Texts of Confucianism, Part I: The Shû King, the Religious Portions of the Shih King, the Hsiâo King — SBE Vol. 3 (trans. James Legge, 1879)
English·1879–1910·trans. Georg Bühler & James Legge·397 passages
The text · part 4 of 19
2205-1767). On the conclusion of his labours, according to what was the universally accepted tradition in the Kau period, Yui was appointed by Yo to be earl of Hsia, a small principality in Ho-nan, identified with the present Yii-A4u, department Khéi-fang, which thus still retains the name of Yi.
It has been repeatedly said in the Introduction that the Tribute of Yu describes what was done before the death of Y4o. The reason why it got its place as the first of the Books of Hsia was, no doubt, because the merit set forth in it was the ground of Yii’s advancement to the throne.
Altogether the Books of Hsia are properly no more than three ;— a fact which shows that in so early a period the duty of the recorder was little exercised, or that the destruction of its monuments in the course of time was nearly complete. We may assume that it was in consequence of both of these things that, when the collection of the Shi was made, only three documents of Hsia were found, to go into it.
The word ‘Tribute’ in the name of this first Book is not to be understood only in the sense of a contribution paid by one nation to another in acknowledgment of subjection, but also as the contribution of revenue paid by subjects to their proper tuler. The term, moreover, gives a very inadequate idea of the contents, which describe generally the labours of Yti in remedying the disasters occasioned by the inundation with which he had to cope, and how he then defined the boundaries of the different provinces, made other important territorial divisions, and determined the quality of the soil in each province, and the proportion of revenue it should pay, with other particulars. The Book, if we could fully credit it, would be a sort of domesday book of China in the twenty-third century
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B.c., in the compass of a few pages. In the classification of the Books of the Sh, according to their subject-matter, this is rightly considered as a Canon. The first section of it is divided into one short introductory chapter, and nine others, each containing the account of one province.
Section 1.
1. Yii divided the land. Following the course of the hills, he cut down the trees. He determined the highest hills and largest rivers (in the several regions).
2. With respect to At Kau’, he did his work at Ha-khau, and took effective measures at (the mountains) Liang and AAt. Having repaired the works on Thai-yiian, he proceeded on to the south of (mount) Yo. He was successful with his labours on Tan-hwai, and went on to the cross-flowing stream of Kang.
The soil of this province was whitish and mellow. Its contribution of revenue was the highest of the highest class, with some proportion of the second. Its fields were the average of the middle class.
He was successful with his labours on Tan-hwai, and went on to the cross-flowing stream of Kang.
The soil of this province was whitish and mellow. Its contribution of revenue was the highest of the highest class, with some proportion of the second. Its fields were the average of the middle class.
1 KY} Kau embraced the present provinces of Shan-hst, Xih-If, the three most northern departments of Ho-nan, and the western portion of Lifo-tung. It had the Ho—what we call the Yellow river—on three sides of it. On the west was all that part of the Ho which forms the dividing line between Shen-hst and Shan-hsf. At the south-western corner of Shan-hsf, the Ho turns to the east: and in Yti’s time it flowed eastwards to about the place where Xih-If, Shan-tung, and Ho-nan all touch, forming the southern boundary of A? Kau. Thence it ran north and east, till its waters entered the present gulph of ih-li, forming, so far, the eastern boundary of the province. The northern boundary must be left undefined.
It would be foreign to the object of the present publication of the Shfi, and take too much space, to give notes on the details of Yii’s operations in A? Kau and the other provinces.
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The (waters of the) Hang and Wei were brought to their proper channels, and T4-lii was made capable of cultivation.
The wild people of the islands (brought) dresses of skins (i.e. fur dresses); keeping close on the right to the rocks of Kieh, they entered the Ho.
3. Between the At and the Ho was Yen Kau’.
The nine branches of the Ho were made to keep their proper channels. Léi-hsi4 was made a marsh, in which (the waters of) the Yung and the 3ii were united. The mulberry grounds were made fit for silkworms, and then (the people) came down from the heights, and occupied the grounds (below).
The soil of this province was blackish and rich ; the grass in it was luxuriant, and the trees grew high. Its fields were the lowest of the middle class. Its contribution of revenue was fixed at what would just be deemed the correct amount ; but it was not required from it, as from the other provinces, till after it had been cultivated for thirteen years. Its articles of tribute were varnish and silk, and, in baskets, woven ornamental fabrics.
They floated along the At and Tha, and so reached the Ho.
4. The sea and (mount) Tai were the boundaries of Khing Kau’.
1 Yen Ku was a small province, having the Ho on the north, the AT on the south, the gulph of Xih-li on the east, and Yii Ka4u, Yii’s seventh province, on the west. It embraced the department of T4-ming, with portions of those of Ho-Aien and Thien-fing, in Xih-li, and the department of Tung-44ang, with portions of those of Xi;nan and Yen-Adau, in Shan-tung.
* Khing Kau, having mount Tai and Hsii au (the next province) on the west and south, Yen Kau and the sea on the north-west and the north, and the sea on the east and south,
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66 THE SHO KING. PART If.
* Khing Kau, having mount Tai and Hsii au (the next province) on the west and south, Yen Kau and the sea on the north-west and the north, and the sea on the east and south,
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66 THE SHO KING. PART If.
(The territory of) Yii-t was defined ; and the Weiand 3ze were made to keep their (old) channels.
Its soil was whitish and rich. Along the shore of the sea were wide tracts of salt land. Its fields were the lowest of the first class, and its contribution of revenue the highest of the second. Its articles of tribute were salt, fine cloth of dolichos fibre, productions of the sea of various kinds; with silk, hemp, lead, pine trees, and strange stones, from the valleys of Tai. The wild people of LAi were taught tillage and pasturage, and brought in their baskets the silk from the mountain mulberry tree.
They floated along the Wan, and so reached the At.
5. The sea, mount TAi, and the HwéAi were (the boundaries of) Hsii AAu!.
The Hwdi and the f (rivers) were regulated, The (hills) Mang and Yui were made fit for cultivation. (The waters of) Ta-yeh were confined (so as to form would be still smaller than Yen Adu, and contain the three departments of Xhing-Adu, Laéi-Adu, and Téng-#4u, with the western portion of that of A?-nan, in Shan-tung. From the text we should never suppose that it passed across the sea which washes the north and east of Shan-tung, and extended indefinitely into Lido-tung and Corla. This, however, is the view of many Chinese geographers.
1 The western boundary of Hstt Xu, which is not given in the text, was Yii Kau, and part of KAing Kau. It embraced | the present department of Hsti-A4u, the six districts—Th4o-ytian, Khing-ho, An-tung, Hsti-4Aien, Sui-ning, and Kan-yé, department of Hwai-an, with Phei Kau and H4i XAu,—all in Xiang-si; the whole of Yen-44u department, Tung-phing A4u and the south of Phing-yin district in the department of Th4i-an, the department of f-44u, and portions of those of Ki-nan and Khing-s4u,—all in Shan-tung; with the four districts Hw4i-ytan, Wa-ho, Hung, and Ling-pi, department of Fang-yang, with Sze Kau and Hsti X4u,—all in An-hui.
BOOK I. THE TRIBUTE OF YU. 67
a marsh) ; and (the tract of) Tung-yilan was successfully brought under management.
The soil of this province was red, clayey, and rich. Its grass and trees grew more and more bushy. Its fields were the second of the highest class ; its contribution of revenue was the average of the second. Its articles of tribute were—earth of five different colours, variegated pheasants from the valleys of mount Yii, the solitary dryandra from the south of mount Yt, and the sounding-stones that (seemed to) float on the (banks of the) Sze. -The wild tribes about the Hwdi brought oyster-pearls and fish, and their baskets full of deep azure and other silken fabrics, chequered and pure white.
They floated along the Hwéi and the Sze, and so reached the Ho.
6. The Hwai and the sea formed (the boundaries of) Yang K4éul.
-The wild tribes about the Hwdi brought oyster-pearls and fish, and their baskets full of deep azure and other silken fabrics, chequered and pure white.
They floated along the Hwéi and the Sze, and so reached the Ho.
6. The Hwai and the sea formed (the boundaries of) Yang K4éul.
The (lake of) Phang-It was confined to its proper limits, and the sun-birds (= the wild geese) had places
' The Hw4i was the boundary of Yang K4u on the north, and we naturally suppose that the other boundary mentioned, the sea, should be referred to the south of the province. If it were really so, Yang A4u must have extended along the coast as far as Cochin-China, and not a few Chinese scholars argue that it did so. But that no southern boundary of the province is mentioned may rather be taken as proving that when this Book was compiled, the country south of the Kiang—the present Yang-3ze—was unknown.
Along the greater part of its course, the province was conterminous on the west with Xing Kéu, and in the north-west with Yui Kau. We may safely assign to it the greater portion of An-hui, and a part of the department of Hwang-A4u, in Hf-pei. All this would be the northern portion of the province. How far it extended southwards into Xé-Aiang and Xiang-hsf, it is impossible to say.
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to settle on. The three Kiang were led to enter the sea, and it became possible to still the marsh of Kan. The bamboos, small and large, then spread about; the grass grew thin and long, and the trees rose high ; the soil was miry.
The fields of this province were the lowest of the lowest class; its contribution of revenue was the highest of the lowest class, with a proportion of the class above. Its articles of tribute were gold, silver, and copper; yao and khw4n stones ; bamboos, small and large; (elephants’) teeth, hides, feathers, hair, and timber. The wild people of the islands brought garments of grass, with silks woven in shell-patterns in their baskets. Their bundles contained small oranges and pummeloes,—rendered when specially required.
They followed the course of the Kiang and the sea, and so reached the HwéAi and the Sze.
7. (Mount) Xing and the south of (mount) Hang formed (the boundaries of) King Kau’.
The Xiang and the Han pursued their (common) course to the sea, as if they were hastening to court. The nine Kiang were brought into complete order. The Tho and zien (streams) were conducted by
7. (Mount) Xing and the south of (mount) Hang formed (the boundaries of) King Kau’.
The Xiang and the Han pursued their (common) course to the sea, as if they were hastening to court. The nine Kiang were brought into complete order. The Tho and zien (streams) were conducted by
* Mount Xing, which bounded Xing Ku on the north, is in the department of Hsiang-yang, Hf-pei, and is called the southern King, to distinguish it from another mountain of the same name farther north in Yung Kau. Mount Hang, its southern boundary, is ‘the southern mountain’ of the Canon of Shun in Hang-Aau department, Hf-nan. Yang X4u was on the east, and the country on the west was almost unknown. Xing Kau contained the greater portion of the present provinces of Hf-pei and Hf-nan, and parts also of Kwei-44u and Sze-zhiian. Some geographers also extend it on the south into Kwang-tung and Kwang-hsi, which is very unlikely.
BOOK I. THE TRIBUTE OF YU. 69
their proper channels. The land in (the marsh of) Yiin (became visible), and (the marsh of) Mang was made capable of cultivation.
The soil of this province was miry. Its fields were the average of the middle class; and its contribution of revenue was the lowest of the highest class. Its articles of tribute were feathers, hair, (elephants’) teeth, and hides; gold, silver, and copper; Aun trees, wood for bows, cedars, and cypresses; grindstones, whetstones, flint stones to make arrow-heads, and cinnabar; and the 4fiin and lf bamboos, with the h@ tree, (all good for making arrows)—of which the Three Regions were able to contribute the best specimens. The threeribbed rush was sent in bundles, put into cases. The baskets were filled with silken fabrics, azure and deep purple, and with strings of pearls that were not quite round. From the (country of the) nine Kiang, the great tortoise was presented when specially required (and found).
They floated down the Xiang, the Tho, the Kien, and the Han, and crossed (the country) to the Lo, whence they reached the most southern part of the Ho.
8. The King (mountain) and the Ho were (the boundaries of) Yii KAu?.
The f, the Lo, the A4an, and the Kien were conducted to the Ho. The (marsh of) Yung-po was
1 Yii K4u was the central one of Yii’s nine divisions of the country, and was conterminous, for a greater or less distance, with all of them, excepting AAing K4u, which lay off in the east by itself. It embraced most of the present Ho-nan, stretching also into the east and south, so as to comprehend parts of Shan-tung and H0-pei.
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confined within its proper limits. The (waters of that of) Ko were led to (the marsh of) Mang-40.
It embraced most of the present Ho-nan, stretching also into the east and south, so as to comprehend parts of Shan-tung and H0-pei.
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confined within its proper limits. The (waters of that of) Ko were led to (the marsh of) Mang-40.
The soil of this province was mellow; in the lower parts it was (in some places) rich, and (in others) dark and thin. Its fields were the highest of the middle class; and its contribution of revenue was the average of the highest class, with a proportion of the very highest. Its articles of tribute were varnish, hemp, fine cloth of dolichos fibre, and the boehmerea. The baskets were full of chequered silks, and of fine floss silk. Stones for polishing sounding-stones were rendered when required.
They floated along the Lo, and so reached the Ho.
9g. The south of (mount) Hwé4 and the Blackwater were (the boundaries of) Liang Kau’.
The (hills) Min and Po were made capable of cultivation. The Tho and zien streams were conducted by their proper channels. Sacrifices were offered to (the hills) 3h4i and M4ng on the regulation (of the country about them).* (The country of) the wild tribes about the Ho was successfully operated on.
1 Liang au was an extensive province, and it is a remarkable fact that neither the dominions of the Shang nor the Kau dynasty, which followed Hsi4, included it. Portions of it were embraced in the Yui and Yung provinces of XAu, but the greater part was considered as wild, savage territory, beyond the limits of the Middle Kingdom. It is difficult to believe that the great Yu operated upon it, as this chapter would seem to indicate. The Hw at its north-eastern corner is the western mountain of Shun. The Black-water, or ‘the Kiang of the Golden Sands,’ is identified with the present La. The province extended over most of the present Sze-A/ilan, with parts of Shen-hsf and Kan-s@. I can hardly believe, as many do, that it extended far into Yiin-nan and Kwei-4au.
BOOK I. THE TRIBUTE OF YU. 71
The soil of this province was greenish and light. Its fields were the highest of the lowest class; and its contribution of revenue was the average of the lowest class, with proportions of the rates immediately above and below. Its articles of tribute were —the best gold, iron, silver, steel, flint stones to make arrow-heads, and sounding-stones; with the skins of bears, foxes, and jackals, and (nets) woven of their hair.
From (the hill of) Hst-44ing they came by the course of the Hwan; floated along the AZien, and then crossed (the country) to the Mien; passed to the Wei, and (finally) ferried across the Ho.
10. The Black-water and western Ho were (the boundaries of) Yung Kau}.
The Weak-water was conducted westwards. The King was led to mingle its waters with those of the Wei. The AAi and the Ai were next led in a similar way (to the Wei), and the waters of the Féng found the same receptacle.
10. The Black-water and western Ho were (the boundaries of) Yung Kau}.
The Weak-water was conducted westwards. The King was led to mingle its waters with those of the Wei. The AAi and the Ai were next led in a similar way (to the Wei), and the waters of the Féng found the same receptacle.
(The mountains) King and AAt were sacrificed to.* (Those of) Kung-nan and Kun-wd (were also regulated), and (all the way) on to Nido-shd. Successful measures could now be taken with the plains and swamps, even to (the marsh of) Ad-yeh. (The country of) San-wei was made habitable, and the (affairs of the) people of San-mido were greatly arranged,
2 The Black-water, which was the western boundary of Yung Xu, was a different river from that which, with the same name, ran along the south of Liang Kau. Yung Kau was probably the largest of Y's -provinces, embracing nearly all the present provinces of Shen-hsi and Kan-s@, and extending indefinitely northwards to the Desert.
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The soil of the province was yellow and mellow. Its fields were the highest of the highest class, and its contribution of revenue the lowest of the second. Its articles of tribute were the £4i0 jade and the lin, and (the stones called) lang-kan.
Past Ai-shih they floated on to Lung-man on the western Ho. They then met on the north of the Wei (with the tribute-bearers from other quarters).
Hair-cloth and skins (were brought from) Khwanlun, Hsi-4ih, and AAii-sdu ;—the wild tribes of the west (all) coming to (submit to Yii’s) arrangements.
Section 2.
The division of the Book into two sections is a convenient arrangement, but modern, and not always followed. The former section gives a view of Yii’s labours in each particular province. This gives a general view of the mountain ranges of the country, and of the principal streams; going on to other labours, subsequently, as was seen in the Introduction, ascribed to Yt,—his conferring lands and surnames, and dividing the whole territory into five domains. The contents are divided into five chapters : —the first, describing the mountains; the second, describing the rivers ; the third, containing a summary of all the labours of Yt thus far mentioned; the fourth, relating his other labours ; and the fifth, celebrating Yi’s fame, and the completion of his work,
1. (Yui) surveyed and described (the hills), beginning with Adien and A4i and proceeding to mount King; then, crossing the Ho, Hf-khau, and Léishau, going on to Thai-yo. (After these came) Ti-kO and Hsi-£44ng, from which he went on to Wang-wi; (then there were) Thai-hang and mount Hang, from which he proceeded to the rocks of Kieh, where he reached the sea.
(South of the Ho, he surveyed) Hsi-é/ing, K0-yii,
BOOK I. THE TRIBUTE OF YU. 73
and Nido-shd, going on to Thai-hw4; (then) Hsiung-r, Wai-fang, and Thung-pi, from which he proceeded to Pei-wei.
(South of the Ho, he surveyed) Hsi-é/ing, K0-yii,
BOOK I. THE TRIBUTE OF YU. 73
and Nido-shd, going on to Thai-hw4; (then) Hsiung-r, Wai-fang, and Thung-pi, from which he proceeded to Pei-wei.
He surveyed and described Po-k/ung, going on to (the other) mount King; and Néi-fang, from which he went on to Ta-pieh.
(He did the same with) the south of mount Min, and went on to mount Hang. Then crossing the nine Kiang, he proceeded to the plain of Fd-£/ien.
2. He traced the Weak-water as far as the Ho-li (mountains), from which its superfluous waters went away among the moving sands.
He traced the Black-water as far as San-wei, from which it (went away to) enter the southern sea.
He traced the Ho from At-shih as far as Lungmn ; and thence, southwards, to the north of (mount) Hwa; eastward then to Ti-é/0; eastward (again) to the ford of Mang; eastward (still) to the junction of the Lo; and then on to T4-pei. (From this the course was) northwards, past the Kiang-water, on to TA-lii; north from which the river was divided, and became the nine Ho, which united again, and formed the Meeting Ho, when they entered the sea.
From Po-kdung he traced the Yang, which, flowing eastwards, became the Han. Farther east it became the water of 3hang-lang; and after passing the three Dykes, it went on to T4-pieh, southwards from which it entered the Kiang. Eastward still, and whirling on, it formed the marsh of Phang-It; and from that its eastern flow was the northern Xiang, as which it entered the sea.
From mount Min he traced the Xiang, which, branching off to the east, formed the Tho; eastward again, it reached the Lt, passed the nine Kiang, andp. 74 went on to Tung-ling; then flowing east, and winding to the north, it joined (the Han) with its eddying movements. From that its eastern flow was the middle Kiang, as which it entered the sea.
He traced the Yen water, which, flowing eastward, became the Ai, and entered the Ho. (Thereafter) it flowed out, and became the Yung (marsh). Eastward, it issued forth on the north of Thao-£4id, and flowed farther east to (the marsh of) Ko; then it went north-east, and united with the Wan; thence it went north, and (finally) entered the sea on the east.
He traced the Hwai from the hill of Thung-pai. Flowing east, it united with the Sze and the {, and (still) with an eastward course entered the sea.
He traced the Wei from (the hill) Nido-shd-thunghsiieh. Flowing eastward, it united with the Féng, and eastwards again with the Aing. Farther east still, it passed the KAi and the AAii, and entered the Ho.
He traced the Lo from (the hill) Hsiung-r. Flowing to the north-east, it united with the Kien and the Aan, and eastwards still with the {. Then on the north-east it entered the Ho.
Farther east still, it passed the KAi and the AAii, and entered the Ho.
He traced the Lo from (the hill) Hsiung-r. Flowing to the north-east, it united with the Kien and the Aan, and eastwards still with the {. Then on the north-east it entered the Ho.
3. (Thus), throughout the nine provinces a similar order was effected :—the grounds along the waters were everywhere made habitable; the hills were cleared of their superfluous wood and sacrificed to ;* the sources of the rivers were cleared ; the marshes were well banked ; and access to the capital was secured for all within the four seas.
The six magazines (of material wealth) were fully attended to ; the different parts of the country were subjected to an exact comparison, so that con-
BOOK I. THE TRIBUTE OF YU. 75
tribution of revenue could be carefully adjusted according to their resources. (The fields) were all classified with reference to the three characters of the soil; and the revenues for the Middle Region were established.
4. He conferred lands and surnames. (He said), ‘ Let me set the example of a reverent attention to my virtue, and none will act contrary to my conduct.’
Five hundred It formed the Domain of the Sovereign. From the first hundred they brought as revenue the whole plant of the grain; from the second, the ears, with a portion of the stalk ; from the third, the straw, but the people had to perform various services ; from the fourth, the grain in the husk ; and from the fifth, the grain cleaned.
Five hundred li (beyond) constituted the Domain of the Nobles. The first hundred lt was occupied by the cities and lands of the (sovereign’s) high ministers and great officers; the second, by the principalities of the barons; and the (other) three hundred, by the various other princes.
Five hundred 11 (still beyond) formed the Peacesecuring Domain. In the first three hundred, they cultivated the lessons of learning and moral duties ; in the other two, they showed the energies of war and defence.
Five hundred It (remoter still) formed the Domain of Restraint. The (first) three hundred were occupied by the tribes of the {; the (other) two hundred, by criminals undergoing the lesser banishment.
Five hundred It (the most remote) constituted the Wild Domain. The (first) three hundred werep. 76 occupied by the tribes of the Man; the (other) two hundred, by criminals undergoing the greater banishment.
5. On the east, reaching to the sea; on the west, extending to the moving sands; to the utmost limits of the north and south :—his fame and influence filled up (all within) the four seas. Yii presented the dark-coloured symbol of his rank, and announced the completion of his work.
a
Book II. THe SpeecuH aT Kan.
Yii presented the dark-coloured symbol of his rank, and announced the completion of his work.
a
Book II. THe SpeecuH aT Kan.
Witx this Book there commence the documents of the Sh that may be regarded, as I have said in the Introduction, as contemporaneous with the events which they describe. It is the first of the ‘Speeches,’ which form one class of the documents of the classic.
The text does not say who the king mentioned in it was, but the prevalent tradition has always been that he was Ki, the son and successor of Yii. Its place between the Tribute of Yi and the next Book belonging to the reign of Thai Khang, Ais son, corroborates this view.
Kan is taken as the name of a place in the southern border of the principality of H, with the lord of which XAf fought. The name of HQ itself still remains in the district so called of the department Hsi-an, in Shen-hsf,
The king, about to engage in battle with a rebellious vassal, assembles his generals and troops, and addresses them. He declares obscurely the grounds of the expedition which he had undertaken, and concludes by stimulating the soldiers to the display of courage and observance of order by promises of reward and threats of punishment.
There was a great battle at Kan. (Previous to it), the king called together the six nobles, (the leaders of his six hosts), and said,‘Ah! all ye who
BOOK II. THE SPEECH AT KAN. 77
are engaged in my six hosts, I have a solemn announcement to make to you.
‘The lord of Hd wildly wastes and despises the five elements (that regulate the seasons), and has idly abandoned the three acknowledged commencements of the year’. On this account Heaven is about to destroy him, and bring to an end his appointment (to Hf); and I am now reverently executing the punishment appointed by Heaven.*
‘If you, (the archers) on the left?, do not do your work on the left, it will be a disregard of my orders. If you, (the spearmen) on the right’, do not do your work on the right, it will be a disregard of my orders. If you, charioteers?, do not observe the rules for the management of your horses, it will be a disregard of my orders. You who obey my orders, shall be rewarded before (the spirits of) my ancestors; and you who disobey my orders, shall be put to death before the altar of the spirits of the land, and I will also put to death your children.’ *
1 The crimes of the lord of Hf are here very obscurely stated. With regard to the second of them, we know that Hsia commenced its year with the first month of spring, Shang a month earlier, and au about mid-winter. It was understood that every dynasty should fix a new month for the beginning of the year, and the dynasty of Xhin actually carried its first month back into our November. If the lord of Hf claimed to begin the year with another month than that which Yi had fixed, he was refusing submission to the new dynasty. No doubt, the object of the expedition was to put down a dangerous rival.
If the lord of Hf claimed to begin the year with another month than that which Yi had fixed, he was refusing submission to the new dynasty. No doubt, the object of the expedition was to put down a dangerous rival.
* The chariots were the principal part of an ancient Chinese army ; it is long before we read of cavalry. A war-chariot generally carried three. The driver was in the centre; on his left was an archer, and a spearman occupied the place on his right. They all wore mail,
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Book III. Tue Soncs or THE FIVE Sons.
This Book ranks in that class of the documents of the Shi which goes by the name of ‘Instructions.’ Though the form of it be poetical, the subject-matter is derived from the Lessons left by Yu for the guidance of his posterity.
Thai Khang succeeded to his father in .c. 2188, and his reign continues in chronology to 2160. His character is given here in the introductory chapter. A‘iung, the principality of f who took the field against him, is identified with the sub-department of Té- Ku, department Ai-nan, Shan-tung. There is a tradition that i, at an early period of his life, was lord of a state in the present Ho-nan. This would make his movement against Thai Khang, ‘south of the Ho,’ more easy for him. The name of Thai Khang remains in the district so called of the department AAin-Adu, Ho-nan. There, it is said, he died, having never been able to recross the Ho.
In his song the king’s first brother deplores how he had lost the affections of the people; the second speaks of his dissolute extravagance ; the third mourns his loss of the throne; the fourth deplores his departure from the principles of Yu, and its disastrous consequences; and the fifth is a wail over the miserable condition of them all.
1. Thai Khang occupied the throne like a personator of the dead‘. By idleness and dissipation he extinguished his virtue, till the black-haired people all wavered in their allegiance. He, however, pursued his pleasure and wanderings without any
' The character that here as a verb governs the character signifying ‘throne’ means properly ‘a corpse,’ and is often used for the personator of the dead, in the sacrificial services to the dead which formed a large part of the religious ceremonies of the ancient Chinese. A common definition of it is ‘the semblance of the spirit, =the image into which the spirit entered. Th4i Khang was but a personator on the throne, no better than a sham sovereign.
BOOK III. THE SONGS OF THE FIVE SONS. 79
A common definition of it is ‘the semblance of the spirit, =the image into which the spirit entered. Th4i Khang was but a personator on the throne, no better than a sham sovereign.
BOOK III. THE SONGS OF THE FIVE SONS. 79
self-restraint. He went out to hunt beyond the Lo, and a hundred days elapsed without his returning. (On this) f, the prince of A/iung, taking advantage of the discontent of the people, resisted (his return) on (the south of) the Ho. The (king’s) five brothers had attended their mother in following him, and were waiting for him on the north of the Lo; and (when they heard of f’s movement), all full of dissatisfaction, they related the Cautions of the great Yii in the form of songs. 2. The first said,
‘It was the lesson of our great ancestor :—
The people should be cherished,
And not looked down upon.
The people are the root of a country ;
The root firm, the country is tranquil.
When I look at all under heaven,
Of the simple men and simple women,
Any one may surpass me.
If the One man err repeatedly',
Should dissatisfaction be waited for till it appears ?
Before it is seen, it should be guarded against.
In my dealing with the millions of the people,
I should feel as much anxiety as if I were driving
six horses with rotten reins, The ruler of men— How should he be but reverent (of his duties) ?’ The second said,
‘It is in the Lessons :-—
When the palace is a wild of lust,
And the country is a wild for hunting ;
1 Any king, in the person of Yu, may be understood to be the speaker.
p. 80
When spirits are liked, and music is the delight ; When there are lofty roofs and carved walls ;— The existence of any one of these things Has never been but the prelude to ruin.’ The third said, ‘ There was the lord of Thao and Thang?, Who possessed this region of Kt. Now we have fallen from his ways, And thrown into confusion his rules and laws ;— The consequence is extinction and ruin.’ The fourth said, Brightly intelligent was our ancestor, Sovereign of the myriad regions. He had canons, he had patterns, Which he transmitted to his posterity. The standard stone and the equalizing quarter. Were in the royal treasury. Wildly have we dropt the clue he gave us, Overturning our temple, and extinguishing our sacrifices.’ * The fifth said, ‘Oh! whither shall we turn? The thoughts in my breast make me sad. All the people are hostile to us ; On whom can we rely ? . Anxieties crowd together in our hearts ; Thick as are our faces, they are covered with blushes. We have not been careful of our virtue ; And though we repent, we cannot overtake the past.’
1 The lord of Théo and Thang is Y4o, who was lord of the principalities of Thao and Thang, but of which first and which last is uncertain, before his accession to the throne. 7 is the At au of the Tribute of Yi.
BOOK Iv. THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION OF YIN. 81
Book IV. Tue Punitive Expepition or YIN.
7 is the At au of the Tribute of Yi.
BOOK Iv. THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION OF YIN. 81
Book IV. Tue Punitive Expepition or YIN.
Tus Book is another of the ‘Speeches’ of the Shd, belonging to the reign of Kung Khang, a brother of Thai Khang, the fourth of the kings of Shang (B. c. 2159-2147).
Hsi and Ho, the principal ministers of the Board of Astronomy, descended from those of the same name in the time of Y4o, had given themselves over to licentious indulgence in their private cities, and grossly neglected their duties. Especially had they been unobservant of an eclipse of the sun in autumn. The king considered them worthy of death, and commissioned the marquis of Yin to execute on them the sentence of his justice. Where Yin was is not now known.
The principal part of the Book consists of the speech made by the marquis to his troops.
1. When Kung Khang commenced his reign over all within the four seas, the marquis of Yin was commissioned to take charge of the (king's) six hosts. (At this time) the Hst and Ho had neglected the duties of their office, and were abandoned to drink in: their (private) cities; and the marquis of Yin received the king’s charge to go and punish them.
2. He made an announcement to his hosts, saying, ‘Ah! ye, all my men, there are the well-counselled instructions of the sage (founder of our dynasty), clearly verified in their power to give stability and security :—‘ The former kings were carefully attentive to the warnings of Heaven!,* and their ministers observed the regular laws (of their offices). All the officers (moreover) watchfully did their duty to
1 That is, here, such warnings as were supposed to be conveyed by eclipses and other unusual celestial phenomena.
[rt] G
82 THE SHO KING. PART Il.
assist (the government), and their sovereign became entirely intelligent.” Every year, in the first month of spring, the herald, with his wooden-tongued bell, goes along the roads}, (proclaiming), “ Ye officers able to instruct, be prepared with your admonitions. Ye workmen engaged in mechanical affairs, remonstrate on the subjects of your employments. If any of you do not attend with respect (to this requirement), the country has regular punishments for you.”
Ye workmen engaged in mechanical affairs, remonstrate on the subjects of your employments. If any of you do not attend with respect (to this requirement), the country has regular punishments for you.”
§ Similar observances are still practised on occasion of an eclipse of the sun. See Biot’s Etudes sur |’Astronomie Indienne et Chinoise, pp. 357-360.
ROOK Iv. THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION OF YIN. 83 reckoning) is behind the time, let them be put to death without mercy.”
‘ Now I, with you all, am entrusted with the execution of the punishment appointed by Heaven.* Unite your strength, all of you warriors, for the royal House. Give me your help, I pray you, reverently to carry out the dread charge of the Son of Heaven.
‘When the fire blazes over the ridge of Khwan', gems and stones are burned together; but if a minister of Heaven exceed in doing his duty, the consequences will be fiercer than blazing fire. While I destroy, (therefore), the chief criminals, I will not punish those who have been forced to follow them ; and those who have long been stained by their filthy manners will be allowed to renovate themselves.
‘Oh! when sternness overcomes compassion, things are surely conducted to a successful issue. When compassion overcomes sternness, no merit can be achieved. All ye, my warriors, exert yourselves, and take warning, (and obey my orders)!’
1 Khw&n is perhaps a part of the Khw&an-lun mountain in the west of the Ko-ko-nor, where the Ho has its sources. The speaker evidently thought of it as volcanic.
G 2
PART IV. THE BOOKS OF SHANG.
Book I. THe SpEEcH oF THANG.
The speaker evidently thought of it as volcanic.
G 2
PART IV. THE BOOKS OF SHANG.
Book I. THe SpEEcH oF THANG.
SHane was the name under which the dynasty that superseded Hsia (B.c. 1766) held the kingdom for fully 300 years. Yin then began to be used as well as Shang, and the dynasty was called indifferently Shang or Yin, and sometimes Yin-Shang by a combination of the two names. The ruling House traced its origin into the remote times of antiquity, through Hsieh, whose appointment by Shun to be Minister of Instruction is related in the Canon of Shun. For his services Hsieh was invested with the principality of Shang, corresponding to the present small department of the same name in Shen-hst. From MUsieh to Thang, the founder of the dynasty, there are reckoned fourteen generations, and we find Thang, when he first becomes prominent in history, a long way from the ancestral fief, in ‘the southern Po,’ corresponding to the present district of Shang-AAi0, department Kwei-teh, Ho-nan. The title of the dynasty, however, was derived from the original Shang.
There were in the Sh, when the collection was formed, thirty-one documents of Shang in forty Books, of which only eleven remain in seventeen Books, two of them containing each three parts or sections. The Speech of Thang, that is now the first Book in the Part, was originally only the sixth. Thang was the designation of the hero, whose surname, dating from Hsieh, was 3ze, and name Lf. Thang may be translated, ‘the Glorious One.’ His common style in history is as Khang Thang, ‘Thang the Completer,’ or ‘ Thang the Successful.’
He had summoned his people to take the field with him against Kieh, the cruel and doomed sovereign of Hsia, and finding them backward to the enterprise, he sets forth in this Book his reasons for attacking the tyrant, argues against their reluctance, using in the end both promises and threats to induce them to obey his orders,
BOOK 1. THE SPEECH OF THANG. 85
The king said, ‘Come, ye multitudes of the people, listen all to my words. It is not I, the little child}, who dare to undertake a rebellious enterprise; but for the many crimes of the sovereign of Hsia, Heaven has given the charge to destroy him.*
‘ Now, ye multitudes, you are saying, “Our prince does not compassionate us, but (is calling us) away from our husbandry to attack and punish Hsia.” I have indeed heard (these) words of you all; (but) the sovereign of Hsia is guilty, and, as I fear God, I dare not but punish him.*
‘Now you are saying, ‘“‘ What are the crimes of Hsia to us?” The king of Hsia in every way exhausts the strength of his people, and exercises oppression in the cities of Hsia. His multitudes are become entirely indifferent (to his service), and feel no bond of union (to him). They are saying, “When wilt thou, O sun, expire? We will all perish with thee®.”” Such is the course of (the sovereign) of Hsi4, and now I must go (and punish him).
His multitudes are become entirely indifferent (to his service), and feel no bond of union (to him). They are saying, “When wilt thou, O sun, expire? We will all perish with thee®.”” Such is the course of (the sovereign) of Hsi4, and now I must go (and punish him).
‘Assist, I pray you, me, the One man, to carry out the punishment appointed by Heaven. I will greatly reward you. On no account disbelieve me ;— I will not eat my words. If you do not obey the words which I have thus spoken to you, I will put
1 «The little child’ is a designation used humbly of themselves by the kings of Shang and Kau. It is given also to them and others by such great ministers as f Yin and the duke of X4u.
3 Kieh, it is said, had on one occasion, when told of the danger he was incurring by his cruelties, pointed to the sun, and said that as surely as the sun was in the heavens, so firm was he on the throne.
86 THE SHO KING. PART Iv.
your children to death with you ;—you shall find no forgiveness.’
Book IJ. THe ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUNG-HUI.
Tuts Book is the first of the ‘Announcements,’ which form a large class of the documents in the Shi. They are distinguished from the Speeches, as being made in a general assembly, or published, for the information of all, whereas the Speeches were Made to an army.
Kung-hui, of an old family, whose surname was Zan, with its seat in the territory of Hsieh, corresponding to the present district of Thang, department Yen-Aau, Shan-tung, was a minister of Thang. Thang has been successful against Xieh, and dethroned him, but is haunted by some feeling of remorse, and afraid that what he has done may be appealed to in future ages as an apology for rebellion. This gives occasion to the Announcement, in which Xung-hui vindicates the proceeding of the king, showing, first, that he had only obeyed the guidance of Heaven, and, then, that men consented with Heaven in the matter. He concludes with various counsels addressed to the king.
1. When Thang the Successful was keeping Kieh in banishment in Nan-£440', he had a feeling of shame on account of his conduct, and said, ‘I am afraid that in future ages men will fill their mouths with me, (as an apology for their rebellious proceedings.) ’
2. On this Xung-hui made the following announcement: ‘Oh! Heaven gives birth to the people with (such) desires, that without a ruler they must fall into all disorders; and Heaven again gives birth
1 Nan-Ahdo is identified with the present district of Kao, department LQ-A4u, An-hui.
BOOK Il. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF KUNG-HUI. 87
Heaven gives birth to the people with (such) desires, that without a ruler they must fall into all disorders; and Heaven again gives birth
1 Nan-Ahdo is identified with the present district of Kao, department LQ-A4u, An-hui.
BOOK Il. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF KUNG-HUI. 87 to the man of intelligence to regulate them.* The sovereign of Hsia had his virtue all-obscured, and the people were (as if they had fallen) amid mire and (burning) charcoal. Heaven hereupon gifted (our) king with valour and prudence, to serve as a sign and director to the myriad regions, and to continue the old ways of Yii. You are now (only) following the proper course, honouring and obeying the appointment of Heaven. The king of Hsia was an offender, falsely and calumniously alleging the sanction of supreme Heaven, to spread abroad his commands among the people. On this account God viewed him with disapprobation, caused our Shang to receive his appointment, and employed (you) to enlighten the multitudes (of the people).’ *
3. ‘Contemners of the worthy and parasites of the powerful,—many such followers he had indeed ; (but) from the first our country was to the sovereign of Hsia like weeds among the springing corn, and blasted grains among the good. (Our people), great and small; were in constant apprehension, fearful though they were guilty of no crime. How much more was this the case, when our (prince’s) virtues became a theme (eagerly) listened to! Our king did not approach to (dissolute) music and women ; he did not seek to accumulate property and wealth. To great virtue he gave great offices, and to great merit great rewards. He employed others as if (their excellences) were his own; he was not slow to change his errors. Rightly indulgent and rightly benevolent, from the display (of such virtue), confidence was reposed in him by the millions of the people.
88 THE suo KING. PART Iv.
‘When the earl of Ko! showed his enmity to the provision-carriers, the work of punishment began with Ko. When it went on in the east, the wild tribes of the west murmured; when it went on in the south, those of the north murmured :—they said, “Why does he make us alone the last ?” To whatever people he went, they congratulated one another in their families, saying, “We have waited for our prince; our prince is come, and we revive.” The people’s honouring our Shang is a thing of long existence.’
4. ‘Show favour to the able and right-principled (among the princes), and aid the virtuous; distinguish the loyal, and let the good have free course. Absorb the weak, and punish the wilfully blind; take their states from the disorderly, and deal summarily with those going to ruin. When you (thus) accelerate the end of what is (of itself) ready to perish, and strengthen what is itself strong to live, how will the states all flourish! When (a sovereign’s) virtue is daily being renewed, he is cherished throughout the myriad regions; when his mind is full (only) of himself, he is abandoned by the nine branches of his kindred. Exert yourself, O king, to make your virtue (still more) illustrious, and set up (the standard of) the Mean before the people. Order your affairs
1 Ko was a principality corresponding to the present district of Ning-ling, department of Kwei-teh, Ho-nan. It was thus near the southern Po, which belonged to Thang. Mencius tells us (III, ii, ch. 3) that Thang sent a multitude of his people to assist the farmers of Ko, about the poor produce of which their chief had lamented to him. That chief, however, instead of showing any gratitude, surprised and robbed those who were carrying provisions from Po to the labourers in the field, and committed various atrocities upon them. This aroused Thang’s indignation, and he made him the first object of his punitive justice.
BOOK III. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THANG. 89
by righteousness; order your heart by propriety ;— so shall you transmit a grand example to posterity. I have heard the saying, “ He who finds instructors for himself, comes to the supreme dominion; he who says that others are not equal to himself, comes to ruin. He who likes to put questions, becomes enlarged; he who uses only his ‘own views, becomes smaller (than he was).” Oh! he who would take care for the end must be attentive to the beginning. There is establishment for the observers of propriety, and overthrow for the blinded and wantonly indifferent. To revere and honour the path prescribed by Heaven is the way ever to preserve the favouring appointment of Heaven.’ *
Book III. Tue ANNouNCEMENT OF THANG.
Tuane had made an end of the dynasty of Hsia, and returned to Po, when he issued this Announcement, which may be considered as a solemn inauguration of the new dynasty. He shows how he had taken possession of the throne in reverent submission to the will of Heaven, what appreciation he had of the duties devolving on him, and the spirit in which he would discharge them. In the end he calls on the princes and the people to sympathize and co-operate with him.
1. When the king returned from vanquishing Hsia and came to Po, he made a grand announcement to the myriad regions.
2. The king said, ‘Ah! ye multitudes of the myriad regions, listen clearly to the announcement of me, the One man!. The great God has conferred
1. When the king returned from vanquishing Hsia and came to Po, he made a grand announcement to the myriad regions.
2. The king said, ‘Ah! ye multitudes of the myriad regions, listen clearly to the announcement of me, the One man!. The great God has conferred
1 «The One man’ has occurred before, in the Songs of the Five Sons, as a designation of the sovereign. It continues to be so to the present day.
p. 90
(even) on the inferior people a moral sense, compliance with which would show their nature invariably right.* To make them tranquilly pursue the course which it would indicate is the work of the sovereign.
‘The king of Hsia extinguished his virtue, and played the tyrant, extending his oppression over you, the people of the myriad regions. Suffering from his cruel injuries, and unable to endure the wormwood and poison, you protested with one accord your innocence to the spirits of heaven and earth.* The way of Heaven is to bless the good, and make the bad miserable. It sent down calamities on (the House of) Hsia, to make manifest its guilt. Therefore I, the little child, charged with the decree of Heaven and its bright terrors, did not dare to forgive (the criminal). I presumed to use a dark-coloured victimbull, and, making clear announcement to the Spiritual Sovereign in the high heavens?, requested leave to deal with the ruler of Hsia as a criminal.* Then I sought for the great Sage *, with whom I might unite my strength, to request the favour (of Heaven) for you, my multitudes. High Heaven truly showed its favour to the inferior people, and the criminal has been degraded and subjected. What Heaven appoints is without error ;—brilliantly (now), like the blossoming of plants and trees, the millions of the people show a true reviving.’ *
3. ‘It is given to me, the One man, to secure the
’ For ‘the Spiritual Sovereign in the high heavens,’ we have in the Confucian Analects, XX, 1, professing to quote this passage, ‘the most great and Sovereign God.’
2 <The great Sage’ must be f Yin, Thang’s chief adviser and minister, who appears prominently in the next Book.
BOOK III. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THANG. gI
BOOK III. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THANG. gI harmony and tranquillity of your states and clans ; and now I know not whether I may not offend against (the Powers) above and below.* I am fearful and trembling, as if I were in danger of falling into a deep abyss. Throughout all the regions that enter on a new life under me, do not, (ye princes), follow lawless ways ; make no approach to insolence and dissoluteness ; let every one be careful to keep his statutes ;—that so we may receive the favour of Heaven.* The good in you I will not dare to keep concealed; and for the evil in me I will not dare to forgive myself. I will examine these things in harmony with the mind of God.* When guilt is found anywhere in you who occupy the myriad regions, let it rest on me, the One man’. When guilt is found in me, the One man, it shall not attach to you who occupy the myriad regions.
‘Oh! let us attain to be sincere in these things, and so we shall likewise have a (happy) consummation.’
1 There was a tradition in the Xau dynasty, given with variations by Hsiin-3ze, Sze-m4 A‘Aien, and others, which may be quoted to illustrate these noble sentiments of Thang. For seven years after his accession to the throne, B. c. 1766-1760, there was a great drought and famine. It was suggested at last that some human being should be offered in sacrifice to Heaven, and prayer made for rain. Thang said, ‘Ifa man must be the victim, I will be he.’ He fasted, cut off his hair and nails, and in a plain carriage, drawn by white horses, clad in rushes, in the guise of a sacrificial victim, he proceeded to a forest of mulberry trees, and there prayed, asking to what error or crime of his the calamity was owing. He had not done speaking when a copious rain fell.
p. 92
Boox IV. Tue Instructions or f.
He had not done speaking when a copious rain fell.
p. 92
Boox IV. Tue Instructions or f.
Tuane died in B.c. 1754 or 1753, and was succeeded, so far as the evidence of the ShQ goes, by his grandson, known as Thai Xia. The chief minister of Thang had been f Yin, who delivers these Instructions to his young sovereign soon after his accession. ft was a great and wise man, ‘a great sage,’ as Thang calls him in the last Book, and is classed by Mencius among other celebrated ministers as ‘the one most inclined to take office.’ He reasons thus :—‘ Heaven’s plan with mankind is that they who are first informed should instruct those who are later in being informed, and they who first apprehend principles should instruct those who are later in doing so.’ He thought he was one of the former class, and a fire burned within him, impelling him to seek for office with a view to benefit the ignorant and erring. There were many legends about him in the times of Kau. He was surnamed f, from having been born near the river of that name, an affluent of the Ho. His name is said to pave been Xih, and also A-hing (see the beginning of next Book). Yin was his designation. Thang had, probably, entrusted to him the guardianship of his grandson, and so he now went over the history of the kingdom from Yi, till it was transferred from the line of Hsia to that of Shang, celebrated the virtues of Thang and his government, and warned the young king of the fate that he must incur, if he neglected the instructions given to him.
1. In the twelfth month of the first year, on (the day) Yt-244u, { Yin sacrificed to the former king, and presented the heir-king reverently before (the shrine of) his grandfather.* All the princes from the domain of the nobles and the royal domain were present; all the officers (also), each continuing to discharge his particular duties, were there to receive the orders of the chief minister. { Yin then clearly described the complete virtue of the Meritorious Ancestor for the instruction of the (young) king.
BOOK IV. THE INSTRUCTIONS OF f. 93
{ Yin then clearly described the complete virtue of the Meritorious Ancestor for the instruction of the (young) king.
BOOK IV. THE INSTRUCTIONS OF f. 93
2. He said, ‘Oh! of old the former kings of Hsia cultivated earnestly their virtue, and then there were no calamities from Heaven. The spirits of the hills and rivers likewise were all in tranquillity; and the birds and beasts, the fishes and tortoises, all enjoyed their existence according to their nature.* But their descendant did not follow (their example), and great Heaven sent down calamities, employing the agency of our (ruler) who was in possession of its favouring appointment.* The attack (on Hsia) may be traced to (the orgies in) Ming-thido, but our (rise) began in Po. Our king of Shang brilliantly displayed his sagely prowess ; for oppression he substituted his generous gentleness; and the millions of the people gave him their hearts. Now your Majesty is entering on the inheritance of his virtue ;—all depends on (how) you commence your reign. To set up love, it is for you to love (your relations) ; to set up respect, it is for you to respect (your elders). The commencement is in the family and the state; the consummation is in (all within) the four seas.’
3. ‘Oh! the former king began with careful attention to the bonds that hold men together. He listened to expostulation, and did not seek to resist it; he conformed to (the wisdom of) the ancients; occupying the highest position, he displayed intelligence ; occupying an inferior position, . he displayed his loyalty; he allowed (the good qualities of) the men (whom he employed), and did
1 Ming-thido was a place not far from the capital of Xieh (in the present district of An-yi, Hai Kau, Shan-hsi). He had a palace there, where the vilest orgies were celebrated that alienated the minds of the people from him,p. 94 not seek that they should have every talent ; in the government of himself, he seemed to think that he could never (sufficiently) attain. It was thus he arrived at the possession of the myriad regions.— How painstaking was he in these things!
PART IV.
not seek that they should have every talent ; in the government of himself, he seemed to think that he could never (sufficiently) attain. It was thus he arrived at the possession of the myriad regions.— How painstaking was he in these things!
‘He extensively sought out wise men, who should be helpful to you, his descendant and heir. He laid down the punishments for officers, and warned those who were in authority, saying, “If you dare to have constant dancing in your palaces, and drunken singing in your chambers,—that is called the fashion of sorcerers; if you dare to set your hearts on wealth and women, and abandon yourselves to wandering about or to the chase,—that is called the fashion of extravagance; if you dare to despise sage words, to resist the loyal and upright, to put far from you the aged and virtuous, and to seek the company of procacious ‘youths,— that is called the fashion of disorder. Now if a high noble or officer be addicted to one of these three fashions with their ten evil ways!, his family will surely come to ruin; if the prince of a country be so addicted, his state will surely come to ruin. The minister who does not (try to) correct (such vices in the sovereign) shall be punished with branding.” These rules were minutely inculcated (also) on the sons of offrcers and nobles in their lessons.’
4. ‘Oh! do you, who now succeed to the throne, revere (these warnings) in your person. Think of
1 The ‘ten evil ways’ are those mentioned in connexion with the three evil fashions ;—two under the sorcerers’ fashion, and four under each of the other two fashions,
BOOK V. THE THAI xiA. 95
them !—sacred counsels of vast importance, admirable words forcibly set forth! (The ways) of God are not invariable:—on the good-doer he sends down all blessings, and on the evil-doer he sends ‘down all miseries.*¥ Do you but be virtuous, be it in small things (or in large), and the myriad regions will have cause for rejoicing. If you be not virtuous, be it in large things (or in small), it will bring the ruin of your ancestral temple.’