The Announcement of the Duke of Shao

Translation by James Legge (with modifications)

from the History

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  1. The Great Guardian [i.e., the Duke of Shao] then went out with the hereditary princes of the various States to bring their offerings, and when he entered again, he gave them to the Duke of Zhou, saying, "With my head in my hands and bowed to the ground, I present these before the king and your Grace. Announcements for the instruction of the multitudes of Yin [i.e., Shang] must come from you with whom is the management of affairs.
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  3. "Oh, God dwelling in the great heavens has changed his mandate in favor of his eldest son, and this great dynasty of Yin. Our king has received that mandate. Unbounded is the happiness connected with it, and unbounded is the anxiety. Oh, how can he be other than reverent?
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  5. "When Heaven rejected and made an end of the mandate in favor of the great state of Yin, there were many of the former intelligent kings of Yin in heaven. The king [i.e., Tyrant Zhou], however, who had succeeded to them, the last of their race, from the time of his entering into their appointment, proceeded in such a way as at last to keep the wise in obscurity and the vicious in office. The poor people in such a case, carrying their children and leading their wives, made their moan to Heaven. They even fled away, but were apprehended again. Oh, Heaven had compassion on the people of the four quarters; its favoring mandate lighted on our earnest founders. Let the king sedulously cultivate the virtue of reverence.
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  7. "Examining the men of antiquity, there was the founder of the Xia dynasty [i.e., Yu]. He even guided his mind, allowed his descendents to succeed him, and protected them. He acquainted himself with Heaven, and was obedient. But in the process of time the mandate in his favor fell to the ground. So also when we examine the case of Yin. Heaven guided its founder [i.e., Tang], so that he corrected the error of Shang, and it protected his descendents. He also acquainted himself with Heaven, and was obedient. But now the mandate in favor of him has fallen to the ground. Our king has now come to the throne in his youth. Let him not slight the aged and experienced, for it may be said of them that they have studied the Virtuous conduct of our ancient worthies, and still more, that they have matured their plans in the light of Heaven.
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  9. "Oh, although the king is young, yet is he the eldest son of Heaven. Let him but effect a great harmony with the people, and that will be the blessing of the present time. Let not the king presume to be remiss in this, but continually regard and stand in awe of the danger of the people.
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  11. "Let the king come here as the representative of God, and undertake himself the duties of government in the center of the land. Dan [i.e., the Duke of Zhou] said, 'Now that this great city has been built, from henceforth he may reverently sacrifice to the upper and lower spirits; from henceforth he may in this central spot administer successful government.' Thus shall the king enjoy the favoring regard of Heaven all complete, and the government of the people will now be prosperous.
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  13. "Let the king first bring under his influence the managers of affairs of Yin, associating them with the managers of affairs of our dynasty of Zhou. This will regulate their perverted natures, and they will make daily advancement.
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  15. 8. "Let the king make reverence of the resting-place of his mind. He may not but maintain the Virtue of reverence.
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  17. "We should by all means survey the dynasties of Xia and Yin. I do not presume to know and say, 'The dynasty of Xia was to enjoy the favoring mandate of Heaven for so many years,' nor do I presume to know and say, 'It could not continue longer.' The fact was simply that, for want of the Virtue of reverence, the mandate in its favor prematurely fell to the ground. Similarly, I do not presume to know and say, 'The dynasty of Yin was to enjoy the favoring mandate of Heaven for so many years,' nor do I presume to say, 'It could not continue longer.' The fact simply was that, for want of the Virtue of reverence, the mandate in its favor prematurely fell to the ground. The king has now inherited the mandate -- the same mandate, I consider, which belonged to those two dynasties. Let him seek to inherit the Virtues of their meritorious sovereigns -- especially at this commencement of his duties.
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  19. "Oh, it is as on the birth of a son, when all depends on the training of his early life, through which he may secure his wisdom in the future, as if it were fated for him. Now Heaven may have fated wisdom for our king; it may have fated good fortune or bad; it may have fated a long course of years: we only know that now is with him the commencement of his duties.
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  21. "Dwelling in the new city, let the king now sedulously cultivate the Virtue of reverence. When he is all-devoted to this Virtue, he may pray to Heaven for a long-abiding mandate in his favor.
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  23. "In the position of king, let him not, because of the excesses of the people in violation of the laws, presume also to rule by the violent infliction of death. When people are regulated gently, the merit of government is seen.
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  25. "It is for him who is in the position of king to overtop all with his Virtue. In this case the people will imitate him throughout the whole empire, and the king will become more illustrious.
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  27. "Let the king and his ministers labor with a common anxiety. Saying, 'We have received the mandate of Heaven, and it shall be great as the long-continued years of Yin,' I wish the king through the inferior people to receive the long-abiding mandate of Heaven."
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  29. The Duke of Shao then did obeisance with his head to his hands and bowed to the ground, and said, "I, a small minister, presume with the king's heretofore hostile people, with all his officers, and his loyal friendly people, to maintain and receive his majesty's dread command and brilliant Virtue. That the king should finally obtain the mandate all complete, and that he should become illustrious, this I dare not labor about. I only respectfully bring these offerings to present to his Majesty, to assist in his prayers to Heaven for its long-abiding mandate.'"

 


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Modifications by Bryan W. Van Norden. Copyright © Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.