破邪論 2.2

2.2

Answering [the claim of] thirty-five generations and over six hundred years from Qin Zhong downward: It is replied: The Records of the Grand Historian states that before the Yin dynasty, genealogies of the feudal lords cannot be obtained because the order was largely lost and the chronology is difficult to know. Therefore, the Classic of Documents merely uses sexagenary cycles for order without years or months, truly because the historical records were deficient and did not record them. The heterodox view claims that from Qin Zhong down to the Second Emperor there were over six hundred years; at first glance this seems long, but what definite evidence does it have? According to the Spring and Autumn period and earlier, Qin did not originally exist. Only since the Spring and Autumn period did there begin to be an Earl of Qin. During the Spring and Autumn period, although Qin gradually rose to hegemony, it was merely a small town of Zhou. In the reign of King Xiao, Feizi was ordered to pasture horses between the Qian and Wei rivers; not having received the Heavenly mandate, they had no calendar. In the reign of King Xuan, his great-grandson Qin Zhong first received a carriage and horses to serve as an attendant officer. Zhong's grandson Duke Xiang was elevated to the rank of earl for escorting King Ping in his eastward move. Only from Duke Wen downward does Qin first appear in the Records of the Grand Historian. From then until its destruction was no more than two hundred-odd years. The Records of the Grand Historian, the Bamboo Annals, and Master Tao's Chronicle all state that Qin had no dynastic calendar and was a sub-vassal during the Zhou era. Therefore, Yinju [Tao Hongjing] listed it beneath the feudal lords. For what reason could there be a continuous chronology down to Huhai? The Records of the Grand Historian only begins to record it continuously from Duke Li, lasting one hundred and one years, ending with the Second Emperor. Even if there are dates, they are all appended to the Spring and Autumn Annals and do not possess an independent chronicle. At the end of King Nan's reign, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, taking advantage of Zhou's weakness, first destroyed the Zhou state and usurped the title of king. Historical accounts consistently maintain that the Qin [dynasty proper] lasted only five generations and forty-nine years. The Catalogue of History by Yang Bin, Secretarial Director of Qi, states: "From Qin's initial enfeoffment to its destruction, there were thirty-five generations and over six hundred years in all." This refers to the over six hundred years that elapsed since the initial enfeoffment with the name Qin, not that it held hegemony over the Central Plain for many years. The heterodox view extends the short lifespan of Qin and falsely claims a long duration; how completely absurd!

Answering [the claim that] rulers without the Buddha enjoy long years, while with the Buddha reigns are short, and that for twenty-nine generations from Paoxi downward to Emperor Gao of the Han, rulers were enlightened and ministers were loyal: It is replied: Why did Paoxi rule alone without [his throne] reaching his sons and grandsons? The two rulers Yao and Shun were ranked among the Five Emperors: Yao aided the good and transmitted to the sagely; Shun was abundantly benevolent and sagely wise. As discussed in the Two Canons of the Classic of Documents, their transformation of the people and governance achieved the highest merit; they were enlightened rulers imitating Heaven whom the people could not name. Yet Yao also deposed his elder brother to establish himself, and his son Danzhu was unworthy. Shun had an obstinate father and a deceitful mother; both [reigns] ceased with a single person and could not pass to their heirs. At that time there was no Buddha—why were they not transmitted generation after generation, but vanished so swiftly? The Chronicle by Yinju states that Yu of the Xia ruled for nine years; Yi usurped for fifteen years; Zhuo usurped for twelve years; Gao ruled for eleven years; Gui of the Xia ruled for fifty-two years. It is further replied: The Book says: "Sublime was the success of Shun and Yu in possessing all under Heaven! How glorious were their cultural patterns!" The "Counsels of Great Yu" states: "Yu was able to live in a humble palace and eat meager food, use coarse curtains and plain cloth garments, and exhaust his strength on ditches and water channels." He regulated the waters for the people and performed meritorious service for them. If Sovereign Heaven aids virtue, why was his heavenly mandate not long-lasting, ruling for only nine years? Examining the Chronicle: in the reigns of Sovereign Xiang and Shaokang of the Xia, their subjects Youqiong Yi and Han Zhuo, as well as the states of Fengyi, Huaiyi, Huangyi, and Zhenxun, consecutively rebelled for twenty-six years in all, usurping the Xia and setting themselves up. At that time there was no Buddha; from whom did usurpation and rebellion arise?

Tang of the Yin ruled for (thirteen years); Wai Ding ruled for (three years); Zhong Ren ruled for (four years); Tai Jia ruled for (ten years); Wo Ding ruled for (thirteen years); Tai Wu ruled for (ten years); Wai Ren ruled for (three years); Wo Jia ruled for (four years); Pan Geng ruled for (nine years); Xiao Xin ruled for (seven years); Wu Yi ruled for (four years); Zu Geng ruled for (seven years); Zu Yi ruled for (ten years). It is further replied: Tang was benevolent and refrained from killing, opening three sides of the net, and banishing Jie of the Xia to Mingtiao, possessing immense benevolence and virtue. At that time there was no Buddha; why was his heavenly mandate not long, and the years of Wai Ding and Wai Ren even shorter? The Classic of Documents states: "Tang conducted nine punitive expeditions, and Tai Jia made five campaigns." Yi Yin enthroned Tang's second son Sheng, and then enthroned Sheng's younger brother Zhong Ren, and also banished Tai Jia to the Tong Palace. The Books from the Ji Tomb state that Yi Yin usurped the throne himself, after which Tai Jia secretly emerged, personally killed Yi Yin, and employed his son. Since this is called an age of loyalty and simplicity, and at that time there was no Buddha, why did disasters arise within the household screen and rulers and ministers lack the Way?

King Wu of the Zhou ruled for (eleven years); King Yi ruled for (three years, terminating the lineage); King Xi ruled for (five years, terminating the lineage); King Qing ruled for (six years); King Kuang ruled for (six years); King Yuan ruled for (eight years); King Lie ruled for (seven years); King Jing ruled for (six years); King Zhen ruled for (eight years); King Dao ruled for (one hundred and one days); King Ai ruled for (three months); King Si ruled for (five months).