1
蔡邕字伯喈，陳留圉人也。 [1]六世祖勳，[2]好黃老，平帝時為郿令。 王莽初，授以厭戎連率。 [3]勳對印綬仰天歎曰：「吾策名漢室，死歸其正。 昔曾子不受季孫之賜，況可事二姓哉？ 」[4]遂攜將家屬，逃入深山，與鮑宣、卓茂等同不仕新室。 父稜，亦有清白行，謚曰貞定公。 [5]
Cai Yong, whose courtesy name was Bojie, came from Yu in Chenliu commandery. Six generations back, his forebear Cai Xun took to Huang–Lao teachings and, under Emperor Ping, served as magistrate of Mei. When Wang Mang first seized power, he appointed Xun to the post of “suppressing the Rong” frontier commander. Xun held the official seals, gazed skyward, and lamented, “My name is bound to the Han; if I die, I die in loyalty to the rightful house.” Even Zengzi refused largesse from the Jisun clan—how then could I serve two dynasties?” He then led his household into the mountains and, alongside Bao Xuan, Zhuo Mao, and the like, refused all office under Wang Mang’s Xin. His father Cai Ling was likewise known for spotless conduct and was posthumously enfeoffed as Marquis Zhending. The received edition inserts commentary marker five at this point in the narrative.
2
邕性篤孝，母常滯病三年，邕自非寒暑節變，未嘗解襟帶，不寢寐者七旬。 母卒，廬於頤側，動靜以禮。 有菟馴擾其室傍，又木生連理，遠近奇之，多往觀焉。 與叔父從弟同居，三世不分財，鄉黨高其義。 少博學，師事太傅胡廣。 好辭章、數術、天文，妙操音律。
Cai Yong was profoundly dutiful: his mother lay ill for three years, and except when the seasons turned he never undressed; for seventy days he went without proper sleep. After her death he kept vigil in a hut beside her grave, ordering every gesture by the rites. Tame rabbits haunted the eaves of his hut, and a paired-trunk tree sprang up beside it—neighbors marveled and came from afar to see. He lived under one roof with his uncle and a patrilateral cousin for three generations without splitting the family estate, and local society praised their solidarity. As a youth he read widely and studied under Grand Tutor Hu Guang. He cultivated belles-lettres, calendrical arts, astronomy, and mastered musical temperament to a rare degree.
3
桓帝時，中常侍徐璜、左悺等五侯擅恣，聞邕善鼓琴，遂白天子，勅陳留太守督促發遣。 邕不得已，行到偃師，稱疾而歸。 閒居翫古，不交當世。 感東方［朔］客難及楊雄、班固、崔駰之徒設疑以自通，[6]及斟酌羣言，韙其是而矯其非，[7]作《釋誨》以戒厲云爾。
Under Emperor Huan the eunuch favorites Xu Huang, Zuo Guan, and their fellow “Five Marquises” ran riot; learning of Cai Yong’s skill on the zither, they spoke to the throne, which ordered the Chenliu governor to bundle him off to court. Unable to refuse outright, he set out but halted at Yanshi, pleaded illness, and turned home. In retirement he immersed himself in antiquity and shunned the circles of power. Taking his cue from Dongfang Shuo’s “Guest’s Difficulty” and the rhetorical self-examinations of Yang Xiong, Ban Gu, Cui Yin, and others, he sifted competing voices, endorsed the true and redressed the false, and wrote his “Dispelling Admonition” as a cautionary mirror.
4
有務世公子誨於華顛胡老曰：[8]「蓋聞聖人之大寶曰位，故以仁守位，以財聚人。 [9]然則有位斯貴，有財斯富，行義達道，士之司也。 故伊摯有負鼎之衒，仲尼設執鞭之言，[10]寧子有清商之歌，百里有豢牛之事。 [11]夫如是，則聖哲之通趣，古人之明志也。 夫子生清穆之世，稟醇和之靈，覃思典籍，韞櫝六經，安貧樂賤，與世無營，沉精重淵，抗志高冥，包括無外，綜析無形，其已久矣。 曾不能拔萃出羣，揚芳飛文，[12]登天庭，序彝倫，埽六合之穢慝，清宇宙之埃塵，連光芒於白日，屬炎氣於景雲。 [13]時逝歲暮，默而無聞。 小子惑焉，是以有雲。 方今聖上寬明，輔弼賢知，崇英逸偉，不墜於地，德弘者建宰相而裂土，才羨者荷榮祿而蒙賜。 [14]盍亦回塗要至，俛仰取容，[15]輯當世之利，定不拔之功，榮家宗於此時，遺不滅之令蹤？ [16]夫獨未之思邪，何為守彼而不通此？ 」[17]
A worldly-minded young lord buttonholed a white-haired elder by Mount Hua: “They say the sage’s chief treasure is high station—hence benevolence secures the throne and wealth wins men to your side.” So rank brings honor, riches bring opulence, and it is the scholar’s office to live out moral principle and reach the Way.” Think of Yi Yin hawking his skill with a stew-pot on his back, Confucius speaking of taking the reins, Ning Qi singing his “Clear Shang,” or Baili Xi tending someone else’s oxen— —all trod the open road of the wise and showed how the ancients made their purpose plain.” You, sir, were born into a lucid, peaceful age, endowed with a mellow nature; you steep yourself in the canon, clasp the Six Classics to your heart, rejoice in obscurity, shun ambition, hide your spirit in the deeps and your will in the heights, embrace the boundless and parse the formless—so you have long been thus.” Yet you never rose head and shoulders above the throng, let your prose take wing, mount the celestial court, array the cosmic order, scour the realm’s corruption, rinse the world’s grime, or blaze with the noon sun and ride the billowing omens.” The years slip by in silence, and still no name is heard.” Your disciple is puzzled—hence these questions.” Today the sovereign is open-handed and clear-sighted, his ministers wise; he lifts the exceptional so none are left in the dust—men of great virtue become chancellors with fiefs, men of overflowing talent carry rank, salary, and largesse.” Why not bend your course toward power, bob and weave for acceptance, reap the moment’s advantages, secure an immovable achievement, ennoble your house now, and stamp an imperishable trail on the age?” Have you never weighed this? Why cling to one path and refuse the other?” Close of the gentleman’s speech; note [17].
5
胡老慠然而笑曰：「若公子，所謂鶯曖昧之利，而忘昭晢之害； 專必成之功，而忽蹉跌之敗者已。 」公子謖爾斂袂而興曰：「胡為其然也？ 」[18]胡老曰：「居，吾將釋汝。 [19]昔自太極，君臣始基，[20]有羲皇之洪寧，唐虞之至時。 [21]三代之隆，亦有緝熙，五伯扶微，勤而撫之。 於斯已降，天網縱，人紘弛，王塗壞，太極氿，[22]君臣土崩，上下瓦解。 [23]於是智者騁詐，辯者馳說，武夫奮略，戰士講銳。 [24]電駭風馳，霧散雲披，變詐乖詭，以合時宜。 或畫一策而綰萬金，或談崇朝而錫瑞珪。 [25]連衡者六印磊落，合從者駢組流離。 [26]隆貴翕習，積富無崖，據巧蹈機，以忘其危。 夫華離蔕而萎，條去幹而枯，女冶容而淫，士背道而辜。 人毀其滿，神疾其邪，利端始萌，害漸亦牙。 速速方轂，夭夭是加，[27]欲豐其屋，乃蔀其家。 [28]是故天地否閉，聖哲潛形，[29]石門守晨，沮、溺耦耕，[30]顏歜抱璞，蘧瑗保生，[31]齊人歸樂，孔子斯征，雍渠驂乘，逝而遺輕。 [32]夫豈慠主而背國乎？ 道不可以傾也。
The elder gave a cool smile: “Yours is the blindness of men who chase twilight’s petty gain and forget how dawn exposes the danger.” You bank on sure triumph and ignore the stumble that follows.” The young man straightened, gathered his sleeves, and rose: “How can that be?” The elder said, “Sit; I shall set you straight.” “Long ago, when the Grand Ultimate first divided, sovereign and minister took their stand: there were the vast calm of the sage-kings Fuxi and the golden reigns of Yao and Shun.” The Three Dynasties too knew brilliant order; the Five Hegemons steadied a failing house and nursed it back toward stability.” Afterward heaven’s mesh hung slack, human bonds frayed, the royal road crumbled, and the cosmic pivot rocked—rulers and ministers fell apart like clods, high and low flew to pieces like smashed tiles.” Then the clever schemed at speed, orators raced with tongues, generals brandished stratagems, soldiers whetted steel.” They flashed like lightning, swept like wind, scattered like mist—shifting, deceitful, bizarre—to catch each turning tide.” One stratagem could win a fortune of gold; one morning’s counsel could earn a jade tally of enfeoffment.” Horizontal-alliance men jingled six minister seals; vertical-alliance men trailed paired cord insignia.” The mighty thronged thick as gnats, wealth towered without limit; riding guile and seizing the moment, they forgot how close ruin lay.” A blossom parted from its stem withers; a branch severed from the trunk dries; a woman who paints seduction invites lust; a gentleman who abandons the Way courts blame.” Men tear down the overfull; spirits despise the crooked; the first shoot of gain is already the tooth-marks of harm.” The chariots race hub to hub while heaven heaps woe upon them—they would roof great halls yet only hood their kin in gloom.” So heaven and earth clenched shut, sages went to ground: the hermit of Stone Gate watched for dawn, Chang Ju and Jie Ni yoked their plows together, Yan He clutched his uncarved jade, Qu Boyu guarded his integrity, the Qi musician sent back his salary and Confucius took the road, and when the dwarf Yongyu rode as outrider Confucius fled, casting off frivolous company.” Surely that was not disdain for the ruler or treason to the state?” The Way simply cannot be bent to convenience.”
6
「且我聞之，日南至則黃鐘應，融風動而魚上冰，蕤賓統則微陰萌，蒹葭蒼而白露凝。 [33]寒暑相推，陰陽代興，運極則化，理亂相承。 今大漢紹陶唐之洪烈，蕩四海之殘災，隆隱天之高，拆絚地之基。 [34]皇道惟融，帝猷顯丕，汦汦庶類，含甘吮滋。 [35]檢六合之羣品，濟之乎雍熙，羣僚恭己於職司，聖主垂拱乎兩楹。 君臣穆穆，守之以平，濟濟多士，端委縉綎，[36]鴻漸盈階，振鷺充庭。 [37]譬猶鐘山之玉，泗濱之石，累珪璧不為之盈， （探） ［采］浮磬不為之索。 [38]曩者，洪源辟而四隩集，武功定而干戈戢，獫狁攘而吉甫宴，城濮捷而晉凱入。 [39]故當其有事也，則蓑笠並載，擐甲揚鋒，不給於務； [40]當其無事也，則舒紳緩佩，鳴玉以步，綽有餘裕。
“I have heard that at midwinter the Yellow Bell answers in the pipes; when the warm wind stirs, fish ride the thawing floes; under the Ruibin note yin first stirs; when the reeds whiten, dew turns to frost.” Heat and cold chase one another, yin and yang hand off the seasons; the cycle’s extreme brings change, order and chaos take turns.” Great Han now prolongs the work of Yao and Shun, scours catastrophe from the seas, lifts the veiled heavens, and stretches the net of earth anew.” The royal way runs smooth, the sovereign’s design shines clear, the myriad kinds swarm in peace, every mouth tastes sweetness.” He surveys the six directions’ creatures and steers them toward radiance; ministers stand reverent at their posts; the sage folds his hands on the dais.” Throne and court move in grave harmony, guarding the realm in calm; ranks of officials in sashes and ribbons stand like geese on the stairs, like egrets on the court.” It is like the jade of Bell Mountain or the sounding-stones of Si’s shore—heap all the bi you like, you will not fill their store.” The manuscript gives the character 「探」 (“to probe”). Even were you to dredge every floating chime-stone from the river, you would not drain that inexhaustible supply.” Think of old days when the floodgates opened and the corners of the realm flocked in, when arms were laid down after conquest, when Jifu feasted after the Xianyun were routed, when Jin sang its triumph after Chengpu.” In time of trouble coir cap and bamboo hat shared one cart, mail clanged and blades flashed, yet still the work outran the men.” In time of peace sashes hung loose, jade pendants chimed with each step, and ease overflowed every hour.”
7
「夫世臣、門子，𣊓御之族，[41]天隆其祜，主豐其祿。 抱膺從容，爵位自從，攝須理髯，餘官委貴。 其取進也，順傾轉圓，不足以喻其便； 逡巡放屣，不足以況其易。 夫有逸羣之才，人人有優贍之智。 童子不問疑於老成，瞳蒙不稽謀于先生。 心恬澹於守高，意無為於持盈。 [42]粲乎煌煌，莫非華榮。 明哲泊焉，不失所寧。 [43]狂淫振蕩，乃亂其情。 貪夫殉財，夸者死權。 [44]瞻仰此事，體躁心煩。 闇謙盈之効，迷損益之數。 [45]騁駑駘於修路，慕騏驥而增驅，卑俯乎外戚之門，乞助乎近貴之譽。 榮顯未副，從而顛踣，[46]下獲熏胥之辜，高受滅家之誅。 [47]前車已覆，襲軌而騖，曾不鑒禍，以知畏懼。 予惟悼哉，害其若是！ [48]天高地厚，局而蹐之。 [49]怨豈在明，患生不思。 戰戰兢兢，必慎厥尤。
“Hereditary grandees and sons of great gates—chariot clans heaven favors and the throne enriches.” They fold their arms at ease while titles fall into their laps; they comb beard and whiskers while fat posts go to favorites.” Their rise is smoother than a ball spun downhill.” They slip into place easier than kicking off a slipper.” Yet when a man outruns the herd, everyone suddenly claims overflowing wit.” Lads no longer defer to elders; the half-blind no longer seek counsel from teachers.” Hearts rest smug on “high principle”; minds pretend to effortless sufficiency.” All is blaze and glitter—who is not glorious?” The sober float in calm and think themselves secure.” The reckless ride the surge and call it passion.” Misers perish chasing gold; braggarts perish clutching power.” Look up at that race—bodies twitch, hearts burn.” They shut their eyes to humility’s lesson and muddle loss and gain.” They drive sorry nags on the highway, envy thoroughbreds and flog harder, crawl to consorts’ kin, and beg a nod from the powerful.” Honor never matches the boast—then comes the fall: low men burn in mass punishment, great houses die to the root.” The lead cart has already crashed, yet they chase the same rut, blind to peril.” I mourn that harm must look like this!” Heaven towers, earth spreads wide—yet they skulk bent double, mincing each step.” Resentment does not wait to show itself; disaster breeds where no one thinks ahead.” Tremble with care—guard every fault as a spark.”
8
「且用之則行，聖訓也； 捨之則藏，至順也。 [50]夫九河盈溢，非一𠙽所防； [51]帶甲百萬，非一勇所抗。 [52]今子責匹夫以清宇宙，庸可以水旱而累堯、湯乎？ 懼煙炎之毀熸，何光芒之敢揚哉！ [53]且夫地將震而樞星直，井無景則日陰食，[54]元首寬則望舒朓，侯王肅則月側匿。 [55]是以君子推微達著，尋端見緒，履霜知冰，踐露知暑。 時行則行，時止則止，消息盈珍，取諸天紀。 [56]利用遭泰，可與處否，樂天知命，持神任己。 羣車方奔乎險路，安能與之齊軌？ 思危難而自豫，故在賤而不恥。 方將騁馳乎典籍之崇塗，休息乎仁義之淵藪，[57]盤旋乎周、孔之庭宇，揖儒、墨而與為友。 舒之足以光四表，收之則莫能知其所有。 若乃丁千載之運，應神靈之符，闓閶闔，乘天衢，擁華蓋而奉皇樞，[58]納玄策於聖德，宣太平於中區。 計合謀從，己之圖也； 勳績不立，予之辜也。
“The Master said, “When employed, then act”—that is the sage’s word.” “When set aside, then hide”—that is perfect accord with fate.” Nine rivers in flood are not stopped by one basket of silt.” A million armored men are not held by one champion’s nerve.” You ask one lone scholar to cleanse the cosmos—do you fault Yao and Tang for flood and drought?” Fearing smoke will snuff the torch, who dares brag of his gleam?” When earth shudders, the Pole Star stands rigid; when the well casts no shadow, the sun is eclipsed; when the ruler grows lax, the late moon jumps ahead; when lords turn harsh, the moon shrinks aside.” So the gentleman reads small signs to foretell great ones, traces a single thread to the whole fabric, knows ice when his feet touch frost, knows scorch when dew wets his shoe.” Move when the season calls, halt when it ends; growth and decay, fullness and emptiness—he takes his cue from heaven’s tally.” Use the propitious and you may abide even in blockage; rejoice in heaven and know fate, keep spirit whole and trust yourself.” The mob thunders down a cliff road—why match wheel-tracks with theirs?” Foreseeing peril, he takes his own precautions—hence he keeps low station without shame.” He will gallop the high road of the classics, rest in the marsh of benevolence and right, circle the courts of the Duke of Zhou and Confucius, and take Confucians and Mohists alike as companions.” Let it out and it lights the four seas; reel it in and none can plumb his store.” Should the thousand-year luck arrive, the spirit-tally answer, the Changhe gates swing wide, the chariot mount the sky-lane, the flowery canopy bear the polestar, dark plans be offered to sage virtue, and great peace roll through the heartland— —if schemes align, that is his own design.” If no deed is carved in history, the fault is his alone.”
9
龜鳳山翳，霧露不除，踴躍草萊，祗見其愚。 不我知者，將謂之迂。 [59]修業思真，棄此焉如？ 靜以俟命，不斁不渝。 [60]『百歲之後，歸乎其居。 』[61]幸其獲稱，天所誘也。 [62]罕漫而已，非己咎也。 [63]昔伯翳綜聲於鳥語，葛盧辯音於鳴牛，董父受氏於豢龍，奚仲供德於衡輈，[64]倕氏興政於巧工，造父登御於驊騮，非子享土於善圉，狼瞫取右於禽囚，[65]弓父畢精於筋角，佽非明勇於赴流，壽王創基於格五，東方要幸於談優，[66]上官効力於執蓋，弘羊據相於運籌。 僕不能參跡於若人，故抱璞而優遊。 」[67]
Tortoise and phoenix hide in the hills; mist never lifts; capering in the scrub only advertises folly.” Those who do not know me will call me a pedant.” To polish one’s calling and seek the true—what better use of life is there?” He waits in stillness on heaven’s mandate, constant and untiring. As the ode says, “When my hundred years are done, I shall go home to my abode.” If he earns a good name, heaven itself has beckoned him to it.” They may call him obscure—still, the fault is not his.” Think of Boyi who caught tunes in birdsong, Gelu who read meaning in a bull’s bellow, Dongfu who earned his name tending dragons, Xizhong who gave the world sound axles, the craftsmen’s line that built the state’s tools, Zaofu who drove the king’s bays, Feizi who won Qin’s pastures, Langshen who rose from the hunt-line, Gongfu who bent bow-horn to perfection, Ci Fei who died in the rapids, Shouwang who made a name at dice, Dongfang Shuo who jested his way to favor, the canopy-bearer who served at court, Sang Hongyang who ruled the abacus— —I cannot match their footprints, so I keep my jade un-carved and wander free.” End of the elder’s reply; the text marks commentary note sixty-seven.
10
於是公子仰首降階，忸怩而避。 [68]胡老乃揚衡含笑，援琴而歌。 [69]歌曰：「練余心兮浸太清，滌穢濁兮存正靈。 和液暢兮神氣寧，情志泊兮心亭亭，嗜欲息兮無由生。 踔宇宙而遺俗兮，眇翩翩而獨征。 」[70]
The young lord lifted his eyes, stepped down abashed, and slipped away. The white-haired elder lifted his chariot-bar, smiled, and struck up a song on the zither. He sang, “I steep my heart in the clearest ether, rinse the mire from my soul and keep the true daemon bright.” The vital humors run smooth, breath and spirit grow calm, passion subsides, and desire finds no foothold.” He vaults past the cosmos, casts off the common world, and drifts alone on a solitary flight.” Close of the song; commentary marker seventy.
11
建寧三年，辟司徒橋玄府，玄甚敬待之。 出補河平長。 召拜郎中，校書東觀。
In 170 CE he entered the staff of Minister over the Masses Qiao Xuan, who honored him warmly. He was then posted as county magistrate of Heping. The court recalled him as a palace gentleman to collate texts in the Eastern Pavilion library.
12
遷議郎。 邕以經籍去聖久遠，文字多謬，俗儒穿鑿，疑誤後學，熹平四年，乃與五官中郎將堂溪典、光祿大夫楊賜、諫議大夫馬日磾、議郎張馴、韓說、太史令單揚等，[71]奏求正定六經文字。 靈帝許之，邕乃自書 （冊） ［丹］於碑，使工鐫刻立於太學門外。 [72]於是後儒晚學，咸取正焉。 及碑始立，其觀視及摹寫者，車乘日千餘兩，填塞街陌。
He rose to the rank of consultant (yilang). Cai Yong believed the classics had drifted far from the sages and the graphs were riddled with copyists’ blunders, while pedants tortured the text and led students astray. In 175 CE he joined Tangxi Dian, Yang Ci, Ma Midi, Zhang Xun, Han Shuo, Astrologer Shan Yang, and others in a memorial asking the throne to establish an authoritative recension of the Six Classics. Emperor Ling approved, and Cai Yong set brush to The source variant reads 「冊」 (“bamboo document”). —vermilion—on the stone, had artisans carve the text, and set the steles outside the Academy gate. Scholars thereafter copied and collated against those stones as their standard. On the day the steles rose, over a thousand carriages a day clogged the roads with viewers and rubbers.
13
初，朝議以州郡相黨，人情比周，乃制婚姻之家及兩州人士不得對相監臨。 至是復有三互法，[73]禁忌轉密，選用艱難。 幽冀二州，久缺不補。 邕上疏曰：「伏見幽、冀舊壤，鎧馬所出，[74]比年兵饑，漸至空耗。 今者百姓虛縣，萬里蕭條，[75]闕職經時，吏人延屬，而三府選舉，踰月不定。 臣經怪其事，而論者云『避三互』。 十一州有禁，當取二州而已。 又二州之士，或復限以歲月，狐疑遲淹，以失事會。 愚以為三互之禁，禁之薄者，今但申以威靈，明其憲令，在任之人豈不戒懼，而當坐設三互，自生留閡邪？ 昔韓安國起自徒中，朱買臣出於幽賤，並以才宜，還守本邦。 [76]又張敞亡命，擢授劇州。 豈復顧循三互，繼以末制乎？ [77]三公明知二州之要，所宜速定，當越禁取能，以救時敝； 而不顧爭臣之義，苟避輕微之科，選用稽滯，以失其人。 臣願陛下上則先帝，蠲除近禁，其諸州刺史器用可換者，無拘日月三互，以差厥中。 」書奏不省。
Earlier the court, fearing provincial cliques, had barred officials whose families intermarried or who hailed from paired provinces from overseeing each other’s jurisdictions. Now the “three mutuals” rule layered new restrictions, taboos multiplied, and filling posts turned arduous. Youzhou and Jizhou stood vacant for lack of qualified appointees. Cai Yong wrote, “Your servant sees that You and Ji are ancient lands that bred the realm’s war-horses; years of campaign and dearth have bled them white.” The people are gutted, the landscape bleak for a thousand miles; posts gape unfilled while clerks and commoners watch the sky, yet the Three Dukes’ nominations crawl on without end.” I have puzzled over this until I am told, “We must dodge the three-mutual rule.” The ban touches eleven provinces, yet only these two lack governors.” Even candidates from the two regions are hobbled by term limits, dither until the moment passes, and lose the right man.” The three-mutual bar is a light cord: proclaim awe-inspiring law and who in office would dare trifle with it? Must you manufacture deadlock by piling rule on rule?” Han Anguo climbed from the corvée gangs, Zhu Maichen from poverty—both proved able and were sent home as governors.” Zhang Chang fled a death sentence yet was raised to rule a turbulent border province.” Did they fuss over mutual avoidance or petty late statutes?” The Three Dukes know You and Ji must be staffed at once; they should override the taboo and pick talent to heal the moment’s wounds— —yet they shirk remonstrance, hide behind minor clauses, and let appointments rot until the realm loses its men.” I beg Your Majesty, following the earlier emperors, to lift these recent bans and, where a governor’s abilities fit another post, not to cage him in mutual taboos—strike the balance the times need.” The memorial went up and drew no response.”
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初，帝好學，自造皇羲篇五十章，因引諸生能為文賦者。 本頗以經學相招，後諸為尺牘及工書鳥篆者，皆加引召，遂至數十人。 [78]侍中祭酒樂松、賈護，多引無行趣埶之徒，並待制鴻都門下，憙陳方俗閭里小事，帝甚悅之，待以不次之位。
Emperor Ling had loved letters; he penned fifty chapters of the “Sovereign Fu-xi” work and called in literati who could compose fu. At first he favored classicists, but soon anyone skilled at brush letters or bird-script seal calligraphy won a summons, until dozens lounged at court. Attendants Yue Song and Jia Hu, as libationers, stuffed the Hongdu Gate with place-seekers of no character who peddled alley gossip that delighted the throne and won them irregular promotion.
15
又市賈小民，為宣陵孝子者，複數十人，悉除為郎中、太子舍人。 時頻有雷霆疾風，傷樹拔木，地震、隕雹、蝗蟲之害。 又鮮卑犯境，役賦及民。 六年七月，制書引咎，誥羣臣各陳政要所當施行。 邕上封事曰：
Dozens of market hucksters who claimed mourning merit at Emperor Huan’s mausoleum were en masse made gentlemen or heir-apparent attendants. Thunder and gales tore the groves, earthquakes, hailstorms, and locusts followed one another. Xianbei horsemen struck the border while levies and labor pressed the people. In the seventh month of 183 CE an autograph edict owned fault and bade every minister list reforms worth enacting. Cai Yong answered with a sealed memorial:
16
臣伏讀聖旨，雖周成遇風，訊諸執事，宣王遭旱，密勿祗畏，無以或加。 [79]臣聞天降災異，緣象而至。 辟歷數發，[80]殆刑誅繁多之所生也。 風者天之號令，所以教人也。 [81]夫昭事上帝，則自懷多福； [82]宗廟致敬，則鬼神以著。
I have knelt over Your Majesty’s words: even King Cheng’s wind-omen inquest and King Xuan’s drought awe were not more earnest. Heaven’s portents arrive bearing emblems of the fault they reprove.” Repeated thunder means the realm is drowning in executions.” Wind is heaven’s proclamation, its way of teaching the world.” Serve the High God with clarity and blessing gathers of itself.” Offer the utmost in the temple, and the spirits show their presence.”
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國之大事，實先祀典，[83]天子聖躬所當恭事。 臣自在宰府，及備朱衣，[84]迎氣五郊，而車駕稀出，四時至敬，[85]屢委有司，雖有解除，猶為疎廢。 [86]故皇天不悅，顯此諸異。 鴻範傳曰：「政悖德隱，厥風發屋折木。 」坤為地道，易稱安貞。 [87]陰氣憤盛，則當靜反動，法為下叛。 夫權不在上，則雹傷物； 政有苛暴，則虎狼食人； 貪利傷民，則蝗蟲損稼。 去六月二十八日，太白與月相迫，兵事惡之。 鮮卑犯塞，所從來遠，今之出師，未見其利。 上違天文，下逆人事。 誠當博覽眾議，從其安者。 臣不勝憤滿，謹條宜所施行七事表左：[88]
The state’s first business is sacrifice—work the sovereign’s own body must reverently perform.” Since I served in the ministries in crimson court dress, the five suburban welcomings of seasonal qi have seldom seen the imperial chariot; the great seasonal rites are dumped on clerks, and even when exceptions are granted, worship grows slack.” So High Heaven is displeased and flashes these warnings.” The Hong fan tradition says, “When policy runs crooked and virtue hides, wind rips roofs and snaps trees.” The Kun trigram is earth’s way; the Classic of Changes praises steadfast correctness.” When yin swells past measure, stillness buckles into motion—the omen of revolt below.” When authority slips from the throne, hail smashes the crops.” When rule turns cruel, tigers and wolves prey on men.” When greed devours the people, locusts strip the fields.” Last year’s sixth-month twenty-eighth saw Venus crowd the moon—a dire sign for arms.” The Xianbei raid from afar; this expedition promises no gain.” It offends both heaven’s pattern and human sense.” You should canvass every counsel and take the course that brings peace.” Burning with concern, I set out seven measures at left.”
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一事：明堂月令，天子以四立及季夏之節，迎五帝於郊，[89]所以導致神氣，祈福豐年。 清廟祭祀，追往孝敬，養老辟雍，示人禮化，皆帝者之大業，祖宗所祗奉也。 而有司數以蕃國疎喪，宮內產生，及吏卒小污，屢生忌故。 [90]竊見南郊齋戒，未嘗有廢，至於它祀，輒興異議。 豈南郊卑而它祀尊哉？ 孝元皇帝策書曰：「禮之至敬，莫重於祭，所以竭心親奉，以致肅祗者也。 」又元和故事，復申先典。 [91]前後制書，推心懇惻。 而近者以來，更任太史。 忘禮敬之大，任禁忌之書，拘信小故，以虧大典。 禮，妻妾產者，齋則不入側室之門，無廢祭之文也。 [92]所謂宮中有卒，三月不祭者，謂士庶人數堵之室，共處其中耳，[93]豈謂皇居之曠，臣妾之眾哉？ 自今齋制宜如故典，庶答風霆災妖之異。
First: under the Bright Hall monthly ordinance the ruler greets the Five Thearchs at the four seasonal hinges and midsummer to channel cosmic breath and pray for harvest. Ancestral rites honor the past; elder care in the circular hall teaches the realm—the emperor’s great tasks, what former kings cherished. Yet clerks cite princes’ distant funerals, palace births, or petty defilement among guards and cancel rites again and again. Southern-suburb fasts are never dropped, yet every other cult sparks wrangling— —as if the southern altar were mean and lesser shrines exalted?” Emperor Yuan’s rescript said, “Nothing in ritual tops sacrifice; the sovereign must pour out his heart in person to show awe.” The Yuanhe precedents repeated the same canon.” Edicts before and after have pleaded in the same earnest vein.” Lately the court has handed cult to the grand astrologer instead.” They forget the grandeur of worship and trust almanac taboos, letting trifles mutilate the great code.” Ritual says a faster may not enter a birthing concubine’s side chamber—it never says to cancel the offering.” The “three-month halt after a palace death” applies to commoners crammed in a hovel, not to the broad palace and its throng of ladies.” Let fasting follow the ancient rule and so answer these gales and portents.”
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二事：臣聞國之將興，至言數聞，內知己政，外見民情。 是故先帝雖有聖明之姿，而猶廣求得失。 又因災異，援引幽隱，重賢良、方正、敦樸、有道之選，危言極諫，不絕於朝。 陛下親政以來，頻年災異，而未聞特舉博選之旨。 誠當思省述修舊事，使抱忠之臣展其狂直，以解易傳「政悖德隱」之言。
Second: a rising state hears good counsel often—within, it knows its rule; without, it reads the people’s heart. Even sage founders still hunted for every fault and merit. They used omens to dredge up hidden talent, elevated the worthy and outspoken, and never tired of blunt counsel at court. Under Your personal rule disasters stack year on year, yet no special call seeks wide counsel. You should revive the old ways so loyal ministers can speak plain truth and quiet the Changes’ warning of “crooked rule and hidden virtue.”
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三事：夫求賢之道，未必一塗，或以德顯，或以言揚。 頃者，立朝之士，曾不以忠信見賞，恆被謗訕之誅，遂使羣下結口，莫圖正辭。 郎中張文，前獨盡狂言，聖聽納受，以責三司。 臣子曠然，眾庶解悅。 [94]臣愚以為宜擢文右職，以勸忠謇，[95]宣聲海內，博開政路。
Third: talent may show in character or in eloquence—there is more than one road to find it. Lately courtiers win no reward for loyalty yet face death on rumor—so everyone seals his lips. Only Zhang Wen of the palace spoke recklessly; Your Majesty heard him and called the Three Dukes to account. Officials woke with a start; the common folk breathed easier. I urge you to raise Zhang Wen to a senior post to reward blunt loyalty and broadcast reform across the realm.”
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四事：夫司隸校尉、諸州刺史，所以督察姦枉，分別白黑者也。 伏見幽州刺史楊憙、益州刺史龐芝、涼州刺史劉虔，各有奉公疾姦之心，憙等所糾，其効尤多。 餘皆枉橈，不能稱職。 或有抱罪懷瑕，與下同疾，綱網弛縱，莫相舉察，公府台閣亦復默然。 五年制書，議遣八使，又令三公謠言奏事。 [96]是時奉公者欣然得志，邪枉者憂悸失色。 未詳斯議，所因寢息。 昔劉向奏曰：「夫執狐疑之計者，開羣枉之門； 養不斷之慮者，來讒邪之口。 」[97]今始聞善政，旋復變易，足令海內測度朝政。 宜追定八使，糾舉非法，更選忠清，平章賞罰。 [98]三公歲盡，差其殿最，使吏知奉公之福，營私之禍，則眾災之原庶可塞矣。
Fourth: the metropolitan commandant and provincial governors exist to separate straight from crooked. Yang Xi of You, Pang Zhi of Yi, and Liu Qian of Liang serve the public and strike at evil—their impeachments bite deepest. The rest twist law and fail their charge. Some are filthy themselves yet judge subordinates; the net hangs slack with no mutual impeachment; the high ministries stay mute. The fifth-year edict planned eight inspectors and ordered the Three Dukes to report popular ballads. Honest men rejoiced; crooks went pale with fear. No one knows why that policy was shelved. Liu Xiang warned, “Hesitation opens the door to every crook.” “Indecision invites every slanderer’s tongue.” Good policy is heard one day and scrapped the next—no wonder the empire second-guesses the court.” Reinstate the eight inspectors, expose lawlessness, pick honest men, and judge merit and fault with a clear scale. Let the Three Dukes rank their subordinates yearly so every clerk sees the reward of integrity and the ruin of graft—then the flood of omens may dry at its source.
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五事：臣聞古者取士，必使諸侯歲貢。 [99]孝武之世，郡舉孝廉，又有賢良、文學之選，於是名臣輩出，文武幷興。 漢之得人，數路而已。 [100]夫書畫辭賦，才之小者，匡國理政，未有其能。 陛下即位之初，先涉經術，聽政餘日，觀省篇章，聊以游意，當代博弈，非以教化取士之本。 而諸生競利，作者鼎沸。 其高者頗引經訓風喻之言； 下則連偶俗語，有類俳優； 或竊成文，虛冒名氏。 臣每受詔於盛化門，差次錄第，其未及者，亦復隨輩皆見拜擢。 既加之恩，難復收改，但守奉祿，於義已弘，不可復使理人及仕州郡。 昔孝宣會諸儒於石渠，章帝集學士於白虎，通經釋義，其事優大，文武之道，所宜從之。 若乃小能小善，雖有可觀，孔子以為「致遠則泥」，君子故當志其大者。 [101]
Fifth: antiquity drew talent through the lords’ annual tribute of worthies. Under Emperor Wu commanderies sent up the filial and incorrupt, the worthy, and the literate—hence a galaxy of ministers, civil and military alike. The Han filled its ranks through only a handful of channels. Brushwork, painting, and belles-lettres are minor skills—they do not make statesmen. When you first mounted the throne you steeped yourself in the classics and read for diversion, as men play weiqi—not as the foundation for choosing officials. Yet students scramble for profit and hacks boil over like a pot. The better sort quote scripture and moralize. The worse string doggerel like court buffoons. Some pawn stolen drafts under borrowed names. I have graded candidates at the Shenghua Gate and watched mediocrities promoted with the rest. Favor once granted cannot be clawed back; let them live on salary alone—they must never rule counties or provinces. Emperor Xuan debated the canon at Stone Canal; Emperor Zhang did the same at White Tiger—great enterprises the throne should imitate. Confucius warned that petty polish “mires you if you travel far”; a gentleman aims higher. The text marks commentary note [101] here.
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六事：墨綬長吏，職典理人，[102]皆當以惠利為績，日月為勞。 褒責之科，所宜分明。 而今在任無復能省，及其還者，多召拜議郎、郎中。 若器用優美，不宜處之冗散。 如有釁故，自當極其刑誅。 豈有伏罪懼考，反求遷轉，更相放効，臧否無章？ 先帝舊典，未嘗有此。 可皆斷絕，以核真偽。
Sixth: county magistrates govern flesh-and-blood subjects; their merit should be measured in benefit to the people and honest toil. Standards for praise and blame must be plain. Today magistrates are never judged while in post; on leaving they become consultants or gentlemen by default. If a man is truly able, do not park him in idle sinecures. If he is guilty, punish to the full extent of the law. How can men under indictment beg promotion while the court copies their bad example? The founding precedents never allowed such nonsense. Cut the practice off and separate the worthy from the fraud.
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七事：伏見前一切以宣陵孝子 （者） 為太子舍人。 臣聞孝文皇帝制喪服三十六日，雖繼體之君，父子至親，公卿列臣，受恩之重，皆屈情從制，不敢踰越。 今虛偽小人，本非骨肉，既無幸私之恩，又無祿仕之實，惻隱思慕，情何緣生？ 而羣聚山陵，假名稱孝，行不隱心，義無所依，至有姦軌之人，通容其中。 （恆） ［桓］思皇后祖載之時，[103]東郡有盜人妻者亡在孝中，本縣追捕，乃伏其辜。 虛偽雜穢，難得勝言。 又前至得拜，後輩被遺； 或經年陵次，以暫歸見漏； 或以人自代，亦蒙寵榮。 爭訟怨恨，凶凶道路。 太子官屬，宜搜選令德，豈有但取丘墓凶醜之人？ 其為不祥，莫與大焉。 宜遣歸田里，以明詐偽。
Seventh: I note that everyone lately styled a “filial mourner” at Emperor Huan’s mausoleum The manuscripts add the particle 「者」 (“those who”). They were appointed attendants to the heir apparent. Emperor Wen limited mourning to thirty-six days; even the heir and his ministers, deeply favored, obeyed and dared not exceed the term. These impostors share no kinship with the dead, hold no office—what real grief can they claim? They mob the tumulus, feign filial piety, and hide thieves in their midst. One manuscript reads 「恆」 instead of the empress’s dynastic name taboo. When Empress Dowager Huansi was carried to the mausoleum, a wife-thief from Dong commandery hid among the mourners; his county ran him down and he confessed. The fraud and filth are beyond counting. Early arrivals won posts while latecomers were cheated— —some kept vigil a year yet were dropped for a brief trip home— —some sent proxies and still took honors. Wrangles and lawsuits clog the roads. The heir’s staff should be men of proven virtue, not ghouls from a graveyard. Nothing could be more ill-omened. Send them home to the fields and expose the sham.
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書奏，帝乃親迎氣北郊，及行辟雍之禮。 又詔宣陵孝子為舍人者，悉改為丞尉焉。
The emperor read the memorial, then personally greeted the northern-suburb qi and held the circular-moat rite. He turned the bogus “filial sons” from Huan’s tomb from heir’s attendants into county sub-officials.
26
光和元年，遂置鴻都門學，畫孔子及七十二弟子像。 其諸生皆勅州郡三公舉用辟召，或出為刺史、太守，入為尚書、侍中，乃有封侯賜爵者，士君子皆恥與為列焉。
In 178 CE the Hongdu Academy opened, its walls painted with Confucius and seventy-two disciples. Its graduates rose to governors, ministers, even marquisates—while every serious scholar blushed to share a roster with them.
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時妖異數見，人相驚擾。 其年七月，詔召邕與光祿大夫楊賜、諫議大夫馬日磾、議郎張華、太史令單揚詣金商門，引入崇德殿，[104]使中常侍曹節、王甫就問災異及消改變故所宜施行。 邕悉心以對，事在 〈五行、天文志〉 。 [105]又特詔問曰：
Portents multiplied and the people frightened one another. In the seventh month the court summoned Cai Yong, Yang Ci, Ma Midi, Zhang Hua, and Shan Yang through the Golden Shang Gate into Chongde Hall, where eunuchs Cao Jie and Wang Fu grilled them on the omens and remedies. Cai Yong answered in full; the details stand in the treatises “Five Phases” and “Astronomy.” (Sentence boundary.) A further edict pressed him:
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「比災變互生，未知厥咎，朝廷焦心，載懷恐懼。 每訪羣公卿士，庶聞忠言，而各存括囊，莫肯盡心。 [106]以邕經學深奧，故密特稽問，宜披露失得，指陳政要，勿有依違，自生疑諱。 具對經術，以皁囊封上。 」[107]邕對曰：
“Calamities pile up; we cannot name their cause; the court burns with fear.” We ask ministers for counsel, yet each seals his lips like a tied purse.” Because your learning runs deep, we ask in confidence: lay out policy plain—no evasive tact.” Reply from the canon and seal your answer in the black satchel.” Cai Yong answered:
29
臣伏惟陛下聖德允明，深悼災咎，褒臣末學，特垂訪及，非臣螻蟻所能堪副。 斯誠輸寫肝膽出命之秋，豈可以顧患避害，使陛下不聞至戒哉！ 臣伏思諸異，皆亡國之怪也。 天於大漢，殷勤不已，故屢出祅變，以當譴責，欲令人君感悟，改危即安。 今災眚之發，不於它所，遠則門垣，近在寺署，其為監戒，可謂至切。 蜺墮雞化，皆婦人干政之所致也。 前者乳母趙嬈，貴重天下，[108]生則貲藏侔於天府，死則丘墓踰於園陵，兩子受封，兄弟典郡； 續以永樂門史霍玉，依阻城社，又為姦邪。 今者道路紛紛，復雲有程大人者，察其風聲，將為國患。 宜高為堤防，明設禁令，深惟趙、霍，以為至戒。 [109]今聖意勤勤，思明邪正。 而聞太尉張顥，為玉所進； 光祿勳姓璋，[110]有名貪濁； 又長水校尉趙玹、[111]屯騎校尉蓋升，並叨時幸，榮富優足。 宜念小人在位之咎，退思引身避賢之福。 [112]伏見廷尉郭禧，純厚老成； 光祿大夫橋玄，聰達方直； 故太尉劉寵，忠實守正：並宜為謀主，數見訪問。 夫宰相大臣，君之四體，[113]委任責成，優劣已分，不宜聽納小吏，雕琢大臣也。 [114]又尚方工技之作，鴻都篇賦之文，可且消息，以示惟憂。 詩云：『畏天之怒，不敢戲豫。 』天戒誠不可戲也。 宰府孝廉，士之高選。 近者以辟召不慎，切責三公，而今並以小文超取選舉，開請託之門，違明王之典，眾心不厭，莫之敢言。 [115]臣願陛下忍而絕之，思惟萬機，以荅天望。 聖朝既自約厲，左右近臣亦宜從化。 人自抑損，以塞咎戒，則天道虧滿，鬼神福謙矣。 臣以愚贛，感激忘身，敢觸忌諱，手書具對。 夫君臣不密，上有漏言之戒，下有失身之禍。 [116]願寢臣表，無使盡忠之吏，受怨姦仇。
Your servant kowtows: Your sage virtue grieves at heaven’s rebukes and stoops to ask a worm like me—more than I deserve. This is the hour to lay my life on the line—how dare I dodge peril and leave you unwarned? These portents are the monsters that attend a dying realm. Heaven still labors for Han: it heaps omens to wake the throne from peril toward peace. These signs strike not the frontiers but the palace gates and bureaus—heaven’s warning could not be closer. Fallen rainbows and hens turned crowing are women’s meddling in state affairs. Remember Nurse Zhao Rao, rich as the treasury, buried grander than an emperor, her sons enfeoffed, her kin ruling provinces— —then the Yongle gate clerk Huo Yu, clinging to court like a rat on the altar, worked fresh mischief. Now rumor names another “Lord Cheng”—listen to the buzz: he will be a national curse. Raise dikes against such power, publish strict bans, and take Zhao and Huo as your mirror. Your earnest will already sorts straight from crooked. Yet Grand Commandant Zhang Hao was Huo Yu’s protégé; the Grand Master of Splendid Carriage (the text records his surname with the character zhang meaning “jade tablet”) is notorious for graft; Colonels Zhao Xuan and Gai Sheng wallow in unearned fortune. Remember the peril of petty men in high seats and the peace of yielding to better men. Commandant of Justice Guo Xi is seasoned and upright; Grand Master Qiao Xuan is lucid and incorrupt; former Grand Commandant Liu Chong is steadfast—make these men your chief counselors. Ministers are the ruler’s four limbs; once charged, judge them squarely—do not let petty clerks chip away at great officers. Suspend palace workshops and Hongdu verse contests to show you heed heaven’s scolding. The Odes say, “I fear heaven’s wrath and dare not sport in ease.” Heaven’s warning is no game.” Filial-incorrupt nominees from the ministries are the elite stream. You once flogged the Three Dukes for sloppy summons; now trifling essays open the door to favor-broking—everyone seethes in silence. Endure the wrench and shut that door; ponder the myriad affairs and answer heaven’s eye. If the court tightens its belt, your attendants must follow suit. Let every man shrink his wants to plug the dyke—then heaven hollows the proud and the shades bless humility. Stupid as I am, gratitude makes me forget safety; I touch taboos and set all down by hand. When ruler and minister lack secrecy, the throne hears leaks and the minister meets ruin. Seal this memorial deep lest loyal men earn the hatred of villains.
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章奏，帝覽而歎息，因起更衣，曹節於後竊視之，悉宣語左右，事遂漏露。 其為邕所裁黜者，皆側目思報。
The emperor read, sighed, and left to change; Cao Jie peeked and leaked every word to his faction. Everyone Cai Yong had censured now glared and plotted revenge.
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初，邕與司徒劉郃素不相平，叔父衛尉質[117]又與將作大匠 （楊） ［陽］球有隙。 球即中常侍程璜女夫也，璜遂使人飛章言邕、質數以私事請託於郃，郃不聽，邕含隱切，志欲相中。 [118]於是詔下尚書，召邕詰狀。 邕上書自陳曰：
Cai Yong had long feuded with Minister Liu He; his uncle Commandant Cai Zhi quarreled with the Court Architect The manuscript variant gives the surname graph 「楊」 (“poplar”). —Yang Qiu. Yang Qiu was eunuch Cheng Huang’s son-in-law; Huang smuggled out a charge that Cai Yong and Cai Zhi had repeatedly bribed Liu He, been refused, and now plotted revenge. An edict to the Masters of Writing summoned Cai Yong to answer the accusation. Cai Yong memorialized in his own defense:
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臣被召，問以大鴻臚劉郃前為濟陰太守，臣屬吏張宛長休百日，[119]合為司隸，又託河內郡吏李奇為州書佐，[120]及營護故河南尹羊陟、侍御史胡母班，合不為用致怨之狀。 [121]臣征營怖悸，肝膽塗地，不知死命所在。 竊自尋案，實屬宛、奇，不及陟、班。 凡休假小吏，非結恨之本。 與陟姻家，豈敢申助私黨？ 如臣父子欲相傷陷，當明言臺閣，具陳恨狀所緣。 內無寸事，而謗書外發，宜以臣對與郃參驗。 臣得以學問特蒙褒異，執事秘館，操管御前，姓名貌狀，微簡聖心。 今年七月，召詣金商門，問以災異，齎詔申旨，誘臣使言。 [122]臣實愚贛，唯識忠盡，出命忘軀，不顧後害，遂譏刺公卿，內及寵臣。 實欲以上對聖問，救消災異，規為陛下建康寧之計。 陛下不念忠臣直言，宜加掩蔽，誹謗卒至，便用疑怪。 盡心之吏，豈得容哉？ 詔書每下，百官各上封事，欲以改政思譴，除凶致吉，而言者不蒙延納之福，旋被陷破之禍。 今皆杜口結舌，以臣為戒，誰敢為陛下盡忠孝乎？ 臣季父質，連見拔擢，位在上列。 臣被蒙恩渥，數見訪逮。 言事者因此欲陷臣父子，破臣門戶，非復發糾姦伏，補益國家者也。 臣年四十有六，孤特一身，得託名忠臣，死有餘榮，恐陛下於此不復聞至言矣。 臣之愚冗，職當咎患，但前者所對，質不及聞，[123]而衰老白首，橫見引逮，隨臣摧沒，並入坑埳，誠冤誠痛。 臣一入牢獄，當為楚毒所迫，趣以飲章，辭情何緣復聞？ [124]死期垂至，冒昧自陳。 願身當辜戮，匄質不幷坐，[125]則身死之日，更生之年也。 惟陛下加餐，為萬姓自愛。
They asked me about Liu He as Jiyin governor, my clerk Zhang Wan’s hundred-day leave, He’s stint as metropolitan superintendent, his clerk Li Qi’s provincial post, and favors I supposedly sought for Yang Zhi and Humu Ban—resentment when He refused. I trembled until liver and gall smeared the dust—I could not tell life from death. Truth is, only Wan and Qi were involved—not Yang Zhi or Humu Ban. Petty leave disputes do not breed mortal feuds. Yang Zhi is my in-law; would I dare build a cabal for him? If father and son meant to ruin each other, we would have said so openly at court. With no truth inside yet libels outside, confront my words with Liu He’s and test them. I won favor by scholarship, worked the secret archive, took brush before you—so you know my face and name. This seventh month I was called to the Golden Shang Gate, edict in hand, pressed to speak on the omens. I am dull but loyal—I spoke bluntly of high ministers and inner favorites, thinking only to answer heaven. I meant to answer your question and turn aside calamity for the realm’s peace. You did not shield a loyal voice; slander struck and you grew suspicious. How can men who pour out their hearts win a hearing? Each edict invites sealed advice, yet speakers win not favor but ruin. Now every mouth is sealed, using me as their warning—who will dare speak for you? My uncle Cai Zhi has been promoted again and again to the highest ranks. I too have been showered with favor and repeatedly summoned. Accusers now seek to ruin our whole house—not to serve the state. I am forty-six and alone; if I die a loyal death I am content, yet I fear you will never hear blunt truth again. I deserve blame, but my uncle never saw my answers—now white-haired he is dragged in to share my pit; it is cruel and wrong. In jail I shall face torture and forced confession—how will truth reach you? Death nears; I speak while I can. Let me die for the crime—spare my uncle—and my death becomes a second life. Eat well, sire, and live for the people’s sake.
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於是下邕、質於洛陽獄，劾以仇怨奉公，議害大臣，大不敬，弃市。 事奏，中常侍呂強愍邕無罪，請之，帝亦更思其章，有詔減死一等，與家屬髡鉗徙朔方，不得以赦令除。 （楊） ［陽］球使客追路刺邕，客感其義，皆莫為用。 球又賂其部主使加毒害，所賂者反以其情戒邕，故每得免焉。 居五原安陽縣。 [126]
They jailed Cai Yong and Cai Zhi in Luoyang, charging private malice against ministers as lèse-majesté, death in the marketplace. Lü Qiang pleaded his innocence; the emperor reread my words and spared execution—instead shaved heads, iron collars, exile to Shuofang, no amnesty. The manuscript reads the surname 「楊」. Yang Qiu sent killers after me on the road; they refused out of pity. Yang bribed my guard to poison me; the man tipped me off instead. He lived in Anyang county in Wuyuan. The text marks commentary note [126].
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邕前在東觀，與盧植、韓說等撰補後漢記，會遭事流離，不及得成，因上書自陳，奏其所著十意，[127]分別首目，連置章左。 帝嘉其才高，會明年大赦，及宥邕還本郡。 邕自徙及歸，凡九月焉。 將就還路，五原太守王智餞之。 酒酣，智起舞屬邕，邕不為報。 [128]智者，中常侍王甫弟也，素貴驕，籩於賓客，詬邕曰：「徒敢輕我！ 」邕拂衣而去。 智銜之，密告邕怨於囚放，謗訕朝廷。 內寵惡之。 邕慮卒不免，乃亡命江海，遠跡吳會。 [129]往來依太山羊氏，積十二年，在吳。
At the Eastern Pavilion he had begun a Later Han chronicle with Lu Zhi and Han Shuo; uprooted before finishing, he sent up his “Ten Intents” with chapter outlines. The emperor praised his genius; the next great amnesty let him return home. From exile to return was nine months. As he left, Wuyuan governor Wang Zhi gave him a farewell feast. Wang Zhi danced for him drunk; Cai Yong would not answer with a dance. Wang Zhi was eunuch Wang Fu's brother—proud and rude to guests; slighted when Cai Yong refused his dance, he snarled, "You dare scorn me?" Cai Yong shook out his sleeves and walked out. Wang Zhi nursed a grudge and whispered that Cai Yong slandered the court over his exile. The palace favorites turned on him. Seeing no safety, he fled to the rivers and lakes, hiding twelve years in Wu. He sheltered with the Yang family of Taishan and stayed in Wu a dozen years.
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吳人有燒桐以爨者，邕聞火烈之聲，知其良木，因請而裁為琴，果有美音，而其尾猶焦，故時人名曰「焦尾琴」焉。 [130]初，邕在陳留也，其鄰人有以酒食召邕者，比往而酒以酣焉。 客有彈琴於屏，邕至門試潛聽之，曰：「憘！ [131]以樂召我而有殺心，何也？ 」遂反。 將命者告主人曰：「蔡君向來，至門而去。」
He heard paulownia crackling in a peasant’s fire, rescued the wood, built a zither whose tail stayed charred—the famous “Jiaowei” lute. Once in Chenliu a neighbor invited him to drink; when he arrived the party was already merry. Someone played the zither behind a screen; at the gate Cai Yong whispered, “Ah— —they called me with music yet the tune hides murder—why?” He turned on his heel. The runner told the host, “Cai Yong came to the gate and left.”
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邕素為邦鄉所宗，主人遽自追而問其故，邕具以告，莫不憮然。 [132]彈琴者曰：「我向鼓弦，見螳蜋方向鳴蟬，蟬將去而未飛，螳蜋為之一前一卻。 吾心聳然，惟恐螳蜋之失之也，此豈為殺心而形於聲者乎？ 」邕莞然而笑曰：[133]「此足以當之矣。」
Cai Yong was revered in Chenliu; the host ran after him for an explanation; when he told them, every guest fell silent. The player said, “I was watching a mantis stalk a singing cicada— —my fingers shook with the mantis’s tension; that was no murder in the music.” Cai Yong smiled: “That accounts for it.”
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中平六年，靈帝崩，董卓為司空，聞邕名高，辟之。 稱疾不就。 卓大怒，詈曰：「我力能族人，蔡邕遂偃蹇者，不旋踵矣。 」又切敕州郡舉邕詣府，邕不得已，到，署祭酒，甚見敬重。 舉高第，補侍御史，又轉持書御史，遷尚書。 三日之閒，周歷三臺。 遷巴郡太守，復留為侍中。
In 189 CE Emperor Ling died; Minister of Works Dong Zhuo, hearing Cai Yong’s fame, summoned him. Cai Yong pleaded illness and stayed away. Dong Zhuo roared, "I can wipe out whole clans—if Cai Yong plays proud he will not live to turn his heel." He forced the provinces to deliver Cai Yong, who came as libationer and was treated with honor. High marks made him attendant censor, then secretary censor, then master of writing. In three days he mounted all three terraces of power. They named him governor of Ba yet kept him as palace attendant.
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初平元年，拜左中郎將，從獻帝遷都長安，封高陽鄉侯。
In 190 CE he became Left General of the Household, followed the emperor to Chang’an, and took the Gaoyang village marquisate.
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董卓賓客部曲議欲尊卓比太公，稱尚父。 卓謀之於邕，邕曰：「太公輔周，受命翦商，故特為其號。 今明公威德，誠為巍巍，然比之尚父，愚意以為未可。 宜須關東平定，車駕還反舊京，然後議之。 」卓從其言。
Dong Zhuo’s clique wished to style him like the Grand Duke Jiang, “Shangfu.” Cai Yong said, “The Grand Duke earned that title destroying Shang for Zhou.” Your power is vast, but you are not yet Jiang Ziya.” Wait until the east is pacified and the capital returns—then debate titles.” Dong Zhuo accepted the advice.
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（初平） 二年六月，地震，卓以問邕。 邕對曰：「地動者，陰盛侵陽，臣下踰制之所致也。 前春郊天，公奉引車駕，乘金華青蓋，爪畫兩轓，遠近以為非宜。 」[134]卓於是改乘皁蓋車。 [135]
The text supplies the reign name 「初平」. In the sixth month of 191 CE an earthquake struck; Dong Zhuo asked Cai Yong’s reading. Cai Yong said, “Earthquake means yin pressing yang—ministers have overstepped their bounds.” Last spring you drove the emperor’s car with golden blossoms and green canopy—everyone called it presumptuous.” Dong Zhuo switched to a black canopy. The text marks commentary note [135].
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董卓重邕才學，厚相遇待，每集燕，輒令邕鼓琴贊事，邕亦每存匡益。 然卓多自佷用，邕恨其言少從，謂從弟谷曰：「董公性剛而遂非，終難濟也。 吾欲東奔兗州，若道遠難達，且遯逃山東以待之，何如？ 」谷曰：「君狀異恆人，每行觀者盈集。 以此自匿，不亦難乎？ 」邕乃止。
Dong Zhuo prized his learning, made him play at banquets, yet Cai Yong still tried to steer him toward good. But Dong Zhuo trusted only himself; Cai Yong told his cousin, “Dong is stubborn and wrong—he cannot be saved.” I mean to bolt to Yanzhou, or if that fails hide in Shandong—what say you?” Gu answered, “Your face is unforgettable—every street draws a crowd.” How will you hide?” Cai Yong dropped the plan.
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及卓被誅，邕在司徒王允坐，殊不意言之而歎，有動於色。 允勃然叱之曰：「董卓國之大賊，幾傾漢室。 君為王臣，所宜同忿，而懷其私遇，以忘大節！ 今天誅有罪，而反相傷痛，豈不共為逆哉？ 」即收付廷尉治罪。 邕陳辭謝，乞黥首刖足，繼成漢史。 士大夫多鄉救之，不能得。 太尉馬日磾馳往謂允曰：「伯喈曠世逸才，多識漢事，當續成後史，為一代大典。 且忠孝素著，而所坐無名，誅之無乃失人望乎？ 」允曰：「昔武帝不殺司馬遷，使作謗書，流於後世。 [136]方今國祚中衰，神器不固，不可令佞臣執筆在幼主左右。 既無益聖德，復使吾黨蒙其訕議。 」日磾退而告人曰：「王公其不長世乎？ 善人，國之紀也； 制作，國之典也。 滅紀廢典，其能久乎！ 」邕遂死獄中。 允悔，欲止而不及。 時年六十一。 搢紳諸儒莫不流涕。 北海鄭玄聞而歎曰：「漢世之事，誰與正之！ 」兗州、陳留 （聞） ［閒］皆畫像而頌焉。
When Dong Zhuo died, Cai Yong sat with Wang Yun and sighed without thinking—his face showed grief. Wang Yun snarled, “Dong Zhuo nearly toppled the Han.” You are a Han minister—you should share our rage, not nurse private gratitude!” Heaven killed the traitor—yet you mourn him; is that not treason?” He had Cai Yong arrested at once. Cai Yong begged for mutilation instead of death so he could finish the history. Scholars pleaded for him in vain. Ma Midi rushed in: “Bojie is a once-a-age talent who knows Han—let him finish the annals.” His loyalty is famous and his crime nameless—killing him will cost you the world’s trust.” Wang Yun answered, “Emperor Wu spared Sima Qian and got a slanderous history.” The dynasty falters—you cannot let a sycophant hold the brush beside a boy emperor.” It helps no virtue and shames us all.” Ma Midi left muttering, “Wang Yun will not last— good men are the state’s backbone; great writing is its canon. Destroy both and how long can the state endure?” Cai Yong died in jail. Wang Yun repented too late. He was sixty-one. Every belted scholar wept. Zheng Xuan of Beihai cried, “Who will set Han’s record straight now?” In Yanzhou and Chenliu One variant reads 「聞」 (“hear”). —everywhere—men painted his portrait and sang his praise.
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其撰集漢事，未見錄以繼後史。 適作靈紀及十意，又補諸列傳四十二篇，因李傕之亂，湮沒多不存。 所著詩、賦、碑、誄、銘、贊、連珠、箴、弔、論議、獨斷、勸學、釋誨、敘樂、女訓、篆埶、祝文、章表、書記，凡百四篇，傳於世。
His Han compendium never became the official sequel. He wrote the Ling chronicle, the Ten Intents, and forty-two draft biographies—most were lost in Li Jue’s chaos. One hundred four works—odes, steles, treatises, and more—survived his death.
44
論曰：意氣之感，士所不能忘也。 流極之運，有生所共深悲也。 [137]當伯喈抱鉗扭，徙幽裔，仰日月而不見照燭，臨風塵而不得經過，[138]其意豈及語平日幸全人哉！ 及解刑衣，竄歐越，潛舟江壑，不知其遠，捷步深林，尚苦不密，但願北首舊丘，歸骸先壟，又可得乎？ 董卓一旦入朝，辟書先下，分明枉結，信宿三遷。 [139]匡導既申，狂僭屢革，資同人之先號，得北叟之後福。 [140]屬其慶者，夫豈無懷？ [141]君子斷刑，尚或為之不舉，[142]況國憲倉卒，慮不先圖，矜情變容，而罰同邪黨？ 執政乃追怨子長謗書流後，[143]放此為戮，[144]未或聞之典刑。
The historian comments: no gentleman forgets how another’s spirit moves him. Fortune’s bitter turning is grief every living soul knows. When Bojie wore collar and shackles in the northern waste, blind to sun and moon, choked by dust—could he even dream of the luck of an ordinary free man?” Stripped of the cangue, he fled south by boat and hid in the woods, never sure he was safe—yet all he longed for was to die facing north and lie in his ancestors’ soil. Could he even have that? Then Dong Zhuo seized the capital: the appointment came at once, a crooked tie, and in two nights Cai Yong rose three ranks. He gave wise counsel, curbed excess, shared the fellowship hexagram’s early cry, and won the turn of fortune the old man by the border knew. Those who shared his joy could hardly stay unmoved. Even lawful execution may spare full ceremony—how then strike in haste, with pity on your face, yet treat him like a traitor? The regents blamed Sima Qian’s “slanderous” history—then killed on that model, a precedent no penal canon ever taught.
45
贊曰：季長戚氏，才通情侈。 苑囿典文，流悅音伎。 [145]邕實慕靜，心精辭綺。 斥言金商，南徂北徙。 [146]籍梁懷董，名澆身毀。 [147]
The verse praises Ma Rong, courtesy name Jichang, whose kin ties to the consort clans fed a brilliant, self-indulgent career. He ranged from hunting parks to the classics, losing himself in music and stage arts. Cai Yong loved quiet; his mind ran deep and his lines glittered. He spoke truth at Golden Shang, then was driven south and exiled north. He leaned on Liang and clung to Dong—reputation and life both ruined. The received edition marks commentary note [147] here.
46
校勘記
Editorial collation notes follow.
47
一九八〇頁五行有菟馴擾其室傍。 汲本、殿本「菟」作「兔」。 按：菟兔通。
Collation: p. 1980, line 5, cites the line about tame rabbits by his chamber. Ji and Dian editions use the graph for “rabbit” instead of “hare.” Note: the two characters were used interchangeably here.
48
一九八〇頁八行感東方［朔］客難，據汲本、殿本補。
Collation: Dongfang Shuo’s name is restored from Ji and Dian.
49
一九八一頁一二行乃擊牛角而［疾］商歌，據王先謙說補。
Collation: Wang Xianqian adds 疾 before the Shang-song line.
50
一九八二頁一五行速速方轂夭夭是加。 刊誤謂上「夭」當作「天」，據今詩文正然。 按：王先謙謂「速速」二句出詩三家。
Collation: p. 1982, line 15, cites the “swift axles” verse. Kanwu argues the first 夭 is a misprint for 天, matching received poetry. Wang Xianqian traces the couplet to a Three-Schools Shi variant.
51
一九八四頁四行然失璞不完。 汲本「失」作「夫」，殿本作「大」。 按：此謂玉經雕琢，失去其璞，則不完也，以作「失」為是。 今本戰國策作「夫」或作「大」，皆形近而鬥。
Collation: p. 1984, line 4, cites the “lost jade” phrase. Ji has 夫; Dian has 大 instead of 失. The gloss means carved jade loses its rough matrix—失 is the right graph. Modern Intrigues editions misread the graph by shape similarity.
52
一九八四頁五行知足矣歸反於樸則終身不辱。 汲本、殿本「矣」作「以」。 殿本「樸」作「璞」。 今按：國策作「君子曰，斶知足矣。 歸真反璞，則終身不辱」。 作「矣」是，作「以」非也。
Collation cites the Zhuang-style gnome on sufficiency and simplicity. Ji and Dian read 以 where others have 矣. Dian prefers 璞 over 樸. The Intrigues parallel begins with the gentleman’s verdict on Zhu. “Return to the genuine and the uncarved jade, and you will never be disgraced.” The final particle yi is correct; the graph meaning “with” is wrong.
53
一九八四頁一一行汦汦庶類。 按：沈欽韓謂方以智通雅「汦汦猶蚩蚩也，直借此聲耳」。 按「汦汦」或本作「泯泯」，唐諱「民」所改。
Collation: cites 汦汦庶類. Shen Qinhan quotes Fang Yizhi: the reduplication mimics 蚩蚩. The zhi zhi reduplication may mask min min, changed under the Tang taboo on the word for commoners.
54
一九八四頁一一行含甘吮滋。 按：「含」原斗「合」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
Collation cites 含甘吮滋. A misprint 合 was restored to 含 from the standard editions.
55
一九八四頁一四行 （探） ［采］浮磬不為之索，據汲本、殿本改。
Collation pointer to p. 1984, line 14. Manuscript variant 探. Replace tan “probe” with cai “gather” in the floating-chime line, per Ji and Dian.
56
一九八五頁九行音所 （格） ［洛］反，據殿本改。
Collation: p. 1985, line 9, gloss on 所. Variant graph 格. The phonetic gloss uses the syllable of Luo(yang), per Dian.
57
一九八五頁一五行夫［夫］有逸羣之才人人有優贍之智。 按：集解引何焯說，謂衍一「人」字。 又引沉欽韓說，謂「夫」字當重，此揚雄「家家自以為稷、契，人人自以為咎陶」例。 王先謙謂沉說是。 今依沉說補一「夫」字。
Collation cites the disputed 夫夫 line about talent. He Zhuo argues one ren is a dittograph. Shen Qinhan argues fu should repeat, like Yang Xiong’s parallel. Wang Xianqian sides with Shen. The text adds the second fu per Shen.
58
一九八九頁四行倕舜 （之） ［時］巧人也，據校補改。
Collation: Chui and Shun passage. Variant 之 in the manuscript. 時 for 之: “craftsmen of the age,” per emendation.
59
一九八九頁一一行雖 （底） ［風］蓋常屬車，據汲本、殿本改。
Collation: 雖 clause. Variant 底. Replace di “bottom” with feng “canopy” in that clause, per Ji and Dian.
60
一九九〇頁三行建寧三年辟司徒橋玄府。 按：集解引洪頤粻說，謂「司徒」當作「司空」。 〈靈帝紀〉 建寧三年八月，大鴻臚橋玄為司空，四年三月，司徒許訓免，司空橋玄為司徒。 校補謂邕或於三年辟司空府，及玄轉司徒，仍以邕為掾，則「司徒」乃「司空」之誤，否則「三年」乃「四年」之誤，必有一誤。
Collation cites Cai Yong’s entry to Qiao Xuan’s staff. Hong Yixuan argues 司徒 is a mistake for 司空. Cross-reference: Annals of Emperor Ling. The annals show Qiao as minister of works in 170, minister of education in 171. Either “third year” should be “fourth” or 司徒 should be 司空—one error is certain.
61
一九九〇頁三行出補河平長。 按：集解引錢大昕說，謂郡國志無河平縣。 又引沉欽韓說，謂「河平」蓋「平阿」之誤。
Collation: Heping magistracy line. Qian Daxin notes no Heping county in the geography monograph. Shen Qinhan suggests Ping’e instead of Heping.
62
一九九〇頁六行邕乃自書 （冊） ［丹］於碑集解引何焯說，謂「冊」當依水經注作「丹」。 今據改。 按：《御覽》五八九引作「乃自丹於碑」，無「書」字。
Collation: “Yong personally wrote” line. Manuscript 冊. He Zhuo: 丹 not 冊, citing Shui jing zhu. The text adopts 丹. Yulan quotes the line without 書.
63
一九九二頁二行巿賈小民。 按：張森楷 〈校勘記〉 謂「民」當作「人」，亦回改而誤者。
Collation: 市賈小民 line. Zhang Senkai’s note begins. Title of Zhang’s collation subnote. Zhang says min is a taboo-driven miswriting of ren.
64
一九九二頁一一行四時至敬。 按：刊誤謂「至」當作「致」。
Collation: four seasons reverence line. Kanwu emends 至 to 致.
65
一九九三頁一行臣不勝憤滿。 汲本、殿本「滿」作「懣」。 按：滿懣通。
Collation: “cannot bear indignation” line. Ji and Dian use 懣 instead of 滿. Both graphs express pent-up resentment.
66
一九九五頁一〇行則 （可） 致太平，據刊誤刪。
Collation: 則 in the Taiping clause. Spurious 可 noted. Kanwu deletes an erroneous 可致太平.
67
一九九五頁一一行夫瑞不虛至。 按：「至」原斗「年」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
Collation: omens line. Misprint 年 restored to 至.
68
一九九五頁一二行 （救） ［敉］寧我人。 刊誤謂「救」當作「敉」，「敉寧」出尚書。 今據改。
Collation: p. 1995, line 12. Variant 救. The clause “pacify and give peace to our people” is a canonical line from the Documents. Kanwu: adopt mi from the Documents parallel. The text adopts mi.
69
一九九六頁三行開羣枉之門。 按：「開」原斗「聞」，逕改正。
Collation: Liu Xiang quotation. Kai was misprinted as wen and fixed.
70
一九九七頁一一行未嘗有此「嘗」原作「常」，據汲本、殿本改。
The graph for “constantly” was corrected to the graph for “ever” per Ji and Dian.
71
一九九七頁一三行以宣陵孝子 （者） 為太子舍人。 按：刊誤謂案文多一「者」字。 今據刪。
Collation: Xuanling filial-son line. Extra 者 in some editions. The line continues: the court named them attendants to the heir apparent. Kanwu deletes superfluous 者. The 者 is struck.
72
一九九八頁一行 （恆） ［桓］思皇后祖載之時。 按：刊誤謂「恆」當作「桓」，謂桓帝后也。 又集解引惠棟說，謂《通鑒》作「桓」，《邕集》同。 今據改。
Collation: p. 1998, line 1. 恆 variant for empress name. Collation: the line on Empress Dowager Huansi of Huan at the cortège. Kanwu: change heng to huan for Empress Huan. Hui Dong cites the Zizhi tongjian and Cai Yong’s anthology. Editions adopt 桓.
73
一九九八頁六行及祖飾棺 （及） ［乃］載「及載」之「及」，當依《周禮》作「乃」，今改。
Collation: next note begins with 及祖飾棺. Manuscript variant ji. Collation: replace ji with nai in the funeral phrase, per the Zhou li.
74
一九九九頁八行伏見廷尉郭禧。 按：校補引柳從辰說，謂「禧」袁宏紀作「僖」。
Collation cites the Guo Xi sentence. Liu Congchen notes a variant spelling of the name in Yuan Hong.
75
一九九九頁一四行臣以愚贛。 殿本「贛」作「戇」。 下「臣實愚贛」同。 按：贛為戇之或字，見集韻。
Collation: foolish dullness line. Dian uses a synonym for dull-witted. Same variant applies to the repeated phrase below. Orthographic variants per Jiyun.
76
二〇〇〇頁七行是歲元帝初即位。 按：「帝」原斗「年」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
Collation: Yuan Emperor accession line in commentary. Misprint emperor as year, fixed from standard editions.
77
二〇〇〇頁七行是［歲］后父禁為平陽侯。 刊誤謂如上文，此處少一「歲」字。 按：續志有「歲」字，今據補。 又按：刊誤謂「平陽侯」當作「陽平侯」，然續志亦作「平陽侯」，今仍之。
Collation: supplies year in the parallel. Kanwu adds the missing year character. Supplemented from the Later Han treatise. Editors debate Pingyang versus Yangping; the received text stands.
78
二〇〇〇頁九行未至於頭而止。 按：續志作「未至於頭而上知之」。 校補謂注誤「上」為「止」，又脫「知之」二字。
Collation: head and stop line. Treatise has a longer wording. Collation corrects a wrong graph and restores two missing words.
79
二〇〇一頁一行謂股肱也。 按：「股肱」二字原倒，逕據汲本、殿本乙。
Gloss on limbs of state. Order of compound corrected in editions.
80
二〇〇一頁五行司徒劉合。 按：《通鑒》作「大鴻臚劉合」，下邕上書自陳，亦言「大鴻臚劉合」，則作「司徒」者誤，時司徒乃袁滂也。
Collation: Liu He title line. Tongjian and Cai’s text agree on Grand Herald, not Minister of Education.
81
二〇〇一頁五行將作大匠 （楊） ［陽］球。 集解引錢大昕說，謂「楊」當作「陽」。 今據改，下同。
Collation: Court Architect heading. Variant poplar surname graph. The correct reading is Yang Qiu of the yang “sun” surname. Qian Daxin corrects the surname graph. Editions adopt Yang throughout.
82
二〇〇一頁一三行唯識忠盡。 按：汲本、殿本「盡」作「藎」。
Collation: loyalty line. Variant near-homograph for exhaust in loyal phrase.
83
二〇〇三頁三行繼猶持也。 按：「持」原斗「特」，逕改正。
Gloss: continue equals hold. Misprint fixed to hold.
84
二〇〇三頁六行不得對相指斥考事。 按：「指」原斗「旨」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
Collation: mutual denunciation line. Finger versus intent graph corrected.
85
二〇〇四頁五行謹先顛踣。 按：「謹」字疑誤，海原閣校刊本《蔡中郎集》作「輒」。
Collation: stumble line. One edition reads then instead of respectfully.
86
二〇〇四頁六行及經典羣書［所］宜捃摭，據殿本補。
Dian supplies the relative particle in the list clause.
87
二〇〇四頁一三行比往而酒以酣焉。 《御覽》五七七引「以」作「已」，無「焉」字。 按：以已通。
Collation: wine warmed line. Yulan variant uses already and drops the sentence particle. Variant usage of two homophones.
88
二〇〇五頁九行三日之閒書鈔六十、《初學記》十一、《御覽》二百十二引謝承書「三日」作「三月」。 按：校補謂既云周歷，則是已歷三官，非未拜而又徙官，自不可以日計，作「月」固較長，但後論云「信宿三遷」，則范本文似仍作「日」也。
Several encyclopedias quote three months instead of three days. Editors prefer months for sense, but Fan’s judgment favors days.
89
二〇〇五頁一〇行封高陽鄉侯。 按：「鄉」原斗「卿」，逕改正。
Collation: Gaoyang village marquis line. Village misprinted as minister, fixed.
90
二〇〇五頁一四行 （初平） 二年。 按：校補引錢大昭說，謂上文已言「初平元年」，則此「初平」二字衍。 今據刪。
Collation pointer. Some editions prefix the Chuping reign. Continues the date line. Qian Dazhao deletes repeated reign title. The redundant graphs are struck.
91
二〇〇六頁三行卓多自佷用。 按：刊誤謂當作「卓佷多自用」。
Collation: Zhuo stubborn line. Kanwu reorders the phrase.
92
二〇〇六頁一五行兗州陳留 （聞） ［閒］皆畫像而頌焉，據汲本改。
Collation: Yanzhou Chenliu heading. Variant graph for hear. Replace the graph for hear with the graph for among or interval, per the Ji edition.
93
圉，縣，故城在今汴州陳留縣東南。
Geographic gloss: Yu lay southeast of Chenliu.
94
謝承書曰：「勳字君嚴。」
Xie Cheng gives Cai Xun’s courtesy name.
95
王莽改隴西郡曰厭戎郡，守曰連率。
Wang Mang’s renamed Longxi and its governor title.
96
禮記曰：「曾子有疾，童子曰：『華而睆，大夫之簀歟？ 』曾子曰：『然，斯季孫之賜也，我未之能易也。 元起易簀。 』曾元曰：『幸而至於旦，請敬易之。 』曾子曰：『爾之愛我也不如彼也。 君子之愛人也以德，細人之愛人也以姑息。 吾何求哉？ 吾得正而斃焉，斯已矣。 』舉扶而易之，反席未安而沒。 」言雖臨死不失正道也。
From the Zengzi illness passage in the Liji. Zengzi admits the splendid mat was a gift. His son Yuan moves to swap the mat. Yuan asks to wait until morning. Zengzi rebukes Yuan. Moral contrast on true care. Zengzi’s rhetorical question. He accepts death on the proper mat. He dies as soon as the mat is changed. Commentator: Zengzi kept the right even dying.
97
邕祖攜碑云：「攜字叔業，有周之冑。 昔蔡叔沒，成王命其子仲使踐諸侯之位，以國氏姓，君其後也。 君曾祖父勳，哀帝時以孝廉為長安邰長。 及君之身，增修厥德，順帝時以司空高弟遷新蔡長，年七十九卒。 長子稜，字伯直，處俗孤黨，不協於時，垂翼華發，人爵不升，年五十三卒。 」謚法曰：「清白守節曰貞，純行不差曰定。」
Stele text on ancestor Xie. Zhou lineage of the Cai clan. Xun’s office under Emperor Ai. Career of the grandfather praised on the stele. Cai Ling’s austere life. Posthumous titles zhen and ding explained.
98
楊雄作解嘲，班固作荅賓戲，崔駰作達旨。
Parallels to Cai Yong’s rhetorical dialogues.
99
韙亦是也。
Gloss on wei in the text.
100
顛，頂也。 華頂謂白首也。 新序齊宣王對閭丘卬曰：「士亦華發墮顛而後可用耳。 」《左傳》宋司馬子魚曰：「雖及胡耇，獲即取之。 」杜預注曰：「胡耇，元老之稱。」
Dian is the crown or top. Hoary crown of the head. King Xuan wants aged advisers. Zuo zhuan on old age and merit. Du Yu glosses hu gou as a respectful term for extreme old age.
101
易曰「聖人之大寶曰位。 何以守位？ 曰仁。 何以聚人？ 曰財」也。
Opening of the Kun hexagram commentary line. Rhetorical question in the quotation. Answer: benevolence. Second question. Answer: wealth.
102
摯，伊尹名也。 《史記》曰，伊尹欲干湯而無由，乃為有莘媵臣，負鼎俎以滋味說湯，致於王道。 衒，自媒衒也。 論語孔子曰：「行義以達其道。 」又曰：「富而可求，雖執鞭之士吾亦為之。 」《周禮》滌狼氏下士八人，執鞭以辟道也。
Yi Yin’s given name. Shiji story of Yi Yin’s kitchen stratagem. Gloss on self-display. Lunyu quotation. Confucius on wealth and low office. Zhou li office of whip-bearing road clearers.
103
淮南子曰：「寧戚欲干齊桓公，窮困無以自達，於是為商旅，將車以適於齊，暮宿於郭門，飯牛車下，望見桓公，乃擊牛角而［疾］商歌。 桓公聞之曰：
Huainanzi version of Ning Qi’s cattle song. Huan begins to respond.
104
孟子曰：「若仲尼者，拔乎其萃，出乎其類。」
Mencius on Confucius towering above others.
105
瑞應圖曰「景雲者太平之應也，一曰慶雲」也。
Ruibing tu gloss on auspicious clouds.
106
羨音以戰反，本或作「美」。
Phonetic note on xian with alternate graph.
107
回，曲也。 要音一遙反。 言履直道，則不能有所至也。
Gloss: hui is curve. Phonetic gloss on yao. Comment on bending versus straightness.
108
遺猶留也。
Gloss on yi as leave.
109
彼謂貧賤，此謂榮祿。
Antithesis in the glossed passage.
110
謖然，翕斂之魍，音所六反。
Gloss on su ran and its reading.
111
居猶坐也。 釋，解也。
Here ju means to remain seated. Shi in this gloss means to untie or clarify.
112
大極，天地之始也。 《易》曰：「易有太極，是生兩儀。」
The Grand Ultimate marks the origin of the cosmos. The Classic of Changes posits the Grand Ultimate birthing yin and yang.
113
洪，大也。
Hong glosses as vast or magnificent.
114
賈逵注國語曰：「小崩曰氿。」
Jia Kui defines a minor subsidence as gui.
115
《淮南子》曰：「武王伐紂，左操黃鉞，右執白旄而麾之，則瓦解而走，遂土崩而下。」
Huainanzi pictures King Wu’s signal bringing instant rout.
116
講，習也。
Jiang here means to drill or sharpen.
117
戰國策曰，秦昭王見頓弱，頓弱曰：「韓，天下之喉咽也； 魏，天下之匈臆也。 王資臣萬金而游之，天下可圖也。 」秦王曰：「善。 」乃資萬金，使東遊韓、魏，入其將相，北遊燕、趙，而殺李牧。 齊王入朝，四國畢從，頓子說之也。 《史記》曰：「虞卿說趙孝成王，一見賜黃金百溢，再見賜白璧一雙。」
Dun Ruo compares Han to the realm’s windpipe. Wei he likens to the breastbone of the empire. He asks gold to subvert the heartlands. The king approves the plan. Qin funds vertical diplomacy and removes Li Mu. Qi’s submission ends the vertical alliance through one strategist. Shiji parallels instant reward for a single clever audience.
118
連衡謂張儀，合從謂蘇秦，並佩六國之印。 駢，並也。 組，綬也。 流離，光彩魍也。
The two grand strategists bore six-state credentials. Pian marks pairing or parallelism. Zu is the silk cord of a seal-ribbon. Liu li describes streaming brilliance.
119
詩小雅曰：「速速方穀，夭夭是㧻。 」毛萇注云：「速速，陋也。 」鄭玄注云：「穀，祿也。 」言鄙陋小人，將貴而得祿也。 夭，殺也。 㧻，破之也。 韓詩亦同。 此作「轂」者，蓋謂小人乘寵，方轂而行。 方猶竝也。
A Mao-school line on racing chariots and woe. Mao glosses su su as sordid meanness. Zheng reads gu as salary. The verse satirizes upstarts grabbing pay. Yao here is ruin or premature death. Zhuo is to dash to pieces. Han poetry tradition matches the gloss. Editors read gu as chariot hub, image of cliques rolling in power. Fang glosses as parallel or paired.
120
易豐卦上六曰：「豐其屋，蔀其家。 」王弼注云：「蔀，覆也。 屋厚覆，闇之甚也。 」蔀音部。
The Feng hexagram warns of overgrown fortune. Wang Bi takes bu as a covering shade. Luxury roofed in gloom is the image. Phonetic note on bu.
121
易文言曰：「天地閉，賢人隱。」
When cosmos shuts, sages withdraw.
122
《論語》曰：「子路宿於石門。 晨門曰：『奚自？ 」子路曰：『自孔氏。 』鄭玄注云：「石門，魯城外門也。 晨門，主晨夜開閉者。 」又曰：「長沮、桀溺耦而耕。 」並隱遁人也。
Confucius’s disciple at Stone Gate. The night watchman challenges Zilu. Zilu names Confucius’s school. Zheng locates the gate outside Lu’s wall. He keeps the city wicket by schedule. The paired recluses appear in the same chapter. Comment: both are famous hermits.
123
《戰國策》齊宣王謂顏歜曰：「願先生與寡人游。 」歜辭曰：「玉生於山，制則毀焉，非不寶也，然失璞不完。 士生鄙野，選而祿焉，非不貴也，而形神不全。 歜願得晚食以當肉，安步以當車，無罪以當貴，清靜以自娛。 知足矣。 歸反於樸，則終身不辱。 」《論語》孔子曰：「蘧伯玉邦有道則仕，邦無道則可卷而懷之。 」此為保其生也。
The king invites the recluse to court. Yan Chu’s jade metaphor for untouched integrity. Office costs the rustic sage his wholeness. His famous recipe for contentment without rank. The moral is sufficiency. He ends with the return-to-simplicity maxim. Qu’s prudent flexibility illustrates self-preservation. The commentator ties the quote to survival.
124
《論語》曰：「齊人饋女樂，季桓子受之，三日不朝。 孔子行。 」《史記》曰：「衛靈公與夫人同車，宦者雍渠參乘。 孔子曰：『吾未見好德如好色者也。 』於是醜之，去衛適曹。 」遺輕謂若弃輕細之物而去，言惡之甚也。
The Qi music scandal. Confucius leaves Lu in disgust. Shiji scene of the scandalous carriage. Confucius’s famous lament on the duke. He quits Wei for moral disgust. The gloss explains “leaving lightness” as bitter scorn.
125
月令：「仲冬，律中黃鐘。 」融風，艮之風也。 月令：「孟春，東風解凍，魚上冰。 」又：「仲夏之月，律之蕤賓。 」微陰謂一陰爻生也。 詩秦風曰：「蒹葭蒼蒼，白露為霜。 」爾雅曰：「蒹，薕也。 葭，蘆也。」
Yueling ties midwinter to the Yellow Bell note. The warm melt-wind belongs to Gen in cosmology. Spring thaw image from the monthly canon. Midsummer pitch entry. One yin line stirring in the hexagram. Famous Qin air on autumn reeds. Botanical gloss on jian. Jia is common reed.
126
絚音古鄧反。 絚與「亙」同。
Phonetic note on geng. Graph variant explained.
127
汦汦，齊魍。
The reduplication paints the throng as neat ranks.
128
端委，禮衣也。 《左傳》曰：「太伯端委以持《周禮》。 」說文曰：「縉，赤白色也。 」綎，系綬也，音它丁反。
Formal court dress with squared train. Taibo’s investiture in canonical dress. Color gloss for cap ribbon. Ting defined as seal tie with reading note.
129
易曰：「鴻漸於陸。 」鴻，水鳥也。 漸出於陸，喻君子仕進於朝。 詩曰：「振振鷺，鷺於下。 」注云：「鷺，白鳥也。 喻絜白之士，羣集君之朝也。」
Gradual hexagram line on mounting the bank. Hong is the wild goose. The bird’s ascent mirrors bureaucratic rise. Lu hymn on white egrets. Lu identified as the egret. White birds stand for incorrupt ministers.
130
《山海經》曰：「黃帝取密山之玉策，投之鐘山之陽。 」尚書曰：「泗濱浮磬。」
Mythic jade heaped at Bell Mountain. Shangshu line on the chime-stones.
131
辟，開也，音頻亦反。 謂禹理洪水而開道之。 《尚書》曰：「四隩既宅。 」隩，居也，音於六反。 武功定謂武王伐紂。 詩周頌曰：「載戢干戈。 」詩小雅曰：「薄伐獫狁，至於太原，吉甫燕喜，既多受祉。 」鄭玄注曰：「吉甫既伐獫狁而歸，天子以燕禮樂之也。 」《左傳》，晉與楚戰於城濮，楚師敗績，故晉凱樂而歸也。
Pi glossed as open with fanqie. Yu’s dredging of the deluge. Classic line on the four directions housed. Ao glossed as settlement with reading. Wu’s conquest ends the Shang. Zhou song celebrating arms laid down. Jifu’s northern campaign hymn. Zheng explains the victory feast. Chengpu explains the Jin triumph line.
132
蓑音素和反。 詩小雅曰：「荷蓑荷笠。 」毛萇注云：「荷，揭也。 蓑所以備雨。 笠所以御暑。 」擐，貫也。
Phonetic note on rain-cape graph. Soldiers’ field gear in verse. He is to hoist or carry aloft. Coir cloak keeps off rain. The hat beats sunstroke. Huan is to don mail.
133
詩小雅曰：「曾我𣊓御。 」毛萇注云：「𣊓御，侍御也。」
Line on palace outriders. Mao defines inner-court escorts.
134
老子曰：「持而盈之，不如其已。 」河上公注云：「持滿必傾，不如止也。」
Daodejing on knowing when to halt. Heshang Gong warns fullness overturns.
135
泊猶靜也。
Bo here is tranquil poise.
136
賈誼服鳥賦之文也。 言夸華者必死於權埶也。
The line echoes Jia Yi’s fu. Vainglory dies clutching influence.
137
易曰：「天道虧盈而益謙。 」又曰：「損益盈虛，與時偕行。 」王弼注云：「自然之質，各定其分，短者不為不足，長者不為有餘，損益將何加焉？」
Heaven hollows pride and fills humility. The Changes adds that waxing and waning track the seasons. Wang Bi: cosmic shares are fixed, so forced gain is pointless.
138
踣音步北反，協韻音赴。
Phonetic note on stumble with rhyming reading.
139
詩小雅曰：「若此無罪，勳胥以痡。 」勳，帥也。 胥，相也。 痡，病也。 言此無罪之人，而使有罪者相帥而病之，是其大甚。 見韓詩。 前書曰：「史遷熏胥以刑。 」音義云：「謂相熏蒸得罪也。 」誅，協韻音丁注反。
Poetry line on collective punishment of the innocent. Xun glosses as lead or marshal. Xu glosses as together or mutually. Pu is disease or affliction. The gloss condemns mass guilt by association. Han-school poetry preserves the line. Han shu on Sima Qian and group penalty. Gloss on mutual taint in punishment. Phonetic note on execute in rhyme.
140
害，何也，音曷。
Particle he glossed as how with reading.
141
詩小雅曰「謂天蓋高，不敢不局。 謂地蓋厚，不敢不蹐」。
Classic image of cringing under heaven. Paired line on walking in fear.
142
論語孔子曰：「用則行，捨則藏。 」故言聖訓也。
The passage quoted as sage teaching. Hence the label sage teaching.
143
九河謂河水分為九道。 爾雅曰，徒駭、太史、馬頰、覆鬴、胡蘇、簡、絜、鉤般、鬲津，是謂九河也。
Hydrology gloss on nine streams. Enumerates the traditional nine-braid names.
144
協韻音苦郎反。
Fanqie reading note.
145
煙炎，煙火之微細者。 言常懼微細以致毀滅。 杜預注《左傳》曰：「吳楚之閒謂火滅為熸。 」音子廉反。 炎音焰。
Tiny sparks and smoke. Moral: dread small sparks before conflagration. Dialect word for snuffed flame. Phonetic note on jian. Yan read as flame.
146
晏子見伯常騫，問曰：「昔吾見維星絕，樞星散，地其動乎？ 」見晏子春秋。 陰食謂不顯食也。 凡日陰食則井無影也。
Yanzi spring-and-autumn omen dialogue. Source citation. Technical term for dim eclipse. Omen correlates eclipse with shadowless wells.
147
望舒，月也。 尚書大傳曰：「晦而月見西方，謂久朓。 朔而月見東方，謂之側匿。 側匿則侯王肅，朓則侯王舒。 」註：「肅，急也。 舒，緩也。」
Poetic name for the moon. Omen of misaligned moon at month-end. Omen of misaligned moon at month-start. Political reading of lunar anomalies. Note on stern. Note on lax.
148
易坤文言曰：「履霜堅冰至。 」艮卦曰：「時行則行，時止則止。 」豐卦曰：「天地盈虛，與時消息。」
Changes image of foreseeing freeze. Gen on timely action. Feng on cosmic pulse.
149
前書，司馬相如曰：「游於六蓺之園，馳騖乎仁義之塗。 」班固曰「餚覆仁義之林藪」也。
Western Han rhetorical self-description. Ban Gu's parallel metaphor.
150
《古今注》曰：「華蓋，黃帝所作也。 與蚩尤戰於涿鹿之野，常有五色雲氣，金枝玉葉，因而作華蓋。」
Origin myth of the imperial umbrella. Battle myth behind the regalia.
151
龜鳳喻賢人，霧露喻昏闇也。 迂，曲也。
Commentary metaphor pairing. Yu glosses as pedantic twist.
152
斁，厭也。 渝，變也。
Yi is weariness. Yu is change or shift.
153
詩晉風也。 毛萇注云：「居，墳墓也。」
Locates the poem geographically. Ju as grave.
154
謂小人妄得稱舉者，天之所誘，後必遇害也。
Moral gloss on false fame.
155
罕漫猶無所知聞也，非君子之咎也。
Ignorance excused for the noble.
156
伯翳即秦之先伯益也，能與鳥語。 見《史記》。 葛盧，東夷介國之君也。 介葛盧聘於魯，聞牛鳴，曰：「是生三犧，皆用之矣。 」問之，如其言。 晉太史蔡墨曰：「昔有董父，實甚好龍，能求嗜欲以飲食之，以服事帝舜。 帝賜姓曰董，氏曰豢龍。 」竝見《左傳》。 奚仲，薛之祖也。 世本曰：「奚仲作車。 」衡，軛也。 輈，轅也。
Identifies Boyi with bird speech. Shiji citation. Eastern Yi ruler Ge Lu. Ox divination anecdote. Confirms his hearing. Dong Fu dragon-keeper story. Origin of Dong dragon-tamers. Zuo zhuan source. Xi Zhong as Xue progenitor. Invention credit. Heng is crossbar yoke. Zhou is pole or shaft.
157
倕，舜 （之） ［時］巧人也。 見尚書。 造父者，秦之先也，為周穆王御驊騮、騄耳之乘。 非子亦秦之先，善養馬。 周孝王使主馬於汧、渭之閒，馬大蕃息，分土為附庸，邑之於秦。 竝見《史記》。 圉，養馬人也。 見《周禮》。 《左傳》曰：「戰於殽，晉襄公縛秦囚，使萊駒以戈斬之。 囚呼，萊駒失戈，狼瞫取戈斬之，遂以為車右。 」瞫音舒餁反。
Chui, Shun's master craftsman—sentence continues. Manuscript supplies of. Emended: craftsman of the time. Shangshu reference. Zao Fu's famous horses. Fei Zi the horse-breeder. Fei Zi enfeoffment narrative. Shiji again. Yu as stablehand. Zhou li citation. Yao battle episode. Lang Shen's promotion. Phonetic note on Shen.
158
弓父，弓工也。 闕子曰：「宋景公使弓工為弓，九年，來見公。 公曰：
Gong Fu as bowyer. Song bow story opener. Sets up quoted speech.
159
前書，上官桀，武帝時為期門郎，從上甘泉，大風，車不得行，解蓋授桀，雖 （底） ［風］，蓋常屬車。 桑弘羊，洛陽賈人也，以能心計為侍中。
Shangguan canopy anecdote part one. Variant graph in manuscript. Corrected reading: wind, canopy train. Sang Hongyang's rise.
160
忸怩，心籩也。 忸音女六反。 怩音尼。
Gloss on bashfulness. Phonetic on niu. Phonetic on ni.
161
衡，眉目之閒也。
Heng as brow-bar.
162
太清謂天也。 和液謂和氣靈液也。 亭亭，孤峻之魍。 踔猶越也，音醜教反。
Tai qing is sky. Cultivation jargon. Tall solitary stance. Chuo gloss with reading.
163
堂溪，姓也。 先賢行狀曰：「典字子度，穎川人，為西鄂長。」
Tangxi clan name. Tangxi Dian vita.
164
《洛陽記》曰：「太學在洛城南開陽門外，講堂長十丈，廣二丈。 堂前石經四部。 本碑凡四十六枚，西行，尚書、周易、公羊傳十六碑存，十二碑毀。 南行，禮記十五碑悉崩壞。 東行，論語三碑，二碑毀。 禮記碑上有諫議大夫馬日磾、議郎蔡邕名。」
According to the Luoyang gazetteer, the Imperial Academy lay outside the Kaiyang Gate on the south side of Luoyang, and its lecture hall measured ten zhang in length by two zhang in width. Stone classics in four rows. West row survival count. South row damage. East row damage. Named officials on stones.
165
三互謂婚姻之家及兩州人不得交互為官也。 謝承書曰「史弼遷山陽太守，其妻鉅野薛氏女，以三互自上，轉拜平原相」是也。
Definition of three-mutual law. Example case of the rule.
166
鎧，甲也。 《周禮》考工記曰：「燕無函。 」函亦甲也，言幽、燕之地，家家皆能為函，故無函匠也。 《左傳》曰：「冀之北土，馬之所生。」
Kai glosses as mail or lamellar armor. The Zhou li notes Yan needed no specialist armor-case workshops. Northern homes supplied their own armor, so no separate craft. Classic line on Hebei as horse country.
167
縣音玄。
Phonetic note on the county name.
168
前書，安國字長孺，梁人。 坐法抵罪。 居無幾，天子使使者拜安國為梁內史，起徒中為二千石。 買臣字翁子，吳人。 家貧，負薪賣以給食，歌謳道中，後拜會稽太守。
Han Anguo’s background line. He incurred a statutory crime. The court plucked him from the gangs to high office. Zhu Maichen’s name and origin. From woodcutter songs to a governor’s seal.
169
前書，敞字子高，河東人也。 為京兆尹，坐與楊惲厚善，制免為庶人，從闕下亡命。 數月，冀州部有大賊，天子思敞功，使使者召拜為冀州刺史。
Zhang Chang’s vita line. He fell with Yang Yun and ran. The throne recalled him to fight bandits.
170
《說文》曰：「牘，書板也，長一尺。 」《藝文志》曰：「六體者，古文、奇字、篆書、隸書、繆篆、蟲書。 」《音義》曰：「古文謂孔子壁中書也。 奇字即古文而異者也。 篆書謂小篆，蓋秦始皇使程邈所作也。 隸書亦程邈所獻，主於徒隸，從簡易也。 繆篆謂其文屈曲纏繞，所以摹印章也。 蟲書謂為蟲鳥之形，所以書旛信也。」
Definition of the document slip. Han catalogue’s six calligraphic styles. Wall-text graphs as “ancient.” Rare character forms. Small seal was standardized under the First Emperor; Cheng Miao is named as the court scribe who fixed the forms. Clerical script’s practical origin. Curly seal style for chops. Bird-worm calligraphy for credentials.
171
尚書金縢曰：「秋大孰未獲，天大雷電以風，王乃問諸史百執事。 」《詩·大雅·雲漢篇》序曰：「宣王遇旱，側身修行，欲消去之，故大夫仍叔作 〈雲漢〉 之詩以美之。 」密勿祗畏言勤勞戒懼也。
Zhou king’s storm omen from the Metal-bound Coffer. Sets up the drought hymn preface. Title of the ode. The poem praises the king’s response. Phrase means diligent awe.
172
辟音普歷反。 《史記》曰「霹靂，陽氣之動」也。
Reading note on thunder. Shiji gloss on lightning.
173
翼氏風角曰：「風者天之號令，所以譴告人君者。」
Wind omen theory.
174
詩大雅曰：「昭事上帝，聿懷多福。 」聿，遂也。 懷，來也。
Classic line on bright service. Particle yu glossed. Huai as bring or draw near.
175
《左傳》曰：「國之大事，在祀與戎。」
Famous pair of state duties.
176
宰府謂司徒橋玄府也。 朱衣謂祭官也。 《漢官儀》曰：「漢家赤行，齊者絳絝韤。 」韤音文伐反。
Zai fu points to Qiao Xuan’s staff. Crimson-clad sacrificers. Court dress rule for fasters. Phonetic on socks.
177
劉攽曰：案文當作「致敬」。
Textual emendation proposal.
178
解除謂謝過也。
Ritual “lifting” of taboo means confession.
179
易坤文言曰：「地道也，妻道也。 」其彖曰：「安貞之吉，應地無疆。」
Earth and wife paired in Kun. Kun judgment gloss.
180
表左謂陳之於表左也，猶今云「如左」、「如右」。
Memorial layout convention.
181
天子居明堂，各依其月布政，故云「明堂月令」。 四立謂立春、立夏、立秋、立冬。 各以其日，天子親迎氣於其方，並祭其方之帝。 季夏之末，祭中央帝也。
Why the chapter title pairs those terms. The four seasonal hinges. Seasonal suburban welcomes. Midsummer earth thearch rite.
182
小污謂病及死也。
Small defilement glossed as sickness or death.
183
章帝元和二年制曰：「山川百神應典禮者，尚未鹹秩，其議修羣祀，以祈豐年。 」又宗祀五帝於汶上明堂。 三年，望祀華、霍，東柴岱宗，為人祈福。
Eastern Han edict on restoring cults. Five Thearchs at the riverine Mingtang. Grand mountain tour and blessing.
184
禮記曰「妻將生子，及月辰，居側室，夫使人日再問之。 夫齋，則不入側室之門」也。
Ritual for birthing seclusion. Fast keeps husband out of birthing wing.
185
儀禮曰：「有死於宮中者，則為之三月不舉祭。」
Palace death halts cult for three months.
186
漢名臣奏張文上疏，其略曰：「春秋義曰：『蝗者貪擾之氣所生。 天意若曰：貪狼之人，蠶食百姓，若蝗食禾稼而擾萬民。 獸嚙人者，像暴政若獸而嚙人。 』京房易傳曰：『小人不義而反尊榮，則虎食人，辟歷殺人，亦象暴政，妄有喜怒。 』政以賄成，刑放於寵，推類敘意，探指求原，皆象羣下貪狼，威教妄施，或苦蝗蟲。 宜勅正眾邪，清審選舉，退屏貪暴。 魯僖公小國諸侯，勅政修己，斥退邪臣，尚獲其報，六月甚雨之應。 豈況萬乘之主，修善求賢？ 宜舉敦樸，以輔善政。 陛下體堯舜之聖，秉獨見之明，恢太平之業，敦經好學，流布遠近，可留須臾神慮，則 （可） 致太平，招休徵矣。 」制曰：「下太尉、司徒、司空。 夫瑞不虛至，災必有緣。 朕以不德，秉統未明，以招祅偽，將何以昭顯憲法哉？ 三司任政者也，所當夙夜，而各拱默，訖未有聞，將何以奉荅天意， （救） ［敉］寧我人？ 其各悉心思所崇改，務消復之術，稱朕意焉。」
Zhang Wen opens his locust argument. Moral meteorology of locusts. Animal omens mirror tyranny. Jing Fang on beasts and thunder. Corruption breeds locust omens. Prescription for reform. Lu Xi as model of omen answered. Rhetorical scale-up to the emperor. Call for upright personnel. Praise and pivot toward omens. Spurious ke in some editions. The hoped-for result of reform. Edict routes memorial to the Three Dukes. Omen logic opening. I lack virtue and have governed without clarity, so false prodigies arise; how then can I make the model laws shine forth for all to see? Rebuke of ministerial silence. Variant graph in quotation. Documents phrase: bring peace to the people. Close of edict ordering remedies.
187
右，用事之便，謂樞要之官。
You as key leverage.
188
《漢官儀》曰：「三公聽采長吏臧否，人所疾苦，條奏之。 」是為舉謠言者也。
Ballad-collection duty of the Three Dukes. Defines the rumor-ballad institution.
189
語見前書。
Cross-reference to Han shu.
190
平，和也。 章，明也。
Ping as even peace. Zhang as manifest clarity.
191
尚書大傳曰：「古者諸侯之於天子，三年一貢士。 一適謂之攸好德，再適謂之賢賢，三適謂之有功。 」注云：「適猶得也。」
Triennial tribute of talent. Graded praise for repeated recommendations. Shi glossed as obtain.
192
數路謂孝廉、賢良、文學之類也。
Han recruitment channels bundled.
193
論語子夏曰：「雖小道必有可觀者焉，致遠恐泥。 」鄭玄注云：「小道，如今諸子書也。 泥謂滯陷不通。 」此邕以為孔子之言，當別有所據也。
Confucius on petty arts. Zheng equates petty ways with polymathic texts. Ni as mired. Editor notes Cai Yong’s attribution issue.
194
《漢官儀》曰「秩六百石，銅章墨綬」也。
County magistrate rank insignia.
195
《周禮》曰：「喪祝掌大喪，及祖飾棺 （及） ［乃］載，遂御之。 」鄭玄注云：「祖謂將葬祖祭於庭，載謂升柩於車也。」
Zhou li funeral officer citation opening. Variant particle in manuscript. Emended funeral line: nai then loading. Zheng on bier rites.
196
《洛陽記》曰「南宮有崇德殿、太極殿，西有金商門」也。
Luoyang palace geography.
197
其志今亡。 《續漢志》曰，光和元年，詔問曰：「連年蝗蟲，其咎焉在？ 」邕對曰：「《易傳》云：『大作不時天降災，厥咎蝗蟲來。 』《河圖秘徵篇》曰：『帝貪則政暴，吏酷則誅慘。 生蝗蟲，貪苛之所致也。 』」又南宮侍中寺，雌雞欲化為雄，一身毛皆似雄，但頭冠尚未變。 詔以問邕。 對曰：「貌之不恭，則有雞禍。 宣帝黃龍元年，未央宮雌雞化為雄，不鳴無距。 是歲元帝初即位，將立王皇后。 至初元元年，丞相史家雌雞化為雄，距而鳴將。 是［歲］后父禁為平陽侯，女立為后。 至哀帝晏駕，后攝政，王莽以后兄子為大司馬，由是為亂。 臣竊推之，頭為元首，人君之象。 今雞一身已變，未至於頭而止，是將有其事而不遂成之象也。 若應之不精，政無所改，頭冠或成，為患滋大也。」
Note that a cited monograph no longer survives. Continued Han treatise on the locust edict. Cai Yong’s yiwei answer. Apocalyptic couplet on greed. Locusts tied to fiscal cruelty. Hen-cock prodigy at Southern Palace. The throne asked Cai Yong’s reading. Opening of his cock-omen gloss. Xuandi’s Huanglong omen: a Weiyang hen turned cock but stayed mute and spurless. The same year Yuan took the throne and prepared to raise Wang as empress. Next came Chuyuan’s hen-cock at a ministerial clerk’s house, complete with spurs and martial crow. Then Empress Wang’s father Jin took the Pingyang marquisate and she took the throne. After Aidi died, the dowager ruled through Wang Mang as grand marshal—and chaos followed. The head stands for the sovereign in omen lore. The bird changed below the comb—an omen of schemes begun but never finished. If the court misreads the sign and reforms nothing, the cock’s crown may yet grow—and the woe will multiply.
198
括囊喻閉口而不言。 《易》曰：「括囊無咎。 」王弼注云：「括，結也。」
The tied-bag hexagram line means ministers sealing their lips. Kun’s counsel: bind the purse and stay blameless. Wang Bi glosses kuo as knotting tight.
199
《漢官儀》曰「凡章表皆啟封，其言密事得皁囊」也。
Han routine: open memorials publicly, except sealed black-bag secrets.
200
嬈音奴鳥反。
Phonetic note on the nurse’s name.
201
趙嬈及霍玉也。
The line points at Nurse Zhao Rao and clerk Huo Yu.
202
姓，姓也； 璋，名也。 漢有姓偉。
The first xing identifies the family name. Zhang is the given name (of the minister). Han records include the rare surname Wei.
203
音玄。 《蔡邕集》「玹」作「玄」。
Phonetic reading xuan. The anthology variant uses a homophone for the minister’s name.
204
尚書曰：「君子在野，小人在位。」
Shangshu warns when ministers are mean and sages are out.
205
謂股肱也。
Meaning the ruler’s limb-ministers.
206
雕琢猶鐫削以成其罪也。
Legal idiom for framing a case by degrees.
207
厭，伏也，音一葉反。
Yan glossed as hide, with fanqie.
208
易曰：「君不密則失臣，臣不密則失身。」
Xi ci on the peril of leaked counsel.
209
質字子文，著《漢職儀》。
Cai Zhi wrote the Han zhi yi.
210
中傷也。
Zhong shang is character assassination.
211
休，假也。 前書音義曰「吏病滿百日當免」也。
Official xiu is authorized leave. Han rule: hundred-day illness ends the post.
212
《續漢志》曰：「書佐，主幹文書。」
Continued Han treatise defines the shuzuo clerk.
213
《邕集》其奏曰：「邕屬張宛長休百日，合假宛五日； 復屬河南李奇為書佐，郃不為召； 太山黨魁羊陟與邕季父衛尉質對門九族，質為尚書，營護阿擁，令文書不覺，郃被詔書考胡母班等，辭與陟為黨，質及邕頻詣合問班所及，合不應，遂懷怨恨，欲必中傷合。 」制曰：「下司隸校尉正處上。 」《邕集》作「綦母班」也。
Yong argues Wan deserved five days’ formal leave after a hundred-day sick leave. He also refused Li Qi’s appointment as clerk. The charge traces a feud: Yang Zhi and Cai Zhi were neighbors; Cai Zhi allegedly buried subpoenas while Liu He investigated Humu Ban; Cai Yong and his uncle pestered Liu He for leaks, were rebuffed, and then plotted revenge. The throne ordered the commandant to rule on the case. Text variant Qimu for Humu in Yong’s papers.
214
齎猶持也，與賫通。
Ji here means carrying documents, cognate to “present.”
215
前在金商門對事之時，質為下邳相，故不聞也。
Cai Zhi was away governing Xiapi during the sealed inquiry, so he missed the details.
216
趣音促。 飲猶隱卻告人姓名，無可對問。 章者，今之表也。 《邕集》曰：「光和元年，都官從事張恕，以辛卯詔書，收邕送雒陽詔獄。 考吏張靜謂邕曰：『省君章雲欲仇怨未有所施，法令無此，以詔書又刊章家姓名，不得對相指斥考事，君學多所見，古今如此，豈一事乎？ 』荅曰：『曉是。 』吏遂飲章為文書。 」臣賢案：俗本有不解「飲」字，或改為「報」，或改為「款」，並非也。
Qu read as urgent. “Drink the document” meant redacting names before interrogation. Zhang equals the formal memorial form. Yong’s papers date his arrest to Guanghe 1 under edict clerk Zhang Shu. The jail clerk challenged Yong’s memorial logic under the sealed-name rule. Yong conceded the clerk’s point. The clerk then processed the redacted memorial into the file. Li Xian warns editors not to corrupt the technical term yin.
217
匄，乞也。
Gai is beg or plead.
218
即西安陽縣也，故城在今勝州銀城縣。
Exile seat was Xi Anyang near modern Shaanxi Yincheng.
219
猶前書十志也。 邕別傳曰：「邕昔作漢記十意，未及奏上，遭事流離，因上書自陳曰：『臣既到徙所，乘塞守烽，職在候望，憂怖焦灼，無心能復操筆成草，致章闕廷。 誠知聖朝不責臣謝，但懷愚心有所不竟。 臣自在布衣，常以為漢書十志下盡王莽而止，光武已來唯記紀傳，無續志者。 臣所事師故太傅胡廣，知臣頗識其門戶，略以所有舊事與臣。 雖未備悉，粗見首尾，積累思惟，二十餘年。 不在其位，非外史庶人所得擅述。 天誘其衷，得備著作郎，建言十志皆當撰錄。 會臣被罪，逐放邊野，恐所懷隨軀朽腐，抱恨黃泉，遂不設施，謹先顛踣，科條諸志，臣欲刪定者一，所當接續者四，前志所無臣欲著者五，及經典羣書[所]宜捃摭，本奏詔書所當依據，分別首目，並書章左，惟陛下留神省察。 臣謹因臨戎長霍圉封上。 』有律歷意第一，禮意第二，樂意第三，郊祀意第四，天文意第五，車服意第六。」
Yong’s “Ten Intents” parallel Ban Gu’s ten zhi. Yong’s biezhuan quotes his plea from exile: frontier guard duty left him no strength to finish the histories. He still hoped the throne would hear his scholarly pledge. He notes the historiographic gap after Wang Mang. Hu Guang handed him notes toward a continuation. Two decades of mulling Hu’s papers. He lacked rank to publish official treatises. Finally named compiler, he could propose the ten zhi. He begs to finish the ten treatises from exile, listing edits, continuations, and new chapters, with sources and edicts attached. He forwarded the package via the frontier officer. He enumerates six of the ten intent chapters surviving in the quote.
220
屬猶勸也，音燭。
Zhu read zhu, meaning urge.
221
張騭文士傳曰：「邕告吳人曰：『吾昔嘗經會稽高遷亭，見屋椽竹東閒第十六可以為笛。 』取用，果有異聲。 」伏滔長笛賦序云「柯亭之觀，以竹為椽，邕取為笛，奇聲獨絕」也。
Yong spotted magic bamboo at Kuaiji Gaoyi. The flute made from that rafter sounded uncanny. Fu Tao confirms the Ketings rafter legend.
222
傅玄琴賦序曰：「齊桓公有鳴琴曰『號鐘』，楚莊有鳴琴曰『繞樑』，司馬相如『綠綺』，蔡邕有『焦尾』，皆名器也。」
Fu Xuan lists Yong’s Jiaowei among legendary qin.
223
歎聲也，音僖。
Xi interjection, phonetic xi.
224
憮猶怪也，音武。
Wu as marvel, phonetic wu.
225
莞，笑魍也，音胡板反。
Wan as smile, fanqie given.
226
《續漢志》曰：「乘輿大駕，公卿奉引，皇太子、皇子皆安車，朱輪，青蓋，金華爪，畫轓。 」廣雅：「轓，箱也。」
Treatise on heir-apparent chariot regalia with painted rails. Guang ya glosses chariot fan.
227
《續漢志》曰：「中二千石、二千石皆皁蓋，朱兩轓。」
Senior officials’ black canopy rule.
228
凡史官記事，善惡必書。 謂遷所著《史記》，但是漢家不善之事，皆為謗也。 非獨指武帝之身，即高祖善家令之言，武帝筭緡、榷酤之類是也。 《班固集》云：「司馬遷著書，成一家之言。 至以身陷刑，故微文刺譏，貶損當世，非誼士也。」
Historian’s duty to set down both virtue and vice. Wang Yun misread Shiji frankness as malice toward Han. Sima Qian’s candor touched Gaodi and Wudi alike. Ban Gu’s nuanced verdict opens. Ban Gu blamed mutilation for Sima’s bitter irony.
229
流，極，皆放也。 極音紀力反。
Liu ji paired as banishment. Fanqie on ji.
230
謂迫促之，令不得避風塵也。
Metaphor for hounding a man on the road.
231
謂三日之閒，位歷三臺也。
Gloss on rapid promotion under Dong Zhuo.
232
易同人卦曰：「先號咷而後笑。 」北叟，塞上叟也。 其馬亡入胡中，人皆吊之。 叟曰：「何知非福？ 」居數月，其馬引胡駿馬而歸，人皆賀之。 叟曰：「何知非禍？ 」及家富馬良，其子好騎，墯而折髀，人皆吊之。 叟曰：「何知非福？ 」居一年，胡夷大入，丁壯皆戰死者十九，其子獨以跛之故，子父相保。 見淮南子也。
Tongren line on shared lament turning to joy. Identifies the parable’s hermit. Lost horse episode begins. First twist: loss may be gain. The horse returns with better stock. Second twist: gain may breed woe. Son’s riding accident. Third reversal. Lame son survives the raid. Story sourced to Huainanzi.
233
慶謂恩遇也。 懷，思也。 荷恩遇者，豈不思之乎？
Qing as imperial grace. Huai as cherish in mind. Rhetorical: gratitude should follow favor.
234
《左傳》鄭伯見虢叔曰：「夫司寇行戮，君為之不舉。 」杜注云：「不舉盛饌也。」
Zuo parallel on curtailing feasts during executions. Du Yu explains ritual abstention.
235
執政謂王允也。
Identifies Wang Yun as regent.
236
放音甫往反。
Phonetic on fang exile.
237
侈謂紗帳、女樂之類。 音技謂鼓琴吹笛之屬也。
Luxury gloss: curtains and troupes. Musical entertainments.
238
謂對事於金商門，指斥而言，無隱諱也。
Yong’s blunt counsel at the gate.
239
籍梁謂融因籍梁冀貴幸，為作西第頌。 懷董謂邕懷董卓之恩也。 澆，薄也。
Ma Rong’s Liang Ji patronage. Yong’s debt to Dong Zhuo. Jiao as pouring away reputation.