Duke Xuan

春，王正月，公即位。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Xuan took the throne.

（傳）繼弒君不言即位，此其言即位何？其意也。

(Commentary) Following a murdered ruler, accession is normally not written, yet here it writes accession; why? It was Duke Xuan's own intention.

（經一二）公子遂如齊逆女。三月，遂以夫人婦姜至自齊。

(Classic 1-2) Prince Sui went to Qi to meet a bride. In the third month, Sui returned from Qi with the lady Fujiang.

（傳）遂何以不稱公子？一事而再見者，卒名也。夫人何以不稱姜氏？貶。曷為貶？譏喪娶也。喪娶者公也，則曷為貶夫人？內無貶於公之道也。內無貶於公之道，則曷為貶夫人？夫人與公一體也。其稱婦何？有姑之辭也。

(Commentary) Why is Sui not called prince? When a matter appears a second time, the later time gives only the name. Why is the lady not called Jiang? It is a demotion. Why demote? To criticize marrying during mourning. The one who married during mourning was Duke Xuan, so why demote the lady? Within Lu there is no principle for demoting the ruler. If within Lu there is no principle for demoting the ruler, why demote the lady? The lady and the ruler are one body. Why is she called "Fu"? That is the wording for one who has a mother-in-law.

（經一三）夏，季孫行父如齊。

(Classic 1-3) In summer, Jisun Xingfu went to Qi.

（經一四）晉放其大夫胥甲父於衛。

(Classic 1-4) Jin banished its senior officer Xu Jiafu to Wei.

（傳）放之者何？猶曰無去是云爾。然則何言爾？近正也。此其為近正奈何？古者大夫已去，三年待放。君放之，非也；大夫待放，正也。古者臣有大喪，則君三年不呼其門。已練可以弁冕，服金革之事。君使之，非也；臣行之，禮也。閔子要絰而服事，既而曰：「若此乎！古之道不即人心。」退而致仕。孔子蓋善之也。

(Commentary) What does "banished him" mean? It is like saying "do not leave this place." Then why is it written this way? It comes close to the right way. How does it come close to the right way? In ancient times, when a senior officer had already left, he waited three years to be banished. For the ruler to banish him is wrong; for the senior officer to wait for banishment is right. In ancient times, when a minister had a great mourning, the ruler did not call at his gate for three years. After the first anniversary sacrifice, he could wear the cap and attend to military affairs. For the ruler to summon him is wrong; for the minister to go on his own is in accord with ritual. Min Ziqian went about his business with his mourning sash tied at his waist, and afterwards said: "How it is! The ancient way does not truly fit people's hearts." Then he withdrew and resigned his office. Confucius presumably praised this.

（經一五）公會齊侯於平州。

(Classic 1-5) Duke Xuan met the Marquis of Qi at Pingzhou.

（經一六）公子遂如齊。

(Classic 1-6) Prince Sui went to Qi.

（經一七）六月，齊人取濟西田。

(Classic 1-7) In the sixth month, the men of Qi took the fields west of the Ji River.

（傳）外取邑不書，此何以書？所以賂齊也。曷為賂齊？為弒子赤之賂也。

(Commentary) When an outside state seizes a city, it is normally not recorded, so why is it recorded here? It was used to bribe Qi. Why bribe Qi? It was a bribe sent for the killing of Zichi.

（經一八）秋，邾婁子來朝。

(Classic 1-8) In autumn, the Viscount of Zhulou came to court.

（經一九）楚子、鄭人侵陳，遂侵宋。

(Classic 1-9) The Viscount of Chu and the men of Zheng invaded Chen, and then invaded Song.

（經一十）晉趙盾帥師救陳。宋公、陳侯、衛侯、曹伯會晉師於斐林，伐鄭。

(Classic 1-10) Zhao Dun of Jin led an army to rescue Chen. The Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei and the Earl of Cao joined the Jin army at Feilin and attacked Zheng.

（傳）此晉趙盾之師也，曷為不言趙盾之師？君不會大夫之辭也。

(Commentary) This was the army of Zhao Dun of Jin, so why does it not write Zhao Dun's army? It is the wording for rulers not meeting with a senior officer.

（經一十一）冬，晉趙穿帥師侵柳。

(Classic 1-11) In winter, Zhao Chuan of Jin led an army and invaded Liu.

（傳）柳者何？天子之邑也。曷為不繫乎周？不與伐天子也。

(Commentary) What is Liu? It was a city of the Son of Heaven. Why is it not attached beneath Zhou? Because it disapproves of attacking the Son of Heaven.

（經一十二）晉人、宋人伐鄭。

(Classic 1-12) The men of Jin and the men of Song attacked Zheng.

春，王二月壬子，宋華元帥師，及鄭公子歸生帥師，戰於大棘。宋師敗績，獲宋華元。

In spring, the second month of the Zhou calendar, on the day renzi, Hua Yuan of Song led an army, and Prince Gui Sheng of Zheng led an army, and they fought at Daji. The Song army was greatly defeated, and Hua Yuan of Song was captured.

（經二二）秦師伐晉。

(Classic 2-2) The Qin army attacked Jin.

（經二三）夏，晉人、宋人、衛人、陳人侵鄭。

(Classic 2-3) In summer, the men of Jin, the men of Song, the men of Wei and the men of Chen invaded Zheng.

（經二四）秋，九月乙丑，晉趙盾弒其君夷嗥。

(Classic 2-4) In autumn, in the ninth month, on the day yichou, Zhao Dun of Jin killed his ruler Yigao.

（經二五）冬，十月乙亥，天王崩。

(Classic 2-5) In winter, in the tenth month, on the day yihai, the Son of Heaven died.

春，王正月，郊牛之口傷，改卜牛。牛死，乃不郊，猶三望。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, the ox for the suburban sacrifice was injured in the mouth, and divination was made for another ox. The ox died, so the suburban sacrifice was not held, but the three viewing sacrifices were still held.

（傳）其言之何？緩也。曷為不復卜？養牲養二卜。帝牲不吉，則扳稷牲而卜之。帝牲在於滌三月，於稷者唯具是視。郊則曷為必祭稷？王者必以其祖配。王者則曷為必以其祖配？自內出者無匹不行，自外至者無主不止。

(Commentary) Why does it write "zhi"? It is a relaxed tone of speech. Why was divination not made again? Sacrificial animals are raised in two, and divination is made twice. If the animal for Heaven is not auspicious, one turns the animal for Hou Ji over and divines for it. The animal for Heaven is kept in the Di Palace for three months, while that for Hou Ji only needs to be prepared. Why must the suburban sacrifice include sacrifice to Hou Ji? A king must pair his own ancestor with Heaven. Why must a king pair his ancestor? What goes out from within cannot go without a counterpart, and what comes from without cannot stay without a host.

（經三二）葬匡王。

(Classic 3-2) King Kuang was buried.

（經三三）楚子伐賁渾戎。

(Classic 3-3) The Viscount of Chu attacked the Benhun Rong.

（經三四）夏，楚人侵鄭。

(Classic 3-4) In summer, the men of Chu invaded Zheng.

（經三五）秋，赤狄侵齊。

(Classic 3-5) In autumn, the Red Di invaded Qi.

（經三六）宋師圍曹。

(Classic 3-6) The Song army besieged Cao.

（經三七）冬，十月丙戌，鄭伯蘭卒。葬鄭繆公。

(Classic 3-7) In winter, in the tenth month, on the day bingxu, Lan, Earl of Zheng, died. Duke Mu of Zheng was buried.

春，王正月，公及齊侯平莒及郯。莒人不肯，公伐莒，取向。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Xuan and the Marquis of Qi mediated between Ju and Tan. The men of Ju would not agree, so Duke Xuan attacked Ju and took Xiang.

（傳）此平莒也，其言不肯何？辭取向也。

(Commentary) This was mediating between Ju and Tan, so why does it write "would not agree"? It is wording prepared for the taking of Xiang.

（經四二）秦伯稻卒。

(Classic 4-2) Dao, Earl of Qin, died.

（經四三）夏，六月乙酉，鄭公子歸生弒其君夷。

(Classic 4-3) In summer, in the sixth month, on the day yiyou, Prince Gui Sheng of Zheng killed his ruler Yi.

（經四四）赤狄侵齊。

(Classic 4-4) The Red Di invaded Qi.

（經四五）秋，公如齊。公至自齊。

(Classic 4-5) In autumn, Duke Xuan went to Qi. Duke Xuan returned from Qi.

（經四六）冬，楚子伐鄭。

(Classic 4-6) In winter, the Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng.

春，公如齊。夏，公至自齊。

In spring, Duke Xuan went to Qi. In summer, Duke Xuan returned from Qi.

（經五二）秋，九月，齊高固來逆子叔姬。

(Classic 5-2) In autumn, in the ninth month, Gao Gu of Qi came to meet Zishu Ji as his bride.

（經五三）叔孫得臣卒。

(Classic 5-3) Shusun Dechen died.

（經五四）冬，齊高固及子叔姬來。

(Classic 5-4) In winter, Gao Gu of Qi and Zishu Ji came.

（傳）何言乎高固之來？言叔姬之來，而不言高固之來則不可。子公羊子曰：「其諸為其雙雙而俱至者與！」（經五五）楚人伐鄭。

(Commentary) Why does it say Gao Gu came? It would not do to say only that Shu Ji came and not that Gao Gu came. Master Gongyang said: "Probably because they came together as a pair!" (Classic 5-5) The men of Chu attacked Zheng.

春，晉趙盾、衛孫免侵陳。

In spring, Zhao Dun of Jin and Sun Mian of Wei invaded Chen.

（傳）趙盾弒君，此其復見何？親弒君者趙穿也。親弒君者趙穿，則曷為加之趙盾？不討賊也。何以謂之不討賊？晉史書賊曰：「晉趙盾弒其君夷嗥。」趙盾曰：「天乎！無辜！吾不弒君，誰謂吾弒君者乎？」史曰：「爾為仁為義，人弒爾君，而復國不討賊，此非弒君而何？」

(Commentary) Zhao Dun killed the ruler, so why does he appear again here? The one who killed the ruler with his own hand was Zhao Chuan. The one who killed the ruler with his own hand was Zhao Chuan, so why is it attributed to Zhao Dun? Because he did not punish the culprit. Why is it said he did not punish the culprit? The historian of Jin recorded the culprit, saying: "Zhao Dun of Jin killed his ruler Yigao." Zhao Dun said: "Heaven! I am innocent! I did not kill the ruler; who says I killed the ruler?" The historian said: "You speak of benevolence and righteousness, yet when another killed your ruler, you returned to the state and did not punish the culprit; if this is not killing the ruler, what is it?"

（傳）趙盾之復國奈何？靈公為無道，使諸大夫皆內朝，然後處乎臺上，引彈而彈之，己趨而闢丸，是樂而已矣。趙盾已朝而出，與諸大夫立於朝，有人荷畚，自閨而出者。趙盾曰：「彼何也？夫畚曷為出乎閨？」呼之不至，曰：「子大夫也，欲視之則就而視之。」趙盾就而視之，則赫然死人也。趙盾曰：「是何也？」曰：「膳宰也，熊蹯不熟，公怒以鬥摮而殺之，支解將使我棄之。」趙盾曰：「嘻！」趨而入。靈公望見趙盾，愬而再拜。趙盾逡巡北面再拜稽首，趨而出，靈公心怍焉，欲殺之。於是使勇士某者往殺之，勇士入其大門，則無人門焉者；入其閨，則無人閨焉者；上其堂，則無人焉。俯而窺其戶，方食魚飧。勇士曰：「嘻！子誠仁人也！吾太子之大門，則無人焉；太子之閨，則無人焉；上子之堂，則無人焉；是子之易也。子為晉國重卿而食魚飧，是子之儉也。君將使我殺子，吾不忍殺子也，雖然，吾亦不可復見吾君矣。」遂刎頸而死。

(The Commentary continued:) How did Zhao Dun return to the state? Duke Ling was without the Way. He had the senior officers all come to the inner court, then stayed on a terrace himself, pulling a slingshot to shoot at them, while he watched them run to dodge the pellets, as his amusement. After Zhao Dun finished the audience and came out, he stood in the court with the senior officers, and someone carrying a basket came out through the side gate. Zhao Dun said: "What is that? Why does a basket come out through the side gate?" He called to him, but the man would not come over, and said: "You are a senior officer; if you want to see, come close and look." Zhao Dun went close and looked, and it was a dead person, horribly so. Zhao Dun said: "Who is this?" The answer was: "The cook. The bear paw was not cooked through, and the duke, angry, struck and killed him with a ladle, and had him cut up and told me to throw him away." Zhao Dun said: "Alas!" and hurried inside. Duke Ling saw Zhao Dun and, startled and afraid, bowed twice. Zhao Dun, hesitating, bowed north twice with his head to the ground and hurried out. Duke Ling felt ashamed in his heart and wanted to kill him. So he sent a warrior to kill him. The warrior went through the great gate, and no one was guarding the gate; he went through the side gate, and no one was guarding it; he went up the hall, and there was no one either. He bent down and looked into the door, and Zhao Dun was eating a meal of fish and rice. The warrior said: "Ah! You are truly a humane man! I entered your great gate and no one was there; I entered your side gate and no one was there; I went up your hall and no one was there: this is your simplicity. You are a senior minister of Jin and yet eat fish and rice: this is your frugality. The ruler is about to have me kill you, and I cannot bear to kill you. Even so, I cannot go back and see my ruler again." So he cut his own throat and died. (The source text has a corrupted reading in one phrase here.)

（傳）靈公聞之怒，滋欲殺之甚，眾莫可使往者。於是伏甲於宮中，召趙盾而食之。趙盾之車右祁彌明者，國之力士也，仡然從乎趙盾而入，放乎堂下而立。趙盾已食，靈公謂盾曰：「吾聞子之劍蓋利劍也，子以示我，吾將觀焉。」趙盾起將進劍，祁彌明自下呼之曰：「盾食飽則出，何故拔劍於君所？」趙盾知之，躇階而走。靈公有周狗，謂之獒，呼獒而屬之，獒亦躇階而從之。祁彌明逆而踆之，絕其頷。趙盾顧曰：「君之獒不若臣之獒也！」然而宮中甲鼓而起，有起干甲中者，抱趙盾而乘之。趙盾顧曰：「吾何以得此於子？」曰：「子某時所食活我於暴桑下者也。」趙盾曰：「子名為誰？」曰：「吾君孰為介？子之乘矣，何問吾名？」趙盾驅而出，眾無留之者。趙穿緣民眾不說，起弒靈公，然後迎趙盾而入，與之立於朝，而立成公黑臀。

(The Commentary continued:) When Duke Ling heard of this he was angry and wanted all the more to kill him, but none of the people could be sent. So he hid armed men in the palace and summoned Zhao Dun to dine. Zhao Dun's chariot-guard Qi Miming was a strong man of the state, and he resolutely followed Zhao Dun in and stood at the foot of the hall. When Zhao Dun finished eating, Duke Ling said to Dun: "I have heard your sword is a sharp one; take it out and show it to me, for I want to admire it." Zhao Dun rose and was about to present the sword, when Qi Miming shouted from below: "When Dun has eaten his fill he leaves; why would he draw a sword before the ruler?" Zhao Dun understood and ran down the steps. Duke Ling had a trained dog called Ao, and shouted for Ao to bite him, and Ao ran down the steps behind him. Qi Miming went to meet it and kicked it, breaking its jaw. Zhao Dun looked back and said: "The ruler's Ao is not as good as your servant's Ao!" But the armed men in the palace beat their drums and rose, and someone rose from among the armed men, picked up Zhao Dun and set him on a carriage. Zhao Dun looked back and said: "What have I done to deserve such rescue from you?" The answer: "I am the one you gave a meal under the withered mulberry in such-and-such year and saved from death." Zhao Dun said: "What is your name?" The answer: "I am the ruler's guard, so what need is there to ask my name now that you are on the carriage?" Zhao Dun drove out, and no one detained him. Zhao Chuan, taking advantage of the people's dislike of Duke Ling, rose up and killed Duke Ling, then welcomed Zhao Dun in and stood with him in the court, and set up Duke Cheng, Heitun.

（經六二）夏，四月。

(Classic 6-2) In summer, the fourth month.

（經六三）秋，八月，螽。

(Classic 6-3) In autumn, in the eighth month, locusts became a plague.

（經六四）冬，十月。

(Classic 6-4) In winter, the tenth month.

春，衛侯使孫良夫來盟。

In spring, the Marquis of Wei sent Sun Liangfu to a covenant.

（經七二）夏，公會齊侯伐萊。

(Classic 7-2) In summer, Duke Xuan joined the Marquis of Qi in attacking Lai.

（經七三）秋，公至自伐萊。

(Classic 7-3) In autumn, Duke Xuan returned from the army attacking Lai.