| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
《大明 - Da Ming》 | English translation: James Legge [?] | Books referencing 《大明》 Library Resources |
| 1 | 大明: |
明明在下、赫赫在上。 天难忱斯、不易维王。 天位殷适、使不挟四方。 |
| Da Ming: |
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. | |
| 2 | 大明: |
挚仲氏任、自彼殷商、来嫁于周、曰嫔于京。 乃及王季、维德之行。 大任有身、生此文王。 |
| Da Ming: |
Ren, the second of the princesses of Zhi, From [the domain of] Yin-shang, Came to be married to the prince of Zhou, And because his wife in his capital, Both she and king Ji, Were entirely virtuous. [Then] Da-ren became pregnant, And gave birth to our king Wen. | |
| 3 | 大明: |
维此文王、小心翼翼。 昭事上帝、聿怀多福。 厥德不回、以受方国。 |
| Da Ming: |
This king Wen, 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. | |
| 4 | 大明: |
天监在下、有命既集。 文王初载、天作之合。 在洽之阳、在渭之涘。 文王嘉止、大邦有子。 |
| Da Ming: |
Heaven surveyed this lower world; And its appointment lighted [on king Wen]. In his early years, It made for him a mate; - On the north of the Qia; On the banks of the Wei. When king Wen would wive, There was the lady in a large State. | |
| 5 | 大明: |
大邦有子、俔天之妹。 文定厥祥、亲迎于渭。 造舟为梁、不顾其光。 |
| Da Ming: |
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. | |
| 6 | 大明: |
有命自天、命此文王。 于周于京、缵女维莘。 长子维行、笃生武王。 保右命尔、燮伐大商。 |
| Da Ming: |
The favouring appointment was from Heaven, Giving the throne to our king Wen, In the capital of Zhou. The lady-successor was from Xin, Its eldest daughter, who came to marry him. She was blessed to give birth to king Wu, Who was preserved, and helped, and received also the appointment, And in accordance with it smote the great Shang. | |
| 7 | 大明: |
殷商之旅、其会如林。 矢于牧野、维予侯兴。 上帝临女、无贰尔心。 |
| Da Ming: |
The troops of Yin-shang, Were collected like a forest, And marshalled in the wilderness of Mu. We rose [to the crisis]; - 'God is with you, ' [said Shang-fu to the king], 'Have no doubts in your heart. ' | |
| 8 | 大明: |
牧野洋洋、檀车煌煌、驷騵彭彭。 维师尚父、时维鹰扬、凉彼武王、肆伐大商。 会朝清明。 |
| Da Ming: |
The wilderness of Mu spread out extensive; Bright shone the chariots of sandal; The teams of bays, black-maned and white-bellied, galloped along; The grand-master Shang-fu, Was like an eagle on the wing, Assisting king Wu, Who at one onset smote the great Shang. That morning's encounter was followed by a clear bright [day]. |
URN: ctp:book-of-poetry/da-ming