Duke Xiang (Years 1 to 31)

有與疑年，使之年。曰：“臣小人也，不知紀年。臣生之歲，正月甲子朔，四百有四十五甲子矣，其季於今三之一也。”吏走問諸朝，師曠曰：“魯叔仲惠伯會郤成子於承匡之歲也。是歲也，狄伐魯。叔孫莊叔於是乎敗狄於鹹，獲長狄僑如及虺也豹也，而皆以名其子。七十三年矣。”史趙曰：“亥有二首六身，下二如身，是其日數也。”士文伯曰：“然則二萬六千六百有六旬也。”

Someone doubted his age and had him state his years. He said: "I am a petty man and do not know how to count years. In the year I was born, the first day of the first month was jiazi, and it has been four hundred and forty-five jiazi cycles, and the last of them reaches a third to today." The official ran to the court to ask, and Shi Kuang said: "That was the year when Shuzhong Huibo of Lu met Xi Chengzi at Chengkuang. In that year the Di attacked Lu. Shusun Zhuangshu then defeated the Di at Xian and captured the tall Di Qiaoru as well as Hui and Bao, and all were used to name his sons. That is seventy-three years ago." Shi Zhao said: "The character 'hai' has two as its head and six as its body; move the two down and it looks like the body, and that is his count of days." Shi Wenbo said: "Then it is twenty-six thousand six hundred and sixty days."

趙孟問其縣大夫，則其屬也。召之，而謝過焉，曰：“武不才，任君之大事，以晉國之多虞，不能由吾子，使吾子辱在泥塗久矣，武之罪也。敢謝不才。”遂仕之，使助為政。辭以老。與之田，使為君復陶，以為絳縣師，而廢其輿尉。於是，魯使者在晉，歸以語諸大夫。季武子曰：“晉未可媮也。有趙孟以為大夫，有伯瑕以為佐，有史趙、師曠而諮度焉，有叔向、女齊以師保其君。其朝多君子，其庸可媮乎？勉事之而後可。”

Zhao Meng asked his county grandee, and he was his own subordinate. He summoned him and apologized: "Wu has no talent and holds the lord's great affairs; because Jin has many troubles, I could not employ you, sir, and left you humiliated in the mud for a long time, which is Wu's fault. I dare to apologize for my lack of talent." And so he made him an official to assist the government. He declined on account of old age. He was given land and made to manage the ruler's garments, as Master of Jiang County, and the Commandant of the laborers was dismissed. At that time, the envoy from Lu was in Jin and returned and told the grandees. Jiwuzi said: "Jin cannot be taken lightly. It has Zhao Meng as grandee, Bo Xia as assistant, Shi Zhao and Shi Kuang to consult and measure, and Shuxiang and Nuqi as the ruler's tutors. The court has many gentlemen; how could one take it lightly? Serve it with effort and only then will it do."

夏四月己亥，鄭伯及其大夫盟。君子是以知鄭難之不已也。

In summer, on the jihai day of the fourth month, the Earl of Zheng made a covenant with his grandees. The gentleman knew from this that Zheng's disasters would not cease.

蔡景侯為大子般娶於楚，通焉。大子弒景侯。

Marquis Jing of Cai took a wife from Chu for his heir Ban, and had an illicit relation with her. The heir murdered Marquis Jing.

初，王儋季卒，其子括將見王，而嘆。單公子愆期為靈王御士，過諸廷，聞其嘆而言曰：“烏乎！必有此夫！”入以告王，且曰：“必殺之！不戚而願大，視躁而足高，心在他矣。不殺，必害。”王曰：“童子何知？”及靈王崩，儋括欲立王子佞夫，佞夫弗知。戊子，儋括圍蒍，逐成愆。成愆奔平畦。五月癸巳，尹言多、劉毅、單蔑、甘過、鞏成殺佞夫。括、瑕、廖奔晉。書曰“天王殺其弟佞夫。”罪在王也。

In the beginning, when Dan Ji of the royal house died, his son Kuo was about to see the King and sighed. Gongzi Qianqi of Shan was the King's attendant to King Ling, and passing through the court he heard him sigh, and said: "Ah! He must be wanting to get this!" He went in and told the King, and added: "You must kill him! He is not sorrowful but has great ambition, his gaze is restless and his steps are high; his heart is elsewhere. If you do not kill him, there will certainly be harm." The King said: "What does a child know?" When King Ling died, Dan Kuo wished to set up Prince Ningfu, and Ningfu did not know. On the wuzi day, Dan Kuo besieged Wei and drove out Cheng Qian. Cheng Qian fled to Pingqi. On the guisi day of the fifth month, Yin Yanduo, Liu Yi, Shan Mie, Gan Guo and Gong Cheng killed Ningfu. Kuo, Xia and Liao fled to Jin. The Annals records "the Heavenly King killed his younger brother Ningfu," placing the guilt on the King.

或叫於宋大廟，曰：“譆，譆！出出！”鳥鳴於亳社，如曰：“譆譆。”甲午，宋大災。宋伯姬卒，待姆也。君子謂：“宋共姬，女而不婦。女待人，婦義事也。”

Someone shouted in the Grand Temple of Song: "Xi, xi! Get out, get out!" A bird cried at the Bo altar, as if saying: "Xi xi." On the jiawu day, there was a great fire in Song. Bo Ji of Song died, because she was waiting for her governess. The gentleman considered: "Gong Ji of Song was a maiden and not a wife. A maiden waits for others, while a wife may act as the occasion requires."

六月，鄭子產如陳蒞盟。歸，覆命。告大夫曰：“陳，亡國也，不可與也。

In the sixth month, Zichan of Zheng went to Chen to take part in a covenant. On returning he reported, and told the grandees: "Chen is a state about to perish and should not be befriended.

聚禾粟，繕城郭，恃此二者，而不撫其民。其君弱植，公子侈，大子卑，大夫敖，政多門，以介於大國，能無亡乎？不過十年矣。”

They gather grain, repair the walls, and rely on those two, yet do not comfort the people. The ruler's foundation is weak, the princes are extravagant, the heir is humble, the grandees are arrogant, government has many gates, and they are placed among great states; can they avoid destruction? It will be no more than ten years."

秋七月，叔弓如宋，葬共姬也。

In autumn, in the seventh month, Shu Gong went to Song to bury Gong Ji.

鄭伯有耆酒，為窟室，而夜飲酒擊鐘焉，朝至未已。朝者曰：“公焉在？”其人曰：“吾公在壑谷。”皆自朝布路而罷。既而朝，則又將使子皙如楚，歸而飲酒。庚子，子皙以駟氏之甲伐而焚之。伯有奔雍梁，醒而後知之，遂奔許。大夫聚謀，子皮曰：“《仲虺之志》云：‘亂者取之，亡者侮之。推亡固存，國之利也。’罕、駟、豐同生。伯有汰侈，故不免。”

Boyou of Zheng was fond of wine, made an underground chamber, and at night drank and struck bells there; those who came to court arrived and he had still not finished. Those who came to court said: "Where is the lord?" His men said: "Our lord is in the ravine." They all dispersed from the court by separate roads. Later he went to court, and was about to send Zixi to Chu, and on returning he drank. On the gengzi day, Zixi attacked with the armored men of the Si clan and burned his house. Boyou fled to Yongliang, and only after sobering up did he know, and so he fled to Xu. The grandees gathered to deliberate, and Zipi said: "The Zhonghui's Records says: 'Seize the chaotic, bully those who are perishing. Promoting the perishing and strengthening the surviving is the interest of the state.' The Han, Si and Feng clans are of the same womb. Boyou was arrogant and extravagant, and so did not escape."

人謂子產：“就直助強！”子產曰：“豈為我徒？國之禍難，誰知所儆？或主強直，難乃不生。姑成吾所。”辛丑，子產斂伯有氏之死者而殯之，不及謀而遂行。印段從之。子皮止之，眾曰：“人不我順，何止焉？”子皮曰：“夫人禮於死者，況生者乎？”遂自止之。壬寅，子產入。癸卯，子石入。皆受盟於子皙氏。乙巳，鄭伯及其大夫盟於大宮。盟國人於師之梁之外。

Someone said to Zichan: "Be close to the upright and help the strong!" Zichan said: "Are they my partisans? In the calamities of a state, who knows who warns whom? Perhaps someone upholds strength and uprightness, so that calamity does not arise. Let me for now fulfill my place." On the xinchou day, Zichan encoffined and laid out the dead of the Boyou clan, and left before having time to plan. Yin Duan followed. Zipi stopped him, and the others said: "People do not follow us, so why stop him?" Zipi said: "That man shows propriety to the dead, how much more to the living?" So he stopped him in person. On the renyin day, Zichan came in. On the guimao day, Zishi came in. All accepted the covenant at the Zixi house. On the yisi day, the Earl of Zheng made a covenant with his grandees in the Grand Palace. He made a covenant with the people of the state outside the Bridge of Shi.

伯有聞鄭人之盟己也，怒。聞子皮之甲不與攻己也，喜。曰：“子皮與我矣。”

Boyou heard that the men of Zheng had made a covenant against him, and was angry. He heard that Zipi's armored men did not take part in attacking him, and was pleased, saying: "Zipi is attached to me."

癸丑，晨，自墓門之瀆入，因馬師頡介於襄庫，以伐舊北門。駟帶率國人以伐之。

On the guichou day, in the morning, he entered through the water channel at the Mu Gate, relying on Ma Shiji to put on armor in the Xiang storehouse, and attacked the Old North Gate. Si Dai led the people of the state to attack him.

皆召子產。子產曰：“兄弟而及此，吾從天所與。”伯有死於羊肆，子產襚之，枕之股而哭之，斂而殯諸伯有之臣在市側者。既而葬諸斗城。子駟氏欲攻子產，子皮怒之曰：“禮，國之幹也，殺有禮，禍莫大焉。”乃止。

Both summoned Zichan. Zichan said: "When brothers have come to this pass, I follow what Heaven gives." Boyou died at the Yang market, and Zichan dressed him, laid his head on his thigh and wept, encoffined him and placed the coffin at the house of Boyou's retainer beside the market. Afterward he was buried at Doucheng. The Ziyi clan wished to attack Zichan, and Zipi said angrily: "Ritual is the backbone of the state, and to kill one who has ritual brings no greater calamity." And so it stopped.

於是遊吉如晉還，聞難不入，覆命於介。八月甲子，奔晉。駟帶追之，及酸棗。與子上盟，用兩珪質於河。使公孫肸入盟大夫。己巳，復歸。書曰“鄭人殺良霄。”不稱大夫，言自外入也。

At that time You Ji returned from Jin, and hearing that the disaster was not coming into the city, he reported to his deputy. On the jiazi day of the eighth month, he fled to Jin. Si Dai pursued him as far as Suanzao. He made a covenant with Zishang, using two jade tablets as pledge at the Yellow River. He sent Gongsun Xi into the city to make a covenant with the grandees. On the jisi day, he came back again. The Annals records "the men of Zheng killed Liang Xiao." He is not called a grandee, to show that he came in from outside.

於子蟜之卒也，將葬，公孫揮與裨灶晨會事焉。過伯有氏，其門上生莠。

When Zijiao died and was about to be buried, Gongsun Hui and Pi Zao met in the morning to handle matters. Passing the Boyou house, they saw foxtail weeds growing at the gate.

子羽曰：“其莠猶在乎？”於是歲在降婁，降婁中而旦。裨灶指之曰：“猶可以終歲，歲不及此次也已。”及其亡也，歲在娵訾之口。其明年，乃及降婁。

Ziyu said: "Is that foxtail still there?" At that time Jupiter was in Jianglou, with Jianglou at the meridian at dawn. Pi Zao pointed and said: "He can still last through this year; Jupiter will not reach this position." When he perished, Jupiter was at the mouth of Juzi. The next year, it reached Jianglou.

僕展從伯有，與之皆死。羽頡出奔晉，為任大夫。雞澤之會，鄭樂成奔楚，遂適晉。羽頡因之，與之比，而事趙文子，言伐鄭之說焉。以宋之盟故，不可。

Pu Zhan followed Boyou and died with him. Yu Jie fled to Jin and became a grandee of Ren. At the meeting at Jize, Yue Cheng of Zheng fled to Chu and then went to Jin. Yu Jie relied on him and was in league with him, and served Zhao Wenzi, speaking of the plan to attack Zheng. Because of the covenant of Song, it could not be done.

子皮以公孫鉏為馬師。

Zipi made Gongsun Chu the Master of Horse.

楚公子圍殺大司馬蒍掩而取其室。申無宇曰：“王子必不免。善人，國之主也。王子相楚國，將善是封殖，而虐之，是禍國也。且司馬，令尹之偏，而王之四體也。絕民之主，去身之偏，艾王之體，以禍其國，無不祥大焉！何以得免？”為宋災故，諸侯之大夫會，以謀歸宋財。冬十月，叔孫豹會晉趙武、齊公孫蠆、宋向戌、衛北宮佗、鄭罕虎及小邾之大夫，會於澶淵。既而無歸於宋，故不書其人。

Gongzi Wei of Chu killed the Grand Marshal Wei Yan and seized his household. Shen Wuyu said: "The prince will certainly not escape. A good man is the master of the state. The prince assists Chu and should nurture the good, yet he tyrannizes them; this brings harm to the state. Moreover, the Marshal is the assistant of the Prime Minister and the limbs of the King. To cut off the master of the people, remove his own assistant, and cut off the King's limbs, in order to harm his state: nothing is more inauspicious than this! How could he escape?" Because of the fire in Song, the grandees of the feudal lords met to plan returning wealth to Song. In winter, in the tenth month, Shusun Bao joined Zhao Wu of Jin, Gongsun Chai of Qi, Xiang Xu of Song, Beigong Tuo of Wei, Han Hu of Zheng and the grandees of Little Zhu to meet at Chanyuan. Afterward nothing was given to Song, and so the Annals does not record those men.

君子曰：“信其不可不慎乎！澶淵之會，卿不書，不信也夫！諸侯之上卿，會而不信，寵名皆棄，不信之不可也如是！《詩》曰：‘文王陟降，在帝左右。’信之謂也。又曰：‘淑慎爾止，無載爾偽。’不信之謂也。”書曰“某人某人會於澶淵，宋災故。”尤之也。不書魯大夫，諱之也。

The gentleman said: "One cannot but be careful about good faith! At the meeting at Chanyuan, the ministers are not recorded because they did not keep faith! The senior ministers of the feudal lords, meeting yet not keeping faith, have thrown away both favor and name; those who do not keep faith must not be like this! The Odes say: 'King Wen ascends and descends, at the left and right of the Lord on High.' This speaks of good faith. It also says: 'Be careful in your demeanor, and do not carry falsehood.' This speaks of not keeping faith." The Annals records "So-and-so and so-and-so met at Chanyuan, because of the fire in Song," as a reproach. It does not record the grandee of Lu, as a taboo.

鄭子皮授子產政，辭曰：“國小而逼，族大寵多，不可為也。”子皮曰：“虎帥以聽，誰敢犯子？子善相之，國無小，小能事大，國乃寬。”

Zipi of Zheng handed government to Zichan, who declined, saying: "The state is small and pressed upon, the clans are large and those favored are many; it cannot be governed." Zipi said: "I, Hu, will lead and take orders, and who would dare offend you? Assist well; no state is small, and when the small can serve the great, the state is at ease."

子產為政，有事伯石，賂與之邑。子大叔曰：“國，皆其國也。奚獨賂焉？”子產曰：“無慾實難。皆得其欲，以從其事，而要其成，非我有成，其在人乎？何愛於邑？邑將焉往？”子大叔曰：“若四國何？”子產曰：“非相違也，而相從也，四國何尤焉？《鄭書》有之曰：‘安定國家，必大焉先。’姑先安大，以待其所歸。”既，伯石懼而歸邑，卒與之。伯有既死，使大史命伯石為卿，辭。

When Zichan held the government, when he needed Boshi, he bribed him with a city. Zidashu said: "The state is all his state. Why bribe him alone?" Zichan said: "To have no desires is truly hard. When all get their desires and follow the affair, and demand success, is it not I who have success, and does it lie in others? What is there to begrudge about a city? Where would the city go?" Zidashu said: "What about the states of the four quarters?" Zichan said: "It is not that we go against each other but that we follow each other; what will the states of the four quarters blame? The Zheng Records says: 'To settle the state, first look after the great clans.' Let us first settle the great and wait for them to turn to us." Later, Boshi was afraid and returned the city, but in the end it was still given to him. After Boyou had died, they sent the Grand Historian to command Boshi to be a minister, and he declined.

大史退，則請命焉。覆命之，又辭。如是三，乃受策入拜。子產是以惡其為人也，使次己位。

After the Grand Historian withdrew, he asked for the appointment. When commanded again, he again declined. After doing this three times, he accepted the document, entered and bowed in thanks. Because of this, Zichan disliked his character, and made his rank below himself.

子產使都鄙有章，上下有服，田有封洫，廬井有伍。大人之忠儉者，從而與之。泰侈者，因而斃之。

Zichan made the capital and outlying towns have regulations, high and low have their dress, the fields have boundary markers and ditches, and the huts and wells have registers. Among the great men, those loyal and thrifty were kept close; those arrogant and extravagant were thereby brought down.

豐卷將祭，請田焉。弗許，曰：“唯君用鮮，眾給而已。”子張怒，退而徵役。子產奔晉，子皮止之而逐豐卷。豐卷奔晉。子產請其田裡，三年而復之，反其田裡及其入焉。

Feng Juan was about to make a sacrifice and asked to go hunting. It was not allowed, saying: "Only the ruler uses fresh game; it suffices for the others to have enough." Zizhang was angry, withdrew and levied laborers. Zichan fled toward Jin, and Zipi stopped him and drove out Feng Juan. Feng Juan fled to Jin. Zichan asked to keep his fields and village, and after three years let him return, restoring his fields and village and their income.

從政一年，輿人誦之，曰：“取我衣冠而褚之，取我田疇而伍之。孰殺子產，吾其與之！”及三年，又誦之，曰；“我有子弟，子產誨之。我有田疇，子產殖之。子產而死，誰其嗣之？”

After a year of governing, the laborers chanted: "Take away my robe and cap and store them; take away my fields and register them. If anyone kills Zichan, I will join!" After three years, they chanted again: "I have sons and brothers, and Zichan teaches them. I have fields, and Zichan makes them flourish. If Zichan dies, who will succeed him?"

【經】三十有一年春王正月。夏六月辛巳，公薨於楚宮。秋九月癸巳，子野卒。己亥，仲孫羯卒。冬十月，滕子來會葬。癸酉，葬我君襄公。十有一月，莒人殺其君密州。

[Classic] In the thirty-first year, spring, in the first month by the Zhou calendar. In summer, on the xinsi day of the sixth month, Duke Xiang died in the Chu Palace. In autumn, on the guisi day of the ninth month, Ziye died. On the jihai day, Zhongsun Jie died. In winter, in the tenth month, the Viscount of Teng came to attend the burial. On the guiyou day, our ruler Duke Xiang was buried. In the eleventh month, the men of Ju killed their ruler Mizhou.

【傳】三十一年春，王正月，穆叔至自會，見孟孝伯，語之曰：“趙孟將死矣。其語偷，不似民主。且年未盈五十，而諄諄焉如八九十者，弗能久矣。若趙孟死，為政者其韓子乎！吾子盍與季孫言之，可以樹善，君子也。晉君將失政矣，若不樹焉，使早備魯，既而政在大夫，韓子懦弱，大夫多貪，求欲無厭，齊、楚未足與也，魯其懼哉！”孝伯曰：“人生幾何？誰能無偷？朝不及夕，將安用樹？”穆叔出而告人曰：“孟孫將死矣。吾語諸趙孟之偷也，而又甚焉。”又與季孫語晉故，季孫不從。

[Commentary] In the thirty-first year, spring, in the first month by the Zhou calendar, Mu Shu returned from the meeting and saw Meng Xiaobo, and said to him: "Zhao Meng is about to die. His words are makeshift, not like the master of a people. Moreover, his years are not yet fifty and yet he speaks earnestly as a man of eighty or ninety; he cannot last long. If Zhao Meng dies, the one in charge will probably be Master Han! Why do you not speak to Jisun, so that friendship can be established, as a gentleman would? The ruler of Jin will lose control of the government; if friendship is not established, and he is made to guard against Lu early, then government will be in the hands of the grandees, Master Han is weak, and the grandees are mostly greedy and their demands are never satisfied; Qi and Chu are still not enough to rely on, and Lu will probably have cause to fear!" Xiaobo said: "How long does a person live? Who can avoid being makeshift? In the morning one cannot wait for the evening; what use is establishing anything?" Mu Shu went out and told others: "Meng Sun is about to die. I spoke to him of Zhao Meng's makeshift ways, and he is even worse himself." He also spoke to Jisun of the affairs of Jin, but Jisun did not listen.

及趙文子卒，晉公室卑，政在侈家。韓宣子為政，為能圖諸侯。魯不堪晉求，讒慝弘多，是以有平丘之會。

When Zhao Wenzi died, the ducal house of Jin became humble, and government lay with extravagant private houses. Han Xuanzi held the government and could still plan for the feudal lords. Lu could not bear Jin's demands, and slanderers were many, and so there was the meeting at Pingqiu.

齊子尾害閭丘嬰，欲殺之，使帥師以伐陽州。我問師故。夏五月，子尾殺閭丘嬰以說於我師。工僂灑、渻灶、孔虺、賈寅出奔莒。出群公子。

Zi Wei of Qi was jealous of and harmed Lüqiu Ying, and wished to kill him; he sent him leading troops to attack Yangzhou. Our state asked the reason for the troop deployment. In summer, in the fifth month, Zi Wei killed Lüqiu Ying and explained it to our army. Gong Lou Sa, Sheng Zao, Kong Hui and Jia Yin fled to Ju. The various princes were released.

公作楚宮。穆叔曰：“《大誓》云：‘民之所欲，天必從之。’君欲楚也夫！故作其宮。若不復適楚，必死是宮也。”六月辛巳，公薨於楚宮。叔仲帶竊其拱璧，以與御人，納諸其懷而從取之，由是得罪。

Duke Xiang built the Chu Palace. Mu Shu said: "The Great Declaration says: 'What the people want, Heaven will surely follow.' My lord must want Chu! That is why he builds such a palace. If he does not go to Chu again, he will surely die in this palace." On the xinsi day of the sixth month, Duke Xiang died in the Chu Palace. Shuzhong Dai stole his great jade disc, gave it to the driver, who put it in his bosom, and then took it back, and from this he was held guilty.

立胡女敬歸之子子野，次於季氏。秋九月癸巳，卒，毀也。

Ziye, son of Jing Gui, the lady of Hu, was set up and lived at the Ji clan's house. In autumn, on the guisi day of the ninth month, he died, from excessive grief.

己亥，孟孝伯卒。

On the jihai day, Meng Xiaobo died.

立敬歸之娣齊歸之子公子裯，穆叔不欲，曰：“大子死，有母弟則立之，無則長立。年鈞擇賢，義鈞則卜，古之道也。非適嗣，何必娣之子？且是人也，居喪而不哀，在戚而有嘉容，是謂不度。不度之人，鮮不為患。若果立之，必為季氏憂。”武子不聽，卒立之。比及葬，三易衰，衰衽如故衰。於是昭公十九年矣，猶有童心，君子是以知其不能終也。

They set up Gongzi Chou, the son of Qi Gui, younger sister of Jing Gui, and Mu Shu did not want this, saying: "When the heir dies, if there is a younger brother of the same mother, set him up; if not, set up the elder. If of the same age, choose the worthy; if equal in righteousness, divine. This is the ancient way. If he is not the legitimate heir, why must we set up the son of the younger sister? Moreover, this person, in mourning, shows no grief, and in sorrow has a joyful look; this is called not following standards. Those who do not follow standards rarely avoid causing disaster. If we really set him up, he will surely become a worry to the Ji clan." Wuzi did not listen and in the end set him up. At the burial, he changed his mourning clothes three times, and the hem of the mourning garment was as ragged as an old one. At that time Duke Zhao was nineteen and still had a childish mind, and so the gentleman knew he would not die a good death.

冬十月，滕成公來會葬，惰而多涕。子服惠伯曰：“滕君將死矣！怠於其位，而哀已甚，兆於死所矣。能無從乎？”癸酉，葬襄公。

In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Cheng of Teng came to attend the burial, and was indolent and shed many tears. Zifu Huibo said: "The ruler of Teng will die soon! He is indolent in his seat, his grief is already excessive, and an omen appears at the place of death. Can he fail to follow?" On the guiyou day, Duke Xiang was buried.

公薨之月，子產相鄭伯以如晉，晉侯以我喪故，未之見也。子產使盡壞其館之垣而納車馬焉。士文伯讓之，曰：“敝邑以政刑之不修，寇盜充斥，無若諸侯之屬辱在寡君者何？是以令吏人完客所館，高其閈閎，厚其牆垣，以無憂客使。

In the month Duke Xiang died, Zichan assisted the Earl of Zheng in going to Jin, and the Marquis of Jin, because of our state's mourning, had not yet seen him. Zichan had them tear down all the walls of the lodging house and put the chariots and horses in. Shi Wenbo reproached him: "Because the government and punishments of our humble state are not in order, and bandits fill the land, we had no means to deal with the officials of the feudal lords who came to humble themselves before my lord, and so we ordered the officers to make the guest lodgings complete, raise the village gates and main gate, and thicken the walls, so as not to cause the guests and envoys worry.

今吾子壞之，雖從者能戒，其若異客何？以敝邑之為盟主，繕完葺牆，以待賓客，若皆毀之，其何以共命？寡君使匄請命。”對曰：“以敝邑褊小，介於大國，誅求無時，是以不敢寧居，悉索敝賦，以來會時事。逢執事之不間，而未得見，又不獲聞命，未知見時，不敢輸幣，亦不敢暴露。其輸之，則君之府實也，非薦陳之，不敢輸也。其暴露之，則恐燥溼之不時而朽蠹，以重敝邑之罪。僑聞文公之為盟主也，宮室卑庳，無觀臺榭，以崇大諸侯之館。館如公寢，庫廄繕修，司空以時平易道路，圬人以時塓館宮室。諸侯賓至，甸設庭燎，僕人巡宮，車馬有所，賓從有代，巾車脂轄，隸人牧圉，各瞻其事，百官之屬，各展其物。公不留賓，而亦無廢事，憂樂同之，事則巡之，教其不知，而恤其不足。賓至如歸，無寧災患？不畏寇盜，而亦不患燥溼。今銅鞮之宮數里，而諸侯舍於隸人。門不容車，而不可逾越。盜賊公行，而天厲不戒。賓見無時，命不可知。若又勿壞，是無所藏幣，以重罪也。敢請執事，將何以命之？雖君之有魯喪，亦敝邑之憂也。

Now you, sir, have torn it down; even if your followers can stand guard, what shall we do about other guests? Because our humble state is the leader of the covenant, we repair and mend the walls to await guests; if they are all destroyed, with what shall we supply orders? My lord has sent Gai to ask your orders." He replied: "Because our humble state is small and placed among great states, demands come at no fixed time, and so we dared not rest in peace, and gathered all the levies of our humble state to meet the four-season tribute. When the officials had no leisure, we could not yet be received, nor did we receive orders, and not knowing the time of audience, we did not dare to hand over the gifts, nor dare to let them be exposed. If we hand them over, they are the goods of my lord's treasury, and without offering and displaying them we dare not hand them over. If exposed, we fear that dryness and damp out of season will cause rot and worms, and so increase the guilt of our humble state. I, Qiao, have heard that when Duke Wen was the leader of the covenant, his palaces were low, and he had no observation towers or pavilions, in order to raise and enlarge the lodging houses of the feudal lords. The lodgings were like the Duke's own bedchamber, with storehouses and stables repaired, the Minister of Works leveled the roads at the proper time, and masons plastered the lodgings and palaces at the proper time. When the feudal lords' guests arrived, the garden men lit torches in the courtyard, the attendants patrolled the palaces, the chariots and horses had places, the guests' followers had people to relieve them, the carriage officials oiled the axles, the servants and herdsmen each looked after their duties, and the officials of every department displayed their things. The Duke did not detain guests, nor were any matters neglected; he shared sorrow and joy with them, patrolled when there was business, taught those who did not know, and cared for those who lacked. The guests arrived as if returning home; what calamity could there be? They feared neither bandits nor dryness and damp. Now the palace at Tongdi is several li in extent, yet the feudal lords lodge among the servants. The gate cannot admit chariots, and one cannot climb over it. Bandits walk openly, and natural calamities and plague are not guarded against. Guests are received at no fixed time, and the orders cannot be known. If we again did not tear it down, there would be no place to store the gifts, which would increase our guilt. May I ask, what orders will you give? Even if my lord has the mourning of Lu, it is also a worry for our humble state.

若獲薦幣，修垣而行，君之惠也，敢憚勤勞？”文伯覆命，趙文子曰：“信！我實不德，而以隸人之垣以贏諸侯，是吾罪也。”使士文伯謝不敏焉。晉侯見鄭伯，有加禮，厚其宴好而歸之。乃築諸侯之館。

If we are permitted to present the gifts, we will repair the wall and leave; this will be my lord's kindness, and how would we dare fear toil?" Wenbo reported, and Zhao Wenzi said: "True! We truly have no virtue, and to receive the feudal lords behind the walls of servants is our fault." He sent Shi Wenbo to apologize for his lack of intelligence. The Marquis of Jin saw the Earl of Zheng, with increased ritual, gave him a generous banquet and friendship, and then sent him home. And so he had the lodgings of the feudal lords built.

叔向曰：“辭之不可以已也如是夫！子產有辭，諸侯賴之，若之何其釋辭也？《詩》曰：‘辭之輯矣，民之協矣。辭之繹矣，民之莫矣。’其知之矣。”

Shuxiang said: "Words cannot be dispensed with, as shown here! Zichan has words, and the feudal lords rely on them; how could he put words aside? The Odes say: 'When words are harmonious, the people are in concord. When words are continuous, the people are settled.' He knew this."

鄭子皮使印段如楚，以適晉告，禮也。

Zipi of Zheng sent Yin Duan to Chu to report on the visit to Jin, which accords with ritual.

莒犁比公生去疾及展輿，既立展輿，又廢之。犁比公虐，國人患之。十一月，展輿因國人以攻莒子，弒之，乃立。去疾奔齊，齊出也。展輿，吳出也。書曰“莒人弒其君買朱鉏。”言罪之在也。

Duke Lipi of Ju had two sons, Qüji and Zhanyu; he had already set up Zhanyu and then removed him. Duke Lipi was cruel and the people of the state were troubled. In the eleventh month, Zhanyu relied on the people of the state to attack the Viscount of Ju, killed him, and took the throne. Qüji fled to Qi, being the son of a lady of Qi. Zhanyu was the son of a lady of Wu. The Annals records "the men of Ju murdered their ruler Maizhu Chu," placing the guilt on the ruler.

吳子使屈狐庸聘於晉，通路也。趙文子問焉，曰：“延州來季子其果立乎？巢隕諸樊，閽戕戴吳，天似啟之，何如？”對曰：“不立。是二王之命也，非啟季子也。若天所啟，其在今嗣君乎！甚德而度，德不失民，度不失事，民親而事有序，其天所啟也。有吳國者，必此君之子孫實終之。季子，守節者也。雖有國，不立。”

The Viscount of Wu sent Qu Huyong to Jin on a courtesy visit, to open the road. Zhao Wenzi asked him: "Will Jizi of Yanzhou truly be set up? Chao yielded and Zhufan fell, the gatekeeper killed Daiwu; Heaven seems to be opening the way for him; what do you think?" He replied: "He will not be set up. This is the fate of the two kings and does not mean Heaven is opening for Jizi. If Heaven is opening the way, perhaps it is for the present successor! He has much virtue and has standards; virtue does not lose the people, and standards do not lose affairs; the people are close and affairs are in order, and this is what Heaven opens. Whoever keeps Wu will in the end be the descendants of this ruler. Jizi is a man who keeps his integrity. Even if he had the state, he would not be set up."

十二月，北宮文子相衛襄公以如楚，宋之盟故也。過鄭，印段勞於棐林，如聘禮而以勞辭。文子入聘。子羽為行人，馮簡子與子大叔逆客。事畢而出，言於衛侯曰：“鄭有禮，其數世之福也，其無大國之討乎！《詩》曰：‘誰能執熱，逝不以濯。’禮之於政，如熱之有濯也。濯以救熱，何患之有？”子產之從政也，擇能而使之。馮簡子能斷大事，子大叔美秀而文，公孫揮能知四國之為，而辨於其大夫之族姓、班位、貴賤、能否，而又善為辭令，裨諶能謀，謀於野則獲，謀於邑則否。鄭國將有諸侯之事，子產乃問四國之為於子羽，且使多為辭令。與裨諶乘以適野，使謀可否。而告馮簡子，使斷之。事成，乃授子大叔使行之，以應對賓客。是以鮮有敗事。北宮文子所謂有禮也。

In the twelfth month, Beigong Wenzi assisted Duke Xiang of Wei in going to Chu, because of the covenant of Song. Passing through Zheng, Yin Duan came to console them at Feilin, in the manner of a courtesy visit but using words of consolation. Wenzi entered the city on a courtesy visit. Ziyu was the envoy, and Feng Jianzi and Zidashu received the guest. When the business was finished and he went out, he said to the Marquis of Wei: "Zheng has ritual; this is the blessing of several generations, and probably no great state will attack it! The Odes say: 'Who can hold something hot without rinsing it in water?' Ritual in government is like water for rinsing heat. Rinsing to relieve heat, what calamity can there be?" When Zichan held the government, he selected those with talent and used them. Feng Jianzi could decide great affairs, Zidashu was handsome and cultured, Gongsun Hui could understand what the four states were doing and distinguish the clans, ranks, nobility and ability of the grandees, and was also good at speech, and Pi Chen could plan, and plans made in the countryside were fitting but plans made in the city were not. When Zheng had business with the feudal lords, Zichan would ask Ziyu about the actions of the four states and have him prepare many speeches. He would ride with Pi Chen out to the countryside and have him plan whether to do it or not. Then he told Feng Jianzi to decide it. When the matter was settled, he handed it to Zidashu to carry out and to meet the guests. Therefore there were few failures. This is what Beigong Wenzi meant by having ritual.

鄭人遊於鄉校，以論執政。然明謂子產曰：“毀鄉校，何如？”子產曰：“何為？夫人朝夕退而遊焉，以議執政之善否。其所善者，吾則行之。其所惡者，吾則改之。是吾師也，若之何毀之？我聞忠善以損怨，不聞作威以防怨。豈不遽止，然猶防川，大決所犯，傷人必多，吾不克救也。不如小決使道。不如吾聞而藥之也。”然明曰：“蔑也今而後知吾子之信可事也。小人實不才，若果行此，其鄭國實賴之，豈唯二三臣？”仲尼聞是語也，曰：“以是觀之，人謂子產不仁，吾不信也。”

The men of Zheng roamed at the village school and discussed the government. Ranming said to Zichan: "What about destroying the village schools?" Zichan said: "Why? Those people come back in the morning and evening to roam, and discuss the good and bad of the government. What they think good I will carry out. What they dislike I will correct. They are my teachers, so how can I destroy them? I have heard that one reduces resentment by loyalty and goodness, but have not heard of using intimidation to prevent resentment. Could it not be stopped immediately? But it is like damming water: when a great breach breaks through, those it harms will surely be many, and I would not be able to save them. It is better to open a small outlet and guide it. It is better that I hear it and take it as medicine." Ranming said: "From now on, I, Mie, know that you, sir, can truly be served. We petty men truly have no ability; if this is really carried out, Zheng will truly depend on it, not only these few ministers!" Zhongni (Confucius) heard these words and said: "Seen from this, when people say that Zichan is not benevolent, I do not believe it."

子皮欲使尹何為邑。子產曰：“少，未知可否？”子皮曰：“願，吾愛之，不吾叛也。使夫往而學焉，夫亦愈知治矣。”子產曰：“不可。人之愛人，求利之也。今吾子愛人則以政，猶未能操刀而使割也，其傷實多。子之愛人，傷之而已，其誰敢求愛於子？子於鄭國，棟也，棟折榱崩，僑將厭焉，敢不盡言？子有美錦，不使人學制焉。大官、大邑，身之所庇也，而使學者制焉，其為美錦，不亦多乎？僑聞學而後入政，未聞以政學者也。若果行此，必有所害。譬如田獵，射御貫則能獲禽，若未嘗登車射御，則敗績厭覆是懼，何暇思獲？”子皮曰：“善哉！虎不敏。吾聞君子務知大者、遠者，小人務知小者、近者。我，小人也。

Zipi wanted to have Yin He govern a town. Zichan said, "He is young; I do not know whether he is up to it." Zipi said, "He is careful and sincere, I am fond of him, and he will not betray me. Let him go and learn, and he will come to know more about governing." Zichan said, "No. When one person loves another, he seeks to benefit him. Now you love a man but give him the work of government; it is like letting someone who cannot yet hold a knife do the cutting, and the harm will certainly be great. Your love for him will only injure him; who then would dare to seek your love? You are the ridgepole of Zheng, and if the ridgepole breaks and the rafters collapse, Qiao will be crushed; how dare I not speak fully? You have fine brocade, and you do not let others learn to cut it. High office and great towns are what protect one's own person, yet you let a learner cut them; compared with the brocade, is that not far too much? I have heard of learning and then entering government, but have not heard of using government to learn. If this is really done, there will surely be harm. It is like hunting: when one is practiced at shooting and driving, one can take game, but if one has not yet mounted a chariot to shoot and drive, one fears a defeat and an overturned chariot that crushes one, and what leisure is there to hope for game?" Zipi said, "Well said! Hu is not clever. I have heard that a gentleman strives to know what is great and distant, and a petty man strives to know what is small and near. I am a petty man.

衣服附在吾身，我知而慎之。大官、大邑所以庇身也，我遠而慢之。微子之言，吾不知也。他日我曰：‘子為鄭國，我為吾家，以庇焉，其可也。’今而後知不足。自今，請雖吾家，聽子而行。”子產曰：“人心之不同，如其面焉。吾豈敢謂子面如吾面乎？抑心所謂危，亦以告也。”子皮以為忠，故委政焉。子產是以能為鄭國。

Clothing is attached to my body, and I know it and am careful with it. High office and great towns are what protect my person, and I treat them as distant and with negligence. Without your words, I would not have known. In the past I said: 'You govern Zheng and I govern my own house, as protection, and that will probably do.' From now on I know it is not enough. From now on, please, even in my own house, I will listen to you and carry out your advice." Zichan said, "People's hearts differ as their faces differ. How would I dare say your face is like mine? But what I think is dangerous I say to you." Zipi thought him loyal, and so entrusted government to him. Zichan was thereby able to govern Zheng.

衛侯在楚，北宮文子見令尹圍之威儀，言於衛侯曰：“令尹似君矣！將有他志，雖獲其志，不能終也。《詩》云：‘靡不有初，鮮克有終。’終之實難，令尹其將不免？”公曰：“子何以知之？”對曰：“《詩》云：‘敬慎威儀，惟民之則。’令尹無威儀，民無則焉。民所不則，以在民上，不可以終。”公曰：“善哉！何謂威儀？”對曰：“有威而可畏謂之威，有儀而可象謂之儀。君有君之威儀，其臣畏而愛之，則而象之，故能有其國家，令聞長世。臣有臣之威儀，其下畏而愛之，故能守其官職，保族宜家。順是以下皆如是，是以上下能相固也。

The Marquis of Wei was in Chu, and Beigong Wenzi saw the dignified bearing of the Chancellor Wei, and said to the Marquis of Wei, "The Chancellor is like a ruler! He will have other ambitions, and even if he gets what he wants, he will not come to a good end. The Odes say: 'There is none that has no beginning, but few can have an end.' An end is truly hard; will the Chancellor probably not escape?" The duke said, "How do you know?" He replied, "The Odes say: 'Be reverent and careful in dignified bearing, and be a model for the people.' The Chancellor has no dignified bearing, and the people have no model. One whom the people do not take as a model yet who is above them cannot come to a good end." The duke said, "Well said! What is called dignified bearing?" He replied, "To have awesomeness that can be feared is called wei; to have deportment that can be imitated is called yi. A ruler has a ruler's dignified bearing, and his ministers fear and love him, take him as a model and imitate him, and so he can keep the state and his fine name is handed down. A minister has a minister's dignified bearing, and those below him fear and love him, and so he can keep his office, protect his clan and make his house orderly. Following this, all below are likewise, and so above and below can reinforce each other.

《衛詩》曰：‘威儀棣棣，不可選也。’言君臣、上下、父子、兄弟、內外、大小皆有威儀也。《周詩》曰：‘朋友攸攝，攝以威儀。’言朋友之道，必相教訓以威儀也。《周書》數文王之德，曰：‘大國畏其力，小國懷其德。’言畏而愛之也。《詩》云：‘不識不知，順帝之則。’言則而象之也。紂囚文王七年，諸侯皆從之囚。紂於是乎懼而歸之，可謂愛之。文王伐崇，再駕而降為臣，蠻夷帥服，可謂畏之。文王之功，天下誦而歌舞之，可謂則之，文王之行，至今為法，可謂象之。有威儀也。故君子在位可畏，施捨可愛，進退可度，周旋可則，容止可觀，作事可法，德行可象，聲氣可樂，動作有文，言語有章，以臨其下，謂之有威儀也。”

The Odes of Wei say: 'Dignified bearing, ample and composed, cannot be reckoned.' This says that ruler and minister, above and below, father and son, elder and younger brother, inside and outside, great and small, all have dignified bearing. The Odes of Zhou say: 'What friends help with, they help with dignified bearing.' This says that the principle of friendship is that they must instruct one another with dignified bearing. The Book of Zhou, reckoning King Wen's virtue, says: 'Great states feared his strength, small states cherished his virtue.' This says fearing and loving. The Odes say: 'Without knowing or understanding, he follows the model of the Lord on High.' This says taking as a model and imitating. Zhou imprisoned King Wen for seven years, and the feudal lords all followed him into captivity. Zhou then grew afraid and released him, which may be called love. King Wen attacked Chong, and after two campaigns it submitted as a subject, and the Man and Yi led one another in submission, which may be called fear. King Wen's achievements are recited, sung and danced to throughout the world, which may be called taking as a model; his conduct is still a norm today, which may be called imitating. This is having dignified bearing. Therefore a gentleman in his position is to be feared, his giving is to be loved, his advancing and withdrawing can be measured, his turning about can be taken as a model, his manner can be gazed upon, his work can be emulated, his virtue can be imitated, his voice and breath bring joy, his movements have grace, his words have order, and when he looks down upon those below, this is called having dignified bearing."