Duke Min

夏，六月，公會王人、晉人、宋人、齊人、陳人、蔡人、秦人，盟於翟泉。

In summer, in the sixth month, Duke Xi met the people of the royal house, the people of Jin, the people of Song, the people of Qi, the people of Chen, the people of Cai, and the people of Qin, and made a covenant at Zhai Spring.

秋，衛殺其大夫元咺。稱國以殺，罪累上也，以是為訟君也。衛侯在外，其以累上之辭言之，何也？待其殺而後入也。

In autumn, Wei killed its high official Yuan Xuan. To record a killing by the name of the state means that the guilt extends to those above, and treats this as his litigating against the ruler. The Marquis of Wei was still outside, yet it is phrased as extending to those above; why? Because he did not enter until Yuan Xuan had been killed.

冬，天王使宰周公來聘。天子之宰，通於四海。

In winter, the Son of Heaven of Zhou sent the Duke of Zhou, chief steward, on a visit. The Son of Heaven's Grand Steward has orders that reach through the four seas.

公子遂如京師。遂如晉。以尊遂乎卑，此言不敢叛京師也。

Gongzi Sui went to the capital and then went on to Jin. To go on from the honored to the lowly is to say that he dared not betray the capital.

夏，四月，四卜郊。不從，乃免牲，猶三望。「夏，四月」，不時也。四卜，非禮也。免牲者，為之緇衣燻裳。有司玄端奉送，至於南郊。免牛亦然。乃者，亡乎人之辭也。猶者，可以已之辭也。

In summer, in the fourth month, divination was made four times for the suburban sacrifice. It did not accord, and so the sacrificial victim was exempted, but the three sacrifices of gazing from afar were still performed. “In summer, in the fourth month” is written because it was out of season. To divine four times is not in accordance with ritual. What is called exempting the victim is dressing it in a black upper garment and light red lower garment, and the officials in black court dress respectfully see it off all the way to the southern suburb. Exempting an ox is the same. “Nai” (then) is a phrasing indicating that it was not within people's wishes. “You” (still) is a phrasing indicating that it could have been stopped but was still done.

冬，杞伯姬來求婦。婦人既嫁，不逾竟。杞伯姬來求婦，非正也。

In winter, Bo Ji of Qi came to seek a wife for her son. After a woman has married she should not go outside the borders again. That Bo Ji of Qi came to seek a wife was not in accordance with the right way.

三十有三年春，王二月，秦人入滑。滑，國也。

In the spring of the thirty-third year, in the second month of the Zhou calendar, the people of Qin entered Hua. Hua was a state.

夏，四月辛巳，晉人及姜戎敗秦師於殽。不言戰而言敗，何也？狄秦也。其狄之，何也？秦越千里之險，入虛國，進不能守，退敗其師徒，亂人子女之教，無男女之別。秦之為狄，自殽之戰始也。秦伯將襲鄭，百里子與蹇叔子諫曰：「千里而襲人，未有不亡者也。」秦伯曰：「子之冢木已拱矣，何知！」師行。百里子與蹇叔子送其子而戒之曰：「女死，必於殽之巖唫之下。我將屍女於是。」師行，百里子與蹇叔子隨其子而哭之。秦伯怒曰：「何為哭吾師也？」二子曰：「非敢哭師也，哭吾子也。我老矣！彼不死，則我死矣！」晉人與姜戎要而擊之殽，匹馬倚輪無反者。晉人者，晉子也，其曰人，何也？微之也。何為微之？不正其釋殯，而主乎戰也。

In summer, in the fourth month, on xinsi, the people of Jin and the Jiang Rong defeated the Qin army at Xiao. “Fought” is not written but “defeated”; why? Because Qin was treated as Di barbarians. Why treat it as Di barbarians? Qin crossed a thousand li of difficult country and entered an empty state; advancing it could not hold, and retreating it let its troops be defeated, and it disturbed the upbringing of other people's sons and daughters and made no distinction between men and women. Qin was treated as Di starting from the battle of Xiao. The Earl of Qin was about to make a surprise attack on Zheng, and Baili Zi and Jian Shu Zi remonstrated, saying: “To march a thousand li to make a surprise attack on someone, there is none that does not end in destruction.” The Earl of Qin said: “The trees on your graves are already big enough to span with both arms; what do you know!” The army set out. Baili Zi and Jian Shu Zi saw their sons off and warned them: “If you die, you will surely die under the rocks of Mount Xiao. I will collect your corpses there.” When the army had gone, Baili Zi and Jian Shu Zi followed their sons weeping. The Earl of Qin was angry and said: “Why do you weep for my army?” They said: “We dare not weep for the army, we are weeping for our sons. We are old! If they do not die, we will have died!” The people of Jin and the Jiang Rong intercepted and attacked at Xiao, and not one horse or one wheel came back. The so-called “people of Jin” were in fact the Viscount of Jin, but the text calls them “people”; why? It is to make him low. Why make him low? It is dissatisfied that he set down the funeral rites and treated the battle as the chief matter.

隕霜不殺草。未可殺而殺，舉重也。可殺而不殺，舉輕也。

Frost fell but did not kill the grass. If it was not yet time for the grass to be killed but it was killed, the heavier case is cited; if it was time for the grass to be killed but it was not killed, the lighter case is cited.

元年春，王正月，公即位。繼正即位，正也。

In the spring of the first year, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Wen took the throne. Succeeding after a ruler who died in the normal way is the regular form.

天王使叔服來會葬。葬曰會，其志重天子之禮也。

The Son of Heaven of Zhou sent Shu Fu to attend the funeral. The funeral is written with “attend,” and recording this matter shows that the Son of Heaven's ritual was valued.

夏，四月丁巳，葬我君僖公。薨稱公，舉上也。葬我君，接上下也。僖公葬而後舉諡，諡所以成德也。於卒事乎加之矣！

In summer, in the fourth month, on dingsi, our ruler Duke Xi of Lu was buried. At death he is called “duke,” citing his position above. “Buried our ruler” is written so as to connect the top and the bottom. After Duke Xi was buried, the posthumous title was indicated; the posthumous title is used to complete the fame and virtue of a lifetime, and must be added only after the funeral is completed.

天王使毛伯來錫公命。禮，有受命，無來錫命。錫命，非正也。

The Son of Heaven of Zhou sent Earl Mao to bestow ceremonial robes on Duke Wen. By ritual there is only going in person to receive the appointment; there is no Son of Heaven delivering the appointment to one's door. Bestowing the appointment was not in accordance with the right way.

冬，十月丁未，楚世子商臣弒其君髡。日髡之卒，所以謹商臣之弒也。夷狄不言正不正。

In winter, in the tenth month, on dingwei, the crown prince Shangchen of Chu killed his ruler Kun. The date of Kun's death is recorded in order to treat Shangchen's regicide with care. With barbarians, rightness and wrongness are not discussed.

二年春，王二月甲子，晉侯及秦師戰於彭衙。秦師敗績。

In the spring of the second year, in the second month of the Zhou calendar, on jiazi, the Marquis of Jin and the Qin army fought at Pengya, and the Qin army was greatly defeated.

丁丑，作僖公主。作，為也，為僖公主也。立主，喪主於虞。吉主於練，作僖公主，譏其後也。作主壞廟，有時日於練焉！壞廟，壞廟之道，易簷可也，改塗可也。

On dingchou, the spirit tablet of Duke Xi was made. “Made” means created, that is, making the spirit tablet for Duke Xi. As for setting up spirit tablets: the tablet for the funeral is set up at the yu sacrifice, and the tablet for the auspicious sacrifice is set up at the lian sacrifice. Only now the spirit tablet of Duke Xi was made, which criticizes it as being made too late. There is a fixed time for making tablets and removing the old temple tablets at the lian sacrifice. In the method of removing the old temple, changing the eaves is permissible and changing the paint is also permissible.

三月乙巳，及晉處父盟。不言公，處父伉也，為公諱也。何以知其與公盟？以其日也。何以不言公之如晉？所恥也。出不書，反不致也。

In the third month, on yisi, Duke Wen made a covenant with Chufu of Jin. “Duke” is not written because Chufu put on the airs of an equal to the ruler, and it also conceals it for Duke Wen. How do we know it was a covenant with the ruler? Because the date is recorded. Why is it not written that Duke Wen went to Jin? Because it was shameful. When going out it is not recorded, and on returning it is not written that he returned to the state.

夏，六月，公孫敖會宋公、陳侯、鄭伯、晉士谷，盟於垂斂。內大夫可以會外諸侯。

In summer, in the sixth month, Gongsun Ao met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Earl of Zheng, and Shi Gu of Jin and made a covenant at Chuilian. A high official of Lu could meet the feudal lords outside.

自十有二月不雨，至於秋七月。歷時而言不雨，文不憂雨也。不憂雨者，無志乎民也。

From the twelfth month there was no rain until the seventh month of autumn. “No rain” is written only after passing through several seasons, because Duke Wen was not troubled by the lack of rain. Not being troubled by the lack of rain means he had no concern in his heart for the people.

八月丁卯，大事於太廟，躋僖公。大事者何？大是事也，著祫嘗。祫祭者，毀廟之主。陳於太祖，未毀廟之主，皆升合祭於太祖。躋，升也，先親而後祖也，逆祀也。逆祀，則是無昭穆也。無昭穆，則是無祖也。無祖，則無天也。故曰：文無天。無天者，是無天而行也。君子不以親親害尊尊，此《春秋》之義也。

In the eighth month, on dingmao, a great affair was held in the Grand Temple, and the tablet of Duke Xi was moved up. What is the “great affair”? It makes the matter large and indicates the joint sacrifice, xia and chang. The xia sacrifice places the tablets of temples already removed in the Grand Ancestor's temple, and the tablets of those not yet removed are also all brought up, and a joint sacrifice is made with the Grand Ancestor. “Ji” means to ascend, putting the father ahead of the grandfather, which is an inverted sacrifice. An inverted sacrifice means no zhao and mu order. No zhao and mu order means no ancestors. No ancestors means no Heaven. Therefore it is said: Duke Wen had no Heaven. Having no Heaven means acting without Heaven. The gentleman does not use affection for kin to harm honoring the honored; this is the meaning of the Spring and Autumn.

三年春，王正月，叔孫得臣會晉人、宋人、陳人、衛人、鄭人伐沈。沈潰。

In the spring of the third year, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, Shusun Dechen met the people of Jin, the people of Song, the people of Chen, the people of Wei, and the people of Zheng and attacked Shen. Shen collapsed.

夏，五月，王子虎卒。叔服也，此不卒者也，何以卒之？以其來會葬，我卒之也。或曰以其嘗執重以守也。

In summer, in the fifth month, the king's son Hu died. He was Shu Fu. This was originally a person whose death should not be recorded; why is it recorded? Because he had attended the funeral, so Lu records his death. Another account: because he once bore heavy responsibility and stayed behind to guard the royal house.

雨螽於宋。外災不志，此何以志也？曰：災甚也。其甚奈何？茅茨盡矣！著於上，見於下，謂之雨。

Locusts fell like rain in Song. For disasters in foreign states the text normally does not record them; here it is recorded; why? The answer: the disaster was too severe. How severe? They even ate up the thatched roofs! That which first appears in the sky and is then seen falling to the ground is called “rain.”

晉陽處父帥師伐楚，救江。此伐楚，其言救江，何也？江遠楚近，伐楚所以救江也。

Yang Chufu of Jin led an army to attack Chu and rescue Jiang. This was an attack on Chu; why is it said to rescue Jiang? Jiang was far and Chu was near, and attacking Chu was precisely the way to rescue Jiang.

夏，逆婦姜於齊。其曰婦姜，為其禮成乎齊也。其逆者誰也？親逆而稱婦。或者公與，何其速婦之也？曰：公也。其不言公，何也？非成禮於齊也。曰婦，有姑之辭也；其不言氏，何也？貶之也。何為貶之也？夫人與有貶也。

In summer, they went to Qi to fetch the wife Jiang. She is called “wife Jiang” because the marriage rite was completed in Qi. Who went to fetch her? To fetch in person yet call her “wife.” Could it be the ruler, so that she was treated as a wife so quickly? The answer: it was the ruler. Why is “duke” not written? Because the rite was not completed in Qi. Calling her “wife” is a phrasing for when the mother-in-law is present; her clan name is not written; why? It is to lower her. Why lower her? The lady was lowered along with it.

五年春，王正月，王使榮叔歸含且賵。含，一事也；賵，一事也；兼歸之，非正也。其曰且，志兼也。其不言來，不周事之用也。賵以早，而含己晚。

In the spring of the fifth year, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, the Son of Heaven of Zhou sent Rong Shu to bring the mouth jade, and also sent the funeral gifts. “Mouth jade” is one matter and “funeral gifts” is one matter, and bringing them together is not in accordance with the right way. The use of “and also” records the combining. “Came” is not written because the things were not in time for their use: the funeral gifts came too early and the mouth jade came too late.

晉殺其大夫陽處父。稱國以殺，罪累上也。襄公已葬，其以累上之辭言之，何也？君漏言也。上洩則下暗，下暗則上聾。且暗且聾，無以相通，夜姑殺者也。夜姑之殺奈何？曰：晉將與狄戰，使狐夜姑為將軍，趙盾佐之，陽處父曰：「不可！古者君之使臣也，使仁者佐賢者，不使賢者佐仁者。今趙盾賢，夜姑仁，其不可乎？」襄公曰：「諾。」謂夜姑曰：「吾始使盾佐女。今女佐盾矣！」夜姑曰：「敬諾。」襄公死，處父主竟上事，夜姑使人殺之。君漏言也，故士造闢而言，詭辭而出，曰：「用我則可，不用我則無亂其德。」

Jin killed its high official Yang Chufu. To record a killing by the name of the state means that the guilt extends to those above. Duke Xiang had already been buried, yet it is phrased as extending to those above; why? Because the ruler leaked his words. When those above leak, those below close their mouths; when those below close their mouths, those above become deaf. With mouths closed and ears deaf, there is no way to communicate. The one who killed him was Yegu. How did Yegu kill him? The answer: Jin was about to fight the Di, and sent Hu Yegu as general with Zhao Dun assisting him. Yang Chufu said: “No! In ancient times when a ruler used his subjects, he had the benevolent assist the worthy and did not have the worthy assist the benevolent. Now Zhao Dun is worthy and Yegu is benevolent; this will probably not do?” Duke Xiang said: “Good.” He said to Yegu: “At first I had Dun assist you, and now it is changed so that you assist Dun!” Yegu said: “I will follow your orders.” After Duke Xiang died, Chufu took charge of border affairs, and Yegu sent someone to kill him. This was the ruler leaking his words. So when a scholar speaks near the ruler, on leaving he uses vague phrasing, saying: “Use my words and it is fine; if you do not use my words, do not disturb my integrity either.”

閏月不告月，猶朝於廟。不告月者，何也？不告朔也。不告朔，則何為不言朔也？閏月者，附月之餘日也，積分而成於月者也。天子不以告朔，而喪事不數也。猶之為言，可以已也。

In the intercalary month the monthly announcement was not held, but the temple was still visited. What does not holding the announcement mean? It means not announcing the new moon. Not announcing the new moon; why is “new moon” not written directly? The intercalary month is the left-over days attached to a month, accumulated bit by bit to form a month. The Son of Heaven does not use the intercalary month to announce the new moon, and in funeral matters the intercalary month is not counted. The word “still” means it could have been stopped but was still done.

七年春，公伐邾。三月甲戌，取須句。取邑不日，此其日，何也？不正其再取，故謹而日之也。

In the spring of the seventh year, Duke Wen attacked Zhu. In the third month, on jiaxu, he seized Xugou. Seizing a town is not normally recorded by date, yet the date is recorded here; why? It is dissatisfied that he seized it a second time, so the date is recorded with care.

晉先蔑奔秦。不言出，在外也。輟戰而奔秦，以是為逃軍也。

Xian Mie of Jin fled to Qin. “Went out” is not written because he was already outside. He stopped fighting and fled to Qin, and this is regarded as deserting the army.

秋，八月，公會諸侯、晉大夫，盟於扈。其曰諸侯，略之也。

In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Wen met the feudal lords and the high officials of Jin and made a covenant at Hu. “The feudal lords” is written to make them brief.

公孫敖如莒蒞盟。蒞，位也。其曰位，何也？前定也。其不日，前定之盟不日也。

Gongsun Ao went to Ju to attend the covenant. “Attend” means take one's position. Why is it said “take one's position”? Because it was agreed in advance. The date is not recorded; the date of an agreed-in-advance covenant is not recorded.

冬，十月壬午，公子遂會晉趙盾，盟于衡雍。乙酉，公子遂會雒戎，盟於暴。

In winter, in the tenth month, on renwu, Gongzi Sui met Zhao Dun of Jin and made a covenant at Hengyong. On yiyou, Gongzi Sui met the Luo Rong and made a covenant at Bao.

公孫敖如京師。不至而復，丙戌，奔莒。不言所至，未如也。未如則未復也。未如而曰如，不廢君命也。未復而曰復，不專君命也。其如非如也，其復非復也。唯奔莒之為信，故謹而日之也。

Gongsun Ao went to the capital, did not arrive and came back, and on bingxu fled to Ju. Where he arrived is not written because he did not really go. Since he did not really go, he did not really come back. Writing “went” though he did not really go means not discarding the ruler's command; writing “returned” though he did not really return means not treating the ruler's command as something one can decide for oneself. His “went” was not really going and his “returned” was not really returning. Only his fleeing to Ju was certain, so the date is recorded with care.

宋人殺其大夫司馬。司馬，官也。其以官稱，無君之辭也。

The people of Song killed their high official Sima. Sima is an official title. To use the official title is a phrasing for when there is no ruler.

宋司城來奔。司城，官也。其以官稱，無君之辭也。來奔者不言出，舉其接我也。

Sicheng of Song came and took refuge. Sicheng is an official title. To use the official title is a phrasing for when there is no ruler. “Went out” is not written for his coming to take refuge, because it cites the side where he had contact with our state of Lu.

九年春，毛伯來求金。求車猶可，求金甚矣。

In the spring of the ninth year, Earl Mao came to ask for money. Asking for a carriage would be bad enough, but asking for money goes too far.

二月，叔孫得臣如京師。京，大也；師，眾也。言周，必以眾與大言之也。

In the second month, Shusun Dechen went to the capital. “Jing” means great, and “shi” means multitude. When speaking of Zhou, one must call it by “multitude” and “great.”

辛丑，葬襄王。天子志崩不志葬，舉天下而葬一人，其道不疑也。志葬，危不得葬也。日之，甚矣！其不葬之辭也。

On xinchou, King Xiang was buried. For the Son of Heaven, “died” is recorded but not the funeral; he is the only person buried in the whole world, so there is nothing doubtful. Recording the funeral is out of concern that notice of it could not be sent in time. Recording the date makes it more serious, a phrasing close to not being buried.

三月，夫人姜氏至自齊。卑以尊致，病文公也。

In the third month, Lady Jiang came from Qi. Recording a lowly person according to the form for an honored person returning to her home state is to blame Duke Wen.

晉人殺其大夫士縠，及箕鄭父。稱人以殺，誅有罪也，鄭父累也。

The people of Jin killed their high official Shi Gu, and also Ji Zhengfu. “People of such-and-such state killed” shows that the one executed was guilty; Zhengfu was implicated.

九月癸酉，地震。震，動也。地，不震者也；震，故謹而日之也。

In the ninth month, on guiyou, there was an earthquake. “Quake” means movement. The earth should not originally quake; since it quaked, the date is recorded with care.

冬，楚子使萩來聘。楚無大夫，其曰萩，何也？以其來我，褒之也。

In winter, the Viscount of Chu sent Qiu on a visit. Chu had not appointed high officials; why is “Qiu” written here? Because he came into contact with our state of Lu, so he is commended.

秦人來歸僖公、成風之襚。秦人弗夫人也，即外之弗夫人而見正焉。

The people of Qin came to present clothing and quilts for the funerals of Duke Xi and Chengfeng. The people of Qin did not treat Chengfeng as a lady, and so by the outside not recognizing her as a lady, the right way is shown.

自正月不雨，至於秋七月。歷時而言不雨，文不閔雨也。不閔雨者，無志乎民也。

From the first month there was no rain until the seventh month of autumn. “No rain” is written only after passing through several seasons, because Duke Wen did not feel pity about the lack of rain. Not feeling pity about the lack of rain means he had no concern in his heart for the people.

冬，十月甲午，叔孫得臣敗狄於鹹。不言帥師而言敗，何也？直敗，一人之辭也。一人而曰敗，何也？以眾焉言之也。傳曰：長狄也。兄弟三人，佚宕中國，瓦石不能害。叔孫得臣，最善射者也。射其目，身橫九畝，斷其首而載之，眉見於軾。然則何為不言獲也？曰：古者不重創，不禽二毛，故不言獲，為內諱也。其之齊者，王子成父殺之，則未知其之晉者也。

In winter, in the tenth month, on jiawu, Shusun Dechen defeated the Di at Xian. He is not written as leading the army, yet “defeated” is written; why? This is a phrasing for something defeated by one man alone. Why is one man also said to “defeat”? Because it is said from the viewpoint of the numbers on the other side. The commentary says: this was the tall Di. Three brothers ran wild in the Central States, and tiles and stones could not hurt them. Shusun Dechen was the best archer of all; he shot one in the eye, the body lay across for nine mu in length, the head was cut off and loaded on a cart, and the eyebrows still showed above the carriage rail. Then why is “captured” not written? The answer: in ancient times they did not add another wound to a wound and did not seize the gray-haired, so “captured” is not written, and it also conceals it for Lu. The one who went to Qi was killed by Wangzi Chengfu; the one who went to Jin is not known.

二月庚子，子叔姬卒。其曰子叔姬，貴也，公之母姊妹也。其一傳曰：許嫁，以卒之也。男子二十而冠，冠而列丈夫；三十而娶。女子十五而許嫁，二十而嫁。

In the second month, on gengzi, Zishu Ji died. She is called “Zishu Ji” because she was honored, being Duke Wen's sister by the same mother. Another tradition: because she had been betrothed, her death is recorded. A man is capped at twenty and, once capped, is listed among husbands; at thirty he takes a wife. A woman is betrothed at fifteen and marries at twenty.

冬，十有二月戊午，晉人秦人戰於河曲。不言及，秦晉之戰已亟，故略之也。

In winter, in the twelfth month, on wuwu, the people of Jin and the people of Qin fought at Hequ. “And” is not used because the battles between Qin and Jin had already become too frequent, so it is written briefly.

季孫行父帥師，城諸及鄆。稱帥師，言有難也。

Jisun Xingfu led an army and built Zhuhe and Yun. “Led an army” is written to say that there was calamity.

大室屋壞。大室屋壞者，有壞道也，譏不修也。大室猶世室也。周公曰「大廟」，伯禽曰「大室」，群公曰「宮」。禮，宗廟之事。君親割，夫人親舂，敬之至也。為社稷之主，而先君之廟壞，極稱之，志不敬也。

The roof of the Great Chamber collapsed. The collapse of the Great Chamber's roof had a reason for decay, and criticizes their not repairing it. The Great Chamber is like the Shi Chamber. That of the Duke of Zhou is called the “Great Temple,” that of Bo Qin the “Great Chamber,” and those of the other rulers “palaces.” By ritual, in the matters of the ancestral temple, the ruler himself cuts the victim and the lady herself pounds the grain, which is respect carried to the utmost. To become the master of the altars of soil and grain and let the former ruler's temple fall into ruin is recorded, in the heaviest terms, as his lack of reverence.

十有二月己丑，公及晉侯盟，還自晉。還者，事未畢也。自晉，事畢也。

In the twelfth month, on jichou, Duke Wen made a covenant with the Marquis of Jin and returned from Jin. “Returned” means the matter was not yet finished; writing “from Jin” means the matter was already finished.

六月，公會宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許伯、曹伯、晉趙盾。癸酉，同盟於新城。同者，有同也，同外楚也。

In the sixth month, Duke Wen met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Xu, the Earl of Cao, and Zhao Dun of Jin. On guiyou, they made a joint covenant at Xincheng. “Joint” means there was a common aim, which was jointly resisting Chu.

秋，七月，有星孛入於北斗。孛之為言猶茀也。其曰入北斗，鬥有環域也。

In autumn, in the seventh month, a bei star entered the Northern Dipper. The word "bei" means something like "fu," a star whose rays shoot out in disorder. It says "entered the Northern Dipper" because the Dipper has a circling region.

晉人納捷菑於邾，弗克納。是郤克也，其曰人，何也？微之也。何為微之也？長轂五百乘，綿地千里，過宋、鄭、滕、薛，夐入千乘之國，欲變人之主。至城下，然後知。何知之晚也！弗克納。未伐而曰弗克，何也？弗克其義也。捷菑，晉出也；貜且，齊出也。貜且，正也；捷菑，不正也。

The men of Jin tried to install Jie Zi in Zhu, but were unable to install him. This man was Xi Ke, and the text calls him "man"; why? It is to write him as lowly. Why write him as lowly? With five hundred war chariots stretching over a thousand li, passing through Song, Zheng, Teng and Xue, he entered far into a state of a thousand chariots, wanting to replace another's ruler. Only on reaching the city walls did he understand. How late his understanding came! It writes "unable to install him." Before any attack had been made, why say "unable"? Because he could not prevail in righteousness. Jie Zi was born of a woman of Jin, and Huo Ju was born of a woman of Qi. Huo Ju was the legitimate line, and Jie Zi was not.

九月甲申，公孫敖，卒於齊。奔大夫不言卒，而言卒，何也？為受其喪，不可不卒也。其地於外也。

In the ninth month, on jiashen, Gongsun Ao died in Qi. A fugitive official normally does not have his death recorded; here it is recorded, why? Because Lu received his funeral, it could not but be recorded. The place is recorded because he died abroad.

齊公子商人弒其君舍。舍未逾年，其曰君，何也？成舍之為君，所以重商人之弒也。商人其不以國氏，何也？不以嫌代嫌也。舍之不日，何也？未成為君也。

The Qi prince Shangren killed his ruler She. She had not yet passed the year, so why is he called "ruler"? It makes She a ruler in order to add weight to Shangren's crime of regicide. Why does Shangren not have the name of his state placed before his name? So as not to take one layer of suspicion in place of another. The day of She's death is not recorded, why? Because he had not yet become a formal ruler.

齊人執單伯。私罪也。單伯淫於齊，齊人執之。

The men of Qi seized Shan Bo. This was a private offense. Shan Bo committed adultery in Qi, and the men of Qi seized him.

三月，宋司馬華孫來盟。司馬，官也。其以官稱，無君之辭也。來盟者何？前定也。不言及者，以國與之也。

In the third month, Hua Sun, the Sima of Song, came to make a covenant. Sima is an official title. To call him by his official title is wording used when there is no ruler. What does "came to make a covenant" mean? It had been agreed beforehand. The word "and" is not used, because the state was entrusted to the other side.