Duke Yin (Years 1-11)

夏，齊侯、鄭伯朝於紀，欲以襲之。紀人知之。

In summer, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng went to Ji to pay court, wanting to take the chance to attack it by surprise. The people of Ji noticed.

王奪鄭伯政，鄭伯不朝。

The Son of Heaven stripped the Earl of Zheng of his governing power, and the Earl of Zheng no longer came to pay court.

秋，王以諸侯伐鄭，鄭伯御之。

In autumn, the Son of Heaven led the feudal lords to attack Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng resisted.

王為中軍；虢公林父將右軍，蔡人、衛人屬焉；周公黑肩將左軍，陳人屬焉。

The Son of Heaven commanded the central army; Lin Fu, Duke of Guo, led the right army, with the people of Cai and Wei attached; Hei Jian, Duke of Zhou, led the left army, with the people of Chen attached.

鄭子元請為左拒以當蔡人、衛人，為右拒以當陳人，曰：“陳亂，民莫有鬥心，若先犯之，必奔。王卒顧之，必亂。蔡、衛不枝，固將先奔，既而萃於王卒，可以集事。”從之。曼伯為右拒，祭仲足為左拒，原繁、高渠彌以中軍奉公，為魚麗之陳，先偏後伍，伍承彌縫。戰於繻葛，命二拒曰：“旝動而鼓。”蔡、衛、陳皆奔，王卒亂，鄭師合以攻之，王卒大敗。祝聃射王中肩，王亦能軍。祝聃請從之。公曰：“君子不欲多上人，況敢陵天子乎！苟自救也，社稷無隕，多矣。”

Zi Yuan of Zheng asked to form a left formation to meet the people of Cai and Wei, and a right formation to meet the people of Chen, saying: "Chen is in disorder and its people have no will to fight; if we strike them first, they will surely flee. When the Son of Heaven's troops look back, their ranks will surely fall into disorder. Cai and Wei cannot hold out and will naturally flee first; then we concentrate on the Son of Heaven's troops, and the matter can be accomplished." The Earl of Zheng followed this. Man Bo was the commander of the right formation, Zhai Zhong Zu the commander of the left formation, and Yuan Fan and Gao Qumi led the central army to protect the Earl of Zheng, forming the fish-scale formation, with chariots in front and infantry behind, the infantry following to fill the gaps. They fought at Xuge and ordered the two formations: "When the great banner is waved, beat the drums." Cai, Wei, and Chen all fled, the Son of Heaven's troops fell into great disorder, and the Zheng army joined together and attacked, inflicting a great defeat on the Son of Heaven's troops. Zhu Dan shot the Son of Heaven in the shoulder, and the Son of Heaven was still able to keep his army in order. Zhu Dan asked to pursue. The Earl of Zheng said: "The gentleman does not wish to overstep others too much; how much less dare one insult the Son of Heaven! If we can save ourselves and the altars of the state do not fall, that is enough."

夜，鄭伯使祭足勞王，且問左右。

At night, the Earl of Zheng sent Zhai Zu to console the Son of Heaven and to inquire after those about him.

仍叔之子，弱也。

The son of Reng Shu was still young, and so the Spring and Autumn Annals writes it this way.

秋，大雩，書，不時也。凡祀，啟蟄而郊，龍見而雩，始殺而嘗，閉蟄而烝。

In autumn, the great rain-sacrifice was held; the Spring and Autumn Annals records it because it was not in season. In all sacrifices, the suburban sacrifice is held at the awakening of insects, the rain-sacrifice when the Dragon star appears, the autumn sacrifice when the cool air begins to kill, and the winter sacrifice when insects go into hiding.

過則書。

When the proper season has passed, the Spring and Autumn Annals records it.

冬，淳于公如曹。度其國危，遂不復。

In winter, the Lord of Chunyu went to Cao. He judged his own state to be in danger, and so did not return.

【經】六年春正月，實來。夏四月，公會紀侯於成。秋八月壬午，大閱。蔡人殺陳佗。九月丁卯，子同生。冬，紀侯來朝。

[Classic] In the sixth year, in spring, in the first month, the Lord of Zhou arrived. In summer, in the fourth month, Duke Huan met the Marquis of Ji at Cheng. In autumn, on the day renwu of the eighth month, a great review was held. The people of Cai killed Chen Tuo. On the day dingmao of the ninth month, the son Tong was born. In winter, the Marquis of Ji came to pay court.

【傳】六年春，自曹來朝。書曰“實來”，不復其國也。

[Commentary] In the sixth year, in spring, the Lord of Zhou came from Cao to pay court. The Spring and Autumn Annals writes "truly came" because he would no longer return to his own state.

楚武王侵隨，使薳章求成焉。軍於瑕以待之。隨人使少師董成。鬥伯比言於楚子曰：“吾不得志於漢東也，我則使然。我張吾三軍而被吾甲兵，以武臨之，彼則懼而協以謀我，故難間也。漢東之國隨為大，隨張必棄小國，小國離，楚之利也。少師侈，請羸師以張之。”熊率且比曰：“季梁在，何益？”鬥伯比曰：“以為後圖，少師得其君。”王毀軍而納少師。

King Wu of Chu raided Sui and sent Wei Zhang to seek peace. The army camped at Xia and waited. The people of Sui sent Shao Shi to conduct the peace talks. Dou Bobi said to the Viscount of Chu: "That we cannot achieve our aims east of the Han River is our own doing. We have enlarged the three armies and equipped them with armor and weapons, and pressed upon them by force, so they are afraid and unite to plan against us, and so it is hard to divide them. Of the states east of the Han, Sui is the largest; once Sui becomes arrogant, it will surely abandon the small states, and when the small states are scattered, it is to Chu's advantage. Shao Shi is arrogant and extravagant; please let our army appear weak and worn to make him conceited." Xiong Shuai Qiebi said: "With Ji Liang there, what use is that?" Dou Bobi said: "This is planning for later; Shao Shi can win the trust of his ruler." The King of Chu damaged the appearance of his army in order to receive Shao Shi.

少師歸，請追楚師，隨侯將許之。季梁止之曰：“天方授楚，楚之蠃，其誘我也，君何急焉？臣聞小之能敵大也，小道大淫。所謂道，忠於民而信於神也。

Shao Shi returned and asked to pursue the Chu army, and the Marquis of Sui was about to agree. Ji Liang stopped him, saying: "Heaven is now giving to Chu. The weakness of the Chu army is a lure for us; why should my lord be in a hurry? I have heard that the small can match the great when the small has the Way and the great is dissolute. What is called the Way is to be loyal to the people and to be trusted by the spirits.

上思利民，忠也；祝史正辭，信也。今民餒而君逞欲，祝史矯舉以祭，臣不知其可也。”公曰：“吾牲牷肥腯，粢盛豐備，何則不信？”對曰：“夫民，神之主也。是以聖王先成民而後致力於神。故奉牲以告曰‘博碩肥腯’，謂民力之普存也，謂其畜之碩大蕃滋也，謂其不疾瘯蠡也，謂其備腯鹹有也。奉盛以告曰‘潔粢豐盛’，謂其三時不害而民和年豐也。奉酒醴以告曰‘嘉栗旨酒’，謂其上下皆有嘉德而無違心也。所謂馨香，無讒慝也。故務其三時，修其五教，親其九族，以致其禋祀。於是乎民和而神降之福，故動則有成。今民各有心，而鬼神乏主，君雖獨豐，其何福之有！君姑修政而親兄弟之國，庶免於難。”隨侯懼而修政，楚不敢伐。

(Ji Liang continued:) For those above to think of what benefits the people is loyalty; for the invocators and scribes to use sincere words is trust. Now the people are hungry while my lord indulges his private desires, and the invocators and scribes falsely report merits and virtue in their sacrifices; I do not know how this can be right." The Marquis of Sui said: "My sacrificial animals are of pure color, fat and sturdy, and the millet is full and complete; how could it not win trust?" Ji Liang answered: "The people are the masters of the spirits. Therefore the sage kings first made the people prosper and only then devoted their efforts to the spirits. So when offering the sacrificial animals and praying, saying 'great, plump, and fat,' it means the strength of the people is widely present, the livestock are large and multiply, free of scabs and mange, and all kinds of fat animals are there. When offering grain in the vessels and praying, saying 'the pure millet is abundant,' it means that in spring, summer, and autumn there was no interference with farm work, the people were harmonious, and the harvests were rich. When offering wine and sweet liquor and praying, saying 'good and clear fine wine,' it means that above and below there is virtue and there is no mind of disobedience. What is called fragrant is the absence of slander and evil thoughts. Therefore one devotes oneself to the three seasons, cultivates the five teachings, is close to the nine kindreds, and so completes the sacrifices. Then the people are harmonious and the spirits send blessings, and when one moves one can succeed. Now the people each have their own minds, and the spirits lack a master; though my lord alone may be abundant, what blessing can there be! Let my lord for now put the government in order and be close to the brother states, and perhaps he may escape disaster." The Marquis of Sui was afraid, put the government in order, and Chu did not dare to attack.

夏，會於成，紀來諮謀齊難也。

In summer, a meeting was held at Cheng, because Ji came to consult about the troubles of Qi.

北戎伐齊，齊侯使乞師於鄭。鄭大子忽帥師救齊。六月，大敗戎師，獲其二帥大良、少良，甲首三百，以獻於齊。於是，諸侯之大夫戍齊，齊人饋之餼，使魯為其班，後鄭。鄭忽以其有功也，怒，故有郎之師。

The Northern Rong attacked Qi, and the Marquis of Qi sent men to ask Zheng for troops. Prince Hu, the heir of Zheng, led troops to rescue Qi. In the sixth month, he inflicted a great defeat on the Rong army, capturing two of its commanders, Daliang and Shaoliang, and three hundred heads of armored soldiers, and presented them to Qi. At that time the grandees of the feudal lords were garrisoning Qi, and the people of Qi sent supplies, letting Lu arrange the order of precedence, and Lu put Zheng at the back. Hu of Zheng, because he had merit, was angry, and so later there was the battle at Lang.

公之未昏於齊也，齊侯欲以文姜妻鄭大子忽。大子忽辭，人問其故，大子曰：“人各有耦，齊大，非吾耦也。《詩》云：‘自求多福。’在我而已，大國何為？”君子曰：“善自為謀。”及其敗戎師也，齊侯又請妻之，固辭。人問其故，大子曰：“無事於齊，吾猶不敢。今以君命奔齊之急，而受室以歸，是以師昏也。民其謂我何？”遂辭諸鄭伯。

Before Duke Huan had arranged a marriage with Qi, the Marquis of Qi wished to marry Wen Jiang to Hu, the heir of Zheng. The heir Hu declined, and when someone asked why, the heir said: "Each person has his own mate; Qi is too great and is not my mate. The Odes say: 'Seek for yourself many blessings.' It lies only in myself; what use is a great state?" The gentleman said: "He is good at planning for himself." When he had defeated the Rong army, the Marquis of Qi again asked to give his daughter to him, and he firmly declined. When someone asked why, the heir said: "When I had no merit toward Qi, I still did not dare. Now I have come at my ruler's order to run to Qi's emergency, and to return having received a wife would be to gain a marriage by sending out troops. What would the people say of me?" So he declined with the Earl of Zheng.

秋，大閱，簡車馬也。

In autumn, a great review was held, to inspect the chariots and horses.

九月丁卯，子同生，以大子生之禮舉之，接以大牢，卜士負之，士妻食之。

On the day dingmao of the ninth month, the son Tong was born. It was handled according to the ritual for the birth of an heir: they received the child with a great sacrifice of ox, sheep, and pig, divined to choose an officer to hold him, and the officer's wife nursed him.

公與文姜、宗婦命之。

Duke Huan, with Wen Jiang and women of the same clan, named him.

公問名於申繻。對曰：“名有五，有信，有義，有象，有假，有類。以名生為信，以德命為義，以類命為象，取於物為假，取於父為類。不以國，不以官，不以山川，不以隱疾，不以畜牲，不以器幣。周人以諱事神，名，終將諱之。故以國則廢名，以官則廢職，以山川則廢主，以畜牲則廢祀，以器幣則廢禮。晉以僖侯廢司徒，宋以武公廢司空，先君獻、武廢二山，是以大物不可以命。”公曰：“是其生也，與吾同物，命之曰同。”

Duke Huan asked Shen Xu about naming. Shen Xu answered: "There are five kinds of names: the trust name, the righteous name, the image name, the borrowed name, and the kind name. To name by a mark at birth is the trust name; to name by virtue is the righteous name; to name by a similar object is the image name; to borrow a vessel's name is the borrowed name; to take what is the same as the father is the kind name. One does not use the name of a state, an office, a mountain or river, a hidden illness, an animal, or ritual vessels, jade, and silk. The Zhou serve the spirits with taboo avoidance, and a name must in the end be tabooed after death. So if a state's name is used, the state's name is abolished; if an office's name is used, the office is abolished; if a mountain or river is used, its spirit is abolished; if an animal is used, sacrifices are abolished; if ritual vessels, jade, and silk are used, ritual is abolished. Jin abolished the Minister of Education because of Marquis Xi; Song abolished the Minister of Works because of Duke Wu; our former rulers Duke Xian and Duke Wu abolished two mountain names; therefore a great object may not be used for a name." Duke Huan said: "This child was born on the same day as I, and so let him be named Tong."

冬，紀侯來朝，請王命以求成於齊，公告不能。

In winter, the Marquis of Ji came to pay court and asked to make peace with Qi by the Son of Heaven's command; Duke Huan told him it could not be done.

【經】七年春二月己亥，焚鹹丘。夏，谷伯綏來朝。鄧侯吾離來朝。

[Classic] In the seventh year, in spring, on the day jihai of the second month, Xiancheng was burned. In summer, Sui, Earl of Gu, came to pay court. Wuli, Marquis of Deng, came to pay court.

【傳】七年春，谷伯、鄧侯來朝。名，賤之也。

[Commentary] In the seventh year, in spring, the Earl of Gu and the Marquis of Deng came to pay court. The Spring and Autumn Annals writes their names to show contempt for them.

夏，盟、向求成於鄭，既而背之。

In summer, Meng and Xiang sought peace from Zheng, but soon turned against it again.

秋，鄭人、齊人、衛人伐盟、向。王遷盟、向之民於郟。

In autumn, the people of Zheng, Qi, and Wei attacked Meng and Xiang. The Son of Heaven moved the people of Meng and Xiang to Jia.

冬，曲沃伯誘晉小子侯，殺之。

In winter, the Earl of Quwo lured Xiaozi, Marquis of Jin, and killed him.

【經】八年春正月己卯，烝。天王使家父來聘。夏五月丁丑，烝秋，伐邾。

[Classic] In the eighth year, in spring, on the day jimao of the first month, the winter sacrifice was held. The Son of Heaven sent Jia Fu on a visit of courtesy. In summer, on the day dingchou of the fifth month, the winter sacrifice was held again. In autumn, Zhu was attacked.

冬十月，雨雪。祭公來，遂逆王后於紀。

In winter, in the tenth month, it snowed. The Lord of Ji came, and then went to Ji to welcome the queen.

【傳】八年春，滅翼。

[Commentary] In the eighth year, in spring, Yi was destroyed.

隨少師有寵。楚鬥伯比曰：“可矣。仇有釁，不可失也。”

Shao Shi of Sui was in favor. Dou Bobi of Chu said: "It is time. When the enemy has an opening, it must not be missed."

夏，楚子合諸侯於沈鹿。黃、隨不會，使薳章讓黃。楚子伐隨，軍於漢、淮之間。

In summer, the Viscount of Chu assembled the feudal lords at Shenlu. Huang and Sui did not come to the meeting, and Wei Zhang was sent to rebuke Huang. The Viscount of Chu attacked Sui, and the army camped between the Han and Huai rivers.

季梁請下之：“弗許而後戰，所以怒我而怠寇也。”少師謂隨侯曰：“必速戰。不然，將失楚師。”隨侯御之，望楚師。季梁曰：“楚人上左，君必左，無與王遇。且攻其右，右無良焉，必敗。偏敗，眾乃攜矣。”少師曰：“不當王，非敵也。”弗從。戰於速杞，隨師敗績。隨侯逸，鬥丹獲其戎車，與其戎右少師。

Ji Liang asked to submit to Chu first, saying: "If they do not agree, then we fight; this will arouse our army and make the enemy lax." Shao Shi said to the Marquis of Sui: "We must fight fast. Otherwise we will miss the Chu army." The Marquis of Sui sent out troops to resist and looked out at the Chu army from afar. Ji Liang said: "The men of Chu honor the left, so their ruler must be on the left; do not meet the King of Chu head-on. Let us attack his right wing first; the right wing has no good commander and will surely be defeated. When the side army is defeated, the main army will scatter." Shao Shi said: "If we do not face the King of Chu, we are not an equal opponent." The Marquis of Sui did not listen to Ji Liang. They fought at Suqi, and the Sui army was greatly defeated. The Marquis of Sui fled, and Dou Dan seized his war chariot, along with Shao Shi, the spearman on its right.

秋，隨及楚平。楚子將不許，鬥伯比曰：“天去其疾矣，隨未可克也。”乃盟而還。

In autumn, Sui made peace with Chu. The Viscount of Chu was not inclined to agree, but Dou Bobi said, "Heaven has already removed his affliction, and Sui still cannot be defeated." So they concluded a covenant and returned home.

冬，王命虢仲立晉哀侯之弟緡於晉。

In winter, the Son of Heaven ordered Guo Zhong to install in Jin Min, the younger brother of Marquis Ai of Jin.

祭公來，遂逆王后於紀，禮也。

Duke Ji of Zhai came, and then went on to Ji to welcome the queen; this accorded with ritual.

【經】九年春，紀季姜歸於京師。夏四月，秋七月。冬，曹伯使其世子射姑來朝。

[Classic] In the ninth year, in spring, Jisi Jiang of Ji was married to the capital. In summer, the fourth month. In autumn, the seventh month. In winter, the Earl of Cao sent his heir, She Gu, to court.

【傳】九年春，紀季姜歸於京師。凡諸侯之女行，唯王后書。

[Commentary] In the ninth year, in spring, Jisi Jiang of Ji was married to the capital. Whenever a daughter of a feudal lord goes forth, it is recorded only if she is to become queen.

巴子使韓服告於楚，請與鄧為好。楚子使道朔將巴客以聘於鄧。鄧南鄙鄾人攻而奪之幣，殺道朔及巴行人。楚子使薳章讓於鄧，鄧人弗受。

The Viscount of Ba sent Han Fu to report to Chu and ask for friendship with Deng. The Viscount of Chu sent Dao Shuo to take the guests from Ba to Deng on a mission. The men of You, on Deng's southern border, attacked them, seized their goods, and killed Dao Shuo and the envoys of Ba. The Viscount of Chu sent Wei Zhang to reproach Deng, but the people of Deng would not accept it.

夏，楚使鬥廉帥師及巴師圍鄾。鄧養甥、聃甥帥師救鄾。三逐巴師，不克。

In summer, Chu sent Dou Lian with an army to join the army of Ba in besieging You. Deng Yangsheng and Dansheng led troops to relieve You. Three times they drove back the army of Ba but could not win.

鬥廉衡陳其師於巴師之中，以戰，而北。鄧人逐之，背巴師而夾攻之。鄧師大敗，鄾人宵潰。

Dou Lian drew up his troops in a line across the middle of the Ba army and fought, then feigned defeat and fled. The men of Deng pursued him, turning their backs on the Ba army, and were attacked from both sides. The army of Deng was utterly defeated, and the men of You scattered in the night.

秋，虢仲、芮伯、梁伯、荀侯、賈伯伐曲沃。

In autumn, Guo Zhong, the Earl of Rui, the Earl of Liang, the Marquis of Xun, and the Earl of Jia attacked Quwo.

冬，曹大子來朝，賓之以上卿，禮也。享曹大子，初獻，樂奏而嘆。施父曰：“曹大子其有憂乎？非嘆所也。”

In winter, the heir of Cao came to court and was received with the ritual due to a senior minister, which accorded with ritual. At the banquet for him, at the first offering of wine, when the music was struck up he sighed. Shi Fu said, "The heir of Cao must have some sorrow. This is no occasion for sighing."

【經】十年春王正月，庚申，曹伯終生卒。夏五月，葬曹桓公。秋，公會衛侯於桃丘，弗遇。冬十有二月丙午，齊侯、衛侯、鄭伯來戰於郎。

[Classic] In the tenth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on gengshen, Zhong Sheng, Earl of Cao, died. In summer, in the fifth month, Duke Huan of Cao was buried. In autumn, Duke Huan met the Marquis of Wei at Taoqiu but did not meet him. In winter, in the twelfth month, on bingwu, the Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Wei, and the Earl of Zheng came, and they fought at Lang.

【傳】十年春，曹桓公卒。

[Commentary] In the tenth year, in spring, Duke Huan of Cao died.

虢仲譖其大夫詹父於王。詹父有辭，以王師伐虢。夏，虢公出奔虞。

Guo Zhong slandered his own grand officer Zhan Fu before the Son of Heaven. Zhan Fu was in the right, and so he led the royal army to attack Guo. In summer, the Duke of Guo fled to Yu.

秋，秦人納芮伯萬於芮。

In autumn, the men of Qin sent Wan, Earl of Rui, back to Rui.

初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗獻，既而悔之，曰：“周諺有之：‘匹夫無罪，懷璧其罪。’吾焉用此，其以賈害也？”乃獻之。又求其寶劍。叔曰：“是無厭也。無厭，將及我。”遂伐虞公，故虞公出奔共池。

Earlier, Uncle Yu had a piece of jade, and the Duke of Yu asked him for it. He would not give it, but soon regretted this, and said, "There is a Zhou proverb: 'A common man is guiltless; his guilt is in carrying a jade disc in his bosom.' What do I want this jade for? Am I to use it to buy misfortune?" So he presented it. The Duke of Yu then asked for his precious sword. Uncle Yu said, "This is insatiable greed. If he is insatiable, the calamity will fall on me." So he attacked the Duke of Yu, and the Duke of Yu fled to Gongchi.

冬，齊、衛、鄭來戰於郎，我有辭也。

In winter, Qi, Wei, and Zheng came and fought at Lang; our state was in the right.

初，北戎病齊，諸侯救之。鄭公子忽有功焉。齊人餼諸侯，使魯次之。魯以周班後鄭。鄭人怒，請師於齊。齊人以衛師助之。故不稱侵伐。先書齊、衛，王爵也。

Earlier, when the Northern Rong pressed Qi hard, the feudal lords went to its aid. Prince Hu of Zheng distinguished himself among them. The men of Qi sent provisions to the lords and asked Lu to arrange their order of precedence. Lu, following the ranks of the Zhou court, placed Zheng last. The men of Zheng were angry and asked Qi for troops. The men of Qi helped them with the army of Wei. For that reason the Spring and Autumn does not say "invade" or "attack." Qi and Wei are written first in accordance with the order of royal rank.

【經】十有一年春正月，齊人、衛人、鄭人盟於惡曹。夏五月癸未，鄭伯寤生卒。秋七月，葬鄭莊公。九月，宋人執鄭祭仲。突歸於鄭。鄭忽出奔衛。柔會宋公、陳侯、蔡叔盟於折。公會宋公於夫鍾。冬十月有二月，公會宋公於闞。

[Classic] In the eleventh year, in spring, in the first month, the men of Qi, the men of Wei, and the men of Zheng made a covenant at Ecao. In summer, in the fifth month, on guiwei, Wusheng, Earl of Zheng, died. In autumn, in the seventh month, Duke Zhuang of Zheng was buried. In the ninth month, the men of Song seized Zhai Zhong of Zheng. Tu returned to Zheng. Hu of Zheng fled to Wei. Rou met with the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, and Shu of Cai, and they made a covenant at Zhe. Duke Huan met the Duke of Song at Fuzhong. In winter, in the twelfth month (the base text reads "the tenth month and two months"; it should be "the twelfth month"), Duke Huan met the Duke of Song at Kan.

【傳】十一年春，齊、衛、鄭、宋盟於惡曹。

[Commentary] In the eleventh year, in spring, Qi, Wei, Zheng, and Song made a covenant at Ecao.

楚屈瑕將盟貳、軫。鄖人軍於蒲騷，將與隨、絞、州、蓼伐楚師。莫敖患之。

Qu Xia of Chu was about to make a covenant with Er and Zhen. The men of Yun were encamped at Puso and intended to attack the Chu army together with Sui, Jiao, Zhou, and Liao. The Mo'ao was troubled by this.