Duke Xuan (Years 1 to 18)

宋人使樂嬰齊告急於晉。晉侯欲救之。伯宗曰：“不可。古人有言曰：‘雖鞭之長，不及馬腹。’天方授楚，未可與爭。雖晉之強，能違天乎？諺曰：‘高下在心。’川澤納汙，山藪藏疾，瑾瑜匿瑕，國君含垢，天之道也，君其待之。”

The people of Song sent Yue Yingqi to Jin to report their emergency. The Marquis of Jin wished to rescue them. Bo Zong said: "It cannot be done. The ancients had a saying: 'However long the whip, it cannot reach the horse's belly.' Heaven is now handing fortune to Chu, and we must not contend with it. Even if Jin is strong, can it go against Heaven? The proverb says: 'High and low are both in the heart.' Rivers and marshes hold filth, mountains and thickets hide pests, fine jade conceals flaws, and a ruler bears disgrace; this is Heaven's constant way. Please, my lord, wait."

乃止。使解揚如宋，使無降楚，曰：“晉師悉起，將至矣。”鄭人囚而獻諸楚，楚子厚賂之，使反其言，不許，三而許之。登諸樓車，使呼宋人而告之。遂致其君命。楚子將殺之，使與之言曰：“爾既許不穀而反之，何故？非我無信，女則棄之，速即爾刑。”對曰：“臣聞之，君能制命為義，臣能承命為信，信載義而行之為利。謀不失利，以衛社稷，民之主也。義無二信，信無二命。君之賂臣，不知命也。受命以出，有死無霣，又可賂乎？臣之許君，以成命也。死而成命，臣之祿也。寡君有信臣，下臣獲考死，又何求？”楚子舍之以歸。

So they stopped. Jie Yang was sent to Song to tell them not to surrender to Chu, saying: "The whole Jin army has set out and will soon arrive." The people of Zheng seized him and presented him to Chu. The Viscount of Chu bribed him with rich gifts to make him say the opposite, but he refused, and only the third time did he agree. He was made to climb the tower-chariot to call to the Song people and tell them. Instead he delivered his ruler's command. The Viscount of Chu was about to kill him and sent a man to say to him: "You had already agreed to what I, the unworthy one, wanted, and then reversed it; what is the reason? It is not that I lack good faith; it is you who abandoned it. Hurry and receive your punishment." Jie Yang answered: "I have heard that for a ruler to be able to make commands is righteousness, for a subject to be able to receive commands is good faith, and for good faith to bear righteousness and carry it out is benefit. To plan without losing benefit in order to protect the altars of the state is the way of the master of the people. Righteousness does not have two kinds of good faith, and good faith does not have two commands. For Your Majesty to bribe me shows that you do not understand what a command is. To receive a command and go on a mission, and rather die than abandon it, can one then be bribed? That I agreed to Your Majesty was in order to complete my command. To die and complete the command is my fortune and reward. If my ruler has a subject who keeps good faith, and your servant gets a good end, what more should I ask?" The Viscount of Chu released him and let him return.

夏五月，楚師將去宋。申犀稽首於王之馬前，曰：“毋畏知死而不敢廢王命，王棄言焉。”王不能答。申叔時僕，曰：“築室反耕者，宋必聽命。”從之。宋人懼，使華元夜入楚師，登子反之床，起之曰：“寡君使元以病告，曰：‘敝邑易子而食，析骸以爨。雖然，城下之盟，有以國斃，不能從也。去我三十里，唯命是聽。’”子反懼，與之盟而告王。退三十里。宋及楚平，華元為質。盟曰：“我無爾詐，爾無我虞。”

In summer, in the fifth month, the Chu army was about to leave Song. Shen Xi kowtowed before the horses of the King of Chu and said: "Wu Wei knew he would die yet did not dare to abandon the king's command, and Your Majesty has abandoned your promise." The King of Chu could not answer. Shen Shushi, driving the chariot, said: "Build houses and have the farmers return, and Song will surely obey." The King followed this. The people of Song were afraid and sent Hua Yuan to enter the Chu camp at night, climb on Zi Fan's bed, and wake him, saying: "My ruler sent Yuan to tell you of our distress, saying: 'Our humble town swaps children to eat and splits bones to burn. Even so, a covenant made under the city wall, we would rather see the state destroyed than comply with. If you withdraw thirty li from us, we will obey your command.'" Zi Fan was afraid, made a covenant with him, and reported to the King of Chu. The army withdrew thirty li. Song made peace with Chu, and Hua Yuan became a hostage. The words of the covenant said: "I will not deceive you, and you will not guard against me."

潞子嬰兒之夫人，晉景公之姊也。酆舒為政而殺之，又傷潞子之目。晉侯將伐之，諸大夫皆曰：“不可。酆舒有三俊才，不如待後之人。”伯宗曰：“必伐之。狄有五罪，俊才雖多，何補焉？不祀，一也。耆酒，二也。棄仲章而奪黎氏地，三也。虐我伯姬，四也。傷其君目，五也。怙其俊才，而不以茂德，茲益罪也。後之人或者將敬奉德義以事神人，而申固其命，若之何待之？不討有罪，曰將待後，後有辭而討焉，毋乃不可乎？夫恃才與眾，亡之道也。商紂由之，故滅。

The wife of Yinger, Viscount of Lu, was the elder sister of Duke Jing of Jin. Feng Shu, who held the government, killed her and also injured the Viscount of Lu's eye. The Marquis of Jin prepared to attack. The grandees all said: "It cannot be done. Feng Shu has three outstanding talents; better to wait for his successor." Bo Zong said: "We must attack. The Di have five crimes, and what use are outstanding talents, however many? Not sacrificing is the first. Fondness for wine is the second. Abandoning Zhong Zhang and seizing the land of the Li clan is the third. Mistreating our Bo Ji is the fourth. Injuring the ruler's eye is the fifth. Relying on outstanding talents without using abundant virtue only adds to his guilt. His successor may reverently serve spirits and men with virtue and righteousness and so secure his fortune; why wait? To not attack the guilty, saying we will wait for a successor, and then attack when the successor gives us something to say, I fear that would not do. To rely on talents and numbers is the way to ruin. Shang's Zhou followed it, and so was destroyed.

天反時為災，地反物為妖，民反德為亂，亂則妖災生。故文反正為乏。盡在狄矣。”

(Bo Zong continued:) When Heaven goes against its seasons there is calamity, when Earth goes against the nature of things there is the uncanny, when people go against virtue there is disorder, and when there is disorder, uncanny calamities occur. Therefore the character for 'upright,' written in reverse, becomes 'lacking.' All of these are with the Di."

晉侯從之。六月癸卯，晉荀林父敗赤狄於曲梁。辛亥，滅潞。酆舒奔衛，衛人歸諸晉，晉人殺之。

The Marquis of Jin followed this. In the sixth month, on the day guimao, Xun Linfu of Jin defeated the Red Di at Quliang. On the day xinhai, Lu was destroyed. Feng Shu fled to Wei; the people of Wei sent him back to Jin, and the people of Jin killed him.

王孫蘇與召氏、毛氏爭政，使王子捷殺召戴公及毛伯衛。卒立召襄。

Wangsun Su contended for government with the Zhao and Mao clans and sent Prince Jie to kill Duke Dai of Zhao and Mao Bo Wei. In the end they installed Zhao Xiang.

秋七月，秦桓公伐晉，次於輔氏。壬午，晉侯治兵於稷以略狄土，立黎侯而還。及洛，魏顆敗秦師於輔氏。獲杜回，秦之力人也。

In autumn, in the seventh month, Duke Huan of Qin attacked Jin and camped at Fushi. On the day renwu, the Marquis of Jin drilled troops at Ji in order to plan for the lands of the Di, and after installing the Marquis of Li he returned. On reaching Luo, Wei Ke defeated the Qin army at Fushi. He captured Du Hui, who was a strongman of Qin.

初，魏武子有嬖妾，無子。武子疾，命顆曰：“必嫁是。”疾病，則曰：“必以為殉。”及卒，顆嫁之，曰：“疾病則亂，吾從其治也。”及輔氏之役，顆見老人結草以亢杜回，杜回躓而顛，故獲之。夜夢之曰：“餘，而所嫁婦人之父也。爾用先人之治命，餘是以報。”

Earlier, Wei Wuzi had a favorite concubine who had no son. Wuzi fell ill and ordered Ke: "You must marry her off." When his illness grew severe, he said instead: "You must have her buried with me." When he died, Ke married her off, saying: "When the illness is severe the mind is confused; I follow his orders from when his mind was clear." At the battle of Fushi, Ke saw an old man knotting grass to block Du Hui, and Du Hui tripped, and so was captured. At night he dreamed that the old man said: "I am the father of the woman you married off. You followed your father's order from when his mind was clear, and so I repay you."

晉侯賞桓子狄臣千室，亦賞士伯以瓜衍之縣。曰：“吾獲狄土，子之功也。

The Marquis of Jin rewarded Huanzi with a thousand households of the Di's subjects, and also rewarded Shi Bo with the district of Guayan. He said: "That I obtained the lands of the Di is your merit.

微子，吾喪伯氏矣。”羊舌職說是賞也，曰：“《周書》所謂‘庸庸祗祗’者，謂此物也夫。士伯庸中行伯，君信之，亦庸士伯，此之謂明德矣。文王所以造周，不是過也。故《詩》曰：‘陳錫哉周。’能施也。率是道也，其何不濟？”晉侯使趙同獻狄俘於周，不敬。劉康公曰：“不及十年，原叔必有大咎，天奪之魄矣。”

(The Marquis of Jin continued:) Without you, I would have lost the Bo clan." Yangshe Zhi was pleased with this reward and said: "What the Book of Zhou calls 'use those who can be used, honor those who should be honored' is said of such a matter. Shi Bo considered Zhonghang Bo usable, and the ruler trusted him, and also considered Shi Bo usable; this is called bright virtue. This is just how King Wen founded Zhou. Therefore the Odes say: 'Spread out the rewards, and so Zhou began.' This is the ability to bestow. Following this way, what could fail to succeed?" The Marquis of Jin sent Zhao Tong to the Zhou court to present Di captives, and he was disrespectful. Liu Kanggong said: "Within ten years Yuan Shu will surely meet with great disaster; Heaven has taken away his spirit."

初稅畝，非禮也。谷出不過藉，以豐財也。

For the first time they levied tax by the mu of land. This was against ritual. The levy of grain should not exceed the jie method, so as to increase wealth and resources.

冬，蝝生，飢。幸之也。

In winter, locust nymphs hatched, and there was famine. The Spring and Autumn Annals writes it this way as a congratulation to the state.

【經】十有六年春王正月。晉人滅赤狄甲氏及留籲。夏，成周宣榭火。秋，郯伯姬來歸。冬，大有年。

[Classic] In the sixteenth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou king's calendar, the people of Jin destroyed the Jiashi and Liuxu of the Red Di. In summer, the Xuan hall in Chengzhou caught fire. In autumn, Bo Ji of Tan returned. In winter, there was a great harvest.

【傳】十六年春，晉士會帥師滅赤狄甲氏及留籲、鐸辰。

[Commentary] In the sixteenth year, in spring, Shi Hui of Jin led troops and destroyed the Jiashi, Liuxu, and Duochen of the Red Di.

三月，獻狄俘。晉侯請於王。戊申，以黻冕命士會將中軍，且為大傅。於是晉國之盜逃奔於秦。羊舌職曰：“吾聞之，‘禹稱善人，不善人遠’，此之謂也夫。《詩》曰：‘戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。’善人在上也。善人在上，則國無幸民。諺曰：‘民之多幸，國之不幸也。’是無善人之謂也。”

In the third month, the Di captives were presented. The Marquis of Jin made a request to the Son of Heaven. On the day wushen, Shi Hui was appointed, with the ceremonial robe and cap, to command the central army and also to serve as Grand Tutor. Thereupon the bandits of Jin fled to Qin. Yangshe Zhi said: "I have heard that 'Yu promoted good men, and bad men kept far away'; this is probably what is meant. The Odes say: 'Trembling and fearful, as if facing a deep abyss, as if treading on thin ice.' It means good men are in high position. When good men are in high position, the state has no people who live by luck. The proverb says: 'When the people live by luck, it is the misfortune of the state.' It means there are no good men."

夏，成周宣榭火，人火之也。凡火，人火曰火，天火曰災。

In summer, the Xuan hall in Chengzhou caught fire, set by men. Whenever there is fire, that set by men is called "fire" and that sent down by Heaven is called "calamity."

秋，郯伯姬來歸，出也。

In autumn, Bo Ji of Tan returned, because she had been divorced.

為毛、召之難故，王室復亂。王孫蘇奔晉，晉人復之。

Because of the troubles of the Mao and Zhao clans, the royal house was again in disorder. Wangsun Su fled to Jin, and the people of Jin let him return to his position.

冬，晉侯使士會平王室，定王享之，原襄公相禮，殽烝。武子私問其故。王聞之，召武子曰：“季氏，而弗聞乎？王享有體薦，宴有折俎。公當享，卿當宴，王室之禮也。”武子歸而講求典禮，以修晉國之法。

In winter, the Marquis of Jin sent Shi Hui to mediate in the royal house, and King Ding held a banquet in his honor, with Duke Xiang of Yuan assisting in the rites and serving meat on the bone. Wuzi privately asked the reason. The Son of Heaven heard of it and summoned Wuzi, saying: "Lord Ji, have you not heard? At the Son of Heaven's banquet there is half-carved sacrificial meat, and at the feast there are broken platter meats. The duke should be given the banquet and the minister the feast; this is the ritual of the royal house." Wuzi returned and studied the ceremonial codes in order to put in order the laws of Jin.

【經】十有七年春王正月庚子，許男錫我卒。丁未，蔡侯申卒。夏，葬許昭公。葬蔡文公。六月癸卯，日有食之。己未，公會晉侯、衛侯、曹伯、邾子同盟於斷道。秋，公至自會。冬十有一月壬午，公弟叔肸卒。

[Classic] In the seventeenth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou king's calendar, on the day gengzi, Xi Wo, Baron of Xu, died. On the day dingwei, Shen, Marquis of Cai, died. In summer, Duke Zhao of Xu was buried. Duke Wen of Cai was buried. In the sixth month, on the day guimao, there was a solar eclipse. On the day jiwei, Duke Xuan made a covenant with the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, and the Viscount of Zhu at Duandao. In autumn, Duke Xuan returned from the meeting. In winter, in the eleventh month, on the day renwu, Shu Xi, younger brother of Duke Xuan, died.

【傳】十七年春，晉侯使郤克徵會於齊。齊頃公帷婦人，使觀之。郤子登，婦人笑於房。獻子怒，出而誓曰：“所不此報，無能涉河。”獻子先歸，使欒京廬待命於齊，曰：“不得齊事，無覆命矣。”郤子至，請伐齊，晉侯弗許。請以其私屬，又弗許。

[Commentary] In the seventeenth year, in spring, the Marquis of Jin sent Xi Ke to Qi to summon them to the meeting. Duke Qing of Qi hid a woman behind a curtain to watch. When Xi Zi climbed the hall, the woman laughed in the room. Xian Zi was angry, came out, and swore: "If I do not avenge this, I shall not cross the Yellow River again." Xian Zi returned first and left Luan Jinglu in Qi to await orders, saying: "If you cannot accomplish the business with Qi, do not report back." When Xi Zi arrived, he asked to attack Qi, but the Marquis of Jin did not permit it. He asked to use his own private followers, and again it was not permitted.

齊侯使高固、晏弱、蔡朝、南郭偃會。及斂盂，高固逃歸。夏，會於斷道，討貳也。盟於卷楚，辭齊人。晉人執晏弱於野王，執蔡朝於原，執南郭偃於溫。

The Marquis of Qi sent Gao Gu, Yan Ruo, Cai Chao, and Nanguo Yan to attend the meeting. On reaching Lianyu, Gao Gu fled back. In summer, the meeting was held at Duandao, to punish those who had a divided mind. A covenant was made at Juanchu, rejecting the people of Qi. The people of Jin seized Yan Ruo at Yewang, Cai Chao at Yuan, and Nanguo Yan at Wen.

苗賁皇使，見晏桓子，歸，言於晉侯曰：“夫晏子何罪？昔者諸侯事吾先君，皆如不逮，舉言群臣不信，諸侯皆有貳志。齊君恐不得禮，故不出，而使四子來。

Miao Benhuang went on a mission, saw Yan Huanzi, and on returning said to the Marquis of Jin: "What crime has Master Yan? In the past the feudal lords served our former rulers as if they could not keep up, and all said the ministers lacked good faith and the feudal lords all had divided minds. The ruler of Qi probably feared he would not be treated with ritual, so he did not come himself and sent four men.

左右或沮之，曰：‘君不出，必執吾使。’故高子及斂盂而逃。夫三子者曰：‘若絕君好，寧歸死焉。’為是犯難而來，吾若善逆彼以懷來者。吾又執之，以信齊沮，吾不既過矣乎？過而不改，而又久之，以成其悔，何利之有焉？使反者得辭，而害來者，以懼諸侯，將焉用之？”晉人緩之，逸。

(Miao Benhuang continued:) Those about him stopped him, saying: 'If Your Majesty does not go, they will surely seize our envoys.' So Gao Zi fled as soon as he reached Lianyu. Those three said: 'If we cut off our ruler's friendship, we would rather go back and die.' So they came in the face of danger. We should receive them well in order to reassure those who come. Yet we have seized them, confirming what the people of Qi said to stop him; have we not already made a mistake? To make a mistake and not correct it, and to delay long so that their regret comes true, what benefit is there? To give those who fled back something to say while harming those who came, in order to frighten the feudal lords, what use will it be?" The people of Jin relaxed their guard and they escaped.

秋八月，晉師還。

In autumn, in the eighth month, the Jin army went back.

範武子將老，召文子曰：“燮乎！吾聞之，喜怒以類者鮮，易者實多。《詩》曰：‘君子如怒，亂庶遄沮；君子如祉，亂庶遄已。’君子之喜怒，以已亂也。

Fan Wuzi was about to retire and summoned Wenzi, saying: "Xie! I have heard that those whose joy and anger accord with the kind of matter are few, while those who change the constant principle are truly many. The Odes say: 'If the gentleman is angry, disorder will probably soon stop; if the gentleman is pleased, disorder will probably soon end.' The joy and anger of a gentleman are used to stop disorder.

弗已者，必益之。郤子其或者欲已亂於齊乎？不然，餘懼其益之也。餘將老，使郤子逞其志，庶有豸乎？爾從二三子唯敬。”乃請老，郤獻子為政。

(Fan Wuzi continued:) What cannot be stopped he will surely make worse. Perhaps Xi Zi wishes to stop disorder in Qi? If not, I fear he will make disorder worse. I will retire so that Xi Zi can carry out his aims; perhaps there may still be a remedy? You follow those few, and only be respectful." So he asked to retire, and Xi Xianzi took over the government.

冬，公弟叔肸卒。公母弟也。凡大子之母弟，公在曰公子，不在曰弟。凡稱弟，皆母弟也。

In winter, Shu Xi, younger brother of Duke Xuan, died. He was Duke Xuan's full brother. For the full brother of the heir, while the ruler is alive he is called a prince, and when the ruler is not alive he is called a younger brother. Whenever "younger brother" is used, it means a full brother.

【經】十有八年春，晉侯、衛世子臧伐齊。公伐杞。夏四月。秋七月，邾人伐鄫子於鄫。甲戌，楚子旅卒。公孫歸父如晉。冬十月壬戌，公薨於路寢。

[Classic] In the eighteenth year, in spring, the Marquis of Jin and Zang, heir of Wei, attacked Qi. Duke Xuan attacked Qi's neighbor Ji. In summer, the fourth month. In autumn, in the seventh month, the people of Zhu killed the Viscount of Zeng at Zeng. On the day jiaxu, Lu, Viscount of Chu, died. Gongsun Guifu went to Jin. In winter, on the day renxu of the tenth month, Duke Xuan died in the main chamber.

歸父還自晉，至笙。遂奔齊，

Guifu returned from Jin and reached Sheng. Then he fled to Qi.

【傳】十八年春，晉侯、衛大子臧伐齊，至於陽穀。齊侯會晉侯盟於繒，以公子強為質於晉。晉師還，蔡朝、南郭偃逃歸。

[Commentary] In the eighteenth year, in spring, the Marquis of Jin and Zang, heir of Wei, attacked Qi and reached Yanggu. The Marquis of Qi met the Marquis of Jin, made a covenant at Zeng, and sent Prince Qiang as a hostage to Jin. When the Jin army went back, Cai Chao and Nanguo Yan fled back.

夏，公使如楚乞師，欲以伐齊。

In summer, Duke Xuan sent men to Chu to ask for troops, wishing to use them to attack Qi.

秋，邾人戕鄫子於鄫。凡自虐其君曰弒，自外曰戕。

In autumn, the people of Zhu killed the Viscount of Zeng at Zeng. Whenever a ruler is cruelly killed from within, it is called "shi" (assassination), and from without, "qiang."

楚莊王卒。楚師不出，既而用晉師，楚於是乎有蜀之役。

King Zhuang of Chu died. The Chu army did not set out, and later used the Jin army, and so Chu had the battle at Shu.

公孫歸父以襄仲之立公也，有寵，欲去三桓以張公室。與公謀而聘於晉，欲以晉人去之。冬，公薨。季文子言於朝曰：“使我殺適立庶以失大援者，仲也夫。”

Gongsun Guifu, because Xiang Zhong had installed Duke Xuan, was favored, and wished to remove the Three Huan houses in order to enlarge the ducal house. After planning with Duke Xuan, he went to Jin on a visit, wishing to use the people of Jin to remove them. In winter, Duke Xuan died. Ji Wenzi said in court: "The one who made us kill the legitimate heir and install a concubine's son and lose our great support was Zhong."

臧宣叔怒曰：“當其時不能治也，後之人何罪？子欲去之，許請去之。”遂逐東門氏。子家還，及笙，壇帷，覆命於介。既覆命，袒、括髮，即位哭，三踴而出。

Zang Xuanshu was angry and said: "While he was alive he could not be punished; what crime have those who came after? If you wish to remove them, let Xu remove them." So they drove out the Dongmen clan. Zijia returned and reached Sheng, built an altar and set up curtains, and reported back to his deputy envoy. When the report was finished, he bared his shoulder, bound his hair with hemp, took his place and wept, jumped three times, and left.

遂奔齊。書曰“歸父還自晉。”善之也。

Then he fled to Qi. The Spring and Autumn Annals records "Guifu returned from Jin," to praise him.