| | 定公元年: |
元年春王。定何以无正月？正月者，正即位也。定无正月者，即位后也。即位何以后？昭公在外，得入不得入，未可知也。曷为未可知？在季氏也。定、哀多微辞，主人习其读而问其传，则未知己之有罪焉尔。 |
| | In the first year, spring, King [reigned]. Why is there no first month in this record? The first month signifies the establishment of the sovereign's position. There is no mention of the first month here because the sovereign had already assumed the throne. Why was it after assuming the throne? Prince Zhao was outside [the capital], and whether he could enter or not remained uncertain. Why was it uncertain? Because he was under the control of the Ji family. The records of Ding and Ai contain many subtle expressions; if those in charge merely memorize their readings without studying the commentaries, they will not realize that they themselves are at fault.
|
| | 定公元年: |
三月，晋人执宋仲几于京师。仲几之罪何？不哀城也。其言于京师何？伯讨也。伯讨则其称人何？贬。曷为贬？不与大王专执也。曷为不与？实与而文不与。文曷为不与？大夫之义，不得专执也。 |
| | In the third month, the Jin people arrested Song Zhongji in the capital. What was the crime of Zhong Ji? It was not mourning for the city [Acheng]. Why is it mentioned that he was arrested in the capital? Because this was an action taken by Bo, the lord. If it was an action by Lord Bo, why is he referred to as "the people of Jin"? It is a form of censure. Why is this considered censure? Because it does not support the idea of a great king acting unilaterally to arrest someone. Why is this not supported? In reality, it was supported, but in terms of wording, it is not. Why does the wording not support it? According to the principles of a high minister, one may not act unilaterally in making arrests.
|
| | 定公元年: |
夏，六月癸亥，公之丧至自乾侯。戊辰，公即位。癸亥公之丧至自乾侯，则曷为以戊辰之日然后即位？正棺于两楹之间，然后即位。子沈子曰：“定君乎国，然后即位。”即位不日，此何以日？录乎内也。 |
| | oplevel In summer, on the Guihai day of the sixth month, the funeral procession for the Duke arrived from Qianhou. On the Wuchen day, the Duke assumed the throne. If on the Guihai day the funeral procession for the duke arrived from Qianhou, then why did he not assume the throne until the Wuchen day? Because only after placing the coffin between the two pillars of the ancestral hall could he assume the throne. Master Shenzi said, "Only when the Duke had stabilized his state could he then assume the throne." Usually, assuming the throne is not dated; why is a specific date given here? Because it was recorded as an internal event.
|
| | 定公元年: |
秋，七月癸巳，葬我君昭公。 |
| | In autumn, on the Guisi day of the seventh month, our late Duke Zhao was buried.
|
| | 定公元年: |
九月，大雩。 |
| | In the ninth month, a grand rain-summoning ceremony was held.
|
| | 定公元年: |
立炀宫。炀宫者何？炀公之宫也。立者何？立者不宜立也。立炀宫，非礼也。 |
| | The Yyang Palace was established. What is the Yyang Palace? It was the palace of Duke Yang. What does "established" mean here? Something that is established should not have been established in the first place. Establishing the Yyang Palace was against ritual propriety.
|
| | 定公元年: |
冬，十月，陨霜杀菽。何以书？记异也。此灾菽也，曷为以异书？异大乎灾也。 |
| | In winter, in the tenth month, frost fell and destroyed the beans. Why was this recorded? To record an unusual event. This is a disaster affecting beans; why was it recorded as an unusual occurrence? Because the unusual event was more significant than the disaster itself.
|
