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武王伐殷。往伐归兽，识其政事，作《》。 |
| | 武成: |
惟一月壬辰，旁死魄。越翼日，癸巳，王朝步自周，于征伐商。 |
| Successful Completion of the...: |
In the first month, the day Ren-chen immediately followed the end of the moon's waning. The next day was Gui-ji, when the king, in the morning, marched from Zhou to attack and punish Shang. |
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厥四月，哉生明，王来自商，至于丰。乃偃武修文，归马于华山之阳，放牛于桃林之野，示天下弗服。 |
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In the fourth month, at the first appearance of the moon, the king came from Shang to Feng, when he hushed all the movements of war, and proceeded to cultivate the arts of peace. He sent back his horses to the south of mount Hua, and let loose his oxen in the open country of Tao-lin, showing to all under heaven that he would not use them (again). |
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丁未，祀于周庙，邦甸、侯、卫，骏奔走，执豆、笾。越三日，庚戌，柴、望，大告武成。 |
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On the day Ding-Wei, he sacrificed in the ancestral temple of Zhou, when (the princes) of the royal domain, and of the Dian, Hou, and Wei domains, all hurried about, carrying the dishes." The third day after was Geng-xu, when he presented a burnt-offering to Heaven, and worshipped towards the hills and rivers, solemnly announcing the successful completion of the war. |
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既生魄，庶邦冢君暨百工，受命于周。 |
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After the moon began to wane, the hereditary princes of the various states, and all the officers, received their appointments from Zhou. |
| | 武成: |
王若曰：“呜呼，群后！惟先王建邦启土，公刘克笃前烈，至于大王肇基王迹，王季其勤王家。我文考文王克成厥勋，诞膺天命，以抚方夏。大邦畏其力，小邦怀其德。惟九年，大统未集，予小子其承厥志。 |
| Successful Completion of the...: |
The king spoke to the following effect: 'Oh! ye host of princes, the first of our kings founded his state, and commenced (the enlargement of) its territory. Gong Liu, was able to consolidate the services of his predecessor. But it was the king Tai who laid the foundations of the royal inheritance. The king Ji was diligent for the royal House; and my deceased father, king Wen, completed his merit, and grandly received the appointment of Heaven, to soothe the regions of our great land. The great states feared his strength; the small states thought fondly of his virtue. In nine years, however, the whole kingdom was not united under his rule, and it fell to me, the little child, to carry out his will. |
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砥商之罪，告于皇天、后土、所过名山、大川，曰：‘惟有道曾孙周王发，将有大正于商。今商王受无道，暴殄天物，害虐烝民，为天下逋逃主，萃渊薮。予小子既获仁人，敢祗承上帝，以遏乱略。华夏蛮貊，罔不率俾。恭天成命，肆予东征，绥厥士女。惟其士女，篚厥玄黄，昭我周王。天休震动，用附我大邑周。惟尔有神，尚克相予以济兆民，无作神羞！” |
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'Detesting the crimes of Shang, I announced to great Heaven and the sovereign Earth, to the famous hill I and the great river by which I passed, saying, "I, Fa, the principled, king of Zhou by a long descent, am about to administer a great correction to Shang. Shou, the present king of Shang, is without principle, cruel and destructive to the creatures of Heaven, injurious and tyrannical to the multitudes of the people, lord of all the vagabonds under heaven, who collect about him as fish in the deep, and beasts in the prairie. I, the little child, having obtained (the help of) virtuous men, presume reverently to comply with (the will of) God, and make an end of his disorderly ways. Our flowery, and great land, and the tribes of the south and north, equally follow and consent with me. Reverently obeying the determinate counsel of Heaven, I pursue my punitive work to the east, to give tranquillity to its men and women. They meet me with their baskets full of dark-coloured and yellow silks, thereby showing (the virtues) of us, the kings of Zhou. Heaven's favours stir them up, so that they come with their allegiance to our great state of Zhou. And now, ye spirits, grant me your aid, that I may relieve the millions of the people, and nothing turn out to your shame."' |
| | 武成: |
既戊午，师逾孟津。癸亥，陈于商郊，俟天休命。甲子昧爽，受率其旅若林，会于牧野。罔有敌于我师，前徒倒戈，攻于后以北，血流漂杵。一戎衣，天下大定。乃反商政，政由旧。释箕子囚，封比干墓，式商容闾。散鹿台之财，发钜桥之粟，大赉于四海，而万姓悦服。 |
| Successful Completion of the...: |
On the day Wu-wu, the army crossed the ford of Meng, and on Gui-hai it was drawn up in array in the borders of Shang, waiting for the gracious decision of Heaven. On Jia-zi, at early dawn, Shou led forward his troops, (looking) like a forest, and assembled them in the wild of Mu. But they offered no opposition to our army. Those in the front inverted their spears, and attacked those behind them, till they fled; and the blood flowed till it floated the pestles of the mortars. Thus did (king Wu) once don his armour, and the kingdom was grandly settled. He overturned the (existing) rule of Shang, and made government resume its old course. He delivered the count of Qi from prison, and raised a mound over the grave of Bi-gan. He bowed forward to the cross-bar of his carriage at the gate of Shang Rong's village. He dispersed the treasures of the Stag Tower, and distributed the grain of Ju-qiao, thus conferring great gifts on all within the four seas, so that the people joyfully submitted to him. |
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列爵惟五，分土惟三。建官惟贤，位事惟能。重民五教，惟食、丧、祭。敦信明义，崇德报功。垂拱而天下治。 |
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He arranged the nobles in five orders, assigning the territories to them according to a threefold scale. He gave offices only to the worthy, and employments only to the able. He attached great importance to the people's being taught the duties of the five relations of society, and to measures for ensuring a sufficient supply of food, attention to the rites of mourning, and to sacrifices. He showed the reality of his truthfulness, and proved clearly his righteousness. He honoured virtue, and rewarded merit. Then he had only to let his robes fall down, and fold his hands, and the kingdom was orderly ruled. |
