Duke Cheng

夏，五月戊辰，許世子止弒其君買。日弒，正卒也。正卒，則止不弒也。不弒而曰弒，責止也。止曰：「我與夫弒者，不立乎其位。」以與其弟虺。哭泣歠飦粥，嗌不容粒。未逾年而死，故君子即止自責而責之也。

In the fifth month of summer, on the wuchen day, Zhi, heir of Xu, killed his ruler Mai. The day of the "killing" is recorded, though in fact it was a natural death. Since it was a natural death, Zhi did not do the killing. Not having killed but being written as having killed is to blame Zhi. Zhi said: "I took part in that matter of the ruler's death, and cannot stand in this position." He gave the position to his younger brother Hui. Weeping, he drank thick gruel, but his throat would not admit even one grain of rice. Before the year had passed he died, so the noble person, going by Zhi's self-blame, blames him.

冬，葬許悼公。日卒時葬，不使止為弒父也。曰：子既生，不免乎水火，母之罪也。羈貫成童，不就師傅，父之罪也。就師學問無方，心志不通，身之罪也。心志既通，而名譽不聞，友之罪也。名譽既聞，有司不舉，有司之罪也。有司舉之，王者不用，王者之過也。許世子不知嘗藥，累及許君也。

In winter, Duke Dao of Xu was buried. The day of death is recorded and the burial recorded by season, so as not to make Zhi one who killed his father. It is said: when a son has been born and cannot avoid water or fire, that is the mother's fault. When the hair is bound up and the child has grown up and still does not follow a teacher, that is the father's fault. When he follows a teacher, but his learning has no method and his heart does not understand, that is his own fault. When his heart already understands but his fame does not spread, that is his friends' fault. When his fame has spread but the officials do not recommend him, that is the officials' fault. When the officials have recommended him but the king does not employ him, that is the king's fault. The heir of Xu did not know to taste the medicine first, and it implicated the ruler of Xu.

夏，曹公孫會自夢出奔宋。自夢者，專乎夢也。曹無大夫，其曰公孫，何也？言其以貴取之，而不以叛也。

In summer, Gongsun Hui of Cao fled from Meng to Song. Writing "from Meng" shows that he held power at Meng. Cao had no commissioned senior officials, so why is "Gongsun" written here? It means he gained this place by his rank, but did not rebel.

秋，盜殺衛侯之兄輒。盜賤也。其曰兄，母兄也。目衛侯，衛侯累也。然則何為不為君也？曰：有天疾者，不得入乎宗廟。輒者，何也？曰：兩足不能相過，齊謂之綦，楚謂之踂，衛謂之輒。

In autumn, bandits killed Zhe, elder brother of the Marquis of Wei. A bandit is lowly. "Brother" is written because he was a brother of the same mother. The Marquis of Wei is pointed out, and the Marquis of Wei was implicated. Then why could he not be ruler? The answer: a person with a congenital illness cannot enter the ancestral temple. What is "Zhe"? The answer: when the two feet cannot step across each other, in Qi it is called "qi," in Chu it is called "chan," and in Wei it is called "zhe."

宋華亥、向寧、華定自陳入於宋南里以叛。自陳，陳有奉焉爾。入者，內弗受也。其曰宋南里，宋之南鄙也。以者，不以者也。叛，直叛也。

Hua Hai, Xiang Ning and Hua Ding of Song entered Nanli of Song from Chen and rebelled. Writing "from Chen" shows that Chen escorted and helped them. The use of "ru" (entered) shows that the other side did not accept them. "Nanli of Song" means a southern border town of Song. The use of "yi" (with) shows precisely that it should not be so. What is called rebellion is straightforward rebellion.

冬，蔡侯東出奔楚。東者，東國也。何為謂之東也？王父誘而殺焉，父執而用焉。奔而又奔之。曰東，惡之而貶之也。

In winter, Dong, Marquis of Cai, fled to Chu. "Dong" means the eastern state. Why is he called "Dong"? His grandfather was lured and killed, and his father was seized and used in sacrifice at the altar. When he fled, he fled there as well. Calling him "Dong" shows hatred and belittling of him.

宋華亥、向寧、華定自宋南里出奔楚。自宋南里者，專也。

Hua Hai, Xiang Ning and Hua Ding of Song fled from Nanli of Song to Chu. Writing "from Nanli of Song" shows that they held power there.

大搜於昌間。秋而曰搜，此春也，其曰搜，何也？以搜事也。

A great review was held at Changjian. Only in autumn is it called "sou," and this was spring; why is it also called "sou"? Because the method used was that of the hunting review.

劉子、單子以王猛居於皇。以者，不以者也。王猛，嫌也。

The Viscount of Liu and the Viscount of Shan took Wang Meng and lived at Huang. The use of "yi" (with) shows precisely that he should not have been used so. "Wang Meng" is written because there is a suspicion here.

秋，劉子、單子以王猛入於王城。以者，不以者也。入者，內弗受也。

In autumn, the Viscount of Liu and the Viscount of Shan took Wang Meng and entered the royal city. The use of "yi" (with) shows precisely that he should not have been used so. The use of "ru" (entered) shows that the other side did not accept him.

冬，十月，王子猛卒。此不卒者也。其曰卒，失嫌也。

In the tenth month of winter, Wang Zimeng died. This was a person whose death should not have been recorded. "Death" is recorded here because the suspicion about him no longer needed to be pointed out.

戊辰，吳敗頓、胡、沈、蔡、陳、許之師於雞甫。鬍子髡、沈子盈滅。中國不言敗，此其言敗，何也？中國不敗，鬍子髡、沈子盈，其滅乎？其言敗，釋其滅也。

On the wuchen day, Wu defeated the armies of Dun, Hu, Shen, Cai, Chen and Xu at Jifu. Zi Kun of Hu and Zi Ying of Shen perished. When central states fight, "defeated" is normally not written; it is written here, why? If "defeated" were not written for the central states, how would the perishing of Zi Kun of Hu and Zi Ying of Shen be accounted for? Writing "defeated" explains their destruction.

獲陳夏齧。獲者，非與之辭也，上下之稱也。

They captured Xia Nie of Chen. "Huo" (to capture) is not a word of approval, but is said in terms of high and low rank.

天王居於狄泉。始王也。其曰天王，因其居而王之也。

The Son of Heaven lived at Diquan. This was when he began to be king. "Heavenly King" is written to make him king on the basis of his living there.

尹氏立王子朝。立者，不宜立者也。朝之不名，何也？別嫌乎尹氏之朝也。

The Yin clan set up Prince Chao. The use of "li" (set up) shows that this person should not originally have been set up. Chao is not named, why? To separate him from the suspicion of "Chao of the Yin clan."

冬，公如晉。至河，公有疾，乃復。疾不志，此其志，何也？釋不得入乎晉也。

In winter, Duke Zhao went to Jin and on reaching the Yellow River, Duke Zhao fell ill and turned back. Illness is normally not recorded; it is recorded here, why? To explain why he could not enter Jin.

婼至自晉。大夫執則致，致則挈。由上致之也。

Chuo returned from Jin. When a senior official is seized, his return is written, and in writing his return his name is mentioned separately. It was those above who sent him back.

夏，叔倪會晉趙鞅、宋樂大心、衛北宮喜、鄭遊吉、曹人、邾人、滕人、薛人、小邾人於黃父。

In summer, Shu Ni met with Zhao Yang of Jin, Yue Daxin of Song, Beigong Xi of Wei, You Ji of Zheng, the men of Cao, the men of Zhu, the men of Teng, the men of Xue and the men of Little Zhu at Huangfu.

有鴝鵒來巢。一有一亡曰有。來者，來中國也。鴝鵒穴者而曰巢，或曰增之也。

A mynah bird flew in and made a nest. To appear and then disappear is called "you." "Lai" (came) says it came to the central states. The mynah originally lived in holes, yet here it says "nest"; another account: it makes the matter more grave.

秋，七月上辛，大雩。季辛，又雩。季者，有中之辭也。又，有繼之辭也。

In autumn, on the first xin day of the seventh month, a great rain sacrifice was held. On the last xin day, the rain sacrifice was held again. Writing "last" is wording that says there was one in between. "Again" is wording that means a continuation.

九月乙亥，公孫於齊。孫之為言猶孫也。諱奔也。

On the yihai day in the ninth month, Duke Zhao fled to Qi. "Sun" means the same as "xun," concealing that it was in fact flight.

齊侯唁公於野井。吊失國曰唁。唁公不得入於魯也。

The Marquis of Qi consoled Duke Zhao at Yejing. Expressing condolences to one who has lost his state is called "yan." This was condolence to Duke Zhao for not being able to enter Lu.

十有二月，齊侯取鄆。取，易辭也。內不言取，以其為公取之，故易言之也。

In the twelfth month, the Marquis of Qi took Yun. "Qu" (to take) is the word for something that came easily. Matters of Lu itself are normally not written as "taken"; because it was taken back on Duke Zhao's behalf, an easy word is used.

三月，公至自齊，居於鄆。公次於陽州，其曰至自齊，何也？以齊侯之見公，可以言至自齊也。居於鄆者，公在外也。至自齊，道義不外公也。

In the third month, Duke Zhao arrived from Qi and lived at Yun. Duke Zhao had been stationed at Yangzhou, so why is "arrived from Qi" written? Because the Marquis of Qi had met him, it can be said that he arrived from Qi. Writing "lived at Yun" is because the ruler was outside. Writing "arrived from Qi" does not by righteousness exclude the ruler.

夏，公圍成。非國不言圍，所以言圍者，以大公也。

In summer, Duke Zhao besieged Cheng. When it is not a state, "besiege" is normally not written; "besiege" is written here, to make Duke Zhao appear great.

秋，公會齊侯、莒子、邾子、杞伯，盟於鄟陵。公至自會，居於鄆。公在外也。至自會，道義不外公也。

In autumn, Duke Zhao met with the Marquis of Qi, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu and the Earl of Qi and made a covenant at Zouling. Duke Zhao returned from the meeting and lived at Yun. The ruler was outside. Writing "arrived from the meeting" does not by righteousness exclude the ruler.

尹氏、召伯、毛伯，以王子朝奔楚。遠矣非也。奔，直奔也。

The Yin clan, the Earl of Shao and the Earl of Mao took Prince Chao and fled to Chu. They went too far, which is not right. What is called fleeing is straightforward fleeing.

二十有七年春，公如齊。公至自齊，居於鄆。公在外也。

In the spring of the twenty-seventh year, Duke Zhao went to Qi. Duke Zhao returned from Qi and lived at Yun. The ruler was outside.

秋，晉士鞅、宋樂祁犁、衛北宮喜、曹人、邾人、滕人會於扈。

In autumn, Shi Yang of Jin, Yue Qili of Song, Beigong Xi of Wei, the men of Cao, the men of Zhu and the men of Teng met at Hu.

夏，四月庚子，叔倪卒。季孫意如曰：「叔倪無病而死，此皆無公也。是天命也，非我罪也。」

In the fourth month of summer, on the gengzi day, Shu Ni died. Ji Sun Yiru said: "Shu Ni died without being ill; these are all omens of there being no ruler. This is Heaven's decree and not my fault."

冬，十月，鄆潰。潰之為言，上下不相得也。上下不相得則惡矣，亦譏公也。昭公出奔，民如釋重負。

In winter, in the tenth month, Yun collapsed in disorder. "Collapsed" means that those above and below could not get along. When those above and below cannot get along, it is already bad, and this also criticizes Duke Zhao. When Duke Zhao fled, the common people felt as if a heavy burden had been put down.

三十年春，王正月，公在幹侯。中國不存公，存公故也。

In the thirtieth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Zhao was at Ganhou (the base text writes this place name with the character for "Qian"). In the central states it is the custom not to write that the ruler is still present; here it writes "the Duke is at," because there was an upheaval and they wished to preserve him.

晉侯使荀櫟唁公於幹侯。唁公不得入於魯也。曰：「既為君言之矣，不可者意如也」。

The Marquis of Jin sent Xun Li to Ganhou to console Duke Zhao. This was to console him for not being able to enter Lu. He said: "We have already spoken for the ruler; the one who refuses is Yiru."

冬，黑肱以濫來奔。其不言邾黑肱何也？別乎邾也。其不言濫子，何也？非天子所封也。來奔內，不言叛也。

In winter, Hei Gong came fleeing with Lan. Why is he not called "Hei Gong of Zhu"? Because they wanted to separate him from Zhu. Why is he not called "Master of Lan"? Because he was not enfeoffed by the Son of Heaven. He came fleeing to Lu, so the reason for his rebellion is not written.

冬，仲孫何忌會晉韓不信、齊高張、宋仲幾、衛太叔申、鄭國參、曹人、莒人、邾人、薛人、杞人、小邾人，城成周。天子微，諸侯不享覲。天子之在者，惟祭與號。故諸侯之大夫，相帥以城之。此變之正也。

In winter, Zhongsun Heji joined Han Buxin of Jin, Gao Zhang of Qi, Zhong Ji of Song, Taishu Shen of Wei, Guo Shen of Zheng, and men of Cao, Ju, Zhu, Xue, Qi and Xiaozhu, and fortified Chengzhou. The Son of Heaven had declined, and the feudal lords did not go to pay tribute or attend court. What remained of the Son of Heaven were only sacrifices and the title. So the grandees of the feudal lords led one another in building the wall. This was the right way within an adaptation.

元年春王。不言正月，定無正也。定之無正，何也？昭公之終，非正終也。定之始，非正始也。昭無正終，故定無正始。不言即位，喪在外也。

In the first year, in spring, only "king" is written. "First month" is not written, because Duke Ding had no "proper beginning." Why did Duke Ding have no "proper beginning"? Because the end of Duke Zhao was not a proper end; the beginning of Duke Ding was not a proper beginning. Since Duke Zhao had no proper end, Duke Ding had no proper beginning. "Ascending the throne" is not written because the funeral rites were still outside the state.

三月，晉人執宋仲幾於京師。此其大夫。其曰人，何也？微之也。何為微之？不正其執人於尊者之所也，不與大夫之伯討也。

In the third month, the men of Jin seized Zhong Ji of Song in the capital. This man was a grandee of Jin. He is called "man." Why? To write him as lowly. Why write him lowly? Because the text disapproves of seizing someone in the place where the honored one is, and does not approve of a grandee punishing in the manner of a hegemon.

夏，六月癸亥，公之喪至自幹侯。戊辰，公即位。殯，然後即位也。定無正，見無以正也。逾年不言即位，是有故公也。言即位，是無故公也。即位，授受之道也。先君無正終，則後君無正始也。先君有正終，則後君有正始也。「戊辰，公即位」，謹之也。定之即位，不可不察也。公即位，何以日也？戊辰之日，然後即位也。癸亥，公之喪至自幹侯，何為戊辰之日，然後即位也？正君乎國，然後即位也。沈子曰：「正棺乎兩楹之間，然後即位也。」內之大事日，即位，君之大事也，其不日，何也？以年決者，不以日決也。此則其日，何也？著之也。何著焉？逾年即位，厲也。於厲之中，又有義焉！未殯，雖有天子之命猶不敢，況臨諸臣乎！周人有喪，魯人有喪，周人吊，魯人不弔。周人曰：「固吾臣也，使人可也。」魯人曰：「吾君也，親之者也，使大夫則不可也。」故周人吊，魯人不弔，以其下成康為未久也。君至尊也，去父之殯而往吊，猶不敢，況未殯而臨諸臣乎！

In summer, in the sixth month, on guihai, the coffin of Duke Zhao arrived from Ganhou. On wuchen, Duke Ding ascended the throne. First the coffin was laid in state, and then he ascended the throne. That Duke Ding had no "proper beginning" shows that there was nothing by which he could be made proper. That after the new year the ascension is still not written is because the former ruler is still present; to write the ascension would be as if there were no such former ruler. Ascension is the principle of giving and receiving. If the former ruler had no proper end, the later ruler has no proper beginning; if the former ruler had a proper end, the later ruler has a proper beginning. To write "On wuchen, the Duke ascended the throne" is to treat the matter with solemnity. Duke Ding's ascension must be looked at closely. Why is the day recorded for a ruler's ascension? Only when the wuchen day arrived did he ascend the throne. The coffin arrived from Ganhou on guihai; why did he ascend only on wuchen? One must first put the ruler in order within the state, and only then ascend the throne. Shen Zi said: "Set the coffin properly between the two pillars, and only then ascend the throne." Great events in the state are recorded by day; ascension is the ruler's great event, but the custom is not to record the day; why? It is judged by the year and not by the day. Here the day is recorded; why? To make it conspicuous. What is made conspicuous? Ascending only after the new year is inherently perilous. And in the midst of this peril there is righteousness! Before the coffin was laid in state, even if there was an order from the Son of Heaven, he would not dare ascend the throne, let alone face the officials! When the Zhou house had a funeral and Lu had a funeral, Zhou came to offer condolences, but Lu did not go to offer condolences. The Zhou house said: "He is originally my subject; sending someone would be enough." Lu said: "He is my ruler, the one I am close to; sending a grandee would not be acceptable." So Zhou came to mourn and Lu did not go to mourn, because it was not long after the times of Kings Cheng and Kang. The ruler is the most honored, and even leaving his father's coffin to attend a funeral was something he still did not dare to do, how much less would he face the officials before the coffin was laid in state!

九月，大雩。雩月，雩之正也。秋大雩，非正也。冬大雩，非正也。秋大雩，雩之為非正，何也？毛澤未盡，人力未竭，未可以雩也。雩月，雩之正也。月之為雩之正，何也？其時窮，人力盡，然後雩，雩之正也。何謂其時窮、人力盡？是月不雨，則無及矣；是年不艾，則無食矣，是謂其時窮、人力盡也。雩之必待其時窮、人力盡，何也？雩者，為旱求者也。求者，請也，古之人重請。何重乎請？人之所以為人者，讓也。請道去讓也，則是舍其所以為人也，是以重之，焉請哉？請乎應上公。古之神人有應上公者，通乎陰陽，君親帥諸大夫道之而以請焉。夫請者，非可詒托而往也，必親之者也，是以重之。

In the ninth month, the great rain sacrifice was held. Recording the month for a rain sacrifice is the correct rule for the rain sacrifice. Holding the great rain sacrifice in autumn is not correct. Holding the great rain sacrifice in winter is not correct. Why is the great rain sacrifice in autumn not correct? The moisture of grass and trees has not run out, and human effort has not been used up, so one may not hold the rain sacrifice. Recording the month is the correct rule for the rain sacrifice. Why is recording the month the correct rule? Only when the season is exhausted and human effort is spent does one hold the rain sacrifice; this is the correct rule for the rain sacrifice. What is called the season being exhausted and human effort spent? If it does not rain this month, it will be too late; if the harvest is not gathered this year, there will be nothing to eat; this is called the season exhausted and human effort spent. Why must the rain sacrifice wait until the season is exhausted and human effort spent? The rain sacrifice is a plea made for drought. Pleading is requesting, and the ancients took requesting very seriously. Why did they take requesting seriously? What makes a person human is yielding. The road of requesting departs from yielding, so one loses what makes a person human, and therefore it was taken seriously. To whom does one make the request? To the Duke Yingshang. In ancient times there was a spirit-person called Duke Yingshang, who understood yin and yang, and the ruler personally led his grandees to guide the pleading. Requesting is not something that can be entrusted to others; one must go in person, so it was taken seriously.

冬，十月，隕霜殺菽。未可以殺而殺，舉重；可殺而不殺，舉輕。其曰菽，舉重也。

In winter, in the tenth month, frost killed the beans. Where what should not have been killed was killed, one speaks by citing the heavier case; where what should have been killed was not killed, one speaks by citing the lighter case. Here "beans" is written, citing the heavier case.

夏，五月壬辰，雉門及兩觀災。其不曰「雉門災及兩觀」，何也？災自兩觀始也，不以尊者親災也；先言雉門，尊尊也。

In summer, in the fifth month, on renchen, the Zhi Gate and the two watchtowers were on fire. Why is it not written "calamity at the Zhi Gate reached the two watchtowers"? Because the fire began from the two watchtowers, and the text does not let the honored side attach to the fire; the Zhi Gate is written first to honor the honored.

冬，十月，新作雉門及兩觀。言新，有舊也。作，為也，有加其度也。此不正其以尊者親之，何也？雖不正也，於美猶可也。

In winter, in the tenth month, the Zhi Gate and the two watchtowers were newly built. Saying "new" is because there was an old one before. "Zuo" means to make, meaning the scale was enlarged. The text originally disapproved of letting the honored side attach to this matter, so why record it? Even if it is not correct, it is still acceptable in terms of its good aspect.

三月，公會劉子、晉侯、宋公、蔡侯、衛侯、陳子、鄭伯、許男、曹伯、莒子、邾子、頓子、鬍子、滕子、薛伯、杞伯、小邾子、齊國夏於召陵，侵楚。

In the third month, Duke Ding met with Liu Zi, the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, the Marquis of Wei, the Viscount of Chen, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Dun, the Viscount of Hu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, the Viscount of Xiaozhu and Guo Xia of Qi at Shaoling, and invaded Chu.

夏，四月庚辰，蔡公孫姓帥師滅沈，以沈子嘉歸，殺之。

In summer, in the fourth month, on gengchen, Gongsun Xing of Cai led an army and destroyed Shen, and took the Viscount of Shen, Jia, back and killed him.

五月，公及諸侯盟於皋鼬。後而再會，公志於後會也。後，志疑也。

In the fifth month, Duke Ding swore a covenant with the feudal lords at Gaoyou. Later they met again, and Duke Ding's heart was in the later meeting. "Later" records hesitation.

劉卷卒。此不卒而卒者，賢之也。寰內諸侯也，非列土諸侯，此何以卒也？天王崩，為諸侯主也。

Liu Juan died. This is a man whose death should not be recorded, but it is recorded here because he was thought worthy. He was a feudal lord within the royal domain, not one enfeoffed with land; why record his death? When the Son of Heaven died, he was the one who presided over the mourning on behalf of the feudal lords.

冬，十有一月庚午，蔡侯以吳子及楚人戰於伯舉。楚師敗績。吳其稱子，何也？以蔡侯之以之，舉其貴者也。蔡侯之以之，則其舉貴者，何也？吳信中國而攘夷狄，吳進矣。其信中國而攘夷狄奈何？子胥父誅於楚也，挾弓持矢而幹闔廬，闔廬曰：「大之甚！勇之甚！為是欲興師而伐楚。」子胥諫曰：「臣聞之：君不為匹夫興師。且事君猶事父也，虧君之義，復父之讎，臣弗為也。」於是止。蔡昭公朝於楚，有美裘，正是日，囊瓦求之，昭公不與。為是拘昭公於南郢。數年，然後得歸。歸乃用事乎漢，曰：「茍諸侯有欲伐楚者，寡人請為前列焉！」楚人聞之而怒，為是興師而伐蔡。蔡請救於吳，子胥曰：「蔡非有罪，楚無道也。君若有憂中國之心，則若此時可矣！」為是興師而伐楚。何以不言救也？救大也。

In winter, in the eleventh month, on gengwu, the Marquis of Cai, taking the Viscount of Wu, fought the men of Chu at Boju, and the Chu army was greatly defeated. Wu is called "Viscount"; why? Because the Marquis of Cai used him, so his honorable status is cited. The Marquis of Cai used him, so why cite his honor? Wu trusted the central states and rejected the barbarians, and Wu advanced one rank. How did it trust the central states and reject the barbarians? Zixu's father was killed in Chu, and he went carrying his bow and arrows to seek an audience with Helu. Helu said: "The vengeance is great! The courage too is great! For this I wish to raise an army to attack Chu." Zixu remonstrated: "Your servant has heard: a ruler does not raise an army for a single common man. Moreover, to serve a ruler is like serving a father; to diminish the ruler's righteousness in order to avenge a father is something your servant would not do." So he stopped. Duke Zhao of Cai went to court at Chu and had a beautiful fur coat; on that very day Nang Wa came to ask for it, and Duke Zhao did not give it. For this the Duke was detained at Nanying, and returned only after several years. On returning, he sacrificed at the bank of the Han River, saying: "If any feudal lord wishes to attack Chu, I ask to be the vanguard!" The men of Chu heard this and were angered, and so raised an army and attacked Cai. Cai asked Wu for help, and Zixu said: "Cai has no fault; it is Chu that is unprincipled. If Your Majesty has a heart that cares for the central states, now is the time!" So he raised an army and attacked Chu. Why is "rescue" not written? Because "rescue" is a weightier word.

庚辰，吳入楚。日入，易無楚也。易無楚者，壞宗廟，徙陳器，撻平王之墓。何以不言滅也？欲存楚也。其欲存楚奈何？昭王之軍敗而逃，父老送之，曰：「寡人不肖，亡先君之邑。父老反矣，何憂無君？寡人且用此入海矣！」父老曰：「有君如此其賢也！」以眾不如吳，以必死不如楚，相與擊之，一夜而三敗吳人，復立。何以謂之吳也？狄之也。何謂狄之也？君居其君之寢，而妻其君之妻；大夫居其大夫之寢，而妻其大夫之妻。蓋有欲妻楚王之母者，不正乘敗人之績而深為利。居人之國，故反其狄道也。

On gengchen, Wu entered Chu. The recording of the day of entry treats Chu as if it were no more. What is meant by "as if no more" is destroying the ancestral temple, carrying off the sacrificial vessels, and flogging the tomb of King Ping. Why is "destroyed" not written? The text wishes to preserve Chu. How did it wish to preserve Chu? When King Zhao's army was defeated and fled, the elders saw him off, and he said: "I am worthless and have lost the cities of my former rulers. Elders, go home; why worry about having no ruler? I will go from here into the sea!" The elders said: "There is such a worthy ruler!" In numbers they could not match Wu, but in fighting to the death Wu could not match Chu, so they struck back together, defeating the men of Wu three times in a single night and reestablishing themselves. Why is it called "Wu"? Because it was treated like a barbarian. Why treated like a barbarian? A ruler lodged in another ruler's bedchamber and took another ruler's wife; a grandee lodged in another grandee's bedchamber and took another grandee's wife. It is said some even wished to take the king of Chu's mother. The text disapproves of exploiting a victory over others to take great profit and lodging in other people's state, so it sends them back on the road of the barbarians.

夏，歸粟於蔡。諸侯無粟，諸侯相歸粟，正也。孰歸之？諸侯也。不言歸之者，專辭也，義邇也。

In summer, grain was sent to Cai. When the feudal lords had no grain, the feudal lords sending grain to one another was right. Who sent it? The feudal lords. Not writing who sent it is wording for acting independently, because by righteousness this was originally what was close at hand.

六年春，王正月癸亥，鄭遊速帥師滅許，以許男斯歸。

In the sixth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on guihai, You Su of Zheng led an army and destroyed Xu, and took the Baron of Xu, Si, back.

冬，城中城。城中城者，三家張也。或曰非外民也。

In winter, the Zhong city was fortified. Fortifying Zhong city was the Three Families expanding. Another account: it was not to exclude the common people.

秋，齊侯、鄭伯盟於鹹。齊人執衛行人北宮結以侵衛。以，重辭也。衛人重北宮結。

In autumn, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng swore a covenant at Xian. The men of Qi seized Beigong Jie, the envoy of Wei, and invaded Wei. The use of the word "yi" is heavy wording. The men of Wei valued Beigong Jie.

八年春，王正月，公侵齊。公至自侵齊。二月，公侵齊。三月，公至自侵齊。公如，往時致月，危致也；往月致時，危往也；往月致月，惡之也。

In the eighth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Ding invaded Qi. Duke Ding returned from the army that invaded Qi. In the second month, Duke Ding again invaded Qi. In the third month, Duke Ding returned from the army that invaded Qi. When leaving the state is recorded by season and returning is recorded by month, it is worry about returning; when leaving is recorded by month and returning by season, it is worry about leaving; when leaving is recorded by month and returning is also recorded by month, it is hatred of him.

盜竊寶玉、大弓。寶玉者，封圭也。大弓者，武王之戎弓也。周公受賜，藏之魯。非其所以與人而與人，謂之亡；非其所取而取之，謂之盜。

Bandits stole the precious jade and the great bow. The precious jade was the gui tablet of the time of enfeoffment. The great bow was King Wu's war bow. The Duke of Zhou received them as rewards and kept them in Lu. Giving to people what should not be given is called loss; taking what should not be taken is called robbery.

得寶玉、大弓。其不地，何也？寶玉、大弓，在家則羞不目羞也。惡得之，得之堤下。或曰陽虎以解眾也。

The precious jade and the great bow were recovered. Why is the place not recorded? If the precious jade and great bow were in the house of a grandee, that would be shameful, and the text does not make this shame explicit. How were they recovered? They were recovered below an embankment. Another account: Yang Hu used them to disperse the crowd.

夏，公會齊侯於頰谷。公至自頰谷。離會不致，何為致也？危之也。危之則以地致，何也？為危之也。其危奈何？曰：頰谷之會，孔子相焉。兩君就壇，兩相相揖，齊人鼓譟而起，欲以執魯君。孔子歷階而上，不盡一等，而視歸乎齊侯，曰：「兩君合好，夷狄之民，何為來為？」命司馬止之。齊侯逡巡而謝曰：「寡人之過也。」退而屬其二三大夫曰：「夫人率其君與之行古人之道，二三子獨率我而入夷狄之俗，何為？」罷會。齊人使優施舞於魯君之幕下。孔子曰：「笑君者罪當死。」使司馬行法焉，首足異門而出。齊人來歸鄆、讙、龜、陰之田者，蓋為此也。因是以見：雖有文事，必有武備。孔子於頰谷之會見之矣。

In summer, Duke Ding met the Marquis of Qi at Jiagu. Duke Ding returned from Jiagu. A separated meeting by custom does not record the return; why is it recorded? It is worry on his behalf. If it is worry on his behalf, why record the return by place? Precisely to bring out this worry. What was the worry? The answer: at this meeting at Jiagu, Confucius served as master of ceremonies. The two rulers went up onto the platform, the two masters of ceremonies bowed, and the men of Qi beat drums and rose up shouting, wishing to seize the ruler of Lu. Confucius climbed the steps one by one, with one step still to go, looked at the Marquis of Qi, and said: "The rulers of two states are making peace; why do barbarians come here?" He ordered the Minister of War to stop them. The Marquis of Qi hesitantly apologized, saying: "It is my fault." He withdrew and said to his grandees: "That man leads his ruler to walk with him on the road of the ancients, yet you only lead me into barbarian customs; why?" Then the meeting dispersed. The men of Qi had You Shi dance beneath the tent of the ruler of Lu. Confucius said: "One who mocks a ruler deserves to be put to death." He had the Minister of War carry out the punishment, and the head and feet were sent out of different gates. The men of Qi later came to return the fields of Yun, Huan and Guiyin, probably because of this. From this it can be seen: even with civil measures, one must have military preparation. Confucius showed this at the Jiagu meeting.

叔孫州仇、仲孫何忌帥師圍郈。秋，叔孫州仇、仲孫何忌帥師圍郈。

Shusun Zhouchou and Zhongsun Heji led an army and besieged Hou. In autumn, Shusun Zhouchou and Zhongsun Heji led an army and besieged Hou.

入於蕭以叛，入者，內弗受也；以者，不以也；叛，直叛也。

They entered Xiao and rebelled. The use of the word "ru" shows that the other side did not accept them; the use of the word "yi" shows precisely that it should not have been so; what is called rebellion is a plain rebellion.