Part 6 (1/2)

ODE 9. THE KIH KING.

AN ODE APPROPRIATE IN SACRIFICING TO THE KINGS Wu, KHANG, AND KHANG.

The Chinese critics differ in the interpretation of this ode, the Preface and older scholars restricting it to a sacrifice to king Wu, while Ku Hsi and others find reference in it, as to me also seems most natural, to Khang and Khang, who succeeded him.

The arm of king Wu was full of strength; Irresistible was his ardour.

Greatly ill.u.s.trious were Khang and Khang [1], Kinged by G.o.d.

When we consider how Khang and Khang Grandly held all within the four quarters (of the kingdom), How penetrating was their intelligence!

The bells and drums sound in harmony; The sounding-stones and flutes blend their notes; Abundant blessing is sent down.

Blessing is sent down in large measure. Careful and exact is all our deportment; We have drunk, and we have eaten, to the fall; Our happiness and dignity will be prolonged.

ODE 10. THE SZE WAN.

APPROPRIATE TO ONE OF THE BORDER SACRIFICES, WHEN HaU-Ki WAS WORs.h.i.+PPED AS THE CORRELATE OF G.o.d, AND CELEBRATING HIM.

Hau-ki was the same as Khi, who appears in Part II of the Shu as Minister of Agriculture to Yao and Shun, and co-operating with

[1. If the whole piece be understood only of a sacrifice to Wu, this line will have to be translated--'How ill.u.s.trious was he, who completed (his great work), and secured its tranquillity.' We must deal similarly with the next line. This construction is very forced; nor is the text clear on the view of Ku-Hsi.]

Yu in his labours on the flooded land. The name Hau belongs to him as lord of Thai; that of Ki, as Minister of Agriculture. However the combination arose, Hau-ki became historically the name of Khi of the time of Yao and Shun, the ancestor to whom the kings of Kau traced their lineage. He was to the people the Father of Husbandry, who first taught men to plough and sow and reap. Hence, when the kings offered sacrifice and prayer to G.o.d at the commencement of spring for his blessing on the labours of the year, they a.s.sociated Hau-ki with him at the service.

O accomplished Hau-ki, Thou didst prove thyself the correlate of Heaven.

Thou didst give grain-food to our mult.i.tudes:--The immense gift of thy goodness. Thou didst confer on us the wheat and the barley, Which G.o.d appointed for the nourishment of all. And without distinction of territory or boundary, The rules of social duty were diffused throughout these great regions.

The Second Decade, or that of Khan Kung.

ODE 1. THE KHAN KUNG.

INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO THE OFFICERS OF HUSBANDRY.

The place of this piece among the sacrificial odes makes us a.s.sign it to the conclusion of some sacrifice; but what the sacrifice was we cannot tell. The Preface says that it was addressed, at the conclusion of the spring sacrifice to ancestors to the princes who had been present and taken part in the service. Ku Hsi says nothing but what I have stated in the above argument of the piece.

Ah! ah! ministers and officers, Reverently attend to your public duties.

The king has given you perfect rules;--Consult about them and consider them.

Ah! ah! ye a.s.sistants.. It is now the end of spring [1]; And what have ye to seek for? (Only) how to manage the new fields and those of the third year, How beautiful are the wheat and the barley! The bright and glorious G.o.d Will in them give us a good year. Order all our men To be provided with their spuds and hoes:--Anon we shall see the sickles at work.

ODE 2. THE i HSi.