| | 莊公二十... : |
二十有四年春，王三月，刻桓宮桷。何以書？譏。何譏爾？刻桓宮桷，非禮也。 |
| | In the twenty-fourth year [of his reign], spring, the king's third month, they carved the beams of Huan Gong's palace. Why is this recorded? It is a censure. What exactly is being censured? Carving the beams of Huan Gong's palace was not in accordance with ritual propriety.
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| | 莊公二十... : |
葬曹莊公。 |
| | The Duke Zhuang of Cao was buried.
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| | 莊公二十... : |
夏，公如齊逆女。何以書？親迎禮也。 |
| | In summer, the duke went to Qi to meet his bride. Why is this recorded? Because it was in accordance with the rites of personally going to meet one's bride.
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| | 莊公二十... : |
秋，公至自齊。八月丁丑，夫人姜氏入。其言入何？難也。其言日何？難也。其難奈何？夫人不僂不可使入；與公有所約，然後入。 |
| | In autumn, the duke returned from Qi. On the Dingchou day of the eighth month, Lady Jiang, the duchess, entered [the capital]. Why is her "entering" mentioned? Because it was difficult. Why is the specific date mentioned? Because it was difficult. What made it so difficult? A duchess who did not bow could not be allowed to enter; She had to make an agreement with the duke before she was permitted to enter.
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| | 莊公二十... : |
戊寅，大夫、宗婦覿用幣。宗婦者何？大夫之妻也。覿者何？見也。用者何？用者不宜用也；見用幣，非禮也。然則曷用？棗、栗云乎！腶、修云乎！ |
| | On the Wuyin day, the ministers and female members of the clan met her with gifts. What is a "female member of the clan"? They are the wives of ministers. What does "dike" mean? It means a meeting or audience. What is the meaning of "yong"? "Yong" refers to something that should not be used; To meet with gifts is not in accordance with ritual. If that is the case, then what should be used? Dates and chestnuts, perhaps! Preserved pork and dried meat strips, perhaps!
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| | 莊公二十... : |
大水。 |
| | There was a great flood.
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| | 莊公二十... : |
冬，戎侵曹，曹羈出奔陳。曹羈者何？曹大夫也。曹無大夫，此何以書？賢也。何賢乎曹羈？戎將侵曹，曹羈諫曰：「戎眾以無義，君請勿自敵也。」曹伯曰：「不可。」三諫，不從，遂去之，故君子以為得君臣之義也。 |
| | In winter, the Rong invaded Cao, and Duke Ji of Cao fled to Chen. Who was Duke Ji of Cao? He was a minister of the state of Cao. The state of Cao did not have ministers; why is this recorded? Because he was virtuous. What made Duke Ji of Cao virtuous? The Rong were about to invade Cao, and Cao Ji advised the ruler, saying: "The Rong are numerous but lack righteousness; you should not personally oppose them." Duke Bo of Cao said, "It cannot be done." After advising three times and not being heeded, he left the state; therefore, gentlemen considered him to have upheld the proper meaning of ruler-minister relations.
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| | 莊公二十... : |
赤歸于曹郭公。赤者何？曹無赤者，蓋郭公也。郭公者何？失地之君也。 |
| | Chi returned to Duke Guo of Cao. Who was Chi? There is no one named Chi in the state of Cao; it probably refers to Duke Guo. Who was Duke Guo? He was a ruler who had lost his territory.
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