Duke Min

春，王正月，公如齊。狄滅溫。溫子奔衛。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Xi went to Qi. The Di destroyed Wen. The Viscount of Wen fled to Wei.

（經十二）晉裡克弒其君卓子及其大夫荀息。

(Classic 12) Li Ke of Jin murdered his ruler Zhuozi and his grandee Xun Xi.

（傳）及者何？累也。弒君多矣，舍此無累者乎？曰：有，孔父、仇牧皆累也。舍孔父、仇牧無累者乎？曰：有。有則此何以書？賢也。何賢乎荀息？荀息可謂不食其言矣。其不食其言奈何？奚齊、卓子者，驪姬之子也，荀息傅焉。驪姬者，國色也。獻公愛之甚，欲立其子，於是殺世子申生。申生者，裡克傅之。獻公病將死，謂荀息曰：「士何如則可謂之信矣？」荀息對曰：「使死者反生，生者不愧乎其言，則可謂信矣。」獻公死，奚齊立。裡克謂荀息曰：「君殺正而立不正，廢長而立幼，如之何？願與子慮之。」荀息曰：「君嘗訊臣矣，臣對曰：『使死者反生，生者不愧乎其言，則可謂信矣。』」裡克知其不可與謀，退，弒奚齊。荀息立卓子，裡克弒卓子，荀息死之。荀息可謂不食其言矣！

(Commentary) What does "and" mean? It means involved together. Murders of rulers are many; apart from this one, were there none involved? The answer: there were; Kong Fu and Chou Mu were both involved. Apart from Kong Fu and Chou Mu, were there none? The answer: there were more. Since there were more, why is this recorded here? Because Xun Xi was worthy. How was Xun Xi worthy? Xun Xi can be said not to have broken his word. How did he not break his word? Xiqi and Zhuozi were sons of Li Ji, and Xun Xi was their tutor. Li Ji was the beauty of the state, whom Duke Xian loved very much, wanting to establish her son, and so he killed the heir Shensheng. Shensheng's tutor was Li Ke. When Duke Xian was gravely ill and about to die, he said to Xun Xi: "How can a scholar be called trustworthy?" Xun Xi answered: "If one can bring a dead person back to life and the living have no shame over their words, that can be called trustworthy." Duke Xian died and Xiqi was established. Li Ke said to Xun Xi: "The ruler killed the legitimate and established the illegitimate, deposed the elder and established the younger; what shall we do? I wish to consider it with you." Xun Xi said: "The ruler once asked your servant, and your servant answered: 'If one can bring a dead person back to life and the living have no shame over their words, that can be called trustworthy.'" Li Ke knew that he could not plot with him, withdrew, and murdered Xiqi. Xun Xi established Zhuozi, Li Ke murdered Zhuozi, and Xun Xi died for him. Xun Xi can be said not to have broken his word!

（經十三）夏，齊侯、許男伐北戎。晉殺其大夫裡克。

(Classic 13) In summer, the Marquis of Qi and the Baron of Xu attacked the Northern Rong. Jin killed their grandee Li Ke.

（傳）裡克弒二君，則曷為不以討賊之辭言之？惠公之大夫也。然則孰立惠公？裡克也。裡克弒奚齊、卓子，逆惠公而入。裡克立惠公，則惠公曷為殺之？惠公曰：「爾既殺夫二孺子矣，又將圖寡人，為爾君者，不亦病乎？」於是殺之。然則曷為不言惠公之入？晉之不言出入者，踴為文公諱也。齊小白入於齊，則曷為不為桓公諱？桓公之享國也長，美見乎天下，故不為之諱本惡也。文公之享國也短，美未見乎天下，故為之諱本惡也。

(Commentary) Li Ke murdered two rulers; why is it not stated in the wording for punishing a traitor? Because he was Duke Hui's grandee. Then who established Duke Hui? Li Ke. Li Ke murdered Xiqi and Zhuozi and welcomed Duke Hui in. Li Ke established Duke Hui; why did Duke Hui kill him? Duke Hui said: "You have already killed those two children and are about to plot against me, so being your ruler would be very uncomfortable, would it not?" So he killed him. Then why is Duke Hui's entering not written? Jin does not write entering and leaving, which skips over to conceal on behalf of Duke Wen. Xiao Bai of Qi entered Qi; why is it not concealed on behalf of Duke Huan? Duke Huan held the state for a long time and his good was displayed to the world, so his earlier evil is not concealed. Duke Wen held the state for a short time and his good had not yet been displayed to the world, so his earlier evil is concealed.

（經十四）秋，七月。

(Classic 14) In autumn, the seventh month.

（經十五）冬，大雨雹。

(Classic 15) In winter, there was great hail.

（傳）何以書？記異也。

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

春，晉殺其大夫丕鄭父。

In spring, Jin killed their grandee Pi Zhengfu.

（經十一二）夏，公及夫人姜氏會齊侯於陽穀。

(Classic 112) In summer, Duke Xi and the lady Jiang met the Marquis of Qi at Yanggu.

（經十一三）秋，八月，大雩。

(Classic 113) In autumn, the eighth month, the great yu rain sacrifice was held.

（經十一四）冬，楚人伐黃。

(Classic 114) In winter, the men of Chu attacked Huang.

春，王三月庚午，日有食之。

In spring, the third month of the Zhou calendar, gengwu, there was a solar eclipse.

（經十二二）夏，楚人滅黃。

(Classic 122) In summer, the men of Chu destroyed Huang.

（經十二三）秋，七月。

(Classic 123) In autumn, the seventh month.

（經十二四）冬，十有二月丁丑，陳侯處臼卒。

(Classic 124) In winter, the twelfth month, dingchou, Chujiu, Marquis of Chen, died.

春，狄侵衛。

In spring, the Di invaded Wei.

（經十三二）夏，四月，葬陳宣公。公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯於鹹。

(Classic 132) In summer, the fourth month, Duke Xuan of Chen was buried. 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 at Xian.

（經十三三）秋，九月，大雩。

(Classic 133) In autumn, the ninth month, the great yu rain sacrifice was held.

（經十三四）冬，公子友如齊。

(Classic 134) In winter, Prince You went to Qi.

春，諸侯城緣陵。

In spring, the lords fortified Yuanling.

（傳）孰城之？城杞也。曷為城杞？滅也。孰滅之？蓋徐、莒脅之。曷為不言徐、莒脅之？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) Who fortified it? They built a wall for Qi (the state of Qi in the north). Why build a wall for Qi? Because it had perished. Who destroyed it? Probably Xu and Ju coerced it. Why is Xu and Ju's coercion not written? 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.

（經十四二）夏，六月，季姬及鄫子遇於防，使鄫子來朝。

(Classic 142) In summer, the sixth month, Ji Ji met the Viscount of Zeng at Fang and had the Viscount of Zeng come to court.

（傳）鄫子曷為使乎季姬來朝？內辭也。非使來朝，使來請己也。

(Commentary) Why was the Viscount of Zeng sent by Ji Ji to come to court? This is Lu's own wording. It was not to have him come to court, but to have him come to ask to marry her himself.

（經十四三）秋，八月辛卯，沙鹿崩。

(Classic 143) In autumn, the eighth month, xinmao, Shalu collapsed.

（傳）沙鹿者何？河上之邑也。此邑也，其言崩何？襲邑也。沙鹿崩，何以書？記異也。外異不書，此何以書？為天下記異也。

(Commentary) What is Shalu? A city on the bank of the Yellow River. This was a city; why is "collapsed" written? The city was swallowed up. Why is the collapse of Shalu recorded? It records an anomaly. Anomalies abroad are normally not recorded; why is it recorded here? It records an anomaly on behalf of the world.

（經十四四）狄侵鄭。

(Classic 144) The Di invaded Zheng.

（經十四五）冬，蔡侯肸卒。

(Classic 145) In winter, Xi, Marquis of Cai, died.

春，王正月，公如齊。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Xi went to Qi.

（經十五二）楚人伐徐。

(Classic 152) The men of Chu attacked Xu.

（經十五三）三月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯盟於牡丘，遂次於匡。

(Classic 153) In the third month, Duke Xi joined the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu and the Earl of Cao in a covenant at Muqiu, and then stationed at Kuang.

（經十五四）公孫敖率師及諸侯之大夫救徐。

(Classic 154) Gongsun Ao led an army and with the grandees of the lords rescued Xu.

（經十五五）夏，五月，日有食之。

(Classic 155) In summer, the fifth month, there was a solar eclipse.

（經十五六）秋，七月，齊師、曹師伐厲。

(Classic 156) In autumn, the seventh month, the armies of Qi and Cao attacked Li.

（經十五七）八月，螽。

(Classic 157) In the eighth month, locusts caused damage.

（經十五八）九月，公至自會。

(Classic 158) In the ninth month, Duke Xi returned from the meeting.

（傳）桓公之會不致，此何以致？久也。

(Commentary) Duke Huan's meetings do not record returning to the state; why is returning recorded here? Because it dragged on too long.

（經十五九）季姬歸於鄫。己卯，晦，震夷伯之廟。

(Classic 159) Ji Ji married into Zeng. Jimao, on the last day of the month, lightning struck the temple of Yi Bo.

（傳）晦者何？冥也。震之者何？雷電擊夷伯之廟者也。夷伯者，曷為者也？季氏之孚也。季氏之孚則微者，其稱夷伯何？大之也。曷為大之？天戒之，故大之也。何以書？記異也。

(Commentary) What does "hui" (last day) mean? It means dark. What does "struck it" mean? Lightning struck the temple of Yi Bo. Who was Yi Bo? A man trusted by the Ji family. A man trusted by the Ji family was of low rank; why is he called Yi Bo? It magnifies him. Why magnify him? Heaven warned him, so he is magnified. Why is it recorded? It records an anomaly.

（經十五十）冬，宋人伐曹。楚人敗徐於婁林。

(Classic 15, 10) In winter, the men of Song attacked Cao. The men of Chu defeated Xu at Lulin.

（經十五十一）十有一月，壬戌，晉侯及秦伯戰於韓，獲晉侯。

(Classic 15, 11) In the eleventh month, renxu, the Marquis of Jin fought the Earl of Qin at Han, and the Marquis of Jin was captured.

（傳）此偏戰也，何以不言師敗績？君獲，不言師敗績也。

(Commentary) This was a battle at an appointed time; why is "army defeated" not written? When the ruler is captured, "army defeated" is not written.

春，王正月戊申朔，隕石於宋五。是月，六鷁退飛，過宋都。

In spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on the first day, wushen, five stones fell in Song. In this month, six fish-hawks (yi) flew backward past the capital of Song.

（傳）曷為先言隕而後言石？隕石記聞，聞其嗔然，視之則石，察之則五。是月者何？僅逮是月也。何以不日？晦日也。晦則何以不言晦？《春秋》不書晦也。朔有事則書，晦雖有事不書。曷為先言六而後言鷁？六鷁退飛，記見也，視之則六，察之則鷁，徐而察之則退飛。五石六鷁，何以書？記異也。外異不書，此何以書？為王者之後，記異也。

(Commentary) Why does the text say "fell" first and then "stones"? Fallen stones are recorded as heard: one hears a thud, looks and sees stones, and examining finds there are five. What does "this month" mean? It merely happened to fall in this month. Why is the day not recorded? Because it was the last day of the month. Since it was the last day, why is "last day" not written? The Spring and Autumn Annals does not record the last day. If something happens on the first day it is recorded; on the last day, even if something happens, it is not recorded. Why does the text say "six" first and then "fish-hawks"? The six fish-hawks flying backward are recorded as seen: looking, one sees six; examining, they are fish-hawks; and examining more slowly, they are flying backward. Why are five stones and six fish-hawks recorded? To record an anomaly. Anomalies outside the state are usually not recorded; why is this one? Because Song is the descendant of a former royal house, so its anomalies are recorded.

（經十六二）三月壬申，公子季友卒。

(Classic, 16.2) In the third month, on renshen, Prince Ji You died.

（傳）其稱季友何？賢也。

(Commentary) Why is he called "Ji You"? Because he was worthy.

（經十六三）夏，四月丙申，鄫季姬卒。

(Classic, 16.3) In summer, in the fourth month, on bingshen, Ji Ji of Zeng died.

（經十六四）秋，七月甲子，公孫慈卒。

(Classic, 16.4) In autumn, in the seventh month, on jiazi, Gongsun Ci died.

（經十六五）冬，十有二月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、邢侯、曹伯於淮。

(Classic, 16.5) In winter, in the twelfth month, Duke Xi met the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu, the Marquis of Xing and the Earl of Cao at Huai.

春，齊人、徐人伐英氏。

In spring, the men of Qi and the men of Xu attacked Ying.

（經十七二）夏，滅項。

(Classic, 17.2) In summer, Xiang was destroyed.

（傳）孰滅之？齊滅之。曷為不言齊滅之？為桓公諱也。《春秋》為賢者諱。此滅人之國，何賢爾？君子之惡惡也疾始，善善也樂終。桓公嘗有繼絕，存亡之功，故君子為之諱也。

(Commentary) Who destroyed it? Qi destroyed it. Why does the text not say Qi destroyed it? To conceal it for Duke Huan. The Spring and Autumn Annals conceals matters for the worthy. But this was destroying another's state; what worth is there in that? The gentleman hates evil, and what he hates most is the beginning; he praises good, and what he enjoys is the end. Duke Huan once had the merit of continuing lines that had been cut off and preserving states that had perished, so the gentleman conceals it for him.

（經十七三）秋，夫人姜氏會齊於卞。

(Classic, 17.3) In autumn, Lady Jiang met Qi at Bian.