Duke Zhao (First to Thirty-second Year)

二月丙申，齊師至於蒲隧。徐人行成。徐子及郯人、莒人會齊侯，盟於蒲隧，賂以甲父之鼎。叔孫昭子曰：“諸侯之無伯，害哉！齊君之無道也，興師而伐遠方，會之，有成而還，莫之亢也，無伯也夫！《詩》曰：‘宗周既滅，靡所止戾。

In the second month, on the bingshen day, the Qi army reached Pusui. The men of Xu asked for peace. The Viscount of Xu, together with the men of Tan and Ju, met the Marquis of Qi and made a covenant at Pusui, bribing with the Jiafu tripod. Shu Sun Zhaozi said: "That the feudal lords have no hegemon is a harm! The lord of Qi is without the Way, raises troops to attack a distant place, assembles, and goes back as soon as there is peace, and no one stands against him; that is because there is no hegemon! The Odes say: 'The Zong Zhou is already destroyed, and there is no place to rest.

正大夫離居，莫知我肄。’其是之謂乎！”二月，晉韓起聘於鄭，鄭伯享之。子產戒曰：“苟有位於朝，無有不共恪。”

(The ode continues:) The chief high officers are scattered and live apart, and nobody knows my toil.' This probably refers to this!" In the second month, Han Qi of Jin visited Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng gave a banquet. Zichan warned: "If you have a place in the court, do not be disrespectful."

孔張後至，立於客間。執政御之，適客後。又御之，適縣間。客從而笑之。事畢，富子諫曰：“夫大國之人，不可不慎也，幾為之笑而不陵我？我皆有禮，夫猶鄙我。國而無禮，何以求榮？孔張失位，吾子之恥也。”子產怒曰：“發命之不衷，出令之不信，刑之頗類，獄之放紛，會朝之不敬，使命之不聽，取陵於大國，罷民而無功，罪及而弗知，僑之恥也。孔張，君之昆孫，子孔之後也，執政之嗣也，為嗣大夫，承命以使，周於諸侯，國人所尊，諸侯所知。立於朝而祀於家，有祿於國，有賦于軍，喪祭有職，受脤、歸脤，其祭在廟，已有著位，在位數世，世守其業，而忘其所，僑焉得恥之？辟邪之人而皆及執政，是先王無刑罰也。子寧以他規我。”

Kong Zhang arrived late and stood among the guests. The one in charge stopped him, and he went to behind the guests. He was stopped again and went to among the hanging instruments. The guests laughed at him in turn. When the matter was over, Fuzi remonstrated: "People of a great state must not be treated carelessly; we were almost laughed at by them and then they will not overbear us? Even if we all have ritual, they still despise us. If the state lacks ritual, how can it seek honor? Kong Zhang losing his place is your shame, sir." Zichan was angry and said: "If orders are not suitable, if commands lack good faith, if punishments are biased, if litigation is lax, if attendance at court is irreverent, if missions are not obeyed, if we are overborne by great states, if we exhaust the people without achievement, and guilt arrives without our knowing it, that is Qiao's shame. Kong Zhang is a grandson of the ruler's brother and a descendant of Zikong, heir of the one in charge of government, a high officer by succession, who received orders to go on missions to all the feudal lords, honored by the people of the state and known to the feudal lords. He has a place in the court, sacrifices at home, salary in the state, levies in the army, duties at mourning and sacrifices, receives and returns the sacrificial meat, and sacrifices in the temple; he already has a fixed place, has been in office for several generations and kept the family task for generations, yet forgot where to stand; how could Qiao take this as shame? That the perverse and wicked all go to the one in charge of government means that the former kings had no punishments. It would be better for you to admonish me with something else."

宣子有環，有一在鄭商。宣子謁諸鄭伯，子產弗與，曰：“非官府之守器也，寡君不知。”子大叔、子羽謂子產曰：“韓子亦無幾求，晉國亦未可以貳。晉國、韓子，不可偷也。若屬有讒人交鬥其間，鬼神而助之，以興其兇怒，悔之何及？吾子何愛於一環，其以取憎於大國也，盍求而與之？”子產曰：“吾非偷晉而有二心，將終事之，是以弗與，忠信故也。僑聞君子非無賄之難，立而無令名之患。

Xuanzi had a jade ring, of which a single one was with a merchant in Zheng. Xuanzi asked the Earl of Zheng for it, but Zichan did not give it, saying: "It is not an object kept by the government; our ruler does not know of it." Zi Dashu and Ziyu said to Zichan: "Han Zi also does not ask for much, and Jin also cannot yet be shown a divided heart. Jin and Han Zi must not be slighted. If slanderers happen to be among them stirring up quarrels, with the help of the spirits and with fierce anger roused, how could regret come in time? What is there for you to cherish about a single ring, so as to incur the hatred of a great state; why not ask for it and give it to him?" Zichan said: "I am not slighting Jin and having a divided heart; I intend to serve it to the end, and so I do not give it, for the sake of loyalty and good faith. I have heard that the gentleman's difficulty is not that he has no bribes, but that his concern is that he lacks a good name in his standing.

僑聞為國非不能事大字小之難，無禮以定其位之患。夫大國之人，令於小國，而皆獲其求，將何以給之？一共一否，為罪滋大。大國之求，無禮以斥之，何饜之有？吾且為鄙邑，則失位矣。若韓子奉命以使，而求玉焉，貪淫甚矣，獨非罪乎？出一玉以起二罪，吾又失位，韓子成貪，將焉用之？且吾以玉賈罪，不亦銳乎？”韓子買諸賈人，既成賈矣，商人曰：“必告君大夫。”韓子請諸子產曰：“日起請夫環，執政弗義，弗敢復也。今買諸商人，商人曰，必以聞，敢以為請。”

I have heard that what is difficult in governing a state is not being unable to serve the great and soothe the small, but that one's concern is lacking ritual with which to settle one's place. When people of a great state give orders to a small state and obtain all they seek, with what will it supply them? If it gives one and does not give another, the guilt is greater. When a great state's demands are not rebutted with ritual, where will they be satisfied? We would become a border town and lose our place. If Han Zi, sent on a mission, asks for jade, his greed and excess are too great; is that not a crime? Taking out a single jade would raise two kinds of crime, we would lose our place, and Han Zi would become greedy; what use would that be? Moreover, if I buy guilt with jade, is that not also petty?" Han Zi bought it from the merchant, and the deal was already settled, but the merchant said: "I must inform the ruler's high officer." Han Zi asked Zichan: "Formerly I asked for that ring, and the one in charge of government held it was not righteous, and I did not dare to ask again. Now I am buying from the merchant, and the merchant says he must let you hear of it; I dare to make this request."

子產對曰：“昔我先君桓公，與商人皆出自周，庸次比耦，以艾殺此地，斬之蓬蒿藜藿，而共處之。世有盟誓，以相信也，曰：‘爾無我叛，我無強賈，毋或丐奪。爾有利市寶賄，我勿與知。’恃此質誓，故能相保，以至於今。今吾子以好來辱，而謂敝邑強奪商人，是教弊邑背盟誓也，毋乃不可乎！吾子得玉而失諸侯，必不為也。若大國令，而共無藝，鄭，鄙邑也，亦弗為也。僑若獻玉，不知所成，敢私布之。”韓子辭玉，曰：“起不敏，敢求玉以徼二罪？敢辭之。”

Zichan answered: "Formerly our former ruler Duke Huan and the merchants all came out of Zhou, matched in turn, cleared this land, cut down the weeds, brambles and thistles, and lived here together. For generations there have been oaths to trust one another: 'You shall not betray me, I shall not force purchase, and you shall not beg or seize. If you have profitable markets and precious goods, I will not take part or know about them.' Relying on this pledge and oath, we could protect one another down to the present. Now you have condescended to come out of friendship, yet say that our humble town forcibly seizes merchants; this teaches our humble town to break the oath, and probably should not be done! If you gain jade and lose the feudal lords, you surely will not do it. If a great state issues orders and the supply is without limit, Zheng is a border town and also will not do it. If Qiao offers the jade, I do not know what would be accomplished; I dare to say this privately." Han Zi declined the jade, saying: "How could Qi, who is not clever, dare seek jade and so seek two kinds of crime? I dare to decline."

夏四月，鄭六卿餞宣子於郊。宣子曰：“二三君子請皆賦，起亦以知鄭志。”

In summer, in the fourth month, the six ministers of Zheng gave a farewell banquet for Xuanzi in the suburbs. Xuanzi said: "Please let all you gentlemen recite odes; with this Qi can also know Zheng's intentions."

子齹賦《野有蔓草》。宣子曰：“孺子善哉！吾有望矣。”子產賦鄭之《羔裘》。宣子曰：“起不堪也。”子大叔賦《褰裳》。宣子曰：“起在此，敢勤子至於他人乎？”子大叔拜。宣子曰：“善哉，子之言是！不有是事，其能終乎？”子游賦《風雨》，子旗賦《有女同車》，子柳賦《蘀兮》。宣子喜曰：“鄭其庶乎！二三君子以君命貺起，賦不出鄭志，皆暱燕好也。二三君子，數世之主也，可以無懼矣。”宣子皆獻馬焉，而賦《我將》。子產拜，使五卿皆拜，曰：“吾子靖亂，敢不拜德？”宣子私覲於子產以玉與馬，曰：“子命起舍夫玉，是賜我玉而免吾死也，敢不藉手以拜？”公至自晉。子服昭伯語季平子曰：“晉之公室，其將遂卑矣。君幼弱，六卿強而奢傲，將因是以習，習實為常，能無卑乎？”平子曰：“爾幼，惡識國？”秋八月，晉昭公卒。

Zi Cuo recited Ye You Man Cao. Xuanzi said: "A fine young man! I have hope." Zichan recited Zheng's Gao Qiu. Xuanzi said: "Qi cannot bear this." Zi Dashu recited Qian Chang. Xuanzi said: "Since Qi is here, dare I trouble you to go to someone else?" Zi Dashu bowed. Xuanzi said: "Good, that you say this! Without this, could there be an end?" Ziyou recited Feng Yu, Ziqi recited You Nü Tong Che, and Ziliu recited Tuo Xi. Xuanzi was pleased and said: "Zheng will probably be nearly there! You gentlemen have honored Qi with the ruler's command, and what you recited does not go beyond Zheng's own odes, all of close and friendly feeling. You gentlemen will be masters for several generations, and need not fear." Xuanzi gave a horse to each of them and recited Wo Jiang. Zichan bowed and had the five ministers all bow, saying: "You have brought peace to disorder; dare we not bow in thanks for your virtue?" Xuanzi privately met Zichan with a jade and horses and said: "You ordered Qi to put down that jade, which is giving me the jade and sparing me from death; dare I not borrow a hand to bow?" Duke Zhao returned from Jin. Zifu Zhaobo said to Ji Pingzi: "The ducal house of Jin will probably end in lowliness. The ruler is young and weak, and the six ministers are strong, extravagant and arrogant; they will form habits from this, and habits actually become constant; can it not become lowly?" Pingzi said: "You are young; how would you understand states?" In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Zhao of Jin died.

九月，大雩，旱也。鄭大旱，使屠擊、祝款、豎柎有事於桑山。斬其木，不雨。子產曰：“有事于山，蓺山林也，而斬其木，其罪大矣。”奪之官邑。

In the ninth month, the great yu sacrifice was held, because of drought. Zheng had a great drought and sent Tu Ji, Zhu Kuan and Shu Fu to sacrifice at Mount Sang. They cut down trees and no rain came. Zichan said: "To sacrifice at a mountain is to nurture and protect the mountain forest; but they cut down the trees; the crime is great." He deprived them of their official towns.

冬十月，季平子如晉葬昭公。平子曰：“子服回之言猶信，子服氏有子哉！”

In winter, in the tenth month, Ji Pingzi went to Jin to bury Duke Zhao. Pingzi said: "The words of Zifu Hui can still be trusted; the Zifu clan has a son!"

【經】十有七年春，小邾子來朝。夏六月甲戌朔，日有食之。秋，郯子來朝。

[Classic] In the seventeenth year, in spring, the Viscount of Little Zhu came to court. In summer, in the sixth month, on the jiaxu day, the first of the month, there was a solar eclipse. In autumn, the Viscount of Tan came to court.

八月，晉荀吳帥師滅陸渾之戎。冬，有星孛於大辰。楚人及吳戰於長岸。

In the eighth month, Xun Wu of Jin led an army and destroyed the Rong of Luhun. In winter, a comet appeared in the Great Dragon star (Dachen). The men of Chu fought Wu at Chang'an.

【傳】十七年春，小邾穆公來朝，公與之燕。季平子賦《採叔》，穆公賦《菁菁者莪》。昭子曰：“不有以國，其能久乎？”夏六月甲戌朔，日有食之。祝史請所用幣。昭子曰：“日有食之，天子不舉，伐鼓於社；諸侯用幣於社，伐鼓於朝。禮也。”平子御之，曰：“止也。唯正月朔，慝未作，日有食之，於是乎有伐鼓用幣，禮也。其餘則否。”大史曰：“在此月也。日過分而未至，三辰有災。於是乎百官降物，君不舉，闢移時，樂奏鼓，祝用幣，史用辭。故《夏書》曰：‘辰不集於房，瞽奏鼓，嗇夫馳，庶人走。’此月朔之謂也。當夏四月，是謂孟夏。”平子弗從。昭子退曰：“夫子將有異志，不君君矣。”

[Commentary] In the seventeenth year, in spring, Duke Mu of Little Zhu came to court, and Duke Zhao gave him a banquet. Ji Pingzi recited Cai Shu, and Duke Mu recited Jingjing Zhe E. Zhaozi said: "If one does not have what is used to govern a state, can it last long?" In summer, in the sixth month, on the jiaxu day, the first of the month, there was a solar eclipse. The invocators and scribes asked about the silk to be used. Zhaozi said: "In a solar eclipse, the Son of Heaven does not hold a rich banquet and beats drums at the altar of the earth; the feudal lords offer silk at the altar and beat drums in the court. This is ritual." Pingzi stopped it, saying: "Stop. Only on the first day of the first month, when the yin evil has not yet flared up, if there is a solar eclipse, then beating drums and offering silk is ritual. Otherwise it is not." The Grand Historian said: "It is precisely this month. When the sun has passed the spring equinox but not yet reached the summer solstice, the three heavenly bodies have calamity. Then the hundred officials lower their rank insignia, the ruler does not hold a rich banquet and avoids the matter until the eclipse passes, the musicians beat drums, the invocator uses silk and the scribe uses a text. Therefore the Book of Xia says: 'When the heavenly body does not gather in Fang, the music master beats the drum, the minor officials gallop and the commoners run.' It speaks of the first day of this month. It falls in the fourth month of summer, called the first month of summer." Pingzi did not follow this. Zhaozi withdrew and said: "The master will have different ambitions and no longer treats the ruler as a ruler."

秋，郯子來朝，公與之宴。昭子問焉，曰：“少皞氏鳥名官，何故也？”郯子曰：“吾祖也，我知之。昔者黃帝氏以雲紀，故為雲師而云名；炎帝氏以火紀，故為火師而火名；共工氏以水紀，故為水師而水名；大皞氏以龍紀，故為龍師而龍名。我高祖少皞摯之立也，鳳鳥適至，故紀於鳥，為鳥師而鳥名。鳳鳥氏，歷正也；玄鳥氏，司分者也；伯趙氏，司至者也；青鳥氏，司啟者也；丹鳥氏，司閉者也。祝鳩氏，司徒也；鴡鳩氏，司馬也；鳲鳩氏，司空也；爽鳩氏，司寇也；鶻鳩氏，司事也。五鳩，鳩民者也。五雉，為五工正，利器用、正度量，夷民者也。九扈為九農正，扈民無淫者也。自顓頊以來，不能紀遠，乃紀於近，為民師而命以民事，則不能故也。”仲尼聞之，見於郯子而學之。既而告人曰：“吾聞之：‘天子失官，學在四夷’，猶信。”

In autumn, the Viscount of Tan came to court, and Duke Zhao gave him a banquet. Zhaozi asked him: "Why did the house of Shaohao name officials after birds?" The Viscount of Tan said: "He was my ancestor, so I know. In the past, the Yellow Emperor's house recorded things by clouds, so it had cloud masters and used cloud names; the Yan Emperor's house recorded by fire, so it had fire masters and used fire names; the Gonggong house recorded by water, so it had water masters and used water names; and the house of Taihao recorded by dragons, so it had dragon masters and used dragon names. When my high ancestor Shaohao Zhi took the throne, the phoenix happened to arrive, so he recorded by birds, with bird masters and bird names. The Phoenix clan was Master of the Calendar; the Dark Bird clan managed the spring and autumn equinoxes; the Bo Zhao clan managed the winter and summer solstices; the Green Bird clan managed the beginning of spring and summer; the Red Bird clan managed the beginning of autumn and winter. The Zhu Jiu clan was Minister of the Masses; the Ju Jiu clan was Minister of War; the Shi Jiu clan was Minister of Works; the Shuang Jiu clan was Minister of Justice; the Gu Jiu clan was Minister of Affairs. The five Jiu gathered the people. The five Zhi were the five heads of crafts, making utensils convenient and standardizing measures, to level the people. The nine Hu were the nine heads of farming, to prevent the people from being without restraint. Since Zhuanxu, one could not record what was far off and so recorded what was near, becoming teachers of the people and naming offices by the people's affairs, because the old way could not be used." Zhongni heard of this and went to see the Viscount of Tan to study. Afterward he told people: "I have heard: 'When the Son of Heaven loses his officials, learning is among the four barbarians'; it is still credible."

晉侯使屠蒯如周，請有事於雒與三塗。萇弘謂劉子曰：“客容猛，非祭也，其伐戎乎？陸渾氏甚睦於楚，必是故也。君其備之！”乃警戎備。九月丁卯，晉荀吳帥師涉自棘津，使祭史先用牲於洛。陸渾人弗知，師從之。庚午，遂滅陸渾，數之以其貳於楚也。陸渾子奔楚，其眾奔甘鹿。周大獲。宣子夢文公攜荀吳而授之陸渾，故使穆子帥師，獻俘於文宮。

The Marquis of Jin sent Tu Kuai to Zhou to ask to sacrifice at the Luo River and at Santu. Chang Hong said to Liu Zi: "The guest looks fierce and is not here for sacrifice; he is probably going to attack the Rong? The Luhun clan is on very good terms with Chu, and that must be the reason. My lord should be on guard!" So he warned the defenses against the Rong. In the ninth month, on the dingmao day, Xun Wu of Jin led an army across at Jijin and sent a sacrificial historian ahead to sacrifice with animals at the Luo. The people of Luhun did not know and the army followed. On the gengwu day, he destroyed Luhun, listing as its crime its divided heart toward Chu. The Viscount of Luhun fled to Chu, and his people fled to Ganlu. Zhou took many captives. Xuanzi dreamed that Duke Wen pulled Xun Wu along and handed Luhun over to him, so he sent Muzi to lead the army and present the captives at the Wen Temple.

冬，有星孛於大辰，西及漢。申須曰：“彗所以除舊佈新也。天事恆象，今除於火，火出必布焉。諸侯其有火災乎？”梓慎曰：“往年吾見之，是其徵也，火出而見。今茲火出而章，必火入而伏。其居火也久矣，其與不然乎？火出，於夏為三月，於商為四月，於周為五月。夏數得天。若火作，其四國當之，在宋、衛、陳、鄭乎？宋，大辰之虛也；陳，大皞之虛也；鄭，祝融之虛也，皆火房也。

In winter, a comet appeared in the Great Dragon star (Dachen) and went west to the Han (Milky Way). Shen Xu said: "A comet is used to sweep out the old and spread the new. Heavenly matters constantly have images; now it sweeps over Fire, and when Fire appears it will surely be scattered. Perhaps the feudal lords will have a fire?" Zi Shen said: "Last year I saw it; it was an omen, and I saw it only when Fire appeared. This year Fire appeared and was prominent, and it will surely enter and hide. It has stayed at Fire for a long time already; is it not so? Fire appears in the third month of Xia, the fourth month of Shang and the fifth month of Zhou. The Xia count accords with Heaven. If fire breaks out, four states will bear it, perhaps Song, Wei, Chen and Zheng? Song is the ruins of Dachen; Chen is the ruins of Taihao; Zheng is the ruins of Zhurong; all of these are lodgings of Fire.

星孛天漢，漢，水祥也。衛，顓頊之虛也，故為帝丘，其星為大水，水，火之牡也。其以丙子若壬午作乎？水火所以合也。若火入而伏，必以壬午，不過其見之月。”鄭裨灶言於子產曰：“宋、衛、陳、鄭將同日火，若我用瓘斝玉瓚，鄭必不火。”子產弗與。

The comet is in the Heavenly Han, and the Han is an auspicious sign of water. Wei is the ruins of Zhuanxu, which is why it is Diqiu, and its star is the Great Water; water is the male counterpart of fire. It will probably break out on a bingzi or renwu day? Water and fire meet there. If Fire enters and hides, it will surely be on a renwu day, not beyond the month in which it was seen." Pi Zao of Zheng said to Zichan: "Song, Wei, Chen and Zheng will have fire on the same day; if I use a jade ladle and jade cup, Zheng will surely have no fire." Zichan did not give them.

吳伐楚。陽匄為令尹，卜戰，不吉。司馬子魚曰：“我得上流，何故不吉。

Wu attacked Chu. Yang Gai, prime minister, divined about fighting, and it was not auspicious. Sima Ziyu said: "We hold the upper reaches; why is it not auspicious?

且楚故，司馬令龜，我請改卜。”令曰：“魴也，以其屬死之，楚師繼之，尚大克之”。吉。戰於長岸，子魚先死，楚師繼之，大敗吳師，獲其乘舟餘皇。使隨人與後至者守之，環而塹之，及泉，盈其隧炭，陳以待命。吳公子光請於其眾，曰：“喪先王之乘舟，豈唯光之罪，眾亦有焉。請藉取之，以救死。”眾許之。

Moreover, by the old practice of Chu, the Marshal commands the tortoise; I ask to divine again." He commanded: "Fang will take his subordinates and die, and the Chu army will follow; we hope for a great victory." It was auspicious. They fought at Chang'an, Ziyu died first, the Chu army followed, and greatly defeated the Wu army, capturing their royal boat Yuhuang. They had men of Sui and late arrivals guard it, dug a trench around it down to the spring water, filled the tunnel with charcoal, and drew up in formation to wait. Prince Guang of Wu asked his troops: "Losing the royal boat of the former king is not the crime of Guang alone; all of you share it. Please take this chance to take it back, to save us from death." The troops agreed.

使長鬛者三人，潛伏於舟側，曰：“我呼餘皇，則對，師夜從之。”三呼，皆迭對。楚人從而殺之，楚師亂，吳人大敗之，取餘皇以歸。

He sent three men with long beards to hide beside the boat, saying: "When I call out Yuhuang, answer; the army will follow at night." Three times they called, and each time they answered in turn. The men of Chu followed and killed them, the Chu army fell into disorder, and the men of Wu greatly defeated them and took Yuhuang back.

【經】十有八年春王三月，曹伯須卒。夏五月壬午，宋、衛、陳、鄭災。六月，邾人入鄅。秋，葬曹平公。冬，許遷於白羽。

[Classic] In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the third month of the Zhou calendar, Xu, Earl of Cao, died. In summer, in the fifth month, on the renwu day, Song, Wei, Chen and Zheng had fires. In the sixth month, the men of Zhu entered Yu. In autumn, Duke Ping of Cao was buried. In winter, Xu moved to Baiyu.

【傳】十八年春，王二月乙卯，周毛得殺毛伯過而代之。萇弘曰：“毛得必亡，是昆吾稔之日也，侈故之以。而毛得以濟侈於王都，不亡何待！”三月，曹平公卒。

[Commentary] In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the second month of the Zhou calendar, on the yimao day, Mao De of Zhou killed Mao Bo Guo and took his place. Chang Hong said: "Mao De will surely be destroyed; this is the day when Kunwu's evil reached its full measure, because of extravagance. Mao De achieved extravagance in the royal capital; what is he waiting for if not destruction!" In the third month, Duke Ping of Cao died.

夏五月，火始昏見。丙子，風。梓慎曰：“是謂融風，火之始也。七日，其火作乎！”戊寅，風甚。壬午，大甚。宋、衛、陳、鄭皆火。梓慎登大庭氏之庫以望之，曰：“宋、衛、陳、鄭也。”數日，皆來告火。裨灶曰：“不用吾言，鄭又將火。”鄭人請用之，子產不可。子大叔曰：“寶，以保民也。若有火，國幾亡。可以救亡，子何愛焉？”子產曰：“天道遠，人道邇，非所及也，何以知之？灶焉知天道？是亦多言矣，豈不或信？”遂不與，亦不復火。

In summer, in the fifth month, the Great Fire star began to appear at dusk. On the bingzi day, a wind blew. Zi Shen said: "This is called the Rong wind, the beginning of fire. In seven days, the fire will probably break out!" On the wuyin day the wind grew stronger. On the renwu day it was very strong. Song, Wei, Chen and Zheng all had fires. Zi Shen climbed the storehouse of the Daiting clan to look out and said: "It is Song, Wei, Chen and Zheng." A few days later, they all came to report the fires. Pi Zao said: "If my words are not used, Zheng will have fire again." The men of Zheng asked to use them, but Zichan did not agree. Zi Dashu said: "Treasures are used to protect the people. If there is fire, the state is nearly lost. If we can save the state, what do you begrudge?" Zichan said: "The Way of Heaven is far and the way of man is near, which cannot be reached; how can we know? How would Zao know the Way of Heaven? He says too many words, and might not some happen to come true?" So he did not give them, and there was no further fire.

鄭之未災也，裡析告子產曰：“將有大祥，民震動，國幾亡。吾身泯焉，弗良及也。國遷其可乎？”子產曰：“雖可，吾不足以定遷矣。”及火，裡析死矣，未葬，子產使輿三十人，遷其柩。火作，子產辭晉公子、公孫於東門。使司寇出新客，禁舊客勿出於宮。使子寬、子上巡群屏攝，至於大宮。使公孫登徙大龜。

Before Zheng had its fire, Li Xi told Zichan: "There will be a great change; the people will be shaken and the state nearly lost. I myself will be gone and cannot be there. Would it be acceptable to move the capital?" Zichan said: "Even if it were acceptable, I am not able to decide to move." When the fire came, Li Xi had already died and not yet been buried, and Zichan sent thirty men with carts to move his coffin. When the fire rose, Zichan at the east gate sent away the princes and grandsons of Jin. He sent the Minister of Justice to see off the newly arrived guests and forbade the former guests from leaving the palace. He sent Zikuan and Zishang to inspect the screens and enclosures everywhere, reaching the Great Palace. He sent Gongsun Deng to move away the great tortoise.

使祝史徙主祏於周廟，告於先君。使府人、庫人各儆其事。商成公儆司宮，出舊宮人，置諸火所不及。司馬、司寇列居火道，行火所焮。城下之人，伍列登城。

He sent the invocators and scribes to move the main ancestral tablets to the Zhou Temple and report to the former rulers. He had the keepers of the treasury and the storehouses each take care of their duties. Shang Chenggong warned the Master of the Palace, released the old palace attendants and settled them in places the fire could not reach. The Marshal and Minister of Justice were set along the path of the fire to patrol where the fire burned. Those below the city walls climbed the walls by squads.

明日，使野司寇各保其徵。郊人助祝史除於國北，禳火於玄冥、回祿，祈於四鄘。

The next day, he sent the Minister of Justice of the fields to have each secure the levies for service. The people of the suburbs helped the invocators and scribes clear the area north of the capital, and performed rites to turn away the fire to Xuanming and Huilu, and prayed to the four walls.

書焚室而寬其徵，與之材。三日哭，國不市。使行人告於諸侯。宋、衛皆如是。

Those whose houses were burned were registered and their levies relaxed, and they were given timber. They wept for three days and the markets in the state were not opened. He sent envoys to inform the feudal lords. Song and Wei did likewise.

陳不救火，許不弔災，君子是以知陳、許之先亡也。

Chen did not fight the fire and Xu did not offer condolences for the disaster, and the gentleman thereby knew that Chen and Xu would be destroyed first.

六月，鄅人藉稻。邾人襲鄅，鄅人將閉門。邾人羊羅攝其首焉，遂入之，盡俘以歸。鄅子曰：“餘無歸矣。”從帑於邾，邾莊公反鄅夫人，而舍其女。秋，葬曹平公。往者見周原伯魯焉，與之語，不說學。歸以語閔子馬。閔子馬曰：“周其亂乎？夫必多有是說，而後及其大人。大人患失而惑，又曰：‘可以無學，無學不害。’不害而不學，則苟而可。於是乎下陵上替，能無亂乎？夫學，殖也，不學將落，原氏其亡乎？”七月，鄭子產為火故，大為社，祓禳於四方，振除火災，禮也。乃簡兵大蒐，將為蒐除。子大叔之廟在道南，其寢在道北，其庭小。過期三日，使除徒陳於道南廟北，曰：“子產過女而命速除，乃毀於而鄉。”子產朝，過而怒之，除者南毀。子產及沖，使從者止之曰：“毀於北方。”

In the sixth month, the men of Yu took the chance to harvest the rice. The men of Zhu attacked Yu by surprise, and the men of Yu were about to close the city gate. Yang Luo of Zhu cut off the head of the gatekeeper and so they entered, captured them all and took them back. The Viscount of Yu said: "I have no place to return." He followed his wife and children to Zhu, and Duke Zhuang of Zhu returned the lady of Yu and kept her daughter. In autumn, Duke Ping of Cao was buried. A traveler going there saw Yuan Bo Lu of Zhou and spoke with him; he did not like study. On returning he told Min Zima. Min Zima said: "Is Zhou perhaps in disorder? There must first be many such sayings, and then they reach the great men. The great men are afraid of losing their positions and confused, and say: 'We can do without study, and there is no harm in not studying.' Because there is no harm, they do not study, and then even carelessness is acceptable. Then those below overstep those above and those above are replaced; can it not be disorder? Study is growth, and not studying leads to withering; will the Yuan clan probably perish?" In the seventh month, Zichan of Zheng, because of the fire, held a great altar ceremony, performed purification rites in the four directions to shake off the fire calamity, which accords with ritual. Then he selected the troops and held a great hunt, and was to clear the roads for the hunt. Zi Dashu's temple was south of the road and his residence north of the road, with a small courtyard. After the deadline passed by three days, he had the road-clearing crew stand in rows south of the road and north of the temple, saying: "When Zichan passes by and orders it cleared quickly, tear it down toward your side." When Zichan went to court and passed, he was angry, and the road-clearers tore down southward. Zichan reached the crossroad and sent his attendants to stop them, saying: "Tear it down on the north side."

火之作也，子產授兵登陴。子大叔曰：“晉無乃討乎？”子產曰：“吾聞之，小國忘守則危，況有災乎？國之不可小，有備故也。”既，晉之邊吏讓鄭曰：“鄭國有災，晉君、大夫不敢寧居，卜筮走望，不愛牲玉。鄭之有災，寡君之憂也。今執事扌間然授兵登陴，將以誰罪？邊人恐懼，不敢不告。子產對曰：“若吾子之言，敝邑之災，君之憂也。敝邑失政，天降之災，又懼讒慝之間謀之，以啟貪人，薦為弊邑不利，以重君之憂。幸而不亡，猶可說也。不幸而亡，君雖憂之，亦無及也。鄭有他竟，望走在晉。既事晉矣，其敢有二心？”楚左尹王子勝言於楚子曰：“許於鄭，仇敵也，而居楚地，以不禮於鄭。晉、鄭方睦，鄭若伐許，而晉助之，楚喪地矣。君盍遷許？許不專於楚。鄭方有令政。

When the fire rose, Zichan issued weapons and climbed the parapets. Zi Dashu said: "Will Jin probably attack us?" Zichan said: "I have heard that a small state that forgets to guard is in danger, how much more one with a disaster? A state cannot be belittled because it has preparations." Afterward, the border officials of Jin reproached Zheng, saying: "Zheng has a calamity, and the lord and high officers of Jin dared not rest; they divined and rushed to sacrifice to the various mountains and rivers, sparing no animals or jade. Zheng's fire is my lord's worry. Now you, officials, vigorously issue weapons and climb the parapets (the base text has a variant form of the word 'vigorously'); whom will you blame? The border people are frightened and dare not fail to report." Zichan answered: "As you say, our humble town's calamity is your lord's worry. Our humble town has lost good government, Heaven sent down calamity, and we also feared that slanderers would plan in the gaps and open the way for greedy men, thereby becoming a further disadvantage to our humble town and adding to your lord's worry. If by good fortune we are not destroyed, we can still explain. If unfortunately we are destroyed, even if your lord grieves, it will be too late. Zheng has other borders and its hope for rescue is in Jin. Having already served Jin, would we dare to have a divided heart?" Prince Sheng, Left Commander of Chu, said to the Viscount of Chu: "Xu is an enemy of Zheng and yet lives on Chu's land, treating Zheng without ritual. Jin and Zheng are on good terms; if Zheng attacks Xu and Jin helps, Chu will lose land. Why does Your Majesty not move Xu? Xu does not belong to Chu alone. Zheng at present has good government.

許曰：‘餘舊國也。’鄭曰：‘餘俘邑也。’葉在楚國，方城外之蔽也。土不可易，國不可小，許不可俘，仇不可啟，君其圖之。”楚子說。冬，楚子使王子勝遷許於析，實白羽。

Xu says: 'We are an old state.' Zheng says: 'We are a captured town.' Ye is in Chu and is the screen outside Fangcheng. Land cannot be exchanged, a state cannot be belittled, the state of Xu cannot be taken captive, and enmity cannot be opened; Your Majesty should plan." The Viscount of Chu was pleased. In winter, the Viscount of Chu sent Prince Sheng to move Xu to Xi, which was actually Baiyu.

【經】十有九年春，宋公伐邾。夏五月戊辰，許世子止弒其君買。己卯，地震。秋，齊高發帥師伐莒。冬，葬許悼公。

[Classic] In the nineteenth year, in spring, the Duke of Song attacked Zhu. In summer, in the fifth month, on the wuchen day, Zhi, crown prince of Xu, murdered his ruler Mai. On the jimao day, there was an earthquake. In autumn, Gao Fa of Qi led an army to attack Ju. In winter, Duke Dao of Xu was buried.

【傳】十九年春，楚工尹赤遷陰於下陰，令尹子瑕城郟。叔孫昭子曰：“楚不在諸侯矣！其僅自完也，以持其世而已。”

[Commentary] In the nineteenth year, in spring, Gongyin Chi of Chu moved Yin to Xiayin, and Zixia, prime minister, built a wall at Jia. Shu Sun Zhaozi said: "Chu is no longer among the feudal lords! It only keeps itself intact to maintain its succession of generations, that is all."

楚子之在蔡也，郹陽封人之女奔之，生大子建。及即位，使伍奢為之師。

When the Viscount of Chu was in Cai, the daughter of the border warden of Jiyang came to him and bore Crown Prince Jian. When he took the throne, he sent Wu She to be his teacher.

費無極為少師，無寵焉，欲譖諸王，曰：“建可室矣。”王為之聘於秦，無極與逆，勸王取之，正月，楚夫人嬴氏至自秦。

Fei Wuji was junior tutor but not favored, and wished to slander him to the King, saying: "Jian can now set up a household." The King went to Qin on a visit for him, Wuji took part in the welcome and urged the King to take her himself, and in the first month the Lady Ying of Chu came from Qin.

鄅夫人，宋向戌之女也，故向寧請師。二月，宋公伐邾，圍蟲。三月，取之。乃盡歸鄅俘。

The lady of Yu was the daughter of Xiang Xu of Song, and so Xiang Ning asked for troops. In the second month, the Duke of Song attacked Zhu and besieged Chong. In the third month, he took it, and then returned all the captives of Yu.

夏，許悼公瘧。五月戊辰，飲大子止之藥卒。大子奔晉。書曰：“弒其君。”

In summer, Duke Dao of Xu had malaria. In the fifth month, on the wuchen day, he drank the medicine of Crown Prince Zhi and died. The crown prince fled to Jin. The Spring and Autumn Annals records "murdered his ruler."

君子曰：“盡心力以事君，舍藥物可也。”

The gentleman said: "To serve the ruler with all one's heart and strength, it would have been enough to give up the medicine."

邾人、郳人、徐人會宋公。乙亥，同盟於蟲。

The men of Zhu, Ni and Xu met the Duke of Song. On the yihai day, they made a covenant together at Chong.

楚子為舟師以伐濮。費無極言於楚子曰：“晉之伯也，邇於諸夏，而楚闢陋，故弗能與爭。若大城城父而置大子焉，以通北方，王收南方，是得天下也。”王說，從之。故太子建居於城父。

The Viscount of Chu organized a naval force and attacked Pu. Fei Wuji said to the Viscount of Chu: "Jin holds hegemony and is close to the Central States, while Chu is remote and rustic, and so cannot contend. If you greatly build up the wall of Chengfu and settle the crown prince there to connect with the north, and the King takes the south, this will gain the world." The King was pleased and followed it. So Crown Prince Jian lived in Chengfu.

令尹子瑕聘於秦，拜夫人也。

Zixia, prime minister, went to Qin on a visit, to thank the lady.

秋，齊高發帥師伐莒。莒子奔紀鄣。使孫書伐之。初，莒有婦人，莒子殺其夫，已為嫠婦。及老，托於紀鄣，紡焉以度而去之。及師至，則投諸外。或獻諸子占，子占使師夜縋而登。登者六十人。縋絕。師鼓譟，城上之人亦噪。莒共公懼，啟西門而出。七月丙子，齊師入紀。

In autumn, Gao Fa of Qi led an army to attack Ju. The Viscount of Ju fled to Jizhang. He sent Sun Shu to attack. At first, there was a woman in Ju whose husband the Viscount of Ju had killed, and she herself became a widow. In old age she lodged at Jizhang, spun thread and measured the city wall, and then discarded it. When the army arrived, she threw the thread outside the wall. Someone presented it to Zizhan, and Zizhan had the army let themselves down on ropes at night and climb up. Sixty men climbed up. The rope broke. The army beat drums and shouted, and the men on the wall shouted too. Duke Gong of Ju was afraid and went out the west gate. In the seventh month, on the bingzi day, the Qi army entered Ji.

是歲也，鄭駟偃卒。子游娶於晉大夫，生絲，弱。其父兄立子瑕。子產憎其為人也，且以為不順，弗許，亦弗止。駟氏聳。他日，絲以告其舅。冬，晉人使以幣如鄭，問駟乞之立故。駟氏懼，駟乞欲逃。子產弗遣。請龜以卜，亦弗予。

This year Si Yan of Zheng died. Ziyou had taken a wife from the family of a high officer of Jin and bore Si, who was young and weak. His fathers and elder brothers set up Zixia. Zichan disliked his character and also considered it irregular; he did not allow it but did not stop it either. The Si clan was alarmed. Later Si told his maternal uncle. In winter, the men of Jin sent someone with silk to Zheng to ask why Si Qi had been established. The Si clan was afraid, and Si Qi wished to flee. Zichan did not send him away. He asked to use tortoise divination, but that too was not given.

大夫謀對，子產不待而對客曰：“鄭國不天，寡君之二三臣，札瘥夭昏，今又喪我先大夫偃。其子幼弱，其一二父兄懼隊宗主，私族於謀而立長親。寡君與其二三老曰：‘抑天實剝亂是，吾何知焉？’諺曰：‘無過亂門。’民有兵亂，猶憚過之，而況敢知天之所亂？今大夫將問其故，抑寡君實不敢知，其誰實知之？平丘之會，君尋舊盟曰：‘無或失職。’若寡君之二三臣，其即世者，晉大夫而專制其位，是晉之縣鄙也，何國之為？”辭客幣而報其使。晉人舍之。

The high officers planned a response, and Zichan, without waiting, said to the guest: "Zheng is not protected by Heaven; several of our ruler's ministers have died young of plague, and now we have lost our former high officer Yan. His son is young and weak, and one or two fathers and elder brothers, fearing the loss of the clan head, privately planned in the clan to set up an elder relative. Our ruler and his several old ministers said: 'Perhaps Heaven is truly destroying this; what do we know?' The proverb says: 'Do not pass through a gate of disorder.' When the people have armed disorder, they still fear passing it; how much more would we dare to claim to know what Heaven has disordered? Now the high officer will ask the reason; our ruler truly does not dare to know, so who truly knows? At the meeting at Pingqiu, your ruler renewed the old covenant and said: 'Let no one lose his post.' If any of our ruler's several ministers dies and the high officers of Jin decide on their positions arbitrarily, that is a county or border town of Jin; why be a state at all?" He declined the guest's silk and gave a reply to the envoy. The men of Jin dropped the matter.

楚人城州來。沈尹戌曰：“楚人必敗。昔吳滅州來，子旗請伐之。王曰：‘吾未撫吾民。’今亦如之，而城州來以挑吳，能無敗乎？”侍者曰：“王施捨不倦，息民五年，可謂撫之矣。”戌曰：“吾聞撫民者，節用於內，而樹德於外，民樂其性，而無寇仇。今宮室無量，民人日駭，勞罷死轉，忘寢與食，非撫之也。”

The men of Chu built a wall at Zhoulai. Shen Yin Xu said: "The men of Chu will surely be defeated. In the past when Wu destroyed Zhoulai, Ziqi asked to attack. The King said: 'I have not yet pacified my people.' Now it is the same, yet they build a wall at Zhoulai to provoke Wu; can they escape defeat?" An attendant said: "The King gives relief tirelessly and has let the people rest for five years; it may be said he has pacified them." Xu said: "I have heard that one who pacifies the people economizes expenses within and establishes virtue without, and the people take delight in their lives and have no enemies. Now palaces have no limit, the people are alarmed every day, toil and exhaustion lead to death and displacement, they forget sleeping and eating; this is not pacifying."

鄭大水，龍鬥於時門之外洧淵。國人請為禜焉，子產弗許，曰：“我鬥，龍不我覿也。龍鬥，我獨何覿焉？禳之，則彼其室也。吾無求於龍，龍亦無求於我。”

Zheng had a great flood, and dragons fought in the Wei Abyss outside the Shi Gate. The people of the state asked to hold the ying sacrifice, but Zichan did not allow it, saying: "When we fight, the dragons do not look at us. When the dragons fight, why should I alone go and look? If we perform an exorcism against them, that place is their house. I seek nothing from the dragons, and the dragons seek nothing from me."

乃止也。

So they stopped.

令尹子瑕言蹶由於楚子曰：“彼何罪？諺所謂‘室於怒，市於色’者，楚之謂矣。舍前之忿可也。”乃歸蹶由。

Zixia, prime minister, spoke to the Viscount of Chu about Jue You: "What is his crime? The proverb that says 'Anger at home and show a face in the market' refers to Chu. Put aside the old resentment and it will do." So Jue You was returned.

【經】二十年春王正月。夏，曹公孫會自鄸出奔宋。秋，盜殺衛侯之兄縶。

[Classic] In the twentieth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar. In summer, Gongsun Hui of Cao fled from Ding to Song. In autumn, bandits killed Zhi, the elder brother of the Marquis of Wei.

冬十月，宋華亥、向寧、華定出奔陳。十有一月辛卯，蔡侯盧卒。

In winter, in the tenth month, Hua Hai, Xiang Ning and Hua Ding of Song fled to Chen. In the eleventh month, on the xinmao day, Lu, Marquis of Cai, died.

【傳】二十年春，王二月己丑，日南至。梓慎望氛曰：“今茲宋有亂，國幾亡，三年而後弭。蔡有大喪。”叔孫昭子曰：“然則戴、桓也！汏侈無禮已甚，亂所在也。”

[Commentary] In the twentieth year, in spring, in the second month of the Zhou calendar, on the jichou day, the sun reached its southern limit (winter solstice). Zi Shen looked at the vapors and said: "This year Song will have disorder and the state will be nearly lost, and after three years it will quiet down. Cai will have a great mourning." Shu Sun Zhaozi said: "Then it is the Dai and Huan families! Their arrogance, extravagance and lack of ritual have already gone too far, and disorder is there."

費無極言於楚子曰：“建與伍奢將以方城之外叛。自以為猶宋、鄭也，齊、晉又交輔之，將以害楚。其事集矣。”王信之，問伍奢。伍奢對曰：“君一過多矣，何信於讒？”王執伍奢。使城父司馬奮揚殺大子，未至，而使遣之。三月，大子建奔宋。王召奮揚，奮揚使城父人執己以至。王曰：“言出於餘口，入於爾耳，誰告建也？”對曰：“臣告之。君王命臣曰：‘事建如事餘。’臣不佞，不能苟貳。奉初以還，不忍後命，故遣之。既而悔之，亦無及已。”王曰：“而敢來，何也？”對曰：“使而失命，召而不來，是再奸也。逃無所入。”王曰：“歸。”從政如他日。

Fei Wuji said to the Viscount of Chu: "Jian and Wu She will take Fangcheng's outer lands and rebel. He considers himself still like Song and Zheng, with Qi and Jin crossing to help, and will use this to harm Chu. The matter is already in place." The King believed it and asked Wu She. Wu She answered: "Your Majesty has already made many errors once; why do you listen to slander?" The King seized Wu She. He sent Fen Yang, Marshal of Chengfu, to kill the crown prince, but before he arrived, Fen Yang first sent someone to send him away. In the third month, Crown Prince Jian fled to Song. The King summoned Fen Yang, and Fen Yang had the men of Chengfu seize him and bring him. The King said: "The words came out of my mouth and went into your ear; who told Jian?" He answered: "I told him. Your Majesty ordered me: 'Serve Jian as you would serve me.' I am not talented and cannot carelessly have a divided heart. I returned bearing the first command and could not bear to follow the later one, so I sent him away. Afterward I regretted it, but it was too late." The King said: "You dared to come; why?" He answered: "To go on a mission and lose the command, and to be summoned and not come, would be a second offense. There is no place to flee to." The King said: "Go back." He took part in government as before.

無極曰：“奢之子材，若在吳，必憂楚國，盍以免其父召之。彼仁，必來。

Wuji said: "She's sons are talented, and if they are in Wu, they will surely trouble Chu; why not summon them by promising to spare their father? They are benevolent and will surely come.

不然，將為患。”王使召之，曰：“來，吾免而父。”棠君尚謂其弟員曰：“爾適吳，我將歸死。吾知不逮，我能死，爾能報。聞免父之命，不可以莫之奔也；親戚為戮，不可以莫之報也。奔死免父，孝也；度功而行，仁也；擇任而往，知也；知死不闢，勇也。父不可棄，名不可廢，爾其勉之，相從為愈。”伍尚歸。

Otherwise they will become a calamity." The King sent someone to summon them, saying: "Come, and I will spare your father." Shang, Lord of Tang, said to his younger brother Yun: "You go to Wu, and I will go back and die. My wisdom and thought do not reach it; I can die, and you can avenge. Hearing the order to spare our father, someone must hasten to it; when relatives are killed, someone must take revenge. To hasten to death to spare a father is filial; to weigh merit and then act is benevolent; to choose the task and go is wise; to know death and not avoid it is brave. The father cannot be abandoned and the name cannot be ruined; you do your best, and it will be better if we complete each other." Wu Shang went back.

奢聞員不來，曰：“楚君、大夫其旰食乎！”楚人皆殺之。

When She heard that Yun did not come, he said: "The lord and high officers of Chu will probably be late for their meals!" The men of Chu killed them both.

員如吳，言伐楚之利於州於。公子光曰：“是宗為戮而欲反其仇，不可從也。”

Yun reached Wu and spoke to Zhouyu about the benefit of attacking Chu. Prince Guang said: "This is someone whose clan has been killed and who wants to take revenge; he should not be followed."