Book of Yu: Counsels of Gao Yao, Part Four
曰若稽古皋陶曰：“允迪厥德，謨明弼諧。”禹曰：“俞，如何？”皋陶曰：“都！慎厥身，修思永。惇敘九族，庶明勵翼，邇可遠在茲。”禹拜昌言曰：“俞！”皋陶曰：“都！在知人，在安民。”禹曰：“籲！鹹若時，惟帝其難之。知人則哲，能官人。安民則惠，黎民懷之。能哲而惠，何憂乎驩兜？何遷乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？”皋陶曰：“都！亦行有九德。亦言，其人有德，乃言曰，載采采。”禹曰：“何？”皋陶曰：“寬而栗，柔而立，愿而恭，亂而敬，擾而毅，直而溫，簡而廉，剛而塞，強而義。彰厥有常，吉哉！日宣三德，夙夜浚明有家；日嚴祗敬六德，亮採有邦。翕受敷施，九德鹹事，俊乂在官。百僚師師，百工惟時，撫於五辰，庶績其凝。無教逸欲，有邦兢兢業業，一日二日萬幾。無曠庶官，天工，人其代之。天敘有典，敕我五典五惇哉！天秩有禮，自我五禮有庸哉！同寅協恭和衷哉！天命有德，五服五章哉！天討有罪，五刑五用哉！政事懋哉懋哉！”“天聰明，自我民聰明。天明畏，自我民明威。達於上下，敬哉有土！”皋陶曰：“朕言惠可厎行？”禹曰：“俞！乃言厎可績。”皋陶曰：“予未有知，思曰贊贊襄哉！”虞書益稷第五
Examining remote antiquity, Gao Yao said: "If one sincerely practices that virtue, one's counsel will be wise and one's assistance harmonious." Yu said: "Yes, how is it done?" Gao Yao said: "Ah! Be careful with yourself, and in cultivating yourself think of the long term. Treat the nine kinds of kin generously and put them in order, and the many worthy and wise will strive to assist you; the principle of reaching from near to far lies here." Yu bowed in thanks for these fine words and said: "Yes!" Gao Yao said: "Ah! The key lies in knowing people and in giving the people peace." Yu said: "Alas! To do all this, even Emperor Yao would have found it hard. Knowing people is wisdom, and only then can one employ people and give them office. Giving the people peace is kindness, and then the many people will cherish you. If one can be both wise and kind, why worry about Huan Dou? Why exile the Miao of You? Why fear the great treacherous ones with fine words and a hypocritical look?" Gao Yao said: "Ah! People's conduct has nine virtues. To say that someone has virtue, say: he has done such and such things." Yu said: "What are they?" Gao Yao said: "Generous yet dignified; gentle yet self-standing; honest yet respectful; capable of governing yet reverent; accommodating yet firm; upright yet mild; simple yet principled; strong yet substantial; brave yet righteous. When these are constantly kept and made evident, there is good fortune! If one proclaims three of these virtues each day and works at governing day and night, one can keep a family of a senior official; if one respectfully practices six of these virtues each day and assists in government, one can keep a state of a feudal lord. When all nine are received and universally carried out, there are people engaged in all nine, and outstanding talents are all in office. The hundred officials model themselves on each other, the hundred artisans all finish in due time, and following the four seasons and the stars, all kinds of achievements can be completed. Do not teach people to covet ease and desire; those who hold states must be anxious and diligent, for in a day or two there are ten thousand matters of consequence. Do not leave the offices vacant; Heaven's work is to be completed by people in its place. Heaven has arranged the constant relations, and exhorts us to enrich the five constant principles! Heaven has set the grades of ritual, and has us carry out the five rites regularly! Be reverent to one another, work together respectfully, and be of one heart! Heaven appoints those of virtue, with five kinds of robes and five kinds of ornament! Heaven punishes the guilty, with five punishments and five uses! In government, strive, strive!" He added: "Heaven's hearing and sight come from the hearing and sight of our people. Heaven's brightness and awe come from the brightness and dignity of our people. High and low are connected; lords who hold land must be careful!" Gao Yao said: "Are my words agreeable, and can they be put into practice?" Yu said: "Yes! Your words can be turned into results." Gao Yao said: "I have no knowledge; I only think of helping to accomplish, and helping again!" (At the end of this section the base text appends "Book of Yu, Yi and Ji, Part Five," a title of the next chapter that has slipped into the text.)
帝曰：“來，禹！汝亦昌言。”禹拜曰：“都！帝，予何言？予思日孜孜。”
Emperor Shun said: "Come, Yu! You too say some good words." Yu bowed and said: "Ah! Emperor, what should I say? I only think of being diligent every day without slackening."
皋陶曰：“籲！如何？”禹曰：“洪水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民昏墊。予乘四載，隨山刊木，暨益奏庶鮮食。予決九川，距四海，浚畎澮距川；暨稷播，奏庶艱食鮮食。懋遷有無，化居。烝民乃粒，萬邦作乂。”皋陶曰：“俞！師汝昌言。”
Gao Yao said: "Alas! How are you diligent?" Yu said: "The flood waters rose to the sky, vast and wide, surrounding the mountains and overflowing the hills, and the people below were submerged and drowned. I rode the four kinds of conveyance, followed the mountain ridges, and cut trees to mark the way, and together with Yi presented fresh birds, beasts, fish and turtles to the people. I opened channels for the great rivers of the nine provinces so they ran to the four seas, and dredged the field ditches so they ran to the great rivers; and together with Ji I sowed seed and presented hard-won grain and fresh meat to the people. I strove to exchange what was lacking for what was in surplus, trading and storing up. The many people could then eat grain, and the myriad states began to be governed." Gao Yao said: "Yes! One should follow these good words of yours."
禹曰：“都！帝，慎乃在位。”帝曰：“俞！禹曰：“安汝止，惟幾惟康。
Yu said: "Ah! Emperor, be careful of the position you occupy." Emperor Shun said: "Yes!" Yu said: "Be at peace in the place where you should stop, think about the subtle, and think about wellbeing.
其弼直，惟動丕應。徯志以昭受上帝，天其申命用休。”
(Yu continued:) Let your assistants be upright, and whenever you act there will be a great response. Wait with a clear heart to receive the Lord on High, and Heaven will again send down a fine mandate."
帝曰：“籲！臣哉鄰哉！鄰哉臣哉！”禹曰：“俞！”帝曰：“臣作朕股肱耳目。予欲左右有民，汝翼。予欲宣力四方，汝為。予欲觀古人之象，日、月、星辰、山、龍、華蟲、，作會；宗彝、藻、火、粉米、黼、黻，絺繡，以五采彰施於五色，作服，汝明。予欲聞六律五聲八音，在治忽，以出納五言，汝聽。予違，汝弼，汝無面從，退有後言。欽四鄰！庶頑讒說，若不在時，侯以明之，撻以記之，書用識哉，欲並生哉！工以納言，時而颺之，格則承之庸之，否則威之。”
Emperor Shun said: "Alas! My ministers, my neighbors! My neighbors, my ministers!" Yu said: "Yes!" Emperor Shun said: "My ministers are my thighs, arms, ears and eyes. I want to guide and help the people, and you assist me. I want to put effort into the four quarters, and you act. I want to look at the images of the ancients: sun, moon, stars, mountain, dragon and flowery fowl, made into painted decorations; the vessels of the ancestral temple, water weed, fire, grains of rice, the axe and the double-ji pattern, embroidered with fine kudzu cloth, applying the five colors in five hues to make ceremonial robes; you must make these clear. I want to hear the six pitch-pipes, five tones and eight kinds of instruments, and examine from them order and disorder, in order to announce and receive the words of the five regions; you must listen. If I go wrong, correct me; do not comply to my face and then speak behind my back after withdrawing. Be careful of those who attend at my sides! As for those stubborn ones who offer slander, if they cannot remain in office, they are shown up with the archery rite, made to remember the lesson by flogging, and recorded on tablets, wishing to let them live on together! The musicians are used to convey words; those that are timely are proclaimed, those who correct themselves are promoted, and those who do not are punished with awe."
禹曰：“俞哉！帝光天之下，至於海隅蒼生，萬邦黎獻，共惟帝臣，惟帝時舉。敷納以言，明庶以功，車服以庸。誰敢不讓，敢不敬應？帝不時敷，同，日奏，罔功。無若丹朱傲，惟慢遊是好，傲虐是作。罔晝夜頟頟，罔水行舟。朋淫於家，用殄厥世。予創若時，娶於塗山，辛壬癸甲。啟呱呱而泣，予弗子，惟荒度土功。弼成五服，至於五千。州十有二師，外薄四海，鹹建五長，各迪有功，苗頑弗即工，帝其念哉！”帝曰：“迪朕德，時乃功，惟敘。”
Yu said: "Yes! The Emperor's radiance is beneath Heaven, reaching to the common people at the ends of the sea, and the worthy of the myriad states are all the Emperor's ministers, only waiting for the Emperor to promote them in time. Receive their words widely, examine the multitude clearly by their achievements, and reward those with merit with carriages, horses and robes. Who would dare not be modest, and who would dare not respond respectfully? If the Emperor cannot employ them in time, and the worthy and foolish are mixed, and promotions are made day by day, there will be no achievement. Do not be arrogant like Danzhu, who only liked idleness and roaming, and did arrogant and cruel things. Day and night he clamored without rest, and sailed boats even where there was no water. He indulged in lewdness at home with a crowd, and so cut off his line. I take this as a warning: I married at Tushan, and left after four days, Xin, Ren, Gui and Jia. When Qi cried, I could not be a father to him, but busied myself with measuring the work of water and land. I helped complete the five zones, reaching five thousand li. Each province had twelve armies, and outwardly near the four seas, each had chiefs of the five grades established, each leading in merit, only the Miao people were stubborn and unwilling to come to work; the Emperor should remember this!" Emperor Shun said: "Guiding me with virtue, this is your merit; let it be so in good order."
皋陶方祗厥敘，方施象刑，惟明。
Gao Yao was reverently attending to that order, and putting into effect the symbolic punishments, very strictly and clearly.
夔曰：“戛擊鳴球、搏拊、琴、瑟、以詠。”祖考來格，虞賓在位，群后德讓。下管鼗鼓，合止柷敔，笙鏞以間。鳥獸蹌蹌；簫韶九成，鳳皇來儀。夔曰：“於！予擊石拊石，百獸率舞。”
Kui said: "Strike the ringing jade, the clapper, the zither and the lute, to accompany the singing." The ancestors came down to attend, the guests of Yu Shun were in their places, and the lords of all quarters yielded to one another in virtue. Below the hall, the pipes and the rattle-drums, with the zhu to start and the yu to stop the music, the reeds and the great bells alternating. Birds and beasts danced in stately steps; the Xiaoshao was performed through nine movements, and phoenixes came to show their forms. Kui said: "Ah! When I strike the stone chimes and tap the stone chimes lightly, the hundred beasts all follow in dance."
庶尹允諧，帝庸作歌。曰：“敕天之命，惟時惟幾。”乃歌曰：“股肱喜哉！元首起哉！百工熙哉！”皋陶拜手稽首颺言曰：“念哉！率作興事，慎乃憲，欽哉！屢省乃成，欽哉！”乃賡載歌曰：“元首明哉，股肱良哉，庶事康哉！”又歌曰：“元首叢脞哉，股肱惰哉，萬事墮哉！”帝拜曰：“俞，往欽哉！”夏書禹貢第一
The many officials were truly in harmony, and Emperor Shun therefore composed a song. He said: "Be careful of Heaven's command; at every moment and in every matter be cautious." Then he sang: "The limbs are joyful! The head is stirred! The hundred works flourish!" Gao Yao knelt and bowed with his forehead to the ground, and said loudly: "Remember this! Lead and undertake the work, be careful of your laws, be reverent! Examine repeatedly in order to succeed, be reverent!" Then he continued the song: "The head is wise, the limbs are good, and all affairs are at peace!" He sang again: "The head is petty, the limbs are lazy, and all affairs fall to ruin!" Emperor Shun bowed and said: "Yes, go, and be reverent!" (At the end of this section the base text appends "Book of Xia, Tribute of Yu, Part One," a title of the next chapter that has slipped into the text.)
禹別九州，隨山浚川，任土作貢。禹敷土，隨山刊木，奠高山大川。
Yu divided the nine provinces, following the mountains to dredge the rivers, and set the tribute according to the land. Yu laid out the land, followed the mountains and cut trees, and fixed the high mountains and great rivers.
冀州：既載壺口，治梁及岐。既修太原，至於岳陽；覃懷厎績，至於衡漳。
Jizhou: work on Hukou was already begun, and Mount Liang and Mount Qi were also brought under control. Taiyuan was repaired, reaching to the south of Taiyue; the region of Tanhuai was completed, reaching to the Zhang River that flows across into the Yellow River.
厥土惟白壤，厥賦惟上上錯，厥田惟中中。恆、衛既從，大陸既作。島夷皮服，夾右碣石入於河。
Its soil is white loam, its taxes are first grade mixed with second, and its fields are fifth grade. The Heng and Wei rivers have been made to flow along their course, and the Daolu marsh can already be cultivated. The island barbarians bring tribute of leather clothing, going around Jieshi to the right into the Yellow River.
濟河惟兗州。九河既道，雷夏既澤，灉、沮會同。桑土既蠶，是降丘宅土。
Between the Ji River and the Yellow River is Yanzhou. The nine rivers are already opened, Leixia is already a marsh, and the Yong and Ju rivers join. In the land suited to mulberry, silkworms are already being raised, and so the people came down from the hills to live on the plains.
厥土黑墳，厥草惟繇，厥木惟條。厥田惟中下，厥賦貞，作十有三載乃同。厥貢漆絲，厥篚織文。浮於濟、漯，達於河。
Its soil is black, fertile and mounded, the grass grows lush and the trees tall. Its fields are sixth grade and its taxes ninth grade, and it took thirteen years of work before it matched the other provinces. Its tribute is lacquer and silk, with patterned silk fabrics in baskets. Boats float down the Ji and Ta rivers to reach the Yellow River.
海岱惟青州。嵎夷既略，濰、淄其道。厥土白墳，海濱廣斥。厥田惟上下，厥賦中上。厥貢鹽絺，海物惟錯。岱畎絲、枲、鉛、松、怪石。萊夷作牧。厥篚檿絲。浮於汶，達於濟。
Between the sea and Mount Tai is Qingzhou. Yuyi has been settled, and the Wei and Zi rivers are opened. The soil is white mounded earth, and the seashore is broad and salty. Its fields are third grade and its taxes fourth grade. Its tribute is salt and fine kudzu cloth, with sea products of mixed kinds. From the valleys of Mount Tai come silk, hemp, lead, pine and strange stones. The Lai barbarians engage in herding. In baskets is silk of mountain mulberry. Boats float along the Wen River to reach the Ji River.
海、岱及淮惟徐州。淮、沂其乂，蒙、羽其藝，大野既豬，東原厎平。厥土赤埴墳，草木漸包。厥田惟上中，厥賦中中。厥貢惟土五色，羽畎夏翟，嶧陽孤桐，泗濱浮磬，淮夷蠙珠暨魚。厥篚玄纖、縞。浮於淮、泗，達於河。
Between the sea, Mount Tai and the Huai River is Xuzhou. The Huai and Yi rivers are already managed, Mount Meng and Mount Yu can already be planted, the Daye marsh has gathered into a lake, and Dongyuan is already settled. The soil is red, sticky and fertile clay mound, with vegetation gradually growing thick. Its fields are second grade and its taxes fifth grade. Its tribute is earth of five colors, the xia di (five-colored pheasant feathers) from the valleys of Mount Yu, the solitary-grown tong wood on the south of Mount Yi, the floating chime stones at the Si River bank, and the pearls and fish of the Huai barbarians. In baskets are black fine silk and white silk. Boats float along the Huai and Si rivers to reach the Yellow River.
淮海惟揚州。彭蠡既豬，陽鳥攸居。三江既入，震澤厎定。筱簜既敷，厥草惟夭，厥木惟喬。厥土惟塗泥。厥田唯下下，厥賦下上，上錯。厥貢惟金三品，瑤、琨筱、簜、齒、革、羽、毛惟木。島夷卉服。厥篚織貝，厥包桔柚，錫貢。
Between the Huai River and the sea is Yangzhou. Pengli has gathered into a lake, and the sun-following birds dwell here. The three rivers have already entered the sea, and Zhenze is settled. Small and large bamboo are everywhere, the grass grows lush and the trees tall. The soil is muddy. Its fields are ninth grade and its taxes seventh grade, sometimes sixth. Its tribute is the three kinds of metal, gold, silver and copper, fine jade, fine stones, small and large bamboo, ivory, hides, feathers, yak tails and timber. The island barbarians wear clothing woven of grass. In baskets are woven shell brocade, and wrapped tangerines and pomelos, which are offered only when so commanded.
沿於江、海，達於淮、泗。
Follow the Yangtze and the sea, to reach the Huai and Si rivers.
荊及衡陽惟荊州。江、漢朝宗於海，九江孔殷，沱、潛既道，雲土、夢作乂。
From Mount Jing to the south of Mount Heng is Jingzhou. The Yangtze and Han flow to the sea as if going to court the Son of Heaven, the Nine Rivers are deep and full, the Tuo and Qian rivers are opened, the mud of Yunze emerges and Mengze can be cultivated (the base text breaks this as "Yun soil, Meng," and one view holds it should be read together as Yunmeng).
厥土惟塗泥，厥田惟下中，厥賦上下。厥貢羽、毛、齒、革惟金三品，杶、榦、栝、柏，礪、砥、砮、丹惟菌簵、楛，三邦厎貢厥名。包匭菁茅，厥篚玄纁璣組，九江納錫大龜。浮於江、沱、潛、漢，逾於洛，至於南河。
The soil is muddy, the fields are eighth grade and the taxes third grade. The tribute is feathers, yak tails, ivory, hides and the three kinds of metal, chun, gan, gua and cypress woods, whetstones of li, di and nu types, cinnabar, and the jun-lu bamboo and hu wood; three feudal states bring their famous products as tribute. Wrapped in boxes are the qingmao reeds, and in baskets are dark red silk and strings of pearls, and the Nine Rivers send great tortoises as tribute. Boats float along the Yangtze, Tuo, Qian and Han, cross over the Luo, and reach the South River.
荊河惟豫州。伊、洛、瀍、澗既入於河，滎波既豬。導菏澤，被孟豬。厥土惟壤，下土墳壚。厥田惟中上，厥賦錯上中。厥貢漆、枲，絺、紵，厥篚纖、纊，錫貢磬錯。浮於洛，達於河。
Between Mount Jing and the Yellow River is Yuzhou. The Yi, Luo, Chan and Jian rivers already flow into the Yellow River, and Yingbo is already a lake. The Heze is dredged to let its waters overflow into Mengzhu. The soil is loam, and in the low places fertile black mound earth. The fields are fourth grade, and the taxes are second grade mixed with first. The tribute is lacquer, hemp, fine kudzu cloth and ramie, with fine silk and silk floss in baskets, and whetstones for working chimes presented when commanded. Boats float along the Luo to reach the Yellow River.
華陽、黑水惟梁州。岷、嶓既藝，沱、潛既道。蔡、蒙旅平，和夷厎績。厥土青黎，厥田惟下上，厥賦下中，三錯。厥貢璆、鐵、銀、鏤、砮磬、熊、羆、狐、狸、織皮，西傾因桓是來，浮於潛，逾於沔，入於渭，亂於河。
From the south of Mount Hua to the Black River is Liangzhou. Mount Min and Mount Bozhong can already be planted, and the Tuo and Qian rivers are opened. Mount Cai and Mount Meng have been sacrificed to and put in order, and the He Yi people have succeeded. The soil is blue-black, the fields are seventh grade and the taxes eighth grade, mixed with seventh and ninth. The tribute is fine jade, iron, silver, hard steel, nu stone, chimes, bears, brown bears, foxes, wildcats and woven hides, and the tribute from Mount Xiqing comes along the Huan River, and boats float along the Qian River, cross the Mian, enter the Wei and cross the Yellow River.
黑水、西河惟雍州。弱水既西，涇屬渭汭，漆沮既從，灃水攸同。荊、岐既旅，終南、惇物，至於鳥鼠。原隰厎績，至於豬野。三危既宅，三苗丕敘。厥土惟黃壤，厥田惟上上，厥賦中下。厥貢惟球、琳、琅玕。浮於積石，至於龍門、西河，會於渭汭。織皮崑崙、析支、渠搜，西戎即敘。
Between the Black River and the West River is Yongzhou. The Weak River already flows west, the Jing River joins the bend of the Wei, the Qi and Ju rivers flow along their course, and the Feng River joins the Wei. Mount Jing and Mount Qi have been sacrificed to, and Zhongnan Mountain, Dunwu Mountain, reaching to Mount Niaoshu. The plains and marshes have succeeded, reaching to Zhuye marsh. The Three Perils are already habitable, and the Three Miao are greatly settled. The soil is yellow loam, the fields first grade and the taxes sixth grade. The tribute is qiu jade, lin jade and langgan. Boats float from Jishi, reach Longmen and the West River, and join at the bend of the Wei. The people who wear woven hides are at Kunlun, Xizhi and Qusou, and the Western Rong are all settled.
導岍及岐，至於荊山，逾於河；壺口、雷首至於太嶽；厎柱、析城至於王屋；太行、恆山至於碣石，入於海。
Open the mountain paths: from Mount Qian to Mount Qi, reaching Mount Jing, crossing the Yellow River; from Hukou and Leishou reaching Taiyue; from Dizhu and Xicheng reaching Wangwu; from Taihang and Hengshan reaching Jieshi, extending into the sea.
西傾、朱圉、鳥鼠至於太華；熊耳、外方、桐柏至於陪尾。
From Xiqing, Zhuyu and Niaoshu reaching Taihua; from Xiong'er, Waifang and Tongbo reaching Peiwei.
導嶓冢，至於荊山；內方，至於大別。
Opened from Bozhong, reaching Mount Jing; from Neifang reaching Dabie.
岷山之陽，至於衡山，過九江，至於敷淺原。
From the south of Mount Min reaching Mount Heng, passing the Nine Rivers, reaching Fuqianyuan.
導弱水，至於合黎，餘波入於流沙。
Dredge the Weak River, reaching Heli, and the rest of the water flows into the Flowing Sands.
導黑水，至於三危，入於南海。
Dredge the Black River, reaching the Three Perils, and flowing into the South Sea.
導河、積石，至於龍門；南至於華陰，東至於厎柱，又東至於孟津，東過洛汭，至於大伾；北過降水，至於大陸；又北，播為九河，同為逆河，入於海。
Dredge the Yellow River: from Jishi reach Longmen; south reach Huayin, east reach Dizhu, and further east reach Mengjin, east past where the Luo enters the river, reaching Dapi; north past the Jiang River, reaching the Daolu marsh; further north, it divides into nine rivers, which unite into the Reverse River and flow into the sea.
嶓冢導漾，東流為漢，又東，為滄浪之水，過三澨，至於大別，南入於江。
From Bozhong dredge the Yang River, which flows east and becomes the Han, then east again and becomes the Canglang waters, passes the Three Shi, reaches Dabie, and flows south into the Yangtze.
東，匯澤為彭蠡，東，為北江，入於海。
East it gathers into the marsh of Pengli, then east again becomes the North Yangtze and flows into the sea.
岷山導江，東別為沱，又東至於澧；過九江，至於東陵，東迆北，會於匯；東為中江，入於海。
From Mount Min dredge the Yangtze, east branching off the Tuo, then east reaching the Li; passing the Nine Rivers, reaching Dongling, east and slightly north, meeting at the Hui; east becoming the Middle Yangtze and flowing into the sea.
導沇水，東流為濟，入於河，溢為滎；東出於陶丘北，又東至於菏，又東北，會於汶，又北，東入於海。
Dredge the Yan River, which flows east and becomes the Ji, enters the Yellow River, overflows to form Yingze; east it emerges north of Taoqiu, further east reaching Heze, then northeast, joining the Wen, then north and flows east into the sea.
導淮自桐柏，東會於泗、沂，東入於海。
From Tongbo dredge the Huai, east joining the Si and Yi rivers and flowing east into the sea.
導渭自鳥鼠同穴，東會於灃，又東會於涇，又東過漆沮，入於河。
From Niaoshu Tongxue Mountain dredge the Wei, east joining the Feng, then east joining the Jing, then east passing the Qi and Ju and entering the Yellow River.
導洛自熊耳，東北，會於澗、瀍；又東，會於伊，又東北，入於河。
From Xiong'er dredge the Luo, northeast joining the Jian and Chan rivers; then east joining the Yi, then northeast and entering the Yellow River.
九州攸同，四隩既宅，九山刊旅，九川滌源，九澤既陂，四海會同。六府孔修，庶土交正，厎慎財賦，鹹則三壤成賦。中邦錫土、姓，祗臺德先，不距朕行。
The nine provinces are all unified, the remote lands on the four sides can already be inhabited, the nine mountain ranges have had their trees cut and can be sacrificed to on tour, the nine great rivers have had their sources opened, the nine great marshes have been dyked, and within the four seas all meet at the capital. The six treasuries are well governed, the land everywhere has been graded, wealth and tribute fixed with care, and taxes set according to the three grades of soil. To the states of China were given land and surnames, putting reverence for virtue first; do not defy my actions.
五百里甸服：百里賦納緫，二百里納銍，三百里納秸服，四百里粟，五百里米。
Five hundred li is the Dian zone: in the first hundred li pay grain with the stalk; in the second hundred, the ears of grain; in the third hundred, stalks and service; in the fourth hundred, millet; in the fifth hundred, rice.
五百里侯服：百里採，二百里男邦，三百里諸侯。
Five hundred li is the Hou zone: the first hundred li near the royal domain are fiefs, the next two hundred are the Nan states, and the next three hundred are the lords.
五百里綏服：三百里揆文教，二百里奮武衛。
Five hundred li is the Sui zone: three hundred li weigh civil teaching, and two hundred li raise military guard.
五百里要服：三百里夷，二百里蔡。
Five hundred li is the Yao zone: three hundred li settle the Yi people, and two hundred li are the place of exile for those banished.
五百里荒服：三百里蠻，二百里流。
Five hundred li is the Huang zone: three hundred li settle the Man people, and two hundred li are the place of exile.
東漸於海，西被於流沙，朔南暨聲教訖於四海。禹錫玄圭，告厥成功。
To the east it reaches the sea, to the west it covers the Flowing Sands, and to north and south its renown and teaching reach the four seas. Yu was granted the dark jade tablet and reported his success.