Duke Min

春，王正月。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar.

（傳）公何以不言即位？繼弒君不言即位。孰繼？繼子般也。孰弒子般？慶父也。殺公子牙，今將爾，季子不免。慶父弒君，何以不誅？將而不免遏惡也。既而不可及，因獄有所歸，不探其情而誅焉，親親之道也。惡乎歸獄？歸獄僕人鄧扈樂。曷為歸獄僕人鄧扈樂？莊公存之時，樂曾淫於宮中，子般執而鞭之。莊公死，慶父謂樂曰：「般之辱爾，國人莫不知，盍弒之矣？」使弒子般，然後誅鄧扈樂而歸獄焉，季子至而不變也。

(Commentary) Why is Duke Min's "accession" not written? Following a ruler who was murdered, accession is not written. Whom did he follow? Zi Ban. Who murdered Zi Ban? Qingfu. When Prince Ya was killed, he was only about to do it, and Jizi did not let him off. Qingfu murdered the ruler; why was he not executed? Not letting off one who was about to act is checking the crime; once it was accomplished it was too late, so the guilt was given a place, and without investigating the facts they proceeded accordingly; this is the principle of favoring one's kin. Where did the guilt fall? On the servant Deng Hu Le. Why on the servant Deng Hu Le? While Duke Zhuang was still alive, Le had once been licentious in the palace, and Zi Ban caught him and whipped him. When Duke Zhuang died, Qingfu said to Le: "Ban humiliated you, and there is none in the state who does not know it; why not murder him?" He made him kill Zi Ban, and then executed Deng Hu Le and attributed the crime to him. When Jizi arrived, he too did not change this account.

（經一二）齊人救邢。夏，六月辛酉，葬我君莊公。

(Classic 12) The men of Qi rescued Xing. In summer, the sixth month, xinyou, our ruler Duke Zhuang was buried.

（經一三）秋，八月，公及齊侯盟於洛姑。季子來歸。

(Classic 13) In autumn, the eighth month, Duke Min made a covenant with the Marquis of Qi at Luogu. Jizi returned.

（傳）其稱季子何？賢也。其言來歸何？喜之也。

(Commentary) Why is he called "Jizi"? Because he was worthy. Why is "came back" written? It expresses delight in him.

（經一四）冬，齊仲孫來。

(Classic 14) In winter, Zhongsun of Qi came.

（傳）齊仲孫者何？公子慶父也。公子慶父，則曷為謂之齊仲孫？系之齊也。曷為系之齊？外之也。曷為外之？春秋為尊者諱，為親者諱，為賢者諱。子女子曰：「以『春秋』為《春秋》，齊無仲孫，其諸吾仲孫與？」

(Commentary) Who was Zhongsun of Qi? Prince Qingfu. Since he was Prince Qingfu, why is he called Zhongsun of Qi? It attaches him to Qi. Why attach him to Qi? It treats him as an outsider. Why treat him as an outsider? The Spring and Autumn Annals conceals for the honored, conceals for kin, and conceals for the worthy. Master Zinü said: "Looking at the Spring and Autumn Annals by the Annals' own method, Qi has no Zhongsun; he is probably our own Zhongsun, is he not?"

春，王正月，齊人遷陽。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, the men of Qi moved away Yang.

（經二二）夏，五月乙酉，吉禘於莊公。

(Classic 22) In summer, the fifth month, yiyou, an auspicious di sacrifice was held for Duke Zhuang.

（傳）其言吉何？言吉者，未可以吉也。曷為未可以吉？未三年也。三年矣，曷為謂之未三年？三年之喪，實以二十五月。其言於莊公何？未可以稱宮廟也。曷為未可以稱宮廟？在三年之中矣。吉禘於莊公，何以書？譏。何譏爾？譏始不三年也。

(Commentary) Why is "auspicious" written? Writing "auspicious" says it was not yet permissible to be auspicious. Why was it not yet permissible? Three years had not been completed. It had already been three years; why is it said not yet complete? The three-year mourning is in fact twenty-five months. Why is "to Duke Zhuang" written? Because it was not yet permissible to call it the palace temple. Why not yet permissible to call it the palace temple? Because it was still within the three years. Why is the auspicious di sacrifice to Duke Zhuang recorded? It is criticism. What is criticized? It criticizes that from here the three years were not completed.

（經二三）秋，八月辛丑，公薨。

(Classic 23) In autumn, the eighth month, xinchou, Duke Min died.

（傳）公薨何以不地？隱之也。何隱爾？弒也。孰弒之？慶父也。殺公子牙，今將爾，季子不免。慶父弒二君，何以不誅？將而不免，遏惡也；既而不可及，緩追逸賊，親親之道也。

(Commentary) Why is the place of Duke Min's death not recorded? To pity him. What is pitied? He was murdered. Who murdered him? Qingfu. When Prince Ya was killed, he was only about to do it, and Jizi did not let him off. Qingfu murdered two rulers; why was he not executed? Not letting off one who was about to act is checking the crime; once it was accomplished it was too late, and so he slowed the pursuit and let the fugitive escape, which is the principle of favoring one's kin.

（經二四）九月，夫人姜氏孫於邾婁。

(Classic 24) In the ninth month, the lady Jiang fled to Zhulou.

（經二五）公子慶父出奔莒。

(Classic 25) Prince Qingfu fled to Ju.

（經二六）冬，齊高子來盟。

(Classic 26) In winter, Gaozi of Qi came to the covenant.

（傳）高子者何？齊大夫也。何以不稱使？我無君也。然則何以不名？喜之也。何喜爾？正我也。其正我奈何？莊公死，子般弒，閔公弒，比三君死，曠年無君。設以齊取魯，曾不興師，徒以言而已矣。桓公使高子將南陽之甲，立僖公而城魯，或曰自鹿門至於爭門者是也，或曰自爭門至於吏門者是也。魯人至今以為美談，曰：「猶望高子也。」

(Commentary) Who was Gaozi? A grandee of Qi. Why is "sent" not written? Because our Lu had no ruler. Then why is his name not given? It expresses delight in him. What is delighted in? He came to set Lu right. How did he set it right? Duke Zhuang died, Zi Ban was murdered, Duke Min was murdered, three rulers died one after another, and for a whole year there was no ruler. If Qi had wanted to take Lu, it would not even have needed to raise an army; one word would have been enough. Duke Huan sent Gaozi leading the armored men of Nanyang to establish Duke Xi and build walls for Lu. Some say they ran from Lumen to Zhengmen, and some say from Zhengmen to Limen. The people of Lu still praise it to this day, saying: "We are still looking forward to Gaozi."

（經二七）十有二月，狄入衛。鄭棄其師。

(Classic 27) In the twelfth month, the Di entered Wei. Zheng abandoned its army.

（傳）鄭棄其師者何？惡其將也。鄭伯惡高克，使之將逐而不納，棄師之道也。

(Commentary) What does "Zheng abandoned its army" mean? It means it hated its general. The Earl of Zheng hated Gao Ke, sent him out leading troops, drove him away and would not take him back, and this is the way of abandoning an army.

春，王正月。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar.

（傳）公何以不言即位？繼弒君，子不言即位。此非子也，其稱子何？臣、子一例也。

(Commentary) Why is Duke Xi's "accession" not written? Following a murdered ruler, a son's accession is not written. This man was not a son; why is it written as for a son? Minister and son follow the same pattern.

（經一二）齊師、宋師、曹師次於聶北，救邢。

(Classic 12) The armies of Qi, Song and Cao were stationed at north of Nie to rescue Xing.

（傳）救不言次，此其言次何？不及事也。不及事者何？邢已亡矣。孰亡之？蓋狄滅之。曷為不言狄滅之？為桓公諱也。曷為為桓公諱？上無天子，下無方伯，天下諸侯有相滅亡者，桓公不能救，則桓公恥之。曷為先言次而後言救？君也。君則其稱師何？不與諸侯專封也。曷為不與？實與而文不與。文曷為不與？諸侯之義不得專封也。諸侯之義不得專封，則其曰實與之何？上無天子，下無方伯，天下諸侯有相滅亡者，力能救之，則救之可也。

(Commentary) For a rescue, "stationed" is not written; here "stationed" is written; why? Because they were too late for the event. What does too late for the event mean? Xing had already perished. Who destroyed it? Probably the Di destroyed it. Why is it not written that the Di destroyed it? To avoid mentioning it on behalf of Duke Huan. Why avoid mentioning it on behalf of Duke Huan? Above there was no Son of Heaven and below no regional chief, and among the lords of the world some destroyed each other, and Duke Huan could not rescue them, and Duke Huan took this as shame. Why is "stationed" written first and then "rescued"? Because it was a ruler. Since it was a ruler, why is it called "army"? It does not approve of lords arbitrarily enfeoffing a state. Why not approve? In fact it approves, but in the words it does not approve. Why in words does it not approve? By the righteousness of lords, they may not arbitrarily enfeoff a state. Since they may not enfeoff arbitrarily, why say it actually approves? Above there is no Son of Heaven and below no regional chief, and among the lords of the world some destroy each other; if strength is sufficient to rescue, rescuing is permissible.

（經一三）夏，六月，邢遷於陳儀。

(Classic 13) In summer, the sixth month, Xing moved to Chenyi.

（傳）遷者何？其意也。遷之者何？非其意也。

(Commentary) What does "moved" mean? It means by its own wish. What does "moved it" mean? It means not by its own wish.

（經一四）齊師、宋師、曹師城邢。

(Classic 14) The armies of Qi, Song and Cao fortified Xing.

（傳）此一事也，曷為復言齊師、宋師、曹師？不復言師，則無以知其為一事也。

(Commentary) This was the same affair; why are the armies of Qi, Song and Cao written again? If "army" were not written again, there would be no way to know it was the same affair.

（經一五）秋，七月戊辰，夫人姜氏薨於夷，齊人以歸。

(Classic 15) In autumn, the seventh month, wuchen, the lady Jiang died at Yi, and the men of Qi took her back.

（傳）夷者何？齊地也。齊地，則其言齊人以歸何？夫人薨於夷，則齊人以歸。夫人薨於夷，則齊人曷為以歸？桓公召而縊殺之。

(Commentary) What is Yi? A place in Qi. Since it was a place in Qi, why is "the men of Qi took her back" written? The lady died at Yi, and the men of Qi took her back. When the lady died at Yi, why did the men of Qi take her back? Duke Huan summoned her and strangled her.

（經一六）楚人伐鄭。八月，公會齊侯、宋公、鄭伯、曹伯、邾婁人於朾。九月，公敗邾婁師於纓。

(Classic 16) The men of Chu attacked Zheng. In the eighth month, Duke Xi joined the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao and the men of Zhulou at Ding. In the ninth month, Duke Xi defeated the army of Zhulou at Ying.

（經一七）冬，十月壬午，公子友帥師，敗莒師於犁，獲莒挐。

(Classic 17) In winter, the tenth month, renwu, Prince You led an army and defeated the army of Ju at Li, capturing Ju Na.

（傳）莒挐者何？莒大夫也。莒無大夫，此何以書？大季子之獲也。何大乎季子之獲？季子治內難以正，御外難以正。其御外難以正奈何？公子慶父弒閔公，走而之莒，莒人逐之，將由乎齊，齊人不納，卻反舍於汶水之上，使公子奚斯入請。季子曰：「公子不可以入，入則殺矣！」奚斯不忍反命於慶父，自南涘，北面而哭。慶父聞之曰：「嘻！此奚斯之聲也，諾已。」曰：「吾不得入矣！」於是抗輈經而死。莒人聞之曰：「吾已得子之賊矣！」以求賂乎魯。魯人不與，為是興師而伐魯，季子待之以偏戰。

(Commentary) Who was Ju Na? A grandee of Ju. Ju has no grandees; why is he recorded here? It magnifies Jizi's capture. Why magnify it? Jizi governed the troubles within the state by the correct way, and also resisted troubles from outside by the correct way. How did he resist troubles from outside by the correct way? Prince Qingfu murdered Duke Min and fled to Ju; the men of Ju drove him out, and he was about to go via Qi, but Qi did not receive him, so he turned back and lived on the bank of the Wen River, and sent Prince Xisi in to ask for leave. Jizi said: "The prince cannot come in; if he comes in he will be killed!" Xisi could not bear to go back and report to Qingfu, and wept from the south bank toward the north. Qingfu heard it and said: "Alas! That is Xisi's voice, it is over." He also said: "I cannot go in!" So he hanged himself leaning on a carriage shaft and died. The men of Ju heard of it and said: "We have already got your thief!" They asked Lu for goods and wealth. Lu did not give them, so Ju raised an army to attack Lu, and Jizi dealt with them by fighting at an appointed time.

（經一八）十有二月丁巳，夫人氏之喪至自齊。

(Classic 18) In the twelfth month, dingsi, the coffin of the lady arrived from Qi.

（傳）夫人何以不稱姜氏？貶。曷為貶？與弒公也。然則曷為不於弒焉貶？貶必於其重者，莫重乎其以喪至也。

(Commentary) Why is the lady not called Jiang? It is a demotion. Why demoted? Because she took part in the murder of Duke Min. Then why was she not demoted at the time of the murder? A demotion must fall at the heaviest place, and nothing is heavier than the arrival of the coffin.

春，王正月，城楚丘。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Chuqiu was fortified.

（傳）孰城之？城衛也。曷為不言城衛？滅也。孰滅之？蓋狄滅之。曷為不言狄滅之？為桓公諱也。曷為為桓公諱？上無天子，下無方伯，天下諸侯有相滅亡者，桓公不能救，則桓公恥之也。然則孰城之？桓公城之。曷為不言桓公城之？不與諸侯專封也。曷為不與？實與而文不與。文曷為不與？諸侯之義，不得專封。諸侯之義不得專封，則其曰實與之何？上無天子，下無方伯，天下諸侯有相滅亡者，力能救之，則救之可也。

(Commentary) Who fortified it? They built a wall for Wei. Why is "walled Wei" not written? Because Wei had already perished. Who destroyed it? Probably the Di destroyed it. Why is it not written that the Di destroyed it? To avoid mentioning it on behalf of Duke Huan. Why avoid mentioning it on behalf of Duke Huan? Above there was no Son of Heaven and below no regional chief, and among the lords of the world some destroyed each other, and Duke Huan could not rescue them, and Duke Huan took this as shame. Then who fortified it? Duke Huan fortified it. Why is it not written that Duke Huan built the wall? It does not approve of lords arbitrarily enfeoffing a state. Why not approve? In fact it approves, but in words it does not approve. Why in words does it not approve? By the righteousness of lords, they may not arbitrarily enfeoff a state. Since they may not enfeoff arbitrarily, why say it actually approves? Above there is no Son of Heaven and below no regional chief, and among the lords of the world some destroy each other; if strength is sufficient to rescue, rescuing is permissible.

（經二二）夏，五月辛巳，葬我小君哀姜。

(Classic 22) In summer, the fifth month, xinsi, Ai Jiang, the lesser ruler of our Lu, was buried.

（傳）哀姜者何？莊公之夫人也。

(Commentary) Who was Ai Jiang? The wife of Duke Zhuang.

（經二三）虞師、晉師滅夏陽。

(Classic 23) The armies of Yu and Jin destroyed Xiayang.

（傳）虞，微國也，曷為序乎大國之上？使虞首惡也。曷為使虞首惡？虞受賂，假滅國者道，以取亡焉。其受賂奈何？獻公朝諸大夫而問焉，曰：「寡人夜者寢而不寐，其意也何？」諸大夫有進對者曰：「寢不安與？其諸侍御有不在側者與？」獻公不應。荀息進曰：「虞郭見與？」獻公揖而進之，遂與之入而謀曰：「吾欲攻郭，則虞救之；攻虞，則郭救之，如之何？願與子慮之。」荀息對曰：「君若用臣之謀，則今日取郭，而明日取虞爾，君何憂焉？」獻公曰：「然則奈何？」荀息曰：「請以屈產之乘與垂棘之白璧，往必可得也。則寶出之內藏，藏之外府；馬出之內廄，系之外廄爾，君何喪焉？」獻公曰：「諾。雖然，宮之奇存焉，如之何？」荀息曰：「宮之奇知則知矣！雖然，虞公貪而好寶，見寶必不從其言，請終以往。」於是終以往，虞公見寶許諾。宮之奇果諫：「記曰：『唇亡則齒寒。』虞、郭之相救，非相為賜，則晉今日取郭，而明日虞從而亡爾。君請勿許也。」虞公不從其言，終假之道以取郭。還，四年，反取虞。虞公抱寶牽馬而至。荀息見曰：「臣之謀何如？」獻公曰：「子之謀則已行矣，寶則吾寶也，雖然，吾馬之齒亦已長矣！」蓋戲之也。夏陽者何？郭之邑也。曷為不繫於郭？國之也。曷為國之？君存焉爾。

(Commentary) Yu is a small state; why is it placed above the great state? It makes Yu the chief offender. Why make Yu the chief offender? Yu accepted bribes and lent the road to those who destroyed a state, and so itself perished. How did it accept bribes? Duke Xian held court with his grandees and asked them: "I lie awake at night and cannot sleep; what does it mean?" A grandee stepped forward and answered: "Is it that your sleep is not peaceful? Or that some of your attendants are not at your side?" Duke Xian did not answer. Xun Xi stepped forward and said: "Is it that you are looking at Yu and Guo?" Duke Xian bowed and invited him in, and went in with him to plan, saying: "I wish to attack Guo, but Yu would rescue it; if I attack Yu, Guo would rescue it; what shall I do? I wish to consider with you." Xun Xi answered: "If Your Lordship uses your servant's plan, today you take Guo and tomorrow you take Yu; what does Your Lordship worry about?" Duke Xian said: "Then what is the plan?" Xun Xi said: "I ask to send the horses of Qu and the white jade disc of Chuiji, and they will surely be obtained. The treasures go out of the inner storehouse and are merely kept in an outer storehouse; the horses go out of the inner stable and are merely tied in an outer stable; what does Your Lordship lose?" Duke Xian said: "Good. Even so, Gong Zhiqi is still there; what then?" Xun Xi said: "Gong Zhiqi is clever indeed! Even so, the Duke of Yu is greedy and loves treasure, and on seeing treasure he will surely not listen to him; I ask you to insist on sending it." So it was finally sent, and the Duke of Yu on seeing the treasure agreed. Gong Zhiqi duly remonstrated: "The old record says: 'When the lips are gone the teeth are cold.' Yu and Guo rescue each other, not as a reward to each other; then Jin will take Guo today and Yu will perish tomorrow. I ask Your Lordship not to agree." The Duke of Yu did not listen, and in the end lent the road so that Jin took Guo. On the return, after four years, it turned back and took Yu. The Duke of Yu came holding the treasure and leading the horses. Xun Xi saw him and said: "How was your servant's plan?" Duke Xian said: "Your plan has been carried out, and the treasure is still my treasure; even so, my horses have also grown old!" Probably he was joking with him. What is Xiayang? A city of Guo. Why is it not attached to Guo's name? It treats it as one state. Why treat it as one state? Because it had a ruler there.

（經二四）秋，九月，齊侯、宋公、江人、黃人盟於貫澤。（傳）江人、黃人者何？遠國之辭也。遠國至矣，則中國曷為獨言齊、宋至爾？大國言齊、宋，遠國言江、黃，則以其餘為莫敢不至也。

(Classic 24) In autumn, the ninth month, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the men of Jiang and the men of Huang made a covenant at Guanze. (Commentary) What are the men of Jiang and Huang? It is the wording for distant states. If the distant states all arrived, why does the central plain write only that Qi and Song arrived? For great states Qi and Song are written, for distant states Jiang and Huang are written, and then there were none of the rest who dared not come.

（經二五）冬，十月，不雨。

(Classic 25) In winter, the tenth month, it did not rain.

（傳）何以書？記異也。（經二六）楚人侵鄭。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? It records an anomaly. (Classic 26) The men of Chu invaded Zheng.

春，王正月，不雨。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, it did not rain.

（經三二）夏，四月，不雨。

(Classic 32) In summer, the fourth month, it did not rain.

（傳）何以書？記異也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? It records an anomaly.

（經三三）徐人取舒。

(Classic 33) The men of Xu seized Shu.

（傳）其言取之何？易也。

(Commentary) Why is "seized it" written? Because it came easily.

（經三四）六月，雨。

(Classic 34) In the sixth month, it rained.

（傳）其言六月雨何？上雨而不甚也。

(Commentary) Why is "rain in the sixth month" written? It means there had been rain earlier, but not enough.

（經三五）秋，齊侯、宋公、江人、黃人會於陽穀。

(Classic 35) In autumn, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the men of Jiang and the men of Huang met at Yanggu.

（傳）此大會也，曷為末言爾？桓公曰：「無障谷，無貯粟，無易樹子，無以妾為妻。」

(Commentary) This was a great meeting; why are the terms of the covenant not written out? Duke Huan said: "Do not block the valleys and waterways, do not hoard grain, do not replace the established heir, and do not make a concubine a wife."

（經三六）冬，公子友如齊蒞盟。

(Classic 36) In winter, Prince You went to Qi to attend the covenant.

（傳）蒞盟者何？往盟乎彼也。其言來盟者何？來盟於我也。（經三七）楚人伐鄭。

(Commentary) What does "attend the covenant" mean? It means going to the other side to make a covenant. What does "came to covenant" mean? It means coming to us to make a covenant. (Classic 37) The men of Chu attacked Zheng.

春，王正月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯侵蔡，蔡潰。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Xi joined the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu and the Earl of Cao in invading Cai, and Cai collapsed.