| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
《益稷 - Yi and Ji》 | English translation: James Legge [?] | Books referencing 《益稷》 Library Resources |
| 1 | 益稷: | 帝曰：“来，禹！汝亦昌言。”禹拜曰：“都！帝，予何言？予思日孜孜。”皋陶曰：“吁！如何？”禹曰：“洪水滔天，浩浩怀山襄陵，下民昏垫。予乘四载，随山刊木，暨益奏庶鲜食。予决九川，距四海，浚畎浍距川；暨稷播，奏庶艰食鲜食。懋迁有无，化居。烝民乃粒，万邦作乂。”皋陶曰：“俞！师汝昌言。” |
| Yi and Ji: | The Di said, 'Come Yu, you also must have excellent words (to bring before me).' Yu did obeisance, and said, 'Oh! what can I say, O Di, (after Gao-Yao)? I can (only) think of maintaining a daily assiduity.' Gao-Yao said, 'Alas! will you describe it?' Yu replied, 'The inundating waters seemed to assail the heavens, and in their vast extent embraced the hills and overtopped the great mounds, so that the people were bewildered and overwhelmed. I mounted my four conveyances, and all along the hills hewed down the trees, at the same time, along with Yi, showing the multitudes how to get flesh to eat. I (also) opened passages for the streams (throughout the) nine (provinces), and conducted them to the four seas. I deepened (moreover) the channels and canals, and conducted them to the streams, sowing (grain), at the same time, along with Ji, and showing the multitudes how to procure the food of toil, (in addition to) the flesh meat. I urged them (further) to exchange what they had for what they had not, and to dispose of their accumulated stores. (In this way) all the people got grain to eat, and the myriad regions began to come under good rule.' Gao-Yao said, 'Yes, we ought to model ourselves after your excellent words.' | |
| 2 | 益稷: | 禹曰：“都！帝，慎乃在位。”帝曰：“俞！禹曰：“安汝止，惟几惟康。其弼直，惟动丕应。徯志以昭受上帝，天其申命用休。” |
| Yi and Ji: | Yu said, 'Oh! carefully maintain, O Di, the throne which you occupy.' The Di replied, 'Yes;' and Yu went on, 'Find your repose in your (proper) resting-point. Attend to the springs of things; study stability; and let your assistants be the upright - then shall your movements be grandly responded to, (as if the people only) waited for your will. Thus you will brightly receive (the favour of) God - will not Heaven renew its appointment of you, and give you blessing?' | |
| 3 | 益稷: | 帝曰：“吁！臣哉邻哉！邻哉臣哉！”禹曰：“俞！” |
| Yi and Ji: | The Di said, 'Alas! what are ministers? - are they not (my) associates? What are associates? - are they not (my) ministers?' Yu replied, 'Yes'. | |
| 帝曰：“臣作朕股肱耳目。予欲左右有民，汝翼。予欲宣力四方，汝为。予欲观古人之象，日、月、星辰、山、龙、华虫作会；宗彝、藻、火、粉米、黼、黻，絺绣，以五采彰施于五色，作服，汝明。予欲闻六律五声八音，在治忽，以出纳五言，汝听。予违，汝弼，汝无面从，退有后言。钦四邻！庶顽谗说，若不在时，侯以明之，挞以记之，书用识哉，欲并生哉！工以纳言，时而扬之，格则承之庸之，否则威之。” | ||
| The Di went on, 'My ministers constitute my legs and arms, my ears and eyes. I wish to help and support my people - you give effect to my wishes. I wish to spread the influence (of my government) through the four quarters - you act as my agents. I wish to see the emblematic figures of the ancients - the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountain, the dragons, and the flowery fowl (the pheasant), which are depicted (on the upper garment); the temple cups, the pondweed, the flames, the grains of rice, the hatchet, and the symbol of distinction, which are embroidered (on the lower Garment) - (I wish to see all these) fully displayed in the five colours, so as to form the (ceremonial) robes - it is yours to see them clearly (for me). I wish to hear the six pitch-tubes, the five notes (determined by them), and the eight kinds of musical instruments (regulated again by these), examining thereby the virtues and defects of government, according as (the odes that) go forth (from the court, set to music), and come in (from the people), are ordered by those five notes - it is yours to hear them (for me). When I am doing wrong, it is yours to correct me; do not follow me to my face, and, when you have retired, have other remarks to make. Be reverent, ye associates, who are before and behind and on each side of me! As to all the obstinately stupid and calumniating talkers, who are found not to be doing what is right, are there not the target to exhibit (their true character), the scourge to make them recollect, and the book of remembrance? Do we not wish them to live along with us? There are also the masters (of music) to receive their compositions, (set them to music), and continually publish them (as corrected by themselves). If they become reformed they are to be received and employed; if they do not, let the terrors (of punishment) overtake them.' | ||
| 禹曰：“俞哉！帝光天之下，至于海隅苍生，万邦黎献，共惟帝臣，惟帝时举。敷纳以言，明庶以功，车服以庸。谁敢不让，敢不敬应？帝不时敷，同，日奏，罔功。” | ||
| Yu said, 'So far good! But let your light shine, O Di, all under heaven, even to every grassy corner of the sea-shore, and throughout the myriad regions the most worthy of the people will all (wish) to be your ministers. Then, O Di, you may advance them to office. They will set forth, and you will receive, their reports; you will make proof of them according to their merits; you will confer chariots and robes according to their services. Who will then dare not to cultivate a humble virtue? who will dare not to respond to you with reverence? If you, O Di, do not act thus, all (your ministers) together will daily proceed to a meritless character.' | ||
| 4 | 益稷: |
帝曰：1“无若丹朱傲，惟慢游是好，傲虐是作。罔昼夜頟頟，罔水行舟。朋淫于家，用殄厥世。予创若时，娶于涂山，辛壬癸甲。启呱呱而泣，予弗子，惟荒度土功。弼成五服，至于五千。州十有二师，外薄四海，咸建五长，各迪有功，苗顽弗即工，帝其念哉！”帝曰：“迪朕德，时乃功，惟叙。”皋陶方祗厥叙，方施象刑，惟明。 |
| Yi and Ji: |
'Be not haughty like Zhu of Dan, who found his pleasure only in indolence and dissipation, and pursued a proud oppressive course. Day and night without ceasing he was thus. He would make boats go where there was no water. He introduced licentious associates into his family. The consequence was that he brought the prosperity of his house to an end. I took warning from his course. When I married in Tu-shan, (I remained with my wife only the days) xin, ren, gui, and jia. When (my son) Qi was wailing and weeping, I did not regard him, but kept planning with all my might my labour on the land. (Then) I assisted in completing the five Tenures, extending over 5000 li; (in appointing) in the provinces twelve Tutors, and in establishing in the regions beyond, reaching to the four seas, five Presidents. These all pursue the right path, and are meritorious; but there are still (the people of) Miao, who obstinately refuse to render their service. Think of this, O Di.' The Di said, 'That my virtue is followed is the result of your meritorious services so orderly displayed. And now Gao-Yao, entering respectfully into your arrangements, is on every hand displaying the (various) punishments, as represented, with entire intelligence.' 1. 帝曰： : Inserted. 孙星衍《尚书今古文注疏》 | |
| 5 | 益稷: | 夔曰：“戛击鸣球、搏拊、琴、瑟、以咏。”祖考来格，虞宾在位，群后德让。下管鼗鼓，合止柷敔，笙镛以闲。鸟兽跄跄；《箫韶》九成，凤皇来仪。夔曰：“于！予击石拊石，百兽率舞，庶尹允谐。” |
| Yi and Ji: | Kui said, 'When the sounding-stone is tapped or struck with force, and the lutes are strongly swept or gently touched, to accompany the singing, the progenitors (of the Di) come (to the service), the guest of Yu is in his place, and all the princes show their virtue in giving place to one another. (In the court) below (the hall) there are the flutes and hand-drums, which join in at the sound of the rattle, and cease at that of the stopper, when the organ and bells take their place. (This makes) birds and beasts fall moving. When the nine parts of the service, as arranged by the Di, have all been performed, the male and female phœnix come with their measured gambolings (into the court).' Kui said, 'Oh! when I smite the (sounding-) stone, or gently strike it, the various animals lead on one another to dance, and all the chiefs of the official departments become truly harmonious.' | |
| 6 | 益稷: | 帝庸作歌，曰：“勑天之命，惟时惟几。”乃歌曰：“股肱喜哉！元首起哉！百工熙哉！”皋陶拜手稽首扬言曰：“念哉！率作兴事，慎乃宪，钦哉！屡省乃成，钦哉！”乃赓载歌曰：“元首明哉，股肱良哉，庶事康哉！”又歌曰：“元首丛脞哉，股肱惰哉，万事堕哉！”帝拜曰：“俞，往钦哉！” |
| Yi and Ji: |
The Di on this made a song, saying, 'We must deal cautiously with the favouring appointment of Heaven, at every moment and in the smallest particular.' He then sang. 'When the members (work) joyfully, The head rises (grandly); And the duties of all the offices are fully discharged! Gao-Yao did obeisance with his head to his hands and then to the ground, and with a loud and rapid voice said,' Think (O Di). It is your to lead on and originate things. Pay careful attention to your laws (in doing so). Be reverential! and often examine what has been accomplished (by your officers). Be reverential!' With this he continued the song, 'When the head is intelligent, The members are good; And all affairs will be happily performed!' Again he continued the song, 'When the head is vexatious, The members are idle; And all affairs will go to ruin!' The Di said, 'Yes, go and be reverently (attentive to your duties).' |
URN: ctp:shang-shu/yi-and-ji