| | 楚世家: |
楚之先祖出自帝顓頊高陽。高陽者，黃帝之孫，昌意之子也。高陽生稱，稱生卷章，卷章生重黎。重黎為帝嚳高辛居火正，甚有功，能光融天下，帝嚳命曰祝融。共工氏作亂，帝嚳使重黎誅之而不盡。帝乃以庚寅日誅重黎，而以其弟吳回為重黎後，復居火正，為祝融。 |
| | The ancestors of Chu were descendants of Emperor Zhuanxu Gaoyang. Gaoyang was the grandson of Huangdi and the son of Changyi. Gaoyang gave birth to Cheng, who in turn fathered Juanzhang, and Juanzhang was the father of Zhongli. Zhongli served as Huozheng, the official in charge of fire affairs, for Emperor Ku Gaoxin. He achieved great merit and was able to illuminate and warm the world; thus, Emperor Ku bestowed upon him the title Zhurong. When the Gongsun clan caused rebellion, Emperor Ku sent Zhongli to punish them, but he did not completely eradicate them. The emperor then executed Zhongli on the Gengyin day, and appointed his younger brother Wuhui as Zhongli's successor. He resumed the position of Huozheng and became Zhurong.
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| | 楚世家: |
吳回生陸終。陸終生子六人，坼剖而產焉。其長一曰昆吾；二曰參胡；三曰彭祖；四曰會人；五曰曹姓；六曰季連，羋姓，楚其後也。昆吾氏，夏之時嘗為侯伯，桀之時湯滅之。彭祖氏，殷之時嘗為侯伯，殷之末世滅彭祖氏。季連生附沮，附沮生穴熊。其後中微，或在中國，或在蠻夷，弗能紀其世。 |
| | Wuhui gave birth to Luzhong. Luzhong had six sons, all of whom were born through a cesarean section. The eldest was Kunwu; the second was Canhu; the third was Peng Zu; the fourth was Huiren; the fifth was Cao Xing; the sixth was Jilian, of the Mi surname, and Chu was his descendant. The Kunwu clan had once been marquises or dukes during the Xia dynasty; they were destroyed by Tang at the time of Jie. The Peng Zu clan had once been marquises and dukes during the Yin dynasty; they were destroyed at the end of the Yin dynasty. Jilian gave birth to Fujū, who in turn was the father of Xuexiong. Later on, their lineage became obscure; some lived among the Chinese people and others among the southern barbarians, and it was no longer possible to record their generations.
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| | 楚世家: |
周文王之時，季連之苗裔曰鬻熊。鬻熊子事文王，蚤卒。其子曰熊麗。熊麗生熊狂，熊狂生熊繹。熊繹當周成王之時，舉文、武勤勞之後嗣，而封熊繹於楚蠻，封以子男之田，姓羋氏，居丹陽。楚子熊繹與魯公伯禽、衛康叔子牟、晉侯燮、齊太公子呂伋俱事成王。 |
| | During the time of King Wen of Zhou, a descendant of Jilian named Yu Xiong existed. Yu Xiong's son served under King Wen and died at an early age. His son was named Xiongli. Xiongli gave birth to Xiongkuang, who in turn fathered Xiongyi. Xiongyi lived during the reign of King Cheng of Zhou. He was chosen as a descendant of those who had rendered meritorious service to Kings Wen and Wu, and thus Xiongyi was enfeoffed in Chiman, granted land at the rank of zi nan, given the surname Mi, and settled in Danyang. The ruler of Chu, Xiongyi, along with Gong Boqin of Lu, Mengzi Mou the son of Wei Kangshu, Hou Xie of Jin, and Tai Gongzi Lü Ji of Qi, all served King Cheng.
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| | 楚世家: |
熊繹生熊艾，熊艾生熊亶，熊亶生熊勝。熊勝以弟熊楊為後。熊楊生熊渠。 |
| | Xiongyi gave birth to Xiongae, who in turn fathered Xianduan, and Xianduan was the father of Xiongsheng. Xiongsheng made his younger brother Xiongyang his successor. Xiongyang gave birth to Xiongqu.
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| | 楚世家: |
熊渠生子三年。當周夷王之時，王室微，諸侯或不朝，相伐。熊渠甚得江漢閒民和，乃興兵伐庸、楊蠆，至于鄂。熊渠曰：「我蠻夷也，不與中國之號謚。」乃立其長子康為句亶王，中子紅為鄂王，少子執疵為越章王，皆在江上楚蠻之地。及周厲王之時，暴虐，熊渠畏其伐楚，亦去其王。 |
| | Xiongqu had three sons in the third year of his reign. During the reign of King Yi of Zhou, the royal house was weak; some feudal lords did not pay homage and instead fought among themselves. Xiongqu gained great popularity among the people between the rivers Jiang and Han, so he raised an army to attack Yong and Yangchai, reaching as far as E. Xiongqu said: "We are southern barbarians; we will not adopt the titles and posthumous names of the Central Kingdoms." He then appointed his eldest son Kang as the King of Gudan, his second son Hong as the King of E, and his youngest son Zhici as the King of Yuehang. All their domains were located in the land of Chiman along the river Jiang. When the reign of King Li of Zhou came, with his tyrannical and cruel rule, Xiongqu feared that he would be attacked by the Zhou dynasty, so he also relinquished his kingship.
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| | 楚世家: |
後為熊毋康，毋康蚤死。熊渠卒，子熊摯紅立。摯紅卒，其弟弒而代立，曰熊延。熊延生熊勇。 |
| | Later, there was Xiongwukang, who died at an early age. After Xiongqu's death, his son Xiongzhihong ascended the throne. Xiongzhihong died, and his younger brother killed him to take over the throne, assuming the name Xiongyan. Xiongyan gave birth to Xiongyong.
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| | 楚世家: |
熊勇六年，而周人作亂，攻厲王，厲王出奔彘。熊勇十年，卒，弟熊嚴為後。 |
| | In the sixth year of King Xiongyong's reign, the people of Zhou rebelled and attacked King Li; King Li fled to Zhi. In the tenth year of Xiongyong's reign, he died, and his younger brother Xiongyan became his successor.
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| | 楚世家: |
熊嚴十年，卒。有子四人，長子伯霜，中子仲雪，次子叔堪，少子季徇。熊嚴卒，長子伯霜代立，是為熊霜。 |
| | Xiongyan reigned for ten years before dying. He had four sons: the eldest was Boshuang, the second Zhongxue, the third Shukan, and the youngest Jixun. After Xiongyan's death, his eldest son Boshuang succeeded him; this was King Xiongshuang.
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| | 楚世家: |
熊霜元年，周宣王初立。熊霜六年，卒，三弟爭立。仲雪死；叔堪亡，避難於濮；而少弟季徇立，是為熊徇。熊徇十六年，鄭桓公初封於鄭。二十二年，熊徇卒，子熊咢立。熊咢九年，卒，子熊儀立，是為若敖。 |
| | In the first year of King Xiongshuang's reign, King Xuan of Zhou had just ascended the throne. In the sixth year of Xiongshuang's reign, he died and his three younger brothers vied for the throne. Zhongxue died; Shukan fled and took refuge in Pu to avoid danger; the youngest brother Jixun became king, and this was King Xiongxun. In the sixteenth year of King Xiongxun's reign, Gong Huan of Zheng was first enfeoffed at Zheng. In the twenty-second year, Xiongxun died and his son Xionguo ascended the throne. Xionguo reigned for nine years before dying; his son Xiongyi succeeded him, and this was Ruao.
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| | 楚世家: |
若敖二十年，周幽王為犬戎所弒，周東徙，而秦襄公始列為諸侯。 |
| | In the twentieth year of King Ruao's reign, King You of Zhou was killed by Quanrong; the Zhou court moved eastward, and Gong Xiang of Qin first became a feudal lord.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十七年，若敖卒，子熊坎立，是為霄敖。霄敖六年，卒，子熊眴立，是為蚡冒。蚡冒十三年，晉始亂，以曲沃之故。蚡冒十七年，卒。蚡冒弟熊通弒蚡冒子而代立，是為楚武王。 |
| | In the twenty-seventh year, Ruao died; his son Xiongkan succeeded him and was known as Xiaoao. Xiaoao reigned for six years before dying, after which his son Xionshun ascended the throne and was known as Fenmao. In the thirteenth year of King Fenmao's reign, chaos began in Jin due to the Quwo incident. Fenmao reigned for seventeen years before dying. Fenmao's younger brother Xiongtong killed Fenmao's son and took the throne in his place; this was King Wu of Chu.
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| | 楚世家: |
武王十七年，晉之曲沃莊伯弒主國晉孝侯。十九年，鄭伯弟段作亂。二十一年，鄭侵天子之田。二十三年，衛弒其君桓公。二十九年，魯弒其君隱公。三十一年，宋太宰華督弒其君殤公。 |
| | In the seventeenth year of King Wu's reign, Zhuangbo of Quwo in Jin killed Duke Xiaohou, the ruler of the main state of Jin. In the nineteenth year, Gong Duan, the younger brother of Gong Bo of Zheng, rebelled. In the twenty-first year, Zheng invaded the royal fields belonging to the Son of Heaven. In the twenty-third year, Wei killed its ruler Duke Huan. In the twenty-ninth year, Lu killed its ruler Gong Yin. In the thirty-first year, Huadu, the Taizai of Song, killed his ruler 殇 gong.
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| | 楚世家: |
三十五年，楚伐隨。隨曰：「我無罪。」楚曰：「我蠻夷也。今諸侯皆為叛相侵，或相殺。我有敝甲，欲以觀中國之政，請王室尊吾號。」隨人為之周，請尊楚，王室不聽，還報楚。三十七年，楚熊通怒曰：「吾先鬻熊，文王之師也，蚤終。成王舉我先公，乃以子男田令居楚，蠻夷皆率服，而王不加位，我自尊耳。」乃自立為武王，與隨人盟而去。於是始開濮地而有之。 |
| | In the thirty-fifth year, Chu attacked Sui. Sui said: "We are innocent." Chu replied: "We are southern barbarians. Now, the feudal lords have all become rebels who invade and kill each other. I have a worn-out set of armor with which I wish to observe the government of the Central Kingdoms; please let the royal house honor me with a title." The people of Sui acted as intermediaries for Chu, requesting that the Zhou court bestow honors upon it. The royal house did not agree, so they returned to report this to Chu. In the thirty-seventh year, Xiongtong of Chu became angry and said: "My ancestor Yu Xiong was a teacher to King Wen, but died at an early age. King Cheng honored my ancestor and granted him land at the rank of Zi Nan, allowing him to reside in Chu. The southern barbarians all submitted willingly, yet the king did not bestow a higher title upon us; I shall honor myself then." He thus declared himself King Wu and formed an alliance with the people of Sui before departing. At this time, he first opened up and took possession of the land at Pu.
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| | 楚世家: |
五十一年，周召隨侯，數以立楚為王。楚怒，以隨背己，伐隨。武王卒師中而兵罷。子文王熊貲立，始都郢。 |
| | In the fifty-first year, Zhou summoned Gong Hou of Sui on several occasions to oppose the establishment of a king for Chu. Chu became angry that Sui had betrayed it and attacked Sui. King Wu died in the midst of his military campaign, and thus the troops withdrew. His son King Wendi Xiongzi was enthroned, and this marked the beginning of making Ying as the capital.
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| | 楚世家: |
文王二年，伐申過鄧，鄧人曰「楚王易取」，鄧侯不許也。六年，伐蔡，虜蔡哀侯以歸，已而釋之。楚彊，陵江漢閒小國，小國皆畏之。十一年，齊桓公始霸，楚亦始大。 |
| | In the second year of King Wendi's reign, he launched a campaign against Shen and passed through Deng. The people of Deng said, "The king of Chu is easily captured," but Duke Deng refused to agree. In the sixth year, he attacked Cai and captured Gong Ai of Cai, bringing him back with him; later, he released him. Chu grew strong and bullied the small states between the rivers Jiang and Han; all these small states feared it. In the eleventh year, Gong Huan of Qi first became hegemon; at this time, Chu also began to grow in power.
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| | 楚世家: |
十二年，伐鄧，滅之。十三年，卒，子熊艱立，是為莊敖。莊敖五年，欲殺其弟熊惲，惲奔隨，與隨襲弒莊敖代立，是為成王。 |
| | In the twelfth year, they attacked Deng and destroyed it. In the thirteenth year, he died; his son Xiongan succeeded him as Zhuangao. In the fifth year of Zhuangao's reign, he wanted to kill his younger brother Xiongyun. Xiongyun fled to Sui and with their help, assassinated Zhuangao and took over the throne; this was King Cheng.
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| | 楚世家: |
成王惲元年，初即位，布德施惠，結舊好於諸侯。使人獻天子，天子賜胙，曰：「鎮爾南方夷越之亂，無侵中國。」於是楚地千里。 |
| | In the first year of Gong Yun's reign as King Cheng, upon ascending the throne, he spread virtue and bestowed favors, re-establishing old alliances with the feudal lords. He sent envoys to present offerings to the Son of Heaven, who in return bestowed sacrificial meat and said: "Stabilize the chaos among the southern barbarian Yue tribes; do not invade the Central Kingdoms." At this time, the territory of Chu extended for a thousand li.
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| | 楚世家: |
十六年，齊桓公以兵侵楚，至陘山。楚成王使將軍屈完以兵御之，與桓公盟。桓公數以周之賦不入王室，楚許之，乃去。 |
| | In the sixteenth year, Gong Huan led an army to invade Chu and reached Mount Xing. King Cheng of Chu sent General Qu Wan with troops to resist him, and they formed an alliance with Gong Huan. Gong Huan repeatedly claimed that the levies of Zhou were not being delivered to the royal court, and upon receiving assurances from Chu, he withdrew.
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| | 楚世家: |
十八年，成王以兵北伐許，許君肉袒謝，乃釋之。二十二年，伐黃。二十六年，滅英。 |
| | In the eighteenth year, King Cheng led troops north to attack Xu; the ruler of Xu offered a humble apology with bare upper body and was thus released. In the twenty-second year, they attacked Huang. In the twenty-sixth year, Ying was destroyed.
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| | 楚世家: |
三十三年，宋襄公欲為盟會，召楚。楚王怒曰：「召我，我將好往襲辱之。」遂行，至盂，遂執辱宋公，已而歸之。三十四年，鄭文公南朝楚。楚成王北伐宋，敗之泓，射傷宋襄公，襄公遂病創死。 |
| | In the thirty-third year, Gong Xiang of Song wanted to hold an alliance meeting and summoned Chu. The king of Chu became angry and said: "He has summoned me; I will go there in good faith to humiliate him." So he went, reaching Yu, whereupon he captured and humiliated Gong of Song before finally returning him. In the thirty-fourth year, King Wen of Zheng made a southern court visit to Chu. King Cheng led a northern campaign against Song and defeated them at Hong, where he shot and wounded Gong Xiang. Gong Xiang then died from his wounds.
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| | 楚世家: |
三十五年，晉公子重耳過楚，成王以諸侯客禮饗，而厚送之於秦。 |
| | In the thirty-fifth year, Gongzi Chonger of Jin passed through Chu; King Cheng entertained him with the courtesy befitting a feudal lord's guest and sent him off richly to Qin.
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| | 楚世家: |
三十九年，魯僖公來請兵以伐齊，楚使申侯將兵伐齊，取穀，置齊桓公子雍焉。齊桓公七子皆奔楚，楚盡以為上大夫。滅夔，夔不祀祝融、鬻熊故也。 |
| | In the thirty-ninth year, Gong Xi of Lu came to request military assistance against Qi. Chu sent Shen Hou to lead troops in attacking Qi, captured Gu, and placed Gongzi Yong, a son of King Huan of Qi, there. The seven sons of King Huan all fled to Chu, who appointed them all as Shangdaren (high-ranking officials). Kui was destroyed because the people of Kui did not worship Zhurong and Yuxiong.
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| | 楚世家: |
夏，伐宋，宋告急於晉，晉救宋，成王罷歸。將軍子玉請戰，成王曰：「重耳亡居外久，卒得反國，天之所開，不可當。」子玉固請，乃與之少師而去。晉果敗子玉於城濮。成王怒，誅子玉。 |
| | In summer, they attacked Song; Song urgently appealed to Jin for help, so Jin came to the rescue of Song and King Cheng withdrew his forces. General Ziyu requested battle, but King Cheng said: "Chonger has been in exile for a long time; he finally managed to return to his country. This is the opening granted by Heaven and cannot be opposed." Ziyu insisted on fighting, so King Cheng gave him a junior general and left. Jin indeed defeated Ziyu at Chengpu. King Cheng became angry and executed Ziyu.
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| | 楚世家: |
四十六年，初，成王將以商臣為太子，語令尹子上。子上曰：「君之齒未也，而又多內寵，絀乃亂也。楚國之舉常在少者。且商臣蜂目而豺聲，忍人也，不可立也。」王不聽，立之。後又欲立子職而絀太子商臣。商臣聞而未審也，告其傅潘崇曰：「何以得其實？」崇曰：「饗王之寵姬江羋而勿敬也。」商臣從之。江羋怒曰：「宜乎王之欲殺若而立職也。」商臣告潘崇曰：「信矣。」崇曰：「能事之乎？」曰：「不能。」「能亡去乎？」曰：「不能。」「能行大事乎？」曰：「能。」冬十月，商臣以宮衛兵圍成王。成王請食熊蹯而死，不聽。丁未，成王自絞殺。商臣代立，是為穆王。 |
| | In the forty-sixth year, originally, King Cheng was going to appoint Shangchen as crown prince and informed Lingyi Zishang. Zishang said: "The king's age is not yet old, and he also has many concubines within the palace. Dismissing one will cause disorder." The selection of successors in the state of Chu was usually given to the younger ones. "Moreover, Shangchen has the eyes of a hornet and the voice of a jackal; he is a cruel man and cannot be made heir." The king did not listen and appointed him. Later, the king wanted to appoint Gongzi Zhi as heir and demote Crown Prince Shangchen. Shangchen heard this but was not certain, so he told his tutor Pan Chong: "How can I find out the truth?" Chong said: "Entertain King's favorite concubine Jiang Mi but do not show her respect." Shangchen followed his advice. Jiang Mi became angry and said: "It is only natural that the king wants to kill you and appoint Zhi instead." Shangchen told Pan Chong: "This confirms it." Chong asked: "Can you serve him?" He said: "I cannot." "Can you flee away?" He said: "I cannot." "Can you carry out a great deed?" He said: "I can." In the tenth month of winter, Shangchen surrounded King Cheng with palace guards. King Cheng requested to eat xiongfan (a bear's paw) before dying, but they did not listen. On the Dingwei day, King Cheng hanged himself. Shangchen took over and became king; this was King Mu.
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| | 楚世家: |
穆王立，以其太子宮予潘崇，使為太師，掌國事。穆王三年，滅江。四年，滅六、蓼。六、蓼，皋陶之後。八年，伐陳。十二年，卒。子莊王侶立。 |
| | After King Mu ascended the throne, he gave his crown prince's residence to Pan Chong and appointed him as Taishi (Grand Tutor), in charge of state affairs. In the third year of King Mu's reign, Jiang was destroyed. In the fourth year, Liu and Liao were destroyed. Liu and Liao were descendants of Gao Tao. In the eighth year, Chen was attacked. In the twelfth year, he died. His son Zhuangwang Lü succeeded him.
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| | 楚世家: |
莊王即位三年，不出號令，日夜為樂，令國中曰：「有敢諫者死無赦！」伍舉入諫。莊王左抱鄭姬，右抱越女，坐鐘鼓之閒。伍舉曰：「願有進隱。」曰：「有鳥在於阜，三年不蜚不鳴，是何鳥也？」莊王曰：「三年不蜚，蜚將沖天；三年不鳴，鳴將驚人。舉退矣，吾知之矣。」居數月，淫益甚。大夫蘇從乃入諫。王曰：「若不聞令乎？」對曰：「殺身以明君，臣之願也。」於是乃罷淫樂，聽政，所誅者數百人，所進者數百人，任伍舉、蘇從以政，國人大說。是歲滅庸。六年，伐宋，獲五百乘。 |
| | King Zhuang had been on the throne for three years without issuing any decrees, and day and night he indulged in music. He issued an order throughout the country: "Anyone who dares to remonstrate shall be put to death without pardon!" Wu Ju entered to remonstrate. King Zhuang was holding a Zheng concubine on his left and a Yue concubine on his right, sitting between the bells and drums. Wu Ju said: "I wish to offer an allegory." He said: "There is a bird on the hill, which has not flown or cried out for three years. What kind of bird is this?" King Zhuang said: "If it does not fly for three years, when it flies, it will pierce the sky; if it does not cry out for three years, its call will startle people." "Go away, Wu Ju. I understand now." After several months, his indulgence became even more excessive. The official Su Cong then entered to remonstrate. The king said: "Have you not heard the order?" He replied: "To sacrifice my life to enlighten Your Majesty is my wish as a subject." At this, he ceased his indulgence in music and pleasures, began to attend to government affairs, executed hundreds of people, promoted hundreds more, entrusted Wu Ju and Su Cong with governance, and the people of the state were greatly pleased. In this year, Yong was destroyed. In the sixth year, they attacked Song and captured 500 chariots.
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| | 楚世家: |
八年，伐陸渾戎，遂至洛，觀兵於周郊。周定王使王孫滿勞楚王。楚王問鼎小大輕重，對曰：「在德不在鼎。」莊王曰：「子無阻九鼎！楚國折鉤之喙，足以為九鼎。」王孫滿曰：「嗚呼！君王其忘之乎？昔虞夏之盛，遠方皆至，貢金九牧，鑄鼎象物，百物而為之備，使民知神姦。桀有亂德，鼎遷於殷，載祀六百。殷紂暴虐，鼎遷於周。德之休明，雖小必重；其姦回昏亂，雖大必輕。昔成王定鼎于郟鄏，卜世三十，卜年七百，天所命也。周德雖衰，天命未改。鼎之輕重，未可問也。」楚王乃歸。 |
| | In the eighth year, they attacked Lu hun Rong, reaching Luo, and displayed their troops in the suburbs of Zhou. King Dingwang of Zhou sent Wangsun Man to greet King Chu. The king of Chu asked about the size and weight of the tripods, and Wangsun Man replied: "It lies in virtue, not in the tripods." King Zhuang said: "You must not hinder me from obtaining the Nine Tripods! The hooks of Chu's chariots are strong enough to serve as the Nine Tripods." Wangsun Man said: "Alas! Have you forgotten, Your Majesty? In the flourishing times of Yu and Xia, people from distant lands all came; nine regions contributed metal, which was used to cast tripods representing things. All kinds of objects were depicted in detail so that the people would know what was divine or evil. When Jie behaved immorally, the tripods moved to Yin and remained there for six hundred years. When Yin Zhou was tyrannical and cruel, the tripods were transferred to Zhou. If virtue is bright and virtuous, even a small tripod will be weighty; if one is corrupt and chaotic, even the largest tripod will be light. In ancient times, King Cheng established the tripods at Jiafu; diviners predicted thirty generations and seven hundred years of rule. This was a mandate from Heaven. Though Zhou's virtue has declined, Heaven's mandate remains unchanged. "The weight of the tripods is not something you can inquire about." The king of Chu then returned.
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| | 楚世家: |
九年，相若敖氏。人或讒之王，恐誅，反攻王，王擊滅若敖氏之族。十三年，滅舒。 |
| | In the ninth year, he executed the family of Ao Shi. Some people slandered them to the king; fearing punishment, they rebelled against him. The king attacked and exterminated the Ao Shi clan. In the thirteenth year, Shu was destroyed.
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| | 楚世家: |
十六年，伐陳，殺夏徵舒。徵舒弒其君，故誅之也。已破陳，即縣之。群臣皆賀，申叔時使齊來，不賀。王問，對曰：「鄙語曰，牽牛徑人田，田主取其牛。徑者則不直矣，取之牛不亦甚乎？且王以陳之亂而率諸侯伐之，以義伐之而貪其縣，亦何以復令於天下！」莊王乃復國陳後。 |
| | In the sixteenth year, they attacked Chen and killed Xia Zhengshu. Zhengshu had assassinated his ruler; therefore, he was executed. After defeating Chen, they established it as a commandery. All the ministers congratulated him, but Shen Shushi, who had been sent to Qi, did not offer congratulations. The king asked why, and he replied: "A common saying goes that if one leads a cow through another's field, the owner of the field will take the cow. Leading it through is already wrong; to seize the cow as well is not excessive?" Moreover, Your Majesty led feudal lords to attack Chen because of its disorder. You attacked it in the name of righteousness but now greedily take its territory as a commandery—how can you issue commands to the world again!" King Zhuang then restored the descendants of Chen to rule their state.
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| | 楚世家: |
十七年春，楚莊王圍鄭，三月克之。入自皇門，鄭伯肉袒牽羊以逆，曰：「孤不天，不能事君，君用懷怒，以及敝邑，孤之罪也。敢不惟命是聽！賓之南海，若以臣妾賜諸侯，亦惟命是聽。若君不忘厲、宣、桓、武，不絕其社稷，使改事君，孤之願也，非所敢望也。敢布腹心。」楚群臣曰：「王勿許。」莊王曰：「其君能下人，必能信用其民，庸可絕乎！」莊王自手旗，左右麾軍，引兵去三十里而舍，遂許之平。潘尪入盟，子良出質。夏六月，晉救鄭，與楚戰，大敗晉師河上，遂至衡雍而歸。 |
| | In spring of the seventeenth year, King Zhuang of Chu besieged Zheng and captured it after three months. He entered through the Huang Gate, and Duke Bo of Zheng came out in sackcloth and with a sheep in hand to meet him, saying: "I am unworthy; I have failed to serve Your Majesty properly. Because of this, you are angry and have brought your wrath upon my humble state—this is entirely my fault. How dare I not obey your commands! If you wish to exile me to the South China Sea, or if you wish to give my subjects and concubines as gifts to feudal lords, I will obey your command. If Your Majesty does not forget Kings Li, Xuan, Huan, and Wu, and allows our ancestral state to continue without being destroyed, so that I may change my service to you, this would be my wish, though it is more than I dare hope for. "I dare to lay bare my heart." The ministers of Chu said: "Your Majesty should not agree." King Zhuang said: "His ruler is humble enough to lower himself; such a person must be able to gain the trust and loyalty of his people. How can we possibly cut them off!" King Zhuang personally took up a flag, directed the troops to the left and right with it, led his army thirty li away from Zheng before stopping, and thus agreed to make peace. Pan Wang entered into an alliance, while Zi Liang went as a hostage. In summer, the sixth month, Jin came to rescue Zheng and fought against Chu; they heavily defeated the Jin forces on the riverbank and then proceeded as far as Hengyong before returning.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十年，圍宋，以殺楚使也。圍宋五月，城中食盡，易子而食，析骨而炊。宋華元出告以情。莊王曰：「君子哉！」遂罷兵去。 |
| | In the twentieth year, they besieged Song because of the killing of a Chu envoy. They besieged Song for five months; food in the city ran out, and people exchanged their children to eat, and boiled bones after splitting them. Chong Hua yuan went out and informed them of the situation. King Zhuang said: "How noble a gentleman he is!" He then withdrew his troops.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十三年，莊王卒，子共王審立。 |
| | In the twenty-third year, King Zhuang died and was succeeded by his son Gongwang Shen.
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| | 楚世家: |
共王十六年，晉伐鄭。鄭告急，共王救鄭。與晉兵戰鄢陵，晉敗楚，射中共王目。共王召將軍子反。子反嗜酒，從者豎陽穀進酒醉。王怒，射殺子反，遂罷兵歸。 |
| | In the sixteenth year of King Gong's reign, Jin attacked Zheng. Zheng sent an urgent plea for help, and King Gong came to its rescue. They fought the Jin forces at Yanling; Jin defeated Chu, and shot an arrow that hit King Gong in the eye. King Gong summoned General Zi Fan. Zi Fan was fond of alcohol, and his attendant Shuyang Gu served him wine until he became drunk. The king was furious, shot and killed Zi Fan, and then withdrew the troops and returned.
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| | 楚世家: |
三十一年，共王卒，子康王招立。康王立十五年卒，子員立，是為郟敖。 |
| | In the thirty-first year, King Gong died, and his son Kangwang Zhao succeeded him. King Kang reigned for fifteen years before dying; his son Yuan succeeded him, who was known as Jiaoao.
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| | 楚世家: |
康王寵弟公子圍、子比、子皙、棄疾。郟敖三年，以其季父康王弟公子圍為令尹，主兵事。四年，圍使鄭，道聞王疾而還。十二月己酉，圍入問王疾，絞而弒之，遂殺其子莫及平夏。使使赴於鄭。伍舉問曰：「誰為後？」對曰：「寡大夫圍。」伍舉更曰：「共王之子圍為長。」子比奔晉，而圍立，是為靈王。 |
| | King Kang favored his younger brothers Gongzi Wei, Zibi, Zixi, and Qiji. In the third year of Jiaoao's reign, he appointed his uncle Gongzi Wei, the younger brother of King Kang, as Lingyi (prime minister), to oversee military affairs. In the fourth year, Wei was sent on a mission to Zheng; along the way he heard of the king's illness and returned. On the Jiyou day of the twelfth month, Wei entered to inquire about the king's illness, strangled him and assassinated him, then killed his son Mo and Pingxia. He sent envoys to Zheng to announce the news. Wu Ju asked, "Who will succeed as king?" The reply was: "My noble official Wei." Wu Ju corrected, saying: "Prince Wei, the son of King Gong, is the eldest." Zibi fled to Jin, and Wei was enthroned; he became known as King Ling.
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| | 楚世家: |
靈王三年六月，楚使使告晉，欲會諸侯。諸侯皆會楚于申。伍舉曰：「昔夏啟有鈞臺之饗，商湯有景亳之命，周武王有盟津之誓，成王有岐陽之閒，康王有豐宮之朝，穆王有涂山之會，齊桓有召陵之師，晉文有踐土之盟，君其何用？」靈王曰：「用桓公。」時鄭子產在焉。於是晉、宋、魯、衛不往。靈王已盟，有驕色。伍舉曰：「桀為有仍之會，有緡叛之。紂為黎山之會，東夷叛之。幽王為太室之盟，戎、翟叛之。君其慎終！」 |
| | In the sixth month of the third year of King Ling's reign, Chu sent envoys to inform Jin that it wished to convene a meeting with the feudal lords. All the feudal lords gathered in Shen at the invitation of Chu. Wu Ju said: "In the past, Emperor Qi of Xia held a banquet at Juntai; King Tang of Shang received his mandate at Jingbao; King Wu of Zhou made an oath at Mengjin; King Cheng of Zhou had leisure in Qiyang; King Kang of Zhou convened court at Fenggong; King Mu of Zhou held a conference at Tushan; Duke Huan of Qi led troops to Zhaoling; and Duke Wen of Jin formed an alliance at Jiandu. Which precedent would Your Majesty like to follow?" King Ling said: "Let us follow the example of Duke Huan." At that time, Zichan of Zheng was present. Thus, Jin, Song, Lu, and Wei did not attend. After the alliance was formed, King Ling displayed a conceited attitude. Wu Ju said: "Jie once held a conference in Youcheng, but the people of Min rebelled against him." "Zhou once convened a meeting at Lishan, and the Dongyi tribes rebelled against him. " "King You held an alliance in Taishi, but the Rong and Di peoples rebelled against him." "You should be cautious to a good end!"
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| | 楚世家: |
七月，楚以諸侯兵伐吳，圍朱方。八月，克之，囚慶封，滅其族。以封徇，曰：「無效齊慶封弒其君而弱其孤，以盟諸大夫！」封反曰：「莫如楚共王庶子圍弒其君兄之子員而代之立！」於是靈王使（棄）疾殺之。 |
| | In July, Chu led the armies of the feudal lords to attack Wu and besieged Zhufang. In August, they captured it, arrested Qingfeng, and exterminated his clan. They paraded Qingfeng through the streets, declaring: "Do not follow Qi's Qingfeng in assassinating your ruler and weakening his orphaned heir! Take an oath with all the high officials!" Qingfeng retorted: "None is worse than Gongwang's illegitimate son Wei, who assassinated his nephew Yuan, the king's brother's son, and usurped the throne for himself!" At this, King Ling ordered (Qiji) to kill him.
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| | 楚世家: |
七年，就章華臺，下令內亡人實之。 |
| | In the seventh year, he visited Zhanghuatai and issued an order to settle runaway slaves there from within the country.
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| | 楚世家: |
八年，使公子棄疾將兵滅陳。十年，召蔡侯，醉而殺之。使棄疾定蔡，因為陳蔡公。 |
| | In the eighth year, he sent Gongzi Qiji to lead troops that destroyed Chen. In the tenth year, he summoned Lord Cai, got him drunk, and killed him. He ordered Qiji to pacify Cai, and thus became Duke of Chen and Cai.
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| | 楚世家: |
十一年，伐徐以恐吳。靈王次於乾豀以待之。王曰：「齊、晉、魯、衛，其封皆受寶器，我獨不。今吾使使周求鼎以為分，其予我乎？」析父對曰：「其予君王哉！昔我先王熊繹辟在荊山，蓽露藍蔞以處草莽，跋涉山林以事天子，唯是桃弧棘矢以共王事。齊，王舅也；晉及魯、衛，王母弟也：楚是以無分而彼皆有。周今與四國服事君王，將惟命是從，豈敢愛鼎？」靈王曰：「昔我皇祖伯父昆吾舊許是宅，今鄭人貪其田，不我予，今我求之，其予我乎？」對曰：「周不愛鼎，鄭安敢愛田？」靈王曰：「昔諸侯遠我而畏晉，今吾大城陳、蔡、不羹，賦皆千乘，諸侯畏我乎？」對曰：「畏哉！」靈王喜曰：「析父善言古事焉。」 |
| | In the eleventh year, they attacked Xu in order to intimidate Wu. King Ling stationed his forces at Qianxi to await them. The king said: "Qi, Jin, Lu, and Wei all received precious vessels as gifts from their enfeoffments, but I alone did not. "Now I have sent an envoy to Zhou to request a tripod as my share—will they give it to me?" Xi Fu replied: "They will surely grant the tripod to Your Majesty! "In the past, our late king Xiong Yi lived in isolation on Jing Mountain, wearing coarse clothes and living among weeds, braving mountains and forests to serve the Son of Heaven. We only used willow bows and thorn-tipped arrows to fulfill royal duties. "Qi is Your Majesty's maternal uncle; Jin, Lu and Wei are Your Majesty's paternal uncles: that is why Chu has no share while they all do. "Now Zhou, together with the four states, serves Your Majesty and will obey your commands; how could they dare to withhold the tripod?" King Ling said: "In the past, my revered ancestor's elder uncle Kunwu dwelled in the old territory of Xu. Now the people of Zheng are greedy for its land and do not give it to me; if I now request it, will they give it to me?" The reply was: "If Zhou does not withhold the tripod, how would Zheng dare to withhold its land?" King Ling said: "In the past, the feudal lords kept their distance from me and feared Jin. Now I have greatly expanded Chen, Cai, and Bugeng, each of which can field a thousand chariots in tribute; do the feudal lords now fear me?" The reply was: "Indeed they do!" King Ling rejoiced and said, "Xi Fu is good at citing ancient matters."
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| | 楚世家: |
十二年春，楚靈王樂乾豀，不能去也。國人苦役。初，靈王會兵於申，僇越大夫常壽過，殺蔡大夫觀起。起子從亡在吳，乃勸吳王伐楚，為閒越大夫常壽過而作亂，為吳閒。使矯公子棄疾命召公子比於晉，至蔡，與吳、越兵欲襲蔡。令公子比見棄疾，與盟於鄧。遂入殺靈王太子祿，立子比為王，公子子皙為令尹，棄疾為司馬。先除王宮，觀從從師于乾豀，令楚眾曰：「國有王矣。先歸，復爵邑田室。後者遷之。」楚眾皆潰，去靈王而歸。 |
| | In spring of the twelfth year, King Ling of Chu was so pleased with Qianxi that he could not leave. The people of the state were burdened by hard labor. Originally, when King Ling convened troops at Shen, he publicly humiliated Yue's official Chang Shouguo and executed Cai's official Guan Qi. Guan Qi's son, who had fled to Wu and was in exile there, then advised King Wu to attack Chu, inciting rebellion on behalf of Yue's official Chang Shouguowhile acting as a spy for Wu. He sent someone to forge the orders of Gongzi Qiji, summoning Gongzi Bi from Jin. When he arrived at Cai, he joined forces with Wu and Yue troops who intended to attack Cai by surprise. He ordered Gongzi Bi to meet Qiji and form an alliance in Deng. They then entered the capital, killed King Ling's crown prince Lu, and enthroned Zibi as king. Gongzi Zixi was appointed Lingyi (prime minister) and Qiji became Sima (military commander). They first cleared out the royal palace. Guan Cong, who was with the army at Qianxi, proclaimed to the people of Chu: "The state already has a king." "Those who return first will be restored their titles, fiefs, lands, and homes. Those who come later will be relocated." The people of Chu all dispersed, abandoning King Ling and returning home.
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| | 楚世家: |
靈王聞太子祿之死也，自投車下，而曰：「人之愛子亦如是乎？」侍者曰：「甚是。」王曰：「余殺人之子多矣，能無及此乎？」右尹曰：「請待於郊以聽國人。」王曰：「眾怒不可犯。」曰：「且入大縣而乞師於諸侯。」王曰：「皆叛矣。」又曰：「且奔諸侯以聽大國之慮。」王曰：「大福不再，祗取辱耳。」於是王乘舟將欲入鄢。右尹度王不用其計，懼俱死，亦去王亡。 |
| | When King Ling heard about the death of his crown prince Lu, he threw himself from his chariot and said: "Is this how people love their sons?" His attendant replied: "Indeed it is." The king said: "I have killed many people's sons; could I possibly avoid this fate?" You Yin said: "Please wait in the suburbs to see what the people of the state decide." The king said: "The anger of the masses cannot be defied." He said, "Let us first enter a large county and seek military aid from the feudal lords." The king said: "They have all rebelled." He added, "Then I shall flee to the feudal lords and await the decision of a great state." The king said: "Great fortune does not come twice; it would only bring disgrace." Thus, the king boarded a boat and intended to flee into Yan. You Yin realized that the king would not follow his plan; fearing death together with him, he also abandoned the king and fled.
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| | 楚世家: |
靈王於是獨傍偟山中，野人莫敢入王。王行遇其故鋗人，謂曰：「為我求食，我已不食三日矣。」鋗人曰：「新王下法，有敢閒王從王者，罪及三族，且又無所得食。」王因枕其股而臥。鋗人又以土自代，逃去。王覺而弗見，遂饑弗能起。芋尹申無宇之子申亥曰：「吾父再犯王命，王弗誅，恩孰大焉！」乃求王，遇王饑於釐澤，奉之以歸。夏五月癸丑，王死申亥家，申亥以二女從死，并葬之。 |
| | King Ling was thus left wandering alone in the mountains, where the common people dared not approach him. While traveling, the king encountered an old acquaintance from his former days as a commoner and said to him: "Go get me some food; I have not eaten for three days." The former commoner replied: "The new king has issued strict laws. Anyone who dares to assist the old king or follow him will be punished along with their three generations of relatives, and besides, I have nothing to get for food." The king then lay down using his companion's thigh as a pillow. The former commoner used dirt to cover himself in an attempt to impersonate the king and then fled. When the king awoke, he found his companion gone; starving and weak, he could no longer get up. Yu Yin Shen Wuyu's son, Shen Hai, said: "My father twice defied the king's orders, yet the king did not punish him. Who else could show such great kindness!" So he went in search of the king and found him starving in Lize, whereupon he respectfully escorted him back. On the Kouchou day of the fifth month in summer, the king died at Shen Hai's home; Shen Hai had his two daughters follow him in death and they were buried together.
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| | 楚世家: |
是時楚國雖已立比為王，畏靈王復來，又不聞靈王死，故觀從謂初王比曰：「不殺棄疾，雖得國猶受禍。」王曰：「余不忍。」從曰：「人將忍王。」王不聽，乃去。棄疾歸。國人每夜驚，曰：「靈王入矣！」乙卯夜，棄疾使船人從江上走呼曰：「靈王至矣！」國人愈驚。又使曼成然告初王比及令尹子皙曰：「王至矣！國人將殺君，司馬將至矣！君蚤自圖，無取辱焉。眾怒如水火，不可救也。」初王及子皙遂自殺。丙辰，棄疾即位為王，改名熊居，是為平王。 |
| | At that time, although the state of Chu had already enthroned Zibi as its king, it feared King Ling might return. Since there was no news about his death, Guan Cong advised the newly crowned King Bi: "If you do not kill Qiji, even though you have gained the throne, you will still suffer misfortune." The king said: "I cannot bear to do it." Guan Cong replied: "Others will not be so merciful toward you." The king did not listen, and so Guan Cong left. Qiji returned. The people of the state were alarmed every night, saying: "King Ling has entered!" On the Yimao day at night, Qiji ordered boatmen to run along the riverbank shouting: "King Ling is coming!" The people of the state became even more frightened. He also sent Man Chengran to inform King Bi and Minister-in-Chief Zi Xi: "The king is coming! "The people are about to kill you, and the Grand 司马 (Grand Marshal) will arrive soon!" "You should quickly make your own plans; do not invite disgrace." "The people's anger is like water and fire, which cannot be quelled." King Bi and Zi Xi then committed suicide. On the Bingchen day, Qiji ascended the throne as king, changed his name to Xiong Ju, and thus became King Ping.
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| | 楚世家: |
平王以詐弒兩王而自立，恐國人及諸侯叛之，乃施惠百姓。復陳蔡之地而立其後如故，歸鄭之侵地。存恤國中，修政教。吳以楚亂故，獲五率以歸。平王謂觀從：「恣爾所欲。」欲為卜尹，王許之。 |
| | King Ping had usurped the throne by treachery after killing two kings, and fearing that the people of his state and the feudal lords would rebel against him, he extended favors to the common people. He restored the territories of Chen and Cai and reestablished their descendants as before; he also returned the lands that had been invaded from Zheng. He showed concern for those within his state, and worked on improving governance and education. Wu took advantage of the chaos in Chu to capture five commanders and return with them. King Ping said to Guan Cong: "Do as you please." Guan Cong wished to become a Bo Yin, and the king agreed.
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| | 楚世家: |
初，共王有寵子五人，無適立，乃望祭群神，請神決之，使主社稷，而陰與巴姬埋璧於室內，召五公子齋而入。康王跨之，靈王肘加之，子比、子皙皆遠之。平王幼，抱其上而拜，壓紐。故康王以長立，至其子失之；圍為靈王，及身而弒；子比為王十餘日，子皙不得立，又俱誅。四子皆絕無後。唯獨棄疾後立，為平王，竟續楚祀，如其神符。 |
| | Initially, King Gong had five beloved sons, but none was designated as heir. Therefore, he conducted a sacrificial ceremony to all the deities, requesting them to decide who should succeed him and be in charge of the state's ancestral rites. Secretly, he and Ba Ji buried a jade tablet inside his residence and summoned the five princes to fast before entering. Kang Wang stepped over it, Ling Wang placed his elbow on top of it, while Zi Bi and Zi Xi both kept their distance from it. King Ping was young; he was carried onto the jade tablet and made a bow, pressing down on its clasp. Therefore, King Kang succeeded due to his seniority, but when it came to his son, the succession was lost; Wen became King Ling, and he himself was assassinated; Zi Bi reigned as king for more than ten days. Zi Xi did not succeed to the throne, and both were eventually executed together. The four sons all died without leaving any descendants. Only Qiji's line eventually succeeded, becoming King Ping, who ultimately continued the ancestral rites of Chu, just as foretold by the divine omen.
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| | 楚世家: |
初，子比自晉歸，韓宣子問叔向曰：「子比其濟乎？」對曰：「不就。」宣子曰：「同惡相求，如市賈焉，何為不就？」對曰：「無與同好，誰與同惡？取國有五難：有寵無人，一也；有人無主，二也；有主無謀，三也；有謀而無民，四也；有民而無德，五也。子比在晉十三年矣，晉、楚之從不聞通者，可謂無人矣；族盡親叛，可謂無主矣；無釁而動，可謂無謀矣；為羈終世，可謂無民矣；亡無愛徵，可謂無德矣。王虐而不忌，子比涉五難以弒君，誰能濟之！有楚國者，其棄疾乎？君陳、蔡，方城外屬焉。苛慝不作，盜賊伏隱，私欲不違，民無怨心。先神命之，國民信之。羋姓有亂，必季實立，楚之常也。子比之官，則右尹也；數其貴寵，則庶子也；以神所命，則又遠之；民無懷焉，將何以立？」宣子曰：「齊桓、晉文不亦是乎？」對曰：「齊桓，衛姬之子也，有寵於釐公。有鮑叔牙、賓須無、隰朋以為輔，有莒、衛以為外主，有高、國以為內主。從善如流，施惠不倦。有國，不亦宜乎？昔我文公，狐季姬之子也，有寵於獻公。好學不倦。生十七年，有士五人，有先大夫子餘、子犯以為腹心，有魏犫、賈佗以為股肱，有齊、宋、秦、楚以為外主，有欒、郤、狐、先以為內主。亡十九年，守志彌篤。惠、懷棄民，民從而與之。故文公有國，不亦宜乎？子比無施於民，無援於外，去晉，晉不送；歸楚，楚不迎。何以有國！」子比果不終焉，卒立者棄疾，如叔向言也。 |
| | Initially, when Zi Bi returned from Jin, Han Xuanszi asked Shu Xiang: "Will Zi Bi succeed?" Shu Xiang replied: "He will not achieve success." Xuanszi said: "Those who share the same hatred seek each other out, just like merchants in a market. Why would he not achieve success?" Shu Xiang replied: "If one has no companions who share the same virtues, to whom can they share their hatred with? "To seize a state is fraught with five difficulties. First, being favored but lacking support from people." "Having supporters but no leader, this is the second difficulty; "Having a leader but lacking strategy, this is the third difficulty; "Having plans but no support from the people, this is the fourth difficulty; "Having the people's support but lacking virtue, this is the fifth difficulty." "Zi Bi has been in Jin for thirteen years now. There are no known connections between the followers of Jin and Chu, which can be said to mean he lacks support from people; "His clan has been wiped out and his relatives have turned against him. This means he has no leader." "To act without a clear opportunity can be said to indicate the lack of strategy; "To remain in exile for life is to have no support from the people." "To flee without any signs of being loved by others can be said to show a lack of virtue." "The king was cruel yet unafraid, and Zi Bi encountered all five difficulties in assassinating the ruler. Who could possibly help him succeed!" "He who will possess the state of Chu must be Qiji." The lords of Chen and Cai were vassals beyond Fangcheng. Harsh evils do not arise, thieves and bandits remain hidden, private desires are not transgressed, and the people have no grievances. The ancestral deities command it, and the nation's people believe in it. When chaos arises among the Mi clan, it is always a younger son who ascends to power; this has been customary for Chu. Zi Bi's official title was You Yin; Considering his status and favor, he was a commoner-born son; In terms of the divine will, he was even further removed from it; "The people do not support him. How could he possibly establish himself as ruler?" Xuanszi said: "Were Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin not also like this?" Shu Xiang replied: "Duke Huan of Qi was the son of Wei Ji, and he was favored by King Li. "He had Bao Shuya, Bin Xuwu, and Xi Peng as his advisors; the states of Ju and Wei supported him from outside, while the families Gao and Guo supported him within." "He followed virtue like flowing water, and tirelessly extended favors to others. "To possess a state—was that not entirely appropriate?" "In the past, our Duke Wen was the son of Hu Jiji and was favored by King Xian. "He never tired in his pursuit of learning. "At seventeen years old, he already had five retainers. He had the late 大夫 (high official) Zi Yu and Zifan as his trusted confidants; Wei Ku and Jia Tuo as his strong supporters; and the states of Qi, Song, Qin, and Chu as external allies. Within the state, he had the families Luan, Xi, Hu, and Xian as internal supports." "He spent nineteen years in exile, yet his resolve remained even more steadfast. "Kings Hui and Huai abandoned the people; thus, the people followed Duke Wen and supported him." "Therefore, it was entirely appropriate for Duke Wen to possess a state. "Zi Bi did not bestow any benefits upon the people, nor did he have external support. When he left Jin, they did not see him off; "When he returned to Chu, Chu did not welcome him." "How could he possibly possess a state!" Zi Bi indeed did not achieve his goal in the end, and ultimately Qiji was enthroned, just as Shu Xiang had predicted.
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| | 楚世家: |
平王二年，使費無忌如秦為太子建取婦。婦好，來，未至，無忌先歸，說平王曰：「秦女好，可自娶，為太子更求。」平王聽之，卒自娶秦女，生熊珍。更為太子娶。是時伍奢為太子太傅，無忌為少傅。無忌無寵於太子，常讒惡太子建。建時年十五矣，其母蔡女也，無寵於王，王稍益疏外建也。 |
| | In the second year of King Ping's reign, he sent Fei Wujin to Qin to arrange a marriage for Crown Prince Jian. The woman was beautiful, but before she could arrive in Chu, Fei Wujin returned first and advised King Ping: "The Qin princess is very beautiful. The king himself should take her as a wife and find another bride for the crown prince." King Ping listened to his advice, and in the end married the Qin princess himself. She bore him Xiong Zhen. He arranged for another marriage for Crown Prince Jian. At that time, Wu She was the Taifu (Grand Tutor) of the crown prince, and Fei Wujin was his Shaofu (Junior Tutor). Fei Wujin did not enjoy favor with Crown Prince Jian and often slandered him. Crown Prince Jian was then fifteen years old; his mother was a woman from Cai, who did not enjoy the king's favor. As a result, King Ping gradually became more distant and estranged toward Crown Prince Jian.
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| | 楚世家: |
六年，使太子建居城父，守邊。無忌又日夜讒太子建於王曰：「自無忌入秦女，太子怨，亦不能無望於王，王少自備焉。且太子居城父，擅兵，外交諸侯，且欲入矣。」平王召其傅伍奢責之。伍奢知無忌讒，乃曰：「王柰何以小臣疏骨肉？」無忌曰：「今不制，後悔也。」於是王遂囚伍奢。［而召其二子而告以免父死］乃令司馬奮揚召太子建，欲誅之。太子聞之，亡奔宋。 |
| | In the sixth year of his reign, King Ping ordered Crown Prince Jian to reside in Chengfu, where he was responsible for guarding the frontier. Fei Wujin also slandered Crown Prince Jian to the king day and night, saying: "Since I brought in the Qin princess for the king, the crown prince has been resentful. He cannot help but harbor resentment toward you, King. You should be cautious." "Moreover, while Crown Prince Jian is stationed in Chengfu, he controls the troops independently and has been making diplomatic contacts with the feudal lords. He may even plan to enter the capital." King Ping summoned Wu She, the prince's tutor, and rebuked him. Wu She knew that Fei Wujin had slandered the crown prince and said: "How can Your Majesty distance yourself from your own blood relatives because of a low-ranking official?" Fei Wujin replied: "If we do not act now, it will be too late to regret later." Thus, King Ping had Wu She imprisoned. [He summoned his two sons and told them that they could save their father's life] and then ordered Sima Fenyang to summon Crown Prince Jian, intending to kill him. Upon hearing of this, the crown prince fled to Song.
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| | 楚世家: |
無忌曰：「伍奢有二子，不殺者為楚國患。盍以免其父召之，必至。」於是王使使謂奢：「能致二子則生，不能將死。」奢曰：「尚至，胥不至。」王曰：「何也？」奢曰：「尚之為人，廉，死節，慈孝而仁，聞召而免父，必至，不顧其死。胥之為人，智而好謀，勇而矜功，知來必死，必不來。然為楚國憂者必此子。」於是王使人召之，曰：「來，吾免爾父。」伍尚謂伍胥曰：「聞父免而莫奔，不孝也；父戮莫報，無謀也；度能任事，知也。子其行矣，我其歸死。」伍尚遂歸。伍胥彎弓屬矢，出見使者，曰：「父有罪，何以召其子為？」將射，使者還走，遂出奔吳。伍奢聞之，曰：「胥亡，楚國危哉。」楚人遂殺伍奢及尚。 |
| | Fei Wujin said: "Wu She has two sons; if they are not killed, they will become a threat to the state of Chu. "Why not offer them their father's life in exchange and summon them? They must come." Thus, the king sent a messenger to Wu She with these words: "If you can bring your two sons here, you will live; if not, you will die." Wu She said: "Shang will come, but Xu will not." The king asked: "Why is that?" Wu She replied: "Shang's character is upright; he values integrity and loyalty, is kind-hearted and filial. Upon hearing that his presence could save his father's life, he will certainly come without hesitation, even at the cost of his own life. "As for Xu, he is intelligent and fond of planning, brave yet proud of his achievements. Knowing that coming would mean certain death, he will surely not come." "Nevertheless, it is precisely this son who will become a source of worry for the state of Chu." Thus, the king sent someone to summon him and said: "Come here, and I shall spare your father's life." Wu Shang told Wu Xu: "To hear of the chance to save one's father yet not rush to do so is an act of filial impiety; "to allow one's father to be killed without seeking revenge is a sign of lacking wisdom; "to assess whether one can shoulder responsibilities is an act of knowledge. "You should go ahead, while I shall return and face death." Wu Shang then returned. Wu Xu bent his bow, loaded an arrow, and went out to see the envoy, saying: "My father has committed a crime; why are you summoning his son?" He was about to shoot when the envoy fled in fear. Wu Xu then left and fled to Wu. Wu She heard of this and said: "Now that Xu has escaped, how perilous the state of Chu is!" The people of Chu then killed Wu She and Shang.
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| | 楚世家: |
十年，楚太子建母在居巢，開吳。吳使公子光伐楚，遂敗陳、蔡，取太子建母而去。楚恐，城郢。初，吳之邊邑卑梁與楚邊邑鐘離小童爭桑，兩家交怒相攻，滅卑梁人。卑梁大夫怒，發邑兵攻鐘離。楚王聞之怒，發國兵滅卑梁。吳王聞之大怒，亦發兵，使公子光因建母家攻楚，遂滅鐘離、居巢。楚乃恐而城郢。 |
| | In the tenth year, the Crown Prince Jian of Chu had his mother in Jucha, where he opened relations with Wu. Wu sent Gongzi Guang to attack Chu, and thus defeated the states of Chen and Cai, taking Prince Jian's mother away. Chu was alarmed and built walls around Ying. Initially, a minor town named Beiliang on Wu's border and another border town of Zhongli in Chu had a dispute over mulberry trees between two young boys. The families became enraged with each other and fought, resulting in the annihilation of the people from Beiliang. The official of Beiliang was furious and mobilized the town's troops to attack Zhongli. King of Chu, upon hearing this, became enraged and dispatched national forces to destroy Beiliang. King of Wu, upon hearing this news, was greatly enraged and also mobilized his troops. He sent Gongzi Guang to take advantage of the connection with Prince Jian's family to attack Chu, thus annihilating Zhongli and Jucha. Chu then became fearful and built walls around Ying.
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| | 楚世家: |
十三年，平王卒。將軍子常曰：「太子珍少，且其母乃前太子建所當娶也。」欲立令尹子西。子西，平王之庶弟也，有義。子西曰：「國有常法，更立則亂，言之則致誅。」乃立太子珍，是為昭王。 |
| | In the thirteenth year, King Ping died. General Zichang said: "Prince Zhen is young, and furthermore, his mother was originally the wife that Crown Prince Jian should have married." He wanted to install Linyin Zixi as king. łoż Zixi was King Ping's younger brother by a concubine and had virtue. Zixi said: "The state has established laws; changing the heir would cause chaos, and speaking out on this matter could lead to punishment." Thus, they installed Crown Prince Zhen as king, who became King Zhao.
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| | 楚世家: |
昭王元年，楚眾不說費無忌，以其讒亡太子建，殺伍奢子父與郤宛。宛之宗姓伯氏子及子胥皆奔吳，吳兵數侵楚，楚人怨無忌甚。楚令尹子常誅無忌以說眾，眾乃喜。 |
| | In the first year of King Zhao's reign, many people in Chu were dissatisfied with Fei Wujin because his slander had led to the exile of Crown Prince Jian and the deaths of Wu She, his father and son, as well as Xi Wan. The descendants of the clan of Xi Wan, including his relative Bo Shi and Wu Xu, all fled to Wu. The Wu forces repeatedly invaded Chu, causing great resentment among the people toward Fei Wujin. The Linyin Zichang of Chu executed Fei Wujin to appease the populace, and the people were then pleased.
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| | 楚世家: |
四年，吳三公子奔楚，楚封之以捍吳。五年，吳伐取楚之六、潛。七年，楚使子常伐吳，吳大敗楚於豫章。 |
| | In the fourth year, three princes from Wu fled to Chu, who granted them fiefs to defend against Wu. In the fifth year, Wu attacked and captured Liu and Qian of Chu. In the seventh year, Chu sent Zichang to attack Wu, but Wu decisively defeated Chu at Yuzhang.
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| | 楚世家: |
十年冬，吳王闔閭、伍子胥、伯與唐、蔡俱伐楚，楚大敗，吳兵遂入郢，辱平王之墓，以伍子胥故也。吳兵之來，楚使子常以兵迎之，夾漢水陣。吳伐敗子常，子常亡奔鄭。楚兵走，吳乘勝逐之，五戰及郢。己卯，昭王出奔。庚辰，吳人入郢。 |
| | In the winter of the tenth year, King Helu of Wu, along with Wu Zixu, Bo Yu, Tang, and Cai, launched a joint attack on Chu. Chu suffered a major defeat, and Wu forces then entered Ying, desecrating the tomb of King Ping — this was due to Wu Zixu's personal vendetta. When the Wu forces came, Chu sent Zichang with troops to meet them, forming an army on both sides of the Hanshui River. Wu defeated Zichang; Zichang fled and took refuge in Zheng. The Chu forces retreated, and Wu pursued them to their advantage, waging five battles before reaching Ying. On the Jimao day, King Zhao fled from the capital. On the Gengchen day, Wu forces entered Ying.
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| | 楚世家: |
昭王亡也至雲夢。雲夢不知其王也，射傷王。王走鄖。鄖公之弟懷曰：「平王殺吾父，今我殺其子，不亦可乎？」鄖公止之，然恐其弒昭王，乃與王出奔隨。吳王聞昭王往，即進擊隨，謂隨人曰：「周之子孫封於江漢之閒者，楚盡滅之。」欲殺昭王。王從臣子綦乃深匿王，自以為王，謂隨人曰：「以我予吳。」隨人卜予吳，不吉，乃謝吳王曰：「昭王亡，不在隨。」吳請入自索之，隨不聽，吳亦罷去。 |
| | King Zhao fled and reached Yunmeng. The people of Yunmeng did not know he was the king, so they shot and wounded him. The king fled to Yun. Huai, the younger brother of Gong of Yun, said: "King Ping killed my father; now I kill his son. Would that not be justified?" Gong of Yun tried to stop him, but fearing that he might assassinate King Zhao, he accompanied the king in fleeing to Sui. King Helu of Wu heard that King Zhao had fled in that direction and immediately advanced to attack Sui, telling the people of Sui: "All descendants of the Zhou dynasty who were enfeoffed between the Jiang and Han rivers have been completely annihilated by Chu." He wanted to kill King Zhao. King Zhao's attendant Zi Qi concealed the king deeply and pretended to be the king himself, telling the people of Sui: "Hand me over to Wu." The people of Sui divined whether they should hand him over to Wu, but the result was inauspicious. They then apologized to King Helu and said: "King Zhao has fled; he is not here in Sui." Wu requested permission to enter and search for him themselves, but Sui refused. Wu then withdrew without further action.
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| | 楚世家: |
昭王之出郢也，使申鮑胥請救於秦。秦以車五百乘救楚，楚亦收餘散兵，與秦擊吳。十一年六月，敗吳於稷。會吳王弟夫概見吳王兵傷敗，乃亡歸，自立為王。闔閭聞之，引兵去楚，歸擊夫概。夫概敗，奔楚，楚封之堂谿，號為堂谿氏。 |
| | When King Zhao fled from Ying, he sent Shen Baoxu to seek aid from Qin. Qin dispatched 500 chariots to rescue Chu, while Chu also gathered its scattered and remaining troops, joining forces with Qin to attack Wu. In the sixth month of the eleventh year, they defeated Wu at Ji. At this time, Fu Gai, King Helu's younger brother, seeing that the Wu army had suffered heavy losses and defeats, fled back to take power for himself and declared himself king. King Helu heard of this news and withdrew his troops from Chu to return and attack Fu Gai. Fu Gai was defeated and fled to Chu, where he was granted the fief of Tangxi and given the title "Tangxi Shi."
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| | 楚世家: |
楚昭王滅唐九月，歸入郢。十二年，吳復伐楚，取番。楚恐，去郢，北徙都鄀。 |
| | In September, King Zhao of Chu destroyed the state of Tang and returned to Ying. In the twelfth year, Wu again attacked Chu and captured Fan. Chu was afraid, abandoned Ying, and moved its capital north to Ruo.
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| | 楚世家: |
十六年，孔子相魯。二十年，楚滅頓，滅胡。二十一年，吳王闔閭伐越。越王句踐射傷吳王，遂死。吳由此怨越而不西伐楚。 |
| | In the sixteenth year, Confucius served as prime minister of Lu. In the twentieth year, Chu destroyed Dun and Hu. In the twenty-first year, King Helu of Wu attacked Yue. King Goujian of Yue shot and wounded King Helu, who later died. Because of this, Wu harbored resentment toward Yue and did not launch a western campaign against Chu.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十七年春，吳伐陳，楚昭王救之，軍城父。十月，昭王病於軍中，有赤雲如鳥，夾日而蜚。昭王問周太史，太史曰：「是害於楚王，然可移於將相。」將相聞是言，乃請自以身禱於神。昭王曰：「將相，孤之股肱也，今移禍，庸去是身乎！」弗聽。卜而河為祟，大夫請禱河。昭王曰：「自吾先王受封，望不過江、漢，而河非所獲罪也。」止不許。孔子在陳，聞是言，曰：「楚昭王通大道矣。其不失國，宜哉！」 |
| | In spring of the twenty-seventh year, Wu attacked Chen, and King Zhao of Chu came to its rescue, stationing his army at Chengfu. In the tenth month, King Zhao fell ill in the camp and saw a red cloud shaped like a bird flying on both sides of the sun. King Zhao consulted the Grand Historian of Zhou, who said: "This omen is harmful to King Chu, but it can be transferred onto his generals and ministers." Upon hearing these words, the generals and ministers requested permission to offer themselves as sacrifices in prayer to the gods. King Zhao said: "The generals and ministers are my trusted advisors; now, if I were to transfer the misfortune onto them, how could I bear to lose these men?" He did not agree. largo The divination indicated that the Yellow River was the source of misfortune, and officials requested to offer prayers at the river. King Zhao said: "Since my ancestors received their fief, our reverence has never extended beyond the Yangtze and Han rivers; therefore, the Yellow River is not at fault." He refused to allow it. Confucius, while in Chen, heard of this and said: "King Zhao of Chu truly understands the great way. It is only fitting that he did not lose his state!"
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| | 楚世家: |
昭王病甚，乃召諸公子大夫曰：「孤不佞，再辱楚國之師，今乃得以天壽終，孤之幸也。」讓其弟公子申為王，不可。又讓次弟公子結，亦不可。乃又讓次弟公子閭，五讓，乃後許為王。將戰，庚寅，昭王卒於軍中。子閭曰：「王病甚，捨其子讓群臣，臣所以許王，以廣王意也。今君王卒，臣豈敢忘君王之意乎！」乃與子西、子綦謀，伏師閉涂，迎越女之子章立之，是為惠王。然後罷兵歸，葬昭王。 |
| | King Zhao, whose illness had worsened, summoned the various princes and officials and said: "I am not a capable ruler; I have brought disgrace upon the armies of Chu twice. Now that I can end my days with a natural lifespan, this is indeed my good fortune." He offered his younger brother Gongzi Shen the throne, but he refused. He then passed the offer to his next younger brother, Gongzi Jie, who also declined. He then offered it again to his next younger brother, Gongzilu. After five refusals, he finally accepted the throne. Just before the battle, on the Gengyin day, King Zhao died in his military camp. Gongzi Lu said: "The king was gravely ill and, instead of passing the throne to his own son, he offered it to the ministers. I accepted the offer only to honor the king's wishes and broaden his intent." "Now that His Majesty has passed away, how could I dare forget His Majesty's intentions!" Thus, he conspired with Zixi and Zi Qi to station troops in ambush, block the roads, and welcome the son of a daughter from Yue named Zhang to be installed as king; this was King Hui. Only then did they withdraw their troops and return to bury King Zhao.
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| | 楚世家: |
惠王二年，子西召故平王太子建之子勝於吳，以為巢大夫，號曰白公。白公好兵而下士，欲報仇。六年，白公請兵令尹子西伐鄭。初，白公父建亡在鄭，鄭殺之，白公亡走吳，子西復召之，故以此怨鄭，欲伐之。子西許而未為發兵。八年，晉伐鄭，鄭告急楚，楚使子西救鄭，受賂而去。白公勝怒，乃遂與勇力死士石乞等襲殺令尹子西、子綦於朝，因劫惠王，置之高府，欲弒之。惠王從者屈固負王亡走昭王夫人宮。白公自立為王。月餘，會葉公來救楚，楚惠王之徒與共攻白公，殺之。惠王乃復位。是歲也，滅陳而縣之。 |
| | In the second year of King Hui's reign, Zixi summoned Sheng, the son of Crown Prince Jian from the former King Ping who was in Wu, and appointed him as a governor of Chao, bestowing on him the title "Bai Gong." Bai Gong loved military affairs and treated scholars with humility; he wished to take revenge. In the sixth year, Bai Gong requested that Linyin Zixi lead an expedition against Zheng. Initially, Bai Gong's father Jian had fled to Zheng and was killed there. Bai Gong then fled to Wu; later Zixi invited him back. Thus, he bore a grudge against Zheng and wished to attack it. Zixi agreed but had not yet dispatched troops. In the eighth year, Jin attacked Zheng; Zheng urgently appealed to Chu for help, and Chu sent Zixi to rescue Zheng. However, after receiving bribes, he withdrew without engaging in battle. Bai Gong Sheng was furious and thus conspired with the brave and loyal warriors Shi Qi et al. to ambush and kill Linyin Zixi and Ziqi in court, then seized King Hui, confined him at Gaofu, and intended to assassinate him. King Hui's attendant Qu Gu carried the king away and fled to the palace of Queen Dowager Zhao. Bai Gong declared himself king. After more than a month, Ye Gong arrived to rescue Chu; King Hui's followers joined forces with him and attacked Bai Gong, killing him. King Hui then resumed his throne. In this year, Chen was annexed and established as a commandery.
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| | 楚世家: |
十三年，吳王夫差彊，陵齊、晉，來伐楚。十六年，越滅吳。四十二年，楚滅蔡。四十四年，楚滅杞。與秦平。是時越已滅吳而不能正江、淮北；楚東侵，廣地至泗上。 |
| | In the thirteenth year, King Fuchai of Wu grew powerful, bullied Qi and Jin, and launched an attack on Chu. In the sixteenth year, Yue destroyed Wu. In the forty-second year, Chu annihilated Cai. In the forty-fourth year, Chu destroyed Qi. Chu made peace with Qin. At this time, Yue had already destroyed Wu but could not control the regions north of the Yangtze and Huai rivers; Chu launched eastern invasions, expanding its territory as far as Si Shang.
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| | 楚世家: |
五十七年，惠王卒，子簡王中立。 |
| | In the fifty-seventh year, King Hui died; his son Zhong succeeded him as King Jianwang.
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| | 楚世家: |
簡王元年，北伐滅莒。八年，魏文侯、韓武子、趙桓子始列為諸侯。 |
| | In the first year of King Jianwang's reign, he launched a northern campaign and destroyed Ju. In the eighth year, Marquis Wenhou of Wei, Wuzi of Han, and Huanzi of Zhao were first enfeoffed as feudal lords.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十四年，簡王卒，子聲王當立。聲王六年，盜殺聲王，子悼王熊疑立。悼王二年，三晉來伐楚，至乘丘而還。四年，楚伐周。鄭殺子陽。九年，伐韓，取負黍。十一年，三晉伐楚，敗我大梁、榆關。楚厚賂秦，與之平。二十一年，悼王卒，子肅王臧立。 |
| | In the twenty-fourth year, King Jianwang died; his son Dang succeeded him as King Shengwang. In the sixth year of King Shengwang's reign, a bandit killed King Shengwang; his son Xiong Yi succeeded him as King Daowang. In the second year of Daowang's reign, the Three Jin states launched an attack on Chu but withdrew after reaching Chengqiu. In the fourth year, Chu attacked Zhou. Zheng killed Zi Yang. In the ninth year, Chu launched an attack on Han and captured Fusu. In the eleventh year, the Three Jin states attacked Chu and defeated our forces at Daliang and Yuguan. Chu offered generous bribes to Qin and made peace with it. In the twenty-first year, Daowang died; his son Zang succeeded him as King Suwang.
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| | 楚世家: |
肅王四年，蜀伐楚，取茲方。於是楚為捍關以距之。十年，魏取我魯陽。十一年，肅王卒，無子，立其弟熊良夫，是為宣王。 |
| | In the fourth year of Suwang's reign, Shu attacked Chu and captured Zifang. At this time, Chu constructed Hanguan to resist them. In the tenth year, Wei captured our Luyang from us. In the eleventh year, Suwang died without a son; his younger brother Xiong Liangfu was installed as king, later known as King Xuan.
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| | 楚世家: |
宣王六年，周天子賀秦獻公。秦始復彊，而三晉益大，魏惠王、齊威王尤彊。三十年，秦封衛鞅於商，南侵楚。是年，宣王卒，子威王熊商立。 |
| | In the sixth year of Xuanwang's reign, the Son of Heaven of Zhou congratulated Duke Xianguo of Qin. Qin began to regain its strength, while the Three Jin states grew even more powerful; especially King Huai of Wei and King Wei of Qi were particularly strong. In the thirtieth year, Qin enfeoffed Wei Yang at Shang, and launched a southern invasion against Chu. In this year, Xuanwang died; his son Xiong Shang succeeded him as King Weiwang.
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| | 楚世家: |
威王六年，周顯王致文武胙於秦惠王。 |
| | In the sixth year of Weiwang's reign, King Xiandi of Zhou presented the sacrificial offerings of Wen and Wu to King Huai of Qin.
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| | 楚世家: |
七年，齊孟嘗君父田嬰欺楚，楚威王伐齊，敗之於徐州，而令齊必逐田嬰。田嬰恐，張丑偽謂楚王曰：「王所以戰勝於徐州者，田盼子不用也。盼子者，有功於國，而百姓為之用。嬰子弗善而用申紀。申紀者，大臣不附，百姓不為用，故王勝之也。今王逐嬰子，嬰子逐，盼子必用矣。復搏其士卒以與王遇，必不便於王矣。」楚王因弗逐也。 |
| | In the seventh year, Tian Ying, father of Mengchang Jun of Qi, deceived Chu. In response, King Weiwang of Chu launched an attack on Qi and defeated them at Xuzhou, demanding that Qi expel Tian Ying. Tian Ying was terrified; Zhang Chou pretended to tell King of Chu, "The reason why Your Majesty won the battle at Xuzhou is that Tian Panzi did not take part in it. Panzi has rendered great service to the state, and the people are willing to follow him. Your Majesty's son [Tian Ying] does not trust him but instead uses Shen Ji. Shen Ji is a minister who lacks the support of other officials and cannot command the people's loyalty, which is why Your Majesty defeated him. Now if Your Majesty expels my lord [Tian Ying], once he is driven out, Panzi will certainly be put in charge. He will rally his soldiers to confront Your Majesty directly, which would surely be disadvantageous for you." Therefore, King of Chu did not expel him.
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| | 楚世家: |
十一年，威王卒，子懷王熊槐立。魏聞楚喪，伐楚，取我陘山。 |
| | In the eleventh year, Weiwang died; his son Xiong Huai succeeded him as King Huaiewang. Wei heard of Chu's mourning and launched an attack on it, capturing our Xingshan from us.
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| | 楚世家: |
懷王元年，張儀始相秦惠王。四年，秦惠王初稱王。 |
| | In the fourth year, King Huai of Qin first assumed the title of king.
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| | 楚世家: |
六年，楚使柱國昭陽將兵而攻魏，破之於襄陵，得八邑。又移兵而攻齊，齊王患之。陳軫適為秦使齊，齊王曰：「為之柰何？」陳軫曰：「王勿憂，請令罷之。」即往見昭陽軍中，曰：「願聞楚國之法，破軍殺將者何以貴之？」昭陽曰：「其官為上柱國，封上爵執珪。」陳軫曰：「其有貴於此者乎？」昭陽曰：「令尹。」陳軫曰：「今君已為令尹矣，此國冠之上。臣請得譬之。人有遺其舍人一卮酒者，舍人相謂曰：『數人飲此，不足以遍，請遂畫地為蛇，蛇先成者獨飲之。』一人曰：『吾蛇先成。』舉酒而起，曰：『吾能為之足。』及其為之足，而後成人奪之酒而飲之，曰：『蛇固無足，今為之足，是非蛇也。』今君相楚而攻魏，破軍殺將，功莫大焉，冠之上不可以加矣。今又移兵而攻齊，攻齊勝之，官爵不加於此；攻之不勝，身死爵奪，有毀於楚：此為蛇為足之說也。不若引兵而去以德齊，此持滿之術也。」昭陽曰：「善。」引兵而去。 |
| | In the sixth year, Chu dispatched Zhu Guo Zhao Yang to lead troops in an attack on Wei; they defeated Wei at Xiangling and captured eight walled cities. They then moved their forces to attack Qi, which alarmed the King of Qi. Chen Zhen happened to be serving as a Qin envoy in Qi; King of Qi asked him, "What should we do about this?" Chen Zhen said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Please allow me to arrange for the withdrawal of their forces." He immediately went to see Zhao Yang's army and said, "I would like to ask about the laws of Chu. What reward does one receive for defeating an enemy army and killing its general?" Zhao Yang replied, "The official will be appointed as Shang Zhu Guo, and granted the highest noble title of Zhigui." Chen Zhen asked, "Is there anything more prestigious than this?" Zhao Yang said, "The Linyin." Chen Zhen replied, "Now you have already become the Linyin; this is the highest position in the country. Allow me to offer an analogy." A man once gave a cup of wine to his retainer. The retainers said among themselves, "If several people share this small amount of wine, it will not be enough for everyone. Let us draw snakes on the ground; whoever finishes their snake first shall drink it alone." One man said, "My snake is finished first." He took up the wine and stood, saying, "I can add feet to it." Before he could finish adding the feet, another man took the wine and drank it, saying, "Snakes naturally have no feet; now you are adding them. This is not a snake anymore." Now, your lordship serves as prime minister of Chu and attacks Wei, defeating its army and killing its general. Your achievements are unparalleled; the highest honor cannot be added to you any further. If you now move your troops to attack Qi and win, no higher official position or noble title can be bestowed upon you beyond this. If the campaign fails and you lose, your life will be lost and your title taken away, bringing disgrace to Chu. This is exactly like the man who added feet to his snake." It would be better for you to withdraw your troops and thus show kindness to Qi; this is a strategy of maintaining full strength without overextending yourself." Zhao Yang said, "You are right." He withdrew his troops.
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| | 楚世家: |
燕、韓君初稱王。秦使張儀與楚、齊、魏相會，盟齧桑。 |
| | The kings of Yan and Han first assumed the title of "wang." Qin sent Zhang Yi to meet with the chancellors of Chu, Qi, and Wei; they formed an alliance at Niesang.
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| | 楚世家: |
十一年，蘇秦約從山東六國共攻秦，楚懷王為從長。至函谷關，秦出兵擊六國，六國兵皆引而歸，齊獨後。十二年，齊湣王伐敗趙、魏軍，秦亦伐敗韓，與齊爭長。 |
| | In the eleventh year, Su Qin arranged a coalition of six states east of Mount Tai to jointly attack Qin; King Huaie of Chu served as the leader of this alliance. They advanced as far as Hangu Pass, but Qin sent out troops to attack the six states; all the armies of the six states withdrew and returned, with Qi being the last. In the twelfth year, King Mian of Qi defeated Zhao and Wei's armies; Qin also defeated Han in battle, competing with Qi for dominance.
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| | 楚世家: |
十六年，秦欲伐齊，而楚與齊從親，秦惠王患之，乃宣言張儀免相，使張儀南見楚王，謂楚王曰：「敝邑之王所甚說者無先大王，雖儀之所甚願為門闌之廝者亦無先大王。敝邑之王所甚憎者無先齊王，雖儀之所甚憎者亦無先齊王。而大王和之，是以敝邑之王不得事王，而令儀亦不得為門闌之廝也。王為儀閉關而絕齊，今使使者從儀西取笔秦所分楚商於之地方六百里，如是則齊弱矣。是北弱齊，西德於秦，私商於以為富，此一計而三利俱至也。」懷王大悅，乃置相璽於張儀，日與置酒，宣言「吾復得吾商於之地」。群臣皆賀，而陳軫獨弔。懷王曰：「何故？」陳軫對曰：「秦之所為重王者，以王之有齊也。今地未可得而齊交先絕，是楚孤也。夫秦又何重孤國哉，必輕楚矣。且先出地而後絕齊，則秦計不為。先絕齊而後責地，則必見欺於張儀。見欺於張儀，則王必怨之。怨之，是西起秦患，北絕齊交。西起秦患，北絕齊交，則兩國之兵必至。臣故弔。」楚王弗聽，因使一將軍西受封地。 |
| | In the sixteenth year, Qin wanted to attack Qi. However, Chu had formed a close alliance with Qi; King Huai of Qin was troubled by this and thus publicly declared that Zhang Yi had been dismissed as prime minister. He then sent Zhang Yi southward to visit King of Chu, who said to King of Chu: "My lord king is most pleased with no one more than he is with Your Majesty. Even if I were willing to serve merely as a gatekeeper or servant, there would be none before Your Majesty." "My lord king is most resentful of no one more than King of Qi; even I, personally, have no greater hatred than for King of Qi." "But if Your Majesty remains allied with him, then my lord king cannot serve you, and I also cannot even be your gatekeeper or servant. "If Your Majesty would close the pass and sever relations with Qi, then I will send envoys to accompany me westward to obtain from my lord king six hundred li of land in Shangyu that was previously ceded by Chu. If this is done, Qi will become weak." "This would weaken Qi in the north, gain favor with Qin in the west, and personally enrich yourself through Shangyu. This is one strategy that brings three benefits." King Huaie was greatly pleased, and thus bestowed the seal of prime minister upon Zhang Yi. Every day he hosted banquets with him, publicly declaring, "I have regained my Shangyu territory." All the ministers congratulated King Huaie, but only Chen Zhen expressed sorrow. King Huaie asked, "Why is that?" Chen Zhen replied: "What Qin values so highly about Your Majesty is precisely because of your alliance with Qi. Now, the land has not yet been obtained, but the alliance with Qi has already been severed; this will leave Chu isolated." How can Qin value an isolated state? It must certainly look down on Chu. Moreover, if we first receive the land and then sever ties with Qi, Qin would not have pursued this plan. If we first cut off relations with Qi and then demand the land, we will surely be deceived by Zhang Yi." If we are deceived by Zhang Yi, Your Majesty will certainly resent him. To resent him would mean provoking a disaster from the west with Qin and severing relations in the north with Qi. If we provoke trouble with Qin to the west and lose our alliance with Qi to the north, then armies from both states will surely come against us. That is why I mourn." King of Chu did not listen, and thus sent a general westward to receive the ceded territory.
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| | 楚世家: |
張儀至秦，詳醉墜車，稱病不出三月，地不可得。楚王曰：「儀以吾絕齊為尚薄邪？」乃使勇士宋遺北辱齊王。齊王大怒，折楚符而合於秦。秦齊交合，張儀乃起朝，謂楚將軍曰：「子何不受地？從某至某，廣袤六里。」楚將軍曰：「臣之所以見命者六百里，不聞六里。」即以歸報懷王。懷王大怒，興師將伐秦。陳軫又曰：「伐秦非計也。不如因賂之一名都，與之伐齊，是我亡於秦，取償於齊也，吾國尚可全。今王已絕於齊而責欺於秦，是吾合秦齊之交而來天下之兵也，國必大傷矣。」楚王不聽，遂絕和於秦，發兵西攻秦。秦亦發兵擊之。 |
| | Zhang Yi arrived in Qin, pretended to be drunk and fell from his carriage, claiming illness for three months without appearing; the land could not be obtained. King of Chu said, "Does Zhang Yi think my severing ties with Qi is still insufficient?" He then sent the brave warrior Song Yi to the north to humiliate King of Qi. King of Qi was furious, broke Chu's diplomatic token in anger, and formed an alliance with Qin instead. With the alliance between Qin and Qi established, Zhang Yi then appeared at court and said to the general of Chu, "Why have you not accepted the land?" From this place to that place, it is six li in breadth and length." The general of Chu said, "What I was ordered by the king was six hundred li, not six li." He immediately returned to report this to King Huai. King Huai was greatly enraged and raised an army, intending to attack Qin. Chen Zhen said again, "To attack Qin is not a wise plan." It would be better to offer one famous capital as a bribe to Qin and join forces with them to attack Qi. In this way, we may lose something to Qin but gain compensation from Qi; our state can still remain intact. Now that Your Majesty has already severed ties with Qi and is holding Qin accountable for deception, this means I have united the alliance between Qin and Qi and invited armies from all under heaven. The state will certainly suffer greatly." King of Chu did not heed this advice, so he severed relations with Qin and sent troops westward to attack them. Qin also mobilized its forces to strike back.
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| | 楚世家: |
十七年春，與秦戰丹陽，秦大敗我軍，斬甲士八萬，虜我大將軍屈丐、裨將軍逢侯丑等七十餘人，遂取漢中之郡。楚懷王大怒，乃悉國兵復襲秦，戰於藍田，大敗楚軍。韓、魏聞楚之困，乃南襲楚，至於鄧。楚聞，乃引兵歸。 |
| | In spring of the seventeenth year, we fought Qin at Danyang. The Qin forces heavily defeated our army, killing 80,000 armored soldiers and capturing our general Qu Gai, deputy generals Fenghou Chou, and more than seventy others. They then captured the commandery of Hanzhong. King Huai of Chu was greatly enraged, so he mobilized all the national forces to launch another attack on Qin. They fought at Lan Tian, where the Qin forces heavily defeated the Chu army. Han and Wei, hearing of Chu's difficulties, launched a southern attack on Chu, reaching as far as Deng. Hearing this news, Chu withdrew its troops and returned.
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| | 楚世家: |
十八年，秦使使約復與楚親，分漢中之半以和楚。楚王曰：「願得張儀，不願得地。」張儀聞之，請之楚。秦王曰：「楚且甘心於子，柰何？」張儀曰：「臣善其左右靳尚，靳尚又能得事於楚王幸姬鄭袖，袖所言無不從者。且儀以前使負楚以商於之約，今秦楚大戰，有惡，臣非面自謝楚不解。且大王在，楚不宜敢取儀。誠殺儀以便國，臣之願也。」儀遂使楚。 |
| | In the eighteenth year, Qin sent envoys to propose a renewed alliance with Chu, offering half of Hanzhong as part of the reconciliation. King of Chu said, "I would rather have Zhang Yi than the land." Zhang Yi heard this and requested to go to Chu. King of Qin said, "Chu is determined to take revenge on you; how can that be?" Zhang Yi said, "I am on good terms with his attendants Jin Shang. Jin Shang is also able to influence King of Chu's favored concubine Zheng Xiu, who always has her words followed by the king." Moreover, I previously caused harm to Chu through the Shangyu agreement. Now that Qin and Chu are engaged in a major war with enmity between them, unless I personally apologize to Chu face-to-face, this cannot be resolved. And as long as Your Majesty is alive, Chu should not dare to take my life. If sacrificing me would truly benefit the state, that is what I wish for." Zhang Yi then went to Chu.
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| | 楚世家: |
至，懷王不見，因而囚張儀，欲殺之。儀私於靳尚，靳尚為請懷王曰：「拘張儀，秦王必怒。天下見楚無秦，必輕王矣。」又謂夫人鄭袖曰：「秦王甚愛張儀，而王欲殺之，今將以上庸之地六縣賂楚，以美人聘楚王，以宮中善歌者為之媵。楚王重地，秦女必貴，而夫人必斥矣。夫人不若言而出之。」鄭袖卒言張儀於王而出之。儀出，懷王因善遇儀，儀因說楚王以叛從約而與秦合親，約婚姻。張儀已去，屈原使從齊來，諫王曰：「何不誅張儀？」懷王悔，使人追儀，弗及。是歲，秦惠王卒。 |
| | Upon his arrival, King Huai did not receive him and instead imprisoned Zhang Yi, intending to kill him. Zhang Yi secretly approached Jin Shang, who then pleaded with King Huai saying, "Detaining Zhang Yi will surely anger the King of Qin. If all under heaven sees that Chu has no alliance with Qin, they will certainly look down on Your Majesty." Jin Shang also told Lady Zheng Xiu, "The King of Qin greatly values Zhang Yi, yet Your Majesty wishes to kill him. Now he is about to offer six counties from the land of Shangyong as a bribe to Chu, and send a beautiful woman to be married to the King of Chu, along with talented female singers from his palace as attendants. The King of Chu values land highly; this Qin woman will surely gain favor, and you, Lady Zheng Xiu, will certainly be discarded." Therefore, my lady would do better to speak up and have him released." Zheng Xiu finally spoke on Zhang Yi's behalf before the king and had him released. After Zhang Yi was released, King Huai treated him kindly. Taking advantage of this, Zhang Yi advised the King of Chu to break away from his alliance and form a close relationship with Qin, arranging marital ties between their families. After Zhang Yi had left, Qu Yuan returned from a mission to Qi and advised the king saying, "Why did you not punish Zhang Yi?" King Huai regretted his decision and sent men to pursue Zhang Yi, but they could not catch up with him. In this year, King Hui of Qin died.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十［六］年，齊湣王欲為從長，惡楚之與秦合，乃使使遺楚王書曰：「寡人患楚之不察於尊名也。今秦惠王死，武王立，張儀走魏，樗裏疾、公孫衍用，而楚事秦。夫樗裏疾善乎韓，而公孫衍善乎魏；楚必事秦，韓、魏恐，必因二人求合於秦，則燕、趙亦宜事秦。四國爭事秦，則楚為郡縣矣。王何不與寡人并力收韓、魏、燕、趙，與為從而尊周室，以案兵息民，令於天下？莫敢不樂聽，則王名成矣。王率諸侯并伐，破秦必矣。王取武關、蜀、漢之地，私吳、越之富而擅江海之利，韓、魏割上黨，西薄函谷，則楚之彊百萬也。且王欺於張儀，亡地漢中，兵銼藍田，天下莫不代王懷怒。今乃欲先事秦！願大王孰計之。」 |
| | In the twenty-sixth year, King Mǐn of Qi wanted to become the leader of the alliance and resented Chu's alliance with Qin. He therefore sent envoys bearing a letter to King of Chu saying, "I am concerned that Your Majesty does not understand the importance of noble titles. Now, King Hui of Qin has died and King Wu has ascended the throne. Zhang Yi fled to Wei, while Chuli Ji and Gongsun Yan are in power, yet Chu still serves Qin. Chuli Ji is close with Han, and Gongsun Yan is close with Wei; if Chu must serve Qin, then Han and Wei will surely be afraid. They will certainly seek an alliance with Qin through these two men, so Yan and Zhao should also serve Qin. If the four states all compete to serve Qin, then Chu will become a commandery or county of Qin." Why does Your Majesty not join forces with me to subdue Han, Wei, Yan, and Zhao, form an alliance together, honor the Zhou royal house, and thus bring peace to the people while issuing decrees to all under heaven? No one would dare refuse to listen joyfully; then Your Majesty's reputation will be established. If Your Majesty leads the feudal lords in a joint attack, Qin must surely be defeated. Your Majesty would take the land of Wuguan, Shu, and Han, enjoy the wealth of Wu and Yue in secret, and control the advantages of rivers and seas. If Han and Wei cede Shangdang to you, your forces could advance westward toward Hangu Pass; then Chu's strength would be a million strong. Moreover, Your Majesty was deceived by Zhang Yi and lost the land of Hanzhong; your army suffered a setback at Lan Tian. There is no one under heaven who does not harbor resentment on behalf of Your Majesty. Now you wish to submit to Qin first! I hope Your Majesty will carefully consider this."
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| | 楚世家: |
楚王業已欲和於秦，見齊王書，猶豫不決，下其議群臣。群臣或言和秦，或曰聽齊。昭雎曰：「王雖東取地於越，不足以刷恥；必且取地於秦，而後足以刷恥於諸侯。王不如深善齊、韓以重樗裏疾，如是則王得韓、齊之重以求地矣。秦破韓宜陽，而韓猶復事秦者，以先王墓在平陽，而秦之武遂去之七十里，以故尤畏秦。不然，秦攻三川，趙攻上黨，楚攻河外，韓必亡。楚之救韓，不能使韓不亡，然存韓者楚也。韓已得武遂於秦，以河山為塞，所報德莫如楚厚，臣以為其事王必疾。齊之所信於韓者，以韓公子眛為齊相也。韓已得武遂於秦，王甚善之，使之以齊、韓重樗裏疾，疾得齊、韓之重，其主弗敢棄疾也。今又益之以楚之重，樗里子必言秦，復與楚之侵地矣。」於是懷王許之，竟不合秦，而合齊以善韓。 |
| | King of Chu had already intended to make peace with Qin, but upon reading King of Qi's letter, he hesitated and could not decide. He then put the matter up for discussion among his ministers. The ministers had divided opinions; some advised making peace with Qin, while others suggested heeding Qi's proposal. Zhao Ju said, "Even if Your Majesty acquires land from Yue in the east, it would not be enough to wipe away the disgrace; You must certainly take land from Qin before you can truly remove your humiliation among the feudal lords. Your Majesty should cultivate closer relations with Qi and Han to weaken Chuli Ji's influence in Qin. If you do so, then through the support of Han and Qi, Your Majesty can demand land from Qin. Although Qin captured Yiyang in Han, Han still submitted to Qin because the tomb of its former king was located at Pingyang, and Qin's Wusui was only seventy li away. For this reason, Han especially feared Qin. Otherwise, if Qin attacks the Three Rivers region, Zhao attacks Shangdang, and Chu attacks outside the Yellow River, Han will certainly perish. Chu's aid to Han may not be able to prevent Han from falling, but it is Chu who preserves the existence of Han. Han has already obtained Wusui from Qin, using the rivers and mountains as a barrier. No state owes more gratitude to Chu than Han does; I believe that this matter will be dealt with by Your Majesty swiftly. The reason Qi is trusted by Han is because the Han prince Mi serves as prime minister of Qi. Han has already obtained Wusui back from Qin, and Your Majesty treats it very kindly. If you use the influence of Qi and Han to undermine Chuli Ji, then once Chuli Ji loses his power in Qi and Han, he will not be favored by his lord anymore. Now if we further add the influence of Chu to this, Lord Chuli will surely advise Qin and return the territories that were previously invaded by Chu." Thus King Huai agreed. He ultimately did not make peace with Qin but instead allied with Qi to improve relations with Han.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十四年，倍齊而合秦。秦昭王初立，乃厚賂於楚。楚往迎婦。二十五年，懷王入與秦昭王盟，約於黃棘。秦復與楚上庸。二十六年，齊、韓、魏為楚負其從親而合於秦，三國共伐楚。楚使太子入質於秦而請救。秦乃遣客卿通將兵救楚，三國引兵去。 |
| | In the twenty-fourth year, he broke away from Qi and formed an alliance with Qin. King Zhao of Qin had just ascended the throne, so he lavishly bribed Chu. Chu went to welcome a bride. In the twenty-fifth year, King Huai entered Qin and formed an alliance with King Zhao of Qin, making an agreement at Huangji. Qin once again ceded Shangyong to Chu. In the twenty-sixth year, Qi, Han, and Wei resented that Chu had betrayed its alliance with them to side with Qin. The three states jointly attacked Chu. Chu sent the crown prince as a hostage to Qin in order to request aid. Qin then dispatched Guest Minister Tong with troops to rescue Chu, and the three states withdrew their armies.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十七年，秦大夫有私與楚太子鬬，楚太子殺之而亡歸。二十八年，秦乃與齊、韓、魏共攻楚，殺楚將唐眛，取我重丘而去。二十九年，秦復攻楚，大破楚，楚軍死者二萬，殺我將軍景缺。懷王恐，乃使太子為質於齊以求平。三十年，秦復伐楚，取八城。秦昭王遺楚王書曰：「始寡人與王約為弟兄，盟于黃棘，太子為質，至驩也。太子陵殺寡人之重臣，不謝而亡去，寡人誠不勝怒，使兵侵君王之邊。今聞君王乃令太子質於齊以求平。寡人與楚接境壤界，故為婚姻，所從相親久矣。而今秦楚不驩，則無以令諸侯。寡人願與君王會武關，面相約，結盟而去，寡人之願也。敢以聞下執事。」楚懷王見秦王書，患之。欲往，恐見欺；無往，恐秦怒。昭雎曰：「王毋行，而發兵自守耳。秦虎狼，不可信，有并諸侯之心。」懷王子子蘭勸王行，曰：「柰何絕秦之驩心！」於是往會秦昭王。昭王詐令一將軍伏兵武關，號為秦王。楚王至，則閉武關，遂與西至咸陽，朝章臺，如蕃臣，不與亢禮。楚懷王大怒，悔不用昭子言。秦因留楚王，要以割巫、黔中之郡。楚王欲盟，秦欲先得地。楚王怒曰：「秦詐我而又彊要我以地！」不復許秦。秦因留之。 |
| | In the twenty-seventh year, a Qin official had a private quarrel with the crown prince of Chu; the crown prince killed him and fled back to Chu. In the twenty-eighth year, Qin joined with Qi, Han, and Wei to jointly attack Chu. They killed General Tang Mei of Chu and captured Chongqiu before withdrawing. In the twenty-ninth year, Qin once again attacked Chu and heavily defeated them; 20,000 soldiers of the Chu army were killed, including our general Jing Que. King Huai was terrified, so he sent his crown prince as a hostage to Qi in order to seek peace. In the thirtieth year, Qin once again launched an attack on Chu and captured eight cities. King Zhao of Qin sent a letter to the King of Chu saying, "Initially, I and Your Majesty made an oath as brothers at Huangji, with your crown prince serving as hostage. The relationship was most harmonious. However, the crown prince insulted and killed one of my important ministers without offering an apology before fleeing. I was truly furious and sent troops to invade Your Majesty's borders. Now I have heard that Your Majesty has sent the crown prince as hostage to Qi in an attempt to seek peace. I and Chu share a border, so we formed marital ties; our friendly relations have lasted for a long time. But now that Qin and Chu no longer maintain good relations, there is nothing to command the feudal lords anymore. lø I wish to meet with Your Majesty at Wuguan Pass in person, make an agreement face-to-face, and form an alliance before parting. This is my sincere desire. I dare to convey this message through your subordinates." King Huai of Chu read King of Qin's letter and was troubled by it. He wanted to go, but feared being deceived; Yet if he did not go, he was afraid that Qin would become angry. Zhao Ju said, "Your Majesty should not go; instead, mobilize troops to defend yourself. Qin is a tiger and wolf; it cannot be trusted and has the ambition to swallow all the feudal states." King Huai's son, Zi Lan, advised the king to go, saying, "How can we sever Qin's goodwill!" Thus King Huai went to meet King Zhao of Qin. King Zhao of Qin deceitfully ordered a general to lie in ambush at Wuguan Pass, pretending to be the king of Qin. When King of Chu arrived, they closed Wuguan Pass and led him westward to Xianyang. He was made to pay homage at Zhangtai Palace as a vassal minister, without being granted equal ceremonial treatment. King Huai of Chu became greatly enraged and regretted not following Zhao Zi's advice. Qin then detained King of Chu, demanding that he cede the commanderies of Wu and Qianzhong in exchange. King of Chu wanted to make a treaty first, but Qin insisted on receiving the land first. King of Chu angrily said, "Qin has deceived me and now is forcefully demanding territory from me!" He no longer agreed to Qin's demands. Qin therefore detained him.
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| | 楚世家: |
楚大臣患之，乃相與謀曰：「吾王在秦不得還，要以割地，而太子為質於齊，齊、秦合謀，則楚無國矣。」乃欲立懷王子在國者。昭雎曰：「王與太子俱困於諸侯，而今又倍王命而立其庶子，不宜。」乃詐赴於齊，齊湣王謂其相曰：「不若留太子以求楚之淮北。」相曰：「不可，郢中立王，是吾抱空質而行不義於天下也。」或曰：「不然。郢中立王，因與其新王市曰『予我下東國，吾為王殺太子，不然，將與三國共立之』，然則東國必可得矣。」齊王卒用其相計而歸楚太子。太子橫至，立為王，是為頃襄王。乃告于秦曰：「賴社稷神靈，國有王矣。」 |
| | The ministers of Chu were greatly concerned and thus discussed among themselves, saying: "Our king is detained in Qin and cannot return. They are demanding territory from us as a condition for his release, while our crown prince is held hostage in Qi. If Qi and Qin form an alliance against us, then the state of Chu will be lost." They therefore wanted to install one of King Huai's sons who was still within the country as ruler. Zhao Ju said, "The king and crown prince are both trapped by the feudal lords; now we would go against the king's command to install one of his common sons. That is not appropriate." They therefore sent a false message to Qi. King Mǐn of Qi said to his prime minister, "We should not release the crown prince but instead keep him as leverage to demand the area north of the Huai River from Chu." The prime minister said, "No, if a new king is installed in Yingzhong, it would mean we are holding an empty hostage and acting unjustly before the world." Someone else said, "Not necessarily. "If a new king is installed in Yingtong, we can then negotiate with the new king and say, 'Give me the lower Dongguo region, and I will kill the crown prince for you. Otherwise, we shall jointly install him as ruler with three other states.' In that case, the eastern territory must certainly be obtainable." King of Qi finally followed his prime minister's plan and returned the crown prince of Chu. The crown prince Heng arrived, was installed as king, and this was King Qingxiang. They then informed Qin, saying: "Thanks to the divine protection of our ancestral spirits, our state now has a king."
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| | 楚世家: |
頃襄王橫元年，秦要懷王不可得地，楚立王以應秦，秦昭王怒，發兵出武關攻楚，大敗楚軍，斬首五萬，取析十五城而去。二年，楚懷王亡逃歸，秦覺之，遮楚道，懷王恐，乃從閒道走趙以求歸。趙主父在代，其子惠王初立，行王事，恐，不敢入楚王。楚王欲走魏，秦追至，遂與秦使復之秦。懷王遂發病。頃襄王三年，懷王卒于秦，秦歸其喪于楚。楚人皆憐之，如悲親戚。諸侯由是不直秦。秦楚絕。 |
| | In the first year of King Qingxiang Heng's reign, Qin demanded territory from King Huai and could not obtain it. Chu installed a new king to respond to Qin, which enraged King Zhao of Qin. He mobilized troops, marched out of Wuguan Pass to attack Chu, heavily defeated the Chu army, beheaded 50,000 soldiers, captured fifteen cities in Xi, and withdrew. In the second year, King Huai of Chu escaped back to his state. Qin discovered this and blocked the roads for Chu. Fearing capture, King Huai took a secret route to Zhao in an attempt to return home. Zhao Zhufu was in Dai, and his son King Hui had just ascended the throne and assumed royal duties. He feared to admit King Huai of Chu into Zhao. King of Chu wanted to flee to Wei, but Qin forces pursued him and captured him, returning with the envoys of Qin back to Qin. King Huai then fell ill. In the third year of King Qingxiang's reign, King Huai died in Qin, and Qin returned his funeral procession to Chu. The people of Chu all pitied him, as if mourning a close relative. Because of this, the feudal lords no longer regarded Qin as just or upright. The relations between Qin and Chu were severed.
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| | 楚世家: |
六年，秦使白起伐韓於伊闕，大勝，斬首二十四萬。秦乃遺楚王書曰：「楚倍秦，秦且率諸侯伐楚，爭一旦之命。願王之飭士卒，得一樂戰。」楚頃襄王患之，乃謀復與秦平。七年，楚迎婦於秦，秦楚復平。 |
| | In the sixth year, Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Han at Yiqu, achieving a great victory and beheading 240,000 enemy soldiers. Qin then sent King of Chu a letter saying: "Chu has betrayed Qin, and therefore Qin will lead the feudal lords to attack Chu and contend for victory in one day. I hope Your Majesty will prepare your soldiers well so that you may enjoy a battle of glory." King Qingxiang of Chu was greatly concerned and therefore planned to reconcile with Qin once again. In the seventh year, Chu sent a delegation to welcome a bride from Qin, and relations between Qin and Chu were restored to peace.
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| | 楚世家: |
十一年，齊秦各自稱為帝；月餘，復歸帝為王。 |
| | In the eleventh year, Qi and Qin each declared themselves emperor; After more than a month, they again relinquished their titles of emperor and reverted to being kings.
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| | 楚世家: |
十四年，楚頃襄王與秦昭王好會于宛，結和親。十五年，楚王與秦、三晉、燕共伐齊，取淮北。十六年，與秦昭王好會於鄢。其秋，復與秦王會穰。 |
| | In the fourteenth year, King Qingxiang of Chu met with King Zhao of Qin in Wan and formed a marriage alliance. In the fifteenth year, the king of Chu joined Qin, the Three Jin states, and Yan in attacking Qi and captured the area north of the Huai. In the sixteenth year, he met with King Zhao of Qin at Yān for a friendly conference. That autumn, he again met with the king of Qin in Rang.
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| | 楚世家: |
十八年，楚人有好以弱弓微繳加歸鴈之上者，頃襄王聞，召而問之。對曰：「小臣之好射鶀鴈，羅鸗，小矢之發也，何足為大王道也。且稱楚之大，因大王之賢，所弋非直此也。昔者三王以弋道德，五霸以弋戰國。故秦、魏、燕、趙者，鶀鴈也；齊、魯、韓、衛者，青首也；騶、費、郯、邳者，羅鸗也。外其餘則不足射者。見鳥六雙，以王何取？王何不以聖人為弓，以勇士為繳，時張而射之？此六雙者，可得而囊載也。其樂非特朝昔之樂也，其獲非特鳧鴈之實也。王朝張弓而射魏之大梁之南，加其右臂而徑屬之於韓，則中國之路絕而上蔡之郡壞矣。還射圉之東，解魏左肘而外擊定陶，則魏之東外棄而大宋、方與二郡者舉矣。且魏斷二臂，顛越矣；膺擊郯國，大梁可得而有也。王綪繳蘭臺，飲馬西河，定魏大梁，此一發之樂也。若王之於弋誠好而不厭，則出寶弓，碆新繳，射噣鳥於東海，還蓋長城以為防，朝射東莒，夕發浿丘，夜加即墨，顧據午道，則長城之東收而太山之北舉矣。西結境於趙而北達於燕，三國布鶴，則從不待約而可成也。北遊目於燕之遼東而南登望於越之會稽，此再發之樂也。若夫泗上十二諸侯，左縈而右拂之，可一旦而盡也。今秦破韓以為長憂，得列城而不敢守也；伐魏而無功，擊趙而顧病，則秦魏之勇力屈矣，楚之故地漢中、析、酈可得而復有也。王出寶弓，碆新繳，涉鄳塞，而待秦之倦也，山東、河內可得而一也。勞民休眾，南面稱王矣。故曰秦為大鳥，負海內而處，東面而立，左臂據趙之西南，右臂傅楚鄢郢，膺擊韓魏，垂頭中國，處既形便，勢有地利，奮翼鼓鶴，方三千里，則秦未可得獨招而夜射也。」欲以激怒襄王，故對以此言。襄王因召與語，遂言曰：「夫先王為秦所欺而客死於外，怨莫大焉。今以匹夫有怨，尚有報萬乘，白公、子胥是也。今楚之地方五千里，帶甲百萬，猶足以踴躍中野也，而坐受困，臣竊為大王弗取也。」於是頃襄王遣使於諸侯，復為從，欲以伐秦。秦聞之，發兵來伐楚。 |
| | In the eighteenth year, there was a man from Chu who liked to shoot weak bows with fine fletching at returning geese. King Qingxiang heard of this and summoned him for questioning. The man replied, "My humble self's fondness for shooting sandpipers and geese is but a minor pastime with small arrows; it is not worth mentioning to Your Majesty. Moreover, speaking of the greatness of Chu and the virtue of Your Majesty, what we can achieve goes far beyond this. In former times, the three sage kings used falconry to pursue morality, while the five hegemons used it to pursue dominance over warring states. Therefore, Qin, Wei, Yan, and Zhao are like sandpipers and geese; Qi, Lu, Han, and Wei are like green-headed birds; Zou, Fei, Tan, and Pi are like crows. The rest outside of these are not worth shooting at. There are six pairs of birds; which ones should Your Majesty choose to shoot? Why not take a sage as the bow and brave warriors as the fletching, and at the right moment draw and shoot them? These six pairs of birds can be captured and placed in a bag. The joy would not merely be the pleasure of morning and evening; the gain would not simply consist of ducks and geese. If Your Majesty draws the bow to shoot at the southern part of Daliang in Wei, extends your right arm and directly connects it with Han, then the central road will be cut off and the commandery of Shangcai will fall into ruins. If you then shoot eastward at Yu, sever Wei's left elbow and strike outward toward Dingtao, then the eastern territories of Wei will be abandoned, and the two commanderies of Dasong and Fangyu can be captured. Moreover, with Wei's two arms cut off, it would collapse in chaos; If you strike Tán from the front, then Daliang can be captured and held. Your Majesty would string your bow on Lantai, drink horse water from the Xi River, and capture Daliang of Wei—this is the joy of a single shot. If Your Majesty truly enjoys falconry and never tires of it, then take out the precious bow, string on new fletching, shoot at birds in the East Sea, return to cover the Great Wall as a defense. Shooting east Ju in the morning, firing from Peiqiu in the evening, striking Jimo at night, and turning back to occupy Wudao, then the area east of the Great Wall will be captured, and the region north of Mount Tai will fall into your hands. To the west, establish borders with Zhao and to the north reach Yan; if these three states arrange their forces like cranes in formation, then an alliance can be formed without needing further negotiation. Looking north to Yan's Liaodong and southward from Yue's Kuaiji, this is the joy of a second shot. As for the twelve feudal lords in the Si River region, sweeping them from left to right, they can all be subdued within a single day. Now Qin has defeated Han and created a lasting worry for itself, capturing walled cities but daring not to hold them; Its attacks on Wei have achieved no success, and its strikes against Zhao have only brought it trouble; thus the martial strength of Qin and Wei has been weakened. The former Chu territories of Hanzhong, Xi, and Li can be regained. If Your Majesty takes out the precious bow and strings on new fletching to cross Meng Pass, waiting for Qin's exhaustion, then Shandong and Henan can be unified under your rule. After exhausting the people of other states while resting your own forces, you will face south as a king. Therefore, it is said that Qin is a great bird, occupying the land within the sea and standing facing east. Its left arm holds the southwest of Zhao, its right arm reaches to Yanying in Chu, striking at Han and Wei from the front, with its head lowered over Central China. In this position, both location and terrain are advantageous; when it flaps its wings and calls like a crane, covering three thousand li, then Qin cannot be easily lured out for a night attack." He wanted to provoke King Qingxiang into anger, so he responded with these words. King Qingxiang then summoned him for a private conversation, and the man said: "The late king was deceived by Qin and died in exile; there can be no greater grievance. Now, even a commoner with a grudge would seek revenge against the ruler of ten thousand chariots; Bai Gong and Wu Zixu are examples. Now, the territory of Chu spans five thousand li and has a million armed soldiers; it is still sufficient to leap into battle in the open fields. Yet we sit idly by and accept hardship. I secretly think this is not in Your Majesty's interest." Thus, King Qingxiang sent envoys to the feudal lords and once again formed an alliance, intending to attack Qin. Qin heard of this and mobilized troops to attack Chu.
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| | 楚世家: |
楚欲與齊韓連和伐秦，因欲圖周。周王赧使武公謂楚相昭子曰：「三國以兵割周郊地以便輸，而南器以尊楚，臣以為不然。夫弒共主，臣世君，大國不親；以眾脅寡，小國不附。大國不親，小國不附，不可以致名實。名實不得，不足以傷民。夫有圖周之聲，非所以為號也。」昭子曰：「乃圖周則無之。雖然，周何故不可圖也？」對曰：「軍不五不攻，城不十不圍。夫一周為二十晉，公之所知也。韓嘗以二十萬之眾辱於晉之城下，銳士死，中士傷，而晉不拔。公之無百韓以圖周，此天下之所知也。夫怨結兩周以塞騶魯之心，交絕於齊，聲失天下，其為事危矣。夫危兩周以厚三川，方城之外必為韓弱矣。何以知其然也？西周之地，絕長補短，不過百里。名為天下共主，裂其地不足以肥國，得其眾不足以勁兵。雖無攻之，名為弒君。然而好事之君，喜攻之臣，發號用兵，未嘗不以周為終始。是何也？見祭器在焉，欲器之至而忘弒君之亂。今韓以器之在楚，臣恐天下以器讎楚也。臣請譬之。夫虎肉臊，其兵利身，人猶攻之也。若使澤中之麋蒙虎之皮，人之攻之必萬於虎矣。裂楚之地，足以肥國；詘楚之名，足以尊主。今子將以欲誅殘天下之共主，居三代之傳器，吞三翮六翼，以高世主，非貪而何？《》曰『』，故器南則兵至矣。」於是楚計輟不行。 |
| | Chu wanted to form an alliance with Qi and Han to attack Qin, and in the process sought to target Zhou. King Nan of Zhou sent Wu Gong to say to Zhao Zi, the prime minister of Chu: "The three states are using their armies to carve up territory in the suburbs of Zhou for easier transport, and they offer southern treasures to honor Chu. I believe this is not appropriate." To assassinate a shared ruler and serve as a minister under a succeeding sovereign, great states will not be close; Using the many to intimidate the few, small states will not submit. If great states do not show affection and small states do not submit, it is impossible to achieve both reputation and actual gains. Without gaining either name or substance, it will be insufficient to harm the people. "To have a reputation of plotting against Zhou is not an appropriate way to establish one's prestige." Zhao Zi said, "There was no intention to plot against Zhou. Nevertheless, why should Zhou not be plotted against?" The reply was: "An army of no fewer than five divisions will not launch an attack; a city with no fewer than ten fortifications will not be besieged. "The state of Zhou is equivalent to twenty Jin states, something you are well aware of. Han once suffered humiliation under the walls of a Jin city with an army of 200,000; its elite soldiers were killed and mid-tier troops wounded, yet Jin did not fall. That you have no hundred Hanks to plot against Zhou—this is known by all under heaven. To harbor resentment toward the two Zhou states and block the ambitions of Zou and Lu, while cutting off relations with Qi and losing your reputation among all under heaven—this is a perilous course of action. To endanger the two Zhou states in order to strengthen Sanchuan will inevitably weaken Han beyond Fangcheng Pass. How do I know this? The territory of Western Zhou, even when its longest parts are cut and the shortest parts are made up for, does not exceed a hundred li. Though it is called the shared ruler of all under heaven, dividing its territory would be insufficient to enrich any state, and gaining its people would not strengthen an army. Even without attacking it, one is still accused of regicide. Nevertheless, ambitious rulers and warlike ministers who issue commands to raise armies have never failed to use Zhou as the beginning and end of their campaigns. Why is this so? It is because they see the ritual vessels there, desiring to obtain them and forgetting the chaos of regicide. Now that Han knows the ritual vessels are in Chu, I fear all under heaven will come to resent Chu for possessing them. I shall offer an analogy. The flesh of a tiger is foul, and its claws are sharp, yet people still attack it. If a deer in the marsh were to wear a tiger's skin, surely people would attack it far more fiercely than they would attack a real tiger. Dividing Chu's territory is sufficient to enrich one's state; Humiliating the name of Chu is enough to elevate your ruler. Now you are about to satisfy your desire by attacking and crippling the shared ruler of all under heaven; possessing ritual vessels passed down through three dynasties, swallowing the three feathers and six wings, in order to elevate yourself above the world's rulers—what else could this be but greed? The "Zhou Shu" says, 'Desire arises without precedent'; therefore, when the vessels move south, troops will follow." Thus, Chu abandoned and did not carry out the plan.
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| | 楚世家: |
十九年，秦伐楚，楚軍敗，割上庸、漢北地予秦。二十年，秦將白起拔我西陵。二十一年，秦將白起遂拔我郢，燒先王墓夷陵。楚襄王兵散，遂不復戰，東北保於陳城。二十二年，秦復拔我巫、黔中郡。 |
| | In the nineteenth year, Qin attacked Chu; the Chu army was defeated, and it ceded Shangyong and the territory north of the Han River to Qin. In the twentieth year, the Qin general Bai Qi captured my Xiling. In the twenty-first year, the Qin general Bai Ji captured my Ying and burned the tombs of former kings at Yiling. The army of King Xiang of Chu scattered, so it did not fight again but retreated northeast to take refuge in the city of Chen. In the twenty-second year, Qin recaptured my Wu and Qianzhong commanderies.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十三年，襄王乃收東地兵，得十餘萬，復西取秦所拔我江旁十五邑以為郡，距秦。二十七年，使三萬人助三晉伐燕。復與秦平，而入太子為質於秦。楚使左徒侍太子於秦。 |
| | In the twenty-third year, King Xiang gathered troops from the eastern territories and raised more than 100,000 soldiers. He then moved westward to recapture fifteen towns along the river that Qin had captured, establishing them as a commandery to resist Qin. In the twenty-seventh year, 30,000 men were sent to assist the Three Jin states in their campaign against Yan. Chu once again made peace with Qin and sent its crown prince as a hostage to Qin. Chu appointed the Zoutu official to accompany the crown prince in Qin.
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| | 楚世家: |
三十六年，頃襄王病，太子亡歸。秋，頃襄王卒，太子熊元代立，是為考烈王。考烈王以左徒為令尹，封以吳，號春申君。 |
| | In the thirty-sixth year, King Qingxiang fell ill and the crown prince fled back to Chu. In autumn, King Qingxiang died, and Crown Prince Xiong Yuan succeeded him as ruler; this was King Kaolie. King Kaolie appointed the Zoutu official as Lingyi, granted him Wu, and bestowed upon him the title Chunshen Jun.
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| | 楚世家: |
考烈王元年，納州于秦以平。是時楚益弱。 |
| | In the first year of King Kaolie's reign, he ceded Zhou to Qin in order to achieve peace. At this time, Chu became even weaker.
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| | 楚世家: |
六年，秦圍邯鄲，趙告急楚，楚遣將軍景陽救趙。七年，至新中。秦兵去。十二年，秦昭王卒，楚王使春申君弔祠于秦。十六年，秦莊襄王卒，秦王趙政立。二十二年，與諸侯共伐秦，不利而去。楚東徙都壽春，命曰郢。 |
| | In the sixth year, Qin besieged Handan; Zhao urgently requested aid from Chu, and Chu sent General Jingyang to rescue Zhao. In the seventh year, he reached Xinzhong. The Qin troops withdrew. In the twelfth year, King Zhao of Qin died; King of Chu sent Chunshen Jun to offer condolences and perform memorial rites in Qin. In the sixteenth year, King Zhuangxiang of Qin died, and Crown Prince Zhao Zheng ascended the throne as king. In the twenty-second year, Chu joined with other feudal lords to attack Qin, but suffered defeat and withdrew. Chu moved its capital eastward to Shouchun, which was named Ying.
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| | 楚世家: |
二十五年，考烈王卒，子幽王悍立。李園殺春申君。幽王三年，秦、魏伐楚。秦相呂不韋卒。九年，秦滅韓。十年，幽王卒，同母弟猶代立，是為哀王。哀王立二月餘，哀王庶兄負芻之徒襲殺哀王而立負芻為王。是歲，秦虜趙王遷。 |
| | In the twenty-fifth year, King Kaolie died and his son Huan succeeded him as King Youwang. Li Yuan killed Chunshen Jun. In the third year of King Youwang's reign, Qin and Wei attacked Chu. The Qin prime minister Lu Buwei died. In the ninth year, Qin annihilated Han. In the tenth year, King Youwang died and his younger half-brother You succeeded him as king; this was King Ai. King Ai reigned for more than two months when a faction of his illegitimate elder brother Fuchu attacked and killed him, then installed Fuchu as king. In this year, Qin captured King Qian of Zhao.
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| | 楚世家: |
王負芻元年，燕太子丹使荊軻刺秦王。二年，秦使將軍伐楚，大破楚軍，亡十餘城。三年，秦滅魏。四年，秦將王翦破我軍於蘄，而殺將軍項燕。 |
| | In the first year of Wang Fuchu's reign, Crown Prince Dan of Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate King Qin. In the second year, Qin dispatched a general to attack Chu and heavily defeated its army, capturing more than ten cities. In the third year, Qin annihilated Wei. In the fourth year, the Qin general Wang Jian defeated our army at Qi and killed General Xiang Yan.
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| | 楚世家: |
五年，秦將王翦、蒙武遂破楚國，虜楚王負芻，滅楚名為［楚］郡云。 |
| | In the fifth year, the Qin generals Wang Jian and Meng Wu finally conquered Chu, captured King Fuchu of Chu, and abolished the state, renaming it as [Chu] Commandery.
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| | 楚世家: |
太史公曰：楚靈王方會諸侯於申，誅齊慶封，作章華臺，求周九鼎之時，志小天下；及餓死于申亥之家，為天下笑。操行之不得，悲夫！勢之於人也，可不慎與？棄疾以亂立，嬖淫秦女，甚乎哉，幾再亡國！ |
| | Grand Historian said: When King Ling of Chu convened feudal lords at Shen, executed Qi's Qing Feng, built the Zhanghua Terrace, and sought the Nine Tripods of Zhou, his ambition was to dominate all under heaven; Yet when he starved to death at the home of Shen Hai, he became a laughingstock for all under heaven. What misfortune in conduct and actions! How tragic! The influence of circumstances on people—can one not be cautious? Qi Ji seized power in times of chaos, favored and indulged a concubine from Qin. How extreme! The state nearly perished twice!
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