Duke Zhuang

（傳）齊高傒者何？貴大夫也。曷為就吾微者而盟？公也。公則曷為不言公？諱與大夫盟也。

(Commentary) Who was Gao Xi of Qi? He was a noble grandee. Why did he accommodate a person of low rank of our state of Lu in a covenant? In fact it was Duke Zhuang. If it was Duke Zhuang, why is "the duke" not written? To conceal covenanting with a grandee.

（經二二六）冬，公如齊納幣。

(Classic 22:6) In winter, Duke Zhuang went to Qi to deliver betrothal gifts.

（傳）納幣不書，此何以書？譏。何譏爾？親納幣，非禮也。

(Commentary) Delivering betrothal gifts is not normally recorded; why is it recorded here? As a criticism. Criticizing what? Delivering betrothal gifts in person was contrary to ritual.

春，公至自齊。

Spring, Duke Zhuang returned from Qi.

（傳）桓之盟不日，其會不致，信之也；此之桓國何以致？危之也。何危爾？公一陳佗也。

(Commentary) Duke Huan's covenants have no date recorded and his meetings do not write the return, out of trust in him; this time, in going to Duke Huan's state, why is the return written? Out of concern for him. Concern about what? Duke Zhuang was like another Chen Tuo.

（經二三二）蔡叔來聘。

(Classic 23:2) Shu of Cai came on a diplomatic visit.

（經二三三）夏，公如齊觀社。

(Classic 23:3) In summer, Duke Zhuang went to Qi to observe the sacrifice at the altar of the soil.

（傳）何以書？譏。何譏爾？諸侯越竟觀社，非禮也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? As a criticism. Criticizing what? For a lord to cross the border to observe the sacrifice at the altar of the soil was contrary to ritual.

（經二三四）公至自齊。

(Classic 23:4) Duke Zhuang returned from Qi.

（經二三五）荊人來聘。

(Classic 23:5) The people of Jing came on a diplomatic visit.

（傳）荊何以稱人？始能聘也。

(Commentary) Why is Jing called "people"? Because it had begun to be able to make diplomatic visits.

（經二三六）公及齊侯遇於谷。蕭叔朝公。

(Classic 23:6) Duke Zhuang met the Marquis of Qi at Gu. Shu of Xiao paid court to Duke Zhuang.

（傳）其言朝公何？公在外也。

(Commentary) Why is it written "paid court to the duke"? Because Duke Zhuang was outside.

（經二三七）秋，丹桓宮楹。

(Classic 23:7) In autumn, the pillars of the temple of Duke Huan were painted red.

（傳）何以書？譏。何譏爾？丹桓宮楹，非禮也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? As a criticism. Criticizing what? Painting the pillars of Duke Huan's temple red was contrary to ritual.

（經二三八）冬，十有一月，曹伯射姑卒。

(Classic 23:8) In winter, the eleventh month, Shegu, Earl of Cao, died.

（經二三九）十有二月甲寅，公會齊侯盟於扈。

(Classic 23:9) In the twelfth month, jiayin day, Duke Zhuang met the Marquis of Qi and made a covenant at Hu.

（傳）桓之盟不日，此何以日？危之也。何危爾？我貳也。魯子曰：「我貳者，非彼然，我然也。」

(Commentary) Duke Huan's covenants have no date recorded; why is the date recorded here? Out of concern for him. Concern about what? Our state of Lu had a divided mind. Master Lu said: "What is called a divided mind is not on their side but on ours."

春，王三月，刻桓宮桷。

Spring, the third month of the Zhou calendar, the rafters of the temple of Duke Huan were carved.

（傳）何以書？譏。何譏爾？刻桓宮桷，非禮也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? As a criticism. Criticizing what? Carving the rafters of Duke Huan's temple was contrary to ritual.

（經二四二）葬曹莊公。

(Classic 24:2) Duke Zhuang of Cao was buried.

（經二四三）夏，公如齊逆女。

(Classic 24:3) In summer, Duke Zhuang went to Qi to welcome a bride.

（傳）何以書？親迎禮也。

(Commentary) Why is it recorded? Welcoming the bride in person accorded with ritual.

（經二四四）秋，公至自齊。八月丁丑，夫人姜氏入。

(Classic 24:4) In autumn, Duke Zhuang returned from Qi. In the eighth month, dingchou day, Lady Jiang, wife of the duke, entered.

（傳）其言入何？難也。其言日何？難也。其難奈何？夫人不僂不可使入；與公有所約，然後入。

(Commentary) Why is "entered" written? Because the matter was difficult. Why is the date recorded? Because the matter was difficult. How was it difficult? The wife was unwilling to yield and there was no way to make her enter; only after reaching an agreement with Duke Zhuang did she enter.

（經二四五）戊寅，大夫、宗婦覿用幣。

(Classic 24:5) On wuyin day, grandees and the wives of clan members came to be received, using silk.

（傳）宗婦者何？大夫之妻也。覿者何？見也。用者何？用者不宜用也；見用幣，非禮也。然則曷用？棗、栗云乎！腶、修云乎！

(Commentary) Who were the clan wives? They were the wives of grandees. What does "di" mean? It means to be received. What does "used" mean? Writing "used" shows it should not have been used; using silk when being received was contrary to ritual. Then what should be used? Jujubes and chestnuts, dried meat with ginger and cassia!

（經二四六）大水。

(Classic 24:6) There was a great flood.

（經二四七）冬，戎侵曹，曹羈出奔陳。

(Classic 24:7) In winter, the Rong invaded Cao, and Ji of Cao fled to Chen.

（傳）曹羈者何？曹大夫也。曹無大夫，此何以書？賢也。何賢乎曹羈？戎將侵曹，曹羈諫曰：「戎眾以無義，君請勿自敵也。」曹伯曰：「不可。」三諫，不從，遂去之，故君子以為得君臣之義也。

(Commentary) Who was Ji of Cao? He was a grandee of Cao. Cao had no grandees recorded; why is he recorded here? Because he was worthy. In what way was Ji of Cao worthy? When the Rong were about to invade Cao, Ji of Cao remonstrated: "The Rong are many and do not observe righteousness; I ask that Your Lordship not personally go to face them." The Earl of Cao said: "No." He remonstrated three times and was not heeded, and so he left; thus the gentleman considered that he had attained the righteousness of ruler and minister.

（經二四八）赤歸於曹郭公。

(Classic 24:8) Chi returned to Cao, and Duke of Guo.

（傳）赤者何？曹無赤者，蓋郭公也。郭公者何？失地之君也。

(Commentary) Who was Chi? Cao had none called Chi; probably he was the Duke of Guo. Who was the Duke of Guo? He was a ruler who had lost his land.

春，陳侯使女叔來聘。

Spring, the Marquis of Chen sent Nushu on a diplomatic visit.

（經二五二）夏，五月癸丑，衛侯朔卒。

(Classic 25:2) In summer, the fifth month, guichou day, Shuo, Marquis of Wei, died.

（經二五三）六月辛未朔，日有食之，鼓、用牲於社。

(Classic 25:3) In the sixth month, xinwei, first day, there was a solar eclipse; drums were beaten and an animal victim was used at the altar of the soil.

（傳）食之則曷為鼓、用牲於社？求乎陰之道也，以朱絲營社，或曰脅之，或曰闇之，恐人犯之，故營之。

(Commentary) Why were drums beaten and an animal used at the altar of the soil during a solar eclipse? This is a way of petitioning the yin, encircling the altar with red silk. Some say it was to coerce it, some that it was to shade it, fearing people would offend against it, so it was encircled.

（經二五四）伯姬歸於杞。

(Classic 25:4) Bo Ji married into Qi.

（經二五五）秋，大水，鼓、用牲於社於門。

(Classic 25:5) In autumn, there was a great flood, and drums were beaten and an animal used at the altar of the soil and at the gate.

（傳）其言於社於門何？於社，禮也；於門，非禮也。

(Commentary) Why is it written "at the altar and at the gate"? At the altar of the soil was in accordance with ritual; at the gate was not.

（經二五六）冬，公子友如陳。

(Classic 256) In winter, Prince You went to Chen.

春，公伐戎。

In spring, Duke Zhuang attacked the Rong.

（經二六二）夏，公至自伐戎。

(Classic 262) In summer, Duke Zhuang returned from the army that had attacked the Rong.

（經二六三）曹殺其大夫。

(Classic 263) Cao killed their grandee.

（傳）何以不名？眾也。曷為眾殺之？不死於曹君者也。君死乎位曰滅，曷為不言其滅？為曹羈諱也。此蓋戰也，何以不言戰？為曹羈諱也。

(Commentary) Why is the name not given? Because there were many. Why did the multitude kill him? Because they would not die for the ruler of Cao. When a ruler dies in his seat it is called "destroyed"; why is "destroyed" not written? It is to avoid mentioning it on behalf of Cao Ji. This was probably a battle; why is "battle" not written? That too is to avoid mentioning it on behalf of Cao Ji.

（經二六四）秋，公會宋人、齊人伐徐。

(Classic 264) In autumn, Duke Zhuang joined the men of Song and the men of Qi in attacking Xu.

（經二六五）冬，十有二月癸亥朔，日有食之。

(Classic 265) In winter, the twelfth month, on the first day, guihai, there was a solar eclipse.

春，公會齊伯姬於洮。

In spring, Duke Zhuang met Bo Ji of Qi at Tao.

（經二七二）夏，六月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、鄭伯，同盟於幽。

(Classic 272) In the sixth month of summer, Duke Zhuang joined the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen and the Earl of Zheng in a covenant at You.

（經二七三）秋，公子友如陳，葬原仲。

(Classic 273) In autumn, Prince You went to Chen to attend the funeral of Yuan Zhong.

（傳）原仲者何？陳大夫也。大夫不書葬，此何以書？通乎季子之私行也。何通乎季子之私行？闢內難也。君子闢內難而不闢外難。內難者何？公子慶父、公子牙、公子友皆莊公之母弟也。公子慶父、公子牙通乎夫人以脅公，季子起而治之，則不得與於國政，坐而視之則親親。因不忍見也，故於是復請至於陳，而葬原仲也。

(Commentary) Who was Yuan Zhong? A grandee of Chen. The burial of a grandee is not recorded; why is it recorded here? To open a path for Jizi's private journey. Why open a path for Jizi's private journey? To avoid the troubles within the state. A gentleman avoids troubles within the state but does not avoid troubles outside. What were the troubles within the state? Prince Qingfu, Prince Ya and Prince You were all full brothers of Duke Zhuang. Prince Qingfu and Prince Ya had a liaison with the Duke's wife and used it to coerce Duke Zhuang. If Jizi rose to deal with it, he could not take part in state affairs; if he sat and watched, he would be favoring his kin. Because he could not bear to watch, he again asked to go to Chen and bury Yuan Zhong.

（經二七四）冬，杞伯姬來。

(Classic 274) In winter, Bo Ji of Qi came.

（傳）其言來何？直來曰來，大歸曰來歸。

(Commentary) Why is "came" written? An ordinary return is called "came"; being sent back to her parents' home is called "came back in disgrace."

（經二七五）莒慶來逆叔姬。

(Classic 275) Qing of Ju came to meet Shu Ji as a bride.

（傳）莒慶者何？莒大夫也。莒無大夫，此何以書？譏。何譏爾？大夫越竟逆女，非禮也。

(Commentary) Who was Qing of Ju? A grandee of Ju. Ju has no grandees; why is he recorded here? It is criticism. What is criticized? A grandee crossing a border to marry a woman is improper.

（經二七六）杞伯來朝。

(Classic 276) The Earl of Qi came to court.