Han shih wai chuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

Han shih wai chuan

Han Ying's Illustrations of the didactic application of the Classic of songs

Han, Ying

[title page]

History of the Text and Editions

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

TABLE OF UNUSUAL ORTHOGRAPHIES

FINDING LIST

INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

24[1]

To Heaven belong the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn,
and winter,[2] with wind, rain, hoar frost, and dew; [in the action

182

of] all and each of these [there] is a lesson.[3] When the personal
character is pure and bright, the spirit and mind are like those
of a spiritual being. When what such a person desires is about to
come, there are sure to be premonitions of it in advance, [as when]
Heaven [is about to] send down seasonable rain, clouds come out
from hills and streams. The Ode says,[4]

Grandly[5] lofty are the mountains,
With their large masses[6] reaching to the heavens.
From these mountains was sent down a Spirit.
Who gave birth to [the princes of] Fu and Shên.
Fu and Shên
Are the support of Chou,
Screens[7] to all the States,
Diffusing [their influence] over the four quarters of the kingdom.

Such was the virtue of [Kings] Wên and Wu.[8]

The rulers of the Three Dynasties always were preceded by
their good names.[9] The Ode says,[10]

Very intelligent is the Son of Heaven;
His good fame shall be without end.
Let him display his civil virtues,
Till they permeate all quarters of the kingdom.

Such was the virtue of King T`ai.[11]

[1]

This paragraph is the same as Li chi 51.5b-7b (Couvreur 2.397-9). In Chia-yü
8.12a-b it is incorporated into a longer passage which also quotes from the same Ode.
I have consulted Legge's translation in Shih, Proleg. 91-2; also in Li Ki 2.281-3.

[2]

CHy changes to [OMITTED], the sequence in Li chi, but Chia-yü and the citation
in TPYL 18.6a are the same as the present texts of HSWC. (Chao 137.) From the
next phrase one would expect [OMITTED] and [OMITTED] to be interchanged, to match each season
with its appropriate phenomenon.

[3]

Li chi continues, "Earth contains the mysterious energy [of nature]. By the wind
and thunder-clap the [seeds of] forms are carried abroad, and the various things show
the appearance of life:—in all and each of these things there is a lesson."

[4]

Shih 535 No. 259/1.

[5]

For [OMITTED] D has [OMITTED], which Ch`ên Ch`iao-ts`ung (I-shuo k`ao 14.1a) takes as the Han shih reading.

[6]

For [OMITTED] CHy, B, C follow Mao shih and write [OMITTED].

[7]

For [OMITTED] Mao shih has [OMITTED].

[8]

B, C begin a new paragraph with the following two lines.

[9]

[OMITTED]. Li chi has [OMITTED] for [OMITTED], and Legge there translates "it was necessary
that they should be preceded by the fame of their forefathers"; likewise
Couvreur. But Legge's translation of the HSWC paragraph is closer to mine.

[10]

Shih 555 No. 262/6.

[11]

For [OMITTED] cf. Mencius 176 (1B/15.1).