| | 宣公元年: |
元年春，王正月，公即位。繼弒君不言即位，此其言即位何？其意也。 |
| | In the first year [of his reign], spring, the King's first month, the Duke assumed the throne. After a regicide, one does not mention assuming the throne; why then is it mentioned here that he assumed the throne? It indicates his intent.
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| | 宣公元年: |
公子遂如齊逆女。三月，遂以夫人婦姜至自齊。遂何以不稱公子？一事而再見者，卒名也。夫人何以不稱姜氏？貶。曷為貶？譏喪娶也。喪娶者公也，則曷為貶夫人？內無貶于公之道也。內無貶于公之道，則曷為貶夫人？夫人與公一體也。其稱婦何？有姑之辭也。 |
| | Gongzi Sui went to Qi to escort the bride. In the third month, Sui brought Lady Jiang, the Duke's wife, from Qi. Why is Sui not referred to as Gongzi? When one matter appears twice, it indicates the person's death. Why is the Lady not referred to by her clan name Jiang Shi? It is a demotion. Why is it considered a demotion? It criticizes the act of marrying while in mourning. If the one who married during mourning was the Duke, then why is the Lady demoted? There is no way to demote the Duke internally. If there is no means of demoting the Duke internally, then why demote the Lady? The Lady and the Duke are one entity. Why is she referred to as "Fu"? It indicates the presence of a grandmother.
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| | 宣公元年: |
夏，季孫行父如齊。 |
| | In summer, Ji Sun Xingfu went to Qi.
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| | 宣公元年: |
晉放其大夫胥甲父于衛。放之者何？猶曰無去是云爾。然則何言爾？近正也。此其為近正奈何？古者大夫已去，三年待放。君放之，非也；大夫待放，正也。古者臣有大喪，則君三年不呼其門。已練可以弁冕，服金革之事。君使之，非也；臣行之，禮也。閔子要绖而服事，既而曰：「若此乎！古之道不即人心。」退而致仕。孔子蓋善之也。 |
| | The Jin state exiled its official Xu Jiafu to Wei. What does "exile" mean? It means roughly saying, "He did not leave on his own." If that is the case, then why mention it? It is nearly correct. How is this considered "nearly correct"? In ancient times, after an official had left office, he would wait three years before being exiled. For the ruler to exile him is wrong; For an official to wait for exile, that is correct. In ancient times, when a minister suffered a great mourning, the ruler would not call at his door for three years. After completing the mourning rites, one may wear ceremonial caps and robes and engage in military affairs involving metal and leather armor. For the ruler to send him on such a mission is wrong; For an official to carry it out, that is proper conduct. Minzi fastened the mourning cord and performed his duties; shortly afterward he said, "Is it like this! The ancient way does not conform to human feelings." He stepped back and retired from office. Confucius probably approved of this action.
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| | 宣公元年: |
公會齊侯于平州。 |
| | The Duke met with the King of Qi at Pingzhou.
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| | 宣公元年: |
公子遂如齊。 |
| | Gongzi Sui went toqi.
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| | 宣公元年: |
六月，齊人取濟西田。外取邑不書，此何以書？所以賂齊也。曷為賂齊？為弒子赤之賂也。 |
| | In the sixth month, the people of Qi seized the fields west of Ji. The seizing of a city by an outside force is usually not recorded; why then is this recorded? It was given as a bribe to Qi. Why was it given as a bribe toqi? It was the bribe for the regicide of Zi Chi.
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| | 宣公元年: |
秋，邾婁子來朝。 |
| | In autumn, Duke Zhulou came to pay homage.
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| | 宣公元年: |
楚子、鄭人侵陳，遂侵宋。 |
| | The King of Chu and the people of Zheng invaded Chen, and then proceeded to invade Song.
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| | 宣公元年: |
晉趙盾帥師救陳。宋公、陳侯、衛侯、曹伯會晉師于斐林，伐鄭。此晉趙盾之師也，曷為不言趙盾之師？君不會大夫之辭也。 |
| | Zhao Dun of Jin led an army to rescue Chen. Duke Song, King Chen, King Wei, and Duke Cao met the Jin forces at Feilin to attack Zheng. This was Zhao Dun's army ofjin; why then is Zhao Dun's army not mentioned? It is the wording used when a ruler does not meet with officials.
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| | 宣公元年: |
冬，晉趙穿帥師侵柳。柳者何？天子之邑也。曷為不系乎周？不與伐天子也。 |
| | In winter, Zhao Chuan of Jin led an army to invade Liu. What is Liu? It was a fief of the Son of Heaven. Why then is it not associated with Zhou? It does not endorse the attack on the Son of Heaven.
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| | 宣公元年: |
晉人、宋人伐鄭。 |
| | The people ofjin and Song attacked Zheng.
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