Royal Regulations
是月也，日長至，陰陽爭，死生分，君子齊戒，處必掩身。毋躁，止聲色，毋或進，薄滋味，毋致和，節耆欲，定心氣，百官靜，事毋刑，以定晏陰之所成。
In this month, the day reaches its longest, yin and yang contend, and death and life are divided. The gentleman fasts, and his dwelling is necessarily screened to cover the body. He does not hurry, he halts music and sensual pleasure, he takes in nothing for his attendants, he keeps flavors light and does not exhaust the blending of the five tastes, he restrains his appetites and calms the heart and breath. The hundred officials are still, and in carrying out affairs they do not use punishments, so as to keep still what the yin energy brings to completion.
鹿角解，蟬始鳴，半夏生，木堇榮。
The deer shed their antlers, the cicadas begin to sing, the banxia plant grows, and the rose of Sharon blooms.
是月也，毋用火南方。可以居高明，可以遠眺望，可以升山陵，可以處臺榭。
In this month, fire is not to be used in the south. One may live in places that are high and bright, one may look far into the distance, climb hills and mounds, and stay on terraces and pavilions.
仲夏行冬令，則雹凍傷谷，道路不通，暴兵來至。行春令，則五穀晚熟，百螣時起，其國乃飢。行秋令，則草木零落，果實早成，民殃於疫。
If the ordinances of winter are carried out in the second month of summer, hail and frost will damage the grain, roads will be blocked, and violent troops will arrive. If the ordinances of spring are carried out, the five grains will ripen late, all kinds of pests will arise in season, and the state will be hungry. If the ordinances of autumn are carried out, plants and trees will drop their leaves, fruits will ripen early, and the people will suffer from epidemics.
季夏之月，日在柳，昏火中，旦奎中。其日丙丁，其帝炎帝，其神祝融，其蟲羽，其音徵，律中林鐘，其數七，其味苦，其臭焦，其祀灶，祭先肺，溫風始至，蟋蟀居壁，鷹乃學習，腐草為螢。
In the third month of summer, the sun is in Liu; at dusk the star Dahuo is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Kui 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 Linzhong, 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. Warm winds begin to arrive, crickets dwell in the walls, hawks begin to learn to fly, and rotting grass turns into fireflies.
天子居明堂右個，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 right 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.
命漁師伐蛟，取鼉，登龜，取黿。命澤人納材葦。
An order is given to the master of fisheries to kill the flood dragons, take the alligators, present the tortoises, and take the great turtles. An order is given to the marsh officials to deliver timber and reeds.
是月也，命四監大合百縣之秩芻，以養犧牲。令民無不鹹出其力，以共皇天上帝、名山大川、四方之神，以祠宗廟社稷之靈，以為民祈福。
In this month, an order is given to the four overseers to gather in great quantity the graded fodder from the counties, in order to feed the sacrificial animals. The people are ordered, all without exception, to give their strength, in order to supply sacrifices to August Heaven and the Supreme Lord, the famous mountains and great rivers, and the spirits of the four quarters, to sacrifice to the spirits of the ancestral temples and altars of soil and grain, and to pray for blessings for the people.
是月也，命婦官染採。黼黻文章，必以法故，無或差貸。黑黃倉赤，莫不質良，毋敢詐偽。以給郊廟祭祀之服，以為旗章，以別貴賤等給之度。
In this month, an order is given to the women's officials to dye colors. The embroidered and patterned designs must follow the old methods, without error. Black, yellow, blue-green and red must all be of good quality, and no one dares to cheat or counterfeit. These are used to supply the garments for the suburban and temple sacrifices, to make banners and insignia, and to distinguish the measures of noble and humble ranks.
是月也，樹木方盛，乃命虞人入山行木，毋有斬伐，可以興土功，不可以合諸侯，不可以起兵動眾。毋舉大事，以搖養氣。毋發令而待，以妨神農之事也。水潦盛昌，神農將持功，舉大事則有天殃。
In this month, the trees are in full vigor, and so an order is given to the foresters to go into the mountains and inspect the trees, and there must be no felling. Earth and timber works may be started, but one may not assemble the feudal lords, raise troops or mobilize the masses. Do not carry out great affairs, so as not to shake the nourishing energy. Do not issue orders and then wait, so as not to hinder the work of the Divine Farmer. Floods are at their height, and the Divine Farmer is about to hold on to his achievement; if great affairs are carried out, there will be Heaven's calamity.
是月也，土潤溽暑，大雨時行，燒薙行水，利以殺草，如以熱湯，可以糞田疇，可以美土疆。
In this month, the soil is moist and hot, and heavy rains come in season. Burn the cut grass and let water in; this is good for killing weeds, as if with boiling water, and can fertilize the fields and make the soil and borders fine.
季夏行春令，則谷實鮮落，國多風欬，民乃遷徙。行秋令，則丘隰水潦，禾稼不熟，乃多女災。行冬令，則風寒不時，鷹隼蚤鷙，四鄙入保。
If the ordinances of spring are carried out in the third month of summer, grain and fruit will fall in scarcity, there will be much wind and coughing in the state, and the people will move away. If the ordinances of autumn are carried out, hills and low wetlands will flood, crops will not ripen, and there will be many disasters affecting women. If the ordinances of winter are carried out, wind and cold will come out of season, hawks and falcons will strike early, and the border peasants will enter the fortresses.
中央土，其日戊己，其帝黃帝，其神后土，其蟲倮，其音宮，律中黃鐘之宮，其數五，其味甘，其臭香，其祀中溜，祭先心。
The center belongs to earth. Its days are wu and ji; its emperor is Huang Di, its spirit is Hou Tu, its creatures are the naked; its note is Gong, its pitch pipe answers the Gong of Huangzhong, its number is five, its flavor is sweet, its smell is fragrant, its sacrifice is to the central courtyard, and in sacrifice the heart is offered first.
天子居大廟大室，乘大路，駕黃馬，載黃旗，衣黃衣，服黃玉，食稷與牛，其器圜以閎。
The Son of Heaven resides in the central chamber of the Grand Temple. He rides in the Great Carriage drawn by yellow horses, bearing a yellow banner, wears yellow clothes and yellow jade pendants, eats millet and beef, and his vessels are round and broad.
孟秋之月，日在翼，昏建星中，旦畢中。其日庚辛，其帝少皞，其神蓐收，其蟲毛，其音商，律中夷則，其數九，其味辛，其臭腥，其祀門，祭先肝。
In the first month of autumn, the sun is in Yi; at dusk the star Jian is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Bi is at the meridian. Its days are geng and xin; its emperor is Shao Hao, its spirit is Ru Shou, its creatures are the furred; its note is Shang, its pitch pipe answers Yize, its number is nine, its flavor is pungent, its smell is rank, its sacrifice is to the gate, and in sacrifice the liver is offered first.
涼風至，白露降，寒蟬鳴，鷹乃祭鳥，用始行戮。
Cool winds arrive, white dew falls, the cold cicadas sing, and hawks offer up birds in sacrifice; with this, killing begins.
天子居總章左個，乘戎路，駕白駱，載白旗，衣白衣，服白玉，食麻與犬，其器廉以深。
The Son of Heaven resides in the left side chamber of the Hall of Brilliant Display. He rides in a war chariot drawn by white piebald horses, bearing a white banner, wears white clothes and white jade pendants, eats hemp seed and dog, and his vessels are angular and deep.
是月也，以立秋。先立秋三日，大史謁之天子曰：“某日立秋，盛德在金。”天子乃齊。立秋之日，天子親帥三公、九卿、諸侯、大夫以迎秋於西郊。還反，賞軍帥武人於朝。
This month is the beginning of autumn. Three days before the beginning of autumn, the Grand Historian reports to the Son of Heaven: "On such and such a day autumn begins; abundant virtue is in metal." The Son of Heaven then fasts. On the day autumn begins, the Son of Heaven personally leads the three dukes, nine ministers, feudal lords and great officers to greet autumn in the western suburb. On returning, he rewards the military commanders and warriors at court.
天子乃命將帥選士厲兵，簡練桀俊。專任有功，以徵不義。詰誅暴慢，以明好惡，順彼遠方。
The Son of Heaven then orders the generals and commanders to select soldiers and sharpen weapons, and to choose and train outstanding talents. Those with merit are given sole charge, in order to attack the unrighteous. They question and execute the violent and arrogant, in order to make clear what is loved and what is hated, and to bring the distant peoples into obedience.
是月也，命有司修法制，繕囹圄，具桎梏，禁止奸，慎罪邪，務搏執。命理瞻傷，察創，視折，審斷決，獄訟必端平，戮有罪，嚴斷刑。天地始肅，不可以贏。
In this month, an order is given to the officials to repair the laws and regulations, to mend the prisons, to prepare fetters and handcuffs, to prohibit wickedness, to be careful about crimes and evil, and to devote their strength to apprehension and capture. An order is given to the officials who handle prisons to examine injuries, inspect wounds, and look at broken bones, to review and decide judgments, and the cases must be correctly and fairly decided. Those who are guilty are put to death, and sentences are carried out severely. Heaven and Earth are beginning to be stern and wither, so one must not be overfull or lax.
是月也，農乃登谷，天子嘗新，先薦寢廟。命百官始收斂，完堤防，謹壅塞，以備水潦。修宮室，壞牆垣，補城郭。
In this month, the farmers then present the grain, and the Son of Heaven tastes the new grain, first offering it at the temple of the private chamber. The hundred officials are ordered to begin gathering in, to perfect the dikes, to carefully block up breaches in order to guard against great floods. Palaces and houses are repaired, broken walls mended, and city walls patched.
是月也，毋以封諸侯，立大官，毋以割地，行大使，出大幣。
In this month, one must not enfeoff feudal lords or establish great officials, nor cede land, send out great envoys, or give out great sums of money and gifts.
孟秋行冬令，則陰氣大勝，介蟲敗谷，戎兵乃來。行春令，則其國乃旱，陽氣復還，五穀無實。行夏令，則國多火災，寒熱不節，民多瘧疾。
If the ordinances of winter are carried out in the first month of autumn, yin energy will be overwhelmingly strong, shelled insects will destroy the grain, and the Rong troops will arrive. If the ordinances of spring are carried out, the state will suffer drought, yang energy will return again, and the five grains will bear no fruit. If the ordinances of summer are carried out, the state will have many fires, cold and heat will be unregulated, and the people will suffer many cases of malaria.
仲秋之月，日在角，昏牽牛中，旦觜觿中。其日庚辛，其帝少皞，其神蓐收，其蟲毛，其音商，律中南呂，其數九，其味辛，其臭腥，其祀門，祭先肝。
In the second month of autumn, the sun is in Jiao; at dusk the star Qianniu is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Zixi is at the meridian. Its days are geng and xin; its emperor is Shao Hao, its spirit is Ru Shou, its creatures are the furred; its note is Shang, its pitch pipe answers Nanlu, its number is nine, its flavor is pungent, its smell is rank, its sacrifice is to the gate, and in sacrifice the liver is offered first.
盲風至，鴻鴈來，玄鳥歸，群鳥養羞。
Fierce winds arrive, wild geese come, swallows depart, and flocks of birds store up fine food.
天子居總章大廟，乘戎路，駕白駱，載白旗，衣白衣，服白玉，食麻與犬，其器廉以深。
The Son of Heaven resides in the Grand Temple of the Hall of Brilliant Display. He rides in a war chariot drawn by white piebald horses, bearing a white banner, wears white clothes and white jade pendants, eats hemp seed and dog, and his vessels are angular and deep.
是月也，養衰老，授几杖，行麋粥飲食。
In this month, the aged and frail are cared for, given staffs and armrests, and thin gruel and drink are provided.
乃命司服具飭衣裳，文繡有恆，制有小大，度有長短，衣服有量，必循其故，冠帶有常。
Then an order is given to the Master of Garments to prepare and put in order the robes and skirts. The embroidery follows fixed rules, the forms have their larger and smaller sizes, the measures their long and short, and the garments their proper amounts; the old methods must be followed, and the caps and sashes have their regular forms.
乃命有司申嚴百刑，斬殺必當，毋或枉橈。枉橈不當，反受其殃。
Then an order is given to the officials to make clear and strictly enforce the punishments; beheadings must be fitting, and there must be no injustice. If there is injustice and unfitness, the disaster falls back on oneself.
是月也，乃命宰祝循行犧牲。視全具，案芻豢，瞻肥瘠，察物色，必比類，量小大，視長短，皆中度。五者備當，上帝其饗。
In this month, an order is given to the chief minister and the invocator to inspect the sacrificial animals. They look to see whether they are complete and ready, examine the fodder, check how fat or lean they are, and observe the color of the coat. They must compare them by type, measure the large and small, and look at the long and short, so that all fit the standard. When all five points are complete and proper, the Supreme Lord will accept them.
天子乃難，以達秋氣。
The Son of Heaven then holds the Nuo exorcism to open the way for the autumn energy.
以犬嘗麻，先薦寢廟。
Hemp seed is tasted with dog meat, and is first offered at the temple of the private chamber.
是月也，可以築城郭，建都邑，穿竇窖，修囷倉。
In this month, city walls may be built, towns established, cellars dug, and round and square granaries repaired.
乃命有司趣民收斂，務畜菜，多積聚。乃勸種麥，毋或失時，其有失時，行罪無疑。
Then an order is given to the officials to urge the people to gather in the harvest, to devote themselves to storing vegetables and to accumulate in large amounts. Then they are encouraged to plant wheat, so that no one loses the season. If anyone loses the season, he is punished without hesitation.
是月也，日夜分，雷始收聲，蟄蟲壞戶，殺氣浸盛，陽氣日衰，水始涸。
In this month, day and night are equal, thunder begins to cease, hibernating insects repair their burrows, the killing energy grows gradually stronger, the yang energy weakens day by day, and the waters begin to dry up.
日夜分，則同度量、平權衡、正鈞石、角鬥甬。
When day and night are equal, the standards of length and capacity are unified, scales and steelyards are evened out, the weights and stone measures are rectified, and the dou and hu measures are corrected.
是月也，易關市，來商旅，納貨賄，以便民事。四方來集，遠鄉皆至，則財不匱，上無乏用，百事乃遂。
In this month, the checks at passes and markets are eased, merchants and travelers are invited, goods are received, so as to benefit the people's affairs. When the four quarters gather and distant villages all arrive, wealth is not scarce and the government lacks nothing for its use, so the hundred undertakings are accomplished.
凡舉大事，毋逆大數，必順其時，慎因其類。
In carrying out all great affairs, one must not go against the great numbers; one must follow the season and carefully rely on the proper categories.
仲秋行春令，則秋雨不降，草木生榮，國乃有恐。行夏令，則其國乃旱，蟄蟲不藏，五穀復生。行冬令，則風災數起，收雷先行，草木蚤死。
If the ordinances of spring are carried out in the second month of autumn, autumn rains will not fall, plants and trees will grow and flower, and the state will be terrified. If the ordinances of summer are carried out, the state will suffer drought, hibernating insects will not hide away, and the five grains will grow again. If the ordinances of winter are carried out, wind disasters will arise repeatedly, the withdrawal of thunder will come early, and plants and trees will die early.
季秋之月，日在房，昏虛中，旦柳中。其日庚辛，其帝少皞，其神蓐收，其蟲毛，其音商，律中無射，其數九，其味辛，其臭腥，其祀門，祭先肝。
In the third month of autumn, the sun is in Fang; at dusk the star Xu is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Liu is at the meridian. Its days are geng and xin; its emperor is Shao Hao, its spirit is Ru Shou, its creatures are the furred; its note is Shang, its pitch pipe answers Wuyi, its number is nine, its flavor is pungent, its smell is rank, its sacrifice is to the gate, and in sacrifice the liver is offered first.
鴻鴈來賓，爵入大水為蛤，鞠有黃華，豺乃祭獸戮禽。
Wild geese come as guests, sparrows enter the great waters and turn into clams, chrysanthemums have yellow flowers, and jackals then offer up beasts in sacrifice and kill birds.
天子居總章右個，乘戎路，駕白駱，載白旗，衣白衣，服白玉，食麻與犬，其器廉以深。
The Son of Heaven resides in the right side chamber of the Hall of Brilliant Display. He rides in a war chariot drawn by white piebald horses, bearing a white banner, wears white clothes and white jade pendants, eats hemp seed and dog, and his vessels are angular and deep.
是月也，申嚴號令。命百官貴賤無不務內，以會天地之藏，無有宣出。
In this month, orders are made clear and strictly enforced. The hundred officials, noble and humble alike, are ordered to devote themselves wholly to gathering in, so as to join in the closing and storing of Heaven and Earth, and nothing is to be let out.
乃命冢宰，事備收，舉五穀之要，藏帝借之收於神倉，祗敬必飭。
Then an order is given to the Prime Minister: when the work is completed and the harvest in, the ledger of the five grains is presented, the harvest of the Emperor's ceremonial field is stored in the spirit granary, and reverence must be fully observed.
是月也．霜始降，則百工休。
In this month, frost begins to fall, and the hundred artisans rest.
乃命有司曰：“寒氣總至，民力不堪，其皆入室。”
Then an order is given to the officials, saying: "The cold air has arrived all at once, and the people's strength cannot bear it; let them all go into their houses."
上丁，命樂正，入學習吹。
On the ding day of the first ten days, an order is given to the Music Master to enter the school and practice wind music.
是月也，大饗帝，嘗犧牲，告備於天子。
In this month, a great banquet is held for the Supreme Lord, with sacrificial animals offered, and completion is reported to the Son of Heaven.
合諸侯，制百縣，來歲受朔日，與諸侯所稅於民，輕重之法，貢職之數，以遠近土地所宜為度。以給郊廟之事，無有所私。
The feudal lords are assembled, the counties are bound by agreement, and for the coming year they receive the calendar of the new moon, together with the rules for the lightness or heaviness of taxes the feudal lords collect from the people and the amounts of tribute and duties, which are set according to the distance and suitability of their lands. These are used to supply the suburban and temple rites, and nothing is to be taken for private use.
是月也，天子乃教於田獵，以習五戎，班馬政。命僕及七騶鹹駕，載旌旐，授車以級，整設於屏外。司徒搢撲，北面誓之，天子乃厲飾，執弓挾矢以獵，命主祠祭禽於四方。
In this month, the Son of Heaven then uses hunting to teach and to practice the five weapons, and promulgates the ordinances on the rearing of horses. The grooms and the seven charioteers are ordered to yoke their carriages, carrying pennants and banners, and carriages are given out by rank and set out in order outside the screen. The Minister of Education, carrying the teaching staff, makes a solemn declaration facing north. The Son of Heaven then puts his martial dress in order, takes bow in hand with arrows tucked at his side, and hunts; he orders the officiant to sacrifice the game in the four directions.
是月也，草木黃落，乃伐薪為炭。
In this month, plants and trees turn yellow and fall, and firewood is then cut and made into charcoal.
蟄蟲鹹俯在內，皆墐其戶。乃趣獄刑，毋留有罪，收祿秩之不當、供養之不宜者。
Hibernating insects all bend down inside and all plaster their doors with mud. Then trials in prison are hurried along, no one guilty is left over, and stipends improperly given and support improperly provided are withdrawn.
是月也，天子乃以犬嘗稻，先薦寢廟。
In this month, the Son of Heaven tastes the rice with dog meat, and first offers it at the temple of the private chamber.
季秋行夏令，則其國大水，冬藏殃敗，民多鼽嚏。行冬令，則國多盜賊，邊竟不寧，土地分裂。行春令，則暖風來至，民氣解惰，師興不居。
If the ordinances of summer are carried out in the third month of autumn, the state will suffer a great flood, things stored for winter will be damaged and spoiled, and the people will have many runny noses and sneezes. If the ordinances of winter are carried out, the state will have many bandits and thieves, the borders will be unquiet, and the land will split apart. If the ordinances of spring are carried out, warm winds will arrive, the people's spirit will grow slack, and the army will rise up and not be able to rest.
孟冬之月，日在尾，昏危中，旦七星中。其日壬癸，其帝顓頊，其神玄冥，其蟲介，其音羽，律中應鐘，其數六，其味鹹，其臭朽，其祀行，祭先腎。
In the first month of winter, the sun is in Wei; at dusk the star Wei is at the meridian, and at dawn the star Qixing is at the meridian. Its days are ren and gui; its emperor is Zhuan Xu, its spirit is Xuan Ming, its creatures are the shelled; its note is Yu, its pitch pipe answers Yingzhong, its number is six, its flavor is salty, its smell is rotten, its sacrifice is to the road, and in sacrifice the kidneys are offered first.
水始冰，地始凍，雉入大水為蜃，虹藏不見。
Water begins to freeze, the earth begins to harden, pheasants enter the great waters and turn into clams, and rainbows hide and are not seen.
天子居玄堂左個，乘玄路，駕鐵驪，載玄旗，衣黑衣，服玄玉，食黍與彘，其器閎以奄。
The Son of Heaven resides in the left side chamber of the Dark Hall. He rides in a dark carriage drawn by iron-gray black horses, bearing a dark banner, wears black clothes and dark jade pendants, eats millet and pork, and his vessels are broad and closed.
是月也，以立冬。先立冬三日，太史謁之天子曰：“某日立冬，盛德在水。”天子乃齊。立冬之日，天子親帥三公、九卿、大夫以迎冬於北郊。還反，賞死事，恤孤寡。
This month is the beginning of winter. Three days before the beginning of winter, the Grand Historian reports to the Son of Heaven: "On such and such a day winter begins; abundant virtue is in water." The Son of Heaven then fasts. On the day winter begins, the Son of Heaven personally leads the three dukes, nine ministers and great officers to greet winter in the northern suburb. On returning, he rewards those who died for the state and comforts orphans and widows.
是月也，命大史釁龜筴占兆，審卦吉凶，是察阿黨，則罪無有掩蔽。
In this month, an order is given to the Grand Historian to consecrate the tortoise shells and divining stalks with blood and to ask about the omens, to examine the good and ill fortune of the hexagrams, and then to look into flattery and factionalism, so that wrongdoing is not concealed.
是月也，天子始裘。
In this month, the Son of Heaven begins to wear fur garments.