| | 齊鍾離春: |
鍾離春者，齊無鹽邑之女，宣王之正后也。其為人極醜無雙，臼頭，深目，長壯，大節，卬鼻，結喉，肥項，少髮，折腰，出胸，皮膚若漆。行年四十，無所容入，衒嫁不讎，流棄莫執。 |
| | Zhongli Chun was a woman from Wuyan Yi of Qi and the empress consort of King Xuan. She was extremely ugly, with no equal; she had a pestle-shaped head, deep-set eyes, long and sturdy limbs, large joints, an upturned nose, a knotted throat, thick neck, little hair, a bent waist, protruding chest, and skin as dark as lacquer. At the age of forty, she had nowhere to fit in; her attempts to marry were unsuccessful, and she was abandoned without anyone taking responsibility for her.
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| | 齊鍾離春: |
於是乃拂拭短褐，自詣宣王，謂謁者曰：「妾齊之不讎女也。聞君王之聖德，願備後宮之埽除，頓首司馬門外，唯王幸許之。」謁者以聞，宣王方置酒於漸臺，左右聞之，莫不掩口大笑曰：「此天下強顏女子也，豈不異哉！」於是宣王乃召見之，謂曰：「昔者先王為寡人娶妃匹，皆已備有列位矣。今夫人不容於鄉里布衣，而欲干萬乘之主，亦有何奇能哉？」鍾離春對曰：「無有。特竊慕大王之美義耳。」王曰：「雖然，何善？」良久曰：「竊嘗善隱。」宣王曰：「隱固寡人之所願也，試一行之。」言未卒，忽然不見。宣王大驚，立發隱書而讀之，退而推之，又未能得。 |
| | She then brushed off her short-cloth robe and went in person to King Xuan, saying to the palace attendant: "I am an unmatched woman from Qi. "I have heard of Your Majesty's virtuous rule and wish to serve as a cleaner in the palace. I bow my head at the Sima Gate, hoping His Majesty will kindly grant me permission." The palace attendant reported this to King Xuan, who was then holding a banquet at Zhantai. Upon hearing the news, those around him could not help but cover their mouths and laugh, saying: "This is an impudent woman from all over the world; how extraordinary!" King Xuan then summoned her for an audience and said, "In the past, my late father arranged marriages for me; all positions in the harem are already filled. Now you, who cannot find a place among common people in your hometown, wish to approach the ruler of ten thousand chariots. What extraordinary talent do you possess?" Zhongli Chun replied: "None." "I only secretly admire Your Majesty's noble virtue." The king said, "Even so, what good qualities do you have?" After a long pause, she said: "I used to be good at concealment." King Xuan said, "Concealment is indeed what I desire. Try it once." Before the words were finished, she suddenly disappeared. King Xuan was greatly startled and immediately fetched books on concealment to read them; after retiring and pondering, he still could not understand.
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| | 齊鍾離春: |
明日，又更召而問之，不以隱對，但揚目銜齒，舉手拊膝，曰：「殆哉殆哉！」如此者四。宣王曰：「願遂聞命。」鍾離春對曰：「今大王之君國也，西有衡秦之患，南有強楚之讎，外有二國之難。內聚姦臣，眾人不附。春秋四十，壯男不立，不務眾子而務眾婦。尊所好，忽所恃。一旦山陵崩弛，社稷不定，此一殆也。漸臺五重，黃金白玉，琅玕籠疏翡翠珠璣，幕絡連飾，萬民罷極，此二殆也。賢者匿於山林，諂諛強於左右，邪偽立於本朝，諫者不得通入，此三殆也。飲酒沈湎，以夜繼晝，女樂俳優，縱橫大笑。外不脩諸侯之禮，內不秉國家之治，此四殆也。故曰殆哉殆哉。」於是宣王喟然而嘆曰：「痛乎無鹽君之言！乃今一聞。」於是拆漸臺，罷女樂，退諂諛，去雕琢，選兵馬，實府庫，四辟公門，招進直言，延及側陋。卜擇吉日，立太子，進慈母，拜無鹽君為后。而齊國大安者，醜女之力也。君子謂鍾離春正而有辭。《》云：「」此之謂也。 |
| | The next day, King Xuan summoned her again and asked about it. She did not respond with anything related to concealment, but instead raised her eyes, clenched her teeth, raised her hands and tapped her knees, saying: "How dangerous! How dangerous!" She repeated this four times. King Xuan said: "I wish to hear your explanation." Zhongli Chun replied: "Now, Your Majesty's rule over the state faces a threat from Heng Qin to the west and an enemy in powerful Chu to the south; there are external difficulties posed by these two states. Internally, corrupt ministers gather power, and the people do not support Your Majesty." Your Majesty is now forty years old; yet no capable men have been appointed. You do not focus on cultivating many virtuous sons but instead concentrate on numerous concubines. You honor your personal preferences while neglecting what you should rely upon. One day, when the mountain and tomb collapse and the state becomes unstable, this will be one source of danger." The Zhantai terrace has five layers, adorned with gold and white jade, surrounded by lapis lazuli screens and sparse emerald pearl curtains; the draperies are intricately decorated. The people are exhausted from labor—this is a second danger." Virtuous men hide in the mountains and forests, while flatterers hold power at court. Deceitful people occupy positions of authority within the government, and those who offer advice cannot gain access—this is a third danger." You indulge in drinking to excess, continuing from night into day; female entertainers and jesters laugh loudly without restraint. Externally, you do not observe the rites with feudal lords, and internally, you neglect the governance of the state—this is a fourth danger." Hence I say: "How dangerous! How dangerous!" King Xuan sighed and said, "How painful are the words of Lady Wuyan! I have only just heard them." Thus, King Xuan tore down the Zhantai terrace, dismissed female entertainers, removed flatterers from office, abandoned elaborate decorations, selected troops and horses, filled the treasuries, opened four public gates to the people, invited forthright advice, and extended invitations even to those in humble or obscure positions. He chose an auspicious day by divination, established the crown prince, honored his kind mother, and enshrined Lady Wuyan as empress. The great stability of Qi was due to the efforts of this ugly woman. The virtuous men said that Zhongli Chun was upright and eloquent. "The Book of Songs" says: "Now I have seen the gentleman, my heart is joyful." This is what it means.
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| | 齊鍾離春: |
頌曰：無鹽之女，干說齊宣，分別四殆，稱國亂煩，宣王從之，四辟公門，遂立太子，拜無鹽君。 |
| | Ode: The woman of Wuyan, approached King Xuan with persuasion; she identified four dangers and spoke of the nation's turmoil. Following her advice, King Xuan opened four public gates, thus established the crown prince and enshrined Lady Wuyin.
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