 | Shi Ji Zhuan |  |
Profoundly wise were [the lords of] Shang ,
And long had there appeared the omens [of their dignity ].
When the waters of the deluge spread vast abroad ,
Yu arranged and divided the regions of the land ,
And assigned to the exterior great States their boundaries ,
With their borders extending all over [the kingdom] .
Then the State of Song began to be great ,
And God raised up the son [of its daughter] , and founded [the Family of] Shang .
And long had there appeared the omens [of their dignity ].
When the waters of the deluge spread vast abroad ,
Yu arranged and divided the regions of the land ,
And assigned to the exterior great States their boundaries ,
With their borders extending all over [the kingdom] .
Then the State of Song began to be great ,
And God raised up the son [of its daughter] , and founded [the Family of] Shang .
The dark king exercised an effective sway .
Charged with a small State , he commanded success ;
Charged with a large State , he commanded success .
He followed his rules of conduct without error ;
Wherever he inspected [the people] , they responded [to his instructions] .
[Then came] Xiang-tu , all-ardent ,
And all [within] the seas , beyond [the middle region] , acknowledged his restraints .
Charged with a small State , he commanded success ;
Charged with a large State , he commanded success .
He followed his rules of conduct without error ;
Wherever he inspected [the people] , they responded [to his instructions] .
[Then came] Xiang-tu , all-ardent ,
And all [within] the seas , beyond [the middle region] , acknowledged his restraints .
The favour of God did not leave [Shang] ,
And in Tang was found the subject for its display .
Tang was not born too late ,
And his wisdom and virtue daily advanced .
Brilliant was the influence of his character [on Heaven] for long ,
And God appointed him to be model to the nine regions .
And in Tang was found the subject for its display .
Tang was not born too late ,
And his wisdom and virtue daily advanced .
Brilliant was the influence of his character [on Heaven] for long ,
And God appointed him to be model to the nine regions .
He received the rank-tokens [of the States] , small and large ,
Which depended on him , like the pendants of a banner ;—
So did he receive the blessing of Heaven .
He was neither violent nor remiss ,
Neither hard nor soft .
Gently he spread his instructions abroad ,
And all dignities and riches were concentrated iin him .
Which depended on him , like the pendants of a banner ;—
So did he receive the blessing of Heaven .
He was neither violent nor remiss ,
Neither hard nor soft .
Gently he spread his instructions abroad ,
And all dignities and riches were concentrated iin him .
He received the tribute [of the States] , large and small ,
And he supported them as a strong steed [does its burden] ;—
So did he receive the favour of Heaven .
He displayed everywhere his valour ,
Unshaken , unmoved ,
Unterrified , unscared :—
All dignities were united in him .
And he supported them as a strong steed [does its burden] ;—
So did he receive the favour of Heaven .
He displayed everywhere his valour ,
Unshaken , unmoved ,
Unterrified , unscared :—
All dignities were united in him .
The martial king displayed his banner ,
And with reverence grasped his axe .
It was like [the case of] a blazing fire ,
Which no one can repress .
The root , with its three shoots ,
Could make no progress , no growth .
The nine regions were effectually secured by him .
Having smitten [the princes of] Wei and Gu ,
He dealt with [the prince of] Kun-wu , and with Jie of Xia .
And with reverence grasped his axe .
It was like [the case of] a blazing fire ,
Which no one can repress .
The root , with its three shoots ,
Could make no progress , no growth .
The nine regions were effectually secured by him .
Having smitten [the princes of] Wei and Gu ,
He dealt with [the prince of] Kun-wu , and with Jie of Xia .
Formerly in the middle of the period [before Tang] ,
There was a time of shaking and peril ,
But truly did Heaven [then] deal with him as its son ,
And sent him down a minister ,
Namely A-heng ,
Who gave his assistance to the king of Shang .
There was a time of shaking and peril ,
But truly did Heaven [then] deal with him as its son ,
And sent him down a minister ,
Namely A-heng ,
Who gave his assistance to the king of Shang .
| Shi Ji Zhuan | |