Duke Xuan (Years 1 to 18)

楚子伐鄭，陳及楚平。晉荀林父救鄭，伐陳。

The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng, and Chen made peace with Chu. Xun Linfu of Jin relieved Zheng and attacked Chen.

【經】六年春，晉趙盾、衛孫免侵陳。夏四月。秋八月，螽。冬十月。

[Classic] In the sixth year, in spring, Zhao Dun of Jin and Sun Mian of Wei invaded Chen. In summer, in the fourth month. In autumn, in the eighth month, a plague of locusts occurred. In winter, in the tenth month.

【傳】六年春，晉、衛侵陳，陳即楚故也。

[Commentary] In the sixth year, in spring, Jin and Wei invaded Chen, because Chen was close to Chu.

夏，定王使子服求後於齊。

In summer, King Ding sent Zi Fu to Qi to seek a queen.

秋，赤狄伐晉。圍懷，及邢丘。晉侯欲伐之。中行桓子曰：“使疾其民，以盈其貫，將可殪也。《周書》曰：‘殪戎殷。’此類之謂也。”

In autumn, the Red Di attacked Jin. They besieged Huai and reached Xingqiu. The Marquis of Jin wished to attack them. Zhonghang Huanzi said: "Let them harm their own people until their evil is full, and then they can be destroyed. The Book of Zhou says: 'Destroy the great Yin.' It speaks of this kind of thing."

冬，召桓公逆王后於齊。

In winter, Duke Huan of Shao was summoned to Qi to welcome the royal consort.

楚人伐鄭，取成而還。

The men of Chu attacked Zheng, obtained a peace, and returned.

鄭公子曼滿與王子伯廖語，欲為卿。伯廖告人曰：“無德而貪，其在《周易》《豐》ⅲⅵ之《離》ⅵⅵ，弗過之矣。”間一歲，鄭人殺之。

Gongzi Manman of Zheng told Prince Boliao that he wished to become a minister. Boliao told others: "Without virtue yet greedy, he fits the Zhou Changes hexagram Feng changing into Li; he will not get past this barrier." A year later, the men of Zheng killed him.

【經】七年春，衛侯使孫良夫來盟。夏，公會齊侯伐萊。秋，公至自伐萊。

[Classic] In the seventh year, spring, the Marquis of Wei sent Sun Liangfu to conclude a covenant. In summer, Duke Xuan joined the Marquis of Qi in attacking Lai. In autumn, Duke Xuan returned from the campaign against Lai.

大旱。冬，公會晉侯、宋公、衛侯、鄭伯、曹伯於黑壤。

There was a great drought. In winter, Duke Xuan met with the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng and the Earl of Cao at Heirang.

【傳】七年春，衛孫桓子來盟，始通，且謀會晉也。

[Commentary] In the seventh year, spring, Sun Huanzi of Wei came to conclude a covenant, which began relations between them and also discussed a meeting with Jin.

夏，公會齊侯伐萊，不與謀也。凡師出，與謀曰及，不與某曰會。

In summer, Duke Xuan joined the Marquis of Qi in attacking Lai, without taking part in the planning. In any military campaign, taking part in the planning is called "ji" (and), and not taking part in the planning is called "hui" (joining). The original text's "not taking part in so-and-so" means "not taking part in the planning."

赤狄侵晉，取向陰之禾。

The Red Di invaded Jin and seized the grain of Xiangyin.

鄭及晉平，公子宋之謀也，故相鄭伯以會。冬，盟於黑壤，王叔桓公臨之，以謀不睦。

Zheng made peace with Jin, which was Gongzi Song's plan, and so he assisted the Earl of Zheng in the ritual and went to the meeting. In winter, a covenant was made at Heirang, where Duke Huan, the Royal Uncle, was personally present, planning matters that were not in harmony.

晉侯之立也，公不朝焉，又不使大夫聘，晉人止公於會，盟於黃父。公不與盟，以賂免。故黑壤之盟不書，諱之也。

When the Marquis of Jin took the throne, Duke Xuan did not go to pay court, nor did he send a grandee on a visit, and the men of Jin detained Duke Xuan at the meeting and made a covenant at Huangfu. Duke Xuan did not take part in the covenant and escaped disaster with gifts of wealth. Therefore the Annals does not record the covenant of Heirang, which is a taboo.

【經】八年春，公至自會。夏六月，公子遂如齊，至黃乃復。辛巳，有事於大廟，仲遂卒於垂。壬午，猶繹。萬入，去籥。戊子，夫人贏氏薨。晉師、白狄伐秦。楚人滅舒蓼。秋七月甲子，日有食之，既。冬十月己丑，葬我小君敬贏。

[Classic] In the eighth year, spring, Duke Xuan returned from the meeting. In summer, in the sixth month, Gongzi Sui went to Qi and turned back at Huang. On the xinsi day there was a sacrifice in the Grand Temple, and Zhongsui died at Chui. On the renwu day the Yi sacrifice was still held. The Wan dance entered, with the flute removed. On the wuzi day, the Lady Ying died. The army of Jin and the White Di attacked Qin. The men of Chu destroyed Shuliao. In autumn, on the jiazi day of the seventh month, there was a total solar eclipse. In winter, in the tenth month, on the jichou day, our state's Lady Jingying was buried.

雨，不克葬。庚寅，日中而克葬。城平陽。楚師伐陳。

It rained, and the burial could not proceed. On the gengyin day, the burial was possible at noon. The city of Pingyang was built. The army of Chu attacked Chen.

【傳】八年春，白狄及晉平。夏，會晉伐秦。晉人獲秦諜，殺諸絳市，六日而蘇。

[Commentary] In the eighth year, spring, the White Di made peace with Jin. In summer, they joined Jin in attacking Qin. The men of Jin captured a Qin spy and killed him in the market of Jiang, and six days later he came back to life.

有事於大廟，襄仲卒而繹，非禮也。

There was a sacrifice in the Grand Temple, and Xiangzhong had died but the Yi sacrifice was still held, which was contrary to ritual.

楚為眾舒叛，故伐舒蓼，滅之。楚子疆之，及滑汭。盟吳、越而還。

Chu, because the many Shu had rebelled, attacked Shuliao and destroyed it. The Viscount of Chu fixed its boundaries and reached Huarui. After making a covenant with Wu and Yue, he returned.

晉胥克有蠱疾，郤缺為政。秋，廢胥克。使趙朔佐下軍。

Xu Ke of Jin had a wasting disease, and Xi Que held the government. In autumn, Xu Ke was dismissed. Zhao Shuo was made to assist the Lower Army.

冬，葬敬贏。旱，無麻，始用葛茀。雨，不克葬，禮也。禮，卜葬，先遠日，闢不懷也。

In winter, Jingying was buried. The weather was dry and there was no hemp, so for the first time kudzu was used for the ropes to draw the coffin. It rained and the burial could not proceed, which accords with ritual. By ritual, in divining for a burial, one first divines for a more distant day, to avoid appearing not to cherish the dead.

城平陽，書，時也。

The building of the city of Pingyang is recorded in the Annals because it accorded with the season.

陳及晉平。楚師伐陳，取成而還。

Chen made peace with Jin. The army of Chu attacked Chen, obtained a peace, and returned.

【經】九年春王正月，公如齊。公至自齊。夏，仲孫蔑如京師。齊侯伐萊。

[Classic] In the ninth year, spring, in the first month by the Zhou calendar, Duke Xuan went to Qi. Duke Xuan returned from Qi. In summer, Zhongsun Mie went to the capital. The Marquis of Qi attacked Lai.

秋，取根牟。八月，滕子卒。九月，晉侯、宋公、衛侯、鄭伯、曹伯會於扈。晉荀林父帥師伐陳。辛酉，晉侯黑臀卒於扈。冬十月癸酉，衛侯鄭卒。宋人圍滕。

In autumn, Genmou was taken. In the eighth month, the Viscount of Teng died. In the ninth month, the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng and the Earl of Cao met at Hu. Xun Linfu of Jin led troops and attacked Chen. On the xinyou day, Heitun, Marquis of Jin, died at Hu. In winter, on the guiyou day of the tenth month, Zheng, Marquis of Wei, died. The men of Song besieged Teng.

楚子伐鄭。晉郤缺帥師救鄭。陳殺其大夫洩冶。

The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng. Xi Que of Jin led troops to rescue Zheng. Chen killed its grandee Xie Ye.

【傳】九年春，王使來徵聘。夏，孟獻於聘於周，王以為有禮，厚賄之。

[Commentary] In the ninth year, spring, the Son of Heaven sent someone to ask for a courtesy visit. In summer, Meng Xianzi paid a courtesy visit to the Zhou court. (The original text's "Meng Xianyu" means Meng Xianzi.) The Son of Heaven thought it showed propriety and gave generous gifts of wealth.

秋，取根牟，言易也。

In autumn, Genmou was taken; this is said to indicate that it was easy.

滕昭公卒。

Duke Zhao of Teng died.

會於扈，討不睦也。陳侯不會。晉荀林父以諸侯之師伐陳。晉侯卒於扈，乃還。

The meeting at Hu was to punish those who were not in harmony. The Marquis of Chen did not attend the meeting. Xun Linfu of Jin led the armies of the feudal lords and attacked Chen. The Marquis of Jin died at Hu, and so they returned.

冬，宋人圍滕，因其喪也。

In winter, the men of Song besieged Teng, taking advantage of its mourning.

陳靈公與孔寧、儀行父通於夏姬，皆衷其礻日服以戲於朝。洩冶諫曰：“公卿宣淫，民無效焉，且聞不令，君其納之。”公曰：“吾能改矣。”公告二子，二子請殺之，公弗禁，遂殺洩冶。孔子曰：“《詩》云：‘民之多闢，無自立闢。’其洩冶之謂乎。”

Duke Ling of Chen was involved in illicit relations with Kong Ning, Yi Xingfu and Xia Ji, and all of them wore her undergarments next to the skin and made merry at court. (The original text's "ri" radical form stands for "ni," an intimate garment.) Xie Ye remonstrated: "When the duke and ministers proclaim licentiousness, the people have no one to model themselves on, and moreover the reputation is bad; I ask my lord to put those garments away." Duke Ling said: "I can change." The Duke told those two men, and they asked to kill Xie Ye. The Duke did not forbid it, and so Xie Ye was killed. Confucius said: "The Odes say: 'When the people are largely perverse, do not set up your own perversity.' This must refer to Xie Ye."

楚子為厲之役故，伐鄭。

The Viscount of Chu, because of the battle at Li, attacked Zheng.

晉郤缺救鄭，鄭伯敗楚師於柳棼。國人皆喜，唯子良憂曰：“是國之災也，吾死無日矣。”

Xi Que of Jin rescued Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng defeated the army of Chu at Liufen. The people of the state were all delighted; only Ziliang was anxious and said: "This is a calamity for the state; I shall not live many more days."

【經】十年春，公如齊。公至自齊。齊人歸我濟西田。夏四月丙辰，日有食之。己巳，齊侯元卒。齊崔氏出奔衛。公如齊。五月，公至自齊。癸巳，陳夏徵舒弒其君平國。六月，宋師伐滕。公孫歸父如齊，葬齊惠公。晉人、宋人、衛人、曹人伐鄭。秋，天王使王季子來聘。公孫歸父帥師伐邾，取繹。大水。季孫行父如齊。冬，公孫歸父如齊。齊侯使國佐來聘。飢。楚子伐鄭。

[Classic] In the tenth year, spring, Duke Xuan went to Qi. Duke Xuan returned from Qi. The men of Qi returned to our state the land west of the Ji River. In summer, on the bingchen day of the fourth month, there was a solar eclipse. On the jisi day, Yuan, Marquis of Qi, died. The Cui clan of Qi fled to Wei. Duke Xuan went to Qi. In the fifth month, Duke Xuan returned from Qi. On the guisi day, Xia Zhengshu of Chen murdered his ruler Pingguo. In the sixth month, the army of Song attacked Teng. Gongsun Guifu went to Qi to attend the funeral of Duke Hui of Qi. The men of Jin, Song, Wei and Cao attacked Zheng. In autumn, the Son of Heaven sent Wang Jizi on a courtesy visit. Gongsun Guifu led troops to attack Zhu and seized Yi. There was a great flood. Jisun Xingfu went to Qi. In winter, Gongsun Guifu went to Qi. The Marquis of Qi sent Guo Zuo on a courtesy visit. There was famine. The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng.

【傳】十年春，公如齊。齊侯以我服故，歸濟西之田。

[Commentary] In the tenth year, spring, Duke Xuan went to Qi. The Marquis of Qi, because our state had submitted, returned the land west of the Ji River.

夏，齊惠公卒。崔杼有寵於惠公，高、國畏其逼也，公卒而逐之，奔衛。書曰“崔氏”，非其罪也，且告以族，不以名。凡諸侯之大夫違，告於諸侯曰：“某氏之守臣某，失守宗廟，敢告。”所有玉帛之使者，則告，不然，則否。

In summer, Duke Hui of Qi died. Cui Zhu had been favored by Duke Hui, and the Gao and Guo clans, afraid of his pressure, drove him out when Duke Hui died, and he fled to Wei. The Annals records him as "the Cui clan" because he was without guilt, and also because the announcement used the clan name and not the personal name. In general, when a feudal lord's grandee leaves his own state, it is announced to the feudal lords: "The guardian minister so-and-so of such-and-such clan has lost hold of the ancestral temple; I venture to announce it." In general, when there are envoys exchanging jade and silk, it is announced; otherwise it is not.

公如齊奔喪。

Duke Xuan went to Qi to attend the funeral.

陳靈公與孔寧、儀行父飲酒於夏氏。公謂行父曰：“徵舒似女。”對曰：“亦似君。”徵舒病之。公出，自其廄射而殺之。二子奔楚。

Duke Ling of Chen drank wine with Kong Ning and Yi Xingfu at the house of Xia. The Duke said to Xingfu: "Zhengshu looks like you." Xingfu replied: "He also looks like my lord." Zhengshu was ashamed of this. When the Duke came out, Zhengshu shot him dead from the stables. The two men fled to Chu.

滕人恃晉而不事宋，六月，宋師伐滕。

The men of Teng relied on Jin and did not serve Song, and in the sixth month the army of Song attacked Teng.

鄭及楚平。諸侯之師伐鄭，取成而還。

Zheng made peace with Chu. The armies of the feudal lords attacked Zheng, obtained a peace, and returned.

秋，劉康公來報聘。

In autumn, Duke Kang of Liu came to return the courtesy visit.

師伐邾，取繹。

The army attacked Zhu and seized Yi.

季文子初聘於齊。

Jiwenzi made his first courtesy visit to Qi.

冬，子家如齊，伐邾故也。

In winter, Zijia went to Qi, because of the attack on Zhu.

國武子來報聘。

Guo Wuzi came to return the courtesy visit.

楚子伐鄭。晉士會救鄭，逐楚師於潁北。諸侯之師戍鄭。鄭子家卒。鄭人討幽公之亂，斫子家之棺而逐其族。改葬幽公，諡之曰靈。

The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng. Shi Hui of Jin rescued Zheng and drove off the army of Chu north of the Ying. The armies of the feudal lords garrisoned Zheng. Zijia of Zheng died. The men of Zheng pursued the disorder of the murder of Duke You, split open Zijia's coffin and drove out his clan. They reburied Duke You and gave him the posthumous title "Ling."

【經】十有一年春王正月。夏，楚子、陳侯、鄭伯盟於辰陵。公孫歸父會齊人伐莒。秋，晉侯會狄於欑函。冬十月，楚人殺陳夏徵舒。丁亥，楚子入陳。

[Classic] In the eleventh year, spring, in the first month by the Zhou calendar. In summer, the Viscount of Chu, the Marquis of Chen and the Earl of Zheng made a covenant at Chenling. Gongsun Guifu joined the men of Qi in attacking Ju. In autumn, the Marquis of Jin met the Di at Cuanhan. In winter, in the tenth month, the men of Chu killed Xia Zhengshu of Chen. On the dinghai day, the Viscount of Chu entered Chen.

納公孫寧、儀行父於陳。

Gongsun Ning and Yi Xingfu were sent into Chen.

【傳】十一年春，楚子伐鄭，及櫟。子良曰：“晉、楚不務德而兵爭，與其來者可也。晉、楚無信，我焉得有信。”乃從楚。夏，楚盟於辰陵，陳、鄭服也。

[Commentary] In the eleventh year, spring, the Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng and reached Li. Ziliang said: "Jin and Chu do not devote themselves to virtue but contend with arms; we should draw close to whoever comes. Jin and Chu have no good faith, so how could we have good faith?" And so he followed Chu. In summer, Chu made a covenant at Chenling, and Chen and Zheng submitted.

楚左尹子重侵宋，王待諸郔。令尹蒍艾獵城沂，使封人慮事，以授司徒。

Zichong, Chu's Left Chancellor, invaded Song, and the King of Chu waited at Ying. The Prime Minister Wei Ailie had the city of Yi built, and had the border warden consider the work and report it to the Minister of Instruction.

量功命日，分財用，平板幹，稱畚築，程土物，議遠邇，略基趾，具餱糧，度有司，事三旬而成，不愆於素。

They measured the work and fixed the dates, allocated materials and tools, leveled the boards, weighed the baskets and the earth, calculated the volume of earth, deliberated on distances near and far, inspected the foundations, prepared provisions, and reviewed the officials concerned; in thirty days it was completed, not exceeding the original plan.

晉郤成子求成於眾狄，眾狄疾赤狄之役，遂服於晉。秋，會於欑函，眾狄服也。是行也。諸大夫欲召狄。郤成子曰：“吾聞之，非德，莫如勤，非勤，何以求人？能勤有繼，其從之也。《詩》曰：‘文王既勤止。’文王猶勤，況寡德乎？”冬，楚子為陳夏氏亂故，伐陳。謂陳人無動，將討於少西氏。遂入陳，殺夏徵舒，轘諸栗門，因縣陳。陳侯在晉。

Xi Chengzi of Jin sought peace with the many Di, who were suffering from the forced service of the Red Di, and so submitted to Jin. In autumn, a meeting was held at Cuanhan, and the many Di submitted. On this trip, the grandees wanted to summon the Di to come. Xi Chengzi said: "I have heard: if one has no virtue, it is better to work hard; without working hard, what can one ask of others? One who can work hard will have successors, so it is better to go to them. The Odes say: 'King Wen already worked hard.' Even King Wen worked hard, how much more should those of little virtue!" In winter, the Viscount of Chu, because of the disorder of the Xia clan of Chen, attacked Chen. He told the men of Chen not to move, as he was about to punish the Shaoxi clan. Then he entered Chen, killed Xia Zhengshu, had him torn apart by chariots at the Li Gate, and made Chen a county. The Marquis of Chen was in Jin.