏攝至于大宮．使公孫登徙大龜．使祝史徙主祐於周廟．告於先君．使府人．庫人．各儆其事．商成公．儆司宮．出舊宮人．寘諸火所不及．司馬．司寇．列居火道．行火所焮．城下之人．伍列登城．明日．使野司寇．各保其徵．郊人助祝史除於國北．禳火于玄冥回祿．祈于四鄘．書焚室而寬其征．與之材．三日哭．國不市．使行人告於諸侯．宋衛皆如是．陳不救火．許不弔災．君子是以知陳許之先亡也．

六月．鄅人鄅藉．稻邾人襲．鄅人將閉門．邾人羊羅．攝其首焉．遂入之．盡俘以歸．鄅子曰．余無歸矣．從帑於邾．邾莊公反鄅夫人．而舍其女．

秋．葬曹平公．往者見周原伯魯焉．與之語．不說學．歸以語閔子馬．閔子馬曰．周其亂乎．夫必多有是說．而後及其大人．大人患失而惑．又曰．可以無學．無學不害．不害而不學．則苟而可．於是乎下陵上替．能無亂乎．夫學．殖也．不學將落．原氏其亡乎．

七月．鄭子產為火故．大為社．祓禳於四方．振除火災．禮也．乃簡．兵大蒐．將為蒐除．子大叔之廟．在道南．其寢在道北．其庭小．過期三日．使除徒陳於道南廟北曰．子產過女．而命速除．乃毀於而鄉．子產朝．過而怒之．除者南毀．子產及衝．使從者止之．曰．毀於北方．火之作也．子產授兵登陴．子大叔曰．晉無乃討乎．子產曰．吾聞之．小國忘守則危．況有災乎．國之不可小．有備故也．既晉之邊吏讓鄭曰．鄭國有災．晉君大夫不敢寧居．卜筮走望．不愛牲玉．鄭之有災．寡君之憂也．今執事撊然授兵登陴．將以誰罪．邊人恐懼．不敢不告．子產對曰．若吾子之言．敝邑之災．君之憂也．敝邑失政．天降之災．又懼讒慝之間謀之．以啟貪人．荐為敝邑不利．以重君之憂．幸而不亡．猶可說也．不幸而亡．君雖憂之．亦無及也．鄭有他竟．望走在晉．既事晉矣．其敢有二心．楚左尹王子勝言於楚子曰．許於鄭．仇敵也．而居楚地．以不禮於鄭．晉鄭方睦．鄭若伐許．而晉助之．楚喪地矣．君盍遷許．許不專於楚．鄭方有令政．許曰．余舊國也．鄭曰．余俘邑也．葉在楚國．方城外之蔽也．土不可易．國不可小．許不可俘．讎不可啟．君其圖之．楚子說．

冬．楚子使王子勝遷許於析．實白羽．

昭公十九年

經

十有九年春．宋公伐邾．

夏．五月．戊辰．許世子止弒其君買．己卯．地震．

秋‧齊高發帥師伐莒．

冬．葬許悼公

傳

十九年．春．楚工尹赤遷陰于下陰．令尹子瑕城郟．叔孫昭子曰．楚不在諸侯矣．其僅自完也．以持其世而已．楚子之在蔡也．具陽封人之女奔之．生大子建．及即位．使伍奢為之師．費無極為少師．無寵焉．欲譖諸王．曰．建可室矣．王為之聘於秦．無極與逆．勸王取之．正月．楚夫人嬴氏至自秦．鄅夫人．宋向戌之女也．故向寧請師．

二月．宋公伐邾圍蟲．三月取之．乃盡歸鄅俘．

夏．許悼公瘧．

五月．戊辰．飲大子止之藥．卒．大子奔晉．書曰．弒其君．君子曰．盡心力以事君．舍藥物可也．邾人．郳人．徐人．會宋公．乙亥．同盟于蟲．楚子為舟師以伐濮．費無極言於楚子曰．晉之伯也．邇於諸夏．而楚辟陋．故弗能與爭．若大城城父．而寘大子焉．以通北方．王收南方．是得天下也．王說．從之．故太子建居于城父．令尹子瑕聘于秦．拜夫人也．

秋．齊高發帥師伐莒．莒子奔紀鄣．使孫書伐之．初．莒有婦人．莒子殺其夫．己為嫠婦．及老．託於紀鄣．紡焉以度而去之．及師至．則投諸外．或獻諸子占．子占使師夜縋而登．登者六十人．縋絕．師鼓譟．城上之人亦譟．莒共公懼．啟西門而出．七月．丙子．齊師入紀．是歲也．鄭駟偃卒．子游娶於晉大夫．生絲弱．其父兄立子瑕．子產憎其為人也．且以為不順．弗許．亦弗止．駟氏聳．他日．絲以告其舅．冬．晉人使以幣如鄭．問駟乞之立故．駟氏懼．駟乞欲逃．子產弗遣．請龜以卜．亦弗予．大夫謀對．子產不待而對客曰．鄭國不天．寡君之二三臣．札瘥夭昏．今又喪我先大夫偃．其子幼弱．其一二父兄．懼隊宗主．私族於謀．如立長親．寡君與其二三老曰．抑天實剝亂．是吾何知焉．諺曰．無過亂門．民有亂兵．猶憚過之．而況敢知天之所亂．今大夫將問其故．抑寡君實不敢知．其誰實知之．平丘之會．君尋舊盟曰．無或失職．若寡君之二三臣．其即世者．晉大夫而專制其位．是晉之縣鄙也．何國之為．辭客幣而報其使．晉人舍之．楚人城州來．沈尹戌曰．楚人必敗．昔吳滅州來．子旗請伐之．王曰．吾未撫吾民．今亦如之．而城州來．以挑吳．能無敗乎．侍者曰．王施舍不倦．息民五年．可謂撫之矣．戌曰．吾聞撫民者．節用於内．而樹德於外．民樂其性．而無寇讎．今宮室無量．民人日駭．勞罷死轉．忘寢與食．非撫之也．鄭大水．龍鬥于時門之外洧淵．國人請為禜焉．子產弗許．曰．我鬥．龍不我覿也．龍鬥．我獨何覿焉．禳之則彼其室也．吾無求於龍．龍亦無求於我．乃止也．令尹子瑕言蹶由於楚子曰．彼何罪．諺所謂室於怒．市於色者．楚之謂矣．舍前之忿．可也．乃歸蹶由．

昭公二十年

經

二十年．

春．王正月．

夏．曹公孫會自鄸出奔宋．

秋．盜殺衛侯之兄縶．

冬．十月．宋華亥向寧．華定．出奔陳．

十有一月．辛卯．蔡侯盧卒．

傳

二十年．春．王二月．己丑．日南至．梓慎望氛．曰．今茲宋有亂．國幾亡．三年而後弭．蔡有大喪．叔孫昭子曰．然則戴桓也．汏侈無禮．已甚．亂所在也．

費無極言於楚子曰．建與伍奢．將以方城之外叛．自以為猶宋鄭也．齊晉又交輔之．將以害楚．其事集矣。王信之．問伍奢．伍奢對曰．君一過多矣．何信於讒．王執伍奢．使城父司馬奮揚殺大子．未至而使遣之．三月．大子建奔宋．王召奮揚．奮揚使城父人執己以至．王曰．言出於余口．入於爾耳．誰告建也．對曰．臣告之．君王命臣曰．事建如事余．臣不佞．不能苟貳．奉初以還．不忍後命．故遣之．既而悔之．亦無及．巳．王曰．而敢來．何也？對曰．使而失命．召而不來．是再奸也．逃無所入！王曰．歸．從政如他日．無極曰奢之子材．若在吳必憂楚國．盍以免其父召之．彼仁必來．不然將為患．王使召之．曰．來．吾免而父．棠君尚謂其弟員曰．爾適吳．我將歸死．吾知不逮．我能死．爾能報。聞免父之命，不可以莫之奔也！親戚為戮，不可以莫之報也！奔死免父．孝也．度功而行．仁也．擇任而往．知也．知死不辟．勇也．父不可棄．名不可廢．爾其勉之．相從為愈．伍尚歸．奢聞員不來．曰．楚君大夫其旰食乎．楚人皆殺之．員如吳．言伐楚之利於州于．公子光曰．是宗為戮．而欲反其讎．不可從也．員曰．彼將有他志．余姑為之求士．而鄙以待之．乃見鱄設諸焉．而耕於鄙．

宋元公無信多私而惡．華向．華定．華亥．與向寧謀曰．亡愈於死．先諸華亥．偽有疾以誘群公子．公子問之．則執之．夏．六月．丙申．殺公子寅．公子御戎．公子朱．公子固．公孫援．公孫丁．拘向勝．向行．於其廩．公如華氏請焉．弗許．遂劫之．癸卯．取大子欒．與母弟辰、公子地．以為質．公亦取華亥之子無慼．向寧之子羅．華定之子啟．與華氏盟以為質．

衛公孟縶狎齊豹．奪之司寇與鄄．有役則反之．無則取之．公孟惡北宮喜．褚師圃．欲去之．公子朝通于襄夫人宣姜．懼而欲以作亂．故齊豹．北宮喜．褚師圃．公子朝．作亂．初．齊豹見宗魯於公孟．為驂乘焉．將作亂．而謂之曰．公孟之不善．子所知也．勿與乘．吾將殺之．對曰．吾由子事公孟．子假吾名焉．故不吾遠也．雖其不善．吾亦知之．抑以利故．不能去．是吾過也．今聞難而逃．是僭子也．子行事乎．吾將死之．以周事子．而歸死於公孟．其可也．丙辰．衛侯在平壽．公孟有事於蓋獲之門外．齊子氏帷於門外．而伏甲焉．使祝蛙寘戈於車薪．以當門．使一乘從公孟以出．使華齊御公孟．宗魯驂乘．及閎中．齊氏用戈擊公孟．宗魯以背蔽之．斷肱．以中公孟之肩．殺皆之．公聞亂．乘驅自閱門入．慶比御公．公南楚驂乘．使華寅乘貳車．及公宮．鴻騮魋駟乘于公．公載寶以出．褚師子申．遇公于馬路之衢．遂從．過齊氏．使華寅肉袒執蓋．以當其闕．齊氏射公．中南楚之背．公遂出．寅閉郭門．踰而從公．公如死鳥．析朱鉏宵從竇出．徒行從公．齊侯使公孫青聘于衛．既出．聞衛亂．使請所聘．公曰．猶在竟内．則衛君也．乃將事焉．遂從諸死鳥．請將事．辭曰．亡人不佞．失守社稷．越在草莽．吾子無所辱君命．賓曰．寡君命下臣於朝曰．阿下執事．臣不敢貳．主人曰．君若惠顧先君之好．昭臨敝邑．鎮撫其社稷．則有宗祧在．乃止衛侯．固請見之．不獲命．以其良馬見．為未致使故也．衛侯以為乘馬．賓將掫．主人辭曰．亡人之憂．不可以及．吾子草莽之中．不足以辱從者．敢辭．賓曰．寡君之下臣．君之牧圉也．若不獲扞外役．是不有寡君也．臣懼不免於戾．請以除死．親執鐸．終夕與於燎．齊氏之宰渠子．召北宮子．北官氏之宰．不與聞謀．殺渠子．遂伐齊氏．滅之．丁巳．晦．公入．與北宮喜盟于彭水之上．秋．七月．戊午．朔．遂盟國人．八月．辛亥．公子朝．褚師圃．子玉霄．子高魴．出奔晉．閏月．戊辰．殺宣姜．衛侯賜北宮喜謚曰貞子．賜析朱鉏謚曰成子．而以齊氏之墓予之．衛侯告寧于齊．且言子石．齊侯將飲酒．遍賜大夫曰．二三子之教也．苑何忌辭曰．與於青之賞．必及于其罰．在康誥曰．父子兄弟．罪不相及．況在群臣．臣敢貪君賜．以干先王．琴張聞宗魯死．將往弔之．仲尼曰．齊豹之盜．而孟縶之賊．女何弔焉．君子不食姦．不受亂．不為利疚於回．不以回待人．不蓋不義．不犯非禮．

宋華向之亂．公子城．公孫忌．樂舍．司馬疆．向宜．向鄭．楚建．郳甲．出奔鄭．其徒與華氏戰于鬼閻．敗子城．子城適晉．華亥與其妻．必盥而食所質公子者．而後食．公與夫人．每日．必適華氏．食公子而後歸．華亥患之．欲歸公子．向寧曰．唯不信．故質其子．若又歸之．死無日矣．公請於華費．遂將攻華氏．對曰．臣不敢愛死．無乃求去憂而滋長乎．臣是以懼．敢不聽命．公曰．子死亡有命．余不忍其詢．冬．十月．公殺華向之質而攻之．戊辰．華向奔陳．華登奔吳．向寧欲殺大子．華亥曰．干君而出．又殺其子．其誰納我．且歸之有庸．使少司寇牼以歸．曰．子之齒長矣．不能事人．以三公子為質．必免．公子既入．華牼將自門行．公遽見之．執其手曰．余知而無罪也．入復而所．

齊侯疥．遂痁．期而不瘳．諸侯之賓問疾者多在．梁丘據與裔款言於公曰．吾事鬼神豐．於先君有加矣．今君疾病．為諸侯憂．是祝史之罪也．諸侯不知．其謂我不敬．君盍誅於祝固史嚚．以辭賓．公說．告晏子．晏子曰．日宋之盟．屈建問范會之德於趙武．趙武曰．夫子之家事治．言於晉國．竭情無私．其祝史祭祀．陳信不愧．其家事無猜．其祝史不祈．建以語康王．康王曰．神人無怨．宜夫子之光輔五君．以為諸侯主也．公曰．據與款謂寡人能事鬼神．故欲誅于祝史．子稱是語．何故．對曰．若有德之君．外内不廢．上下無怨．動無違事．其祝史薦信．無愧心矣．是以鬼神用饗．國受其福．祝史與焉．其所以蕃祉老壽者．為信君使也．其言忠信於鬼神．其適遇淫君．外内頗邪．上下怨疾．動作辟違．從欲厭私．高臺深池．撞鍾舞女．斬刈民力．輸掠其聚．以成其違．不恤後人．暴虐淫從．肆行非度．無所還忌．不思謗讟．不憚鬼神．神怒民痛．無悛於心．其祝史薦信．是言罪也．其蓋失數美．是矯誣也．進退無辭．則虛以求媚．是以鬼神不饗其國以禍之．祝史與焉．所以夭昏孤疾者．為暴君使也．其言僭嫚於鬼神．公曰．然則若之何．對曰．不可為也．山林之木．衡鹿守之．澤之萑蒲．舟鮫守之．藪之薪蒸．虞候守之．海之鹽蜃．祈望守之．縣鄙之人．入從其政．偪介之關．暴征其私．承嗣大夫．強易其賄．布常無藝．徵斂無度．宮室日更．淫樂不違．内寵之妾．肆奪於市．外寵之臣．僭令於鄙．私欲養求．不給則應．民人苦病．夫婦皆詛．祝有益也．詛亦有損．聊攝以東．姑尤以西．其為人也．多矣．雖其善祝．豈能勝億兆人之詛．君若欲誅於祝史．脩德而後可．公說．使有司寬政．毀關．去禁．薄斂．已責．

十二月．齊侯田于沛．招虞人以弓．不進．公使執之．辭曰．昔我先君之田也．旃以招大夫．弓以招士．皮冠以招虞人．臣不見皮冠．故不敢進．乃舍之。仲尼曰．守道不如守官．君子同之．

齊侯至自田．晏子侍于遄臺．子猶馳而造焉．公曰．唯據與我和夫．晏子對曰．據亦同也．焉得為和．公曰．和與同異乎．對曰異．和如羹焉．水火醯醢鹽梅．以烹魚肉．燀之以薪．宰夫和之．齊之以味．濟其不及．以洩其過．君子食之．以平其心．君臣亦然．君所謂可．而有否焉．臣獻其否．以成其可．君所謂否．而有可焉．臣獻其可．以去其否．是以政平而不干民無爭心．故詩曰．亦有和羹．既戒既平．鬷假無言．時靡有爭．先王之濟五味．和五聲也．以平其心．成其政也．聲亦如味．一气．二體．三類．四物．五聲．六律．七音．八風．九謌．以相成也．清濁大小．長短疾徐．哀樂剛柔．遲速高下．出入周疏．以相濟也．君子聽之．以平其心．心平德和．故詩曰．德音不瑕．今據不然．君所謂可．據亦曰可．君所謂否．據亦曰否．若以水濟水．誰能食之．若琴瑟之專壹．誰能聽之．同之不可也如是．飲酒樂．公曰．古而無死．其樂若何．晏子對曰．古而無死．則古之樂也．君何得焉．昔爽鳩氏始居此地．季萴因之．有逢伯陵因之．蒲姑氏因之．而後大公因之．古者無死．爽鳩氏之樂．非君所願也．

鄭子產有疾．謂子大叔曰．我死．子必為政．唯有德者．能以寬服民．其次莫如猛．夫火烈．民望而畏之．故鮮死焉．水懦弱．民狎而翫之．則多死焉．故寬難．疾數月而卒．大叔為政．不忍猛而寬．鄭國多盜．取人於萑苻之澤．大叔悔之．曰．吾早從夫子．不及此．興徒兵以攻萑苻之盜．盡殺之．盜少止．仲尼曰．善哉．政寬則民慢．慢則糾之以猛．猛則民殘．殘則施之以寬．寬以濟猛．猛以濟寬．政是以和．詩曰．民亦勞之．汔可小康．惠此中國．以綏四方．施之以寬也．毋從詭隨．以謹無良．式遏寇虐．慘不畏明．糾之以猛也．柔遠能邇．以定我王．平之以和也．又曰．不競不絿．不剛不柔．布政優優．百祿是遒．和之至也．及子產卒．仲尼聞之．出涕曰．古之遺愛也．

昭公二十一年

經

二十有一年春．王三月．葬蔡平公．

夏．晉侯使士鞅來聘．宋華亥．向寧．華定．自陳入于宋南里以叛．

秋．七月．壬午．朔．日有食之．

八月．乙亥．叔輒卒．

冬．蔡侯朱出奔楚．公如晉至河乃復．

傳

二十一年春．天王將鑄無射．泠州鳩曰．王其以心疾死乎．夫樂．天子之職也．夫音．樂之輿也．而鐘．音之器也．天子省風以作樂．器以鐘之．輿以行之．小者不窕．大者不槬．則和於物．物和則嘉成．故和聲入於耳．而藏於心．心億則樂．窕則不咸．總則不容．心是以感．感實生疾．今鐘槬矣．王心弗堪．其能久乎．

三月．葬蔡平公．蔡大子朱失位．位在卑．大夫送葬者．歸見昭子．昭子問蔡．故以告．昭子歎曰．蔡其亡乎．若不亡．是君也必不終．詩曰．不解于位．民之攸塈．今蔡侯始即位．而適卑．身將從之．

夏．晉士鞅來聘．叔孫為政．季孫欲惡諸晉．使有司以齊鮑國歸費之禮為士鞅．士鞅怒曰．鮑國之位下．其國小．而使鞅從其牢禮．是卑敝邑也．將復諸寡君．魯人恐．加四牢焉．為十一牢．

宋華費遂生華貙、華多僚、華登，貙為少司馬．多僚為御士．與貙相惡．乃譖諸公曰：貙將納亡人．亟言之．公曰．司馬以吾故．亡其良子．死亡有命．吾不可以再亡之．對曰．君若愛司馬．則如亡．死如可逃．何遠之有．公懼．使侍人召司馬之侍人宜僚．飲之酒．而使告司馬．司馬歎曰．必多僚也．吾有讒子．而弗能殺．吾又不死．抑君有命．可若何．乃與公謀．逐華貙．將使田孟諸而遣之．公飲之酒．厚酬之．賜及從者．司馬亦如之．張匄尤之．曰．必有故．使子皮承宜僚以劍而訊之．宜僚盡以告．張匄欲殺多僚．子皮曰．司馬老矣．登之謂甚．吾又重之．不如亡也．
五月．丙申．子皮將見司馬而行．則遇多僚．御司馬而朝．張匄不勝其怒．遂與子皮．臼任．鄭翩．殺多僚．劫司馬以叛．而召亡人．壬寅．華向入．樂大心．豐愆．華牼．禦諸橫．華氏居盧門．以南里叛．六月．庚午．宋城舊鄘及桑林之門．而守之．

秋．七月．壬午．朔．日有食之．公問於梓慎曰．是何物也．禍福何為．對曰．二至二分．日有食之．不為災．日月之行也．分同道也．至相過也．其他月則為災．陽不克也．故常為水．於是叔輒哭日食．昭子曰．子叔將死．非所哭也．八月．叔輒卒．

冬．十月．華登以吳師救華氏．齊烏枝鳴戍宋．廚人濮曰．軍志有之．先人有奪人之心．後人有待其衰．盍及其勞．且未定也．伐諸．若入而固．則華氏眾矣．悔無及也．從之．丙寅．齊師．宋師．敗吳師于鴻口．獲其二帥．公子苦雂．偃州員．華登．帥其餘以敗宋師．公欲出．廚人濮曰．吾小人．可藉死而不能送亡．君請待之．乃徇曰．楊徽者．公徒也．眾從之．公自楊門見之．下而巡之．曰．國亡君死．二三子之恥也．豈專孤之罪也．齊烏枝鳴曰．用少莫如齊致死．齊致死莫如去備．彼多兵矣．請皆用劍．從之．華氏北．復即之．廚人濮以裳裹首而荷以走曰．得華登矣．遂敗華氏．于新里．翟僂新居于新里．既戰．說甲于公．而歸華姓居于公里．亦如之．十一月．癸未．公子城以晉師至．曹翰胡會晉荀吳．齊苑何忌．衛公子朝．救宋．丙戌．與華氏戰于赭丘．鄭翩願為鸛．其御願為鵝．子祿御公子城．莊堇為右．于犨御呂封人．華豹張匄為右．相遇．城還．華豹曰．城也．城怒．而反之．將注豹．則關矣．曰．平公之靈．尚輔相余．豹射出其間．將注．則又關矣．曰．不狎鄙．抽矢．城射之．殪．張匄抽殳而下．射之．折股．扶伏而擊之．折軫．又射之．死．干犨請一矢．城曰．余言汝於君．封曰．不死伍乘．軍之大刑也．干刑而從子．君焉用之．子速諸．乃射之．殪．大敗華氏．圍諸南里．華亥搏膺而呼．見華貙曰．吾為欒氏矣．貙曰．子無我迋．不幸而後亡．使華登如楚乞師．華貙以車十五乘．徒七十人．犯師而出．食於睢上．哭而送之．乃復入．楚薳越帥師．將逆華氏．大宰犯諫曰．諸侯唯宋事其君．今又爭國．釋君而臣是助．無乃不可乎．王曰．而告我也．後既許之矣．

蔡侯朱出奔楚．費無極取貨於東國．而謂蔡人曰．朱不用命於楚．君王將立東國．若不先從王欲．楚必圍蔡．蔡人懼．出朱而立東國．朱愬于楚．楚子將討蔡．無極曰．平侯與楚有盟．故封其子．有二心．故廢之．靈王殺隱大子．其子與君同惡．德君必甚．又使立之．不亦可乎．且廢置在君．蔡無他矣．

公如晉．及河鼓叛晉．晉將伐鮮虞．故辭公．

昭公二十二年

經

二十有二年春．齊侯伐莒．宋．華亥．向寧．華定．自宋南里出奔楚．大蒐于昌間．

夏．四月．乙丑．天王崩．六月．叔鞅如亰師葬景王．王室亂．劉子．單子．以王猛居于皇．

秋．劉子．單子．以王猛入于王城．

冬．十月．王子猛卒．

十有二月．癸酉．朔．日有食之．

傳

二十二年春．王二月．甲子．齊北郭啟帥師伐莒．莒子將戰．苑羊牧之諫曰．齊帥賤．其求不多．不如下之．大國不可怒也．弗聽．敗齊師于壽餘．齊侯伐莒．莒子行成．司馬灶如莒蒞盟．莒子如齊蒞盟．盟于稷門之外．莒於是乎大惡其君．

楚薳越使告于宋曰．寡君聞君有不令之臣．為君憂．無寧以為宗羞．寡君請受而戮之．對曰．孤不佞不能媚於父兄．以為君憂．拜命之辱．抑君臣曰戰．君曰．余必臣是助．亦唯命．人有言曰．唯亂門之無過．君若惠保敝邑．無亢不衷．以獎亂人．孤之望也．唯君圖之．楚人患之．諸侯之戍謀曰．若華氏知困而致死．楚恥無功而疾戰．非吾利也．不如出之．以為楚功．其亦能無為也．巳．救宋而除其害．又何求．乃固請出之．宋人從之．己巳．宋華亥．向寧．華定．華貙．華登．皇奄傷．省臧．士平．出奔楚．宋公使公孫忌為大司馬．邊卬為大司徒．樂祁為司馬．仲幾為左師．樂大心為右師．樂輓為大司寇．以靖國人．

王子朝．賓起．有寵於景王．王與賓孟說之．欲立之．劉獻公之庶子伯蚡事單穆公．惡賓孟之為人也．願殺之．又惡王子朝之言．以為亂．願去之．賓孟適郊．見雄雞自斷其尾．問之侍者曰．自憚其犧也．遽歸告王．且曰．雞其憚為人用乎．人異於是．犧者實用人．人犧實難．己犧何害．王弗應．夏．四月．王田北山．使公卿皆從．將殺單子．劉子．王有心疾．乙丑．崩于榮錡氏．戊辰．劉子摯卒．無子．單子立劉蚡．五月．庚辰．見王．遂攻賓起．殺之．盟群王子于單氏．

晉之取鼓也．既獻而反鼓子焉．又叛於鮮虞．六月．荀吳略東陽．使師偽糴者．負甲以息於昔陽之門外．遂襲鼓滅之．以鼓子鳶鞮歸．使涉佗守之．

丁巳葬景王王子朝因舊官百工之喪職秩者．與靈景之族以作亂．帥郊要餞之甲．以逐劉子．壬戌．劉子奔揚．單子逆悼王于莊宮．以歸．王子還．夜取王以如莊宮．癸亥．單子出．王子還與召莊公謀曰．不殺單旗．不捷．與之重盟．必來背盟．而克者多矣．從之．樊頃子曰．非言也．必不克．遂奉王以追單子．及領．大盟而復．殺摯荒以說．劉子如劉．單子亡．乙丑．奔于平畤．群王子追之．單子殺還．姑．發．弱．鬷．延．定．稠．子朝奔亰．丙寅．伐之．亰人奔山．劉子入于王城．辛未．鞏簡公敗績于亰．乙亥．甘平公亦敗焉．叔鞅至自亰師．言王室之亂也．閔馬父曰．子朝必不克．其所與者．天所廢也．單子欲告急於晉．秋．七月．戊寅．以王如平畤．遂如圃車．次于皇．劉子如劉．單子使王子處守于王城．盟百工于平宮．辛卯．鄩肸伐皇．大敗．獲鄩肸．壬辰．焚諸王城之市．八月．辛酉．司徒醜以王師敗績于前城．百工叛．己巳．伐單氏之宮．敗焉．庚午．反伐之．辛未．伐東圉．冬．十月．丁巳．晉籍談．荀躒．帥九州之戎．及焦瑕溫原之帥．以納王于王城．庚申．單子劉蚡以王師敗績于郊前．城人敗陸渾于社．十一月．乙酉．王子猛卒．不成喪也．己丑．敬王即位．館于子旅氏．

十二月．庚戌．晉籍談．荀躒．賈辛．司馬督．帥師軍于陰．于侯氏．于谿泉．次于社．王師軍于氾．于解．次于任人．閏月．晉箕遺．樂徵．右行詭．濟師．取前城．軍其東南．王師軍于亰楚．辛丑．伐亰．毀其西南．

昭公二十三年

經

二十有三年春．王正月．叔孫婼如晉．癸丑．叔鞅卒．晉人執我行人叔孫婼．晉人圍郊．

夏．六月．蔡侯東國卒于楚．

秋．七月．莒子庚輿來奔．戊辰．吳敗頓胡．沈．蔡．陳．許．之師于雞父．胡子髡．沈子逞．滅獲陳夏齧．天王居于狄．泉尹氏立王子朝．

八月．乙未．地震．

冬．公如晉．至河．有疾．乃復．

傳

二十三年春．王正月．壬寅．朔．二師圍郊．癸卯．郊鄩潰．丁未．晉師在平陰．王師在澤邑．王使告間．庚戌還．

邾人城翼．還．將自離姑．公孫鉏曰．魯將御我．欲自武城還．循山而南。徐鉏、丘弱、茅地，曰：道下遇雨．將不出．是不歸也．遂自離姑。武城人塞其前．斷其後之木而弗殊．邾師過之．乃推而蹙之．遂取邾師．獲鉏、弱、地，邾人愬于晉．晉人來討．叔孫婼如晉．晉人執之．書曰．晉人執我行人叔孫婼．言使人也．晉人使與邾大夫坐．叔孫曰．列國之卿．當小國之君．固周制也．邾又夷也．寡君之命介子服回在．請使當之．不敢廢周制故也．乃不果坐．韓宣子使邾人取其眾．將以叔孫與之．叔孫聞之．去眾與兵而朝．士彌牟謂韓宣子曰．子弗良圖．而以叔孫與其讎．叔孫必死之．魯亡叔孫．必亡邾．邾君亡國．將焉歸．子雖悔之．何及．所謂盟主．討違命也．若皆相執．焉用盟主．乃弗與．使各居一館．士伯聽其辭．而愬諸宣子．乃皆執之．士伯御叔孫．從者四人．過邾館以如吏．先歸邾子．士伯曰．以芻蕘之難．從者之病．將館子於都．叔孫旦而立．期焉．乃館諸箕．舍子服昭伯於他邑．范獻子求貨於叔孫．使請冠焉．取其冠法．而與之兩冠．曰．盡矣．為叔孫故．申豐以貨如晉．叔孫曰．見我．吾告女所行貨．見而不出．吏人之與叔孫居於箕者．請其吠狗．弗與．及將歸．殺而與之食之．叔孫所館者．雖一日．必葺其牆屋．去之如始至．

夏．四月．乙酉．單子取訾．劉子取牆人．直人．六月．壬午．王子朝入于尹．癸未．尹圉誘劉佗殺之．丙戌．單子從阪道．劉子從尹道．伐尹．單子先至而敗．劉子還．己丑．召伯奐．南宮極．以成周人戍尹．庚寅．單子．劉子．樊齊．以王如劉．甲午．王子朝入于王城．次于左巷．秋．七月．戊申．鄩羅納諸莊宮．尹辛敗劉師于唐．丙辰．又敗諸鄩．甲子．尹辛取西闈．丙寅．攻蒯．蒯潰．

莒子庚輿虐而好劍．苟鑄劍．必試諸人．國人患之．又將叛．齊烏存帥國人以逐之．庚輿將出．聞烏存執殳而立於道左．懼．將止死．苑羊牧之曰．君過之．烏存以力聞可矣．何必以弒君成名．遂來奔．齊人納郊公．

吳人伐州來．楚薳越帥師．及諸侯之師．奔命救州來．吳人禦諸鍾離．子瑕卒．楚師熸．吳公子光曰．諸侯從於楚者眾．而皆小國也．畏楚而不獲巳．是以來．吾聞之曰．作事威克其愛．雖小必濟．胡沈之君幼而狂．陳大夫齧壯而頑．頓與許蔡疾楚政．楚令尹死．其師熸．帥賤多寵．政令不壹．七國同役而不同心．帥賤而不能整．無大威命．楚可敗也．若分師先以犯胡沈與陳．必先奔．三國敗．諸侯之師乃搖心矣．諸侯乖亂．楚必大奔．請先者去備薄威．後者敦陳整旅．吳子從之．戊辰．晦．戰于雞父．吳子以罪人三千．先犯胡沈與陳．三國爭之．吳為三軍以繫於後．中軍從王．光帥右．掩餘帥左．吳罪之人．或奔或止．三國亂．吳師擊之．三國敗．獲胡沈之君．及陳大夫．舍胡沈之囚．使奔許與蔡頓．曰．吾君死矣．師譟而從之．三國奔．楚師大奔．書曰．胡子髡．沈子逞．滅．獲陳夏齧．君臣之辭也．不言戰．楚未陳也．

八月．丁酉．南宮極震．萇弘謂劉文公曰．君其勉之．先君之力可濟也．周之亡也．其三川震．今西王之大臣亦震．天棄之矣．東王必大克．

楚大子建之母在．召吳人而啟之．冬．十月．甲申．吳大子諸樊入．取楚夫人．與其寶器以歸．楚司馬薳越追之．不及．將死．眾曰．請遂伐吳以徼之．薳越曰．再敗君師．死且有罪．亡君夫人．不可以莫之死也．乃縊於薳澨．

公為叔孫故如晉．及河．有疾而復．

楚囊瓦為令尹．城郢．沈尹戌曰．子常必亡郢．苟不能衛．城無益也．古者天子守在四夷．天子卑．守在諸侯．諸侯守在四鄰．諸侯卑．守在四竟．慎其四竟．結其四援．民狎其野．三務成功．民無内憂．而又無外懼．國焉用城．今吳是懼．而城於郢．守巳小矣．卑之不獲．能無亡乎．昔梁伯溝其公宮而民潰．民棄其上．不亡何待．夫正其疆埸．脩其土田．險其走集．親其民人．明其伍候．信其鄰國．慎其官守．守其交禮．不僭不貪．不懦不耆．完其守備．以待不虞．又何畏矣．詩曰．無念爾祖．聿脩厥德．無亦監乎．若敖蚡冒．至于武文．土不過同．慎其四竟．猶不城郢．今土數圻而郢是城．不亦難乎．

昭公二十四年

經

二十四年春．王三月．丙戌．仲孫貜卒．婼至自晉．

夏．五月．乙未．朔．日有食之．

秋．八月．大雩．丁酉．杞伯郁釐卒．

冬．吳滅巢．葬杞平公．

傳

二十四年春．王正月．辛丑．召簡公．南宮嚚．以甘桓公見王子朝．劉子謂萇弘曰．甘氏又往矣．對曰．何害．同德度義．大誓曰．紂有億兆夷人．亦有離德．余有亂臣十人．同心同德．此周所以興也．君其務德．無患無人．戊午．王子朝入于鄔．

晉士彌牟逆叔孫于箕．叔孫使梁其脛待于門内．曰．余左顧而欬．乃殺之．右顧而笑．乃止．叔孫見士伯．士伯曰．寡君以為盟主之故．是以久子．不腆敝邑之禮．將致諸從者．使彌牟逆吾子．叔孫受禮而歸．二月．婼至自晉．尊晉也．

三月．庚戌．晉侯使士景伯蒞問周故．士伯立于乾祭．而問於介眾．晉人乃辭王子朝．不納其使．

夏．五月．乙未．朔．日有食之．梓慎曰．將水．昭子曰．旱也．日過分．無陽猶不克．克必甚．能無旱乎．陽不克莫．將積聚也．

六月．壬申．王子朝之師．攻瑕及杏．皆潰．鄭伯如晉．子大叔相．見范獻子．獻子曰．若王室何．對曰．老夫其國家不能恤．敢及王室．抑人亦有言曰．嫠不恤其緯．而憂宗周之隕．為將及焉．今王室實蠢蠢焉．吾小國懼矣．然大國之憂也．吾儕何知焉．吾子其早圖之．詩曰．缾之罄矣．惟罍之恥．王室之不寧．晉之恥也．獻子懼．而與宣子圖之．乃徵會於諸侯．期以明年．

秋．八月．大雩．旱也．

冬．十月．癸酉．王子朝用成周之寶珪于河．甲戌．津人得諸河上．陰不佞以溫人南侵．拘得玉者．取其玉．將賣之．則為石．王定而獻之．與之東訾．

楚子為舟師．以略吳疆．沈尹戌曰．此行也．楚必亡邑．不撫民而勞之．吳不動而速之．吳踵楚．而疆埸無備．邑能無亡乎．越大夫胥犴勞王於豫章之汭．越公子倉歸王乘舟．倉及壽夢帥師從王．王及圉陽而還．吳人踵楚．而邊人不備．遂滅巢及鍾離而還．沈尹戌曰．亡郢之始．於此在矣．王壹動而亡二姓之帥．幾如是而不及郢．詩曰．誰生厲階．至今為梗．其王之謂乎．

昭公二十五年

經

二十有五年春．叔孫婼如宋．

夏．叔詣會晉趙鞅．宋樂大心．衛北宮喜．鄭游吉．曹人．邾人．滕人．薛人．小邾人．于黃父．有鴝鵒來巢．

秋．七月．上辛．大雩．季辛．又雩．

九月．巳月己亥．公孫于齊．次于陽州．齊侯唁公于野井．

冬．十月．戊辰．叔孫婼卒．

十有一月．己亥．宋公佐卒于曲棘．

十有二月．齊侯取鄆．

傳

二十五年春．叔孫婼聘于宋．桐門右師見之．語卑宋大夫．而賤司城氏．昭子告其人曰．右師其亡乎．君子貴其身．而後能及人．是以有禮．今夫子卑其大夫．而賤其宗．是賤其身也．能有禮乎．無禮必亡．宋公享昭子．賦新宮．昭子賦車轄．明日宴．飲酒樂．宋公使昭子右坐．語相泣也．樂祁佐退而告人曰．今茲君與叔孫．其皆死乎．吾聞之．哀樂而樂哀．皆喪心也．心之精爽．是謂魂魄．魂魄去之．何以能久．

季公若之姊為小邾夫人．生宋元夫人．生子．以妻季平子．昭子如宋聘．且逆之．公若從．謂曹氏勿與．魯將逐之．曹氏告公．公告樂祁．樂祁曰．與之如是．魯君必出．政在季氏三世矣．魯君喪政四公矣．無民而能逞其志者．未之有也．國君是以鎮撫其民．詩曰．人之云亡．心之憂矣．魯君失民焉．焉得逞其志．靖以待命猶可．動必憂．

夏．會于黃父．謀王室也．趙簡子令諸侯之大夫輸王粟．具戌人．曰．明年將納王．子大叔見趙簡子．簡子問揖讓周旋之禮焉．對曰．是儀也．非禮也．簡子曰．敢問何謂禮．對曰．吉也聞諸先大夫子產曰．夫禮．天之經也．地之義也．民之行也．天地之經．而民實則之．則天之明．因地之性．生其六气．用其五行．气為五味．發為五色．章為五聲．淫則昏亂．民失其性．是故為禮以奉之．為六畜．五牲．三犧．以奉五味．為九文．六采．五章．以奉五色．為九謌．八風．七音．六律．以奉五聲．為君臣上下．以則地義．為夫婦外内．以經二物．為父子．兄弟．姑姊．甥舅．昏媾．姻亞．以象天明．為政事．庸力行務．以從四時．為刑罰．威獄．使民畏忌．以類其震曜殺戮．為溫．慈．惠．和．以效天之生殖．長育．民有好惡喜怒哀樂．生于六气．是故審則宜類．以制六志．哀有哭泣．樂有謌舞．喜有施舍．怒有戰鬥．喜生於好．怒生於惡．是故審行信令．禍福賞罰．以制死生．生．好物也．死．惡物也．好物樂也．惡物哀也．哀樂不失．乃能協于天地之性．是以長久．簡子曰．甚哉禮之大也．對曰．禮上下之紀．天地之經緯也．民之所以生也．是以先王尚之．故人之能自曲直以赴禮者．謂之成人．大不亦宜乎．簡子曰．鞅也．請終身守此言也．

宋樂大心曰．我不輸粟．我於周為客．若之何使客．晉士伯曰．自踐土以來．宋何役之不會．而何盟之不同．曰．同恤王室．子焉得辟之．子奉君命以會大事．而宋背盟．無乃不可乎．右師不敢對．受牒而退．士伯告簡子曰．宋右師必亡．奉君命以使．而欲背盟以干盟主．無不祥大焉．有鴝鵒來巢．書所無也．師己曰．異哉．吾聞文武之世．童謠有之曰．鴝之鵒之．公出辱之．鴝鵒之羽．公在外野．往饋之馬．鴝鵒跦跦．公在乾侯．徵褰與襦．鴝鵒之巢．遠哉遙遙．稠父喪勞．宋父以驕．鴝鵒鴝鵒．往謌來哭．童謠有是．今鴝鵒來巢．其將及乎．

秋．書再雩．旱甚也．

初．季公鳥娶妻於齊．鮑文子．生甲．公鳥死．季公亥．與公思展．與公鳥之臣申夜姑．相其室．及季姒與饔人檀通．而懼．乃使其妾抶己．以示秦遄之妻．曰．公若欲使余．余不可而抶余．又訴於公甫．曰．展與夜姑將要余．秦姬以告公之．公之與公甫告平子．平子拘展於卞．而執夜姑．將殺之．公若泣而哀之．曰．殺是．是殺余也．將為之請．平子使豎勿内．日中不得請．有司逆命．公之使速殺之．故公若怨平子．季郈之雞鬥．季氏介其雞．郈氏為之金距．平子怒．益宮於郈氏．且讓之．故郈昭伯亦怨平子．臧昭伯之從弟會．為讒於臧氏．而逃於季氏．臧氏執旃．平子怒．拘臧氏老．將褅於襄公．萬者二人．其眾萬於季氏．臧孫曰．此之謂不能庸先君之廟．大夫遂怨平子．公若獻弓於公為．且與之出射於外．而謀去季氏．公為告公果．公賁．公果．公賁．使侍人僚柤告公．公寢．將以戈擊之．乃走．公曰．執之．亦無命也．懼而不出．數月不見．公不怒．又使言．公執戈以懼之．乃走．又使言．公曰．非小人之所及也．公果自言．公以告臧孫．臧孫以難．告郈孫．郈孫以可勸．告子家懿伯．懿伯曰．讒人以君徼幸．事若不克．君受其名．不可為也．舍民數世以求克．事不可必也．且政在焉．其難圖也．公退之．辭曰．臣與聞命矣．言若洩．臣不獲死．乃館於公．叔孫昭子如闞．公居於長府．九月．戊戌．伐季氏．殺公之于門．遂入之．平子登臺而請．曰．君不察臣之罪．使有司討臣以干戈．臣請待於沂上以察罪弗許．請囚于費．弗許．請以五乘亡．弗許．子家子曰．君其許之．政自之出久矣．隱民多取食焉．為之徒者眾矣．日入慝作．弗可知也．眾怒不可蓄也．蓄而弗治．將薀．薀蓄民將生心．生心同求將合．君必悔之．弗聽．郈孫曰．必殺之．公使郈孫逆孟懿子．叔孫氏之司馬鬷戾．言於其眾．曰．若之何．莫對．又曰．我家臣也．不敢知國．凡有季氏與無於我孰利．皆曰．無季氏．是無叔孫氏也．鬷戾曰．然則救諸．帥徒以往．陷西北隅以入．公徒釋甲．執冰而踞．遂逐之．孟氏使登西北隅．以望季氏．見叔孫氏之旌．以告．孟氏執郈昭伯．殺之于南門之西．遂伐公徒．子家子曰．諸臣偽劫君者．而負罪以出．君止．意如之事君也．不敢不改．公曰．余不忍也．與臧孫如墓謀．遂行．己亥．公孫于齊．次于陽州．齊侯將唁公于平陰．公先至于野井．齊侯曰．寡人之罪也．使有司待於平陰．為近故也．書曰．公孫于齊次于陽州．齊侯唁公于野井．禮也．將求於人．則先下之．禮之善物也．齊侯曰．自莒疆以西．請致千社．以待君命．寡人將帥敝賦．以從執事．唯命是聽．君之憂．寡人之憂也．公喜．子家子曰．天祿不再．天若胙君．不過周公．以魯足矣．失魯而以千社為臣．誰與之立．且齊君無信．不如早之．晉弗從．臧昭伯率從者將盟．載書曰．戮力壹心．好惡同之．信罪之有無．繾綣從公．無通外内．以公命示子家子．子家子曰．如此．吾不可以盟羈也．不佞．不能與二三子同心．而以為皆有罪．或欲通外内．且欲去君．二三子好亡而惡定．焉可同也．陷君於難．罪孰大焉．通外内而去君．君將速入．弗通何為．而何守焉．乃不與盟．昭子自闞歸．見平子．平子稽顙曰．子若我何．昭子曰．人誰不死．子以逐君成名．子孫不忘．不亦傷乎．將若子何．平子曰．苟使意如得改事君．所謂生死而肉骨也．昭子從公于齊．與公言．子家子命適公館者執之．公與昭子言於幄内．曰．將安眾而納公．公徒將殺昭子．伏諸道．左師展告公．公使昭子自鑄歸．平子有異志．冬．十月．辛酉．昭子齊於其寢．使祝宗祈死．戊辰．卒．左師展將以公乘馬而歸．公徒執之．

壬申．尹文公涉于鞏．焚東訾．弗克．

十一月．宋公元公將為公故如晉．夢大子欒即位於廟．已與平公．服而相之．旦召六卿．公曰．寡人不佞．不能事父兄．以為二三子憂．寡人之罪也．若以群子之靈．獲保首領以歿．唯是楄柎所以藉幹者．請無及先君．仲幾對曰．君若以社稷之故．私降昵宴．群臣弗敢知．若夫宋國之法．死生之度．先君有命矣．群臣以死守之．弗敢失隊．臣之失職．常刑不赦．臣不忍其死．君命祗辱．宋公遂行．己亥．卒于曲棘．

十二月．庚辰．齊侯圍鄆．

初．臧昭伯如晉．臧會竊其寶龜僂句．以卜為信與僭．僭吉．臧氏老將如晉問．會請往．昭伯問家故．盡對．及内子與母弟叔孫．則不對．再三問．不對．歸．及郊．會逆．問．又如初．至．次於外而察之．皆無之．執而戮之．逸奔郈．郈魴假使為賈正焉．計於季氏．臧氏使五人．以戈楯伏諸桐汝之閭．會出逐之．反奔．執諸季氏中門之外．平子怒曰．何故以兵入吾門．拘臧氏老．季臧有惡．及昭伯從公．平子立臧會．會曰．僂句不余欺也．

楚子使薳射城州屈．復茄人焉．城丘皇．遷訾人焉．使熊相禖郭巢．季然郭卷．子大叔聞之．曰．楚王將死矣．使民不安其土．民必憂．憂將及王．弗能久矣．

昭公二十六年

經

二十有六年春．王正月．葬宋元公．

三月．公至自齊．居于鄆．

夏．公圍成．

秋．公會齊侯．莒子．邾子．杞伯．盟于鄟陵．公至自會．居于鄆．

九月．庚申．楚子居卒．

冬．十月．天王入于成周．尹氏．召伯．毛伯．以王子朝奔楚．

傳

二十六年春．王正月．庚申．齊侯取鄆．葬宋元公．如先君．禮也．

三月．公至自齊．處于鄆．言魯地也．

夏．齊侯將納公．命無受魯貨．申豐從女賈．以幣錦二兩．縛一如瑱．適齊師．謂子猶之人高齮．能貨子猶．為高氏後．粟五千庾．高齮以錦示子猶．子猶欲之．齮曰．魯人買之．百兩一布．以道之不通．先入幣財．子猶受之．言於齊侯曰．群臣不盡力于魯君者．非不能事君也．然據有異焉．宋元公為魯君如晉．卒於曲棘．叔孫昭子求納其君．無疾而死．不知天之棄魯耶．抑魯君有罪於鬼神．故及此也．君若待于曲棘．使群臣從魯君以卜焉．若可．師有濟也．君而繼之．茲無敵矣．若其無成．君無辱焉．齊侯從之．使公子鉏帥師從公成大夫．公孫朝謂平子曰．有都以衛國也．請我受師．許之．請納質．弗許．曰．信女足矣．告於齊師曰．孟氏．魯之敝室也．用成已甚．弗能忍也．請息肩于齊．齊師圍成．成人伐齊師之飲馬于淄者．曰．將以厭眾．魯成備而後告．曰．不勝眾．師及齊師戰于炊鼻．齊子淵捷從洩聲子．射之中楯瓦．繇朐汏．輈匕入者三寸．聲子射其馬．斬鞅．殪．改駕人以為鬷戾也．而助之．子車曰．齊人也．將擊子車．子車射之．殪．其御曰．又之．子車曰．眾可懼也．而不可怒也．子囊帶從野洩．叱之．洩曰．軍無私怒．報乃私也．將亢子．又叱之．亦叱之．冉豎射陳武子．中手．失弓而罵．以告平子曰．有君子白皙．鬒鬚眉．甚口．平子曰．必子彊也．無乃亢諸．對曰．謂之君子．何敢亢之．林雍羞為顏鳴右．下．苑何忌取其耳．顏鳴去之．苑子之御曰．視下顧．苑子刜林雍．斷其足．鑋而乘於他車以歸．顏鳴三入齊師．呼曰．林雍乘．

四月．單子如晉告急．

五月．戊午．劉人敗王城之師于尸氏．戊辰．王城人．劉人．戰于施谷．劉師敗績．

秋．盟于剸陵．謀納公也．

七月．己巳．劉子以王出．庚午．次于渠．王城人焚劉．丙子．王宿于褚氏．丁丑．王次于萑谷．庚辰．王入于胥靡．辛巳．王次于滑．晉知躒．趙鞅．帥師納王．使汝寬守關塞．

九月．楚平王卒．令尹子常欲立子西．曰．大子壬弱．其母非適也．王子建實聘之．子西長而好善．立長則順．建善則治．王順國治．可不務乎．子西怒曰．是亂國而惡君王也．國有外援．不可瀆也．王有適嗣．不可亂也．敗親速讎亂嗣不祥．我受其名．賂吾以天下．吾滋不從也．楚國何為．必殺令尹．令尹懼．乃立昭王．

冬．十月．丙申．王起師于滑．辛丑．在郊．遂次于尸．

十一月．辛酉．晉師克鞏．召伯盈逐王子朝．王子朝及召氏之族．毛氏得．尹氏固．南宮嚚．奉周之典籍．以奔楚．陰忌奔莒以叛．召伯逆王于尸．及劉子單子盟．遂軍圉澤．次于隄上．癸酉．王入于成周．甲戌．盟于襄宮．晉師成公般戍周而還．

十二月．癸未．王入于莊宮．王子朝使告于諸侯曰．昔武王克殷．成王靖四方．康王息民．並建母弟．以蕃屏周．亦曰．吾無專享文武之功．且為後人之迷敗傾覆．而溺入于難．則振救之．至于夷王．王愆于厥身．諸侯莫不並走其望．以祈王身．至于厲王．王心戾虐．萬民弗忍．居王于彘．諸侯釋位．以間王政．宣王有志．而後效官．至于幽王．天不弔周．王昏不若．用愆厥位．攜王奸命．諸侯替之．而建王嗣．用遷郟鄏．則是兄弟之能用力於王室也．至于惠王．天不靖周．生頹禍心．施于叔帶．惠襄辟難．越去王都．則有晉鄭．咸黜不端．以綏定王家．則是兄弟之能率先王之命也．在定王六年．秦人降妖．曰．周其有髭王．亦克能脩其職．諸侯服享．二世共職．王室其有間王位．諸侯不圖．而受其亂災．至于靈王．生而有髭．王甚神聖．無惡於諸侯．靈王景王．克終其世．今王室亂．單旗．劉狄．剝亂天下．壹行不若．謂先王何常之有．唯余心所命．其誰敢請之．帥群不弔之人．以行亂于王室．侵欲無厭．規求無度．貫瀆鬼神．慢棄刑法．倍奸齊盟．傲很威儀．矯誣先王．晉為不道．是攝是贊．思肆其罔極．茲不穀震盪播越．竄在荊蠻．未有攸厎．若我一二兄弟甥舅．獎順天法．無助狡猾．以從先王之命．毋速天罰．赦圖不穀．則所願也．敢盡布其腹心．及先王之經．而諸侯實深圖之．昔先王之命曰．王后無適．則擇立長．年鈞以德．德鈞以卜．王不立愛．公卿無私．古之制也．穆后及大子壽．早天即世．單劉贊私立少．以間先王．亦唯伯仲叔季圖之．閔馬父聞子朝之辭曰．文辭以行禮也．子朝干景之命．遠晉之大．以專其志．無禮甚矣．文辭何為．齊有彗星．齊侯使禳之．晏子曰．無益也．祇取誣焉．天道不諂不貳．其命若之何．禳之．且天之有彗也．以除穢也．君無穢德．又何禳焉．若德之穢．禳之何損．詩曰．惟此文王．小心翼翼．昭事上帝．聿懷多福．厥德不回．以受方國．君無違德．方國將至．何患於彗．詩曰．我無所監．夏后及商．用亂之故．民卒流亡．若德回亂．民將流亡．祝史之為．無能補也．公說．乃止．齊侯與晏子坐于路寢．公歎曰．美哉室．其誰有此乎．晏子曰．敢問何謂也．公曰．吾以為在德．對曰．如君之言．其陳氏乎．陳氏雖無大德．而有施於民．豆區釜鍾之數．其取之公也薄．其施之民也厚．公厚斂焉．陳氏厚施焉．民歸之矣．詩曰．雖無德與女．式謌且舞．陳氏之施．民謌舞之矣．後世若少惰陳氏而不亡．則國其國也已．公曰．善哉．是可若何．對曰．唯禮可以已之．在禮家施不及國．民不遷晨．不移工．賈不變士．不濫官．不滔大夫．不收公利．公曰．善哉．我不能矣．吾今而後知禮之可以為國也．對曰．禮之可以為國也久矣．與天地並．君令臣共．父慈子孝．兄愛弟敬．夫和妻柔．姑慈婦聽．禮也．君令而不違．臣共而不貳．父慈而教．子孝而箴．兄愛而友．弟敬而順．夫和而義．妻柔而正．姑慈而從．婦聽而婉．禮之善物也．公曰善哉．寡人今而後聞此．禮之上也．對曰．先王所稟於天地．以為其民也．是以先王上之．

昭公二十七年

經

二十有七年春．公如齊．公至自齊．居于鄆．

夏．四月．吳弒其君僚．楚殺其大夫郤宛．

秋．晉士鞅．宋樂祁犁．衛北宮喜．曹人．邾人．滕人．會于扈．

冬．十月．曹伯午卒．邾快來奔．公如齊．公至自齊．居于鄆．

傳

二十七年春．公如齊．公至自齊．處于鄆．言在外也．吳子欲因楚喪而伐之．使公子掩餘．公子燭庸．帥師圍潛．使延州來季子聘于上國．遂聘于晉．以觀諸侯．楚莠尹然．工尹麇．帥師救潛．左司馬沈尹戌．帥都君子與王馬之屬．以濟師．與吳師遇于窮．令尹子常以舟師及沙汭而還．左尹郤宛．工尹壽．帥師至于潛．吳師不能退．吳公子光曰．此時也．弗可失也．告鱄設諸曰．上國有言曰．不索何獲．我王嗣也．吾欲求之．事若克．季子雖至．不吾廢也．鱄設諸曰．王可弒也．母老子弱．是無若我何．光曰．我爾身也．

夏．四月．光伏甲於堀室而享王．王使甲坐於道．及其門．門階戶席．皆王親也．夾之以鈹．羞者獻體改服於門外．執羞者坐行而入．執鈹者夾承之．及體以相授也．光偽足疾．入于堀室．鱄設諸寘劍於魚中以進．抽劍刺王．鈹交於胸．遂弒王．闔廬以其子為卿．季子至曰．苟先君無廢祀．民人無廢主．社稷有奉．國家無傾．乃吾君也．吾誰敢怨．哀死事生．以待天命．非我生亂．立者從之．先人之道也．復命哭墓．復位而待．吳公子掩餘奔徐．公子燭庸奔鍾吾．楚師聞吳亂而還．郤宛直而和．國人說之．鄢將師為右領．與費無極比而惡之．令尹子常賄而信讒．無極譖郤宛焉．謂子常曰．子惡欲飲子酒．又謂子惡．令尹欲飲酒於子氏．子惡曰．我賤人也．不足以辱令尹．令尹將必來辱．為惠巳甚．吾無以酬之．若何．無極曰．令尹好甲兵．子出之．吾擇焉．取五甲五兵．曰．寘諸門．令尹至．必觀之．而從以酬之．及饗日．帷諸門左．無極謂令尹曰．吾幾禍子．子惡將為子不利．甲在門矣．子必無往．且此役也．吳可以得志．子惡取賂焉而還．又誤群帥．使退其師．曰．乘亂不祥．吳乘我喪．我乘其亂．不亦可乎．令尹使視郤氏．則有甲焉．不往．召鄢將師而告之．將師退．遂令攻郤氏．且爇之．子惡聞之．遂自殺也．國人弗爇．令曰．不爇郤氏．與之同罪．或取一編菅焉．或取一秉稈焉．國人投之．遂弗爇也．令尹炮之．盡滅郤氏之族黨．殺陽令終．與其弟完．及佗．與晉．陳．及其子弟．晉陳之族．呼於國曰．鄢氏費氏．自以為王．專禍楚國．弱寡王室．蒙王與令尹．以自利也．令尹盡信之矣．國將如何．令尹病之．

秋．會于扈．令成周．且謀納公也．宋衛皆利納公．固請之．范獻子取貨於季孫．謂司城子梁與北宮貞子曰．季孫未知其罪．而君伐之．請囚請亡．於是乎不獲．君又弗克．而自出也．夫豈無備而能出君乎．季氏之復．天救之也．休公徒之怒．而啟叔孫氏之心．不然．豈其伐人而說甲執冰以游．叔孫氏懼禍之濫．而自同於季氏．天之道也．魯君守齊．三年而無成．季氏甚得其民．淮夷與之．有十年之備．有齊楚之援．有天之贊．有民之助．有堅守之心．有列國之權．而弗敢宣也．事君如在國．故鞅以為難．二子皆圖國者也．而欲納魯君．鞅之願也．請從二子以圍魯．無成．死之．二子懼．皆辭．乃辭小國．而以難復．孟懿子陽虎伐鄆．鄆人將戰．子家子曰．天命不慆久矣．使君亡者．必此眾也．天既禍之．而自福也．不亦難乎．猶有鬼神．此必敗也．嗚呼．為無望也夫．其死於此乎．公使子家子如晉．公徒敗于且知．楚郤宛之難．國言未已．進胙者莫不謗令尹．沈尹戌言於子常曰．夫左尹與中廄尹．莫知其罪．而子殺之．以興謗讟．至于今不已．戌也惑之．仁者殺人以掩謗．猶弗為也．今吾子殺人以興謗．而弗圖．不亦異乎．夫無極．楚之讒人也．民莫不知．去朝吳．出蔡侯宋．喪太子建．殺連尹奢．屏王之耳目．使不聰明．不然．平王之溫惠共儉．有過成莊．無不及焉．所以不獲諸侯．邇無及也．今又殺三不辜．以興大謗．幾及子矣．子而不圖．將焉用之．夫鄢將師矯子之命．以滅三族．國之良也．而不愆位．吳新有君．疆埸日駭．楚國若有大事．子其危哉．知者除讒以自安也．今子愛讒以自危也．甚矣其惑也．子常曰．是瓦之罪．敢不良圖．

九月．己未．子常殺費無極與鄢將師．盡滅其族．以說于國．謗言乃止．冬．公如齊．齊侯請饗之子家子曰．朝夕立於其朝．又何饗焉．其飲酒也．乃飲酒．使宰獻而請安．子仲之子曰重．為齊侯夫人．曰．請使重見．子家子乃以君出．

十二月．晉籍秦致諸侯之戍于周．魯人辭以難．

昭公二十八年

經

二十有八年春．王三月．葬曹悼公．公如晉．次于乾侯．

夏．四月．丙戌．鄭伯寧卒．

六月．葬鄭定公．

秋．七月．癸巳．滕子寧卒．冬．葬滕悼公．

傳

二十八年春．公如晉．將如乾侯．子家子曰．有求於人．而即其安．人孰矜之．其造於竟．弗聽．使請逆於晉．晉人曰．天禍魯國．君淹恤在外．君亦不使一個．辱在寡人．而即安於甥舅．其亦使逆君．使公復于竟而後逆之．晉祁勝與鄔臧通室．祁盈將執之．訪於司馬叔游．叔游曰．鄭書有之．惡直醜正．實蕃有徒．無道立矣．子懼不免．詩曰．民之多辟．無自立辟．姑已若何．盈曰．祁氏私有討．國何有焉．遂執之．祁勝賂荀躒．荀躒為之言於晉侯．晉侯執祁盈．祁盈之臣曰．鈞將皆死．憖使吾君聞勝與臧之死也以為快．乃殺之．

夏．六月．晉殺祁盈及楊食我．食我．祁盈之黨也．而助亂．故殺之．遂滅祁氏．羊舌氏．初．叔向欲娶於申公巫臣氏．其母欲娶其黨．叔向曰．吾母多而庶鮮．吾懲舅氏矣．其母曰．子靈之妻．殺三夫．一君．一子．而亡一國．兩卿矣．可無懲乎．吾聞之．甚美必有甚惡．是鄭穆少妃．姚子之子．子貉之妹也．子貉早死無後．而天鍾美於是．將必以是．大有敗也．昔有仍氏生女．黰黑．而甚美．光可以鑑．名曰玄妻．樂正后夔取之．生伯封．實有豕心．貪惏無饜．忿纇無期．謂之封豕．有窮后羿滅之．夔是以不祀．且三代之亡．共子之廢．皆是物也．女何以為哉．夫有尤物．足以移人．苟非德義．則必有禍．叔向懼．不敢取．平公強使取之．生伯石．伯石始生．子容之母走謁諸姑．曰．長叔姒生男．姑視之．及堂．聞其聲而還．曰．是豺狼之聲也．狼子野心．非是．莫喪羊舌氏矣．遂弗視．

秋．晉韓宣子卒．魏獻子為政．分祁氏之田．以為七縣．分羊舌氏之田．以為三縣．司馬彌牟為鄔大夫．賈辛為祁大夫．司馬烏為平陵大夫．魏戊為梗陽大夫．知徐吾為塗水大夫．韓固為馬首大夫．孟丙為盂大夫．樂霄為銅鞮大夫．趙朝為平陽大夫．僚安為楊氏大夫．謂賈辛．司馬烏．為有力於王室．故舉之．謂知徐吾．趙朝．韓固．魏戊．餘子之不失職．能守業者也．其四人者．皆受縣而後見於魏子．以賢舉也．魏子謂成鱄．吾與戊也縣．人其以我為黨乎．對曰．何也．戊之為人也．遠不忘君．近不偪同．居利思義．在約思純．有守心而無淫行．雖與之縣不亦可乎．昔武王克商．光有天下．其兄弟之國者．十有五人．姬姓之國者．四十人．皆舉親也．夫舉無他．唯善所在．親疏一也．詩曰．唯此文王．帝度其心．莫其德音．其德克明．克明克類．克長克君．王此大國．克順克比．比于文王．其德靡悔．既受帝祉．施于孫子．心能制義曰度．德正應和曰莫．照臨四方曰明．勤施無私曰類．教誨不倦曰長．賞慶刑威曰君．慈和遍服曰順．擇善而從之曰比．經緯天地曰文．九德不愆．作事無悔．故襲天祿．子孫賴之．主之舉也．近文德矣．所及其遠哉．賈辛將適其縣．見於魏子．魏子曰．辛來．昔叔向適鄭．鬷蔑惡欲觀叔向．從使之收器者．而往立於堂下．一言而善．叔向將飲酒．聞之曰．必鬷明也．下執其手．以上曰．昔賈大夫惡．娶妻而美．三年不言不笑．御以如皋．射雉獲之．其妻始笑而言．賈大夫曰．才之不可以已．我不能射．女遂不言不笑夫．今子少不颺．子若無言．吾幾失子矣．言不可以已也如是．遂如故知．今女有力於王室．吾是以舉女．行乎敬之哉．毋墮乃力．仲尼聞魏子之舉也．以為義．曰．近不失親．遠不失舉．可謂義矣．又聞其命賈辛也．以為忠．詩曰．永言配命．自求多福．忠也．魏子之舉也．義其命也．忠其長有後於晉國乎．

冬．梗陽人有獄．魏戊不能斷．以獄上其大宗．賂以女樂．魏子將受之．魏戊謂閻沒女寬曰．主以不賄．聞於諸侯．若受梗陽．人賄莫甚焉．吾子必諫．皆許諾．退朝待於庭．饋入召之．比置三歎．既食使坐．魏子曰．吾聞諸伯叔諺曰．唯食忘憂．吾子置食之間．三歎何也．同辭而對曰．或賜二小人酒．不夕食．饋之始至．恐其不足．是以歎．中置自咎曰．豈將軍食之．而有不足．是以再歎．及饋之畢．願以小人之腹．為君子之心．屬厭而已．獻子辭梗陽人．

昭公二十九年

經

二十有九年春，公至自乾侯，居于鄆，齊侯使高張來唁公。公如晉，次于乾侯。

夏四月，庚子，叔詣卒。

秋七月。

冬十月，鄆潰。

傳

二十九年春，公至自乾侯，處于鄆。齊侯使高張來唁公，稱主君。子家子曰：「齊卑君矣，君祇辱焉。」公如乾侯。

三月己卯，亰師殺召伯盈，尹氏固及原伯魯之子。尹固之復也，有婦人遇之周郊，尤之，曰：「處則勸人為禍，行則數日而反，是夫也，其過三歲乎？」

夏五月庚寅，王子趙車入于鄻以叛，陰不佞敗之。平子每歲賈馬，具從者之衣屨，而歸之于乾侯。公執歸馬者，賣之，乃不歸馬。衛侯來獻其乘馬曰啟服，塹而死，公將為之櫝。子家子曰：「從者病矣，請以食之。」乃以幃裹之。

公賜公衍羔裘，使獻龍輔於齊侯，遂入羔裘。齊侯喜，與之陽穀。公衍、公為之生也，其母偕出。公衍先生，公為之母曰：「相與偕出，請相與偕告。」三日，公為生。其母先以告，公為為兄。公私喜於陽穀，而思於魯，曰：「務人為此禍也。且後生而為兄，其誣也久矣。」乃黜之，而以公衍為大子。

秋，龍見于絳郊。

魏獻子問於蔡墨曰：「吾聞之，蟲莫知於龍，以其不生得也。謂之知，信乎？」

對曰：「人實不知，非龍實知。古者畜龍，故國有豢龍氏，有御龍氏。」

獻子曰：「是二氏者，吾亦聞之，而（不）知其故，是何謂也？」

對曰：「昔有飂叔安，有裔子曰董父，實甚好龍，能求其耆欲以飲食之，龍多歸之。乃擾畜龍，以服事帝舜。帝賜之姓曰董，氏曰豢龍。封諸鬷川，鬷夷氏其後也。故帝舜氏世有畜龍。及有夏孔甲，擾于有帝。帝賜之乘龍，河、漢各二，各有雌雄，孔甲不能食，而未獲豢龍氏。有陶唐氏既衰，其後有劉累，學擾龍于豢龍氏，以事孔甲，能飲食之。夏后嘉之，賜氏曰御龍，以更豕韋之後。龍一雌死，潛醢以食夏后。夏后饗之，既而使求之。懼而遷于魯縣，范氏其後也。」

獻子曰：「今何故無之？」

對曰：「夫物，物有其官，官脩其方，朝夕思之。一日失職，則死及之。失官不食。官宿其業，其物乃至。若泯棄之，物乃坻伏，鬱湮不育。故有五行之官，是謂五官。實列受氏姓，封為上公，祀為貴神。社稷五祀，是尊是奉。木正曰句芒，火正曰祝融，金正曰蓐收，水正曰玄冥。土正曰后土。龍，水物也。水官棄矣，故龍不生得。不然，《周易》有之，在《乾》之《姤》，曰：『潛龍勿用。』其《同人》曰：『見龍在田。』其《大有》曰：『飛龍在天。』其《夬》曰：『亢龍有悔。』其《坤》曰：「見群龍無首，吉。』《坤》之《剝》曰：『龍戰于野。』若不朝夕見，誰能物之？」

獻子曰：「社稷五祀，誰氏之五官也？」

對曰：「少皞氏有四叔：曰重、曰該、曰脩、曰熙，實能金、木及水。使重為句芒，該為蓐收，脩及熙為玄冥，世不失職，遂濟窮桑，此其三祀也。顓頊氏有子曰犁，為祝融；共工氏有子曰句龍，為后土，此其二祀也。后土為社；稷，田正也。有烈山氏之子曰柱為稷，自夏以上祀之。周棄亦為稷，自商以來祀之。」

冬，晉趙鞅、荀寅帥師城汝濱，遂賦晉國一鼓鐵，以鑄刑鼎，著范宣子所謂刑書焉。

仲尼曰：「晉其亡乎！失其度矣。夫晉國將守唐叔之所受法度，以經緯其民，卿大夫以序守之。民是以能尊其貴，貴是以能守其業。貴賤不愆，所謂度也。文公是以作執秩之官，為被廬之法，以為盟主。今棄是度也，而為刑鼎，民在鼎矣，何以尊貴？貴何業之守？貴賤無序，何以為國？且夫宣子之刑，夷之蒐也，晉國之亂制也，若之何以為法？」

蔡史墨曰：「范氏、中行氏其亡乎？中行寅為下卿，而干上令，擅作刑器，以為國法，是法姦也。又加范氏焉，易之，亡也。其及趙氏，趙孟與焉。然不得已，若德，可以免。」

昭公三十年

經

三十年春．王正月．公在乾侯．

夏．六月．庚辰．晉侯去疾卒．

秋．八月．葬晉頃公．

冬．十有二月．吳滅徐．徐子章羽奔楚．

傳

三十年春．王正月．公在乾侯．不先書鄆與乾侯．非公．且徵過也．

夏．六月．晉頃公卒．

秋．八月．葬鄭游吉弔．且送葬．魏獻子使士景伯詰之．曰．悼公之喪．子西弔．子蟜送葬．今吾子無貳．何故．對曰．諸侯所以歸晉君．禮也．禮也者．小事大．大字小之謂．事大在共其時命．字小在恤其所無．以敝邑居大國之間．共其職貢．與其備御．不虞之患．豈忘共命．先王之制．諸侯之喪．士弔．大夫送葬．唯嘉好聘享．三軍之事．於是乎使卿．晉之喪事．敝邑之間．先君有所．助執紼矣．若其不間．雖士大夫．有所不獲數矣．大國之惠．亦慶其加．而不討其乏．明厎其情．取備而已．以為禮也．靈王之喪．我先君簡公在楚．我先大夫印段實往．敝邑之少卿也．王吏不討．恤所無也．今大夫曰．女盍從舊．舊有豐有省．不知所從．從其豐．則寡君幼弱．是以不共．從其省．則吉在此矣．唯大夫圖之．晉人不能詰．吳子使徐人執掩餘．使鍾吾人執燭庸．二公子奔楚．楚子大封而定其徙．使監馬尹大心逆吳公子．使居養．莠尹然．左司馬沈尹．戌城之．取於城父與胡田以與之．將以害吳也．子西諫曰．吳光新得國而親其民．視民如子．辛苦同之．將用之也．若好吳邊疆．使柔服焉．猶懼其至．吾又疆其讎．以重怒之．無乃不可乎．吳．周之冑裔也．而棄在海濱．不與姬通．今而始大．比于諸華．光又甚文．將自同於先王．不知天將以為虐乎．使翦喪吳國．而封大異姓乎．其抑亦將卒以祚吳乎．其終不遠矣．我盍姑億吾鬼神．而寧吾族姓．以待其歸．將焉用自播揚焉．王弗聽．吳子怒．

冬．十二月．吳子執鍾吳子．遂伐徐．防山以水之．己卯．滅徐．徐子章禹斷其髮．攜其夫人．以逆吳子．吳子唁而送之．使其邇臣從之．遂奔楚．楚沈尹戌帥師救徐．弗及．遂城夷．使徐子處之．吳子問於伍員曰．初而言伐楚．余知其可也．而恐其使余往也．又惡人之有余之功也．今余將自有之矣．伐楚何如．對曰．楚執政眾而乖．莫適任患．若為三師之肄焉．一師至．彼必皆出．彼出則歸．彼歸則出．楚必道敝．亟肄以罷之．多方以誤之．既罷而後以三軍繼之．必大克之．闔廬從之．楚於是乎始病．

昭公三十一年

經

三十有一年春．王正月．公在乾侯．季孫意如會晉荀躒於適歷．

夏．四月．丁巳．薛伯穀卒．晉侯使荀躒唁公于乾侯．

秋．葬薛獻公．

冬．黑肱以濫來奔．

十有二月．辛亥．朔．日有食之．

傳

三十一年春．王正月．公在乾侯．言不能外内也．晉侯將以師納公．范獻子曰．若召季孫而不來．則信不臣矣．然後伐之．若何．晉人召季孫．獻子使私焉．曰．子必來．我受其無咎．季孫意如會晉荀躒于適歷．荀躒曰．寡君使躒謂吾子．何故出君．有君不事．周有常刑．子其圖之．季孫練冠麻衣跣行．伏而對曰．事君．臣之所不得也．敢逃刑命．君若以臣為有罪．請囚于費．以待君之察也．亦唯君．若以先臣之故．不絕季氏．而賜之死．若弗殺弗亡．君之惠也．死且不朽．若得從君而歸．則固臣之願也．敢有異心．

夏．四月．季孫從知伯如乾侯．子家子曰．君與之歸．一慚之不忍．而終身慚乎．公曰．諾．眾曰．在一言矣．君必逐之．荀躒以晉侯之命唁公．且曰．寡君使躒以君命討於意如．意如不敢逃死．君其入也．公曰．君惠顧先君之好．施及亡人．將使歸．糞除宗祧．以事君．則不能見夫人已．所能見夫人者．有如河．荀躒掩耳而走．曰．寡君其罪之恐．敢與知魯國之難．臣請復於寡君．退而謂季孫．君怒未怠．子姑歸祭．子家子曰．君以一乘入于魯師．季孫必與君歸．公欲從之．眾從者脅公不得歸．薛伯穀卒．同盟故書．

秋．吳人侵楚．伐夷．侵潛六．楚沈尹戌帥師救潛．吳師還．楚師遷潛於南岡而還．吳師圍弦．左司馬戌．右司馬稽．帥師救弦．及豫章．吳師還．始用子胥之謀也．

冬．邾黑肱以濫來奔．賤而書名．重地故也．君子曰．名之不可不慎也如是夫．有所有名．而不如其已．以地叛．雖賤必書．地以名其人．終為不義．弗可滅已．是故君子動則思禮．行則思義．不為利回．不為義疚．或求名而不得．或欲蓋而名章．懲不義也．齊豹為衛司寇．守嗣大夫．作而不義．其書為盜．邾庶其．莒牟夷．邾黑肱．以土地出．求食而已．不求其名．賤而必書．此二物者．所以懲肆而去貪也．若艱難其身．以險危大人．而有名章徹．攻難之士．將奔走之．若竊邑叛君．以徼大利．而無名．貪冒之民．將寘力焉．是以春秋書齊豹曰．盜．三叛人名．以懲不義．數惡無禮．其善志也．故曰．春秋之稱．微而顯．婉而辨．上之人能使昭明．善人勸焉．淫人懼焉．是以君子貴之．

十二月．辛亥．朔．日有食之．是夜也．趙簡子夢童子臝而轉以謌．旦占諸史墨曰．吾夢如是．今而日食．何也．對曰．六年．及此月也．吳其入郢乎．終亦弗克．入郢必以庚辰．日月在辰尾．庚午之日．日始有謫．火勝金．故弗克．

昭公三十二年

經

三十有二年春．王正月．公在乾侯取闞．

夏．吳伐越．

秋．七月．

冬．仲孫何忌會晉韓不信．齊高張．宋仲幾．衛世叔申．鄭國參．曹人．莒人．薛人．杞人．小邾人．城成周．

十有二月．己未．公薨于乾侯．

傳

三十二年春．王正月．公在乾侯．言不能外内．又不能用其人也．

夏．吳伐越．始用師於越也．史墨曰．不及四十年．越其有吳乎．越得歲而吳伐之．必受其凶．

秋．八月．王使富辛與石張如晉．請城成周．天子曰．天降禍于周．俾我兄弟．並有亂心．以為伯父憂．我一二親昵甥舅．不皇啟處．於今十年．勤戍五年．余一人無日忘之．閔閔焉如農夫之望歲．懼以待時．伯父若肆大惠．復二文之業．弛周室之憂．徼文武之福．以固盟主．宣昭令名．則余一人有大願矣．昔成王合諸侯．城成周．以為東都．崇文德焉．今我欲徼福假靈于成王．脩成周之城．俾戍人無勤．諸侯用寧．蝥賊遠屏．晉之力也．其委諸伯父．使伯父實重圖之．俾我一人．無徵怨于百姓．而伯父有榮．施先王庸之．范獻子謂魏獻子曰．與其戍周．不如城之．天子實云．雖有後事．晉勿與知可也．從王命以紓諸侯．晉國無憂．是之不務．而又焉從事．魏獻子曰善．使伯音對．曰．天子有命．敢不奉承．以奔告於諸侯．遲速衰序．於是焉在．

冬．十一月．晉魏舒．韓不信．如亰師．合諸侯之大夫于狄泉．尋盟．且令城成周．魏子南面．衛彪徯曰．魏子必有大咎．干位以令大事．非其任也．詩曰．敬天之怒．不敢戲豫．敬天之渝．不敢馳驅．況敢干位．以作大事乎．己丑．士彌牟營成周．計丈數．揣高卑．度厚薄．仞溝洫．物土方．議遠邇．量事期．計徒庸．慮財用．書餱糧．以令役於諸侯．屬役賦丈．書以授帥．而效諸劉子．韓簡子臨之．以為成命．

十二月．公疾．遍賜大夫．大夫不受．賜子家子雙琥．一環．一璧．輕服．受之．大夫皆受其賜．己未．公薨．子家子反賜於府人曰．吾不敢逆君命也．大夫皆反其賜．書曰．公薨于乾侯．言失其所也．趙簡子問於史墨曰．季氏出其君．而民服焉．諸侯與之．君死於外．而莫之或罪也．對曰．物生有兩．有三有五．有陪貳．故天有三辰．地有五行．體有左右．各有妃耦．王有公．諸侯有卿．皆有貳也．天生季氏．以貳魯侯．為日久矣．民之服焉．不亦宜乎．魯君世從其失．季氏世脩其勤．民忘君矣．雖死於外．其誰矜之．社稷無常奉．君臣無常位．自古以然．故詩曰．高岸為谷．深谷為陵．三后之姓．於今為庶．王所知也．在易卦．雷乘乾曰．大壯．天之道也．昔成季友．桓之季也．文姜之愛子也．始震而卜．卜人謁之曰．生有嘉聞．其名曰友．為公室輔．及生如卜人之言．有文在其手．曰友．遂以名之．既而有大功於魯．受費以為上卿．至於文子．武子．世增其業．不費舊績．魯文公薨．而東門遂殺適立庶．魯君於是乎失國．政在季氏．於此君也．四公矣．民不知君．何以得國．是以為君．慎器與名．不可以假人．

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Zuo Commentary (article 春秋左氏傳/昭公, revision of 19 July 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, license templates, and modern contributors' footnotes have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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