Royal Regulations

古者以周尺八尺為步，今以周尺六尺四寸為步。古者百畝，當今東田百四十六畝三十步。古者百里，當今百二十一里六十步四尺二寸二分。

In ancient times eight Zhou feet made a pace, but now six feet and four inches of the Zhou foot make a pace. In ancient times a hundred mu is equal to one hundred forty-six mu and thirty paces of today's eastern fields. In ancient times a hundred li is equal to one hundred twenty-one li, sixty paces, four feet, two inches and two tenths today.

方千里者，為方百里者百，封方百里者三十國。其餘方百里者七十，又封方七十里者六十。為方百里者二十九，方十里者四十，其餘方百里者四十，方十里者六十，又封方五十里者百二十。為方百里者三十，其餘方百里者十，方十里者六十。名山大澤不以封，其餘以為附庸間田。諸侯之有功者，取於間田以祿之。其有削地者，歸之間田。

A square of a thousand li contains a hundred squares of a hundred li. Thirty states of a hundred li square are enfeoffed. Of the remaining seventy squares of a hundred li, sixty states of seventy li square are further enfeoffed, equal to twenty-nine squares of a hundred li and forty squares of ten li. The remaining forty squares of a hundred li and sixty squares of ten li are used to enfeoff one hundred twenty states of fifty li square, equal to thirty squares of a hundred li. The remaining ten squares of a hundred li and sixty squares of ten li are left over. Famous mountains and great marshes are not enfeoffed, and the rest serve as dependent states and vacant lands. When a feudal lord has merit, his stipend is taken from the vacant lands and given to him. Land taken from those who are reduced is returned to the vacant lands.

天子之縣內，方千里者，為方百里者百，封方百里者九，其餘方百里者九十一，又封方七十里者二十一，為方百里者十，方十里者二十九，其餘方百里者八十，方十里者七十一，又封方五十里者六十三，為方百里者十五，方十里者七十五，其餘方百里者六十四，方十里者九十六。

The royal domain of the Son of Heaven, a square of a thousand li, contains a hundred squares of a hundred li. Nine states of a hundred li square are enfeoffed, leaving ninety-one squares of a hundred li. Twenty-one states of seventy li square are further enfeoffed, equal to ten squares of a hundred li and twenty-nine squares of ten li. The remaining eighty squares of a hundred li and seventy-one squares of ten li are left. Sixty-three states of fifty li square are further enfeoffed, equal to fifteen squares of a hundred li and seventy-five squares of ten li. The remaining sixty-four squares of a hundred li and ninety-six squares of ten li are left.

諸侯之下士，祿食九人，中士食十八人，上士食三十六人，下大夫食七十二人，卿食二百八十八人，君食二千八百八十人。次國之卿，食二百一十六人，君食二千一百六十人。小國之卿，食百四十四人，君食千四百四十人。次國之卿，命於其君者，如小國之卿。天子之大夫為三監，監於諸侯之國者，其祿視諸侯之卿，其爵視次國之君，其祿取之於方伯之地。方伯為朝天子，皆有湯沐之邑於天子之縣內，視元士。諸侯世子世國，大夫不世爵，使以德，爵以功。未賜爵，視天子之元士，以君其國。諸侯之大夫，不世爵祿。

The stipend of a lower scholar in a feudal state supports nine people, a middle scholar eighteen, an upper scholar thirty-six, a lower grand master seventy-two, a minister two hundred eighty-eight, and a ruler two thousand eight hundred eighty. In a second-rank state a minister supports two hundred sixteen and the ruler two thousand one hundred sixty. In a small state a minister supports one hundred forty-four and the ruler one thousand four hundred forty. A minister of a second-rank state who is appointed by his own ruler is treated like a minister of a small state. The Son of Heaven's grand masters serve as the three inspectors, overseeing the feudal states, and their stipend is comparable to a feudal lord's minister and their rank comparable to the ruler of a second-rank state, with their stipend taken from the land of the regional chief (fangbo). In order to attend court with the Son of Heaven, the regional chiefs each have a bath-fief town in the royal domain, treated like a principal scholar. The heir of a feudal lord inherits the state, but grand masters do not inherit rank; they are employed according to virtue and given rank according to merit. Before he has been granted rank, the heir is treated like the Son of Heaven's principal scholar, in order to serve as ruler of his state. The grand masters of the feudal lords do not inherit rank or stipend.

六禮：冠、昏、喪、祭、鄉、相見。七教：父子、兄弟、夫婦、君臣、長幼、朋友、賓客。八政：飲食、衣服、事為、異別、度、量、數、制。

The six rites are: capping, marriage, mourning, sacrifice, the district drinking, and mutual audience. The seven teachings are: father and son, elder and younger brothers, husband and wife, ruler and minister, old and young, friends, and host and guest. The eight governing measures are: food and drink, clothing, the carrying out of tasks, distinguishing differences, length, volume, number, and regulation.

孟春之月，日在營室，昏參中，旦尾中，其日甲乙，其帝大皞，其神句芒，其蟲鱗，其音角，律中大蔟，其數八，其味酸，其臭羶，其祀戶，祭先脾。

In the first month of spring, the sun is in the constellation Yingshi, at dusk the star Shen is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Wei is at the meridian. Its days are jia and yi, its emperor is Taihao, its spirit is Gou Mang, its creatures are the scaled ones, its note is jue, its pitch corresponds to taicou, its number is eight, its taste is sour, its smell is rank, its sacrifice is to the door, and the first offering is the spleen.

東風解凍，蟄蟲始振，魚上冰，獺祭魚，鴻鴈來。

The east wind thaws the ice, the hibernating insects begin to stir, fish rise to the ice, otters offer up fish, and wild geese arrive.

天子居青陽左個，乘鸞路，駕倉龍，載青旗，衣青衣，服倉玉，食麥與羊，其器疏以達。

The Son of Heaven dwells in the left side chamber of the Green Yang hall, rides the phoenix-bell carriage drawn by azure dragon horses, carries the green banner, wears green clothing, wears azure jade, eats wheat and mutton, and his vessels are open-worked and penetrating.

是月也，以立春。先立春三日，大史謁之天子，曰：“某日立春，盛德在木。”天子乃齊。立春之日，天子親帥三公、九卿、諸侯、大夫以迎春於東郊。還反，賞公卿諸侯大夫於朝。

In this month, spring begins. Three days before the beginning of spring, the Grand Scribe reports to the Son of Heaven, saying: "On such a day spring begins, and abundant virtue is in wood." The Son of Heaven then fasts. On the day of the beginning of spring, the Son of Heaven personally leads the three dukes, nine ministers, feudal lords and grand masters to welcome spring in the eastern suburb. On returning, he bestows rewards at court on the dukes, ministers, feudal lords and grand masters.

命相佈德和令，行慶施惠，下及兆民。慶賜遂行，毋有不當。

He orders the chancellor to proclaim virtue, announce harmony in the ordinances, carry out celebration and rewards, and bestow kindness and favors, extending down to the myriad people. When celebration and rewards are carried out, there must be nothing inappropriate.

乃命大史，守典奉法，司天日月星辰之行，宿離不貸，毋失經紀，以初為常。

He then orders the Grand Scribe to guard the canon and uphold the laws, and to take charge of the movements of heaven, sun, moon and stars, so that their lingering and passing are not mistaken, nor the thread of the calendar lost, taking the original as the constant.

是月也，天子乃以元日祈谷於上帝，乃擇元辰。天子親載耒耜，措之於參保介之御間，帥三公、九卿、諸侯、大夫躬耕帝借。天子三推，三公五推，卿諸侯九推。反，爵於大寢，三公、九卿、諸侯、大夫皆御，命曰勞酒。

In this month, the Son of Heaven, on an auspicious day, prays to August Heaven, the Supreme Lord, for grain, choosing a good day. The Son of Heaven personally carries the plow, placing it between the armored guard and the charioteer, and leads the three dukes, nine ministers, feudal lords and grand masters to plow the Emperor's field in person. The Son of Heaven pushes the plow three times, the three dukes five times, and the ministers and feudal lords nine times. On returning, he passes round the cups in the Great Chamber, with the three dukes, nine ministers, feudal lords and grand masters all in attendance; this is called the toil wine.

是月也，天氣下降，地氣上騰，天地和同，草木萌動。王命布農事，命田舍東郊，皆修封疆，審端經術，善相丘陵，阪險，原隰，土地所宜，五穀所殖，以教道。民必躬親之，田事既飭，先定準直，農乃不惑。

In this month, the energy of heaven descends and the energy of earth rises, heaven and earth are in harmony, and the plants and trees begin to sprout. The king orders the arrangement of farming tasks, and orders the field officers to reside in the eastern suburb, to repair the boundaries, to examine and rectify the paths and ditches in the fields, and to observe well the hills, steep slopes, dangerous ground, high plains and low wetlands, what the land is suited for and what the five grains thrive on, in order to instruct the people. The people must do the work themselves. Once the field work has been put in order, the guidelines are fixed first, so that the farmers are not perplexed.

是月也，命樂正入學習舞，乃修祭典，命祀山林川澤，犧牲毋用牝。

In this month, the Director of Music is ordered to enter the school to practice the dances, and then the sacrificial rites are put in order; sacrifices are ordered to the mountains, forests, rivers and marshes, and females are not used as sacrificial animals.

禁止伐木，毋覆巢，毋殺孩蟲、胎夭飛鳥，毋麛毋卵，毋聚大眾，毋置城郭，掩骼埋胔。

It is forbidden to fell trees, not to overturn nests, not to kill young insects, unborn young, small young animals or flying birds, not to take fawns or eggs, not to gather great crowds, not to build city walls, and to bury dry bones and rotting flesh.

是月也，不可以稱兵，稱兵必天殃。兵戎不起，不可從我始。毋變天之道，毋絕地之理，毋亂人之紀。

In this month, one must not raise arms; raising arms will surely bring Heaven's calamity. If war is not raised, one must not be the one who starts it. Do not alter the way of heaven, do not cut off the principle of earth, and do not disorder the bonds of humankind.

孟春行夏令，則雨水不時，草木蚤落，國時有恐。行秋令，則其民大疫，猋風暴雨總至，藜莠蓬蒿並興。行冬令，則水潦為敗，雪霜大摯，首種不入。

If the ordinances of summer are carried out in the first month of spring, the rains will not come in season, the plants and trees will fall early, and fear will arise in the state from time to time. If the ordinances of autumn are carried out, the people will have a great plague, violent winds and rains will come together, and goosefoot, wild weeds and mugwort will all spring up. If the ordinances of winter are carried out, floods will cause disaster, snow and frost will come very fiercely, and the earliest seeds cannot enter the soil.

仲春之月，日在奎，昏弧中，旦建星中。其日甲乙，其帝大皞，其神句芒，其蟲鱗，其音角，律中夾鍾，其數八，其味酸，其臭羶，其祀戶，祭先脾。

In the second month of spring, the sun is in the constellation Kui, at dusk the star Hu is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Jian is at the meridian. Its days are jia and yi, its emperor is Taihao, its spirit is Gou Mang, its creatures are the scaled ones, its note is jue, its pitch corresponds to jiazhong, its number is eight, its taste is sour, its smell is rank, its sacrifice is to the door, and the first offering is the spleen.

始雨水，桃始華，倉庚鳴，鷹化為鳩。

Rain begins to fall, the peach begins to blossom, the oriole sings, and the hawk transforms into a dove.

天子居青陽大廟，乘鸞路，駕倉龍，載青旗，衣青衣，服倉玉，食麥與羊，其器疏以達。是月也，安萌牙，養幼少，存諸孤。擇元日，命民社。命有司，省囹圄，去桎梏，毋肆掠，止獄訟。

The Son of Heaven dwells in the Grand Temple of the Green Yang hall, rides the phoenix-bell carriage drawn by azure dragon horses, carries the green banner, wears green clothing, wears azure jade, eats wheat and mutton, and his vessels are open-worked and penetrating. In this month, he settles the sprouts, nurtures the young, and inquires after orphans in every place. He chooses an auspicious day and orders the people to sacrifice to the earth god. He orders the officials to reduce the prisons, remove the shackles and fetters, not to display corpses or beat prisoners, and to suspend lawsuits.

是月也，玄鳥至。至之日，以大牢祠於高禖，天子親往，后妃帥九嬪御。乃禮天子所御，帶以弓韣，授以弓矢，於高禖之前。

In this month, the swallows arrive. On the day they arrive, a sacrifice of the grand offering is made to the Go-Between god; the Son of Heaven goes in person, and the empress leads the nine consorts in attendance. Then a rite is performed for those whom the Son of Heaven has favored, putting on them the bow cases and giving them bows and arrows, before the Go-Between god.

是月也，日夜分，雷乃發聲，始電，蟄蟲鹹動，啟戶始出。先雷三日，奮木鐸以令兆民曰：“雷將發聲，有不戒其容止者，生子不備，必有兇災。”日夜分，則同度量，鈞衡石，角鬥甬，正權概。

In this month, day and night are equal, thunder begins to sound, lightning begins to flash, and the hibernating insects all stir and begin to come out of their burrows. Three days before the thunder, a wooden bell is rung to command the myriad people: "Thunder is about to sound; if anyone fails to guard his bearing and conduct, the children born will be incomplete and there will surely be calamity." When day and night are equal, lengths and measures of volume are unified, balances and weights are made even, the dou and hu measures are corrected, and the weights and leveling sticks are set right.

是月也，耕者少舍，乃修闔扇，寢廟畢備。毋作大事，以妨農之事。是月也，毋竭川澤，毋漉陂池，毋焚山林。

In this month, the farmers are given a little rest, and so they repair door leaves and the temple chambers are all completed. No great undertakings are to be made that would hinder farming. In this month, one must not let rivers and marshes dry up, drain ponds, or burn mountains and forests.

天子乃鮮羔開冰，先薦寢廟。

The Son of Heaven then opens the ice with a lamb sacrifice and first offers it at the ancestral temple.

上丁，命樂正習舞，釋菜。天子乃帥三公、九卿、諸侯、大夫親往視之。仲丁，又命樂正入學習舞。

On the ding day of the first ten-day period, the Director of Music is ordered to practice the dances and the vegetable offering rite is performed. The Son of Heaven then leads the three dukes, nine ministers, feudal lords and grand masters to go in person and watch. On the ding day of the middle ten-day period, the Director of Music is again ordered to enter the school to practice the dances.

是月也，祀不用犧牲，用圭璧，更皮幣。

In this month, sacrifices do not use animals but use jade tablets and rings, with skins and silks substituted.

仲春行秋令，則其國大水，寒氣摠，至寇戎來徵。行冬令，則陽氣不勝，麥乃不熟，民多相掠。行夏令，則國乃大旱，暖氣早來，蟲螟為害。

If the ordinances of autumn are carried out in the second month of spring, the state will have great floods, cold air will suddenly arrive, and bandits and invaders will come to attack. If the ordinances of winter are carried out, the yang energy cannot prevail, the wheat will not ripen, and the people will often plunder one another. If the ordinances of summer are carried out, the state will have great drought, warm air will come early, and insect pests will do harm.

季春之月，日在胃，昏七星中，旦牽牛中。其日甲乙，其帝大皞，其神句芒，其蟲鱗，其音角，律中姑洗，其數八，其味酸，其臭羶，其祀戶，祭先脾。

In the third month of spring, the sun is in the constellation Wei, at dusk the star Qixing is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Qianniu is at the meridian. Its days are jia and yi, its emperor is Taihao, its spirit is Gou Mang, its creatures are the scaled ones, its note is jue, its pitch corresponds to guxian, its number is eight, its taste is sour, its smell is rank, its sacrifice is to the door, and the first offering is the spleen.

桐始華，田鼠化為鴽，虹始見，萍始生。

The paulownia begins to blossom, the field mouse transforms into a quail, the rainbow begins to appear, and duckweed begins to grow.

天子居青陽石個，乘鸞路，駕倉龍，載青旗，衣青衣，服倉玉，食麥與羊，其器疏以達。

The Son of Heaven dwells in the right side chamber of the Green Yang hall, rides the phoenix-bell carriage drawn by azure dragon horses, carries the green banner, wears green clothing, wears azure jade, eats wheat and mutton, and his vessels are open-worked and penetrating.

是月也，天子乃薦鞠衣於先帝。命舟牧覆舟，五覆五反，乃告舟備具於天子焉。天子始乘舟，薦鮪於寢廟，乃為麥祈實。

In this month, the Son of Heaven then presents clothing of the yellow mulberry color to the former emperors. The boat officers are ordered to capsize the boat, capsizing it five times and righting it five times, before reporting to the Son of Heaven that the boat is ready. The Son of Heaven begins to ride the boat, presents sturgeon to the ancestral temple, and prays for the wheat to bear grain.

是月也，生氣方盛，陽氣發洩，句者畢出，萌者盡達，不可以內。天子佈德行惠，命有司，發倉廩，賜貧窮，振乏絕，開府庫，出幣帛，周天下，勉諸侯，聘名士，禮賢者。

In this month, the life energy is at its height and the yang energy is released, the bent all come out and the sprouting all penetrate, and one must not gather in. The Son of Heaven proclaims virtue and carries out kindness, and orders the officials to open the granaries and storehouses, give to the poor, relieve the destitute, open the treasuries, bring out coins and silks, aid the world, encourage the feudal lords, call on famous scholars, and treat the worthy with courtesy.

是月也，命司空曰：“時雨將降，下水上騰，循行國邑，周視原野，修利堤防，道達溝瀆，開通道路，毋有障塞。”田獵罝罘、羅罔、畢翳、餧獸之藥，毋出九門。

In this month, he orders the Minister of Works, saying: "The seasonal rains are about to fall and groundwater rises; tour the state and its towns, inspect the fields all around, repair the embankments for convenience, open the ditches and channels, open the roads, and let there be no blockages." The hunting nets, snares, long-handled nets, blinds and drugs for feeding beasts must not go out of the nine gates.

是月也，命野虞無伐桑柘。鳴鳩拂其羽，戴勝降於桑，具曲植蘧筐，后妃齊戒，親東鄉躬桑，禁婦女毋觀，省婦使，以勸蠶事。蠶事既登，分繭稱絲效功，以共郊廟之服，無有敢惰。

In this month, he orders the foresters not to fell mulberry and silk-thorn trees. The turtledove flaps its wings, and the hoopoe alights on the mulberry. Silkworm trays, frames and round and square baskets are prepared. The empress fasts and personally picks mulberry leaves eastward. Women are forbidden to wander for sightseeing, and women's service duties are reduced, to encourage sericulture. When the silkworm work is completed, the cocoons are divided and the silk weighed to assess results, to supply the garments for the suburban and ancestral temples, and none dares be idle.

是月也，命工師，令百工，審五庫之量，金、鐵、皮、革、筋、角、齒、羽、箭、幹、脂、膠、丹、漆，毋或不良。

In this month, he orders the master of works to have the hundred craftsmen inspect the quality of the five storehouses: metal, iron, skin, leather, sinew, horn, teeth, feathers, arrows, shafts, fat, glue, cinnabar and lacquer, so that none is of poor quality.

百工鹹理，監工日號，毋悖於時，毋或作為淫巧，以蕩上心。

The hundred craftsmen all do their work, and the overseers give orders daily; they must not go against the seasons nor make anything excessively strange or ingenious, so as to shake the hearts of those above.

是月之末，擇吉日大合樂，天子乃率三公、九卿、諸侯、大夫親往視之。

At the end of this month, an auspicious day is chosen for a great joint performance of music, and the Son of Heaven then leads the three dukes, nine ministers, feudal lords and great officers to go in person and watch.

是月也，乃合累牛騰馬，遊牝於牧。犧牲駒犢，舉書其數。

In this month, the stud bulls and stallions are brought together, and the females are let to roam in the pastures. The sacrificial animals, colts and calves are all recorded by number.

命國難，九門磔攘，以畢春氣。

An order is given for the Nuo exorcism to be held in the capital, and at the nine gates the sacrificial animals are cut up to drive away evil, thereby bringing the spring air to its close.

季春行冬令，則寒氣時發，草木皆肅，國有大恐。行夏令，則民多疾疫，時雨不降，山林不收。行秋令，則天多沈陰，淫雨蚤降，兵革並起。

If the ordinances of winter are carried out in the last month of spring, cold air will break out from time to time, plants and trees will all wither, and the state will suffer great terror. If the ordinances of summer are carried out, the people will suffer many diseases and epidemics, seasonable rains will not fall, and the mountains and forests will yield nothing. If the ordinances of autumn are carried out, the sky will be often overcast, excessive rain will fall early, and weapons and armor will all be raised at once.

孟夏之月，日在畢，昏翼中，日婺女中。其日丙丁，其帝炎帝，其神祝融，其蟲羽，其音徵，律中中呂，其數七，其味苦，其臭焦，其祀灶，祭先肺。

In the first month of summer, the sun is in Bi; at dusk the star Yi is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Wunu is at the meridian. Its days are bing and ding; its emperor is Yan Di, its spirit is Zhu Rong, its creatures are the feathered; its note is Zhi, its pitch pipe answers Zhonglu, its number is seven, its flavor is bitter, its smell is scorched, its sacrifice is to the stove, and in sacrifice the lungs are offered first.

螻蟈鳴，蚯蚓出，王瓜生，苦菜秀。

The mole crickets sing, the earthworms come out, the wang gua gourd grows, and the bitter herb flowers.

天子居明堂左個，乘朱路，駕赤馬，載赤旗，衣朱衣，服赤玉，食菽與雞，其器高以粗。

The Son of Heaven resides in the left side chamber of the Hall of Light. He rides in a vermilion carriage drawn by red horses, bearing a red banner, wears vermilion clothes and red jade pendants, eats beans and chicken, and his vessels are tall and coarse.

是月也，以立夏。先立夏三日，大史謁之天子曰：“某日立夏，盛德在火。”天子乃齊。立夏之日，天子親帥三公、九卿、大夫以迎夏於南郊。還反，行賞，封諸侯，慶賜遂行，無不欣說。

This month is the beginning of summer. Three days before the beginning of summer, the Grand Historian reports to the Son of Heaven: "On such and such a day summer begins; abundant virtue is in fire." The Son of Heaven then fasts. On the day summer begins, the Son of Heaven personally leads the three dukes, nine ministers and great officers to greet summer in the southern suburb. On returning, he bestows rewards and enfeoffs feudal lords; celebration and rewards are then carried out, and none fails to rejoice.

乃命樂師，習合禮樂。命太尉，贊桀俊，遂賢良，舉長大。行爵出祿，必當其位。

Then an order is given to the music masters to practice the joint performance of rites and music. An order is given to the Grand Commandant to help choose outstanding talents, to advance the worthy and good, and to recommend those who are tall and great. Rank is conferred and stipends issued, and they must fit the man's position.

是月也，繼長增高，毋有壞墮。毋起土功，毋發大眾，毋伐人樹。

In this month, growth continues and height increases, and there must be no destruction or falling. Do not start earth and timber works, do not mobilize the masses, and do not fell other people's trees.

是月也，天子始絺，命野虞，出行田原，為天子勞農勸民，毋或失時。

In this month, the Son of Heaven begins to wear fine kudzu cloth. An order is given to the Wild Forester to go out through the fields and plains, to console the farmers on behalf of the Son of Heaven and encourage the people, so that no one loses the season.

命司徒巡行縣鄙，命農勉作，毋休于都。

An order is given to the Minister of Education to tour the counties and outlying districts, and to order the farmers to work diligently and not rest in the towns.

是月也，驅獸毋害五穀，毋大田獵。農乃登麥，天子乃以彘嘗麥，先薦寢廟。

In this month, wild beasts are driven off so that they do not harm the five grains, and there are no great hunts. The farmers then present the wheat, and the Son of Heaven tastes the wheat with pork, first offering it at the temple of the private chamber.

是月也，聚畜百藥，靡草死，麥秋至，斷薄刑，決小罪，出輕系。蠶事畢，后妃獻繭，乃收繭稅，以桑為均，貴賤長幼如一，以給郊廟之服。

In this month, the hundred medicinal herbs are gathered and stored. The fine grasses die, and the autumn of wheat arrives. Light punishments are judged, minor offenses decided, and light prisoners released. When the silkworm work is finished, the queen and consorts present cocoons, and then the cocoon tax is collected, evened out according to mulberry trees, with no distinction of noble or humble, old or young, to supply the garments for the suburban and temple sacrifices.

是月也，天子飲酎，用禮樂。

In this month, the Son of Heaven drinks the zhou wine, with rites and music.

孟夏行秋令，則苦雨數來，五穀不滋，四鄙入保。行冬令，則草木蚤枯，後乃大水，敗其城郭。行春令，則蝗蟲為災，暴風來格，秀草不實。

If the ordinances of autumn are carried out in the first month of summer, bitter rains will come repeatedly, the five grains will not grow, and the border peasants will enter the fortresses. If the ordinances of winter are carried out, plants and trees will wither early, then there will be a great flood that destroys the city walls. If the ordinances of spring are carried out, locusts will bring disaster, violent winds will arrive, and flowering plants will bear no fruit.

仲夏之月，日在東井，昏亢中，旦危中。其日丙丁，其帝炎帝，其神祝融，其蟲羽，其音徵，律中蕤賓，其數七，其味苦，其臭焦，其祀灶，祭先肺。

In the second month of summer, the sun is in Dongjing; at dusk the star Kang is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Wei is at the meridian. Its days are bing and ding; its emperor is Yan Di, its spirit is Zhu Rong, its creatures are the feathered; its note is Zhi, its pitch pipe answers Ruibin, its number is seven, its flavor is bitter, its smell is scorched, its sacrifice is to the stove, and in sacrifice the lungs are offered first.

小暑至，螳螂生，鵙始鳴，反舌無聲。

Minor Heat arrives, the mantis is born, the shrike begins to sing, and the mockingbird falls silent.

天子居明堂太廟，乘朱路，駕赤馬，載赤旗，衣朱衣，服赤玉，食菽與雞，其器高以粗，養壯佼。

The Son of Heaven resides in the Grand Temple of the Hall of Light. He rides in a vermilion carriage drawn by red horses, bearing a red banner, wears vermilion clothes and red jade pendants, eats beans and chicken, and his vessels are tall and coarse; he nurtures what is strong and fine.

是月也，命樂師修鼗鞞鼓，均琴瑟管簫，執干鏚戈羽，調竽笙(上“竹”下“也”)簧，飭鐘磬柷敔。

In this month, an order is given to the music masters to repair the small drums and rattle drums, to tune the zithers, lutes, pipes and flutes, to hold the shields, battle-axes, spears and feathers, to harmonize the yu and sheng mouth organs and reeds, and to put in order the bells and chime stones and the instruments that start and stop the music.

命有司為民祈祀山川百源，大雩帝，用盛。乃命百縣雩祀百辟卿士有益於民者，以祈谷實。農乃登黍。

An order is given to the officials to offer sacrifices for the people, praying to the mountains, rivers and hundred springs, and to hold the great rain sacrifice to the Supreme Lord with full ceremony. Then the counties are ordered to hold the rain sacrifice to the hundred lords and ministers who benefited the people, in order to pray for the grain to bear fruit. The farmers then present the millet.

是月也，天子乃以雛嘗黍，羞以含桃，先薦寢廟。

In this month, the Son of Heaven tastes the millet with a young chicken and presents cherries, first offering them at the temple of the private chamber.

令民毋艾藍以染，毋燒灰，毋暴布，門閭毋閉，關市毋索，挺重囚，益其食。

The people are ordered not to cut indigo plants to dye cloth, not to burn ashes, not to bleach cloth in the sun; the gates and lanes are not to be closed, no searches are to be made at the passes and markets, severe prisoners are treated leniently, and their food is increased.

遊牝別群，則縶騰駒，班馬政。

When the roaming females are divided into herds, the colts of stallions are tethered, and the ordinances on the rearing of horses are promulgated.