Classic of Documents
周書 Zhōu shū
洛誥 第四十一 Book Forty-one · Luò gào
周公拜手稽首曰：「朕復子明辟。
[In the third month when the moon began to wane, the duke of Chow commenced the foundations and proceeded to build the new city at Lŏ of the eastern States. The people from every quarter assembled in great harmony. From the How, Teen, Nan, Ts‘ae, and Wei domains the various officers stimulated this harmony of the people, and introduced them to the business there was for Chow. The duke of Chow encouraged them all to diligence, and made a great announcement about the execution of the works.] The duke of Chow bowed his head to his hands and then to the ground, saying, “Herewith I report the execution of my commission to my son, my intelligent prince.
「王如弗敢及，天基命定命，予乃胤保，大相東土，其基作民明辟。
The king appeared as if he would not presume to determine the founding and the fixing of our appointment by Heaven, whereupon I followed the Grand-Guardian, and made a great survey of this eastern region, with a view to found the place where he might become the intelligent sovereign of the people.
「予惟乙卯，朝至于洛師。我卜河朔黎水。我乃卜澗水東、瀍水西，惟洛食。我又卜瀍水東，亦惟洛食。伻來以圖及獻卜。」
On the day Yih-maou, in the morning, I came to the city of Lŏ. I first divined concerning the country about the Le water on the north of the Ho. I then divined concerning the east of the Këen water and the west of the Ch‘en water, when the ground near the Lŏ was indicated. Again I divined concerning the east of the Ch‘en water, and the ground near the Lŏ was likewise indicated. I now send a messenger with a map, and to present the divinations.”
王拜手稽首曰：「公不敢不敬天之休，來相宅，其作周匹。休公既定宅，伻來，來視予卜，休，恆吉，我二人共貞。公其以予萬億年敬天之休。拜手稽首誨言。」
The king bowed his face to his hands and his head to the ground, saying, “The duke has not dared but to acknowledge reverently the favour of Heaven, and has surveyed the locality to find where our Chow may respond to that favour. Having settled the locality, he has sent his messenger to come and show me the divinations, favourable and always auspicious. Let us two sustain the responsibilities in common. The duke has reverently acknowledged the favour of Heaven, making provision for me for myriads and tens of myriads of years. With my face to my hands and my head to the ground, I receive his instructive words.”
周公曰：「王肇稱殷禮，祀于新邑，咸秩無文。
The duke of Chow said, “Let the king at first employ the ceremonies of Yin, and sacrifice in the new city, doing everything in an orderly way, but without any display.
「予齊百工，伻從王于周。予惟曰：庶有事。
I will marshal all the officers to attend your majesty from Chow, merely saying that probably there will be business to be done.
「今王即命曰：『記功宗，以功作元祀。』惟命曰：『汝受命篤弼；
“Let the king instantly give orders, saying, ‘Let those distinguished by merit be recorded; the most meritorious shall be the first in the sacrifices.’ Let him also command, saying, ‘You in whose behalf this order is given must give me your assistance with sincere earnestness.’
「『丕視功載，乃汝其悉自教工。』
Freely display the record of merits, for it is you who must yourself in everything train the officers. My young son, can you indulge partiality?
「孺子其朋，孺子其朋，其往。無若火始燄燄，厥攸灼敘，弗其絕。
If you do so, the consequences hereafter will be like a fire, which, a spark at first, blazes up, and by-and-by cannot be extinguished. “Let your observance of the constant rules of right and your soothing measures be like mine.
「厥若。彝及撫事，如予惟以在周工往新邑，伻嚮即有僚，明作有功，惇大成，裕汝永有辭。」
Take only the officers that are in Chow to go to the new city; and make them there join their old associates. With intelligent vigour establish your merit, with a generous largeness richly completing the public manners:—so shall you obtain an endless fame.”
公曰：「已！汝惟沖子，惟終。
The duke said, “Yes, young as you are, be it yours to complete the work of your predecessors.
「汝其敬識百辟享，亦識其有不享。享多儀；儀不及物，惟曰不享。惟不役志于享。凡民惟曰不享，惟事其爽侮。
Cultivate the spirit of reverence, and you will know who among the princes sincerely present their offerings to you, and who do not. In those offerings there are many observances. If the observances are not equal to the articles, it must be said there is no offering. When there is no service of the will in the offerings of the princes, all the people will then say, ‘We need not be troubled about our offerings, and affairs will be disturbed by errors and usurpations.
「乃惟孺子頒，朕不暇聽。朕教汝于棐民彝。汝乃是不蘉，乃時惟不永哉！篤敘乃正、父，罔不若；予不敢廢乃命。汝往，敬哉！茲予其明農哉！彼裕我民無遠用戾。」
“Do you, my young son, manifest everywhere my unwearied diligence, and listen to my instructions to you how to help the people to observe the constant rules of right. If you do not bestir yourself in these things, you will not be of long continuance. If you sincerely and fully carry out the course of your correct father, and follow exactly my example, there will be no venturing to disregard your orders. Go and be reverent. Henceforth I will study husbandry. There do you generously rule our people, and there is no distance from which they will not come to you.”
王若曰：「公，明保予沖子。公稱丕顯德，以予小子揚文武烈。奉答天命，和恆四方民。居師。
The king spoke to this effect:—“O duke, you are the enlightener and sustainer of my youth. You have set forth great and illustrious virtues, that I, notwithstanding my youth, may display a brilliant merit like that of Wăn and Woo; reverently respond to the favour of Heaven; harmonize and long preserve the people of all the regions, and settle their multitudes here;
「惇宗將禮，稱秩元祀，咸秩無文。
and that I may give due honour to the great ceremony of recording the most distinguished, regulating the order for the first places at the sacrifices, and doing everything in an orderly manner without display.
「惟公德明光于上下，勤施于四方，旁作穆穆，迓衡不迷文武勤教。予沖子夙夜毖祀。」
“But your virtue, O duke, shines brightly above and below, and is displayed actively throughout the four quarters. On every hand appears your deep reverence to secure the establishment of order, so that you fail in nothing of the earnest lessons of Wăn and Woo. It is for me the youth only to attend reverently early and late to the sacrifices.”
王曰：「公功棐迪篤，罔不若時。」
The king said, “Great, O duke, has been your merit in helping and guiding me;—let it ever continue so.”
王曰：「公，予小子其退即辟于周，命公後。
The king said, “O duke, it is for me, the little child, to return to my throne in Chow, and I charge you, O duke, to remain behind.
「四方迪亂，未定于宗禮，亦未克敉公功。
Order has been initiated throughout the four quarters of the empire; but the ceremonies to be honoured by general observance have not yet been settled, and I cannot look on your merit as completed.
「迪將其後，監我士、師、工，誕保文武受民，亂為四輔。」
Commence on a great scale what is to be done by your remaining here, being an example to my officers, and greatly preserving the people whom Wăn and Woo received:—by your good government you will prove the help of the whole empire.”
王曰：「公定，予往已。公功肅將祗歡。公，無困哉我！惟無斁其康事，公勿替，刑四方，其世享。」
The king said, “Remain, O duke. I will certainly go. Your meritorious deeds are devoutly acknowledged and reverently rejoiced in. Do not, O duke, occasion me this difficulty. I on my part will not be idle or tired in seeking the tranquillity of the people; and let not the example which you have afforded be intermitted. So shall the whole empire enjoy for generations the benefits of your virtue.”
周公拜手稽首曰：「王命予來承保乃文祖受命民，越乃光烈考武王弘朕恭。
The duke of Chow bowed his face to his hands and his head to the ground, saying, “You have charged me, O king, to come here. I undertake the charge, and will protect the people whom your grandfather Wăn received by decree, and whom your glorious and meritorious father Woo also so received. I will enlarge the reverence which I cherish for you.
「孺子來相宅，其大惇典殷獻民，亂為四方新辟，作周恭先。曰其自時中乂，萬邦咸休，惟王有成績。
“But, my son, come frequently and inspect this settlement. Pay great honour to old statutes, and to the good and wise men of Yin. Good government here will make you indeed the new chief of the empire, and an example of royal respectfulness to all your successors of Chow.” “From this time,” said the duke, “by the government administered in this central spot, all parts of the empire will be conducted to repose, and this will be the completion of your merit, O king.
「予旦以多子越御事，篤前人成烈，答其師，作周孚先。考朕昭子刑，乃單文祖德。
“I, Tan, with the numerous officers and managers of affairs, will consolidate the achievements of our predecessors, in response to the hopes of the people. I will afford an example of sincerity to future ministers of Chow, seeking to render complete the pattern intended for the enlightenment of you, my son, and thus to carry fully out the virtue of your grandfather Wăn.”
「伻來毖殷，乃命寧予以秬鬯二卣，曰：『明禋，拜手稽首休享。』
Afterwards, the duke of Chow took occasion to say, “The king has sent messengers to admonish the people of Yin, and with a soothing charge to me, along with two flagons of the black millet herb-flavoured spirit, saying, ‘Here is a pure sacrificial gift, which with my hands to my face and my head to the ground I offer for you to enjoy its excellence.’
「予不敢宿，則禋于文王、武王。
I dare not keep this, and offer it in sacrifice to king Wăn and king Woo.”
「惠篤敘，無有遘自疾，萬年厭于乃德，殷乃引考。
In doing so, he prayed, “Let him be obedient to and observant of your course. Let him meet with no evil or sickness. Let him satisfy his descendants for myriads of years with your virtue. Let the people of Yin enjoy protracted prosperity.”
「王伻殷乃承敘，萬年其永觀朕子懷德。」
He also said to the messengers, “The king has sent you to Yin, which has received his charges well ordered for myriads of years; but let the people ever have to observe the virtue cherished by my son.”
戊辰，王在新邑烝祭，歲文王騂牛一，武王騂牛一。王命作冊逸祝、冊，惟告周公其後。王賓，殺、禋，咸格，王入太室祼。
On the day Mow-shin, the king in the new city performed the annual winter sacrifice, offering a red bull to king Wăn, and the same to king Woo. He then commanded a declaration to be prepared, which was done by Yih in the form of a prayer, and it simply announced the remaining behind of the duke of Chow. The king’s guests, on occasion of the killing the victims and offering the sacrifice, all made their appearance. The king entered the grand apartment, and poured out the libation.
王命周公後，作冊逸誥，在十有二月。
The king charged the duke of Chow to remain, and Yih, the preparer of the document, made the declaration;—all in the 12th month.
惟周公誕保文武受命，惟七年。
Then the duke of Chow greatly sustained the decree which Wăn and Woo had received, through the space of seven years.