Duke Yin (Years 1-11)

衛之亂也，郕人侵衛，故衛師入郕。

At the time of the disorder in Wei, the men of Cheng raided Wei, so the Wei army attacked and entered Cheng.

九月，考仲子之宮，將萬焉。公問羽數於眾仲。對曰：“天子用八，諸侯用六，大夫四，士二。夫舞所以節八音而行八風，故自八以下。”公從之。於是初獻六羽，始用六佾也。

In the ninth month, the temple of Zhongzi was completed, and they were preparing to perform the Wan dance there. Duke Yin asked Zhong Zhong about the number of feather-dancers. Zhong Zhong replied: "The Son of Heaven uses eight rows, the feudal lords six, the grandees four, and the officers two. The dance is used to regulate the eight kinds of music and to spread the eight winds, and so it decreases from eight downward." Duke Yin followed this. Thereupon they offered six rows of feathers for the first time and began to use six rows of dancers.

宋人取邾田。邾人告於鄭曰：“請君釋憾於宋，敝邑為道。”鄭人以王師會之。伐宋，入其郛，以報東門之役。宋人使來告命。公聞其入郛也，將救之，問於使者曰：“師何及？”對曰：“未及國。”公怒，乃止，辭使者曰：“君命寡人同恤社稷之難，今問諸使者，曰‘師未及國’，非寡人之所敢知也。”

The people of Song seized the fields of Zhu. The people of Zhu told Zheng: "We ask you, my lord, to vent your anger on Song; our humble town will lead the way." The Zheng people took the royal army and joined Zhu. They attacked Song, entered its outer wall, and took revenge for the campaign at the Eastern Gate. Song sent a man bearing the ruler's order to report. Duke Yin, hearing that the Zheng army had already entered the outer wall, was about to go to the rescue, and asked the envoy: "Where has the army reached?" The envoy answered: "It has not yet reached the capital." Duke Yin was angry and stopped the troops, and declined the envoy, saying: "Your lord commanded me to share concern for the danger of the altars of the state, but now when I ask the envoy, he says 'the army has not yet reached the capital'; this is not something I dare to meddle in."

冬十二月辛已，臧僖伯卒。公曰：“叔父有憾於寡人，寡人弗敢忘。葬之加一等。

In winter, in the twelfth month, on the day xinsi (the original reads "xinyi" with "yi" miswritten for "si"), Zang Xibo died. Duke Yin said: "My uncle once bore a grievance against me, which I do not dare to forget. At the burial let the ritual be raised by one grade."

宋人伐鄭，圍長葛，以報入郛之役也。

The people of Song attacked Zheng and besieged Changge, in revenge for the entry into the outer wall.

【經】六年春，鄭人來渝平。夏五月辛酉，公會齊侯盟於艾。秋七月。冬，宋人取長葛。

[Classic] In the sixth year, in spring, the people of Zheng came to ask for a renewal of the covenant. In summer, on the day xinyou of the fifth month, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi and made a covenant at Ai. In autumn, the seventh month. In winter, the people of Song took Changge.

【傳】六年春，鄭人來渝平，更成也。

[Commentary] In the sixth year, in spring, the people of Zheng came to ask for a renewal of the covenant, that is, to make peace anew.

翼九宗、五正、頃父之子嘉父逆晉侯於隨，納諸鄂。晉人謂之鄂侯。

The Nine Clans and Five Chiefs of Yi, and Jiafu, son of Qingfu, went to Sui to welcome the Marquis of Jin and settled him at E. The people of Jin called him the Marquis of E.

夏，盟於艾，始平於齊也。

In summer, a covenant was made at Ai, beginning the peace with Qi.

五月庚申，鄭伯侵陳，大獲。

In the fifth month, on the day gengshen, the Earl of Zheng raided Chen and took many captives.

往歲，鄭伯請成於陳，陳侯不許。五父諫曰：“親仁善鄰，國之寶也。君其許鄭。”陳侯曰：“宋、衛實難，鄭何能為？”遂不許。

In the previous year, the Earl of Zheng had asked Chen for peace, and the Marquis of Chen would not agree. Wu Fu remonstrated: "To be close to the benevolent and friendly with neighbors is the treasure of a state. My lord should grant Zheng's request." The Marquis of Chen said: "Song and Wei are the ones to fear; what can Zheng do?" In the end he did not agree.

君子曰：“善不可失，惡不可長，其陳桓公之謂乎！長惡不悛，從自及也。

The gentleman said: "Goodness must not be lost and evil must not be allowed to grow; this is said of Duke Huan of Chen! He let evil grow and did not correct it, and disaster will catch up with him by itself.

雖欲救之，其將能乎？《商書》曰：‘惡之易也，如火之燎於原，不可鄉邇，其猶可撲滅？’周任有言曰：‘為國家者，見惡如農夫之務去草焉，芟夷蘊崇之，絕其本根，勿使能殖，則善者信矣。’”秋，宋人取長葛。

(The gentleman continued:) Even if one wanted to rescue it, could it still be done? The Book of Shang says: 'The spread of evil is like fire burning on the plain; one cannot even approach it, so how could it be put out?' Zhou Ren had a saying: 'One who governs a state looks upon evil as a farmer looks upon weeds, and must be sure to remove it, cutting it down, piling it up, severing its roots so that it cannot grow again; only then can the good extend itself.'" In autumn, the people of Song took Changge.

冬，京師來告飢。公為之請糴於宋、衛、齊、鄭，禮也。

In winter, the capital sent word of famine. Duke Yin asked Song, Wei, Qi, and Zheng on behalf of the Zhou house to buy grain, which accorded with ritual.

鄭伯如周，始朝桓王也。王不禮焉。周桓公言於王曰：“我周之東遷，晉、鄭焉依。善鄭以勸來者，猶懼不，況不禮焉？鄭不來矣！”

The Earl of Zheng went to Zhou and paid his first court to King Huan. The Son of Heaven did not treat him with proper ritual. Duke Huan of Zhou said to the Son of Heaven: "When our house of Zhou moved east, we relied on Jin and Zheng. Treat Zheng well to encourage those who come after, and even so one still fears they will not come (the original seems to lack the word "come" after "still fears they will not"); how much more if you do not treat them with ritual? Zheng will not come again!"

【經】七年春王三月，叔姬歸於紀。滕侯卒。夏，城中丘。齊侯使其弟年來聘。秋，公伐邾。冬，天王使凡伯來聘。戎伐凡伯於楚丘以歸。

[Classic] In the seventh year, in spring, in the third month of the Zhou king's calendar, Shu Ji married into Ji. The Marquis of Teng died. In summer, a wall was built at Zhongqiu. The Marquis of Qi sent his younger brother Nian on a visit of courtesy. In autumn, Duke Yin attacked Zhu. In winter, the Son of Heaven sent Fan Bo on a visit of courtesy. The Rong intercepted Fan Bo at Chuqiu and took him away.

【傳】七年春，滕侯卒。不書名，未同盟也。凡諸侯同盟，於是稱名，故薨則赴以名，告終嗣也，以繼好息民，謂之禮經。

[Commentary] In the seventh year, in spring, the Marquis of Teng died. The Spring and Autumn Annals does not write his name because he had not been in a covenant with us. Whenever feudal lords are in a covenant, their names are then used, so when one dies, the notice of death is sent with his name, reporting the end of his life and informing of his successor, in order to continue friendship and give peace to the people; this is called the canon of ritual.

夏，城中丘，書，不時也。

In summer, a wall was built at Zhongqiu; the Spring and Autumn Annals records it because it was not in season.

齊侯使夷仲年來聘，結艾之盟也。

The Marquis of Qi sent Yi Zhongnian on a visit of courtesy, in order to strengthen the covenant at Ai.

秋，宋及鄭平。七月庚申，盟於宿。公伐邾，為宋討也。

In autumn, Song made peace with Zheng. On the day gengshen of the seventh month, they made a covenant at Su. Duke Yin attacked Zhu, going to attack on Song's behalf.

初，戎朝於周，發幣於公卿，凡伯弗賓。冬，王使凡伯來聘。還，戎伐之於楚丘以歸。

Earlier, when the Rong paid court to the Son of Heaven and distributed goods and money among the ministers, Fan Bo did not receive them with the ritual due to guests. In winter, the Son of Heaven sent Fan Bo on a visit of courtesy. On his return, the Rong intercepted him at Chuqiu and took him away.

陳及鄭平。十二月，陳五父如鄭蒞盟。壬申，及鄭伯盟，歃如忘，洩伯曰：“五父必不免，不賴盟矣。”

Chen made peace with Zheng. In the twelfth month, Wu Fu of Chen went to Zheng in person to make the covenant. On the day renshen, he made a covenant with the Earl of Zheng, and during the smearing of blood his mind was elsewhere. Xie Bo said: "Wu Fu will surely not escape disaster; he does not treat the covenant as something to rely on."

鄭良佐如陳蒞盟，辛巳，及陳侯盟，亦知陳之將亂也。

Liang Zuo of Zheng went to Chen in person to make the covenant. On the day xinsi, he made a covenant with the Marquis of Chen, and also saw that Chen was about to fall into disorder.

鄭公子忽在王所，故陳侯請妻之。鄭伯許之，乃成昏。

Zheng's Prince Hu was with the Son of Heaven, so the Marquis of Chen asked to give his daughter in marriage to him. The Earl of Zheng agreed, and the betrothal was settled.

【經】八年春，宋公、衛侯遇於垂。三月，鄭伯使宛來歸祊。庚寅，我入祊。夏六月己亥，蔡侯考父卒。辛亥，宿男卒。秋七月庚午，宋公、齊侯、衛侯盟於瓦屋。八月，葬蔡宣公。九月辛卯，公及莒入盟於浮來。螟。冬十有二月，無駭卒。

[Classic] In the eighth year, in spring, the Duke of Song and the Marquis of Wei met unexpectedly at Chui. In the third month, the Earl of Zheng sent Wan to hand over Beng. On the day gengyin, our state received Beng. In summer, on the day jihai of the sixth month, Kaofu, Marquis of Cai, died. On the day xinhai, the Baron of Su died. In autumn, on the day gengwu of the seventh month, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Qi, and the Marquis of Wei made a covenant at Waowu. In the eighth month, Duke Xuan of Cai was buried. On the day xinmao of the ninth month, Duke Yin made a covenant with the people of Ju at Fulai (the original reads "Ju ru" with "ru" miswritten for "ren"). There was a plague of grain-borers. In winter, in the twelfth month, Wu Hai died.

【傳】八年春，齊侯將平宋、衛，有會期。宋公以幣請於衛，請先相見，衛侯許之，故遇於犬丘。

[Commentary] In the eighth year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi intended to make peace between Song and Wei, and had already set the date for the meeting. The Duke of Song, with goods and money, asked Wei to meet earlier, and the Marquis of Wei agreed, so they met unexpectedly at Quanqiu (which is Chui in the Classic).

鄭伯請釋泰山之祀而祀周公，以泰山之祊易許田。三月，鄭伯使宛來歸祊，不祀泰山也。

The Earl of Zheng asked to give up the sacrifices to Mount Tai and instead sacrifice to the Duke of Zhou, exchanging Beng at the foot of Mount Tai for the fields of Xu. In the third month, the Earl of Zheng sent Wan to hand over Beng, because he would no longer sacrifice to Mount Tai.

夏，虢公忌父始作卿士於周。

In summer, Jifu, Duke of Guo, began to serve as a minister in Zhou.

四月甲辰，鄭公子忽如陳逆婦媯。辛亥，以媯氏歸。甲寅，入於鄭。陳針子送女。先配而後祖。針子曰：“是不為夫婦。誣其祖矣，非禮也，何以能育？”齊人卒平宋、衛於鄭。秋，會於溫，盟於瓦屋，以釋東門之役，禮也。

In the fourth month, on the day jiachen, Prince Hu of Zheng went to Chen to welcome his bride, Gui. On the day xinhai, he brought Gui back. On the day jiayin, he entered the capital of Zheng. Zhen Zi of Chen escorted the bride. They first consummated the marriage and only afterwards announced it in the ancestral temple. Zhen Zi said: "This cannot yet be called husband and wife. It deceives his ancestors and is against ritual; how can they have children?" In the end the people of Qi brought Song and Wei into peace with Zheng. In autumn, they met at Wen and made a covenant at Waowu, in order to resolve the matter of the Eastern Gate campaign, which accorded with ritual.

八月丙戌，鄭伯以齊人朝王，禮也。

In the eighth month, on the day bingxu, the Earl of Zheng took the people of Qi to pay court to the Son of Heaven, which accorded with ritual.

公及莒人盟於浮來，以成紀好也。

Duke Yin made a covenant with the people of Ju at Fulai, in order to bring about friendship with Ji.

冬，齊侯使來告成三國。公使眾仲對曰：“君釋三國之圖以鳩其民，君之惠也。寡君聞命矣，敢不承受君之明德。”

In winter, the Marquis of Qi sent word to report that he had brought the three states into peace. Duke Yin sent Zhong Zhong to reply: "That you, my lord, have resolved the schemes of three states in order to give peace to their people is your lordship's kindness. My ruler has heard the command; how dare he not accept your lordship's bright virtue?"

無駭卒。羽父請諡與族。公問族於眾仲。眾仲對曰：“天子建德，因生以賜姓，胙之土而命之氏。諸侯以字為諡，因以為族。官有世功，則有官族，邑亦如之。”公命以字為展氏。

Wu Hai died. Yu Fu asked for a posthumous name and a clan name for him. Duke Yin asked Zhong Zhong about clan names. Zhong Zhong replied: "The Son of Heaven establishes those with virtue, bestows a surname according to the place of birth, and gives a clan name according to the land granted. A feudal lord uses a style name as a posthumous title, and from it makes a clan. If an office has meritorious service over generations, there is an official clan, and likewise for a fief." Duke Yin ordered that Wu Hai's style name be used and that the clan be set as Zhan.

【經】九年春，天子使南季來聘。三月癸酉，大雨，震電。庚辰，大雨雪。

[Classic] In the ninth year, in spring, the Son of Heaven sent Nan Ji on a visit of courtesy. On the day guiyou of the third month, there was heavy rain with thunder and lightning. On the day gengchen, there was heavy snow.

挾卒。夏，城郎。秋七月。冬，公會齊侯於防。

Xie died. In summer, a wall was built at Lang. In autumn, the seventh month. In winter, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi at Fang.

【傳】九年春，王三月癸酉，大雨霖以震，書始也。庚辰，大雨雪，亦如之。

[Commentary] In the ninth year, in spring, on the day guiyou of the third month of the Zhou calendar, there was continuous heavy rain and thunder; the Spring and Autumn Annals records it as the beginning. On the day gengchen, there was heavy snow, which is also the same.

書，時失也。凡雨，自三日以往為霖。平地尺為大雪。

The Spring and Autumn Annals records it because the season was wrong. Whenever it rains, rain lasting three days or more is called lin. Snow piling one chi deep on level ground is called heavy snow.

夏，城郎，書，不時也。

In summer, a wall was built at Lang; the Spring and Autumn Annals records it because it was not in season.

宋公不王。鄭伯為王左卿士，以王命討之，伐宋。宋以入郛之役怨公，不告命。公怒，絕宋使。

The Duke of Song did not go to pay court to the Son of Heaven. The Earl of Zheng, as the Son of Heaven's left minister, attacked him by royal command, attacking Song. Song resented Duke Yin because of the entry into the outer wall and did not come to report. Duke Yin was angry and cut off Song's envoys.

秋，鄭人以王命來告伐宋。

In autumn, the people of Zheng came by royal command to report the attack on Song.

冬，公會齊侯於防，謀伐宋也。

In winter, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi at Fang to plan the attack on Song.

北戎侵鄭，鄭伯御之。患戎師，曰；“彼徒我車，懼其侵軼我也。”公子突曰：“使勇而無剛者嘗寇，而速去之。君為三覆以待之。戎輕而不整，貪而無親，勝不相讓，敗不相救。先者見獲必務進，進而遇覆必速奔，後者不救，則無繼矣。

The Northern Rong raided Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng resisted them. Worrying about the Rong troops, he said: "They are infantry and we have chariots; I fear they will suddenly strike me from behind." Prince Tu said: "Send brave men who are not stubborn to probe the enemy, and then withdraw quickly. Let my lord set three ambushes to wait for them. The Rong are frivolous and disorderly, greedy and without kinship; when they win they do not yield to each other, and when they lose they do not rescue each other. Those at the front, seeing captives to be taken, will surely press forward single-mindedly; pressing forward and meeting ambushes, they will surely flee at once; and those behind will not come to their aid, so there will be no one to follow.

乃可以逞。”從之。

(Prince Tu continued:) Only thus can we get our wish." Duke Zhuang followed this.

戎人之前遇覆者奔。祝聃逐之。衷戎師，前後擊之，盡殪。戎師大奔。十一月甲寅，鄭人大敗戎師。

The Rong at the front met the ambush and fled. Zhu Dan pursued them. He cut the Rong army across the middle, struck front and rear together, and killed them all. The Rong army fled in great panic. In the eleventh month, on the day jiayin, the people of Zheng inflicted a great defeat on the Rong army.

【經】十年春王二月，公會齊侯、鄭伯於中丘。夏，翬帥師會齊人、鄭人伐宋。六月壬戌，公敗宋師於菅。辛未，取郜。辛巳，取防。秋，宋人、衛人入鄭。

[Classic] In the tenth year, in spring, in the second month of the Zhou king's calendar, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Zhongqiu. In summer, Hui led troops to join the people of Qi and Zheng in attacking Song. In the sixth month, on the day renxu, Duke Yin defeated the Song army at Jian. On the day xinwei, he took Gao. On the day xinsi, he took Fang. In autumn, the people of Song and Wei entered Zheng.

宋人、蔡人、衛人伐戴。鄭伯伐取之。冬十月壬午，齊人、鄭人入郕。

The people of Song, Cai, and Wei attacked Dai. The Earl of Zheng attacked and took them. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day renwu, the people of Qi and Zheng entered Cheng.

【傳】十年春，王正月，公會齊侯、鄭伯於中丘。癸丑，盟於鄧，為師期。

[Commentary] In the tenth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Zhongqiu. On the day guichou, they made a covenant at Deng and fixed the date for sending out troops.

夏五月，羽父先會齊侯、鄭伯伐宋。

In summer, in the fifth month, Yu Fu went first to join the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng in attacking Song.

六月戊申，公會齊侯、鄭伯於老桃。壬戌，公敗宋師於菅。庚午，鄭師入郜。

In the sixth month, on the day wushen, Duke Yin met the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng at Laotao. On the day renxu, Duke Yin defeated the Song army at Jian. On the day gengwu, the Zheng army entered Gao.

辛未，歸於我。庚辰，鄭師入防。辛巳，歸於我。

On the day xinwei, Gao was given back to our state. On the day gengchen, the Zheng army entered Fang. On the day xinsi, Fang was given back to our state.

君子謂：“鄭莊公於是乎可謂正矣。以王命討不庭，不貪其土以勞王爵，正之體也。”

The gentleman held: "In this matter Duke Zhuang of Zheng can be said to have been correct. He attacked, by royal command, one who did not pay court, did not covet his land, and used it to reward one who held a royal rank; this is the correct form."

蔡人、衛人、郕人不會王命。

The people of Cai, Wei, and Cheng did not come to join in carrying out the royal command.

秋七月庚寅，鄭師入郊。猶在郊，宋人、衛人入鄭。蔡人從之，伐戴。八月壬戌，鄭伯圍戴。癸亥，克之，取三師焉。宋、衛既入鄭，而以伐戴召蔡人，蔡人怒，故不和而敗。

In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day gengyin, the Zheng army entered the far suburbs of its own state and still stayed in the suburbs. The people of Song and Wei entered Zheng. The people of Cai followed them and attacked Dai. In the eighth month, on the day renxu, the Earl of Zheng besieged Dai. On the day guihai, he won and captured the armies of the three states. Song and Wei had already entered Zheng, but they used the attack on Dai to summon the people of Cai, and the people of Cai were angry, so they were not in harmony and were defeated.

九月戊寅，鄭伯入宋。

In the ninth month, on the day wuyin, the Earl of Zheng entered Song.

冬，齊人、鄭人入郕，討違王命也。

In winter, the people of Qi and Zheng entered Cheng, to punish it for defying the royal command.