Duke Min

春，王正月丙午，衛侯毀滅邢。

In spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on bingwu, the Marquis of Wei, Hui, destroyed Xing.

（傳）衛侯毀，何以名？絕。曷為絕之？滅同姓也。

(Commentary) Why is the Marquis of Wei called by his name, Hui? To cut him off. Why cut him off? Because he destroyed a state of the same surname.

（經二五二）夏，四月癸酉，衛侯毀卒。宋蕩伯姬來逆婦。

(Classic, 25.2) In summer, in the fourth month, on guiyou, Hui, Marquis of Wei, died. Dang Bo Ji of Song came to fetch a wife.

（傳）宋蕩伯姬者何？蕩氏之母也。其言來逆婦何？兄弟辭也。其稱婦何？有姑之辭也。

(Commentary) Who was Dang Bo Ji of Song? She was the mother of the Dang clan. Why is it written "came to fetch a wife"? This is the wording used among brothers. Why is she called "wife"? This is the wording used when there is a mother-in-law.

（經二五三）宋殺其大夫。

(Classic, 25.3) Song killed one of its grand masters.

（傳）何以不名？宋三世無大夫，三世內娶也。

(Commentary) Why is his name not given? For three generations Song had no grand masters, because for three generations they took wives within the state.

（經二五四）秋，楚人圍陳，納頓子於頓。

(Classic, 25.4) In autumn, the men of Chu besieged Chen and brought the Viscount of Dun into Dun.

（傳）何以不言遂？兩之也。

(Commentary) Why is "thereupon" not written? They are treated as two matters.

（經二五五）葬衛文公。

(Classic, 25.5) Duke Wen of Wei was buried.

（經二五六）冬，十有二月癸亥，公會衛子、莒慶，盟於洮。

(Classic, 25.6) In winter, in the twelfth month, on guihai, Duke Xi met the Viscount of Wei and Qing of Ju, and made a covenant at Tao.

春，王正月己未，公會莒子、衛寧遬，盟於向。

In spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on jiwei, Duke Xi met the Viscount of Ju and Ning Su of Wei, and made a covenant at Xiang.

（經二六二）齊人侵我西鄙。公追齊師至酅，弗及。

(Classic, 26.2) The men of Qi invaded the western border of our state of Lu. Duke Xi pursued the Qi army to Xi but did not catch up with it.

（傳）其言「至酅，弗及」何？侈也。

(Commentary) Why is it written "reached Xi, did not catch up"? Because the pursuit went too far.

（經二六三）夏，齊人伐我北鄙。衛人伐齊。公子遂如楚乞師。

(Classic, 26.3) In summer, the men of Qi attacked the northern border of our state of Lu. The men of Wei attacked Qi. Prince Sui went to Chu to ask for troops.

（傳）乞者何？卑辭也。曷為以外內同若辭？重師也。曷為重師？師出不正反，戰不正勝也。

(Commentary) What does "ask" mean? It is a humble wording. Why is the same wording used for inside and outside? Because troops are weighty. Why are troops weighty? When troops go out, their return is not necessarily proper; when they fight, their victory is not necessarily proper.

（經二六四）秋，楚人滅隗，以隗子歸。

(Classic, 26.4) In autumn, the men of Chu destroyed Wei and took the Viscount of Wei back with them.

（經二六五）冬，楚人伐宋，圍緡。

(Classic, 26.5) In winter, the men of Chu attacked Song and besieged Min.

（傳）邑不言圍，此其言圍何？刺道用師也。

(Commentary) A walled town is usually not written as "besieged"; here it is written "besieged"; why? To satirize using troops on the way.

（經二六六）公以楚師伐齊，取谷。公至自伐齊。

(Classic, 26.6) Duke Xi, with the army of Chu, attacked Qi and took Gu. Duke Xi returned from the campaign against Qi.

（傳）此已取谷矣，何以致伐？未得乎取谷也。曷為未得乎取谷？曰：患之起，必自此始也。

(Commentary) Gu had already been taken here; why is it still written that he returned from the campaign? Because he had not yet truly obtained the Gu he took. Why had he not yet truly obtained it? The answer is: the rise of calamity must begin from here.

春，杞子來朝。

In spring, the Viscount of Qi came to court.

（經二七二）夏，六月庚寅，齊侯昭卒。

(Classic, 27.2) In summer, in the sixth month, on gengyin, Zhao, Marquis of Qi, died.

（經二七三）秋，八月乙未，葬齊孝公。

(Classic, 27.3) In autumn, in the eighth month, on yiwei, Duke Xiao of Qi was buried.

（經二七四）乙巳，公子遂帥師入杞。

(Classic, 27.4) On yisi, Prince Sui led the army into Qi.

（經二七五）冬，楚人、陳侯、蔡侯、鄭伯、許男圍宋。

(Classic, 27.5) In winter, the men of Chu, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng and the Baron of Xu besieged Song.

（傳）此楚子也，其稱人何？貶。曷為貶？為執宋公貶，故終僖之篇貶也。

(Commentary) This was the Viscount of Chu; why is he called "the men of"? It is a demotion. Why a demotion? Because he seized the Duke of Song, so throughout Duke Xi's chapters he is demoted.

（經二七六）十有二月甲戌，公會諸侯盟於宋。

(Classic, 27.6) In the twelfth month, on jiaxu, Duke Xi met the lords in a covenant at Song.

春，晉侯侵曹，晉侯伐衛。

In spring, the Marquis of Jin invaded Cao, and the Marquis of Jin attacked Wei.

（傳）曷為再言晉侯？非兩之也。然則何以不言遂？未侵曹也。未侵曹則其言侵曹何？致其意也。其意侵曹，則曷為伐衛？晉侯將侵曹，假塗於衛，衛曰不可得，則固將伐之也。

(Commentary) Why is "Marquis of Jin" written twice? It is not that these are treated as two matters. Then why is "thereupon" not written? Because he had not yet invaded Cao. He had not yet invaded Cao but "invade Cao" is written; why? To write out the intention. His intention was to invade Cao; why then did he attack Wei? The Marquis of Jin was about to invade Cao and asked Wei for passage; Wei said it could not be granted, so he originally meant to attack Wei.

（經二八二）公子買戍衛，不卒戍，刺之。

(Classic, 28.2) Prince Mai went to garrison Wei, did not complete the garrison, and was stabbed to death.

（傳）不卒戍者何？不卒戍者，內辭也，不可使往也。不可使往，則其言戍衛何？遂公意也。刺之者何？殺之也。殺之則曷為謂之刺之？內諱殺大夫，謂之刺之也。

(Commentary) What does "did not complete the garrison" mean? "Did not complete the garrison" is the wording inside Lu, but actually he could not be sent. If he could not be sent, why is "garrisoned Wei" written? To fulfill Duke Xi's intention. What does "stabbed him" mean? It means killed him. Since he was killed, why is it "stabbed him"? Inside Lu the killing of a grand master is concealed, so it is called "stabbed him."

（經二八三）楚人救衛。三月丙午，晉侯入曹，執曹伯、畀宋人。

(Classic, 28.3) The men of Chu rescued Wei. In the third month, on bingwu, the Marquis of Jin entered Cao, seized the Earl of Cao, and handed him over to the men of Song.

（傳）畀者何？與也。其言畀宋人何？與使聽之也。曹伯之罪何？甚惡也。其甚惡奈何？不可以一罪言也。

(Commentary) What does "bi" mean? It means to give. What does "handed to the men of Song" mean? He was handed over for them to dispose of. What was the Earl of Cao's crime? It was very evil. How evil? It cannot be exhausted by one crime.

（經二八四）夏，四月己巳，晉侯、齊師、宋師、秦師及楚人戰於城濮，楚師敗績。

(Classic, 28.4) In summer, in the fourth month, on jisi, the Marquis of Jin, the army of Qi, the army of Song and the army of Qin fought the men of Chu at Chengpu, and the army of Chu was greatly defeated.

（傳）此大戰也，曷為使微者？子玉得臣也。子玉得臣則其稱人何？貶。曷為貶？大夫不敵君也。

(Commentary) This was a great battle; why is it written as if a lowly person? It was actually Zi Yu Dechen. Since it was Zi Yu Dechen, why is he called "the men of"? It is a demotion. Why a demotion? A grand master cannot be on a par with a ruler.

（經二八五）楚殺其大夫得臣。

(Classic, 28.5) Chu killed its grand master Dechen.

（經二八六）衛侯出奔楚。

(Classic, 28.6) The Marquis of Wei fled to Chu.

（經二八七）五月，癸丑，公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、蔡侯、鄭伯、衛子、莒子，盟於踐土。陳侯如會。

(Classic, 28.7) In the fifth month, on guichou, Duke Xi met the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Wei and the Viscount of Ju in a covenant at Jiantu. The Marquis of Chen hurried to join the covenant.

（傳）其言如會何？後會也。

(Commentary) What does "went to the meeting" mean? He caught up with the covenant afterward.

（經二八八）公朝於王所。

(Classic, 28.8) Duke Xi paid court at the place where the Son of Heaven was.

（傳）曷為不言公如京師？天子在是也。天子在是，則曷為不言天子在是？不與致天子也。

(Commentary) Why is it not written that Duke Xi went to the capital? Because the Son of Heaven was there. Since the Son of Heaven was there, why is it not written that the Son of Heaven was there? Because it disapproves of summoning the Son of Heaven.

（經二八九）六月，衛侯鄭自楚復歸於衛。

(Classic, 28.9) In the sixth month, Zheng, Marquis of Wei, returned to Wei from Chu.

（經二八十）衛元咺出奔晉。

(Classic, 28.10) Yuan Xuan of Wei fled to Jin.

（經二八十一）陳侯款卒。

(Classic, 28.11) Kuan, Marquis of Chen, died.

（經二八十二）秋，杞伯姬來。

(Classic, 28.12) In autumn, Ji Bo Ji of Qi came.

（經二八十三）公子遂如齊。

(Classic, 28.13) Prince Sui went to Qi.

（經二八十四）冬，公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、蔡侯、鄭伯、陳子、莒子、邾婁子、秦人於溫。天王狩於河陽。

(Classic, 28.14) In winter, Duke Xi met the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Chen, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhulou and the men of Qin at Wen. The Son of Heaven hunted at Heyang.

（傳）狩不書，此何以書？不與再致天子也。魯子曰：「溫近而踐土遠也。」

(Commentary) A hunt is usually not recorded; why is it recorded here? Because it disapproves of summoning the Son of Heaven a second time. Master Lu said: "Wen is near and Jiantu is far."

（經二八十五）壬申，公朝於王所。

(Classic, 28.15) On renshen, Duke Xi paid court at the place where the Son of Heaven was.

（傳）其日何？錄乎內也。

(Commentary) Why is the day recorded? Because matters inside Lu are recorded in detail.

（經二八十六）晉人執衛侯歸之於京師。

(Classic, 28.16) The men of Jin seized the Marquis of Wei and delivered him to the capital.

（傳）歸之於者何？歸於者何？歸之於者罪已定矣，歸於者罪未定也。罪未定，則何以得為伯執？歸之於者，執之於天子之側者也，罪定不定，已可知矣。歸於者，非執之於天子之側者也，罪定不定，未可知也。衛侯之罪何？殺叔武也。何以不書？為叔武諱也。《春秋》為賢者諱。何賢乎叔武？讓國也。其讓國奈何？文公逐衛侯而立叔武，叔武辭立而他人立，則恐衛侯之不得反也，故於是已立，然後為踐土之會，治反衛侯。衛侯得反，曰：「叔武篡我。」元咺爭之曰：「叔武無罪。」終殺叔武，元咺走而出。此晉侯也，其稱人何？貶。曷為貶？衛之禍，文公為之也。文公為之奈何？文公逐衛侯而立叔武，使人兄弟相疑，放乎殺母弟者，文公為之也。

(Commentary) What does "gui zhi yu" mean? What does "gui yu" mean? "Gui zhi yu" is when the charge has already been settled, and "gui yu" is when the charge is not yet settled. If the charge is not yet settled, how can it count as a hegemon's seizure? "Gui zhi yu" means he was seized in the presence of the Son of Heaven, so whether the charge was settled can already be known. "Gui yu" means he was not seized in the presence of the Son of Heaven, so whether the charge was settled cannot yet be known. What was the Marquis of Wei's crime? He killed Shu Wu. Why is it not recorded? To conceal it for Shu Wu. The Spring and Autumn Annals conceals matters for the worthy. How was Shu Wu worthy? He yielded the state. How did he yield the state? Duke Wen drove out the Marquis of Wei and set up Shu Wu; Shu Wu declined and did not take the position, but if someone else took it he feared the Marquis of Wei could not return, so he first took it himself, then arranged the Jiantu meeting and arranged for the Marquis of Wei to return. When the Marquis of Wei was able to return, he said: "Shu Wu usurped me." Yuan Xuan argued: "Shu Wu is without fault." In the end he killed Shu Wu, and Yuan Xuan fled. This was the Marquis of Jin; why is he called "the men of"? It is a demotion. Why a demotion? The calamity of Wei was caused by Duke Wen. How did Duke Wen cause it? Duke Wen drove out the Marquis of Wei and set up Shu Wu, making brothers suspect one another, until he killed his own full brother; this was caused by Duke Wen.

（經二八十七）衛元咺自晉復歸於衛。

(Classic, 28.17) Yuan Xuan of Wei returned to Wei from Jin.

（傳）自者何？有力焉者也。此執其君，其言自何？為叔武爭也。

(Commentary) What does "from" mean? It means someone who has power within. This man had his own ruler seized; why is "from" still written? Because he argued for Shu Wu.

（經二八十八）諸侯遂圍許。曹伯襄復歸於曹。遂會諸侯圍許。

(Classic, 28.18) The lords then besieged Xu. Xiang, Earl of Cao, returned to Cao. Then they joined the lords in besieging Xu.