Classic of Documents
周書 Zhōu shū
顧命 第五十 Book Fifty · Gù mìng
惟四月，哉生魄，王不懌。
In the fourth month, when the moon began to wane, the king was indisposed.
甲子，王乃洮頮水，相被冕服，憑玉几。
On the day Këă-tsze, he washed his hands and face, his attendants put on him his cap and robes, and he sat up, leaning on the gem-adorned bench.
乃同召太保奭、芮伯、彤伯、畢公、衛侯、毛公；師氏、虎臣、百尹、御事。
He then called for the Grand-protector Shih, the baron of Juy, the baron of T‘ung, the duke of Peih, the prince of Wei, the duke of Maou, Sze, the master of the warders, the master of the guards, the Heads of the officers,—all the superintendents of affairs.
王曰：「嗚呼！疾大漸，惟幾，病日臻，既彌留，恐不獲誓言嗣，茲予審訓命汝。
The king said, “Oh! my illness has greatly increased, and it will soon be over with me. The malady comes on daily with more violence and without interruption. I am afraid I may not find another opportunity to declare my wishes about my successor, and therefore I now lay my charge on you with special instructions.
「昔君文王、武王，宣重光，奠麗陳教則肄肄不違，用克達殷集大命。
The former sovereigns, king Wăn and king Woo, displayed in succession their equal glory, making sure provision for the support of the people, and setting forth their instructions. The people accorded a practical submission; they did so without any opposition, so that their influence extended to Yin, and the great appointment of Heaven was secured.
「在後之侗，敬迓天威，嗣守文武大訓，無敢昏逾。
After them, I, the stupid one, received with reverence the dread decree of Heaven, and continued to keep the great instructions of Wăn and Woo, not daring blindly to transgress them.
「今天降疾殆，弗興弗悟，爾尚明時朕言，用敬保元子釗，弘濟于艱難。
“Now Heaven has laid affliction on me, and it seems as if I should not again rise or be myself. Do you take clear note of my words, and in accordance with them watch reverently over my eldest son, Ch‘aou, and greatly assist him in the difficulties of his position.
「柔遠能邇，安勸小大庶邦。
Be kind to those who are far off, and help those who are near. Promote the tranquillity of the States, small and great, and encourage them to well-doing.
「思夫人自亂于威儀，爾無以釗冒貢于非幾。
“I think how a man has to govern himself in dignity and with decorum:—o not you allow Ch‘aou to proceed heedlessly on the impulse of improper motives.”
「茲。」既受命，還，出綴衣于庭。越翼日乙丑，王崩。
Immediately on receiving this charge, the officers retired. The tent was then carried out into the court; and on the next day, being Yih-ch‘ow, the king died.
太保命仲桓、南宮毛俾爰齊侯呂伋，以二干戈、虎賁百人，逆子釗於南門之外，延入翼室，恤宅宗。
The Grand-protector then ordered Chung Hwan and Nan-keung Maou to instruct Leu Keih, the prince of Ts‘e, with two shield-and-spearmen and a hundred guards, to meet the prince Ch‘aou outside the south gate, and conduct him to one of the wing apartments near to that where the king lay, there to be as chief mourner.
丁卯，命作冊度。
On the day Ting-maou (two days after the king’s death), he ordered a record to be made of the charge, and the ceremonies to be observed in publishing it.
越七日癸酉，伯相命士須材。
On Kwei-yew, the seventh day after, as chief of the west and premier, he ordered the proper officers to provide the wood for all the requirements of the funeral.
狄設黼扆、綴衣。
The salvage men set out the screens ornamented with figures of axes, and the tents.
牖閒南嚮，敷重篾席黼純，華玉仍几。
Between the window and the door, facing the south, they placed the different mats of bamboo basket-work, with their striped borders of white and black silk; and the usual bench and adorned with different-coloured gems.
西序東嚮，敷重底席綴純，文貝仍几。
In the side space on the west, facing the east, they placed the different rush mats, with their variegated border; and the usual bench adorned with veined tortoise-shell.
東序西嚮，敷重豐席畫純，雕玉仍几。
In the side space on the east, facing the west, they put the different mats of fine grass, with their border of painted silk; and the usual bench carved and adorned with gems.
西夾南嚮，敷重筍席玄紛純，漆仍几。
Before the western side-chamber, facing the south, they placed the different mats of fine bamboo, with their dark mixed border; and the usual lacquered bench.
越玉五重：陳寶、赤刀，大訓、弘璧、琬、琰，在西序；大玉、夷玉、天球、河圖，在東序。胤之舞衣，大貝、鼖鼓，在西房；兌之戈、和之弓、垂之竹矢，在東房。
They set forth also the five kinds of gems, and the precious things of display. There were the red knife, the great lessons, the large convex symbol of gem, and the rounded and pointed maces,—all in the side space on the west; the large gem, the gems from the wild tribes of the east, the heavenly sounding stone, and the river plan,—all in the side-chamber on the east; the dancing habits of Yin, the large tortoise-shell, and the large drum,—all in the western apartment; and the spear of Tuy, the bow of Ho, and the bamboo arrows of Suy,—all in the eastern apartment.
大輅在賓階面，綴輅在阼階面。先輅在左塾之前，次輅在右塾之前。
The grand carriage was by the guests’ steps, facing the south. The next carriage was by the eastern steps, facing the south. The foremost carriage was in the front of the left lobby; and the next carriage was in the front of the right lobby.
二人雀弁執惠，立于畢門之內；四人綦弁，執戈上刃，夾兩階戺；一人冕執劉，立于東堂；一人冕執鉞，立于西堂；一人冕執戣，立于東垂；一人冕執瞿，立于西垂；一人冕執銳，立于側階。
Two men in brownish leather caps, and holding three-cornered halberds, stood inside the gate leading to the private apartments: Four men in caps of spotted deer-skin, holding spears with upturned blades, stood one on each side of the steps east and west, and near to the platform of the hall. One man in a great officer’s cap, and holding an axe, stood in the hall near the front at the east end. One man in a great officer’s cap, and holding a somewhat different axe, stood in the hall, near the front at the west end. One man in a great officer’s cap, and holding a lance, stood at the front and eastern end of the hall. One man, in a great officer’s cap, and holding a somewhat different lance, stood at the front and western end of the hall. One man in a great officer’s cap, and holding a pointed weapon, stood by the steps on the north.
王麻冕黼裳，由賓階隮。卿士邦君麻冕蟻裳，入即位。
The king, in a hempen cap and a variously adorned skirt, ascended by the guests’ steps, followed by the nobles and princes of States, in hempen caps and black ant-coloured skirts. Having entered, they all took their places.
太保、太史、太宗，皆麻冕彤裳。太保承介圭，上宗奉同瑁，由阼階隮。太史秉書，由賓階隮，御王冊命。
The Grand-protector, the Grand-historiographer, and the minister of Religion were all in hempen caps and red skirts. The Grand-protector bore the great mace. The minister of Religion bore the cup, and the mace-cover. These two ascended by the eastern steps.
曰：「皇后憑玉几，道揚末命：命汝嗣訓，臨君周邦，率循大卞，燮和天下，用答揚文武之光訓。」
The Grand-historiographer bore the testamentary charge. He ascended by the guests’ steps, and advanced to the king with the record of the charge, saying, “Our great lord, leaning on the gem-adorned bench, declared his last charge, and commanded you to continue the observance of the lessons, and to take the rule of the empire of Chow, complying with the great laws, and securing the harmony of the empire, so as to respond to and display the bright instructions of Wăn and Woo.”
王再拜，興。答曰：「眇眇予末小子，其能而亂四方，以敬忌天威？」
The king twice bowed low, and then arose, and said, “I am utterly insignificant and but a child; how can I be able to govern the four quarters of the empire with such a reverent awe of the dread majesty of Heaven?”
乃受同瑁，王三宿，三祭，三咤。上宗曰：「饗。」
He then received the cup and the mace-cover. Thrice he advanced with a cup of spirits; thrice he sacrificed; and thrice he put the cup down. The minister of Religion said, “It is accepted.”
太保受同，降，盥，以異同秉璋以酢，授宗人同，拜，王答拜。
The Grand-protector received the cup, descended the steps, and washed his hands. He then took another cup, and in his hand a half mace, in order to make the responsive sacrifice. Having given the cup to an attending officer, he did obeisance. The king returned the obeisance.
太保受同，祭、嚌、宅，授宗人同，拜，王答拜。
The Grand-protector then took back the cup, and sacrificed with it. He then just tasted the sacrificial spirits, returned to his place, gave the cup to the attendant, and did obeisance. The king returned the obeisance.
太保降，收。諸侯出廟門俟。
The Grand-protector descended from the hall, when the various articles were removed, and the princes all went out from the temple gate and waited.