Sacred Books of the East/Volume 3/The Shih/The Major Odes of the Kingdom/Decade 1/Ode 9

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Sacred Books of the East, Vol. III, The Shih King
translated by James Legge

The Major Odes of the Kingdom, Decade i, Ode 9: The Hsiâ Wû

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Xià Wǔ (下武) corresponds to "Successors" at the beginning of the first line.

3749235Sacred Books of the East, Vol. III, The Shih King — The Major Odes of the Kingdom, Decade i, Ode 9: The Hsiâ WûJames Legge

Ode 9. The Hsiâ Wû.

In praise of king Wû, walking in the ways of his forefathers, and by his filial piety securing the throne to himself and his posterity.

Successors tread in the steps (of their predecessors) in our Kâu.
For generations there had been wise kings;
The three sovereigns were in heaven^[1];
And king (Wû) was their worthy successor in his capital^[2].

King (Wû) was their worthy successor in his capital,
Rousing himself to seek for the hereditary virtue,
Always striving to be in accordance with the will (of Heaven);
And thus he secured the confidence due to a king.

He secured the confidence due to a king,
And became the pattern of all below him.
Ever thinking how to be filial,
His filial mind was the model (which he supplied).

Men loved him, the One man,
And responded (to his example) with a docile virtue.
Ever thinking how to be filial,
He brilliantly continued the doings (of his fathers).

Brilliantly! and his posterity,
Continuing to walk in the steps of their forefathers,
For myriads of years,
Will receive the blessing of Heaven.

They will receive the blessing of Heaven,
And from the four quarters (of the kingdom) will felicitations come to them.
For myriads of years
Will there not be their helpers?

↑ 'The three sovereigns,' or 'wise kings,' are to be understood of the three celebrated in ode 7,—Thâi, Kî, and Wăn. We are thus obliged, with all Chinese scholars, to understand this ode of king Wû. The statement that 'the three kings were in heaven' is very express.
↑ The capital here is Hâo, to which Wû removed in B.C. 1134, the year after his father's death. It was on the east of the river Făng, and only about eight miles from Wăn's capital of Făng.

[1] 'The three sovereigns,' or 'wise kings,' are to be understood of the three celebrated in ode 7,—Thâi, Kî, and Wăn. We are thus obliged, with all Chinese scholars, to understand this ode of king Wû. The statement that 'the three kings were in heaven' is very express.

[2] The capital here is Hâo, to which Wû removed in B.C. 1134, the year after his father's death. It was on the east of the river Făng, and only about eight miles from Wăn's capital of Făng.

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