佛祖歷代通載 2

English (machine translation) 2

Language: English

2.1

Compiled by Nianchang of Huating, Abbot of Dazhong Xiangfu Chan Monastery in Jiaxing Route

Rulers of High Antiquity (Tai means the utmost; gu means the ancient that presages the present; jun means lord or sovereign. The Bohu tong says: 'It means a multitude, the turning of the multitude of inferiors in allegiance').

2.3

(1) Pan Gu, the first ruler, reigned for 18,000 years. (Liezi says: 'The Revolver is Pan Gu.' Beishan says: 'Heaven rose by one zhang; the earth thickened by one zhang. Pan Gu grew by one zhang. His head reached the extreme east, his feet the extreme west, his left hand the extreme south, and his right hand the extreme north. When he opened his eyes, it was dawn; when he closed his eyes, it was night. His exhalation became heat; his inhalation became cold. His blowing breath formed the wind and clouds; his uttered breath formed thunder and lightning. The four seasons moved thereby, and the ten thousand things were born thereby. In the vastness of the eight bounds and nine domains, who could match his magnitude? In the veneration of the Three Sovereigns and Five Chronicles, who could precede him?' The Gujin ji records that after Pan Gu died, his body divided into material forms and phenomena.)

2.4

(2) The Heavenly Sovereign. One body with thirteen heads. Wei Zhao says: 'There were thirteen brothers who divided the land and ruled, each reigning for 18,000 years.' The Gujin ji says: 'The Heavenly Sovereign had a single body, surmounted by thirteen heads.'

2.5

(3) The Earthly Sovereign. One body with eleven heads. Wei Zhao says: 'There were eleven brothers, who reigned for 11,000 years.' The Diwang jiazi says: '9,000 years.' Some say the Three Sovereigns each reigned for 18,000 years.

2.6

(4) The Human Sovereign. One body with nine heads. Wei Zhao says: 'There were nine brothers who divided and ruled the Nine Provinces.' The Diwang jiazi says: '4,500 years; sixty-five generations of Human Sovereigns, lasting 45,600 years.'

2.7

(5) The Five Chronicles

2.8

The Chronicle of the Five Dragons, five surnames, reigned for 273,600 years. At that time, people ate leaves and dwelt in nests.

2.9

The Chronicle of Sheti, seventy-two surnames, reigned for 649,520 years. Day and night, hours, days, months, and new moons first began to be divided. The moon became the Jade Hare and the Toad; the golden crow had three legs, rising from Fusang and setting in Xianchi.

2.10

The Chronicle of Hexiong, three surnames, reigned for 63,000 years.

2.11

The Chronicle of Lianjing, six surnames, reigned for 69,000 years. Wei Zhao says: '32,000 years.'

2.12

The Chronicle of Xuming, four surnames, reigned for 40,000 years.

2.13

(6) Youchao Shi. A hundred generations without recorded years. The Classic of Rites says: 'In ancient times, the former kings had no palaces or chambers; in winter they dwelt in underground pits and mounds, and in summer they dwelt in raised platforms and nests. Before there was the transformation by fire, they ate the fruits of grasses and trees, and the flesh of birds and beasts; they drank their blood and swallowed their fur.'

2.14

(7) Suiren Shi. He drilled wood to produce fire. The Classic of Rites says: 'They roasted broomcorn millet and cleaved suckling pigs.' The commentary says: 'In middle antiquity there were not yet cauldrons and steamers; they chose grain and sliced meat, placing them on heated stones to eat.' The Gujin ji says: 'He ruled through the virtue of Wood, reigning for 80,000 years.'

2.15

From high antiquity onward, the four seasons were ordered, the length of days and nights was measured, and the equinoxes and solstices arose. The Book of Documents says: 'A year consists of three hundred and sixty-six days; by an intercalary month the four seasons are fixed and the year is completed.' (The body of Heaven is perfectly round, circumscribing 365 and 1/4 degrees. Reversing its rotation westward around the Earth, it regularly completes one circuit a day and exceeds it by one degree. The sun adheres to Heaven but moves slightly slower; thus the sun's travel in one day also completes one circuit around the Earth, yet relative to Heaven falls short by one degree. Accumulating 365 days and 235/940ths of a day, it meets with Heaven: this is the figure for the sun's travel in one year. The moon adheres to Heaven and moves still slower; in one day it regularly falls short of Heaven by 13 and 7/19ths degrees. Accumulating 29 days and 499/940ths of a day, it meets with the sun. Twelve meetings yield 348 whole days and an accumulated remainder of fractions; further, 5,988 divided by the day-divisor 940 yields 6 with a remainder of 348. Taken altogether, this yields 354 days and 348/940ths of a day: this is the figure for the moon's travel in one year. A year has twelve months; a month has thirty days; 360 is the regular number of a single storage. Thus, when the sun meets with Heaven and exceeds it by 5 days and 235/940ths of a day, this is the solar excess; when the moon meets with the sun and falls short by 5 days and 592/940ths of a day, this is the lunar deficit; and from this the intercalation arises. Hence the intercalary rate for one year is 10 days and 827/940ths of a day; in three years there is one intercalation of 32 days and 601/940ths of a day; in five years there are two intercalations of 54 days and 375/940ths of a day; in nineteen years there are seven intercalations, whereupon the solar terms and new moons coincide evenly: this constitutes one cycle. Therefore, if no intercalation is inserted for three years, one month of spring slips into summer, and the seasons gradually become unfixed; the month of zi slips into chou, and the year gradually becomes incomplete. If this accumulates for long until three intercalations are missed, all of spring slips into summer, and the seasons become entirely disordered. If twelve intercalations are missed, all of zi slips into chou, and the year becomes entirely incomplete.)

2.16

The Three Sovereigns (Zhongyongzi says: 'Sovereign (huang) means great; being unconditioned internally and externally, one transforms the people through the Way').

2.17

Master Lei says: ('High antiquity's primal chaos began with the Three Sovereigns: Fuxi, Shennong, and Xuanyuan).

2.18

(8) Taihao Fuxi Shi (surnamed Feng; styled Taihao. His mother was Huaxu, who gave birth to him upon being moved by treading on a giant's footprint. He had a serpent's body and a human head. He reared domestic animals for the kitchen, and was therefore also called Paoxi. He was the foremost ruler of peace in the realm, posthumously titled 'Calmer of the People,' and by taking Heaven as his model he was called Sovereign). Ruling by the virtue of Wood, his capital was at Chenliu (now the boundary of Xiaohuang County in Yanzhou). He reigned for 110 years. He first drew the eight trigrams and created written tallies (to replace the system of knotted cords, from which written records arose). He instituted marriage (the woman going out is called marrying out; the man taking a wife is called taking in marriage). He set nets and snares to catch fish (wang and luo are nets. The Erya says: bird snares are called luo, fish traps are called quan, and hare snares are called zhi). He created the twenty-five-stringed se zither (seven chi two cun long, one chi eight cun wide). Nüwa Shi (surnamed Feng, younger sister of Fuxi; capable of transforming the myriad things) created the sheng mouth-organ and reed-pipes (four chi long; pipes arranged in a gourd fitted with reeds; the large ones have nineteen reeds, the small ones thirteen reeds; thirty-seven bamboo pipes; reeds four chi two cun long, made of bamboo, shaped unevenly like bird feathers). She smelted five-colored stones to mend the fissure in Heaven, and severed the legs of a giant turtle to establish the four extremities. She reigned for 140 years.

2.19

Gonggong Shi, Dating Shi, Bohuang Shi, Zhongyang Shi, Luli Shi, Lilian Shi, Hexu Shi, Zunlu Shi, Hundun Shi, Haoying Shi, Getian Shi, Zhuxiang Shi, Yinkang Shi, and Wuhuai Shi: altogether fifteen generations, spanning 17,787 years, not recorded in the classics and histories.

2.20

(9) The God of the Soil (In ancient times Gonggong Shi had a son named Houtu, who was capable of leveling the Nine Provinces and was worshipped as the God of the Soil, master of the five soils. The five soils refer to mountains and rivers, marshes and pools, hills and mounds, tombs and alluvial plains, and high plateaus and lowlands. Because the earth is distant, wide, and moist, earth was heaped up to worship him in recompense for the earth's merits. In what generation he was first matched with Houtu is unknown, and awaits one who knows).

2.21

(10) The Flame Emperor Shennong Shi (surnamed Jiang; styled the Flame Emperor. His mother was Nüdeng Shi, who gave birth to him upon being moved by a divine dragon. He had a human body and an ox's head. He grew up by the Jiang River and took it as his surname). He ruled by the virtue of Fire. His capital was at Chen, and he moved it to Quwo. He reigned for 140 years and was buried in Changsha. The Classic of Changes says: 'Shennong Shi carved wood to make plowshares and bent wood to make plow handles.' He first taught the realm to sow and plant the five grains. He also tasted the hundred flavors to establish the Materia Medica and cure ailments with medicines; he multiplied the eight trigrams into the sixty-four; he created markets for the barter of commodities; he instituted sacrificial robes and made the five-stringed qin zither to mirror the Five Phases. From him downward came Emperor Cheng, Emperor Linkui, Emperor Ming, Emperor Zhi, Emperor Lai, Emperor Ai, and Emperor Yuwang: altogether eight generations, lasting 540 years.

2.22

(11 Dinghai) The Yellow Emperor Youxiong Shi (surnamed Gongsun, named Xuanyuan. The second son of Shaodian. He was divine and intelligent at birth, capable of speaking while yet an infant, compliant and neat in childhood, sincere and clever in youth, and astute and perceptive in adulthood. In the late years of Yugang, the feudal lords attacked one another; the Emperor made bows and arrows to campaign against them, and the whole realm submitted. He subdued tigers, pixiu, chul, and xiong at the slope of Banquan. There was Chiyou, whose eighty-one brothers had bronze heads and iron brows, who devoured sand and swallowed stones; they were the spirits of mountains and seas who brought disorder to the realm. He battled them in the wilds of Zhuolu, and Chiyou was beheaded by the Central Emperor. Having cast a tripod, he attained flying transcendence, grasping the dragon's whiskers to ascend. His lifespan was 210 years; his cap and robes were buried at Mount Qiao). He reigned for 100 years. His minister Zuo Che (carved wood into his likeness to act as minister, leading the feudal lords to court for ten years to administer the government). He built the Hall of Harmony, fashioned garments, and ordered Lu Ban to build boats and carts (zhou means to travel, capable of crossing waters; che means a conveyance, capable of traveling and residing). He erected buildings and chambers, and crafted inner and outer coffins to send off the dead; funeral rites began with him (the Classic of Rites says: 'The Son of Heaven is encoffined in seven days and buried in seven months; feudal lords are encoffined in five days and buried in five months; grand masters, servicemen, and commoners are encoffined in three days and buried in three months. The mound of the Son of Heaven is three ren high, planted with pines; that of feudal lords is half of that, planted with cypresses; grand masters, eight chi, planted with chestnuts; principal servicemen, four chi, planted with scholar trees; commoners have no mound, planted with willows'). He composed the music of Xianchi, and employed Tianlao, Limu, and Taishan Ji as his ministers.

2.23

(Jiazi 1) Feng Hou established the sexagenary cycle (jiazi) (another version says Da Nao. Thirty-eight years after the Emperor ascended the throne, he first ordered Da Nao to create the sexagenary cycle; hence the thirty-eighth year was taken as the first jiazi, and calculating backward to his first year yields the year dinghai). Rong Cheng created the calendar; Lishou calculated arithmetic. He inquired into the Way from Guangchengzi. Cangjie served as scribe; Qibo distinguished herbs and plants; Yu Fu determined the Pulse Classic; Ling Lun fashioned the pitch-pipes (to harmonize the musical pitch-pipes, bamboo tubes nine cun long were used, either decreased or increased to determine the five tones). He established the Nine Provinces (the Li di ji says: 'The Yellow Emperor had twenty-five sons, twelve of whom received surnames: Ji, You, Qi, Yi, Teng, Zhen, Ren, Xun, Xi, Shi, Huan, and Xiu. He divided them to govern the Nine Provinces: Ji, Qing, Xu, Yu, Yong, Liang, Chu, Yang, and Yan. From the eldest to the youngest, they were enfiefed in order. Later, the descendants—the Five Emperors and Three Kings—were all their posterity.' The Emperor married a daughter of Dating Shi and had two sons: the elder was named Xuanxiao, and the younger was named Changyi). Altogether eighteen generations, lasting 1,520 years.

2.24

The Five Emperors (Zhongyongzi says: 'Di (Emperor) means embodiment; with an unconditioned inner mind yet engaging in conditioned action, one transforms the people through virtue and instruction. One whose virtue matches Heaven and Earth is called Di').

2.25

Master Lei said: (Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Ku, Tang Yao, and Yu Shun were succeeded by the Xia.)

2.26

(12. Sexagenary Cycle 2) Shaohao, the Jintian clan (surname: Ji; personal name: Zhi; style name: Qingyang; mother: Nüjie. A star like a rainbow descended, by which she conceived and gave birth [to him]. He had disheveled hair and bare feet, and wore no cap or crown; he was the son of the Yellow Emperor and lived to be one hundred years old). He came to the throne in the dingmao year. He reigned for eighty-four years. He ruled by the virtue of Metal. His capital was at Qiongsang, and was later moved to Qufu. He established wards and markets, instituted weights and measures, composed music, and set up one hundred and twenty crafts. He classified officials by birds. Phoenixes arrived. In all there were ten generations, lasting four hundred and ninety years.

2.27

(13. Sexagenary Cycle 3) Zhuanxu, the Gaoyang clan (surname: Ji; personal name: Zhuanxu; grandson of the Yellow Emperor; son of Changyi. A star was like a rainbow; a woman conceived by it and gave birth [to him]. He passed away at the age of ninety-eight and was buried at Dunqiu, as recorded in the commentaries on the documents). He came to the throne in the xinmao year. He reigned for seventy-eight years. He ruled by the virtue of Water. His capital was at Diqiu (present-day Puyang County). He created a calendar taking the first month of spring as its inception. He made the flat ceremonial cap and crown (eight inches wide and one foot six inches long; not until the Zhou were pendants instituted, with twelve strings each in front and back using multicolored cords and jade). He established the Three Excellencies and Nine Ceremonies, and twenty-four administrators. He cultivated materials according to the land, conformed to the seasons mirroring heaven, kept gods and men from intermixing, and brought order to myriad things. He fathered eight talented sons, known as the Eight Harmonious Ones. He quelled the rebellion of the Jiuli. He regulated the ether to instruct and transform, purified his sincerity to perform sacrifices, distinguished the proper roles of ruler and minister, and composed the music of the Wuxing (uniting them as the foundation of the Five Elements). In all there were eight generations, lasting five hundred and twenty years.

2.28

(14. Sexagenary Cycle 4) Emperor Ku, the Gaoxin clan (surname: Ji; personal name: Qi; great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor; grandson of Xuanxiao; son of Jiaoxuan. He died at the age of one hundred and five and was buried in Yiyang). He came to the throne in the jiyou year. He reigned for seventy-nine years. He ruled by the virtue of Wood. His capital was at Bo (present-day Yanshi County). He took Chisongzi as his master. He established the officials of the Five Elements: making Goumang the Wood Officer (son of Shaohao), Zhurong the Fire Officer (son of Zhuanxu), Rushou the Metal Officer (son of Shaohao), Xuanming the Water Officer (also son of Shaohao), and Houtu the Earth Officer (son of Gaoyang). He fathered eight talented sons, known as the Eight Primal Ones. He made cauldrons, pots, pelican-skin drums, bells, musical stones, xun flutes, and chi flutes (drums are made of leather joined with wood, which sound when struck; bells are cast in bronze mixed with clay, resembling handbells but not round, two feet two and a half inches high and eight-tenths of an inch thick, called suspended bells; the front chime-stone is three pitch-pipes long, two feet seven inches, and the rear chime-stone is two pitch-pipes long, one foot eight inches, called the huangzhong stone; the xun is made of fired clay, as large as a wild goose egg, pointed at the top and flat at the bottom, with five holes; the Baihu tong says it is shaped like a steelyard weight with six holes, slightly different from the Zhouli; the chi is made of bamboo, one foot four inches long and three inches in circumference, while a smaller one is one foot two inches, with six holes on top). In all there were nine generations, lasting three hundred and fifty years. (The Zuo zhuan says: Cangshu, Tui'ai, Taoyan, Dalin, Pangjiang, Tingjian, Zhongrong, and Shuda were called the Eight Harmonious Ones. Bofen, Zhongkan, Shuxian, Shubao, Jizhong, Bohu, Zhongxiong, and Jili were called the Eight Primal Ones).

2.29

(15. Sexagenary Cycle 5) Emperor Yao, the Taotang clan (surname: Yiqi; personal name: Fangxun; great-great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor; second son of Emperor Ku. He was born after a pregnancy of fourteen months. His eyebrows displayed eight colors. He lived with earthen steps and a thatched roof). He came to the throne in the jiachen year. He reigned for ninety-eight years. He ruled by the virtue of Fire. His capital was at Pingyang (present-day Jinzhou), and was later moved to Anyi. Counting Shun's regency, he governed for one hundred and eighteen years (beginning in the bingyin year and ending in the guimao year; Shun observed mourning for two years until the yisi year; he died at the age of one hundred and eighteen, was buried at Gulin, and received the posthumous title Yao, meaning 'assisting goodness and transmitting sagehood'). He designated years as zai. He took Gentleman Juying as his master. He commanded Xi and He to calculate and delineate the images of the sun, moon, stars, and constellations, and reverently bestow the seasons upon the people. Heaven sent down a female sheep (named Chuxie; when it died, it was buried to the right of the palace hall, and the mingjia plant sprouted, eight feet tall, growing one leaf on the first of each month until the full moon when it had fifteen leaves, and shedding one leaf each day after the full moon until none remained at the end of the month; there was a lamb named Xiezhi; when it died, it was buried to the left of the palace hall, and the cinnabar grass sprouted, one zhang tall, named the flatterer-pointing grass). He established the Hall of Balance and created go (its three hundred and sixty paths symbolising the thirty-six decades; he taught it to Danzhu). He composed the Great Music Chapter. Auspicious grain flourished and phoenixes arrived. There were thirty-two worthy men (whose names are not detailed). He instituted the drum for those daring to admonish. There was a flood for nine years (commanding Gun and Yu to control it). Ten suns appeared simultaneously (he ordered Yi to shoot them, and nine birds fell dead to the ground. Confucian traditions say that to the southeast lay the state of Xihe, where a woman named Xihe gave birth to ten suns and bathed them in the sea; during this king's time, ten suns appeared simultaneously, and Yi shot nine of them, leaving only one. Note: Zhang Yi was a skilled archer; he once obtained the elixir of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West, which was an animal fungus; his wife stole and ate it, and fled into the moon palace, being named Chang'e; hence the moon is called the Toad, and he is the Old Man of the Field).

2.30

(16. Sexagenary Cycle 6) Emperor Shun, the Youyu clan (surname: Yao; personal name: Chonghua; style name: Dujun; sixth-generation descendant of Zhuanxu. He had a dragon's visage and a large mouth, with double pupils in his eyes. At age twenty he became famous throughout the world for his filial piety; at thirty he was employed; during a southern tour of inspection he died at Cangwu at the age of one hundred and fifty). He ruled by the virtue of Earth. His capital was at Puban (present-day Hezhong Prefecture). During Yao's time he acted as regent for twenty-eight years, governing for a total of fifty years (ascending the throne in the bingwu year and ending in the yiwei year; he was buried at Jiuyi Mountain; he was given the posthumous title Shun, meaning 'benevolent, sagacious, gracious, and brilliant'). He sang the 'Poem of the Southern Wind'. He raised up the sixteen ministers (meaning the Eight Harmonious Ones and the Eight Primal Ones). He banished the Four Evils (The Zuo zhuan says: Huanxiong was an unworthy son of the Yellow Emperor, who covered over righteousness and concealed virtue, loving violent deeds; he was called Hundun. Gonggong was an unworthy son of Shaohao, who destroyed trust and abandoned loyalty, adorning wicked words; he was called Qiongqi. Gun was an unworthy son of Zhuanxu, who was arrogant and perverse against illustrious virtue, disrupting the celestial norms; he was called Taowu. Sanmiao, the unworthy descendant of the Yellow Emperor's minister, the clan of Jinyun, was greedy for food and drink, coveting wealth and gain; he was called Taotie). His minister Chui created lacquerware. He sent Gaoyao to judge lawsuits and establish the five punishments (The Shangshu says: The five punishments began in the reign of Shun. Zheng's commentary on the Liji says: Tattooing means cutting the forehead and filling it with ink; those who act inappropriately and do not follow morality are subjected to this. Amputation of the nose means cutting off the nose; those who alter carriages and garments or change regulations are subjected to this. Cutting off the feet means amputating the feet; those who breach mountain passes or canals or scale city walls are subjected to this. Castration means removing the genitals for men and confining women to secluded chambers; men and women who engage in illicit relations contrary to ritual and propriety are subjected to this. Capital punishment means the death penalty; bandits and plunderers are subjected to this). He composed the Shao music and built the Zongzhang (The Shao has nine variations and eleven movements. The music on the terrace has six instruments: the zhu resembles a lacquer tub, two feet four inches square and one foot eight inches deep, with a mallet-handle inside, used to begin the music; the yu resembles a crouching tiger, with twenty-four serrations on its back, carved from wood about a foot long, modeling the culmination of the yang number of three times nine, scraped to end the music; the qin is three feet six inches long, symbolizing the three hundred and sixty days, and six inches wide, symbolizing the six directions; its upper opening is called the pond and its lower opening is called the shore; wide in front and narrow in back, symbolizing the noble and base; round above and square below, modeling heaven and earth; its seven strings are made of boiled vermilion silk, seven feet two inches long, modeling the seventy-two solar pentads; some say King Wen and King Wu of Zhou added strings to the five-string qin to make seven strings, with the large and small strings harmonizing the sentiments of ruler and minister; the Fengsu tong says: The qin is the ruler of music, which a gentleman keeps by him without parting from his person, unlike bells and drums displayed in palace temples or lined up on racks; because its size is moderate and its tone harmonious and elegant, its loud notes do not become clamorous or diffuse, and its soft notes are not extinguished or unheard, fully able to arouse a person's spirit; the se is as noted previously; the bo-fu is shaped like a drum, made of leather, filled with chaff, and struck to keep time; the qiu is jade, made into a chime and struck to sound. The music below the terrace has five instruments: the xiao resembles phoenix wings, made of bundled bamboo, one foot five inches long; the larger with twenty-three pipes is called the diaoxiao, and the smaller with sixteen pipes is called the yaxiao; the Zhouli has two yaxiao: the fanxiao of one foot four inches with twenty-four pipes, and the dongxiao of one foot two inches with twenty-three pipes; the tao drum has a handle held and shaken so the ear-clappers at the sides strike itself; the yong is a large bell; the sheng is as noted previously; the guan is made of bamboo and has seven holes). He established twelve provinces and used earthenware coffins for burial (Before Shaohao, the designations under heaven modeled their virtues; from Zhuanxu onward, the designations under heaven derived from their places, like Gaoyang and Gaoxin, which were the places of their rise. Liu's Waiji regards the titles of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors as popular traditions).

2.31

The Three Kings (Master Zhongyong says: 'King' [wang] means 'to turn toward' [wang]; adding penal restraints and governance, one toward whom benevolence and righteousness turn is called a king). This refers to the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou.

2.32

Xia. Master Lei said: (Yu, Qi, the three Kangs, Xiang, Ning, Huai, Mang, Xie, Long, Ju, Jiong, Jin, Gao, Fa, and Jie: in total seventeen rulers, lasting four hundred and thirty-two [years]).

2.33

(17. Sexagenary Cycle 7) The Xiahou clan (surname: Si; personal name: Wenming; style name: Gaomi; eighth-generation descendant of the Yellow Emperor; son of Gun; titled King Yu. Formerly, Shun appointed Yu to control the waters; he did not value a foot of jade disk but prized an inch of time, passing his own gate three times without entering). He ruled by the virtue of Metal. His capital was at Anyi (present-day Junzhou, later moved to Yangdi). He served as Yao's Minister of Education (an official of Earth. Zheng's commentary: 1. Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, also called Heavenly Official, Chief Minister, or Grand Steward; 2. Minister of the Ministry of War, Summer Official, also named Grand Master of the Horse; 3. Ministry of Revenue, Earth Official, also called Grand Minister of Education; 4. Ministry of Justice, Autumn Official, also called Grand Minister of Justice; 5. Ministry of Rites, Spring Official, also called Chief Examiner; 6. Ministry of Works, Winter Official, also called Grand Minister of Works. Yu was of the third ministry). He controlled the waters for twelve years, rode in the four conveyances (carts on land, boats on water, sledges in mud, and litters in mountains), and opened up the Nine Provinces (Ji Province: east of the West River, south of the South River, and north of the South River; Yan Province: bounded by the Ji on the southeast and the River on the northwest; Qing Province: bounded by the sea on the northeast and Mount Dai on the southwest; Xu Province: reaching the sea on the east, Mount Dai on the north, and the Huai on the south; Yang Province: bounded by the Huai on the north and the Huai on the south; Jing Province: bounded by Mount Jing on the north and Hengyang on the south; Yu Province: bounded by Jing on the southwest and the River on the north; Liang Province: bounded by Mount Hua on the east and the Black Water on the west; Yong Province: bounded by the Black Water on the west and Longmen on the east; he opened nine routes along the West River, embanked nine marshes, measured nine mountains, and channeled nine rivers. Yao bestowed the dark jade scepter upon him to report his success, and Shun recommended him to all under heaven as his successor). He reigned for sixteen years (beginning in the jiaxu year and ending in the jiyou year; during an eastern tour of inspection he died at Kuaiji at the age of one hundred; his posthumous title was Yu, meaning 'receiving the abdication and accomplishing success'). He designated years as sui, established the first month with the yin stem, composed the Daxia music, and used fired earthen tiles for burial (made of fired earth. At that time there was the Fangfeng clan, forty feet tall).

2.34

(Cycle 8) Qi was the son of Yu (his mother transformed into a stone; another account says he was born from within a stone). He was enthroned in the guilwei year and reigned for 9 years (one account says 10 years). He offered the suburb and ancestral sacrifices to the ancestors (the ancestral dǐ-sacrifice was to the Yellow Emperor as Cultured Ancestor; the suburb sacrifice was to Gun matching Heaven as Ancestor; Zhuanxu was worshipped as the Patriarch matching the Cultured Ancestor as Great Patriarch; and Yu was worshipped as the Progenitor and Father). Qi established temples, ancestral shrines, and altars for offerings: Great Progenitor Yu [had] five temples (two zhāo and two mù).

2.35

(Cycle 9) Tai Kang (son of Qi; he hunted by the Luo River for one hundred days without returning; five of his brothers composed songs to admonish him; he thereupon lost his throne). He was enthroned in the renchen year and ruled for 29 years.

2.36

Zhong Kang (younger brother of Tai Kang) acceded to the throne in the xinyou year.

2.37

Emperor Xiang (son of Zhong Kang. He moved the capital to Shangqiu. He was killed by Houyi of Youqiong, who usurped his throne. Xiang ruled for 28 years. Yi reigned; after 2 years he was killed by his minister Han Zhuo. Han Zhuo killed Yi and set himself up; after 10 years he was in turn executed by the Xia minister Mi. The above three rulers together totaled 40 years).

2.38

(Cycle 10) Shao Kang (son of Xiang. His mother was of the Youreng clan. With one chéng of land and one brigade of men, he destroyed Jiao and Yi, and restored the ancient realm of Yu. This was the Mid-dynastic Restoration).

2.39

He was enthroned in the guiwei year and ruled for 49 years (he invented brooms and grain-fermented wine). Zhu (son of Shao Kang) was enthroned in the guimao year and ruled for 17 years.

2.40

Huai (son of Zhu) was enthroned in the gengshen year and reigned for 26 years.

2.41

Mang (son of Huai) was enthroned in the bingxu year and ruled for 18 years.

2.42

(Cycle 11) Xie (son of Mang) was enthroned in the jiachen year and reigned for 16 years.

2.43

Bu Jiang (son of Xie) acceded to the throne in the gengshen year and ruled for 59 years.

2.44

Jiong (younger brother of Bu Jiang) was enthroned in the jiwei year and reigned for 21 years.

2.45

(Cycle 12) Jin (son of Jiong) acceded to the throne in the gengchen year and ruled for 20 years.

2.46

Kong Jia (son of Bu Jiang. Fond of serving ghosts and spirits, he was licentious and disorderly; the virtue of the Xia declined, and the feudal lords rebelled against him). He was enthroned in the xinchou year and reigned for 31 years (King Tang was born).

2.47

(Cycle 13) Gao (son of Kong Jia) was enthroned in the renshen year and ruled for 11 years.

2.48

Fa (son of Gao) acceded to the throne in the guiwei year and ruled for 10 years (one account says 11).

2.49

Jie (son of Fa, named Lügui. He favored a woman of the Youshi clan named Moxi; he indulged in debauchery and cruelty, absorbed in lust and infatuated with wine; high roofs and carved walls left the common people in dire misery; he treated admonitions as sorcery, killed Guan Longfeng, and burned the Huangtu).

2.50

(Cycle 14) (Two ministers. He greatly abandoned the Xia Way. At the time two suns appeared, with light and darkness dividing themselves. Tang attacked him and exiled him to Nanchao, where he died. Posthumously, one who harms benevolence and slaughters much is called Jie). He acceded to the throne in the renyin year, made Anyi his capital, and ruled for 52 years.

2.51

In all, there were seventeen generations, spanning 432 years.

2.52

(18) Yin. Mr. Lei said: (Coming down to the Yin: Tang, Wai Bing, Zhong Ren, Tai Jia, Wo Ding, Tai Geng, Xiao Jia, Yong Ji, Tai Wu, Zhong Ding, Wai Ren, He Dan Jia, Zu Yi, Zu Xin, Wo Jia, Zu Ding, Nan Geng, Yang Jia, Pan Geng, Xiao Xin, Xiao Yi, Wu Ding, Zu Geng, Zu Jia, Lin Xin, Geng Ding, Wu Yi, Tai Ding, Di Yi, and Di Xin. There were thirty rulers, for 629 years).

2.53

(Cycle 15) Tang (surnamed Zi; his ancestor was Xie, son of Gaoxin, of whom he was a 14th-generation descendant; the founding ancestor [Xie] served as Minister of Education under Yao) ruled by the virtue of Water, with his capital at Bo (now Yanshi County, which is Yishi). Zhaoming; Xiangtu; Changsheng; Caowei; Ming; Zhen; Wei; Bao Ding; Bao Yi; Bao Bing; Zhu Ren; Zhu Gui (who fathered the king, Lü). The king was named Lü (courtesy name Tianyi, because he was born on a yi day; 21st-generation descendant of the Yellow Emperor. His ancestor was Xie; his mother, Jiandi, swallowed a black egg and gave birth to him by having her back cut open; because Xie was born through a black bird's son [egg], his surname was Zi. He altered the prayers so that virtue reached even birds and beasts). Xia Jie was unprincipled, so Tang raised up Yi Yin as prime minister, attacked Jie, and assumed the mandate. When he campaigned in the east, the western tribes resented it; when he campaigned in the south, the northern tribes resented it. There was a great drought for seven years; he blamed himself for six faults and offered to burn his own body, whereupon it rained. He was enthroned in the yiwei year and ruled well for 13 years, living to the age of 100. He established the chou month as the beginning of the year, called a year a "sì" (his posthumous title reflects removing cruelty and eliminating harm). In his time lived Pengzu (surnamed Jian, named Keng; a worthy grand master who lived to 800 years and loved recounting ancient matters; posthumously named Pengzu).

2.54

Wai Bing (second son of Tang) ruled for 3 years. ○ Zhong Ren (younger brother of Wai Bing) ruled for 4 years.

2.55

Tai Jia (eldest grandson of Tang, son of Tai Ding; when enthroned he lacked discernment, so Yi Yin exiled him to Tong Palace; after three years he repented his faults and was welcomed back to Bo, where he governed from his throne) ruled for 33 years. Six temples were established ([Xie] two zhāo, Tang two mù). Tai Jia offered suburb sacrifices to the ancestors (the ancestral dǐ-sacrifice was to Emperor Ku as Cultured Ancestor; the suburb sacrifice was to Ming matching Heaven as Ancestor; Xie was Patriarch matching the Cultured Ancestor as Great Patriarch; Tang was Progenitor and Father). Tai Jia sacrificed.

2.56

(Cycle 16) Wo Ding (son of Tai Jia) was enthroned in the xinji year and ruled for 30 years (in his eighth year Yi Yin died).

2.57

Tai Geng (younger brother of Wo Ding) ruled for 30 years (one account says 25 years; the Ancient and Modern Chronicles say 35 years).

2.58

(Cycle 17) Xiao Jia (son of Tai Geng) ruled for 17 years (in his seventh year, on the first day, jiashen, of the second month, a calendar was initiated).

2.59

Yong Ji (younger brother of Xiao Jia; the Yin Way fell into decay) ruled for 12 years.

2.60

(Cycle 18) Tai Wu (younger brother of Yong Ji; when first enthroned he was unprincipled and the feudal lords rebelled against him; he took Yi Zhi, son of Yi Yin, as prime minister, and the Yin Way revived) ruled for 75 years.

2.61

Zhong Ding (son of Tai Wu; moved from Bo to Chenliu in Kaifeng) ruled for 17 years (one account says 11).

2.62

(Cycle 19) Wai Ren (younger brother of Zhong Ding) ruled for 15 years. ○ He Dan Jia (younger brother of Wai Ren; moved again to Xiang, and the Yin declined again) ruled for 9 years.

2.63

Zu Yi (son of Dan Jia; moved again to Geng, present-day Pishi County in Hedong; Wu Xian held office and flourished) ruled for 19 years.

2.64

(Cycle 20) Zu Xin (son of Zu Yi) ruled for 16 years. ○ Wo Jia (younger brother of Zu Xin) ruled for 25 years.

2.65

Zu Ding (elder brother of Wo Jia, younger brother of Zu Xin) ruled for 25 years. ○ Nan Geng (son of Wo Jia) ruled for 29 years.

2.66

Yang Jia (son of Zu Ding) ruled for 17 years.

2.67

(Cycle 21) Pan Geng (younger brother of Yang Jia; changed the name Yin to Shang, and moved the capital back to Bo) ruled for 18 years.

2.68

Xiao Xin (younger brother of Pan Geng) ruled for 21 years (the Yin Way declined; the common people longed for the late emperor, producing the three chapters of the "Pan Geng").

2.69

(Cycle 22) Xiao Yi (younger brother of Xiao Xin) ruled for 22 years.

2.70

Wu Ding (son of Xiao Yi; took Fu Yue as prime minister, cultivated virtue, and disseminated proper governance so that all under heaven rejoiced. The Book of Documents says: Gaozong spent three years in mourning without speaking. The Rites state: During the three years of mourning the lord does not speak, and all officials heed the prime minister) ruled for 59 years, lived to the age of 100, and his temple title was Gaozong.

2.71

(Cycle 23) Zu Geng (son of Wu Ding) ruled for 7 years. ○ Zu Jia (younger brother of Zu Geng; the Shang Way fell into decay) ruled for 16 years.

2.72

Lin Xin (son of Zu Jia) ruled for 6 years. ○ Geng Ding (younger brother of Lin Xin; moved to Chaoge, within the boundaries of present-day Weizhou) ruled for 21 years.

2.73

Wu Yi (son of Geng Ding; unprincipled, he slighted the spirits and mistreated the people; while hunting between the Yellow and Wei rivers, he was struck dead by sudden thunder) ruled for 4 years.

2.74

(Cycle 24) Tai Ding (son of Wu Yi) ruled for 3 years. ○ Di Yi (son of Tai Ding; the Shang Way declined) ruled for 37 years.

2.75

(Cycle 25) Zhou Xin, also named Shou (son of Di Yi and younger brother of Weizi Qi. Qi's mother was lowly, so he could not succeed to the throne at court. Xin's mother was the principal queen. Xin inherited the throne and was unprincipled. Inwardly he favored Daji; outwardly he employed Elai. He established a pool of wine, a forest of meat, and dreg mounds, making men and women pursue each other naked therein. He constructed the Long Night Palace, calculating 120 days as one day and night. He instituted the cannon-burn punishment and the hot flatiron, wore robes adorned with precious jade, cut open the hearts of worthy men, and severed the shins of those wading across rivers in the morning. The feudal lords rebelled. King Wu overcame him. Covering his head with his garments, Zhou leaped into the flames and died). He ruled for 31 years (posthumously, one who harms righteousness and damages good is called Zhou). The Yin had three men of benevolence (Jizi, Weizi, and uncle Bigan). He acceded to the throne in the dingwei year.

2.76

In all, there were thirty rulers, spanning 629 years.

2.77

Zhou. Mr. Lei said: (Coming down to the Zhou: Wen, Wu, Cheng, Kang, Zhao, Mu, Gong, Yi, Xiao, Yi, Li, Xuan, You, Xie, Ping, Huan, Zhuang, Xi, Hui, Xiang, Qing, Kuang, Ding, Jian, Ling, Jing, Dao, Jing, Yuan, Zhen, Ai, Kao, Weilie, An, Yi, Xiansheng, Shenjing, and Nan, after whom rule reverted to Qin. There were thirty-seven kings, for 867 years).

2.78

(19; Cycle 26) King Wen (surnamed Ji; down to King Wu the capital was at Hao, present-day Jingzhao) ruled by the virtue of Wood. His line originated with Houji (consort of Emperor Ku, Jiang Yuan, trod upon a giant's footprint and gave birth to him; he bore many extraordinary marks; discarded in a narrow lane, oxen and horses did not trample him; moved to the mountains, beasts reared him; placed in water, birds nurtured him; she then took him back and raised him, hence his name Qi ["Abandoned"]; he loved farming and served as Yao's Minister of Agriculture; for his merit he was enfeoffed at Tai, and called Houji). Biku; Ju; Duke Liu; Qingjie; Huangpu; Chafu; Huiyu; Gongfei; Gaoyu; Yayu; Gongzulei; Great King Danfu (also called Gugong) fathered three sons: Taibo, Yu Zhong, and Ji Li (father of King Wen. Initially their state was at Bin; Gugong moved to Qi. Taibo and Yu Zhong, knowing Gugong wished to enthrone Ji Li in order to pass the rule to Chang, fled to the Jing Man barbarians; as expected, Gugong enthroned Li to pass it to Chang. The Ancient and Modern Records and the Historical Records differ on this). The king's name was Chang (son of Ji Li; also known as Great King; as a younger son he had his capital at Feng, serving as Zhou's Earl of the West under Zhou Xin; he possessed great virtue). He reigned for 50 years (living to 97; posthumously, one who is loyal, trustworthy, and observes ritual is called Wen). He doubled the lines of the eight trigrams to make the Zhou Changes: the Qian sixth palace has the number nine, thirty-six, the mature yang; the Kan first palace has seven, the number twenty-two [twenty-eight], the young yang; the Gen eighth palace has seven, the number twenty-eight, the young yang; the Zhen third palace has seven, the number twenty-eight, the young yang; the Xun fourth palace has eight, the number thirty-two, the young yin; the Li ninth palace has eight, the number thirty-two, the young yin; the Kun second palace has six, the number twenty-four, the mature yin; the Dui seventh palace has eight, the number thirty-two, the young yin. Each hexagram has six lines and the names of six spirits presiding over auspicious and inauspicious matters: the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Soaring Snake, and Hooked Array.

2.79

(Cycle 27) Boyi and Shuqi (surnamed Mo, sons of the Lord of Guzhu) heard that the Earl of the West took good care of the aged, and joined him (Yu and Rui had a dispute and appealed to the Earl of the West; he also requested that Zhou Xin abolish the punishment of the burning pillar).

2.80

(20) King Wu, Fa (son of King Wen, elder brother of the Duke of Zhou). Having acceded to the throne, he took Taigong Wang as his tutor, Dan the Duke of Zhou as his assistant, and the likes of Duke of Shao and Duke of Bi as his counselors on the left and right, and together they plotted to march against Zhou. He mobilized troops at the Wei River. Eight hundred feudal lords assembled without prior summons, and all said: "Zhou can now be attacked!" On the wuwu day, the army arrived at Mengjin. On the night of the guihai day, they deployed in the suburbs of Shang. On the jiazi day, they fought at Muye. The enemy's vanguard turned their weapons against their own ranks, and the blood flowed so abundantly as to float wooden pestles. Having conquered Yin, he largely pacified all under Heaven (he returned the horses to the south of Mount Hua and set the oxen free at the base of the Peach Forest), laying down shields and halberds. He reigned for seven years (lived to ninety-three; was buried at Hao; his posthumous name, for conquering and calming calamities and disorders, was Wu ["Martial"]). The Rites states: "When there is a king over all under Heaven, he apportions land to establish states, and sets up capitals and settlements." (Under the ancient system, the royal domain was one thousand li; a duke's was one hundred li; a marquis's, seventy li; and an earl's, viscount's, and baron's, each fifty li; those smaller than this were called attached dependencies. The Zhou established the royal domain as one thousand li; a duke's as five hundred li; a marquis's, four hundred li; an earl's, three hundred li; a viscount's, two hundred li; and a baron's, one hundred li; those smaller than this were called attached dependencies.) They buried him using hearse screens (The Shiben states: "King Wu created hearse screens. Their shape is like a fan; they are arranged around the enclosure to adorn the coffin."). He acceded in the yimao year, establishing the zi month as the start of the year.

2.81

The feudal lords of the fourteen states (enfeoffed along with the dynastic succession, each appearing in their turn). Master Lei says: (Zheng, Song, Jin, Wu, Wei, Qin, Qi, Lu, Chen, Qi, Cao, Cai, Yan, Shao, and the Man of Chu. The fourteen feudal lords).

2.82

Taibo of Wu (son of King Tai. Together with his younger brother Yuzhong, he fled to the Jing Man, cutting their hair and tattooing their bodies to show they were unfit for use, in order to make way for Jili. The people of Jing established him as their ruler, naming him Gou Wu. When King Wu conquered Yin, he enfeoffed Zhang as Wu Zhang. Down to Shoumeng, in the nineteenth generation, they claimed the title of king. Meng had four sons, the next of whom was called Jizha. He possessed great virtue, and [Shoumeng] wished to establish Zha. Zha yielded to his elder brother Zhufan. The people of Wu together sought to establish Zha, but Zha renounced it again. When Yuji acceded, he enfeoffed Zha at Yanling. From Taibo to Fuchai, there were twenty-five generations, and King Goujian of Yue destroyed them. From Zhouzhang to Fuchai, there were twenty-one rulers and six hundred and fifty-five years; this was in the time of King Jing). Liezi says: Anciently, the Grand Minister of Wu asked Confucius, saying: ("Is the Master a sage?" Confucius said: "Qiu possesses broad knowledge and a strong memory; I am no sage." "Were the Three Kings sages?" He said: "The Three Kings were adept in employing wisdom and courage; whether they were sages is not known to Qiu." "Were the Five Thearchs sages?" He said: "The Five Thearchs were adept in employing benevolence and trustworthiness; whether they were sages is not known to Qiu." "Were the Three Sovereigns sages?" He said: "The Three Sovereigns were adept in using timely governance; whether they were sages is not known to Qiu." The Grand Minister Pi was astonished and said: "If so, then who is a sage?" After a pause, the Master altered his expression and replied: "In the West there is a sage. He does not govern, yet there is no disorder; he does not speak, yet he is spontaneously trusted; he does not transform, yet [the way] spontaneously progresses. So vast and boundless is he that the people cannot name him!").

2.83

Taigong Wang of Qi (also named Lü Shang, a man of the Eastern Sea. His original surname was Jiang. His ancestor had merit assisting Yu in controlling the waters and was enfeoffed at Lü. King Wen divined and obtained the omen of a flying bear; hunting by the Wei River, he met him and said: "My predecessor hoped for you for a long time!" Therefore he was named Lü Wang. Another name was Wushi. He attacked Zhou. He was also called Shangfu. He was enfeoffed at Yingqiu, modern Linzi in Qingzhou. Down to Xiaobai, known as Duke Huan, he was the first to become hegemon. Down from Taigong: Duke Ding Lü Ji, Duke Yi, Duke Gui, Duke Ai, Duke Hu, Duke Xian, Duke Wu, Duke Li, Duke Wen, Duke Cheng, Duke Zhuang, Duke Xi, Duke Xiang, Duke Huan, Duke Xiao, Duke Zhao, Duke Yi, Duke Hui, Duke Qing, Duke Ling, Duke Zhuang, Duke Jing, the Young Prince, Duke Dao, Duke Jian, Duke Ping, Duke Xuan, and Duke Kang, when Tian He usurped and extinguished the line. In all there were thirty rulers and seven hundred and forty-seven years, corresponding to the seventeenth year of King An of Zhou). The cohort of Guan Zhong, Bao Shu, Ning Qi, and Yanzi (around the time of Duke Jing).

2.84

Duke Hu, Man, of Chen (a descendant of Youyu, surnamed Gui. Anciently, when Shun was a commoner, Yao gave his two daughters in marriage to him, and he resided at Guirui, hence taking it as his surname. When King Wu conquered Yin, he sought out Shun's descendant, found Man, and enfeoffed him at Chen to maintain the sacrifices to Shun; this was Duke Hu. Down from Duke Hu: Shen, Huan, Xiao, Shen, You, Xi, Wu, Ying, Ping, Wen, Huan, Li, Zhuang, Xuan, Mu, Gong, Ling, Cheng, Ai, Hui, Huai, and Min. Twenty-three rulers, six hundred and fifty-three years. In the forty-first year of King Jing, Chu destroyed them).

2.85

Duke Donglou of Qi (a descendant of Yu of Xia. During the Yin dynasty they were sometimes enfeoffed and sometimes cut off. When King Wu conquered Yin, [he enfeoffed him] at Qi in Chenliu, modern Yongqiu county. From Duke Donglou down to Duke Jian, Chun, there were nineteen rulers and five hundred and thirty-nine years. In the twenty-fourth year of King Ding, King Hui of Chu destroyed them).

2.86

Zhenduo, Uncle of Cao (the sixth son of King Wen, younger brother of King Wu. He was enfeoffed at Cao, modern Dingtao county in Jiyang. Down to Boyang, he was fond of hunting with bow and string, neglected governance, and perished; later, the Earl of Cao turned his back on Jin for Song. Down from Zhenduo: Earl Tai, Zhongjun, Earl Gong, Earl Xiao, Earl Yi, Duke You, Earl Dai, Earl Hui, Earl Gu, Duke Mu, Huan, Zhuang, Xi, Zhao, Gong, Wen, Xuan, Cheng, Wu, Ping, Dao, Xiang, Yin, Jing, and Boyang. Twenty-six generations, six hundred and forty-five years. In the thirty-third year of King Jing, Duke Jing of Song destroyed them).

2.87

Du, Uncle of Cai (the fifth son of King Wen, younger brother of King Wu. After conquering Yin, [King Wu] enfeoffed Uncle Xian at Guan and enfeoffed Du at Cai, making the two assist Zhou's son Wu Geng, also named Lufu, to govern the remaining people of Yin. From Du down to Marquis Qi, there were twenty-seven rulers and five hundred and twenty-seven years. In the time of King Ding, Chu destroyed them).

2.88

Dan, Duke of Zhou, of Lu (the fourth son of King Wen. When King Wu conquered Yin, he enfeoffed him in the ruins of Shaohao, modern Xianyuan county in Yanzhou. The Duke did not proceed to it, but remained to assist King Wu. After King Wu passed away, he assisted King Cheng, sending his son Boqin to assume the post in Lu in his stead. The Duke admonished him, saying: "I am the son of King Wen, the younger brother of King Wu, and the uncle of King Cheng; in the world I am by no means lowly. Yet during a single hair-washing I grasp my hair three times, and during a single meal I spit out my mouthful three times, rising to receive gentlemen, lest I lose the worthy men of the world. When you go to Lu, do not treat people arrogantly on account of the state." Boqin received the mandate in Lu. Down from Boqin: Kao, Yang, You, Wei, Li, Xian, Zhen, Wu, Yi, Bo Yu, Xiao, Hui, Yin, Huan, Zhuang, Min, Xi, Wen, Xuan, Cheng, Xiang, Zhao, Ding, Ai, Dao, Yuan, Mu, Gong, Kang, Jing, Ping, Wen, and Qing. Thirty-four rulers, nine hundred and fifteen years. Down to the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, King Kaolie of Chu destroyed them. [Note: The Chunqiu begins with Duke Yin and ends with Duke Ai; Confucius died in the sixteenth year of Duke Ai]).

First 88 of 100 passages. Read on

Linked texts (1)

佛祖歷代通載 — Classical Chinese