1
江總字總持，濟陽考城人也，晉散騎常侍統之十世孫。 五世祖湛，宋左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，忠簡公。 祖蒨，梁光祿大夫，有名當代。 父紑，本州迎主簿，少居父憂，以毀卒，在《梁書孝行傳》。
Jiang Zong, styled Zongchi, came from Kaocheng in Jiyang commandery, a tenth-generation descendant of Jin's regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, Jiang Tong. His fifth-generation ancestor Zhan had been Song's left grand master of the palace and a grandee opening the mansion with ceremonial parity to the three offices, posthumously titled the loyal and simple duke. His grandfather Qian had been Liang's minister of the household and was famed in his generation. His father Gou had been the commandery's welcoming chief clerk; in youth he observed mourning for his father and died from grief-induced injury to his body, as recorded in the Biography of Filial Conduct in the Book of Liang.
2
總七歲而孤，依于外氏。 幼聰敏，有至性。 舅吳平光侯蕭勱〔一〕，名重當時，特所鍾愛，嘗謂總曰：「爾操行殊異，神采英拔，後之知名，當出吾右。」 及長，篤學有辭采，家傳賜書數千卷，總晝夜尋讀，未嘗輟手。 年十八，解褐宣惠武陵王府法曹參軍。 中權將軍、丹陽尹何敬容開府，置佐史，並以貴冑充之，仍除敬容府主簿。 遷尚書殿中郎。 梁武帝撰正言始畢，製述懷詩，總預同此作，帝覽總詩，深降嗟賞。 仍轉侍郎。 尚書僕射范陽張纘，度支尚書琅邪王筠，都官尚書南陽劉之遴，並高才碩學，總時年少有名，纘等雅相推重，為忘年友會。 之遴嘗酬總詩，其略曰：「上位居崇禮，寺署鄰栖息。 忌聞曉騶唱，每畏晨光赩。 高談意未窮，晤對賞無極。 探急共遨遊，休沐忘退食。 曷用銷鄙吝，枉趾覯顏色。 下上數千載，揚搉吐胸臆。」 其為通人所欽挹如此。 遷太子洗馬，又出為臨安令，還為中軍宣城王府限內錄事參軍，轉太子中舍人。
Zong was orphaned at seven and lived with his mother's family. As a child he was clever and keen, with an utmost nature. His uncle, the Marquis of Pingguang in Wu, Xiao Mei, [1] bore a weighty name in his day and cherished Zong especially. He once told Zong, "Your conduct is wholly unlike others', your spirit striking and elevated; when you are famous hereafter, you will stand above me." When grown he studied diligently and had literary grace. The family held several thousand volumes of imperial grants; Zong read day and night without ever laying them down. At eighteen he was first appointed law-cadet in the establishment of the All-Courtesy Prince of Wuling. When central authority general and governor of Danyang He Jingrong opened his mansion and appointed staff clerks, all posts were filled with noble scions; Zong was furthermore made chief clerk in Jingrong's establishment. He was promoted to palace retainer in the Masters of Writing. When Liang's Emperor Wu had just finished compiling the Correct Language, he composed a poem expressing his feelings; Zong took part in the composition. The emperor read Zong's poem and lowered his voice in deep admiration. He was then transferred to gentleman-attendant. Vice director of the masters of writing Zhang Zuan of Fanyang, revenue commissioner Wang Yun of Langya, and discipline commissioner Liu Zhiliao of Nanyang were all men of eminent talent and great learning. Zong at the time was young and already famed; Zuan and the rest warmly esteemed him, and they formed friendships across the generations. Liu Zhiliao's poem in reply to Zong, in summary: "You occupy a lofty rank and receive honored ritual; your office adjoins where I dwell. I dread to hear the dawn outrider's cry; each morning I fear the blazing light. High talk whose meaning is not exhausted, meetings face to face whose appreciation has no end. We probe what is urgent and roam together; on rest days we forget to withdraw and eat. How could we wear away vulgar grudges? You deigned to set your feet in view and see my face. Above and below, thousands of years—we buck and spill the feelings in our breast." Such was the esteem in which men of the age held him. He was promoted to groom of the heir apparent; then sent out as magistrate of Lin'an, returned as records clerk with limited commission in the central army Prince of Xuancheng's establishment, and transferred to attendant of the heir apparent.
3
及魏國通好，敕以總及徐陵攝官報聘，總以疾不行，侯景寇京都，詔以總權兼太常卿，守小廟。 臺城陷，總避難崎嶇，累年至會稽郡，憩於龍華寺，乃製修心賦，略序時事。 其辭曰：
When friendship was restored with Wei, an edict appointed Zong and Xu Ling as acting officials on a return embassy. Zong did not go because of illness. When Hou Jing raided the capital, an edict made Zong acting minister of ceremonies in charge of the lesser altars. When the palace city fell, Zong fled in hardship over many years until he reached Kuaiji commandery and rested at Longhua Monastery, whereupon he composed the Cultivating the Mind rhapsody, briefly narrating the affairs of the time. Its words run:
4
太清四年秋七月，避地于會稽龍華寺。 此伽藍者，余六世祖宋尚書右僕射州陵侯元嘉二十四年之所構也。 侯之王父晉護軍將軍〔虨〕，〔二〕昔蒞此邦，卜居山陰都陽里，貽厥子孫，有終焉之志。 寺域則宅之舊基，左江右湖，面山背壑，東西連跨，南北紆縈，聊與苦節名僧，同銷日用，曉脩經戒，夕覽圖書，寢處風雲，憑棲水月。 不意華戎莫辨，朝市傾淪，以此傷情，情可知矣。 啜泣濡翰，豈攄鬱結，庶後生君子，憫余此概焉。
In the seventh month of autumn in the fourth year of Grand Clarity, I took refuge at Longhua Monastery in Kuaiji. This monastery was built in the twenty-fourth year of Yuanjia by my sixth-generation ancestor, Song's right vice director of the masters of writing and Marquis of Zhouling. The marquis's great-grandfather served as Jin guardian general Jiang Biao; [2] in former times he came to this commandery, chose a dwelling in the Juyang ward of Shanyin, and left his descendants the wish to end their days here. The monastery grounds were the old site of the house: river to the left, lake to the right, mountains before and ravine behind, stretching east and west, winding north and south. For a time I shared daily life with monks of austere discipline; at dawn I kept precepts and read sutras, at evening I scanned books; I slept amid wind and cloud and dwelt leaning on water and moon. I did not expect that China and the barbarians could no longer be distinguished, that court and market had collapsed—on this I wounded my feelings; the wounding, you may know. I suck tears and wet the brush—how could that vent what is knotted? I hope gentlemen born after may pity this lot of mine.
5
嘉南斗之分次，肇東越之靈祕，表檜風於韓什，著鎮山於周記，蘊大禹之金書，鐫暴秦之〔石〕字，〔三〕太史來而探穴，鍾離去而開笥，信竹箭之為珍，何珷玞之罕值。 奉盛德之鴻祀，寓安禪之古寺，寔豫章之舊圃，成黃金之勝地。 遂寂默之幽心，若鏡中而遠尋，面曾阜之超忽，邇平湖之迥深。 山條偃蹇，水葉侵淫，挂猿朝落，飢鼯夜吟。 果叢藥苑，桃蹊橘林，梢雲拂日，結暗生陰。 保自然之雅趣，鄙人閒之荒雜，望島嶼之邅回，面江源之重沓，泛流月之夜迥，曳光煙之曉匝。 風引蜩而嘶譟，雨鳴林而脩颯，〔四〕鳥稍狎而知來，雲無情而自合。
Favored by the asterism of the Southern Dipper, commencing the spirit-secrets of Eastern Yue; the cypress-wind praised in Han verse, Mount Zhen recorded in Zhou annals; holding Great Yu's metal books, engraved the (stone) records of violent Qin; [3] when the grand astrologer came to probe the crypt and Zhongli went away and opened the casket—truly bamboo and arrow-shafts are treasures; how could jade fragments be rare finds? I received the great virtue's soaring sacrifice and lodged in this old monastery of pacifying meditation—truly the old garden of Yuzhang, become a triumphant ground of yellow gold. Then my silent, hidden heart, as in a mirror sought afar; I faced the towering former hill, near the deep, distant lake. Mountain branches lay sprawling; water leaves dripped and drenched; gibbons hung at dawn and fell away, hungry flying-squirrels cried by night. Fruit thickets and herb gardens, peach paths and orange groves—tips brushing cloud and sun, gloom knitting into shade. I kept nature's elegant delight and scorned people's idle, tangled mess; I gazed at the winding islands and faced the heaped layers of the river's source; at night the drifting moon sailed far; at dawn trailing light and mist wound round. Wind drew cicadas to clamor and noise; rain drummed the groves in (soughing) sweep; [4] birds gradually grew tame and knew to come; clouds without feeling joined of themselves.
6
爾迺野開靈塔，地築禪居，喜園迢遰，樂樹扶疏。 經行籍草，宴坐臨渠，持戒振錫，度影甘蔬，堅固之林可喻，寂滅之場蹔如。 異曲終而悲起，非木落而悲始，豈降志而辱身，不露才而揚己。 鍾風雨之如晦，倦雞鳴之聒耳，幸避地而高棲，憑調御之遺旨。 折四辯之微言，悟三乘之妙理，遣十纏之繫縛，袪五惑之塵滓，久遺榮於勢利，庶忘累於妻子，感意氣於疇日，寄知音於來祀，何遠客之可悲，知自憐其何已。
Then the wilds opened to a spirit pagoda, the ground built for meditation dwelling; joy-garden stretched far, pleasure-trees stood sparse. Walking the path over grass, feasting seated by the canal; holding precepts and shaking the staff, measuring shadow and eating humble greens—the grove of steadfastness could serve as parable, the field of quiet extinction for the moment seemed real. Unlike the sadness rising when a tune ends, not like the sadness that begins when trees shed leaves—how could I lower my will and shame my body, or not show talent yet show myself? I tired of wind and rain as at darkened dusk, wearied of cockcrow clattering in my ears; blessed to flee the world and lodge on high, I relied on the surviving instructions of the charioteer who tunes the team. I folded the subtle words of the four analyses and apprehended the wondrous principle of the three vehicles; I loosed the ten bindings of entanglement and brushed away the dust of five confusions; long I abandoned glory in power and profit, hoping to forget the ties of wife and children; I felt my spirit of former days and entrusted a knowing ear to future ages—why is the far traveler pitiable? I know how endless is self-pity.
7
總第九舅蕭勃先據廣州，總又自會稽往依焉。 梁元帝平侯景，徵總為明威將軍、始興內史，以郡秩米八百斛給總行裝。 會江陵陷，遂不行，總自此流寓嶺南積歲。 天嘉四年，以中書侍郎徵還朝，直侍中省。 累遷司徒右長史，掌東宮管記，給事黃門侍郎，領南徐州大中正。 授太子中庶子、通直散騎常侍，東宮、中正如故。 遷左民尚書，轉太子詹事，中正如故。 以與太子為長夜之飲，養良娣陳氏為女，太子微行總舍，上怒免之。 尋為侍中，領左驍騎將軍。 復為左民尚書，領左軍將軍，未拜，又以公事免。 尋起為散騎常侍、明烈將軍、司徒左長史，遷太常卿。
Zong's ninth uncle by marriage Xiao Bo had first seized Guangzhou; Zong again went from Kuaiji to rely on him. When Emperor Yuan of Liang pacified Hou Jing, he summoned Zong as resplendent might general and interior governor of Shixing, granting eight hundred piculs of the commandery salary for Zong's travel expenses. When Jiangling fell he could not go; from this Zong lodged in Lingnan for years on end. In Tiancheng year 4 (565) he was summoned back to court as gentleman of the secretariat and attended at the palace secretariat. He rose in repeated promotions to right chief clerk of the chamberlain's office, keeper of eastern-palace records, attendant in the yellow gate handling affairs, and concurrently chief rectifier for southern Xuzhou. He was made junior mentor of the heir apparent and direct, clear-scattered-cavalry attendant; his eastern-palace and rectifier posts remained as before. He was promoted to minister of the masters of writing for households and transferred to grand mentor of the heir apparent; his rectifier post remained as before. Because he drank with the heir through the night and reared the worthy concubine Lady Chen as his daughter, and the heir would slip out to Zong's quarters, Emperor Xuan was angry and dismissed him. Soon he was made attendant and concurrently general of the left nimble cavalry. Again minister for households and concurrently general of the left army; before he took the seal he was again dismissed on official business. Soon he was raised as attendant of the scattered cavalry, resplendent lieutenant general, and left chief clerk of the chamberlain, then promoted to minister of ceremonies.
8
總嘗自敘其略曰：
Zong once narrated himself in summary, saying:
9
歷升清顯，備位朝列，不邀世利，不涉權幸。 嘗撫躬仰天太息曰，莊青翟位至丞相，無跡可紀； 趙元叔為上計吏，光乎列傳。 官陳以來，未嘗逢迎一物，干預一事。 悠悠風塵，流俗之士，頗致怨憎，榮枯寵辱，不以介意。 太建之世，權移群小，諂嫉作威，屢被摧黜，柰何命也。 後主昔在東朝，留意文藝，夙荷昭晉，恩紀契闊。 嗣位之日，時寄謬隆，儀形天府，釐正庶績，八法六典，無所不統。 昔晉武帝策荀公曾曰「周之冢宰，今之尚書令也」。 況復才未半古，尸素若茲。 晉太尉陸玩云「以我為三公，知天下無人矣」。 軒冕儻來之一物，豈是預要乎？
"Through repeated promotions I rose to clear distinction and filled every rank at court; I did not seek worldly profit or meddle with those in favor. Once I bent my body and sighed to heaven: Zhuang Qingdai rose to chancellor yet left no trace that could be recorded; Zhao Yuanshu was a memorial clerk to the throne and shines in the biographies. Since I took office in Chen I have never fawned on a single thing or intervened in a single affair. Men adrift in the floating dust of the age quite bore me ill will; glory and ruin, favor and insult—I paid them no mind. In the Taikian era authority shifted to petty men; flattery and jealousy played tyrant; I was repeatedly driven down—what can be done about fate? In former days when Houzhu was in the eastern palace he took heed of literature and the arts; long I bore his clear favor, and our bond of grace was deep. On the day he succeeded, for a time misplaced trust ran high; I took form in the heavenly storehouse and set right the myriad tasks; the eight standards and six canons—there was none I did not oversee. In former days Emperor Wu of Jin, in his edict to Xun Gongzeng, said: 'The steward of Zhou is today's director of the masters of writing.' How much more when my talent has not reached half the ancients', yet I hold the salary of a corpse? Jin grand guardian Lu Wan said, 'To make me one of the three dukes shows there is no man in the empire.' Cap and chariot are things that may come by chance—how could they be what one must demand?
10
弱歲歸心釋教，年二十餘，入鍾山就靈曜寺則法師受菩薩戒。 暮齒官陳，與攝山布上人遊款，深悟苦空，更復練戒，運善於心，行慈於物，頗知自勵，而不能蔬菲，尚染塵勞，以此負愧平生耳。
In my weak years I gave my heart to the Buddha's teaching; in my twenties I went to Zhongshan to receive the bodhisattva precepts from Master Ze of Lingyao Monastery. In my declining years in office in Chen I kept close company with the cloth-robed superior of Mount She, deeply awakened to suffering's emptiness, and again practiced the precepts; I moved goodness in heart and walked compassion toward things, and knew somewhat how to urge myself—yet I could not live on vegetables alone and was still stained by dusty toil; on this account I bear shame all my life."
11
總之自敘，時人謂之實錄。
Zong's self-narration—men of the time called it a true record.
12
總篤行義，寬和溫裕。 好學，能屬文，於五言七言尤善； 然傷於浮豔，故為後主所愛幸。 多有側篇，好事者相傳諷翫，于今不絕。 後主之世，總當權宰，不持政務，但日與後主遊宴後庭，共陳暄、孔範、王〔瑳〕等十餘人，〔五〕當時謂之狎客。 由是國政日頹，綱紀不立，有言之者，輒以罪斥之，君臣昏亂，以至于滅。 有文集三十卷，並行於世焉。
Zong was earnest in conduct and righteousness, broad, harmonious, warm, and generous. He loved learning and could compose prose; in five-word and seven-word verse he was especially skilled; yet he erred toward the florid and flashy, and so won Houzhu's favor and intimacy. He had many private pieces; men who loved such things passed them along to recite and enjoy, and to this day they have not ceased. In Houzhu's reign Zong held power like a chief minister yet did not take hold of government affairs; day after day he feasted with Houzhu in the rear court, together with Chen Xu, Kong Fan, Wang Chuo, [5] and more than ten others—men of the time called them the intimate guests. From this state affairs daily declined, norms were not set; whoever spoke up was at once punished on a charge; ruler and ministers fell into darkness—until ruin. He had a collected works in thirty scrolls, which circulated in the world.
13
長子溢，字深源，頗有文辭。 性傲誕，恃勢驕物，雖近屬故友，不免詆欺。 歷官著作佐郎、太子舍人、洗馬、中書黃門侍郎、太子中庶子。 入隋，為秦王文學。
His eldest son Yi, styled Shenyuan, had considerable literary gift. By nature he was arrogant and unbridled, relying on influence to bully others; even near kin and old friends did not escape his slander. His offices included associate in the editorial office, attendant of the heir apparent, groom, attendant in the yellow gate of the secretariat, and junior mentor of the heir apparent. After entering Sui he was literary aide to the Prince of Qin.
14
第七子漼，駙馬都尉、祕書郎、隋給事郎，直祕書省學士。
His seventh son Cui was imperial son-in-law, secretary gentleman, Sui attendant handling affairs, and academician on direct duty at the palace secretariat.
15
姚察字伯審，吳興武康人也。 九世祖信，吳太常卿，有名江左。
Yao Cha, styled Boshen, came from Wukang in Wuxing commandery. His ninth-generation ancestor Xin was Wu's grand master of ceremonies, famed on the left bank of the Yangzi.
16
察幼有至性，事親以孝聞。 六歲，誦書萬餘言。 弱不好弄，博弈雜戲，初不經心。 勤苦厲精，以夜繼日。 年十二，便能屬文。 父上開府僧〔垣〕，〔六〕知名梁武代，二宮禮遇優厚，每得供賜，皆回給察兄弟，為遊學之資，察並用聚蓄圖書，由是聞見日博。 年十三，梁簡文帝時在東宮，盛脩文義，即引於宣猷堂聽講論難，為儒者所稱。 及簡文嗣位，尤加禮接。 起家南海王國左常侍，兼司文侍郎。 除南郡王行參軍，兼尚書駕部郎。
As a child Cha had an utmost nature; in serving his parents he was known for filial piety. At six he could recite more than ten thousand words of books. In youth he did not care for play; gambling and miscellaneous games never touched his mind. With painful zeal he sharpened his spirit, continuing from night into day. At twelve he could already compose literary pieces. His father, Commissioner Sengyuan, [6] was famed under Liang's Emperor Wu; both palaces treated him with exceptional courtesy. Whenever he received provisions and gifts he would turn them to Cha and his brothers for travel-study funds; Cha used them all to gather and store books, and so his learning and sight grew daily broader. At thirteen, when Liang's Emperor Jianwen was in the eastern palace and lavishly cultivated literary doctrine, Cha was at once brought into the Hall of Propagating Virtue to hear lectures and disputations, and Confucians praised him. When Jianwen succeeded to the throne he showed Cha still more courtesy and reception. He began his career as left regular attendant to the Prince of Nanhai and concurrently gentleman of the secretariat for texts. He was made acting aide in the Prince of Nanjun's establishment and concurrently gentleman of the masters of writing for the carriage-office.
17
值梁室喪亂，於金陵隨二親還鄉里。 時東土兵荒，人飢相食，告糴無處，察家口既多，並採野蔬自給。 察每崎嶇艱阻，求請供養之資，糧粒恆得相繼。 又常以己分減推諸弟妹，乃至故舊乏絕者皆相分卹，自甘唯藜藿而已。 在亂離之閒，篤學不廢。
When Liang's house fell into chaos he followed his two parents back to the home district from Jinling. At the time the eastern lands suffered military famine; men starved and ate one another; there was nowhere to beg grain. Cha's household was numerous and all gathered wild plants to feed themselves. Cha on every jagged hardship sought funds to support his parents, and grain constantly came in succession. He also often took from his own share and pressed it on his younger brothers and sisters, even reaching old friends in want—he shared relief with them all; for himself he took only wild greens. Even amid chaos and separation he studied hard without ceasing.
18
元帝於荊州即位，父隨朝士例往赴西臺，元帝授察原鄉令。 時邑境蕭條，流亡不反，察輕其賦役，勸以耕種，於是戶口殷盛，民至今稱焉。
When Emperor Yuan of Liang took the throne at Jingzhou, his father followed the court officials' example in going to the Western Terrace; Emperor Yuan appointed Cha magistrate of Yuanxiang. The district was desolate and refugees would not return; Cha eased taxes and labor and urged farming, and households soon flourished—the people still praise him today.
19
中書侍郎領著作杜之偉與察深相眷遇，表用察佐著作，仍撰史。 永定初，拜始興王府功曹參軍，尋補嘉德殿學士，轉中衛、儀同始興王府記室參軍。 吏部尚書徐陵時領著作，復引為史佐，及陵讓官致仕等表，並請察製焉，陵見歎曰「吾弗逮也」。 太建初，補宣明殿學士，除散騎侍郎、左通直。 尋兼通直散騎常侍，報聘于周。 江左耆舊先在關右者，咸相傾慕。 沛國劉臻竊於公館訪漢書疑事十餘條，並為剖析，皆有經據。 臻謂所親曰「名下定無虛士」。 著西聘道里記，所敘事甚詳。
Du Zhiwei, vice director of the secretariat who also headed the directorate of history, was deeply attached to him; he memorialized to appoint Cha as an assistant compiler, and Cha went on writing history. At the beginning of Yongding he was made records officer of the princedom of Shixing; soon he became an academic of the Hall of Illustrious Virtue, then recorder of the princedom of Shixing under central guard and pillar of state. Xu Ling, minister of personnel, was then also in charge of the history office and again took Cha on as a history assistant; when Ling's memorials declining office and seeking retirement were drafted, Cha wrote them all. Ling sighed, "I cannot equal him." Early in Taichu he was made an academic of the Hall of Bright Illumination and appointed vice attendant-in-ordinary of the scattered cavalry and left direct communicator. Soon he was also regular attendant-in-ordinary of the scattered cavalry for direct communication and sent on a return mission to Zhou. Elders of the southeast already living in the Guan region all admired him. Liu Zhen of Pei privately came to the embassy lodge and asked more than ten doubtful points in the Book of Han; Cha explained them all with solid textual grounds. Zhen told those close to him, "A settled reputation never rests on an empty scholar." He wrote the Record of Roads on the Western Mission, narrating the journey in great detail.
20
使還，補東宮學士。 于時濟陽江總、吳國顧野王、陸瓊、從弟瑜、河南褚玠、北地傅縡等，皆以才學之美，晨夕娛侍。 察每言論製述，咸為諸人宗重。 儲君深加禮異，情越群僚，宮內所須方幅手筆，皆付察立草。 又數令共野王遞相策問，恆蒙賞激。
On his return from the mission he was made an eastern palace academic. At that time Jiang Zong of Jiyang, Gu Yewang of Wu, Lu Qiong, his cousin Yu, Chu Zhi of Henan, Fu Zai of Beidi, and others—all famed for learning—served the heir morning and evening as literary companions. Whatever Cha said or wrote, the others held in high regard. The crown prince treated him with exceptional courtesy; whatever the palace needed in writing was sent to Cha to draft on the spot. He was often ordered to question Gu Yewang in turn and always won praise and rewards.
21
遷尚書祠部侍郎。 此曹職司郊廟，昔魏王肅奏祀天地，設宮縣之樂，八佾之舞，爾後因循不革。 梁武帝以為事人禮縟，事神禮簡，古無宮縣之文。 陳初承用，莫有損益。 高宗欲設備樂，付有司立議，以梁武帝為非。 時碩學名儒、朝端在位者，咸希上旨，並即注同。 察乃博引經籍，獨違群議，據梁樂為是，當時驚駭，莫不慚服，僕射徐陵因改同察議。 其不順時隨俗，皆此類也。
He was promoted to vice director of the ministry of rites for sacrificial affairs. That bureau oversaw suburban altars. Once Wang Su of Wei had memorialized on sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, setting up palace music and eight rows of dancers; afterward the practice was followed unchanged. Emperor Wu of Liang held that rites toward men should be elaborate and rites toward the gods simple, and that antiquity had no precedent for palace music. When Chen was founded the court kept the practice as it was. Emperor Gaozong wanted full ritual music and ordered the offices to debate, taking Liang Wu to have been mistaken. Leading scholars and officials at court all read the emperor's mind and at once sided with him. Cha cited the classics at length, stood alone against the consensus, and argued that Liang music was right. The court was astonished and ashamed into agreement; Director Xu Ling then adopted Cha's position. His refusal to bend to fashion was always of this sort.
22
拜宣惠宜都王中錄事參軍，帶東宮學士。 歷仁威淮南王、平南建安王二府諮議參軍，丁內憂去職。 俄起為戎昭將軍，知撰梁史事，固辭不免。 後主纂業、敕兼東宮通事舍人，將軍、知撰史如故。 又敕專知優冊謚議等文筆。 至德元年，除中書侍郎，轉太子僕，餘並如故。
He was made central recorder of the princedom of Yidu under splendid favor, while retaining his eastern palace academic post. He served as consulting colonel to the princes of Huainan and Jian'an, then left office to mourn his mother. Soon he was recalled as rongzhao general and put in charge of compiling the history of Liang; he pleaded hard to be excused but could not. When Houzhu took the throne he ordered Cha to serve concurrently as eastern palace communicating affairs attendant; his general's rank and charge over history stayed the same. He was also ordered to handle posthumous titles, eulogies, and similar court writings. In the first year of Zhide he was made vice director of the secretariat, then steward of the heir apparent; his other posts were unchanged.
23
初，梁季淪沒，父僧〔垣〕入于長安，察蔬食布衣，不聽音樂，至是凶問因聘使到江南。 時察母韋氏喪制適除，後主以察羸瘠，慮加毀頓，乃密遣中書舍人司馬申就宅發哀，仍敕申專加譬抑。 爾後又遣申宣旨誡喻曰：「知比哀毀過禮，甚用為憂。 卿迥然一身，宗奠是寄，毀而滅性，聖教所不許。 宜微自遣割，以存禮制。 憂懷既深，故有此及。」
Earlier, when Liang fell, his father Sengyuan had gone to Chang'an. Cha lived on vegetables and plain cloth and would not hear music. Now word of his father's death reached the south with the returning envoys. Cha's mother, Lady Wei, had just left mourning. Houzhu, seeing how wasted Cha was, feared he would ruin his health and secretly sent secretariat attendant Sima Shen to begin mourning rites at his house, with orders to counsel restraint. Later he again sent Shen with an edict of admonition: "I know your mourning goes beyond the rites, and I am deeply troubled. You stand alone, and the clan sacrifices depend on you. To ruin yourself is what the sages forbid. You should restrain yourself a little and keep within the rites. My concern is great, and so I send you this word."
24
尋以忠毅將軍起兼東宮通事舍人。 察志在終喪，頻有陳讓，並抑而不許。 又推表其略曰：「臣私門舋禍，併罹殃罰，偷生晷漏，冀申情禮，而尪疹相仍，苴葈穢質，非復人流，將畢〔苫〕壤〔七〕。 豈期朝恩曲覃，被之纓紱，尋斯寵服，彌見慚靦。 且宮闥祕奧，趨奏便繁，寧可以茲荒毀所宜叨預。 伏願至德孝治，矜其理奪，使殘魂喘息，以遂餘生。」 詔答曰：「省表具懷。 卿行業淳深，聲譽素顯，理徇情禮，未膺刀筆。 但參務承華，良所期寄，允茲抑奪，不得致辭也。」 俄敕知著作郎事，服闋，除給事黃門侍郎，領著作。
Soon he was recalled as zhongyi general and again made eastern palace communicating affairs attendant. Cha wished to observe the full mourning term and memorialized again and again, but each request was refused. He also submitted a summary memorial: "My household has met calamity and punishment together. I have clung to life day by day only to fulfill feeling and rite, yet sickness follows sickness; on my straw mat, an unclean body no longer fit for human company, I am about to finish my time in the mourning hut. How could I expect the court's grace to bend so far as to crown me with cap and sash? Such favor only deepens my shame. The palace is secret and business urgent—how can one so broken by mourning presume to attend? I beg Your supreme virtue and filial government to pity this conflict of feeling and duty and let my shattered spirit recover enough to live out what remains." The edict answered: "Your memorial has been read and understood. Your conduct is deep and pure and your reputation long established; you are yielding to feeling and rite and are not yet fit for office. Yet service at Chenghua is what the court expects of you. Allow this shortening of mourning—you may not refuse." Soon he was ordered to oversee the directorate of history. When mourning ended he was made attending gentleman of the Yellow Gate, still in charge of the history office.
25
察既累居憂服，兼齋素日久，自免憂後，因加氣疾。 後主嘗別召見，見察柴瘠過甚，為之動容，乃謂察曰：「朝廷惜卿，卿宜自惜，既蔬菲歲久，可停持長齋。」 又遣度支尚書王瑗宣旨，重加慰喻，令從晚食。 手敕曰：「卿羸瘠如此，齋菲累年，不宜一飯，有乖將攝，若從所示，甚為佳也。」 察雖奉此敕，而猶敦宿誓。
Cha had long been in mourning and on a plain diet; after mourning ended he developed a chronic breathing ailment. Houzhu once summoned him privately, saw how wasted he was, and was moved. He told Cha, "The court values you; value yourself. You have eaten only vegetables for years—you may end the long fast." He also sent minister of revenue Wang Yuan with an edict to comfort him again and permit an evening meal. A handwritten edict said, "You are so thin, and you have fasted for years. One meal a day is bad for your recovery. If you do as I say, that will be best." Cha received the order, but still held to his old vow.
26
又詔授祕書監，領著作如故，乃累進讓，並優荅不許。 察在祕書省大加刪正，又奏撰中書表集。 拜散騎常侍，尋授度支尚書，旬月遷吏部尚書，領著作並如故。 察既博極墳素，尤善人物，至於姓氏所起，枝葉所分，官職姻娶，興衰高下，舉而論之，無所遺失。 且澄鑒之職，時人久以梓匠相許，及遷選部，雅允朝望。 初，吏部尚書蔡徵移中書令，後主方擇其人，尚書令江總等咸共薦察，敕答曰：「姚察非唯學藝優博，亦是操行清脩，典選難才，今得之矣。」 乃神筆草詔，〔八〕讀以示察，察辭讓甚切。
He was again made secretary supervisor while keeping charge of history. He memorialized refusal repeatedly, and each time the gracious reply refused him. At the secretariat he made extensive revisions and also memorialized to compile a collection of secretariat memorials. He was made regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, soon minister of revenue, and within a month minister of personnel, still heading the history office. Cha had mastered the classics and was especially skilled with people: surname origins, family branches, offices and marriages, rise and fall—he could discuss them all without omission. For years men had likened the clarifying-mirror office to a master carpenter's work; when he moved to the selection bureau he fully satisfied court expectations. When minister of personnel Cai Zheng was moved to secretariat director, Houzhu had to choose a successor. Director Jiang Zong and others all recommended Cha. The edict answered, "Yao Cha is not only learned and broad; his conduct is pure and cultivated. The post of selection is hard to fill, and now we have found the man." Then with the imperial brush he drafted the edict and read it to Cha, who declined with great urgency.
27
別日召入論選事，察垂涕拜請曰：「臣東皋賤族，〔九〕身才庸近，情忘遠致，念絕脩途。 頃來忝竊，久知逾分，特以東朝攀奉，恩紀謬加。 今日叨濫，非由才舉，縱陛下特升庸薄，其如朝序何？ 臣九世祖信，名高往代，當時纔居選部，自後罕有繼蹤。 臣遭逢成擢，沐浴恩造，累致非據，每切妨賢。 臣雖無識，頗知審己，言行所踐，無期榮貴，豈意銓衡之重，妄委非才。 且皇明御歷，事高昔代，羽儀世冑，帷幄名臣，若授受得宜，方為稱職。 臣夙陶教義，必知不可。」 後主曰：「選眾之舉，僉議所歸，昔毛玠雅量清恪，盧毓心平體正，王蘊銓量得地，山濤舉不失才，就卿而求，必兼此矣。 且我與卿雖君臣禮隔，情分殊常，藻鏡人倫，良所期寄，亦以無慚則悊也。」
On another day he was summoned to discuss appointments. Cha wept as he bowed and pleaded, "I am a humble clan of the eastern marshes; my talent is slight, my ambition forgets distant goals, my mind has turned from self-cultivation. For some time I have held office beyond my measure and long known it exceeds my place, only because the eastern palace drew me up and favor was wrongly heaped on me. Today's appointment is not from merit. Even if Your Majesty specially raises this mediocrity, what becomes of court order? My ninth-generation ancestor Xin was famed in a past age and barely held the selection bureau; since then few in our line have followed him. I have met with promotion, bathed in grace, repeatedly received posts beyond my worth, and each time blocked better men. Though I lack insight I know myself. In conduct I never hoped for glory—how could I expect the weight of selection to be wrongly placed on a man without talent? Moreover Your bright rule towers above past ages. Feathered guards and famed ministers fill the inner councils—if appointments are rightly made, that is true competence. I have long been steeped in teaching and know this cannot be." Houzhu said, "Choosing the right men is what everyone expects. Once Mao Jie was refined and pure, Lu Yu level and upright, Wang Yun balanced in judgment, and Shan Tao chose without losing talent—from you we expect all of this. And though lord and minister stand apart in ritual, our bond is unusual. The mirror of mankind is what I entrust to you—you need not shame those exemplars."
28
察自居顯要，甚勵清潔，且廩錫以外，一不交通。 嘗有私門生不敢厚餉，止送南布一端，花綀一匹。 〔一０〕察謂之曰：「吾所衣著，止是麻布蒲綀，此物於吾無用。 既欲相款接，幸不煩爾。」 此人遜請，猶冀受納，察勵色驅出，〔一一〕因此伏事者莫敢饋遺。
Once in high office Cha strove for purity. Beyond salary and imperial gifts he had no dealings with anyone. Once a private student, not daring a lavish gift, sent only one bolt of southern cloth and one bolt of patterned silk. Cha told him, "What I wear is only hemp and rush silk. These things are useless to me. If you wish friendship, please do not trouble yourself with such gifts." The man humbly pleaded, still hoping Cha would accept; Cha sternly drove him out. After that, those who served him dared not offer gifts.
29
陳滅入隋，開皇九年，詔授祕書丞，別敕成梁、陳二代史。 又敕於朱華閣長參。 文帝知察蔬菲，別日乃獨召入內殿，賜果菜，乃指察謂朝臣曰「聞姚察學行當今無比，我平陳唯得此一人」。 十三年，襲封北絳郡公。 察往歲之聘周也，因得與父僧〔垣〕相見，將別之際，絕而復蘇，至是承襲，愈更悲感，見者莫不為之歔欷。
When Chen fell he entered Sui. In the ninth year of Kaihuang he was made secretariat assistant, with a separate edict to complete the histories of Liang and Chen. He was also ordered to attend regularly at Zhuhua Pavilion. Emperor Wen knew Cha lived on vegetables. One day he summoned him alone to the inner hall, gave him fruit and vegetables, and pointing to Cha told the court, "I hear Yao Cha's learning and conduct are unmatched today. In pacifying Chen I gained only this one man." In the thirteenth year he inherited the title duke of Beijiang commandery. When Cha went as envoy to Zhou he had met his father Sengyuan; on parting he had fainted and revived. Now, on inheriting the title, his grief grew keener, and all who saw him sighed.
30
察幼年嘗就鍾山明慶寺尚禪師受菩薩戒，及官陳，祿俸皆捨寺起造，并追為禪師樹碑，文甚遒麗。 及是，遇見梁國子祭酒蕭子雲書此寺禪齋詩，覽之愴然，乃用蕭韻述懷為詠，詞又哀切，法俗益以此稱之。 丁後母杜氏喪，解職。 在服制之中，有白鳩巢于戶上。
In youth he had received bodhisattva precepts at Mingqing Temple on Zhongshan from Master Shang. In Chen office he gave all his salary to temple building and later erected a stele for the master in forceful prose. Now he came upon the chan poetry that Xiao Ziyun, director of the national university, had written for the temple. Reading it moved him to compose in Xiao's rhyme; the words were very mournful, and monks and laymen praised him all the more. He mourned his stepmother, Lady Du, and left office. During mourning a white dove nested above his door.
31
年七十四，大業二年，終于東都，遺命薄葬，務從率儉。 其略曰：「吾家世素士，自有常法。 吾意斂以法服，並宜用布，土周於身。 又恐汝等不忍行此，必不爾，須松板薄棺，纔可周身，土周於棺而已。 葬日，止麤車，即送厝舊塋北。 吾在梁世，當時年十四，就鍾山明慶寺尚禪師受菩薩戒，自爾深悟苦空，頗知回向矣。 嘗得留連山寺，一去忘歸。 及仕陳代，諸名流遂許與聲價，兼時主恩遇，宦途遂至通顯。 自入朝來，又蒙恩渥。 既牽纏人世，素志弗從。 且吾習蔬菲五十餘年，既歷歲時，循而不失。 瞑目之後，不須立靈，置一小床，每日設清水，六齋日設齋食果菜，任家有無，不須別經營也。」 初，察願讀一藏經，並已究竟，將終，曾無痛惱，但西向坐，正念，云「一切空寂」。 其後身體柔軟，顏色如恆。 兩宮悼惜，賵賻甚厚。
At seventy-four, in the second year of Daye, he died in the eastern capital. His testament ordered a plain burial, kept as simple as possible. In gist it said, "Our house has been plain scholars for generations and has its fixed custom. I wish to be dressed for burial according to law, all in cloth, with earth heaped only to the body. Fearing you cannot bear this—if you cannot, then use pine boards and a thin coffin barely large enough for the body, with earth only around the coffin. On the burial day use only a rough cart and send me to the old tomb to the north. In Liang, at fourteen, I took precepts at Mingqing Temple on Zhongshan from Master Shang. Since then I have deeply known the emptiness of suffering and somewhat understood turning merit toward others. Once I lingered at a mountain temple and went away, forgetting to return. Serving Chen, famous men granted me reputation, and with the ruler's favor my office rose to prominence. Since entering court I have again received generous favor. Bound to the human world, my original aim was not fulfilled. Moreover I have eaten only vegetables for more than fifty years and kept to it through the years without lapse. After I close my eyes do not set up a spirit tablet. Place a small bed and each day set out clear water. On the six fast days set out vegetarian fruit—as the household can afford, without special arrangements. Earlier Cha had wished to read the whole canon through and had finished it. At the end he felt no pain, only sat facing west in right mindfulness and said, "All is empty and still." Afterward his body remained soft and his color unchanged. Both palaces mourned him and sent very rich funeral gifts.
32
察性至孝，有人倫鑒識。 沖虛謙遜，不以所長矜人。 終日恬靜，唯以書記為樂，於墳籍無所不睹。 每有制述，多用新奇，人所未見，咸重富博。 且專志著書，白首不倦，手自抄撰，無時蹔輟。 尤好研覈古今，諟正文字，精采流贍，雖老不衰。 兼諳識內典，所撰寺塔及眾僧文章，特為綺密。 在位多所稱引，一善可錄，無不賞薦。 若非分相干，咸以理遣。 盡心事上，知無不為。 侍奉機密，未嘗洩漏。 且任遇已隆，衣冠攸屬，深懷退靜，避於聲勢。 清潔自處，貲產每虛，或有勸營生計，笑而不答。 穆於親屬，篤於舊故，所得祿賜，咸充周卹。
By nature Cha was deeply filial and had a keen eye for human relations. Modest and humble, he never flaunted what he knew. Tranquil all day, he took books alone as his pleasure; in the classics there was nothing he had not read. In every piece he wrote he favored what was new and unseen, and all prized his breadth. Moreover he devoted himself solely to writing; though white-haired he never tired, copying with his own hand and never pausing. He especially loved scrutinizing past and present texts and correcting written forms; his brilliance remained rich, and age did not dull it. He was also versed in Buddhist scriptures; his writings on temples, stupas, and monks were especially refined. In office he recommended many; any merit worth recording he rewarded and advanced. Anyone who importuned him beyond his station he dismissed on principle. He served the sovereign wholeheartedly and did whatever he knew should be done. In confidential service he never leaked a word. His appointments had grown lofty and he stood among the foremost; he deeply wished to withdraw, avoiding fame and power. Pure in conduct, his property was always bare; when some urged him to plan for livelihood he only smiled and said nothing. Gentle to kin and steadfast to old friends, he gave all salary and gifts to support those around him.
33
後主所製文筆，卷軸甚多，乃別寫一本付察，有疑悉令刊定，察亦推心奉上，事在無隱。 後主嘗從容謂朝士曰：「姚察達學洽聞，手筆典裁，求之於古，〔一二〕猶難輩匹，在於今世，足為師範。 且訪對甚詳明，〔一三〕聽之使人忘倦。」 察每製文筆，敕便索本，上曰：「我于姚察文章，〔一四〕非唯翫味無已，故是一宗匠。」
Houzhu's literary drafts filled many scrolls; he had a separate copy made for Cha and had him revise whatever was doubtful; Cha served with an open heart and hid nothing. Houzhu once told court gentlemen at ease, "Yao Cha's learning is deep and his knowledge wide, and his writing sets the literary standard; [12] few in antiquity equal him, and in our age he is a model. His answers are [13] very detailed and clear; to hear them is to forget weariness." Whenever Cha wrote, the court at once demanded the draft; the sovereign said, "[14] I never tire of savoring Yao Cha's essays—he is truly a master of the craft."
34
徐陵名高一代，每見察製述，尤所推重。 嘗謂子儉曰：「姚學士德學無前，汝可師之也。」 尚書令江總與察尤篤厚善，每有制作，必先以簡察，然後施用。 總為詹事時，嘗製登宮城五百字詩，當時副君及徐陵以下諸名賢並同此作。 徐公後謂江曰：「我所和弟五十韻，寄弟集內。」 及江編次文章，無復察所和本，述徐此意，謂察曰：「高才碩學，庶光拙文，今須公所和五百字，用偶徐侯章也。」 察謙遜未付，江曰：「若不得公此制，僕詩亦須棄本，復乖徐公所寄，豈得見令兩失。」 察不獲已，乃寫本付之。 為通人推挹，例皆如此。
Xu Ling's name stood at the height of his age; whenever he saw Cha's compositions he prized them especially. He once told his son Jian, "Academician Yao's virtue and learning have no precedent—you should take him as your teacher." Jiang Zong, director of the masters of writing, was especially close to Cha; whenever he wrote something he first sent it to Cha, then published it. When Zong was junior mentor he wrote a five-hundred-character poem on climbing the palace wall; the heir apparent, Xu Ling, and other famous scholars all wrote matching pieces. Xu later told Jiang, "My fifty-rhyme response to my younger brother is in my brother's collection." When Jiang edited his writings he could not find Cha's matching poem; repeating Xu's request, he told Cha, "With your great talent you might glorify my poor piece; I need your five hundred characters to pair with Master Xu's chapter." Cha modestly withheld it; Jiang said, "Without your piece I must discard my poem too and again fail what Master Xu entrusted—how can both be lost?" Unable to refuse further, Cha copied out the piece and gave it to him. Esteemed by men of discernment—every case was like this.
35
所著漢書訓纂三十卷，說林十卷，西聘、玉璽、建康三鍾等記各一卷，悉窮該博，并文集二十卷，並行於世。 察所撰梁、陳史雖未畢功，隋文帝開皇之時，遣內史舍人虞世基索本，且進上，今在內殿。 梁、陳二史本多是察之所撰，其中序論及紀、傳有所闕者，臨亡之時，仍以體例誡約子思廉，博訪撰續，思廉泣涕奉行。 思廉在陳為衡陽王府法曹參軍，轉會稽王主簿。 入隋，補漢王府行參軍，掌記室，尋除河間郡司法。 大業初，內史侍郎虞世基奏思廉踵成梁、陳二代史，自爾以來，稍就補續。
He wrote Exegesis and Digest of the Han History in thirty scrolls, Forest of Discourses in ten scrolls, and one scroll each on the western embassy, the jade seal, and the three bells of Jiankang—all exhaustively learned—plus collected works in twenty scrolls, all in circulation. Though Cha's Liang and Chen histories were unfinished, in Sui Wendi's Kaihuang era the court sent secretariat aide Yu Shiji to demand the draft and receive it; it is now in the inner palace. The Liang and Chen histories were mostly Cha's work; prefaces, discussions, annals, and biographies still had gaps. On his deathbed he charged his son Sijian with the format and rules to seek sources and continue the work; Sijian wept and obeyed. In Chen, Sijian was recorder in the Hengyang prince's household, then registrar to the prince of Kuaiji. Entering Sui he became staff aide to the prince of Han and director of the secretariat office, then judicial administrator of Hejian commandery. At the opening of Daye, secretariat vice director Yu Shiji memorialized that Sijian should follow and complete the Liang and Chen histories; from then the work was gradually supplemented.
36
【評】
Appraisal
37
史臣曰：江總持清標簡貴，加潤以辭采，及師長六官，雅允朝望。 史臣先臣稟茲令德，〔一五〕光斯百行，可以厲風俗，可以厚人倫。 至於九流、七略之書，名山石室之記，汲郡、孔堂之書，玉箱金板之文，莫不窮研旨奧，遍探坎井，故道冠人師，搢紳以為準的。 既歷職貴顯，國典朝章，古今疑議，後主皆取先臣斷決焉。
The historiographer says: Jiang Zong bore a clear emblem, simple and noble, adorned with literary grace; when he headed the six ministries he fully matched what the court hoped for. The historiographer's late father possessed these fine virtues [15] and lit up every side of conduct—he could reform custom and thicken human relations. Books of the nine streams and seven summaries, records from famous mountains and stone chambers, texts from the Ji cache and Kong hall, writings on jade cases and gold boards—none escaped deep study or full probing; he led the way as a teacher of men, and the gentry took him as their standard. After he rose to lofty posts, on state canons, court regulations, and ancient and modern doubtful points Houzhu always took my late father's judgment.
38
校勘記
Collation notes
39
〔一〕舅吳平光侯蕭勱「勱」梁書蕭景傳、南史吳平侯景傳並作「勵」，南史江總傳又作「勱」。 按桂馥說文解字義證云「勱」字或作「勵」。
On "uncle Marquis of Pingguang Wu Xiao Mo": the Book of Liang biography of Xiao Jing and the Southern History biography of Marquis of Wu Pingguang Jing read Li for Mo; the Southern History biography of Jiang Zong again reads Mo. Gui Fu's Exegesis of Meaning in the Shuowen says Mo may also be written Li.
40
〔二〕侯之王父晉護軍將軍 （彪） 〔虨〕按江虨晉書有傳，為江統之子，曾官護軍將軍，今據改。
[2] The marquis's great-grandfather, Jin protector-general of the army (Biao) On "[Biao]": Jiang Biao has a biography in the Jin History; he was Jiang Tong's son and once served as protector-general; now emended accordingly.
41
〔三〕鐫暴秦之 （在） 〔石〕字殿本考證云「在」字疑誤。 按此用秦始皇上會稽山，立石刻頌秦德事，「在」當作「石」，形近而訛。 文苑英華九七正作「石」，金陵局本已改為「石」，今從之。
[3] Carved on violent Qin's (at) On "[stone] character": the Hall edition suspects at is wrong. This refers to the First Emperor's ascent of Mount Kuaiji and a stone inscription praising Qin; at should be stone, a form-similar error. Wenyuan yinghua 97 reads stone; the Jinling edition already has stone; now followed.
42
〔四〕雨鳴林而脩颯「脩」字疑訛，傅增湘校文苑英華，據宋本改作「翛」。
On "rain makes the forest sing while wind whistles elegantly": elegant is probably corrupt; Fu Zengxiang collated Wenyuan yinghua and, following the Song edition, reads whistling.
43
〔五〕共陳暄孔範王 （瑗） 〔瑳〕等十餘人據南史及通鑑陳長城公至德二年改。
[5] With Chen Xuan, Kong Fan, Wang (Yuan) On "[Wang] and more than ten men": emended per the Southern History and Comprehensive Mirror, Chen Changcheng Gong Zhide year 2.
44
〔六〕父上開府僧 （坦） 〔垣〕按姚僧垣周書有傳，坦與垣形近而訛，今據改。 下同。
[6] Father Director-General of the Upper Secretariat Monk (Tan) On "[Yuan]": Yao Sengyuan has a biography in the Zhou History; tan and yuan are form-similar errors; now emended accordingly. The same below.
45
〔七〕將畢 （苦） 〔苫〕壤據南監本、殿本改。
[7] About to complete (ku) On "[ku] mourning shed": emended per the Southern Supervisory and Hall editions.
46
〔八〕乃神筆草詔殿本考證云「神」疑「伸」字之誤。 張森楷校勘記云：「古有伸紙，未聞伸筆，『神』字是。」 今按文學傳序有「神筆賞激」語，何之元傳亦有「神筆詔書」語，考證作者竟孰視無睹，淺妄甚矣。
On "then with divine brush he drafted the edict": the Hall edition suspects divine for extend the brush. Zhang Senkai's collation note says antiquity had extending the paper, not the brush—divine is correct. Present examination: the Literary Treatises sequence has divine brush reward, and He Zhiyuan's biography has divine brush edict; the verifier ignored both—shallow and reckless.
47
〔九〕察垂涕拜請曰臣東皋賤族「曰臣」二字原本墨丁，據各本補。
On "Cha wept and bowed, saying, I, eastern Gao low clan": said I were ink dots in the base text and are restored from other editions.
48
〔一０〕花綀一匹「綀」各本作「練」。 按下文云「吾所衣著，止是麻布蒲綀」，蒲綀對花綀而言，作「綀」是，南史正作「綀」。
On "one bolt of patterned silk": all editions read practice silk for silk. Below he says he wears only hemp cloth and rush silk; rush silk pairs with patterned silk, so silk is correct; the Southern History agrees.
49
〔一一〕察勵色驅出「勵」北監本、汲本、殿本作「厲」。 按勵厲通。
On "Cha sternly drove him out": the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions read fierce for stern. Stern and fierce are interchangeable.
50
〔一二〕求之於古「求之於」三字原本墨丁，據元龜一九二補。 按「求之於古」與下文「在於今世」適相配合，各本作「精當自古」，恐非。
On "seeking in antiquity": the three words were ink dots in the base text and are restored from Yuan Gui 192. Seeking in antiquity pairs with in the present age below; various editions read exquisite since antiquity, which is probably wrong.
51
〔一三〕且訪對甚詳明「甚詳明」三字原本墨丁，據各本補。
On "moreover his responses are very detailed and clear": the three words were ink dots in the base text and are restored from other editions.
52
〔一四〕上曰我于姚察文章「上」字、「于」字原本墨丁，據各本補。
On "the sovereign said, I toward Yao Cha's essays": sovereign and toward were ink dots in the base text and are restored from other editions.
53
〔一五〕史臣先臣稟茲令德「先」字下之「臣」字原本墨丁，據各本補。
On "the historiographer's late father received these fine virtues": below first, minister was an ink dot in the base text and is restored from other editions.