Classic of Poetry

King Wăn is on high; Oh! bright is he in heaven. Although Chow was an old country, The [favouring] appointment lighted on it recently. Illustrious was the House of Chow, And the appointment of God came at the proper season. King Wăn ascends and descends, On the left and the right of God.

Full of earnest activity was king Wăn, And his fame is without end. The gifts [of God] to Chow Extend to the descendants of king Wăn;— To the descendants of king Wăn, In the direct line and the collateral branches for a hundred generations. All the officers of Chow Shall [also] be illustrious from age to age.

They shall be illustrious from age to age, Zealously and reverently pursuing their plans. Admirable are the many officers Born in this royal kingdom. The royal kingdom is able to produce them,— The supporters of [the House of] Chow. Numerous is the array of officers, And by them king Wăn enjoys his repose.

Profound was king Wăn; Oh! continuous and bright was his feeling of reverence. Great is the appointment of Heaven! There were the descendants of [the sovereigns] of Shang;— The descendants of the sovereigns of Shang, Were in number more than hundreds of thousands; But when God gave the command, They became subject to Chow.

They became subject to Chow. The appointment of Heaven is not constant. The officers of Yin, admirable and alert, Assist at the libations in [our] capital;— They assist at those libations, Always wearing the hatchets on their lower garment and their peculiar cap. O ye loyal ministers of the king, Ever think of your ancestor!

Ever think of your ancestor, Cultivating your virtue, Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven]. So shall you be seeking for much happiness. Before Yin lost the multitudes, [Its kings] were the assessors of God. Look to Yin as a beacon; The great appointment is not easily [preserved].

The appointment is not easily [preserved] Do not cause your own extinction. Display and make bright your righteousness and name, And look at [the fate of] Yin in the light of Heaven. The doings of High Heaven, Have neither sound nor smell. Take your pattern from king Wăn, And the myriad regions will repose confidence in you.