Guo Feng (Airs of the States)

有兔斯首，燔之炙之。君子有酒，酌言酢之。

There is a hare's head like this; broil it and roast it. The gentleman has wine; pour it and return the toast.

有兔斯首，燔之炮之。君子有酒，酌言酬之。

There is a hare's head like this; broil it and wrap and roast it. The gentleman has wine; pour it and answer the toast.

漸漸之石，維其高矣。山川悠遠，維其勞矣。武人東征，不遑朝矣。

The stones rise higher and higher, only because they are high. The mountains and rivers stretch far, only because the toil is great. The warriors march east, and have no leisure to wait for morning.

漸漸之石，維其卒矣。山川悠遠，曷其沒矣？武人東征，不遑出矣。

The stones rise higher and higher, only because they are steep. The mountains and rivers stretch far; when will they come to an end? The warriors march east, and have no leisure to go out.

有豕白蹢，烝涉波矣。月離於畢，俾滂沱矣。武人東征，不皇他矣。

There are pigs with white hooves, long wading through the waves. The moon is near the Bi stars, and brings heavy rain. The warriors march east, and have no leisure to attend to anything else.

苕之華，芸其黃矣。心之憂矣，維其傷矣！

The trumpet-creeper flowers are yellow and bright. The grief in my heart, it is because it is so painful!

苕之華，其葉青青。知我如此，不如無生！

The trumpet-creeper flowers, the leaves are green. If I had known I would be like this, it would have been better not to have been born!

牂羊墳首，三星在罶。人可以食，鮮可以飽！

The ewe has a big head, and the three stars shine on the fish trap. People may eat, but seldom is there enough to be full!

何草不黃？何日不行？何人不將？經營四方。

What plant is not yellow? What day do we not march? What man is not on service? We tend to the four quarters.

何草不玄？何人不矜？哀我征夫，獨為匪民。

What plant is not black? What man is not alone? Pity us marching men, alone and not counted as people.

匪兕匪虎，率彼曠野。哀我征夫，朝夕不暇。

We are neither rhinoceroses nor tigers, yet we go along that wild plain. Pity us marching men, with no leisure morning or evening.

有芃者狐，率彼幽草。有棧之車，行彼周道。

There are shaggy foxes, going along the deep grass. There are tall wicker carriages, going along the great road.

文王在上，於昭於天。周雖舊邦，其命維新。有周不顯，帝命不時。文王陟降，在帝左右。

King Wen is on high, shining in heaven. Though Zhou is an old state, its mandate is new. Is Zhou not glorious, is the Lord's command not timely? King Wen ascends and descends, at the left and right of the Lord on High.

亹亹文王，令聞不已。陳錫哉周，侯文王孫子。文王孫子，本支百世，凡周之士，不顯亦世。

Tireless King Wen, his good name will not cease. His bounty is bestowed on the state of Zhou, to the descendants of King Wen. The descendants of King Wen, in main line and branches for a hundred generations, all the gentlemen of Zhou, are they not glorious in every generation too?

世之不顯，厥猶翼翼。思皇多士，生此王國。王國克生，維周之楨；濟濟多士，文王以寧。

Is it not glorious in every generation, their plans careful and cautious. Think of those many splendid gentlemen, born in this kingdom. That the kingdom can bring them forth is the backbone of Zhou; so many gentlemen, and King Wen is at peace through them.

穆穆文王，於緝熙敬止。假哉天命。有商孫子。商之孫子，其麗不億。上帝既命，侯於周服。

Solemn King Wen, bright and radiant in reverence. Great is the mandate of Heaven. There are the descendants of Shang. The descendants of Shang, their number is more than a hundred thousand. The Lord on High has already commanded them to submit to Zhou.

侯服於周，天命靡常。殷士膚敏。裸將於京。厥作裸將，常服黼冔。王之藎臣。無念爾祖。

They submit to Zhou, for the mandate of Heaven is not constant. The gentlemen of Yin are fine and quick. In the capital they perform the libation offering. As they perform the libation, they still wear the embroidered robe and Yin cap. The king's ministers, do not fail to think of your ancestors.

無念爾祖，聿修厥德。永言配命，自求多福。殷之未喪師，克配上帝。宜鑑於殷，駿命不易！

Do not fail to think of your ancestors, and cultivate your virtue. Forever accord with the mandate, and seek many blessings for yourselves. When Yin had not yet lost the multitude, it could match the Lord on High. Take Yin as a mirror; the great mandate is not easy!

命之不易，無遏爾躬。宣昭義問，有虞殷自天。上天之載，無聲無臭。儀刑文王，萬邦作孚。

The mandate of Heaven is not easy; do not let it end in you. Make good name known, and consider that Yin's rise and fall came from Heaven. The affairs of High Heaven have no sound and no smell. Model yourselves on King Wen, and the ten thousand states will be trustworthy.

明明在下，赫赫在上。天難忱斯，不易維王。天位殷適，使不挾四方。

Bright below, glorious above. Heaven is hard to trust, and it is not easy to be king. The throne of Heaven was by right the heir of Yin, yet it was made so that he could not hold the four quarters.

摯仲氏任，自彼殷商，來嫁於周，曰嬪於京。乃及王季，維德之行。

The lady Ren, second daughter of the state of Zhi, came from that Yin Shang to marry into Zhou, to be a wife in the capital. Then with King Ji she practiced only virtuous deeds.

大任有身，生此文王。維此文王，小心翼翼。昭事上帝，聿懷多福。厥德不回，以受方國。

Da Ren became pregnant and bore this King Wen. This King Wen was careful and cautious. He served the Lord on High brightly, and so he brought many blessings. His virtue was without crookedness, and so he received the states of the four quarters.

天監在下，有命既集。文王初載，天作之合。在洽之陽，在渭之涘。

Heaven watched from above, and the mandate had already gathered. In the early years of King Wen, Heaven made a match for him. On the north bank of the Qia, on the banks of the Wei.

文王嘉止，大邦有子。大邦有子，俔天之妹。文定厥祥，親迎於渭。造舟為梁，不顯其光。

King Wen praised her: the great state has a daughter. The great state has a daughter, like the younger sister of Heaven. The betrothal gifts fixed the auspicious sign, and he went in person to meet her at the Wei. He joined boats to make a bridge, and was it not a glorious display?

有命自天，命此文王。於周於京，纘女維莘。長子維行，篤生武王。保右命爾，燮伐大商。

There was a mandate from Heaven, commanding this King Wen. In Zhou, in the capital, he next married a daughter of the Shen state. The eldest son thus came forth, and she bore King Wu solidly. Heaven protected and commanded you, and in harmony you attacked great Shang.

殷商之旅，其會如林。矢於牧野，維予侯興。上帝臨女，無二爾心。

The armies of Yin Shang assembled like a forest. They drew up their ranks in the wilds of Mu, and only our Zhou arose. The Lord on High looks down on you; do not have two minds.

牧野洋洋，檀車煌煌，駟騵彭彭。維師尚父，時維鷹揚。涼彼武王，四伐大商，會朝清明。

The wilds of Mu are vast and wide, the sandalwood chariots bright and shining, the four red-bodied, white-bellied horses mighty. The Grand Preceptor Shang Fu was like a hawk soaring then. He assisted King Wu and attacked great Shang, and the assembled court was clear and bright.

綿綿瓜瓞。民之初生，自土沮漆。古公亶父，陶復陶冗，未有家室。

The great and small melons trail on and on. When the people first were born, from the Du River to the Qi River. (The base text has "tu" where "du" is meant.) Gugong Danfu dug kilns and caves, (the base text has "rong" where "xue", cave, is meant), and they had no houses yet.

古公亶父，來朝走馬。率西水滸，至於岐下。爰及姜女，聿來胥宇。

Gugong Danfu came galloping his horse at dawn. Along the west riverbank, he reached the foot of Mount Qi. Then with the lady Jiang, he came to look over a place to live.

周原膴膴，堇荼如飴。爰始爰謀，爰契我龜，曰止曰時，築室於茲。

The plain of Zhou is fertile and rich, and the violets and bitter herbs are sweet as malt sugar. Then he began, then he planned, then he burned my tortoise shell, saying to stay, saying it was timely, and here to build houses.

乃慰乃止，乃左乃右，乃疆乃理，乃宣乃畝。自西徂東，周爰執事。

Then he comforted them, then they settled; then to the left, then to the right; then they marked boundaries, then they managed them; then they opened ditches, then they plowed the fields. From west to east, there was work everywhere.

乃召司空，乃召司徒，俾立室家。其繩則直，縮版以載，作廟翼翼。

Then he called the Minister of Works, then he called the Minister of the Multitude, and had them build the houses. The cords were straight, they bound the boards and pounded the walls, and the temple was built, reverent and fine.

捄之陾陾，度之薨薨，築之登登，削屢馮馮。百堵皆興，鼛鼓弗勝。

They heaped the earth, reng reng, many; they threw the earth, hong hong, with sound; they pounded, deng deng, and shaved the wall, feng feng. A hundred walls were raised together, and the great drum could not drown them out.

乃立皋門，皋門有伉。乃立應門，應門將將。乃立冢土，戎醜攸行。

Then they set up the Gao Gate, and the Gao Gate was high and grand. Then they set up the Ying Gate, and the Ying Gate was stern and upright. Then they set up the great altar, and the multitude went out from there.

四不殄厥慍，亦不隕厥問。柞棫拔矣，行道兌矣。混夷駾矣，維其喙矣！

He did not wipe out his anger, nor let his name fall. (The base text has "si", four, where "si", therefore, is meant.) The oak and the thorn were pulled out, and the roads were opened. The Hun barbarians fled, and could only gasp for breath!

虞芮質厥成，文王蹶厥生。予曰有疏附，予曰有先後。予曰有奔奏，予曰有禦侮！

Yu and Rui settled their lawsuit by appeal, and King Wen moved their natures. I say there were those who came to be attached to him, I say there were those who assisted in front and behind. I say there were those who ran about in his service, I say there were those who defended against insult!

芃芃棫樸，薪之槱之。濟濟闢王，左右趣之。

The oak and bush grow thick and lush, and are heaped up as firewood. The splendid king, left and right they hasten to him.

濟濟闢王，左右奉璋。奉璋峨峨，髦士攸宜。

The splendid king, left and right hold up the jade tablets. They hold up the tablets with dignity, suited to outstanding gentlemen.

淠彼涇舟，烝徒楫之。周王於邁，六師及之。

The boats on the Jing River glide on, and the crowds row them. When the king of Zhou goes forth, the six armies follow him.

倬彼雲漢，為章於天。周王壽考，遐不作人？

The vast Milky Way is the pattern of heaven. The king of Zhou lives long; does he not cultivate men of talent?

追琢其章，金玉其相。勉勉我王，綱紀四方。

Carved and polished is his pattern, with gold and jade as his substance. Our tireless king sets in order the four quarters.

瞻彼旱麓，榛楛濟濟。豈弟君子，干祿豈弟。

Looking at the foot of Mount Han, the hazel and thorn grow thick and many. The joyful gentleman seeks his rank and is joyful.

瑟彼玉瓚，黃流在中。豈弟君子，福祿攸降。

Clean and bright is the jade ladle, and the yellow wine flows in it. The joyful gentleman, blessings and rank are sent down.

鳶飛戾天，魚躍於淵。豈弟君子，遐不作人？

The kite flies up to heaven, the fish leap in the deep. The joyful gentleman, does he not cultivate men of talent?

清酒既載，騂牡既備。以享以祀，以介景福。

The clear wine has been set out, the red bull is ready. They are used to offer in sacrifice, to seek great blessings.

瑟彼柞棫，民所燎矣。豈弟君子，神所勞矣。

The oak and thorn are thick and many, and the people have burned them. The joyful gentleman, the spirits have comforted him.

莫莫葛藟，施於條枚。豈弟君子，求福不回。

The kudzu vines are dense and thick, creeping onto the branches. The joyful gentleman seeks blessings without crookedness.

思齊大任，文王之母，思媚周姜，京室之婦。大姒嗣徽音，則百斯男。

The reverent and grave Da Ren, was the mother of King Wen; the gracious Zhou Jiang was the wife in the royal house. Da Si carried on her good name, and so had a hundred sons.

惠於宗公，神罔時怨，神罔時恫。刑于寡妻，至於兄弟，以御於家邦。

She followed the ancestral temple of the former dukes, and the spirits had no moment of resentment, the spirits had no moment of pain. She was a model to her principal wife, and extended it to her brothers, to govern the family and state.

雍雍在宮，肅肅在廟。不顯亦臨，無射亦保。

In the palace she was harmonious and gentle, in the temple she was solemn and reverent. Though unseen she was watchful, though not wearied she preserved.

四戎疾不殄，烈假不瑕。不聞亦式，不諫亦入。四成人有德，小子有造。古之人無斁，譽髦斯士。

The blight of the Western Rong was not wiped out, (the base text has "si", four, where "si", therefore, is meant) and the fierce great sickness did not stop. What was not heard was still in accord with the law, what was not admonished still entered into good. Grown men had virtue (the base text has "si" for "si" again), and the young had accomplishment. The men of old were not weary, and praised these outstanding gentlemen.

皇矣上帝，臨下有赫。監觀四方，求民之莫。維此二國，其政不獲。

Great is the Lord on High, who looks down in majesty. He surveys the four quarters, seeking the people's peace. These two states, their government did not win hearts.

維彼四國，爰究爰度。上帝耆之，憎其式廓。乃眷西顧，此維與宅。

Those four states, then he investigated and measured. The Lord on High hated it, hated its scale. Then he looked kindly on the west, and only here gave them a dwelling.

作之屏之，其菑其翳。修之平之，其灌其栵。啟之闢之，其檉其椐。

Cut it down, clear it away, the ones standing dead, the ones fallen dead. Trim it, level it, the shrubs and the rows of trees. Open it, clear it, the tamarisk and the spirit-longevity tree.

攘之剔之，其檿其柘。帝遷明德，串夷載路。天立厥配，受命既固。

Clear it away, weed it out, the mountain mulberry and the cudrania. The Lord made allowances for one of bright virtue, and the Chuan barbarians were exhausted on the road. Heaven set up his match, and the mandate received was already firm.

帝省其山，柞棫斯拔，松柏斯兌。帝作邦作對，自大伯王季。維此王季，

The Lord inspected those mountains, and the oak and thorn were pulled out, and the pines and cypresses grew straight. The Lord established the state and established the match, from Tai Bo to King Ji. This King Ji,

因心則友。則友其兄，則篤其慶，載錫之光。受祿無喪，奄有四方。

was friendly from the heart. Then he was friendly to his elder brother, then he added to his blessing, then he was given glory. He received rank without losing it, and covered and held the four quarters.

維此王季，帝度其心。貊其德音，其德克明。克明克類，克長克君。

This King Ji, the Lord measured his heart. He settled his good name, and his virtue was able to discern. Able to discern, able to distinguish the good kind, able to be an elder and able to be a ruler.

王此大邦，克順克比。比於文王，其德靡悔。既受帝祉，施於孫子。

As king of this great state, he was able to be in harmony and able to draw people close. Drawing close to King Wen, his virtue had no regret. Having already received the Lord's blessing, it extended to his descendants.

帝謂文王：無然畔援，無然歆羨，誕先登於岸。密人不恭，敢距大邦，

The Lord said to King Wen: do not be so overbearing, do not be so covetous, but first climb to the high bank. The people of Mi were disrespectful, and dared to resist the great state,