Fetching
One moment.
Fetching
One moment.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1126 THE SHO KING. PART V. women. Great Heaven was moved with indignation, and charged my deceased father Wan to display its terrors; but (he died) before the work was completed.* ‘On this account, I, F4, the little child, have by means of you, the hereditary rulers of my friendly states, contemplated the government of Shang; but Shau has no repentant heart. He sits squatting on his heels, not serving God nor the spirits of heaven and earth, neglecting also the temple of his ancestors, and not sacrificing in it.* The victims and the vessels of millet all become the prey of wicked robbers, and still he says, “ The people are mine; the (heavenly) appointment is mine,” never trying to correct his contemptuous mind.* ‘ Heaven, for the help of the inferior people, made for them rulers, and made for them instructors, that they might be able to be aiding to God, and secure the tranquillity of the four quarters (of the kingdom). In regard to who are criminals and who are not, how dare I give any allowance to my own wishes ? * ‘Where the strength is the same, measure the virtue of the parties; where the virtue is the same, measure their righteousness.” Sh4u has hundreds of thousands and myriads of officers, but they have hundreds of thousands and myriads of minds; I have (but) three thousand officers, but they have one mind. The iniquity of Shang is full. Heaven gives command to destroy it. If 1 did not obey Heaven, my iniquity would be as great.* ‘I, the little child, early and late am filled with apprehensions. I have received the command of my deceased father Win; I have offered special sacrifice to God; I have performed the due ser- BOOK I. THE GREAT DECLARATION. 127 vices to the great earth; and I lead the multitude of you to execute the punishment appointed by Heaven.* Heaven compassionates the people. What the people desire, Heaven will be found to give effect to.* Do you aid me, the One man, to cleanse for ever (all within) the four seas. Now is the time!—It should not be lost.’ Section 2. On (the day) Wa-wi!, the king halted on the north of the Ho. When all the princes with their hosts were assembled, the king reviewed the hosts, and made the following declaration :—‘ Oh! ye multitudes of the west, hearken all to my words. ‘I have heard that the good man, doing good, finds the day insufficient; and that the evil man, doing evil, also finds the day insufficient. Now Shau, the king of Shang, with strength pursues his lawless way. He has driven away the timeworn sires, and cultivates intimacies with wicked men. Dissolute, intemperate, reckless, oppressive, his ministers have become assimilated to him; and they form combinations and contract animosities, and depend on their power to exterminate one another. The innocent cry to Heaven. The odour of such a state is felt on high.* ‘Heaven loves the people, and the sovereign should reverently carry out (this mind of) Heaven. Kieh, the sovereign of Hsia, would not follow the
2The innocent cry to Heaven. The odour of such a state is felt on high.* ‘Heaven loves the people, and the sovereign should reverently carry out (this mind of) Heaven. Kieh, the sovereign of Hsia, would not follow the 1 In Book iii we are told that WA commenced his march to attack K4u-hsin, on Kwei-#, the 2nd day of the moon. Calculating on to the day Wf-wf, we find that it was the 28th day of the same moon. — 128 THE SHO KING. PART V. example of Heaven, but sent forth his poisonous injuries through the states of the kingdom :—Heaven therefore gave its aid to Thang the Successful, and charged him to make an end of the appointment of Hsia.* But the crimes of Shau exceed those of Kieh. He has degraded from office the greatly good man’; he has behaved with cruel tyranny to his reprover and helper?. He says that with him is the appointment of Heaven; he says that a reverent care of his conduct is not worth observing ; he says that sacrifice is of no use; he says that tyranny isno harm.* The beacon for him to look to was not far off ;—it was that king of Hsia. It would seem that Heaven is going by means of me to rule the people. My dreams coincide with my divinations ; the auspicious omen is double.* My attack on Shang must succeed. ‘Sh4u has hundreds of thousands and millions of ordinary men, divided in heart and divided in practice ;—I have of ministers, able to govern, ten men &, one in heart and one in practice. Though he has his nearest relatives with him, they are not like my virtuous men. Heaven sees as my people see; Heaven hears as my people hear.* The people are blaming me, the One man, for my delay ;—I must now go forward. My military prowess is displayed, and I enter his territories to take the wicked tyrant. My punishment (of evil) will be great, and more glorious than that executed by Thang. Rouse ye, 1 The count of Wei. 2 Pi-kan. 5 Confucius tells us, in the Analects, VIII, xx, that one of these ten was a woman; but whether the lady was W0’s wife or mother is disputed. BOOK I. THE GREAT DECLARATION. 129 my heroes! Do not think that he is not to be feared ;—better think that he cannot be withstood. (His) people stand in trembling awe of him, as if the horns were falling from their heads. Oh! unite your energies, unite your hearts ;—so shall you forthwith surely accomplish the work, to last for all ages!’ Section 3. The time was on the morrow, when the king went round his six hosts in state, and made a clear declaration to all his officers. He said, ‘Oh! my valiant men of the west, from Heaven are the illustrious courses of duty, of which the (several) requirements are quite plain. And now Shau, the king of Shang, treats with contemptuous slight the five regular (virtues), and abandons himself to wild idleness and irreverence. He has cut himself off from Heaven, and brought enmity between himself and the people. *
3And now Shau, the king of Shang, treats with contemptuous slight the five regular (virtues), and abandons himself to wild idleness and irreverence. He has cut himself off from Heaven, and brought enmity between himself and the people. * ‘ He cut through the leg-bones of those who were wading in the morning; he cut out the heart of the worthy man?, By the use of his power, killing and murdering, he has poisoned and sickened all within the four seas. His honours and confidence are given to the villainous and bad. He has driven from him his instructors and guardians. He has thrown to the winds the statutes and penal laws. He has imprisoned and enslaved the upright officer’. He neglects the sacrifices to heaven and earth. He 1 This was in winter. Observing some people then wading through a stream, X4u-hsin caused their legs to be, cut through at the shank-bone, that he might see their marrow. * Pi-kan. ® The count of K4Ai; see Book iv. [1] K 130 THE SHO KING. PART V. has discontinued the offerings in the ancestral temple. He makes contrivances of wonderful device and extraordinary cunning to please his wife’—God will no longer indulge him, but with a curse is sending down on him this ruin.* Do ye with untiring zeal support me, the One man, reverently to execute the punishment appointed by Heaven. The ancients have said, “ He who soothes us is our sovereign; he who oppresses us is our enemy.” This solitary fellow Sh4u, having exercised great tyranny, is your perpetual enemy. (It is said again), “In planting (a man’s) virtue, strive to make it great; in putting away (a man’s) wickedness, strive to do it from the roots.” Here I, the little child, by the powerful help of you, all my officers, will utterly exterminate your enemy. Do you, all my officers, march forward with determined boldness to sustain your prince. Where there is much merit, there shall be large reward; where you do not so advance, there shall be conspicuous disgrace. ‘Oh! (the virtue of) my deceased father Wan was like the shining of the sun and moon. His brightness extended over the four quarters of the land, and shone signally in the western region. Hence it is that our Au has received (the allegiance of) many states. If I subdue Shau, it will not be from my prowess, but from the faultless (virtue of) my deceased father Wan. If Shau subdue me, it will not be from any fault of my deceased father Wan, but because I, the little child, am not good.’ 1 The notorious Ta-A, the accounts of whose shameless wickedness and atrocious cruelties almost exceed belief. BOOK II. THE SPEECH AT MO. 131 Boox II. Tue Sprecu at Mo. Ir is the morning of the day of battle, for which the king has prepared his host by the three speeches of the last Book. Once more he addresses his confederate princes, his officers, and his men. He sets forth more briefly the intolerable wickedness of Sh4u, and instructs and warns his troops how they are to behave in the fight.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1126 THE SHO KING. PART V. women. Great Heaven was moved with indignation, and charged my deceased father Wan to display its terrors; but (he died) before the work was completed.* ‘On this account, I, F4, the little child, have by means of you, the hereditary rulers of my friendly states, contemplated the government of Shang; but Shau has no repentant heart. He sits squatting on his heels, not serving God nor the spirits of heaven and earth, neglecting also the temple of his ancestors, and not sacrificing in it.* The victims and the vessels of millet all become the prey of wicked robbers, and still he says, “ The people are mine; the (heavenly) appointment is mine,” never trying to correct his contemptuous mind.* ‘ Heaven, for the help of the inferior people, made for them rulers, and made for them instructors, that they might be able to be aiding to God, and secure the tranquillity of the four quarters (of the kingdom). In regard to who are criminals and who are not, how dare I give any allowance to my own wishes ? * ‘Where the strength is the same, measure the virtue of the parties; where the virtue is the same, measure their righteousness.” Sh4u has hundreds of thousands and myriads of officers, but they have hundreds of thousands and myriads of minds; I have (but) three thousand officers, but they have one mind. The iniquity of Shang is full. Heaven gives command to destroy it. If 1 did not obey Heaven, my iniquity would be as great.* ‘I, the little child, early and late am filled with apprehensions. I have received the command of my deceased father Win; I have offered special sacrifice to God; I have performed the due ser- BOOK I. THE GREAT DECLARATION. 127 vices to the great earth; and I lead the multitude of you to execute the punishment appointed by Heaven.* Heaven compassionates the people. What the people desire, Heaven will be found to give effect to.* Do you aid me, the One man, to cleanse for ever (all within) the four seas. Now is the time!—It should not be lost.’ Section 2. On (the day) Wa-wi!, the king halted on the north of the Ho. When all the princes with their hosts were assembled, the king reviewed the hosts, and made the following declaration :—‘ Oh! ye multitudes of the west, hearken all to my words. ‘I have heard that the good man, doing good, finds the day insufficient; and that the evil man, doing evil, also finds the day insufficient. Now Shau, the king of Shang, with strength pursues his lawless way. He has driven away the timeworn sires, and cultivates intimacies with wicked men. Dissolute, intemperate, reckless, oppressive, his ministers have become assimilated to him; and they form combinations and contract animosities, and depend on their power to exterminate one another. The innocent cry to Heaven. The odour of such a state is felt on high.* ‘Heaven loves the people, and the sovereign should reverently carry out (this mind of) Heaven. Kieh, the sovereign of Hsia, would not follow the
2The innocent cry to Heaven. The odour of such a state is felt on high.* ‘Heaven loves the people, and the sovereign should reverently carry out (this mind of) Heaven. Kieh, the sovereign of Hsia, would not follow the 1 In Book iii we are told that WA commenced his march to attack K4u-hsin, on Kwei-#, the 2nd day of the moon. Calculating on to the day Wf-wf, we find that it was the 28th day of the same moon. — 128 THE SHO KING. PART V. example of Heaven, but sent forth his poisonous injuries through the states of the kingdom :—Heaven therefore gave its aid to Thang the Successful, and charged him to make an end of the appointment of Hsia.* But the crimes of Shau exceed those of Kieh. He has degraded from office the greatly good man’; he has behaved with cruel tyranny to his reprover and helper?. He says that with him is the appointment of Heaven; he says that a reverent care of his conduct is not worth observing ; he says that sacrifice is of no use; he says that tyranny isno harm.* The beacon for him to look to was not far off ;—it was that king of Hsia. It would seem that Heaven is going by means of me to rule the people. My dreams coincide with my divinations ; the auspicious omen is double.* My attack on Shang must succeed. ‘Sh4u has hundreds of thousands and millions of ordinary men, divided in heart and divided in practice ;—I have of ministers, able to govern, ten men &, one in heart and one in practice. Though he has his nearest relatives with him, they are not like my virtuous men. Heaven sees as my people see; Heaven hears as my people hear.* The people are blaming me, the One man, for my delay ;—I must now go forward. My military prowess is displayed, and I enter his territories to take the wicked tyrant. My punishment (of evil) will be great, and more glorious than that executed by Thang. Rouse ye, 1 The count of Wei. 2 Pi-kan. 5 Confucius tells us, in the Analects, VIII, xx, that one of these ten was a woman; but whether the lady was W0’s wife or mother is disputed. BOOK I. THE GREAT DECLARATION. 129 my heroes! Do not think that he is not to be feared ;—better think that he cannot be withstood. (His) people stand in trembling awe of him, as if the horns were falling from their heads. Oh! unite your energies, unite your hearts ;—so shall you forthwith surely accomplish the work, to last for all ages!’ Section 3. The time was on the morrow, when the king went round his six hosts in state, and made a clear declaration to all his officers. He said, ‘Oh! my valiant men of the west, from Heaven are the illustrious courses of duty, of which the (several) requirements are quite plain. And now Shau, the king of Shang, treats with contemptuous slight the five regular (virtues), and abandons himself to wild idleness and irreverence. He has cut himself off from Heaven, and brought enmity between himself and the people. *
3And now Shau, the king of Shang, treats with contemptuous slight the five regular (virtues), and abandons himself to wild idleness and irreverence. He has cut himself off from Heaven, and brought enmity between himself and the people. * ‘ He cut through the leg-bones of those who were wading in the morning; he cut out the heart of the worthy man?, By the use of his power, killing and murdering, he has poisoned and sickened all within the four seas. His honours and confidence are given to the villainous and bad. He has driven from him his instructors and guardians. He has thrown to the winds the statutes and penal laws. He has imprisoned and enslaved the upright officer’. He neglects the sacrifices to heaven and earth. He 1 This was in winter. Observing some people then wading through a stream, X4u-hsin caused their legs to be, cut through at the shank-bone, that he might see their marrow. * Pi-kan. ® The count of K4Ai; see Book iv. [1] K 130 THE SHO KING. PART V. has discontinued the offerings in the ancestral temple. He makes contrivances of wonderful device and extraordinary cunning to please his wife’—God will no longer indulge him, but with a curse is sending down on him this ruin.* Do ye with untiring zeal support me, the One man, reverently to execute the punishment appointed by Heaven. The ancients have said, “ He who soothes us is our sovereign; he who oppresses us is our enemy.” This solitary fellow Sh4u, having exercised great tyranny, is your perpetual enemy. (It is said again), “In planting (a man’s) virtue, strive to make it great; in putting away (a man’s) wickedness, strive to do it from the roots.” Here I, the little child, by the powerful help of you, all my officers, will utterly exterminate your enemy. Do you, all my officers, march forward with determined boldness to sustain your prince. Where there is much merit, there shall be large reward; where you do not so advance, there shall be conspicuous disgrace. ‘Oh! (the virtue of) my deceased father Wan was like the shining of the sun and moon. His brightness extended over the four quarters of the land, and shone signally in the western region. Hence it is that our Au has received (the allegiance of) many states. If I subdue Shau, it will not be from my prowess, but from the faultless (virtue of) my deceased father Wan. If Shau subdue me, it will not be from any fault of my deceased father Wan, but because I, the little child, am not good.’ 1 The notorious Ta-A, the accounts of whose shameless wickedness and atrocious cruelties almost exceed belief. BOOK II. THE SPEECH AT MO. 131 Boox II. Tue Sprecu at Mo. Ir is the morning of the day of battle, for which the king has prepared his host by the three speeches of the last Book. Once more he addresses his confederate princes, his officers, and his men. He sets forth more briefly the intolerable wickedness of Sh4u, and instructs and warns his troops how they are to behave in the fight.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
No commentary for this page.