Duke Yin

（經五四）九月，考仲子之宮。

(Classic 5.4) In the ninth month, the temple of Zhongzi was completed.

（傳）考宮者何？考猶入室也，始祭仲子也。桓未君則曷為祭仲子？隱為桓立，故為桓祭其母也。然則何言爾？成公意也。

(Commentary) What is meant by "examining the temple"? "Examine" is like entering the chamber; it is beginning the sacrifices to Zhongzi. Duke Huan was not yet ruler; why were sacrifices made to Zhongzi? Duke Yin was installed for Duke Huan's sake, so he sacrificed to Duke Huan's mother on his behalf. Then why is this entry written at all? To accomplish Duke Yin's intention.

（經五五）初獻六羽。

(Classic 5.5) For the first time, six rows of feathers were presented.

（傳）初者何？始也。六羽者何？舞也。初獻六羽何以書？譏。何譏爾？譏始僭諸公也。六羽之為僭奈何？天子八佾，諸公六，諸侯四。諸公者何？諸侯者何？天子三公稱公，王者之後稱公，其餘大國稱侯，小國稱伯、子、男。天子三公者何？天子之相也。天子之相則何以三？自陜而東者，周公主之；自陜而西者，召公主之，一相處乎內。始僭諸公昉於此乎？前此矣。前此則曷為始乎？此僭諸公猶可言也，僭天子不可言也。

(Commentary) What is meant by "first"? It means the beginning. What are "six rows of feathers"? They are a music dance. Why is the first presentation of six rows of feathers recorded? It is a criticism. What is criticized? It criticizes that this was the beginning of usurping the ritual of the dukes. How is six rows a usurpation? The Son of Heaven uses eight rows, dukes use six, and feudal lords use four. What are the "dukes" and what are the "feudal lords"? The Three Dukes of the Son of Heaven are called dukes, the descendants of earlier kings are called dukes, the other great states are called marquises, and small states are called earls, viscounts and barons. Who are the Three Dukes of the Son of Heaven? They are the Son of Heaven's chancellors. Why are there three chancellors? East of Shan, the Duke of Zhou presides; west of Shan, the Duke of Shao presides; and one more chancellor remains within the royal domain. Did the usurpation of the ritual of the dukes begin here? It existed before this. If it existed before, why count it as beginning here? The usurpation of the ritual of the dukes here can still be spoken of; the usurpation of the ritual of the Son of Heaven cannot be spoken of.

（經五六）邾婁人、鄭人伐宋。

(Classic 5.6) The people of Zhulou and the people of Zheng attacked Song.

（經五七）螟。（傳）何以書？記災也。

(Classic 5.7) Stem-borers did damage. (Commentary) Why is it recorded? To record the disaster.

（經五八）冬，十有二月辛巳，公子彄卒。宋人伐鄭，圍長葛。

(Classic 5.8) In winter, the twelfth month, xinsi day, Gongzi Ou died. The people of Song attacked Zheng and besieged Changge.

（傳）邑不言圍，此其言圍何？強也。

(Commentary) For a city, "besieged" is normally not written; why is "besieged" written here? It shows high-handedness.

春，鄭人來輸平。

In spring, the people of Zheng came to "deliver peace".

（傳）輸平者何？輸平猶墮成也。何言乎墮成？敗其成也，曰：「吾成敗矣」，吾與鄭人末有成也。吾與鄭人則曷為末有成？狐壤之戰，隱公獲焉。然則何以不言戰？諱獲也。

(Commentary) What is meant by "deliver peace"? "Deliver peace" is like ruining what was already accomplished. Why is it said to be ruining what was already accomplished? It means breaking the treaty, as if to say: "Our treaty has failed." We had never had a successful treaty with Zheng. Why had we no successful treaty with Zheng? At the battle of Huxiang, Duke Yin was captured. Then why is the battle not written? To conceal the capture.

（經六二）夏，五月辛酉，公會齊侯，盟於艾。

(Classic 6.2) In summer, the fifth month, xinyou day, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi and made a covenant at Ai.

（經六三）秋，七月。

(Classic 6.3) In autumn, the seventh month.

（傳）此無事，何以書？《春秋》雖無事，首時過則書。首時過則何以書？《春秋》編年，四時具然後為年。

(Commentary) This entry has no event; why is it recorded? Even when there is no event, the Spring and Autumn Annals records it once the beginning of a season has passed. Why record it once the beginning of a season has passed? The Spring and Autumn Annals is arranged by year, and only when the four seasons are complete does a year form.

（經六四）冬，宋人取長葛。

(Classic 6.4) In winter, the people of Song seized Changge.

（傳）外取邑不書，此何以書？久也。

(Commentary) The seizing of a city of another state is normally not recorded; why is it recorded here? Because it dragged on too long.

春，王三月，叔姬歸於紀。滕侯卒。

In spring, the third month of the Zhou calendar, Shu Ji was married into Ji. The Marquis of Teng died.

（傳）何以不名？微國也。微國則其稱侯何？不嫌也。《春秋》貴賤不嫌同號，美惡不嫌同辭。

(Commentary) Why is his name not given? Because it was a small state. Since it was a small state, why is he called "Marquis"? Because there was no ground for doubt. In the Spring and Autumn Annals, when noble and lowly are not in doubt the same title may be used, and when good and bad are not in doubt the same wording may be used.

（經七二）夏，城中丘。

(Classic 7.2) In summer, Zhongqiu was built.

（傳）中丘者何？內之邑也。城中丘，何以書？以重書也。

(Commentary) What is Zhongqiu? It is a city of Lu. Why is the building of Zhongqiu recorded? Because it was a weighty matter, it is recorded.

（經七三）齊侯使其弟年來聘。

(Classic 7.3) The Marquis of Qi sent his younger brother Nian on a visit of inquiry.

（傳）其稱弟何？母弟稱弟，母兄稱兄。

(Commentary) Why is he called "younger brother"? A younger brother by the same mother is called younger brother, and an elder brother by the same mother is called elder brother.

（經七四）秋，公伐邾婁。

(Classic 7.4) In autumn, Duke Yin attacked Zhulou.

（經七五）冬，天王使凡伯來聘，戎伐凡伯於楚丘以歸。

(Classic 7.5) In winter, the Son of Heaven sent Fan Bo on a visit of inquiry, and the Rong attacked Fan Bo at Chuqiu and took him away.

（傳）凡伯者何？天子之大夫也。此聘也，其言伐之何？執之也。執之則其言伐之何？大之也。曷為大之？不與夷狄之執中國也。其地何？大之也。

(Commentary) Who was Fan Bo? He was a grand master of the Son of Heaven. This was a visit of inquiry; why is "attacked" written? In fact he was captured. If he was captured, why is "attacked" written? To make it appear grander. Why make it grander? Because it was not approved that barbarians seize a man of the Central States. Why is the place recorded? Also to make it appear grander.

春，宋公、衛侯遇於垂。三月，鄭伯使宛來歸邴。

In spring, the Duke of Song and the Marquis of Wei met by chance at Chui. In the third month, the Earl of Zheng sent Wan to return Bing.

（傳）宛者何？鄭之微者也。邴者何？鄭湯沐之邑也。天子有事於泰山，諸侯皆從。泰山之下，諸侯皆有湯沐之邑焉。

(Commentary) Who was Wan? He was a person of low rank in Zheng. What is Bing? It is a bathing fief of Zheng. When the Son of Heaven performed the sacrifice at Mount Tai, the feudal lords all followed. Below Mount Tai, the feudal lords all had bathing fiefs.

（經八二）庚寅，我入邴。

(Classic 8.2) On gengyin day, our state of Lu entered Bing.

（傳）其言入何？難也。其日何？難也。其言我何？言我者非獨我也，齊亦欲之。

(Commentary) Why is "entered" written? Because the matter was difficult. Why is the day recorded? Because the matter was difficult. Why is "our" written? "Our" is written because it was not only Lu; Qi also wanted this place.

（經八三）夏，六月己亥，蔡侯考父卒。辛亥，宿男卒。

(Classic 8.3) In summer, the sixth month, jihai day, Kaofu, Marquis of Cai, died. On xinhai day, the Baron of Su died.

（經八四）秋，七月庚午，宋公、齊侯、衛侯盟於瓦屋。八月，葬蔡宣公。

(Classic 8.4) In autumn, the seventh month, gengwu day, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Wei made a covenant at Wawu. In the eighth month, Duke Xuan of Cai was buried.

（傳）卒何以名而葬不名？卒從正，而葬從主人。卒何以日而葬不日？卒赴，而葬不告。

(Commentary) Why is the name given at death but not at burial? The death is recorded by the proper name used at court, and the burial by the title used in the host's own household. Why is the day recorded at death but not at burial? A death is announced by notice, but a burial is not reported.

（經八七）九月辛卯，公及莒人盟於包來。

(Classic 8.7) In the ninth month, xinmao day, Duke Yin made a covenant with the people of Ju at Baolai.

（傳）公曷為與微者盟？稱人則從不疑也。

(Commentary) Why did Duke Yin make a covenant with a person of low rank? Since the other party is called "the people", it can be written in the ordinary way without doubt.

（經八八）螟。

(Classic 8.8) Stem-borers did damage.

（經八九）冬，十有二月，無駭卒。

(Classic 8.9) In winter, the twelfth month, Wuhai died.

（傳）此展無駭也，何以不氏？疾始滅也，故終其身不氏。

(Commentary) This man was Zhan Wuhai; why is his clan name not written? Out of hatred that he began the destruction of states, he was never given a clan name even at his death.

春，天王使南季來聘。

In spring, the Son of Heaven sent Nan Ji on a visit of inquiry.

（經九二）三月癸酉，大雨，震電。

(Classic 9.2) In the third month, guiyou day, there was heavy rain, with thunder and lightning.

（傳）何以書？記異也。何異爾？不時也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? To record an anomaly. Where was the anomaly? It was not the proper season.

（經九三）庚辰，大雨雪。

(Classic 9.3) On gengchen day, there was heavy snow.

（傳）何以書？記異也。何異爾？俶甚也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? To record an anomaly. Where was the anomaly? It was extremely excessive.

（經九四）俠卒。

(Classic 9.4) Xia died.

（傳）俠者何？吾大夫之未命者也。

(Commentary) Who was Xia? He was a grand master of our state of Lu who had not yet received his commission.

（經九五）夏，城郎。

(Classic 9.5) In summer, Lang was built.

（經九六）秋，七月。

(Classic 9.6) In autumn, the seventh month.

（經九七）冬，公會齊侯於邴。

(Classic 9.7) In winter, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi at Bing.

春，王二月，公會齊侯、鄭伯於中丘。

In spring, the second month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Zhongqiu.

（經十二）夏，翬帥師會齊人、鄭人伐宋。

(Classic 10.2) In summer, Hui led an army to join the people of Qi and the people of Zheng in attacking Song.

（傳）此公子翬也，何以不稱公子？貶。曷為貶？隱之罪人也，故終隱之篇貶也。

(Commentary) This man was Gongzi Hui; why is he not called Gongzi? It is a demotion. Why demote him? He was the offender against Duke Yin, so throughout the whole of the Duke Yin section he is demoted.

（經十三）六月壬戌，公敗宋師於菅。辛未取郜，辛巳取防。

(Classic 10.3) In the sixth month, renxu day, Duke Yin defeated the army of Song at Jian. On xinwei day he seized Gao, and on xinsi day he seized Fang.

（傳）取邑不日，此何以日？一月而再取也。何言乎一月而再取？甚之也。內大惡諱，此其言甚之何？《春秋》錄內而略外，於外大惡書，小惡不書，於內大惡諱，小惡書。

(Commentary) When a city is seized the day is normally not recorded; why is the day recorded here? Because two were seized in one month. Why does it say two were seized in one month? To make the matter appear grave. The great wickedness of Lu itself must be concealed, yet here it is made to appear grave; why? The Spring and Autumn Annals records Lu in detail and other states briefly: for outside states, great wickedness is recorded and small wickedness is not; for Lu, great wickedness is concealed and small wickedness is recorded.

（經十四）秋，宋人、衛人入鄭。宋人、蔡人、衛人伐載，鄭伯伐取之。

(Classic 10.4) In autumn, the people of Song and the people of Wei entered Zheng. The people of Song, the people of Cai and the people of Wei attacked Zai, and the Earl of Zheng attacked and seized it.

（傳）其言伐取之何？易也。其易奈何？因其力也。因誰之力？因宋人、蔡人、衛人之力也。

(Commentary) Why is "attacked and seized it" written? Because it came easily. How easily? By borrowing others' strength. Whose strength did he borrow? The strength of the people of Song, Cai and Wei.

（經十五）冬，十月壬午，齊人、鄭人入盛。

(Classic 10.5) In winter, the tenth month, renwu day, the people of Qi and the people of Zheng entered Sheng.