Classic of Poetry

The illustration of illustrious [virtue] is required below, And the dread majesty is on high. Heaven is not readily to be relied on; It is not easy to be king. Yin’s rightful heir to the heavenly seat Was not permitted to possess the kingdom.

Jin, the second of the princesses of Che, From [the domain of] Yin-shang, Came to be married to the prince of Chow, And became his wife in his capital. Both she and king Ke Were entirely virtuous. [Then] T‘ae-jin became pregnant, And gave birth to our king Wăn.

This king Wăn, Watchfully and reverently, With entire intelligence served God, And so secured the great blessing. His virtue was without deflection; And in consequence he received [the allegiance of] the States from all quarters.

Heaven surveyed this lower world; And its appointment lighted [on king Wăn]. In his early years, It made for him a mate;— On the north of the Hëah; On the banks of the Wei. When king Wăn would wive, There was the lady in a large State.

In a large State was the lady, Like a fair denizen of Heaven. The ceremonies determined the auspiciousness [of the union], And in person he met her on the Wei. Over it he made a bridge of boats;— The glory [of the occasion] was illustrious.

The favouring appointment was from Heaven, Giving the throne to our king Wăn, In the capital of Chow. The lady-successor was from Sin, Its eldest daughter, who came to marry him. She was blessed to give birth to king Woo, Who was preserved, and helped, and received also the appointment, And in accordance with it smote the great Shang.

The troops of Yin-shang Were collected like a forest, And marshalled in the wilderness of Muh. We rose [to the crisis];— ‘God is with you,’ [said Shang-foo to the king], ‘Have no doubts in your heart.’

The wilderness of Muh spread out extensive; Bright shone the chariots of sandal; The teams of bays, black-maned and white-bellied, galloped along; The grand-master Shang-foo Was like an eagle on the wing, Assisting king Woo, Who at one onset smote the great Shang. That morning’s encounter was followed by a clear bright [day].