Classic of Documents
周書 Zhōu shū
康王之誥 第五十一 Book Fifty-one · Kāng wáng zhī gào
王出在應門之內。太保率西方諸侯，入應門左；畢公率東方諸侯，入應門右。皆布乘黃朱。賓稱奉圭兼幣，曰：「一二臣衛，敢執壤奠。」皆再拜稽首。王義嗣德，答拜。
The king came forth and stood in the space within the fourth gate of the palace, when the Grand-guardian led in all the princes of the western regions by the left half of the gate, and the duke of Peih those of the eastern regions by the right half. They then caused their teams of light bay horses, with red manes and tails, to be exhibited; and the princes, raising aloft their sceptres and other presents, said, “We, your servants, defenders of the throne, venture to bring here the productions of our territories and set them forth.” With these words, they did obeisance twice, bowing their heads to the earth. The king, righteously continuing the virtue of his predecessors, returned their obeisance.
太保暨芮伯咸進，相揖，皆再拜稽首。曰：「敢敬告天子，皇天改大邦殷之命，惟周文武，誕受羑若，克恤西土。
The Grand-guardian and the chief of Juy, with all the rest, then advanced and bowed to each other, after which they did obeisance twice, bowing their heads to the ground, and said, ‘O Son of Heaven, we venture respectfully to declare our sentiments. Great Heaven altered its decree in favour of the great empire of Yin, and Wăn and Woo of our Chow greatly received the same, and carried it out, manifesting their kindly government in the western regions.
「惟新陟王，畢協賞罰，戡定厥功，用敷遺後人休。今王敬之哉！張皇六師，無壞我高祖寡命。」
His recently ascended Majesty, rewarding and punishing exactly in accordance with what was right, fully established their achievements, and transmitted this happy state to his successors. Do you, O king, now be reverent in your position. Maintain your armies in great order, and do not allow the rarely equalled appointment of our high ancestors to come to harm.’
王若曰：「庶邦侯、甸、男、衛。惟予一人釗報誥：
The king spoke thus:—“Ye princes of the various States, chiefs of the How, Teen, Nan, and Wei domains, I, Ch‘aou, the one man, make an announcement in return for your advice.
「昔君文武，丕平富，不務咎，底至齊信，用昭明於天下。則亦有熊羆之士、不二心之臣，保乂王家，用端命于上帝；皇天用訓厥道，付畀四方。
The former sovereigns, Wăn and Woo, were greatly just, and enriched the people. They did not occupy themselves with people’s crimes. Pushing to the utmost and maintaining an entire impartiality and sincerity, they became gloriously illustrious throughout the empire. Then they had officers brave as bears and grisly bears, and ministers of no double heart, who helped them to maintain and regulate the royal House. Thus did they receive the true favouring decree from God; and thus did great Heaven approve of their ways, and give them the four quarters of the empire.
「乃命建侯樹屏，在我後之人。今予一二伯父，尚胥暨顧，綏爾先公之臣服于先王。雖爾身在外，乃心罔不在王室。用奉恤厥若，無遺鞠子羞。」
Then they appointed and set up principalities, and established bulwarks to the throne, with a view to us their successors. Now do ye, my uncles, I pray you, consider with one another, and carry out the service which the dukes, your predecessors, rendered to my predecessors. Though your persons be distant, let your hearts be in the royal house. Thus enter into my anxieties and act in accordance with them, so that I, the little child, may not be put to shame.”
群公既皆聽命，相揖，趨出。王釋冕，反喪服。
All the dukes, having heard this charge, bowed to one another and hastily withdrew. The king put off his cap, and assumed again his mourning dress.