1
左雄字伯豪，南* (郡) **[陽]*涅陽人也。 安帝時，舉孝廉，稍遷冀州刺史。 州部多豪族，好請托，雄常閉門不與交通。 奏案貪猾二千石，無所回忌。
Zuo Xiong, whose courtesy name was Bohao, came from Nanyang commandery (the commandery name) specifically of Nieyang. During the reign of Emperor An, he was nominated as filial and incorrupt and rose step by step to the governorship of Ji Province. The region was full of powerful families who habitually pulled strings; Zuo Xiong routinely kept his gate closed and refused such traffic. He impeached and prosecuted venal and evasive prefects and commandery governors, showing neither hesitation nor favor.
2
永建初，公車征拜議郎。 時順帝新立，大臣懈怠，朝多闕政，雄數言事，其辭深切。 尚書僕射虞詡以雄有忠公節，上疏薦之曰：「臣見方今公卿以下，類多拱默，以樹恩為賢，盡節為愚，至相戒曰：『白璧不可為，容容多後福。 』[一]伏見議郎左雄，數上封事，至引陛下身遭難□，以為警戒，實有王臣蹇蹇之節，周公謨成王之風。 [二]宜擢在喉舌之官，必有匡弼之益。 」由是拜雄尚書，再遷尚書令。 上疏陳事曰：注[一]容容猶和同也。 言不可獨為白玉之清絜，當與觿人和同。
In the early Yongjian era he was summoned by imperial carriage and appointed a Gentleman Consultant. Emperor Shun had only just taken the throne; senior officials were lax, and policy at court was riddled with gaps. Zuo Xiong spoke out repeatedly, in language that was blunt and searching. Yu Xu, Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, believing Zuo Xiong possessed the integrity of a loyal servant, presented a memorial recommending him: "I observe that today, from the highest ministers down, most stand with folded arms and say nothing, treating the currying of favor as wisdom and whole-hearted duty as folly—until they warn each other: 'Do not try to be the spotless white jade; going along with everyone wins you blessings down the road.' [1] I have seen how Counselor Zuo Xiong has again and again submitted sealed advice, even invoking the hardships Your Majesty endured as a cautionary mirror—this is the steadfast loyalty of a true minister of the throne, in the spirit of the Duke of Zhou guiding the young King Cheng. [2] He should be raised to a voice at the center of government; he would surely strengthen counsel and support for the throne. On that basis Zuo Xiong was appointed a Master of Writing and soon advanced twice to Director of the Masters of Writing. He presented a memorial on state affairs, with this gloss: Note [1] "Rongrong" means going along and agreeing with everyone. That is: you cannot insist on being alone as spotless as white jade; you must accommodate the common run of opinion.
3
注[二]謨，謀也。 即尚書立政、無逸篇之類也。
Note [2] "Mo" means to plan or counsel. He refers to pieces like "Establishing the Government" and "No Indulgence" in the Book of Documents.
4
臣聞柔遠和邇，莫大寧人，寧人之務，莫重用賢，用賢之道，必存考黜。 是以□陶對禹，貴在知人。 「安人則惠，黎民懷之。 」[一]分伯建侯，代位親民，民用和穆，禮讓以興。 故詩云：「有渰淒淒，興雨祁祁。 雨我公田，遂及我私。 」[二]及幽、厲昏亂，不自為政，[三]□艷用權，七子黨進，賢愚錯緒，深谷為陵。
I have heard that to win over the far and harmonize the near, nothing surpasses giving the people rest; to give the people rest, nothing surpasses using the worthy; and the way to use the worthy must include assessment and removal. Hence Gao Yao answered Yu that the crucial thing is to know your men. "When you secure the people in peace, they love you; the common folk will cleave to you." [1] The realm was parcelled among regional lords who succeeded one another in caring for the people, so the people lived in concord and courtesy flourished. So the Classic of Poetry says: "Dark clouds gather, thick and cool; the rain falls gently, wide and slow. It waters our communal fields, then reaches our private plots." [2] Under Kings You and Li, darkness and disorder prevailed and rulers ceased to govern in person; [3] Baosi wielded influence, the seven favorites formed a clique, and worthies and fools were jumbled together until the world seemed turned upside down.
5
故其詩云：「四國無政，不用其良。 」又曰：「哀今之人，胡為虺蜴？ 」言人畏吏如虺蜴也。 [四]宗周既滅，六國並秦，坑儒泯典，僄革五等，更立郡縣，[五]縣設令長，郡置守尉，什伍相司，封豕其民。 [六]大漢受命，雖未復古，然克慎庶官，蠲苛救敝，悅以濟難，撫而循之。 至於文、景，天下康乂。 誠由玄靖寬柔，克慎官人故也。 降及宣帝，興於仄陋，綜核名實，知時所病，刺史守相，輒親引見，考察言行，信賞必罰。 帝乃歎曰：「民所以安而無怨者，政平吏良也。
Hence the Poetry laments: "Throughout the four quarters there is no sound rule; the good are not employed." It adds: "Pity the people of this age—why are they treated like poisonous snakes and lizards?" The point is that the people dread magistrates as they would venomous reptiles. [4] After Western Zhou fell and the six states were swallowed by Qin, the First Emperor buried scholars alive and burned the classics, abolished the feudal grades, and replaced them with commanderies and counties; [5] each county had a magistrate, each commandery a governor and commandant, and the mutual-surveillance groups of households penned the people in like hogs for the slaughter. [6] When Han received Heaven's charge it did not fully revive the old order, yet it was scrupulous about offices, lifted oppressive laws, and nursed the realm through hardship with kindness and restraint. By the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing the empire was secure and orderly. This was due to their deep calm, their gentle rule, and their care in choosing officials. Down to Emperor Xuan, who had risen from obscurity, who matched names to deeds and grasped what ailed the age—when he dealt with regional inspectors, governors, and chancellors he would call them in himself, weigh word against deed, and never waver on reward or punishment. The emperor once sighed and said, "The people live untroubled and without complaint because policy is fair and the magistrates are good.
6
與我共此者，其唯良二千石乎！ 」以為吏數變易，則下不安業； 久於其事，則民服教化。 其有政理者，輒以璽書勉勵，增秩賜金，或爵至關內侯，公卿缺則以次用之。 是以吏稱其職，人安其業。 漢世良吏，於茲為盛，故能降來儀之瑞，建中興之功。 [七]注[一]尚書□陶謨之詞也。 惠，愛也。 黎，觿也。
Who truly shares this burden with me if not worthy governors?" He believed that if magistrates were rotated too often, the people could not settle to their trades; if they stayed long in one post, the people would accept moral instruction. Where a man governed well, an edict of praise would go out, his salary rank was raised, gold was granted, sometimes he was ennobled as a marquis within the passes, and when a seat opened among the highest ministers he was promoted in due order. Thus each office was filled by a man who matched it, and the people could live by their work. Never was Han's roll of able magistrates fuller than then; that is how the omens of the phoenix were drawn down and the mid-restoration was achieved. [7] Gloss [1]: these lines come from the "Counsels of Gao Yao" in the Book of Documents. "Hui" means loving-kindness. "Li" denotes the common people (the black-haired multitude).
7
注[二]詩小雅也。 渰，陰雲也。 淒淒，雲興貌。 祁，徐也。 言陰陽和，風雨時，先雨公田，乃及私田。
Note [2]: from the "Minor Odes" of the Classic of Poetry. "Yin" here means lowering clouds. "Qiqie" describes the massing of clouds. "Qi" means slow or gentle. The sense is that yin and yang were in harmony, the seasons of wind and rain were right, rain fell first on the communal fields and only afterward on private plots.
8
注[三]詩小雅刺幽王曰：「不自為政，卒勞百姓。」
Note [3]: the "Minor Odes" rebuke King You with the line, "He will not rule in person, and the common people bear the cost."
9
注[四]□艷謂□姒也。 艷，色美也。 七子皆□姒之親黨，謂皇甫為卿士，仲允為膳夫，家伯為宰，番為司徒，蹶為趣馬，棸子為內史，楀為師氏也。 厲王淫於色，七子皆用，言妻黨盛也。 四國，四方之國也。 虺蜴之性，見人則走，哀今之人皆如是，傷時政事。 見詩小雅。 番音方元反。 棸音側流反。 楀音記禹反。
Note [4]: "Baoyan" refers to the consort Baosi. "Yan" means dazzling beauty. The "seven sons" were Baosi's relatives and clique: Huangfu as Minister of Multitudes, Zhong Yun as chief steward, Jiabo as grand steward, Fan as Minister of Education, Jue as Master of the Horse, Zouzi as inner scribe, and Yu as Master of the Guard. King Li abandoned himself to women; all seven favorites held office—an image of in-laws dominating the court. "The four states" means the regions in every quarter. Vipers and lizards flee at the sight of man; to say "alas for the people today" likens them to such creatures—an indictment of the age and its administration. See the "Minor Odes" of the Classic of Poetry. The name Fan is read with initial f- (fan yuan fan). Zou is read ce liu fan. Yu is read ji yu fan.
10
注[五]僄，削也。 五等謂諸侯。
Note [5]: "piao" means to slice away or abolish. The "five ranks" are the grades of feudal nobility.
11
注[六]史記，商鞅為秦定變法之令，令人什伍而相牧司，犯禁相連坐，不告奸者□斬。 楊雄長楊賦曰「秦窫窳其士，封豕其人」也。
Note [6]: the Shiji records that Shang Yang's Qin reforms grouped households in fives and tens for mutual surveillance and collective punishment, with death for failure to inform. As Yang Xiong wrote in his "Rhapsody on the Long Hunt," "Qin made its warriors craven and its people swine to be penned."
12
注[七]宣帝時鳳皇五至，因以紀年。
Note [7]: under Emperor Xuan the phoenix appeared five times, and reign titles commemorated it.
13
漢初至今，三百餘載，俗浸雕敝，巧偽滋萌，下飾其詐，上肆其殘。 典城百里，轉動無常，各懷一切，莫慮長久。 謂殺害不辜為威風，聚斂整辨為賢能，以理己安民為劣弱，以奉法循理為不化。 髡鉗之戮，生於睚眥； 覆屍之禍，成於喜怒。 視民如寇讎，稅之如豺虎。 [一]監司項背相望，[二]與同疾疢，見非不舉，聞惡不察，觀政於亭傳，責成於開月，[三]言善不稱德，論功不據實，虛誕者獲譽，拘檢者離毀。 [四]或因罪而引高，或色斯以求名。 [五]州宰不覆，競共辟召，踴躍升騰，超等踰匹。 或考奏捕案，而亡不受罪，會赦行賂，復見洗滌。
From the founding of Han to the present—well over three hundred years—customs have eroded, fraud has multiplied, inferiors varnish their deceit, and superiors indulge cruelty. Magistrates over a hundred li of territory are rotated without pattern; each pursues short-term fixes and none plans for the long term. They take the slaughter of innocents for "awe," tax squeezing and tidy accounts for "talent," self-restraint and care for the people for "weakness," and faithful adherence to law for "obstinacy." Shaving and the cangue follow from a sideways glance; bodies pile in ditches because of a mood swung between pleasure and rage. They eye the commoners as foes to be plundered and squeeze them like wolves and tigers. [1] Inspectors crowd the road one behind another; [2] they nurse the same sores, pass over faults they see and ignore crimes they hear, judge administration from relay inns, and demand yearly accounts; [3] they celebrate "virtue" without moral substance and credit "merit" without evidence, so the hollow flourish while the conscientious are torn down. [4] Some flee office in the name of principle, or study others' faces to win a reputation. [5] Governors skip investigation and race to recruit favorites who vault past proper rank. Men impeached and bound for trial bolt and refuse sentence, then bribe their way clear at the next general amnesty.
14
朱紫同色，清濁不分。 故使奸猾枉濫，輕忽去就，拜除如流，缺動百數。 鄉官部吏，職斯祿薄，[六]車馬衣服，一出於民，廉者取足，貪者充家，特選橫調，[七]紛紛不絕，送迎煩費，損政傷民。 和氣未洽，□眚不消，咎皆在此。 今之墨綬，猶古之諸侯，[八]拜爵王庭，輿服有庸，[九]而齊於匹豎，叛命避負，非所以崇憲明理，惠育元元也。 臣愚以為守相長吏，惠和有顯□者，可就增秩，勿使移徙，非父母喪不得去官。 其不從法禁，不式王命，錮之終身，[一０]雖會赦令，不得齒列。 若被劾奏，亡不就法者，徙家邊郡，以懲其後。 鄉部親民之吏，皆用儒生清白任從政者，[一一]寬其負筭，[一二]增其秩祿，吏職滿歲，宰府州郡乃得辟舉。 如此，威福之路塞，虛偽之端絕，送迎之役損，賦斂之源息。 循理之吏，得成其化； 率土之民，各寧其所。 追配文、宣中興之軌，[一三]流光垂祚，永世不刊。 注[一]國語曰：「□丹廷見令尹子常，與之語，問畜貨聚* (焉) **[馬]*。 歸以語其弟曰：『楚其亡乎？ 吾見令尹如餓獸豺虎焉，殆必亡者也。 』」注[二]項背相望謂前後相顧也。 背音輩。
Vermilion and violet blur together; the clear cannot be told from the murky. So the cunning grow brazen, treat office as a revolving door, and appointments pour out while hundreds of posts stand empty. Grass-roots clerks earn little yet must fund horses, carriages, and dress from the populace—honest men scrape by, the greedy enrich their kin, while special surcharges never cease and the cost of escorting every new magistrate wastes both treasury and people. Harmony never takes hold, omens of ill do not lift, and the fault lies here. Today's black-sashed magistrate is the heir of the old feudal lord: [8] he receives his charge in the palace and his equipage is regulated; [9] yet he is classed with street hucksters who abandon duty and bolt—hardly how to honor the law, make reason plain, or nurture the common folk. I would urge that governors and magistrates who govern gently and show clear merit receive higher rank and not be shuffled elsewhere, and that none may resign save for a parent's funeral. Whoever defies statute and ignores the sovereign's command should be barred for life—even under amnesty he must never again hold office. If a man under impeachment flees rather than answer the law, exile his household to the frontier as a warning to others. All village and precinct officers who touch the people should be chosen from clean-living literati fit for public duty; [11] lighten their poll taxes; [12] raise their pay; and after a full year of service let only the capital bureaus, provinces, or commanderies recruit them. Then the path to arbitrary power closes, fraud dies, escort duty shrinks, and exactions dry up. Magistrates who keep to principle can finish the moral transformation of their districts; and everyone under Heaven will rest secure where they belong. By echoing the mid-Han restoration of Emperors Wen and Xuan, [13] your glory will spread and your heirs will long enjoy an unshakable mandate. Note [1]: the Guoyu records that Shen Dan visited Minister Zichang at court and asked how he stored wealth and stockpiled (there) horses. On returning he told his younger brother, "Chu is surely doomed. I looked at the minister: he is a starving wolf or tiger—such a man will destroy the state." End quote." Note [2]: "backs and necks in a line" means craning to look ahead and behind. The character bei is read like "generation" (bei).
15
注[三]開，匝也。 謂一歲。
Note [3]: "kai" means a full turn or cycle. Here it means one year.
16
注[四]離，遭也。
Note [4]: "li" means to meet with (suffer).
17
注[五]因罪潛遁，以求高尚之名也。 論語曰：「色斯舉矣。 」言觀前人之顏色也。
Note [5]: some hide from prosecution while posing as high-minded recluses. The Analects says, "When the countenance changed, he rose." The gloss: watching the ruler's mood to decide when to flatter or withdraw.
18
注[六]斯，賤也。
Note [6]: in another gloss "si" means low or mean.
19
注[七]調，征也。
Note [7]: "diao" means to impose levies.
20
注[八]墨綬謂令長，即古子男之國也。
Note [8]: the black sash marks county magistrates—the modern counterparts of the old viscount and baron domains.
21
注[九]庸，常也。
Note [9]: "yong" here means regular or customary.
22
注[一０]式，用也。
Note [10]: "shi" means to apply or follow.
23
注[一一]任，堪也，音人林反。
Note [11]: "ren" means competent to the task; the reading is ren lin fan.
24
注[一二]負，欠也。 筭，口錢也。 儒生未有品秩，故寬之。
Note [12]: "fu" means arrears or debt. "Suan" denotes the poll tax on adults. Because literati had no formal rank, the rules eased their tax burden.
25
注[一三]文帝、宣帝也。 文帝遭呂氏難，故亦云中興。
Note [13]: Emperors Wen and Xuan of Han. Emperor Wen survived the Lü usurpation, so his reign too counts among Han's restorations.
26
帝感其言，申下有司，考其真偽，詳所施行。 雄之所言，皆明達政體，而宦豎□權，終不能用。 自是選代交互，令長月易，迎新送舊，勞擾無已，或官寺空曠，無人案事，每選部劇，乃至逃亡。
The emperor took his advice to heart, ordered the bureaus to verify every point, and spell out what to put into practice. Zuo Xiong's every word showed a grasp of statecraft, yet eunuchs held the real power and his reforms never took hold. After that, magistrates were shuffled incessantly—some counties saw a new face every month, escorts never rested, yamen gates stood empty with no one hearing suits, and when the ministry posted a "hard" county, candidates simply ran away.
27
永建三年，京師、漢陽地皆震裂，水泉湧出。 四年，司、冀復有大水。 雄推較□異，以為下人有逆上之征，[一]又上疏言：「宜密為備，以俟不虞。 」尋而青、冀、楊州盜賊連發，數年之閒，海內擾亂。 其後天下大赦，賊雖頗解，而官猶無備，流叛之餘，數月復起。 雄與僕射郭虔共上疏，以為「寇賊連年，死亡太半，一人犯法，舉宗腢亡。 宜及其尚微，開令改悔。 若告黨與者，聽除其罪；
In Yongjian 3 the ground split in the capital and in Hanyang, and water burst from new fissures. The next year Si and Ji provinces were again inundated. Zuo Xiong collated these portents as omens of subjects turning against their rulers; [1] he memorialized again: "You should quietly ready the realm for whatever may come." Soon rebels erupted across Qing, Ji, and Yang, and within a few years the empire was in turmoil. A general amnesty followed and the uprisings eased, but the court still made no preparations, so the surviving rebels rekindled the war within months. Zuo Xiong and Vice Director Guo Qian jointly urged: "Years of banditry have halved the population; a single crime now drives entire lineages into outlawry." Strike while the evil is still small: offer them a path to repent. Grant amnesty to anyone who exposes his accomplices;
28
能誅斬者，明加其賞」。 書奏，並不省。 注[一]天鏡經曰：「大水自平地出，破山殺人，其國有兵。」
and pay a clear bounty to anyone who captures or kills the leaders." The memorial went up and sank without a trace. Note [1]: the Tianjing jing reads, "Floods that burst from flat ground, shatter hills, and drown people foretell war for that kingdom."
29
又上言：「宜崇經術，繕修太學。 」帝從之。 陽嘉元年，太學新成，詔試明經者補弟子，增甲乙之科，員各十人。 除京師及郡國耆儒年六十以上為郎、舍人、諸王國郎者百三十八人。
He urged again: "Elevate classical learning and rebuild the Imperial Academy." The emperor agreed. In Yangjia 1, when the new academy stood finished, an edict opened places for classicists who passed the exam as disciples, with ten slots each in the jia and yi ranks. He appointed a hundred thirty-eight gray-bearded scholars of sixty or more from the capital and the provinces as Gentlemen, palace attendants, or princely householders.
30
雄又上言：「郡國孝廉，古之貢士，出則宰民，宣協風教。 若其面牆，則無所施用。 孔子曰『四十不惑』，禮稱『強仕』。 請自今孝廉年不滿四十，不得察舉，皆先詣公府，諸生試家法，[一]文吏課箋奏，副之端門，練其虛實，以觀異能，以美風俗。 有不承科令者，正其罪法。 若有茂才異行，自可不拘年齒。 」帝從之，於是班下郡國。 明年，有廣陵孝廉徐淑，[二]年未及舉，台郎疑而詰之。
Zuo Xiong added: "The filial-and-incorrupt nominees from the provinces are the old tribute scholars; once in office they govern the people and must embody local mores and moral teaching. If they are blank as a wall facing you, they are useless in office. The Master said, "At forty doubts cease," and the ritual canon calls forty the age fit for full duty. Henceforth, he proposed, no one under forty should be nominated as filial and incorrupt; each candidate must first present himself at the capital bureaus—students tested on their master's school of thought, [1] clerks on petition style—with copies posted at the Duan Gate so examiners could sift substance from show and thereby improve public morals. Anyone who flouts the regulations should be punished under statute. Men of conspicuous genius may of course be exempted from the age rule. The emperor accepted the plan and promulgated it to every province. The following year Guangling nominated Xu Shu as filial and incorrupt [2] though he was under forty; the palace Gentlemen challenged him.
31
對曰：「詔書曰『有如顏回、子奇，不拘年齒』，[三]是故本郡以臣充選。 」郎不能屈。 雄詰之曰：「昔顏回聞一知十，孝廉聞一知幾邪？ 」淑無以對，乃譴□郡。 於是濟陰太守胡廣等十餘人皆坐謬舉免黜，唯汝南陳蕃、穎川李膺、下邳陳球等三十餘人得拜郎中。 自是牧守畏栗，莫敢輕舉。 迄於永* (嘉) **[□]*，察選清平，多得其人。 注[一]儒有一家之學，故稱家*[法]*。
He answered: "The edict says, 'For a Yan Hui or a Ziqi, waive the age limit,' [3] so my commandery put me forward." The examiner could not refute him. Zuo Xiong shot back: "Yan Hui heard one thing and understood ten; how many does a filial-and-incorrupt understand from one?" Xu Shu had no answer and was sent home in disgrace. More than ten governors, Hu Guang of Jiyin among them, lost office for bad nominations, while only some thirty—including Chen Fan of Runan, Li Ying of Yingchuan, and Chen Qiu of Xiapi—passed and became Gentlemen of the Palace. After that provincial chiefs nominated candidates with trembling care. Down to the Yong (jia) jia era, selections stayed fair and the right men usually won office. Note [1]: each classicist follows one master's tradition, hence "house learning."
32
注[二]謝承書曰「淑字伯進，廣陵海西人也。 寬裕博雅，好學樂道。 隨父慎在京師，鑽孟氏易、春秋、公羊、禮記、周官。 善誦太公六韜，交接英雄，常有壯志。 舉茂才，除勃海修令，遷琅邪都尉」也。
Note [2]: Xie Cheng's history names him Xu Shu, courtesy Bojin, a native of Haixi in Guangling. He was broad-minded, erudite, and devoted to learning. While with his father Shen at court he mastered the Meng Changes, the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Gongyang commentary, the Book of Rites, and the Rites of Zhou. He could recite the Grand Duke's Six Tactics, moved among men of valor, and nursed high ambitions. Later he was nominated as maocai, served as magistrate of Xiu in Bohai, and rose to commandant of Langye."
33
注[三]解見順帝紀。
Note [3]: see the biography of Emperor Shun.
34
雄又奏征海內名儒為博士，使公卿子弟為諸生。 有志操者，加其俸祿。 及汝南謝廉，河南趙建，年始十二，各能通經，雄並奏拜童子郎。 於是負書來學，雲集京師。
Zuo Xiong further asked the throne to call famous scholars from the empire as academy erudits and enroll noble heirs as students. Students who showed character and resolve received higher stipends. When Runan's Xie Lian and Henan's Zhao Jian, each twelve years old, proved their mastery of the classics, Zuo Xiong jointly recommended them as child Gentlemen. Scholars flocked to the capital with satchels of books.
35
初，帝廢為濟陰王，乳母宋娥與黃門孫程等共議立帝，帝后以娥前有謀，遂封為山陽君，邑五千戶。 又封大將軍梁商子冀襄邑侯。 雄上封事曰：「夫裂土封侯，王制所重。 高皇帝約，非劉氏不王，非有功不侯。 孝安皇帝封江京、王聖等，遂致地震之異。 永建二年，封陰謀之功，又有日食之變。 數術之士，鹹歸咎於封爵。 今青州饑虛，盜賊未息，民有乏絕，上求稟貸。 陛下干干勞思，以濟民為務。 宜循古法，寧靜無為，以求天意，以消□異。 誠不宜追錄小恩，虧失大典。 」帝不聽。 雄復諫曰：「臣聞人君莫不好忠正而惡讒諛，然而歷世之患，莫不以忠正得罪，讒諛蒙幸者，蓋聽忠難，從諛易也。 夫刑罪，人情之所甚惡；
Earlier, when the emperor was still the deposed Prince of Jiyin, his nurse Song E had joined eunuch Sun Cheng in enthroning him; the empress later rewarded her past service by enfeoffing her as Lady of Shanyang with five thousand households. The throne also made Grand General Liang Shang's son Ji marquis of Xiangyi. Zuo Xiong sent a sealed memorial: "Carving out territory for enfeoffment is the foundation of kingship. Gaozu's iron rule was: no Liu, no kingship; no merit, no marquisate. When Emperor An enfeoffed Jiang Jing, Wang Sheng, and their like, the earth answered with quakes. Yongjian 2 saw rewards for the coup plotters—and another solar eclipse. Every omen specialist blamed the rash of new fiefs. Qingzhou is starving, rebels still roam, the people are destitute, and memorials beg for grain relief. Your Majesty burns midnight oil to save the commoners. You should return to the old ways—quiet rule—to win Heaven's favor and lift these portents. It is wrong to repay petty favors at the cost of the great statutes. The emperor would not hear of it. Zuo Xiong protested again: "Every ruler claims to love straight speech and hate flattery, yet age after age loyal men are ruined while toadies thrive—because truth is hard to hear and flattery easy to swallow." Punishment is what every heart dreads;
36
貴寵，人情之所甚欲。 是以時俗為忠者少，而習諛者多。 故令人主數聞其美，稀知其過，迷而不悟，至於危亡。 臣伏見詔書顧念阿母舊德宿恩，欲特加顯賞。
while favor is what every heart craves. So the age produces few who dare be loyal and many who learn to flatter. The ruler hears endless praise of himself, seldom his faults, drifts in a fog, and slides toward ruin. I note that an edict would reward your nurse's long service with extraordinary honors.
37
案尚書故事，無乳母爵邑之制，唯先帝時阿母王聖為野王君。 聖造生讒賊廢立之禍，生為天下所咀嚼，死為海內所歡快。 桀、紂貴為天子，而庸僕羞與為比者，以其無義也。 夷、齊賤為匹夫，而王侯爭與為伍者，以其有德也。 今阿母躬蹈約儉，以身率下，腢僚蒸庶，莫不向風，而與王聖並同爵號，懼違本操，失其常願。 臣愚以為凡人之心，理不相遠，其所不安，古今一也。 百姓深懲王聖傾覆之禍，民萌之命，危於累卵，常懼時世復有此類。 怵惕之念，未離於心；
The archives show no precedent for enfeoffing nurses; only once before did Wang Sheng become Lady of Yewang. That woman spawned the cabal that deposed emperors—alive she was gnawed over by the empire, dead she was cheered across the realm. Jie and Zhou sat on the throne, yet ordinary slaves scorned their name for want of righteousness. Boyi and Shuqi were mere commoners, yet princes competed to stand with them for their virtue. Your nurse lives modestly and sets a frugal example; officials and people all take her cue—yet to match Wang Sheng's title may betray her own principles and what she truly wants. I believe ordinary hearts are alike: what unsettles them today unsettled them yesterday. The people still smart from Wang Sheng's coup; their lives hang by a thread; they dread another such hour. Fear still gnaws at them;
38
恐懼之言，未絕乎口。 乞如前議，歲以千萬給奉阿母，內足以盡恩愛之歡，外可不為吏民所怪。 梁冀之封，事非機急，宜過□□之運，然後平議可否。 」會復有地震、緱氏山崩之異，雄復上疏諫曰：「先帝封野王君，漢陽地震，今封山陽君而京城復震，專政在陰，其□尤大。 臣前後瞽言封爵至重，王者可私人以財，不可以官，宜還阿母之封，以塞□異。 今冀已高讓，山陽君亦宜崇其本節。 」雄言數切至，娥亦畏懼辭讓，而帝戀戀不能已，卒封之。 後阿母遂以交遘失爵。
and frightened talk never leaves their lips. Do as we urged before: grant her a million cash a year—enough to show affection without shocking officials and commoners. Liang Ji's marquisate is no emergency; wait until this troubled cycle passes, then debate his fief in calm council. Then came fresh quakes and the fall of Mount Gou'shi. Zuo Xiong wrote again: "Yewang's enfeoffment shook Hanyang; Shanyang's title now shakes the capital—yin power dominates, and the omen is grave." I have said again and again that titles outweigh gifts: a king may enrich a favorite, not ennoble her at whim—withdraw the nurse's fief to quiet Heaven. Liang Ji has already demurred with lofty words; let Lady of Shanyang likewise cling to her modest virtue. Zuo Xiong's tone was blunt; Song E herself tried to decline; yet the emperor could not let go and enfeoffed her anyway. Later the nurse lost her title to factional slander.
39
是時大司農劉據以職事被譴，召詣尚書，傳呼促步，又加以捶撲。 雄上言：「九卿位亞三事，班在大臣，行有佩玉之節，動有庠序之儀。 [一]孝明皇帝始有撲罰，皆非古典。 」帝從而改之，其後九卿無復捶撲者。 自雄掌納言，多所匡肅，每有章表奏議，台閣以為故事。 遷司隸校尉。 注[一]禮記曰：「公侯佩山玄玉而朱組綬，大夫佩水蒼玉而緇組綬。」
Grand Minister of Agriculture Liu Ju was hauled before the Masters of Writing for a work fault, hustled in at a run, and flogged. Zuo Xiong protested: "The nine ministers stand just below the Three Dukes; they are great officers whose pace should jingle with ritual jade and whose bearing should match the academy's dignity." [1] Clubbing ministers began under Emperor Ming—it is nowhere in the classical canon." The emperor accepted the reform, and no minister was beaten thereafter. Once Zuo Xiong controlled memorials, he cleaned up countless abuses; his memorials became models for the bureaus. He was raised to Metropolitan Superintendent. Note [1]: the Book of Rites specifies, "Dukes and marquises wear dark mountain jade on vermilion cords; grandees wear water-azure jade on black cords."
40
初，雄薦周舉為尚書，舉既稱職，議者咸稱焉。 及在司隸，又舉故冀州刺史馮直以為將帥，而直嘗坐臧受罪，舉以此劾奏雄。 雄悅曰：「吾嘗事馮直之父而又與直善，今宣光以此奏吾，乃是韓厥之舉也。 」由是天下服焉。 [一]明年坐法免。 後復為尚書。 永和三年卒。 注[一]韓厥，韓獻子也。 國語曰：「趙宣子舉獻子於靈公，以為司馬。 河曲之役，宣子使人以其乘車干行，獻子執而戮之。 宣子皆告諸大夫曰：『可賀我矣。 吾舉厥也而中吾，乃今知免於罪矣。』」
Earlier Zuo Xiong had recommended Zhou Ju for the Masters of Writing; Zhou proved equal to the job and won universal praise. As superintendent he nominated former Ji governor Feng Zhi for a military post—yet Feng had been convicted of graft; Zhou Ju impeached Zuo Xiong for it. Zuo Xiong replied gladly: "I served Feng Zhi's father and was his friend; for Zhou Ju to impeach me over this is Han Jue's kind of integrity." The empire admired him for it. [1] The following year he lost his post for a legal infraction. He was later reappointed to the Masters of Writing. He died in Yonghe 3. Note [1]: Han Jue is the same man as Han Xianzi. The Guoyu records that Zhao Dun recommended Han Jue to Duke Ling of Jin as minister of war. During the battle at the Yellow River bend, Zhao Dun sent a driver to cut across the army's line; Han Jue arrested the man and had him executed. Zhao Dun then told the ministers, 'Congratulate me.' 'I picked Han Jue, and he held me to the law—now I see I am cleared of fault.'"
41
周舉字宣光，汝南汝陽人，陳留太守防之子。 防在儒林傳。 舉姿貌短陋，而博學洽聞，為儒者所宗，故京師為之語曰：「五經從橫周宣光。」
Zhou Ju, courtesy Xuanguang, came from Ruyang in Runan and was the son of Chenliu governor Zhou Fang. Zhou Fang has his own entry under the literati. Zhou Ju was plain and stunted in looks, yet so widely read that scholars took him as their authority—hence the capital rhyme: 'The Five Classics in every direction—Zhou Xuanguang.'
42
延* (熹) **[光]*四年，辟司徒李合府。 時宦者孫程等既立順帝，誅滅諸閻，議郎陳禪以為閻太后與帝無母子恩，宜徙別館，絕朝見。 腢臣議者鹹以為宜。 舉謂合曰：「昔鄭武姜謀殺嚴公，嚴公誓之黃泉； 秦始皇怨母失行，久而隔絕，後感穎考叔、茅焦之言，循復子道。 書傳美之。 [一]今諸閻新誅，太后幽在離宮，若悲愁生疾，一日不虞，主上將何以令於天下？ 如從禪議，後世歸咎明公。 宜密表朝廷，令奉太后，率厲腢臣，朝覲如舊，以厭天心，以荅人望。 」合即上疏陳之。 明年正月，帝乃朝於東宮，太后由此以安。 注[一]鄭武姜生莊公及共叔段，愛叔段，謀殺莊公。 公誓之曰：「不及黃泉，無相見也。 」既而悔之。 穎考叔為穎谷封人，曰：「若掘地及泉，隧而相見，其誰曰不然！ 」公從之，遂為母子如初。 事見左傳。 茅焦事，解見蘇竟傳也。
In the Yanguang (variant graph) In the fourth year of the Yanguang era he entered the bureau of Minister of Education Li He. After Sun Cheng's party had enthroned Emperor Shun and wiped out the Yan clan, Counselor Chen Chan argued that Empress Dowager Yan owed the emperor no maternal bond and should be packed off to a detached palace and denied audience. The court consensus favored Chen Chan's plan. Zhou Ju told Li He: "Long ago Lady Wu of Zheng schemed against Duke Zhuang, and the duke swore never to see her short of the underworld;" the First Emperor of Qin loathed his mother's scandal and kept her at a distance until Ying Kaoshu and Mao Jiao moved him to resume a son's duty." Historians celebrate such reconciliations. [1] The Yan have just been slaughtered and the dowager languishes apart from court—if grief sickens her and she dies suddenly, how will Your Majesty answer the empire?" Adopt Chen Chan's advice, and posterity will blame you, sir." Send a private memorial urging the throne to honor her as dowager, lead the ministers in the old audiences, satisfy Heaven, and meet the people's hopes." Li He did so at once. The next New Year the emperor appeared at the Eastern Palace, and the dowager's position was secured. Note [1]: Lady Wu of Zheng favored her younger son Duan and plotted against Duke Zhuang. The duke swore, 'We meet again only in the Yellow Springs.' He soon repented. Ying Kaoshu of Ying Valley said, 'Dig until you strike water and meet through a tunnel—who will call that breaking your oath?' The duke agreed, and mother and son were reconciled. The story is in the Zuo zhuan. Mao Jiao's story is told in the biography of Su Jing.
43
後長樂少府朱倀[一]代合為司徒，舉猶為吏。 時孫程等坐懷表上殿爭功，帝怒，悉徙封遠縣，□洛陽令促期發遣。 舉說朱倀曰：「朝廷在西鐘下時，非孫程等豈立？ [二]雖韓、彭、吳、賈之功，何以加諸！ [三]今忘其大德，錄其小過，如道路夭折，帝有殺功臣之譏。 及今未去，宜急表之。 」倀曰：「今詔怒，二尚書已奏其事，吾獨表此，必致罪譴。 」舉曰：「明公年過八十，位為台輔，不於今時竭忠報國，惜身安寵，欲以何求？ 祿位雖全，必陷佞邪之譏； 諫而獲罪，猶有忠貞之名。 若舉言不足采，請從此辭。 」倀乃表諫，帝果從之。 注[一]音丑良反。
Later Chief Intendant Zhu Chang succeeded Li He as minister while Zhou Ju remained on his staff. When Sun Cheng's faction wore tablets into the hall to wrangle over rewards, the emperor banished them to distant fiefs and ordered the Luoyang magistrate to hustle them out of the capital. Zhou Ju urged Zhu Chang: 'When the court cowered under the west-bell coup, without Sun Cheng's band who would be emperor? [2] Not even Han Xin, Peng Yue, Wu Han, or Jia Fu did more.' [3] To forget that debt and harp on petty faults—if they die on the road, the throne will wear the stain of executing its benefactors.' Memorialize now, before they are gone.' Zhu answered: 'The emperor is furious and both Masters of Writing have already endorsed the exile—if I intervene alone I invite punishment.' Zhou Ju replied: 'You are past eighty and sit as one of the three pillars—if you will not spend your credit for the state now, hoarding safety and favor, what is left to want?' You may keep rank and salary, but you will be remembered as a time-serving flatterer;' 'speak out and suffer—yet you win a loyalist's name.' If my counsel is worthless, dismiss me from your service.' Zhu Chang memorialized; the emperor relented. Note [1]: the name is read chou liang fan.
44
注[二]朝廷謂順帝也。 孫程與王康等十八人謀於西鐘下，共立濟陰王為順帝也。
Note [2]: 'the court' refers to Emperor Shun's party. Sun Cheng, Wang Kang, and sixteen others plotted at the west bell to enthrone the Prince of Jiyin as Emperor Shun.
45
注[三]韓信、彭越、吳漢、賈復也。
Note [3]: Han Xin, Peng Yue, Wu Han, and Jia Fu.
46
舉後舉茂才，為平丘令。 [一]上書言當世得失，辭甚切正。 尚書郭虔、應賀等見之歎息，共上疏稱舉忠直，欲帝置章御坐，以為規誡。 [二]注[一]平丘，縣，屬陳留郡。
Later, nominated as maocai, he became magistrate of Pingqiu. [1] He memorialized on current policy in language that was blunt and sound. Guo Qian, Ying He, and their colleagues read it with admiration and jointly urged the throne to keep the memorial on the imperial desk as a standing reminder. [2] Note [1]: Pingqiu county lay in Chenliu commandery.
47
注[二]章謂所上之書。
Note [2]: 'zhang' means the memorial itself.
48
舉稍遷并州刺史。 太原一郡，舊俗以介子推焚骸，有龍忌之禁。 [一]至其亡月，鹹言神靈不樂舉火，由是士民每冬中輒一月寒食，莫敢煙爨，老小不堪，歲多死者。 舉既到州，乃作弔書以置子推之廟，言盛冬去火，殘損民命，非賢者之意，以宣示愚民，使還溫食。 [二]於是觿惑稍解，風俗頗革。 注[一]新序曰：「晉文公反國，介子推無爵，遂去而之介山之上。 文公求之不得，乃焚其山，推遂不出而焚死。 」事具耿恭傳。 龍，星，木之位也，春見東方。
He rose step by step to governor of Bing Province. Taiyuan still observed a spring taboo on fire for fear of offending the spirit of Jie Zitui, whom legend said Duke Wen had burned on the hill. [1] In the month of his death people said the gods forbade fires, so for a midwinter month none would light a stove; the old and weak perished by the score. Zhou Ju posted a tract at Jie Zitui's shrine arguing that midwinter bans on fire wasted lives and shamed a worthy man's memory, and urged the people back to cooked food. [2] Superstition eased and the harmful custom faded. Note [1]: the Xin xu says that when Duke Wen of Jin took power, Jie Zitui, having no fief, withdrew to Mount Jie. The duke could not find him and set the hill afire; Jie Zitui refused to emerge and died in the flames. The fuller account appears in the biography of Geng Gong. The 'dragon' asterism belongs to the east and wood and rises in spring.
49
心為大火，懼火之盛，故為之禁火。 俗傳雲子推以此日被焚而禁火。
The heart constellation is the Great Fire—people feared its heat and banned cooking. Folk belief tied the taboo to the anniversary of Jie Zitui's burning.
50
注[二]其事見桓譚新論及汝南先賢傳也。
Note [2]: see Huan Tan's Xin lun and the Runan worthies' lives.
51
轉冀州刺史。 陽嘉三年，司隸校尉左雄薦舉，征拜尚書。 舉與僕射黃瓊同心輔政，名重朝廷，左右憚之。 是歲河南、三輔大旱，五穀□傷，天子親自露坐德陽殿東廂請雨，又下司隸、河南禱祀河神、名山、大澤。 詔書以舉才學優深，特下策問曰：「朕以不德，仰承三統，[一]夙興夜寐，思協大中。 [二]頃年以來，旱□屢應，稼穡焦枯，民食困乏。 五品不訓，王澤未流，[三]腢司素餐，據非其位。 審所貶黜，變復之征，厥□何由？ 分別具對，勿有所諱。 」舉對曰：「臣聞易稱『天尊地卑，乾坤以定』。 二儀交構，乃生萬物，萬物之中，以人為貴。
He was transferred to the governorship of Ji Province. In Yangjia 3 Metropolitan Superintendent Zuo Xiong recommended him; he was summoned to the Masters of Writing. He and Vice Director Huang Qiong ran the administration in concert and were so formidable that the palace faction tread softly. That year Henan and the capital region withered in drought; the emperor exposed himself in the east loggia of the Deyang Hall to beg rain and sent the metropolitan command and Henan to sacrifice to the river god and great peaks. An edict singled out Zhou Ju's erudition for a palace examination: 'I lack virtue yet inherit the triple mandate; [1] I rise early and sleep late, seeking the great mean.' [2] Yet droughts return year after year, the fields are charred, and the people go hungry.' [3] The five relationships go untaught, royal grace does not reach the people, and officials warm seats they do not deserve.' Whom should we dismiss to turn these omens around?' Answer plainly and hold nothing back.'" Zhou Ju answered: 'The Book of Changes says, "Heaven is high, earth is low—thus Qian and Kun are fixed."' Heaven and earth engender the myriad creatures, of which mankind is noblest.'
52
故聖人養之以君，成之以化，順四節之宜，適陰陽之和，使男女婚娶不過其時。
The sages therefore set rulers over them, shaped them through education, tuned life to the seasons and to yin-yang, and kept marriage within its proper age.'
53
包之以仁恩，導之以德教，示之以□異，訓之以嘉祥。 此先聖承干養物之始也。
They enfold the people in kindness, guide them with moral teaching, warn them with portents, and encourage them with good omens.' Such is the way the ancient kings matched Heaven in caring for creation.'
54
夫陰陽閉隔，則二氣否塞； 二氣否塞，則人物不昌； 人物不昌，則風雨不時；
When yin and yang are blocked,' the two breaths choke each other,' creatures fail to thrive,'
55
風雨不時，則水旱成□。 陛下處唐虞之位，未行堯舜之政，近廢文帝、光武之法，而循亡秦奢侈之欲，內積怨女，外有曠夫。 今皇嗣不興，東宮未立，傷和逆理，斷絕人倫之所致也。 非但陛下行此而已，豎宦之人，亦復虛以形埶，威侮良家，取女閉之，至有白首歿無配偶，逆於天心。 [四]昔武王入殷，出傾宮之女； [五]成湯遭□，以六事克己； [六]魯僖遇旱，而自責祈雨：[七]皆以精誠轉禍為福。 自枯旱以來，彌歷年歲，未聞陛下改過之□，徒勞至尊暴露風塵，誠無益也。 又下州郡祈神致請。 昔齊有大旱，景公欲祀河伯，晏子諫曰：『不可。
the seasons of wind and rain break down,' and flood and drought follow.' Your Majesty sits where Yao and Yu sat yet does not rule like them; you have cast aside the ways of Emperors Wen and Guangwu for the extravagance of dead Qin—hoarding resentful concubines within the palace while common men lack wives.' No heir has been named and the crown prince's quarters stand empty—this is what comes of violating harmony, inverting the natural order, and breaking human ties.' Nor is the fault yours alone: eunuchs abuse their power, drag off women from decent families, and lock them in the palace until some die gray-haired and alone—Heaven cannot approve.' [4] When King Wu entered Yin he freed the harem of Shang.' [5] When Tang faced drought he disciplined himself on six counts;' [6] Duke Xi of Lu blamed himself and prayed for rain. [7] Sincerity turned calamity into blessing.' The dry years have stacked up, yet no edict shows you mending what Heaven resents; parading the Son of Heaven in the dust wins no rain.' Ordering the provinces to sacrifice to gods will not end the drought. When Qi suffered drought, Duke Jing wanted to sacrifice to the river god; Yanzi said no.'
56
夫河伯以水為城國，魚□為民庶。 水盡魚枯，豈不欲雨？ 自是不能致也。 』[八]陛下所行，但務其華，不尋其實，猶緣木希魚，□行求前。 [九]誠宜推信革政，崇道變惑，出後宮不御之女，理天下冤枉之獄，除太官重膳之費。 夫五品不訓，責在司徒，有非其位，宜急黜斥。 臣自藩外擢典納言，學薄智淺，不足以對。
'The river god's realm is water; fish and turtles are his people.' 'When the river runs dry, would he not want rain as much as we?' 'Yet he cannot make it fall.' [8] Your Majesty chases show, not substance—like climbing a tree for fish or walking backward to advance.' [9] Extend good faith, reform the administration, elevate the Way, dismiss unused concubines, clear false convictions, and cut the lavish court kitchen.' If the five relationships go untaught, fault the Minister of Education; remove men unfit for their posts at once.' Raised from a provincial post to this speaking role, your servant admits his learning is thin and his judgment slight—he cannot exhaust the topic in one reply.'
57
易傳曰：『陽感天，不旋日。 』[一０]惟陛下留神裁察。 」因召見舉及尚書令成翊世、僕射黃瓊，問以得失。 舉等並對以為宜慎官人，去斥貪污，離遠佞邪，循文帝之儉，尊孝明之教，則時雨必應。 帝曰：「百官貪污佞邪者為誰乎？ 」舉獨對曰：「臣從下州，超備機密，不足以別腢臣。 [一一]然公卿大臣數有直言者，忠貞也； 阿諛苟容者，佞邪也。 司徒視事六年，未聞有忠言異謀，愚心在此。」
The Yi zhuan says, 'When yang stirs Heaven, the response comes within the day.' [10] May Your Majesty weigh these words.'" The emperor then called in Zhou Ju, Director Cheng Yishi, and Vice Director Huang Qiong to hear their verdict on what was wrong with the government. They agreed that the court must pick officials with care, purge the venal, shun flatterers, revive Emperor Wen's austerity and Emperor Ming's moral teaching—then the skies would answer with rain. The emperor asked, "Which of my ministers are corrupt toadies?" Zhou Ju answered alone: "I rose from a remote province to a confidential post—I cannot read every heart at court. [11] Still, those who speak plainly are loyal; those who fawn for safety are the toadies." The Minister of Education has sat six years without a single searching memorial—in my poor judgment he is suspect."
58
其後以事免司徒劉崎，遷舉司隸校尉。 注[一]天統、地統、人統謂之三統。 事見白武通。
Soon afterward Liu Qi was stripped of the ministry and Zhou Ju became metropolitan superintendent. Note [1]: the three cosmic orders—Heaven, earth, and mankind. See the Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall.
59
注[二]尚書洪範曰：「建用皇極。 」孔安國注云：「皇，大也。 極，中也。 言立大中之道而行之也。」
Note [2]: the Book of Documents, "Great Plan," says, "Take the great mean as your standard. " Kong Anguo glosses: "Huang means great. Ji means the center. That is: set up the middle way and walk in it."
60
注[三]五品，五常之教也。 書曰：「五品不遜，汝作司徒，敬敷五教在寬。 」訓亦遜之義。
Note [3]: the "five grades" are the five moral relationships. The Documents reads, "When the five relationships fail, you, as Minister of Education, must spread the five teachings in gentleness. " Here "xun" means compliant or yielding.
61
注[四]歿，終也。
Note [4]: "mo" means to die or end.
62
注[五]帝王紀曰：「武王入殷，命召公釋箕子之囚，表商容之閭，出傾宮之女於諸侯。」
Note [5]: the Di wang ji records King Wu freeing Jizi, honoring Shang Rong, and sending Shang's harem women back to the regional lords.
63
注[六]帝王紀曰：「湯伐桀，後大旱七年，洛川竭，使人持三足鼎祝於山川曰：
Note [6]: the Di wang ji says that after Tang overthrew Jie, seven years of drought emptied the Luo until Tang sent envoys with a tripod to pray:
64
『政不節邪？ 使人疾邪？ 苞苴行邪？ 讒夫昌邪？ 宮室榮邪？ 女謁行邪？ 何不雨之極也！ 』」注[七]解見楊厚傳。
"Is my government ill-disciplined? Are the people overworked? Do bribes run unchecked? Do slanderers thrive? Are palaces too splendid? Do palace women peddle influence? Why then does Heaven withhold every drop!" End quote." Note [7]: see Yang Hou's biography.
65
注[八]晏子春秋之文。
Note [8]: from the Yanzi spring and autumn annals.
66
注[九]緣木求魚，見孟子之文。 韓詩外傳曰：「夫明鏡所以照形，往古所以知今。
Note [9]: "climbing a tree for fish" comes from Mencius. The Han shi waizhuan says, "As a bright mirror shows the face, antiquity shows the present.
67
夫惡知往古之所以危亡，無異□行而求逮於前人也。」
How else explain past dynasties' fall—unless it is like walking backward yet hoping to outpace those ahead?"
68
注[一０]易稽覽圖之文也。 解具郎顗傳也。
Note [10]: from the Yi jilan tu. Full discussion appears in Lang Yi's biography.
69
注[一一]別音彼列反。
Note [11]: "bie" is read bi lie fan.
70
注[二]杜預注左傳曰：「短折曰夭，未名曰昏。」
Note [2]: Du Yu defines yao as early death and hun as dying unnamed.
71
注[二]纂文曰：「□露，今之輓歌也。 」崔豹古今注□露歌曰：「□上露何易唏！
Note [2]: the Zuanwen calls the funeral hymn xielu—the "dew on the leek" dirge. Cui Bao's Gujin zhu quotes the song: "Dew on the leek dries so fast!
72
露晞明朝還復落，人死一去何時歸？」
The sun burns it off, yet dew returns at dawn—but the dead do not come back."
73
注[三]左傳曰，叔孫昭子與宋公語，相泣。 樂祁退而告人曰：「君與叔孫其皆死乎？ 吾聞之，哀樂而樂哀，皆喪心也。 心之精爽，是謂魂魄。 魂魄去之，何以能久也！」
Note [3]: the Zuo zhuan tells how Shusun Zhaozi and the Duke of Song wept together. Yue Qi left and said, "Lord and minister will both die. I have heard: grief that turns to joy, or joy that turns to grief, means the heart has left its seat. The vital brightness of the mind is the hun and po souls. When those souls flee, how long can the body last!"
74
時連有□異，帝思商言，召舉於顯親殿，問以變眚。 舉對曰：「陛下初立，遵修舊典，興化致政，遠近肅然。 頃年以來，稍違於前，朝多寵幸，祿不序德。 觀天察人，准今方古，誠可危懼。 書曰：『僭恆暘若。 』[一]夫僭差無度，則言不從而下不正； 陽無以制，則上擾下竭。 宜密嚴□州郡，察強宗大奸，以時禽討。」
Portents piled up until the emperor recalled Zhao Shang's earlier advice and summoned Zhou Ju to the Hall of Manifest Kin to ask what the omens meant. Zhou Ju answered: "At your accession you restored the old statutes and spread reform—order prevailed from the capital to the marches. Lately policy has drifted: favorites multiply, and rank no longer tracks merit. Read Heaven, read men, compare today with yesterday—the picture is frightening. The Documents warns: "Persistent arrogance brings drought. [1] When excess knows no limit, orders fail and the base goes crooked; when unchecked yang rages, high and low both suffer." Secretly tighten control on the provinces, root out great clans and arch-criminals, and strike when the moment is ripe."
75
其後江淮猾賊周生、徐鳳等處處並起，如舉所陳。 注[一]尚書洪範之文也。 孔安國注曰：「君行僭差，則常暘順之也。」
Soon the Huai bandits Zhou Sheng and Xu Feng rose everywhere, just as Zhou Ju had warned. Note [1]: from the "Great Plan" in the Book of Documents. Kong Anguo adds: "When the ruler strays from the mean, long drought follows."
76
時詔遣八使巡行風俗，皆選素有威名者，乃拜舉為侍中，舉侍中杜喬、守光祿大夫周栩、前青州刺史馮羨、尚書欒巴、侍御史張綱、兗州刺史郭遵、太尉長史劉班並守光祿大夫，分行天下。 其刺史、二千石有臧罪顯明者，驛馬上之；
An edict then dispatched eight inspectors, each a man of proven sternness: Zhou Ju and Du Qiao as palace attendants, Zhou Xu and others as acting grand masters of splendid carriages—they fanned out across the empire. Any governor or two-thousand-dan with clear evidence of graft was to be reported by post horse;
77
墨綬以下，便輒收舉。 其有清忠惠利，為百姓所安，宜表異者，皆以狀上。 於是八使同時俱拜，天下號曰「八俊」。 舉於是劾奏貪猾，表薦公清，朝廷稱之。
magistrates in the black sash could be seized on the spot. Pure, useful magistrates beloved of the people were to be singled out in memorials. The eight men took office together and the empire dubbed them the "Eight Paragons." Zhou Ju impeached the corrupt and recommended the clean; the court applauded him.
78
遷河內太守，征為大鴻臚。
He became governor of Henei, then was recalled as grand herald.
79
及梁太后臨朝，詔以殤帝幼崩，廟次宜在順帝下。 太常馬訪奏宜如詔書，諫議大夫呂勃以為應依昭穆之序，先殤帝，後順帝。 詔下公卿。 舉議曰：「春秋魯閔公無子，庶兄僖公代立，其子文公遂躋僖於閔上。 孔子譏之，書曰：『有事於太廟，躋僖公。 』傳曰：『逆祀也。 』[一]及定公正其序，經曰『從祀先公』，為萬世法也。 [二]今殤帝在先，於秩為父，順帝在後，於親為子，先後之義不可改，昭穆之序不可亂。 呂勃議是也。 」太后下詔從之。 遷光祿勳，會遭母憂去職，後拜光祿大夫。 注[一]事見左氏傳。
When Empress Dowager Liang ruled, an edict argued that the infant Emperor Shang, having died young, should rank below Emperor Shun in the ancestral temple. Minister Ma Fang backed the edict; Counselor Lü Bo insisted on proper zhao-mu order—Shang before Shun. The matter went to the high ministers for debate. Zhou Ju argued: "The Spring and Autumn records that Duke Min of Lu died without an heir and Duke Xi succeeded; Duke Wen later ranked his father Xi above Min. Confucius condemned this with the line, "They sacrificed in the Grand Temple and ranked Xi above Min. The gloss calls it inverted sacrifice. [1] When Duke Ding restored the proper order, the classic read "orderly sacrifice to the former dukes"—that is the pattern for all ages. [2] Emperor Shang precedes Shun as a father in rank; Shun follows as son—the sequence cannot be reversed without breaking zhao-mu. Lü Bo is right." The empress dowager issued an edict agreeing. He rose to director of splendid carriages, resigned for his mother's funeral, then returned as grand master of splendid carriages. Note [1]: see the Zuo zhuan.
80
注[二]左氏傳：「從祀先公。 」杜預云：「從，順也。 先公，閔公、僖公也。 將正二公之位，親盡，故通言先公也。」
Note [2]: the Zuo reads "orderly sacrifice to the former dukes. " Du Yu: "cong" means to set in proper order. The 'former dukes' are Dukes Min and Xi of Lu. Duke Ding was reordering their tablets; because the closer generations had ended, the text speaks broadly of the former dukes."
81
建和三年卒。 朝廷以舉清公亮直，方欲以為宰相，深痛惜之。 乃詔告光祿勳、汝南太守曰：「昔在前世，求賢如渴，封墓軾閭，以光賢哲。 [一]故公叔見誄，翁歸蒙述，所以昭忠厲俗，作范後昆。 [二]故光祿大夫周舉，性侔夷、魚，[三]忠踰隨、管，[四]前授牧守，及還納言，出入京輦，有欽哉之績，[五]在禁闈有密靜之風。 予錄乃勳，用登九列。 方欲式序百官，亮協三事，不永夙終，用乖遠圖。 朝廷愍悼，良為愴然。 詩不雲乎：『肇敏戎功，用錫爾祉。 』[六]其令將大夫以下到喪發日復會吊。 加賜錢十萬，以旌委蛇素絲之節焉。 」[七]子勰。
He died in Jianhe 3. The court had meant to make him chancellor—his death was a bitter loss. An edict to the director of splendid carriages and the Runan governor read: "Ancient kings hunted talent as if parched; they honored the dead by tending tombs and brushing doorposts. [1] Hence dirges for Gongshu and praise for Wengui—to publish loyalty and teach the age. [2] Grand Master Zhou Ju matched Boyi and Shuqi in purity, [3] surpassed Sui Hui and Guan Zhong in loyalty, [4] served as regional governor and at court rode the imperial equipage with "reverent care," [5] and moved through the palace in calm discretion. We record his merit and raise his rank among the nine honors. We meant to array the bureaucracy and harmonize the three councils—he died too soon, and long-range plans collapsed. The court mourns him with genuine grief. The Poetry says, "Work hard at the martial charge and Heaven will extend your blessing. [6] Let every officer down to the generals gather again on the day the catafalque sets out. Add a hundred thousand cash to honor his winding-kudzu, plain-silk integrity. [7] His son was Zhou Xie.
82
[八]注[一]尚書曰，武王入殷，封比干墓，軾商容閭。
[8] Note [1]: the Documents says King Wu tended Bi Gan's grave and honored Shang Rong's door.
83
注[二]公叔文子，衛大夫也。 文子卒，其子戌請謚於君。 君曰：「昔者衛國凶饑，夫子為粥與國之餓者，不亦惠乎？ 衛國有難，夫子以其死衛寡人，不亦貞乎？
Note [2]: Gongshu Wenzi was a Wei minister. When he died, his son Xu asked the duke for a posthumous name. The duke said, "When Wei starved, he fed the hungry—is that not kindness? When Wei was in peril, he died for his lord—is that not loyalty?
84
夫子聽衛國之政，修其班制，不亦文乎？ 謂夫子『貞惠文子』。 」事見禮記。 尹翁歸為右扶風，*[卒]*，宣帝下詔□揚，賜金百斤。 班固曰：「翁歸承風，帝揚厥聲。 」故曰蒙述也。
He put Wei's government in order—is that not refinement? Call him the Loyal, Kind, Refined Master. The story is in the Book of Rites. Yin Wengui, governor of You Fufeng, died in office; Emperor Xuan issued an edict of praise and sent a hundred jin of gold. Ban Gu wrote, "Wengui caught the imperial breeze, and the throne magnified his name." Hence the phrase that the throne "spread his fame" in a written tribute.
85
注[三]伯夷、史魚也。
Note [3]: Boyi and Shi Yu.
86
注[四]隨會、管仲。
Note [4]: Sui Hui and Guan Zhong.
87
注[五]史記堯典曰：「咨十有二牧，欽哉！」
Note [5]: the Shiji "Yao dian" has Yao telling the twelve shepherds, "Be reverent in your charge!"
88
注[六]詩大雅也。 肇，謀也。 敏，疾也。 戎，汝也。 錫，賜也。 祉，福也。
Note [6]: from the "Major Odes" of the Classic of Poetry. "Zhao" means to plan. "Min" means swift or diligent. "Rong" is an old form of "you." "Xi" means to grant. "Zhi" means blessing.
89
注[七]* (詩) *國風羔羊詩：「羔羊之皮，素絲五紽。 退食自公，逶蛇逶蛇。」
Seventh commentary gloss; the following line is supplied from the Odes. (from the Poetry) The "Lamb" ode in the Guofeng says: "Lamb's fleece, five white silk cords. They leave the lord's feast, sash swaying, easy and unhurried."
90
注[八]音□。
Note [8]: pronunciation gloss (character damaged).
91
勰字巨勝，少尚玄虛，以父任為郎，自免歸家。 父故吏河南召夔為郡將，卑身降禮，致敬於勰。 勰恥交報之，因杜門自絕。 後太守舉孝廉，復以疾去。 時梁冀貴盛，被其征命者，莫敢不應，唯勰前後三辟，竟不能屈。 後舉賢良方正，不應。 又公車征，玄纁備禮，固辭廢疾。 常隱處竄身，慕老聃清靜，杜絕人事，巷生荊棘，十有餘歲。 至延熹二年，乃開門延賓，游談宴樂，及秋而梁冀誅，年終而勰卒，時年五十。 蔡邕以為知命。 自勰曾祖父揚至勰孫恂，六世一身，皆知名雲。
Zhou Xie, courtesy Jusheng, favored Daoist quietism; he inherited a nominal court post as Gentleman, then resigned and went home. Shao Kui of Henan, once his father's subordinate and now commandant, humbled himself to honor Zhou Xie. Zhou Xie thought it improper to trade courtesies and barred his gate. Later the governor nominated him as filial and incorrupt; he pleaded illness and declined. When Liang Ji was all-powerful, no one dared ignore his summons—yet Zhou Xie refused three separate calls. He was later nominated as worthy and upright but did not answer. Another imperial carriage summons came with full black-and-yellow gifts; he pleaded chronic infirmity and refused. He lived in hiding, modeled Laozi's stillness, broke off all social ties, until brambles choked his alley for a decade. In Yanxi 2 he reopened his door to guests and conversation; that autumn Liang Ji fell; by year's end Zhou Xie was dead at fifty. Cai Yong said he had read his fate aright. From his great-grandfather Zhou Yang through his grandson Zhou Xun, six generations in direct line won renown.
92
黃瓊字世英，江夏安陸人，魏郡太守香之子也。 香在文苑傳。 瓊初以父任為太子捨人，辭病不就。 遭父憂，服闋，五府俱辟，連年不應。
Huang Qiong, courtesy Shiying, came from Anlu in Jiangxia; his father Xiang had governed Wei commandery. Huang Xiang has a separate entry among the literati. He first received a nominal post as heir apparent's attendant but pleaded illness and never served. After his father's death and the end of mourning, all five chief bureaus summoned him year after year; he ignored every call.
93
永建中，公卿多薦瓊者，於是與會稽賀純、廣漢楊厚俱公車征。 瓊至綸氏，稱疾不進。 [一]有司劾不敬，詔下縣以禮慰遣，遂不得已。 先是徵聘處士多不稱望，李固素慕於瓊，乃以書逆遺之曰：「聞已度伊、洛，近在萬歲亭，豈即事有漸，將順王命乎？ [二]蓋君子謂伯夷隘，柳下惠不恭，故傳曰『不夷不惠，可否之閒』。 [三]蓋聖賢居身之所珍也。 誠遂欲枕山棲谷，擬跡巢、由，斯則可矣；
During Yongjian high ministers repeatedly recommended him, and he was finally summoned by carriage along with He Chun of Kuaiji and Yang Hou of Guanghan. At Lunshi he halted, pleading sickness. [1] Officials impeached him for disrespect; the emperor ordered the county to escort him courteously—he had to go. Earlier summonses had disappointed the court; Li Gu, who admired Huang Qiong, wrote ahead: "I hear you have crossed the Yi and Luo and neared Wansui Post—does this mean you are coming at last to obey the summons? [2] The gentleman finds Boyi too rigid and Liuxia Hui too easy; the adage runs, "Neither as harsh as Boyi nor as lax as Hui—stand in the workable middle." [3] That middle ground is what the sages prized in their conduct. If you mean to sleep on cliffs and rival the recluses Chao and Xu, do so;
94
若當輔政濟民，今其時也。 自生民以來，善政少而亂俗多，必待堯舜之君，此為志士終無時矣。 常聞語曰：『嶢嶢者易缺，皦皦者易污。 』陽春之曲，和者必寡，盛名之下，其實難副。 [四]近魯陽樊君被征初至，朝廷設□席，猶待神明。
if you would govern and save the people, the moment is now. Since history began, good rule has been scarce; wait only for another Yao or Shun and a true man never acts. A proverb says, "The peak that juts gets broken; the gleam that blinds draws mud." "Yangchun" has few who can sing along; a towering reputation rarely matches the fact. [4] When Fan Ying of Luyang first reached court, the throne spread a mat as for a god.
95
[五]雖無大異，而言行所守無缺。 而毀謗布流，應時折減者，豈非觀聽望深，聲名太盛乎？ 自頃徵聘之士，胡元安、薛孟嘗、朱仲昭、顧季鴻等，其功業皆無所採，是故俗論皆言處士純盜虛聲。 願先生弘此遠謨，令觿人歎服，一雪此言耳。 」瓊至，即拜議郎，稍遷尚書僕射。 注[一]綸氏即夏之綸國，少康之邑也。 竹書紀年云：「楚及秦伐鄭綸氏。 」今洛州故嵩陽縣城是也。
[5] He was no miracle worker, yet his conduct was blameless. Still slander cut him down—because the court expected wonders and his fame had overshot reality? Recent hermits such as Hu Yuanan, Xue Mengchang, Zhu Zhongzhao, and Gu Jihong left no deeds—so gossip says every recluse is a fraud. I hope you will vindicate the high path, silence the cynics, and clear that slur once for all." Huang Qiong reached the capital, was made a Gentleman Consultant, and rose to vice director of the Masters of Writing. Note [1]: Lunshi was ancient Lun of the Xia, Shaokang's town. The Zhushu jinian records Chu and Qin attacking Zheng at Lunshi. The site is the old Songyang county seat in modern Luoyang prefecture.
96
注[二]萬歲亭在今洛州故嵩陽縣西北。 武帝元封元年，幸緱氏，登太室，聞山上呼萬歲聲者三，因以名焉。
Note [2]: Wansui Post stood northwest of old Songyang. In Han Wudi's Yuanfeng 1 he visited Gou'shi, climbed Mount Song, heard "long life!" cried thrice from the hills, and named the spot Wansui.
97
注[三]論語孔子曰，伯夷、叔齊不降其志，不辱其身。 謂柳下惠、少連降志辱身。 我則異於是，無可無不可。 鄭玄注云：不為夷、齊之清，不為惠、連之屈，故曰異於是也。
Note [3]: the Analects praises Boyi and Shuqi for never debasing their purpose or person. He classes Liuxia Hui and Shaolian as men who bent their aims and shamed themselves. Confucius adds, "I am not like them—I am bound neither to yes nor to no." Zheng Xuan glosses: Confucius would be neither as austere as Boyi nor as pliant as Hui—hence "different."
98
注[四]宋玉對楚襄王問曰：「客有歌於郢中者，為下裡巴人，國中屬而和者數千人； 為陽春白雪，屬而和者不過數百人。 是其曲□高，其和□寡。」
Note [4]: Song Yu told King Xiang that a singer in Ying drew thousands for a crude tune. When he sang "Yangchun" and "White Snow," only a few hundred could follow. The loftier the song, the thinner the chorus."
99
注[五]樊君，樊英也。 事具英傳。
Note [5]: "Lord Fan" is Fan Ying. His story is told in Fan Ying's biography.
100
初，瓊隨父在台閣，習見故事。 及後居職，達練官曹，爭議朝堂，莫能抗奪。
Huang Qiong grew up in the ministries with his father and learned every precedent. In office he mastered every desk; in court debate no one could overbear him.
101
時連有□異，瓊上疏順帝曰：「閒者以來，卦位錯謬，[一]寒燠相干，蒙氣數興，日闇月散。 [二]原之天意，殆不虛然。 陛下宜開石室，案河洛，[三]外命史官，悉條上永建以前至漢初□異，與永建以後訖於今日，孰為多少。 又使近臣儒者參考政事，數見公卿，察問得失。 諸無功德者，宜皆斥黜。 臣前頗陳□眚，並薦光祿大夫樊英、太中大夫薛包及會稽賀純、廣漢楊厚，未蒙御省。 伏見處士巴郡黃錯、漢陽任棠，年皆耆耋，有作者七人之志。 [四]宜更見引致，助崇大化。 」於是有詔公車征錯等。 注[一]易干鑿度曰：「求卦主歲術常以太歲為歲紀歲，七十六為一紀，二十紀為一蔀首。 即置積蔀首歲數，加所入紀歲數，以三十二除之，不足除者以乾坤始數二卦而得一歲，未筭即主歲之卦也。」
Portents multiplied; Huang Qiong warned Emperor Shun: "Lately the cosmic order has slipped—[1] cold and heat clash, murky vapor veils the sky, sun and moon lose their light. [2] Heaven does not warn without cause. [3] Open the stone archive, consult the Hetu and Luoshu, and have historians list every portent from Han's founding through Yongjian and from Yongjian to the present—which cluster thicker? Let your counselors and classicists review policy, meet ministers often, and weigh what works. Dismiss every placeman without real merit. I have already listed portents and named Fan Ying, Xue Bao, He Chun, and Yang Hou—yet no edict followed. I note recluses Huang Cuo of Ba and Ren Tang of Hanyang—both aged sages with the spirit of the "seven creators." [4] Summon them to help spread your civilizing rule." An edict then called Huang Cuo and the others by imperial carriage. Note [1]: the Yi qian zao du gives the math for the annual hexagram and the seventy-six-year cycle. The gloss explains how to derive the year hexagram from accumulated cycles.
102
注[二]蒙，陰闇也。 散謂不精明。
Note [2]: "meng" means murky yin vapor. "San" means dim or unfocused light.
103
注[三]石室，藏書之府。 河洛，圖書之文也。
Note [3]: the Stone Chamber was the imperial library. Hetu and Luoshu are the river charts and Luo documents.
104
注[四]論語曰：「作者七人。 」注云：「謂伯夷、叔齊、虞仲、夷逸、朱張、柳下惠、少連。」
Note [4]: the Analects speaks of "the seven who withdrew." The gloss names Boyi, Shuqi, Yu Zhong, Yi Yi, Zhu Zhang, Liuxia Hui, and Shaolian.
105
三年，大旱，瓊復上疏曰：「昔魯僖遇旱，以六事自讓，躬節儉，閉女謁，於讒佞者十三人，誅稅民受貨者九人，[一]退捨南郊，天立大雨。 今亦宜顧省政事，有所損闕，務存質儉，以易民聽。 尚方御府，息除煩費。 明□近臣，使遵法度，如有不移，示以好惡。 數見公卿，引納儒士，訪以政化，使陳得失。 又囚徒尚積，多致死亡，亦足以感傷和氣，招降□旱。 若改敝從善，擇用嘉謀，則□消福至矣。 」書奏，引見德陽殿，使中常侍以瓊奏書屬主者施行。 注[一]春秋考異郵曰「僖公之時，雨澤不澍，比於九月，公大驚懼，率腢臣禱山川，以六過自讓，絀女謁，放下讒佞郭都* (之) *等十三人，誅領人之吏受貨賂趙祝等九人。 曰：『辜在寡人。 方今天旱，野無生稼，寡人當死，百姓何謗，請以身塞無狀』」也。
In the third year drought returned; Huang Qiong cited Duke Xi of Lu, who blamed himself on six counts, sealed the harem to influence, cashiered thirteen slanderers, executed nine extortionists, [1] moved his couch to the southern suburb, and rain fell at once. You too should review policy, cut waste, live simply, and shift what the people hear. Idle the imperial workshops and palace treasuries of needless cost. Warn your intimates to obey the law; if they will not change, show them reward and punishment. Meet ministers often, admit scholars, ask how to govern, and hear their verdict on policy. Jails are still crowded and inmates die in droves—enough to sour Heaven's breath and deepen drought. Mend what is broken, heed good counsel, and the portents will lift and blessings return." When the memorial went up, he was received in the Deyang Hall; a chief eunuch forwarded it to the bureaus for action. Note [1]: the Chunqiu kao yi you says Duke Xi of Lu, when rain failed until autumn, led ministers in prayer, confessed six faults, barred harem influence, and cashiered slanderers such as Guo Du (and) —thirteen men in all—and executed nine corrupt tax clerks such as Zhao Zhu. He cried, "The fault is mine alone. Now drought has burned the fields; I should die for it—why blame the people? Let me pay with my life for my failures.
106
自帝即位以後，不行籍田之禮。 瓊以國之大典不宜久廢，上疏奏曰：「自古聖帝哲王，莫不敬恭明祀，增致福祥，故必躬郊廟之禮，親籍田之勤，以先腢萌，率勸農功。 昔周宣王不籍千畝，□文公以為大譏，卒有姜戎之難，終損中興之名。 [一]竊見陛下遵稽古之鴻業，體虔肅以應天，順時奉元，懷柔百神，朝夕觸塵埃於道路，晝暮聆庶政以恤人。 雖詩詠成湯之不怠遑，書美文王之不暇食，誠不能加。 [二]今廟祀適闋，而祈谷絜齋之事，近在明日。 臣恐左右之心，不欲屢動聖躬，以為親耕之禮，可得而廢。 臣聞先王制典，籍田有日，司徒鹹戒，司空除□。 先時五日，有協風之應，王即齋宮，饗醴載耒，誠重之也。 自癸巳以來，仍西北風，甘澤不集，寒涼尚結。 [三]迎春東郊，既不躬親，先農之禮，所宜自勉，以逆和氣，以致時風。 [四]易曰：『君子自強不息。 』斯其道也。 」[五]書奏，帝從之。
Since his accession the emperor had not held the plowing rite on the sacred field. Huang Qiong argued that the great state rites must not lapse: "Since antiquity no wise king has neglected sacrifice to win blessing; they always worshiped at the altars and plowed the sacred field to lead the farmers." [1] When King Xuan skipped the thousand-mu rite, Duke Wen of Jin mocked him—then came the Jiang Rong raid and the stain on the "restoration." [1] Your Majesty revives antiquity, answers Heaven with reverence, tends the seasons and the gods, and toils day and night for the people— the Classic of Poetry praises Tang for never resting, the Documents praises King Wen for skipping meals—yet you surpass both. [2] The ancestral sacrifice has just closed, and the grain prayer begins tomorrow. I fear your attendants would spare you the plowing rite—thinking it may be dropped. The ancient kings fixed a day for the plowing rite: the Minister of Education issued the summons and the Minister of Works readied the field. Five days ahead the warm "cooperating wind" blew; the king entered the fasting hall, poured the libation, and shouldered the plow—such was his solemnity. Since guisi day after day the northwest wind has blown, no sweet rain has gathered, and cold lingers. [3] You did not greet spring in person at the eastern suburb; for the First Farmer rite you should at least plow yourself to draw down mild weather. [4] The Book of Changes says, 'The superior man strives tirelessly.' That is the path he means.' [5] The emperor accepted the memorial.'
107
注[一]國語曰，宣王即位，不籍千畝。 □文公諫曰：「夫人之大事在農，上帝之粢盛於是乎出，故稷為太官。 古者太史順時覛土，農祥晨正日月，底於天廟。 先時九日，太史告稷曰：『陽氣俱蒸，土膏其動。 』稷以告王，王即齋宮，百官御事。 王耕一□，班三之，庶人終於千畝。 」王弗聽，後師敗績於姜氏之戎。 □音扶發反。
Note one: the Guoyu says King Xuan of Zhou neglected the thousand-mu field. Duke Wen of Jin warned him: 'A state's first business is farming—there the gods' grain comes from; hence Hou Ji was grand provisioner.' The grand historian watched the soil and stars until the farming omen aligned at dawn, then reported in the celestial temple.' Nine days before plowing the historian told Hou Ji, 'Warmth has risen; the earth is ready to break.' Hou Ji told the king, who entered the fast hall while all offices prepared.' The king opened one furrow, officials took three passes, and the people finished the thousand mu.' The king refused—and later his army was crushed by the Jiang Rong.' The damaged character is read fu fa fan.
108
注[二]詩商頌曰：「不僭不濫，不敢怠遑。 」書曰「文王至於日中昃，不遑暇食」也。
Note two: the Shang hymns say, 'Neither lavish nor slack, never idle.' The Documents praises King Wen for having no time to eat until noon and dusk.'
109
注[三]西北風曰不周風，亦曰厲風，見呂氏春秋也。
Note three: northwest wind is the Bu Zhou or "fierce" wind per the Lüshi chunqiu.
110
注[四]五經通義曰：「八風者，八卦之氣。 八風以時至，則陰陽變化之道成，萬物得以時育生之。」
Note four: the Wujing tongyi identifies the eight winds with the eight trigrams.' When each wind comes on time, yin and yang work and creatures thrive.'
111
注[五]干卦象曰「天行健，君子以自強不息」也。
Note five: Qian's image reads, 'Heaven moves vigorously; the superior man strives without rest.'
112
頃之，遷尚書令。 瓊以前左雄所上孝廉之選，專用儒學文吏，於取士之義，猶有所遺，乃奏增孝悌及能從政者為四科，事竟施行。 又雄前議舉吏先試之於公府，又覆之於端門，後尚書張盛奏除此科。 瓊復上言：「覆試之作，將以澄洗清濁，覆實虛濫，不宜改革。 」帝乃止。 出為魏郡太守，稍遷太常。 和平中，以選入侍講禁中。
Soon he became director of the Masters of Writing. Huang Qiong thought Zuo Xiong's filial-and-incorrupt rules over-weighted classicists and clerks, so he added filial piety, fraternal duty, and administrative talent as a fourth column—and the reform stuck. Later Zhang Sheng of the Masters of Writing struck out Zuo Xiong's double examination at the capital gate. Huang Qiong protested: 'The second review sorts the genuine from the hollow—it must not be scrapped.' The emperor dropped the repeal. He left the capital for Wei commandery, then rose to minister of ceremonies. During Heping he was chosen to lecture inside the palace.
113
注[二]禮記明堂位曰「周公相武王以伐紂。 武王崩，成王幼弱，周公踐天子位，以理天下。 七年，致政於成王。 成王以周公有勳勞於天下，是以封周公於曲阜，地方七百裡，革車千乘，命魯公世世祀周公以天子之禮樂」也。
Note two: the Mingtang wei says the Duke of Zhou aided King Wu against the last king of Shang.' When Wu died and Cheng was a child, the duke acted as regent.' After seven years he handed power back to Cheng.' Cheng rewarded him with Lu at seven hundred li, a thousand chariots, and rites equal to the Son of Heaven.'
114
注[三]高祖為泗上亭長，蕭何佐之，後拜何為相國，益封五千戶。 霍光廢昌邑王，立宣帝，後益封光萬七千戶。
Note three: Gaozu was a Si River pavilion chief; Xiao He rose with him to five thousand extra households as chancellor.' Huo Guang deposed King Liu He and raised Xuan, then added seventeen thousand households to his fief.'
115
永興元年，遷司徒，轉太尉。 梁冀前後所托辟召，一無所用。 雖有善人而為冀所飾舉者，亦不加命。 延熹元年，以日食免。 復為大司農。 明年，梁冀被誅，太尉胡廣、司徒韓演、司空孫朗皆坐阿附免廢，復拜瓊為太尉。 以師傅之恩，而不阿梁氏，乃封為邟鄉侯，[一]邑千戶。 瓊辭疾讓封六七上，言旨懇惻，乃許之。 梁冀既誅，瓊首居公位，舉奏州郡素行貪污至死徙者十餘人，海內由是翕然望之。 尋而五侯□權，傾動內外，自度力不能匡，乃稱疾不起。 [二]四年，以寇賊免。 其年復為司空。 秋，以地震免。 注[一]說文云「邟，穎川縣」也。 漢穎川有周承休侯國，元始二年更名曰邟，音亢。
In Yongxing 1 he became minister of education, then grand commandant. He honored not a single nominee pushed by Liang Ji. Even worthy men Liang Ji had sponsored received no appointment from Huang Qiong. Yanxi 1: he stepped down after a solar eclipse. He returned as grand minister of agriculture. The next year Liang Ji fell; Hu Guang, Han Yan, and Sun Lang lost their posts for toadying, and Huang Qiong was again made grand commandant. For tutoring the emperor without cringing to Liang Ji he was enfeoffed as marquis of Xiang township with a thousand households.' He pleaded illness and returned the fief six or seven times until the throne relented. First among the three dukes after Liang Ji's death, he impeached a dozen venal governors to death or exile, and the empire looked to him. When the five marquises seized power he knew he could not check them and stayed home "ill." [2] In the fourth year banditry cost him his post.' The same year he was minister of works again. That autumn an earthquake removed him. Note one: the Shuowen places Xiang in Yingchuan.' Han's Zhou Chengxiu marquisate was renamed Xiang in Yuan 2, pronounced kang.'
116
注[二]五侯謂左悺、徐璜等。
Note two: the five marquises are Zuo Guan, Xu Huang, and their clique.'
117
七年，疾篤，上疏諫曰：「臣聞天者務剛其氣，君者務強其政。 是以王者處高自持，不可不安； 履危任力，不可不據。 夫自持不安則顛，任力不據則危。 故聖人升高據上，則以德義為首； 涉危蹈傾，則以賢者為力。 唐堯以德化為冠冕，以稷、契為筋力。 高而益崇，動而愈據，此先聖所以長守萬國，保其社稷者也。
In year seven, dying, he wrote: 'Heaven insists on firm breath; the ruler must stiffen his rule.' A king on the height must stay balanced;' on a cliff he must plant his feet.' Lose your balance and you fall; lose your footing and you plunge.' So the sage on the height puts virtue first;' in danger he leans on the worthy.' Yao wore moral sway as his crown and used Yi and Xie as sinews.' Thus ancient kings grew higher yet steadier and long kept their altars.'
118
言之者必族，附之者必榮。 忠臣懼死而杜口，萬夫怖禍而木舌，[四]塞陛下耳目之明，更為聾瞽之主。 故太尉李固、杜喬，忠以直言，德以輔政，念國亡身，隕歿為報，而坐陳國議，遂見殘滅。 [五]賢愚切痛，海內傷懼。 又前白馬令李雲，指言宦官罪穢宜誅，皆因觿人之心，以救積薪之敝。 [六]弘農杜觿，知雲所言宜行，懼雲以忠獲罪，故上書陳理之，乞同日而死，所以感悟國家，庶雲獲免。
Truth-tellers face extermination; toadies flourish.' Loyal men seal their lips for fear of death, the people hold their tongues for fear of harm, and your eyes and ears go dark.' Li Gu and Du Qiao gave straight counsel for the state and died for it—yet Chen's faction destroyed them.' [5] Worthy and base alike were shaken with fear.' Earlier Baima prefect Li Yun demanded eunuchs be executed for their crimes—speaking for every honest heart.' [6] Du Zhong of Hongnong knew Li Yun was right and offered to die with him to move the court.'
119
而雲既不辜，觿又並坐，天下尤痛，益以怨結，故朝野之人，以忠為諱。 昔趙殺鳴犢，孔子臨河而反。 夫覆巢破卵，則鳳皇不翔； 刳牲夭胎，則麒麟不臻。
Both were punished; the empire grieved and learned to shun loyalty.' When Zhao killed the worthy Mingdu, Confucius turned back from the Yellow River.' Overturn the nest and the phoenix will not circle;' gut a pregnant doe and the unicorn stays away.'
120
誠物類相感，理使其然。 [七]尚書周永，昔為沛令，素事梁冀，幸其威埶，坐事當罪，越拜令職。 見冀將衰，乃陽毀示忠，遂因奸計，亦取封侯。 又黃門協邪，腢輩相黨，自冀興盛，腹背相親，朝夕圖謀，共構奸軌。 臨冀當誅，無可設巧，復記其惡，以要爵賞。 陛下不加清澄，審別真偽，復與忠臣並時顯封，使朱紫共色，粉墨雜蹂，所謂扺金玉於沙礫，[八]碎珪璧於泥塗。 四方聞之，莫不憤歎。 昔曾子大孝，慈母投杼； [九]伯奇至賢，終於流放。 [一０]夫讒諛所舉，無高而不可升； [阿黨]相抑，無深而不可淪。 可不察歟？ 臣至頑駑，世荷國恩，身輕位重，勤不補過，然懼於永歿，負釁益深。 敢以垂絕之日，陳不諱之言，庶有萬分，無恨三泉。 」[一一]其年卒，時年七十九。 贈車騎將軍，謚曰忠侯。 孫琬。 注[一]泮冰諭危陷。 枳棘諭艱難。
Like calls to like—Heaven's logic.' [7] Zhou Yong of the Masters of Writing once governed Pei under Liang Ji, dodged a crime, and vaulted to office.' When Ji fell he pretended to have turned on him and won a marquisate by intrigue.' The eunuchs and Liang Ji were belly-to-back conspirators for years.' At Ji's execution they had no tricks left but to list his crimes and claim reward.' Yet you ennobled them with true ministers—vermilion and violet in one dye, jewels cast in gravel.' The four quarters raged at the sight. Zengzi's mother once threw her shuttle, fooled by slander;' [9] Boqi was supremely worthy yet banished.' [10] Flattery lifts the vile to any height;' When cliques pull down the worthy, none sinks deeper than the good man.' Will you not look closely?' I am a dull man long favored by the throne; my body is slight but my office heavy; diligence cannot mend my faults, yet I dread dying with a heavier guilt.' On death's eve I speak without reserve, hoping for one chance in ten thousand to rest easy below.' [11] He died that year at seventy-nine.' The court titled him general of chariots and cavalry and posthumously "Loyal Marquis."' His grandson was Huang Wan. Note one: floating ice images danger.' Thorns image hardship.'
121
注[二]形，兆也。 言未有天下之兆。 「畫」或作「書」也。
Note two: xing means portent.' There was as yet no sign he would own the realm.' Some texts write "paint" as "write."'
122
注[三]殷，盛也。
Note three: yin means flourishing.'
123
注[四]法言曰「金口木舌」也。
Note four: Yang Xiong's Fayan speaks of the wooden-tongued bell.'
124
注[五]坐音才臥反。
Note five: zuo is read cai wo fan.'
125
注[六]賈誼上疏曰「夫抱火厝之積薪之下而寢其上，火未及然，因謂之安。 方今之政，何以異此」也。
Note six: Jia Yi likened the state to sleeping on kindling before the fire catches.' How is today's court any different?'
126
注[七]史記曰，孔子將西見趙簡子，至於河而聞竇鳴犢、舜華之死也，臨河而歎曰：「美哉洋洋，丘之不濟此，命也夫！ 竇鳴犢、舜華，晉之賢大夫也。 趙簡子未得志之時，須此兩人而後從政，及其得志而殺之。 丘聞刳胎殺夭，則麒麟不至郊藪； 涸澤而漁，則蛟龍不合陰陽； 覆巢毀卵，則鳳皇不翔。 何則？ 君子諱傷其類也。 」事亦見孔子家語文也。
Note seven: the Shiji says Confucius turned back from the Yellow River on hearing Dou Mingdu and Shunhua had been killed.' They were worthy grandees of Jin.' Zhao Jianzi needed them before he rose, then slew them once he had power.' Confucius said, 'Slaughter the carrying dam and the unicorn shuns the royal park;' drain the pool for fish and the dragon will not harmonize yin and yang.' Smash the nest and the phoenix will not circle. Why is that? A gentleman hates to harm his own kind. The same story appears in the Family Sayings of Confucius.
127
注[八]扺，投也。 音紙。
Note eight: di means to cast aside. The reading is zhi.
128
注[九]解見寇榮傳。
Note nine: see Kou Rong's biography.
129
注[一０]說苑曰「王國子前母子伯奇，後母子伯封。 後母欲其子立為太子，說王曰：『伯奇好妾。 』王不信。 其母曰：『令伯奇於後園，妾過其旁，王上台視之，即可知。 』王如其言，伯奇入園，後母陰取蜂十數置單衣中，過伯奇邊曰：『蜂螫我。 』伯奇就衣中取蜂殺之。 王遙見之，乃逐伯奇」也。
Note ten: the Shuoyuan tells how the king of Guo had Boqi by a first wife and Bofeng by a second. The stepmother wanted her son heir and told the king Boqi chased women. The king did not believe her. She said, 'Send Boqi to the back garden; I will walk past him; watch from the terrace.' The king agreed. Boqi entered the garden; she hid bees in a robe, walked past him, and cried that bees were stinging her. Boqi reached into the robe, took the bees, and crushed them. From a distance the king thought Boqi molested her and banished him.
130
注[一一]三者數之極。 一生二，二生三，三生萬物，天地人之極數。 故以三為名者，取其深之極也。
Note eleven: three is the extreme number. One begets two, two begets three, three begets the myriad things—the cosmic triad. Hence 'three' in titles marks the utmost depth.
131
孫黃琬
His grandson: Huang Wan
132
琬字子琰。 少失父。 早而辯慧。 祖父瓊，初為魏郡太守，建和元年正月日食，京師不見而瓊以狀聞。 太后詔問所食多少，瓊思其對而未知所況。 琬年七歲，在傍，曰：「何不言日食之餘，如月之初？ 」瓊大驚，即以其言應詔，而深奇愛之。 後瓊為司徒，琬以公孫拜童子郎，辭病不就，知名京師。 時司空盛允有疾，瓊遣琬候問，會江夏上蠻賊事副府，[一]允發書視畢，微戲琬曰：「江夏大邦，而蠻多士少。 」琬奉手對曰：「蠻夷猾夏，責在司空。 」因拂衣辭去。 允甚奇之。 注[一]副本詣公府也。
Huang Wan, courtesy Ziyan, lost his father while young. He was precociously clever. His grandfather Huang Qiong, as Wei governor in Jianhe 1, reported a solar eclipse invisible in the capital. The dowager asked how much of the sun was eclipsed; Huang Qiong could not find words. Seven-year-old Huang Wan said, 'Say the uneclipsed sliver looks like a new moon.' Huang Qiong was astonished, used the line in his memorial, and cherished the boy. When Huang Qiong became minister of education, Wan was offered child Gentleman by kinship; he pleaded illness but was already famous at court. Sheng Yun, ill, was visited by Wan. A Jiangxia report on Man rebels lay on the desk. Yun teased him: 'Great Jiangxia—many barbarians, few scholars.' Wan bowed and said, 'Barbarians vex the heartland—the Minister of Works is to blame.' He swept his sleeves and left. Sheng Yun admired him. Note one: the duplicate went to the ministry.
133
稍遷五官中郎將。 時陳蕃為光祿勳，深相敬待，數與議事。 舊制，光祿舉三署郎，以高功久次才德尤異者為茂才四行。 [一]時權富子弟多以人事得舉，而貧約守志者以窮退見遺，京師為之謠曰：「欲得不能，光祿茂才。 」[二]於是琬、蕃同心，顯用志士，平原劉醇、河東朱山、蜀郡殷參等並以才行蒙舉。 蕃、琬遂為權富郎所見中傷，事下御史[中]丞王暢、侍御史刁韙。 韙、暢素重蕃、琬，不舉其事，而左右復陷以朋黨。 暢坐左轉議郎而免蕃官，琬、韙俱禁錮。 注[一]久次謂久居官次也。
He rose to general of the household for all purposes. Chen Fan, then director of splendid carriages, respected him and often debated policy with him. By rule the director nominated gentlemen of the three corps for maocai on four moral criteria. [1] Rich youths bought nominations while poor scholars were passed over—hence the rhyme, 'Want it, can't have it—Splendid Carriages' maocai.' [2] Wan and Chen Fan then promoted Liu Chun, Zhu Shan, Yin Shen, and others on merit. Powerful gentlemen slandered them; the case went to Wang Chang and Diao Wei. Chang and Wei respected them and filed no charge, yet palace factions smeared them as a clique. Wang Chang was demoted, Chen Fan dismissed, Huang Wan and Diao Wei both proscribed. Note one: 'long seniority' means long time in rank.
134
注[二]能音乃來反。
Note two: neng is read nai lai fan.
135
韙字子榮，彭城人。 後陳蕃被征，而言事者多訟韙，復拜議郎，遷尚書。 在朝有鯁直節，出為魯、東海二郡相。 性抗厲，有明略，所在稱神。 常以法度自整，家人莫見墯容焉。
Diao Wei, courtesy Zirong, was from Pengcheng. When Chen Fan returned, critics attacked Diao Wei; he was reappointed Gentleman Consultant and rose to master of writing. He was blunt at court, then served as chancellor of Lu and Donghai. Stern and shrewd, he was called uncanny in every post. He kept strict discipline; his family never saw him relax.
136
琬被廢□幾二十年。 至光和末，太尉楊賜上書薦琬有撥亂之才，由是征拜議郎，擢為青州刺史，遷侍中。 中平初，出為右扶風，征拜將作大匠、少府、太僕。
Huang Wan lay proscribed almost twenty years. At Guanghe's end Yang Ci recommended his talent for saving a troubled age; he became Gentleman Consultant, governor of Qingzhou, then palace attendant. In Zhongping's opening he governed You Fufeng, then served as grand master of works, minister of the household, and grand coachman.
137
又為豫州牧。 時寇賊陸梁，州境彫殘，琬討擊平之，威聲大震。 政績為天下表，封關內侯。
He became governor of Yu Province. Bandits ravaged the province; he campaigned until order returned and his name terrified them. His record was the empire's model; he was enfeoffed marquis within the passes.
138
及董卓秉政，以琬名臣，征為司徒，遷太尉，更封陽泉鄉侯。 卓議遷都長安，琬與司徒楊彪同諫不從。 琬退而駁議之曰：「昔周公營洛邑以寧姬，光武卜東都以隆漢，天之所啟，神之所安。 大業既定，豈宜妄有遷動，以虧四海之望？」
Dong Zhuo, needing a famous minister, made him minister of education, then grand commandant, with a new fief at Yangquan village. When Dong Zhuo proposed moving the capital to Chang'an, Huang Wan and Yang Biao remonstrated in vain. Huang Wan counter-memorialized: 'The Duke of Zhou built Luoyang to secure the Ji house; Guangwu chose the eastern capital to exalt Han—both followed Heaven and the spirits.' The foundation is laid—how can you rashly move and forfeit the trust of the realm?'
139
時人懼卓暴怒，琬必及害，固諫之。 琬對曰：「昔白公作亂於楚，屈廬冒刃而前；
Friends feared Dong Zhuo's temper and begged Huang Wan to yield. He answered: 'When Duke Bai of Chu rebelled, Qu Lu stepped under naked blades;'
140
[一]崔杼弒君於齊，晏嬰不懼其盟。 [二]吾雖不德，誠慕古人之節。 」琬竟坐免。 卓猶敬其名德舊族，不敢害。 後與楊彪同拜光祿大夫，及徙西都，轉司隸校尉，與司徒王允同謀誅卓。 及卓將李傕、郭汜攻破長安，遂收琬下獄死，時年五十二。 注[一]新序曰：「白公勝* (殺) **[將弒]*楚惠王，王出亡，令尹、司馬皆死，勝拔□而屬之於屈廬曰：『子與我，將捨子，不我與，將殺子。 』屈廬曰：『詩有之曰：「莫莫葛虆，延於條枚，愷悌君子，求福不回。 」今子殺子叔父而求福於廬也，可乎？ 且吾聞之，知命之士，見利不動，臨死則死，是謂人臣之禮。 故上知天命，下知臣道。 其有可劫乎？ 子胡不推之！ 』白公勝乃入其□焉。」
[1] when Cui Zhu murdered his lord, Yan Ying defied his oath.' [2] I am no sage, yet I honor such courage.' He was dismissed for it. Dong Zhuo still respected his name and clan and did not kill him. Later he and Yang Biao became grand masters of splendid carriages; at the move west he became metropolitan superintendent and joined Wang Yun's plot against Dong Zhuo. Li Jue and Guo Si took Chang'an, seized Huang Wan, and killed him in prison at fifty-two. Note one: the Xin xu says Duke Bai Sheng (was about to kill) plotted against King Hui of Chu; the king fled; high ministers died; Sheng threatened Qu Lu: 'Join me or die.' Qu Lu quoted the Odes: 'Thick the vines along the boughs; the true gentleman seeks blessing without crooked paths.' You kill your kinsman yet ask blessing of me—can that work?' A man who knows Heaven's mandate does not stir at gain and accepts death—that is a minister's duty.' Thus he knows Heaven above and service below.' Can you coerce such a man?' Think again!' Bai Gong then killed himself.
141
注[二]解見馮衍傳。
Note two: see Feng Yan's biography.
142
論曰：古者諸侯歲貢士，進賢受上賞，非賢貶爵土。 升之司馬，辯論其才，論定然後官之，任官然後祿之。 [一]故王者得其人，進仕勸其行，經邦弘務，所由久矣。 漢初詔舉賢良、方正，州郡察孝廉、秀才，斯亦貢士之方也。 中興以後，復增敦樸、有道、賢能、直言、獨行、高節、質直、清白、敦厚之屬。 榮路既廣，觖望難裁，自是竊名偽服，浸以流競。 權門貴仕，請謁繁興。 自左雄任事，限年試才，雖頗有不密，固亦因識時宜。 而黃瓊、胡廣、張衡、崔瑗之徒，泥滯舊方，互相詭駁，循名者屈其短，筭實者挺其□。 故雄在尚書，天下不敢妄選，十餘年閒，稱為得人，斯亦□實之征乎？ 順帝始以童弱反政，而號令自出，知能任使，故士得用情，天下喁喁仰其風采。 遂乃備玄纁玉帛，以聘南陽樊英，天子降寢殿，設□席，尚書奉引，延問失得。 急登賢之舉，虛降己之禮，於是處士鄙生，忘其拘儒，[二]拂巾衽褐，以企旌車之招矣。 至乃英能承風，俊乂鹹事，若李固、周舉之淵謨弘深，左雄、黃瓊之政事貞固，桓焉、楊厚以儒學進，崔瑗、馬融以文章顯，吳佑、蘇章、種暠、欒巴牧民之良干，龐參、虞詡將帥之宏規，王龔、張皓虛心以推士，張綱、杜喬直道以糾違，郎顗陰陽詳密，張衡機術特妙：東京之士，於茲盛焉。 向使廟堂納其高謀，強* (場) **[埸]*宣其智力，帷幄容其謇辭，舉厝稟其成式，則武、宣之軌，豈其遠而？ [三]詩云：「靡不有初，鮮克有終。 」可為恨哉！ 及孝桓之時，碩德繼興，[四]陳蕃、楊秉處稱賢宰，皇甫、張、段出號名將，王暢、李膺彌縫袞闕，[五]朱穆、劉陶獻替匡時，郭有道□鑒人倫，陳仲弓弘道下邑。 其餘宏儒遠智，高心絜行，激揚風流者，不可勝言。 而斯道莫振，文武陵隊，在朝者以正議嬰戮，謝事者以黨錮致□。 往車雖折，而來軫方遒。 [六]所以傾而未顛，決而未潰，豈非仁人君子心力之為乎？ 嗚呼！ 注[一]尚書大傳曰「古者諸侯之於天子，三年一貢士。 一適謂之好德，再適謂之賢賢，三適謂之有功。 有功者，天子賜以車服弓矢，號曰命。 諸侯有不貢士謂之不率正，一不適謂之過，再不適謂之傲，三不適謂之誣。 誣者，天子絀之，一絀以爵，再絀以地，三絀而爵地畢」也。
The historian remarks: feudal lords once presented talent yearly; recommending worthies won reward, sending dross cost rank. Candidates went to the minister of war for debate, then office, then salary. [1] Thus wise kings matched men to posts and built lasting rule. Han edicts called for worthies; provinces nominated filial and cultivated talents—the same principle. After Guangwu came further categories—honest, reclusive, outspoken, and the like. Broad paths to honor bred false reputations and fierce rivalry. Great houses and high posts traded favors openly. Zuo Xiong's age limits and exams, though imperfect, fit the age. Huang Qiong, Hu Guang, Zhang Heng, and Cui Yuan clung to old rules and crossed purposes—formalists hid faults, realists exposed them. Under Zuo Xiong the capital dared not traffic in office for a decade—proof that substance could be tested. Emperor Shun, though young, held real power, chose men well, and the empire looked up to him. He sent black and yellow silks to hire Fan Ying, received him below the imperial couch, and asked what was wrong with the state. Such urgency to find talent and humility toward scholars made hermits dust off caps and wait for the imperial carriage. Fan Ying answered the call; Li Gu, Zhou Ju, Zuo Xiong, Huang Qiong, Huan Yan, Yang Hou, Cui Yuan, Ma Rong, Wu You, Su Zhang, Chong Hao, Luan Ba, Pang Shen, Yu Xu, Wang Gong, Zhang Hao, Zhang Gang, Du Qiao, Lang Yi, and Zhang Heng—statesmen, generals, and scientists—made the eastern capital bloom. Had high policy taken their counsel, and on every contested (battle) frontier, generals had matched wit to force, while the inner court heard blunt truth and the throne followed their models—the glory of Emperors Wu and Xuan would lie within reach. [3] The Odes say, 'Few can finish what they begin.' A lasting regret!' Under Emperor Huan came Chen Fan, Yang Bing, Huangfu Song, Zhang Huan, Duan Jiong, Wang Chang, Li Ying, Zhu Mu, Liu Tao, Guo Tai, and Chen Shi—statesmen who shored up the throne. Other great scholars and pure men are too many to list. Yet the way withered: courtiers died for speaking truth; retirees were caught in faction bans. The front axle snapped, but the rear wheels still thundered. [6] The dynasty leaned yet stood, cracked yet held—thanks to humane men who braced it. What a pity it is to say so. Note one: the Shangshu dazhuan says regional lords presented one candidate every three years. The first acceptable tribute was 'loves virtue,' the second 'honors worthies,' the third 'has merit.' Meritorious lords received chariot dress, bow and arrows, and a formal mandate. Lords who sent no talent were 'not rectifying'; one miss was a fault, two arrogance, three deceit. After three failures the throne stripped rank, then land, then both.'
143
注[二]拘儒猶褊狹也。
Note two: 'petty pedant' means narrow-minded.
144
注[三]而，語辭也。 論語曰：「豈不獸思，室是遠而。」
Note three: er is a filler particle. The Analects line: 'I long for you, though your home is far.'
145
注[四]碩，大也。
Note four: shuo means great.
146
注[五]彌縫猶補合也。 詩曰：「袞職有闕，惟仲山甫補之。」
Note five: mi feng means to darn or patch. The Odes: 'Where the royal robe tore, Zhong Shanfu patched it.'
147
注[六]廣雅曰：「遒，急也。」
Note six: Guangya glosses qiu as urgent.
148
贊曰：雄作納言，古之八元。 舉升以匯，越自下蕃。 [一]登朝理政，並紓□昏。
Encomium: Zuo Xiong spoke for the throne among the legendary Eight Yuan ministers. Zhou Ju rose from the margins into the center. [1] At court they straightened policy and eased a dark time.'
149
[二]瓊名夙知，累章國疵。 [三]琬亦早秀，位及志差。 [四]注[一]匯，類也。 易曰：「以其匯征吉。 」匯音謂。
[2] Huang Qiong's fame was old; he exposed the realm's sickness in memorial after memorial.' [3] Huang Wan bloomed young yet high office and true will parted ways.' [4] Note one: hui means kind or class.' The Yi: 'March with your proper company and it is auspicious.' The character hui is read wei.
150
注[二]紓，解也，音式余反。
Note two: shu means to untie; read shi yu fan.
151
注[三]疵，病也。
Note three: ci means fault or illness.
152
注[四]志意差舛，不能遂也。 差音楚宜反。
Note four: his purpose went astray and was never fulfilled. Chai is read chu yi fan.
153
校勘記
Collation notes
154
二０一五頁三行南* (郡) **[陽]*□陽人也集解引洪亮吉說，謂「郡」應作「陽」，刊寫之誤。 今據改。
Page 2015 line 3: Nan (commandery) Hong Liangji: 'commandery' is a misprint for Yang in the place name. The text is corrected accordingly.
155
二０一五頁一二行臣聞柔遠和邇按：校補引柳從辰說，謂閩本「聞」下有「之」字。
Liu Congchen notes the Min edition inserts zhi after 'heard.'
156
二０一六頁二行興雨祁祁按：王先謙謂據注「興雨」當作「興雲」。 此用三家詩，而後人據毛改之。
Wang Xianqian: the line should read xing yun (rising clouds), not xing yu. The line follows the three-house Odes; a later hand changed it to match Mao.
157
二０一六頁一五行□艷謂□姒也艷色美也集解引錢大昕說，謂章懷注用毛氏說，鄭康成則以艷妻為厲王后，謂正月惡□姒滅周，十月之交疾艷妻煽方處，則「□艷」非一人。 此疏上言「幽、厲昏亂」，下言「□艷用權」，則亦與鄭說同。 魯詩「艷」作「閻」，尚書中候作「剡」。 閻、剡、艷文異實同，蓋其女族姓，非訓美色也。
Qian Daxin: Zhang Hua follows Mao on Baoyan; Zheng Xuan identifies her with King Li's consort—so Baoyan is not one person across all traditions. The memorial pairs You and Li with Baoyan's power—aligning with Zheng Xuan. Lu Odes variant yan; Shangshu zhonghou writes jian. The graphs differ but denote the same clan, not 'beauty.'
158
二０一七頁一行厲王淫於色殿本「厲」作「幽」。 按：用毛說當作「幽」，依鄭說應作「厲」也。
Palace edition reads King You instead of King Li. Mao tradition favors You; Zheng favors Li.
159
二０一八頁八行問畜貨聚* (焉) **[馬]*刊誤謂案國語作「聚馬」，此誤。 今據改。
Line 8: hoarding goods and gathering (there) Collation: Guoyu reads 'horses'; emend accordingly. Corrected.
160
二０一九頁一五行詔試明經者補弟子按：順帝紀「明經」下有「下第」二字。
Shun's annals insert xia di after mingjing.
161
二０二０頁一行諸王國郎者百三十八人按：張□謂「者」字衍。
Zhang: delete redundant zhe.
162
二０二０頁一０行迄於永* (嘉) **[□]*「永嘉」乃「永□」之鬥，今改，詳珍帝紀校勘記。 汲本、殿本作「永熹」，錢大昭謂「熹」乃「□」之鬥。
Page 2020 line 10: Yong (jia) Yongjia misprinted; see Zhi's collation. Yongxi is another misprint.
163
二０二０頁一一行故稱家*[法]*據汲本、殿本補。
The text restores the phrase jia fa from the Ji and Dian editions.
164
二０二０頁一二行淑字伯進按：殿本「伯進」作「伯達」。
Palace edition: Boda for Bojin.
165
二０二二頁七行九卿位亞三事按：集解引惠棟說，謂東觀記「三事」作「三公」。
Hui Dong: Dongguan ji has three gong.
166
二０二三頁二行周舉字宣光校補引柳從辰說，謂書鈔七十二引續漢書作「字真先」。 按：類聚五十、御覽二百五十六引無「字真先」三字。
Liu Congchen: variant courtesy Zhenxian in Shuchao. Leiju and Yulan omit the variant.
167
二０二三頁四行延* (熹) **[光]*四年據集解引錢大昕說改。
Yan (xi) Yanguang 4 per Qian Daxin.
168
二０二三頁五行謀殺嚴公嚴公誓之黃泉汲本、殿本「嚴」並作「莊」。 按：此避明帝諱，未回改也。
Yan/Zhuang taboo: editions vary. Ming taboo not reversed here.
169
二０二四頁二行今詔怒按：集解引何焯說，謂「怒」下疑有脫文。
He Zhuo: possible lacuna after 'angry.'
170
二０二四頁三行位為台輔按：汲本、殿本「為」作「至」。
Ji edition: zhi for wei.
171
二０二四頁八行尚書郭虔按：集解引汪文台說，謂御覽五九四引張璠漢記，謂「尚書郭度見之歎息，上疏願退位避舉」。 「虔」作「度」，未知孰是。
Variant name Guo Du in Zhang Fan. Qian or Du uncertain.
172
二０二五頁一０行順四節之宜按：汲本、殿本「節」作「時」。
Ji and Dian: shi for jie.
173
二０二六頁四行猶緣木希魚□行求前汲本、殿本「希魚」作「求魚」。 按：腢書治要亦作「希魚」。 李慈銘謂此因下文有「求」字而避易，今本乃據孟子妄改之。
Editions read qiu yu for xi yu. Zhiyao agrees with xi yu. Li Ciming: xi avoids repetition; later editors wrongly aligned with Mencius.
174
二０二六頁一二行事見白武通汲本、殿本「武」作「虎」。 按：此避唐諱，未回改也。
Tang taboo: hu for wu in Baihu tong. Tang taboo unreversed.
175
二０二七頁四行解見楊厚傳按：集解引惠棟說，謂楊厚傳無此注，黃瓊傳有之。
Hui Dong: gloss misplaced from Huang Qiong.
176
二０二八頁八行燕於洛水按：「於」原作「乎」，逕據汲本、殿本改。
hu to yu emendation.
177
二０二八頁一四行□上露何易晞按：集解引李良裘說，謂按古今注「露」上有「朝」字，以七字為句。
Li: insert chao before lu per Gujin zhu.
178
二０二九頁八行兗州刺史郭遵集解引汪文台說，謂御覽七七八引續漢書，「郭遵」作「甄遵」。
Wang: variant Zhen Zun.
179
二０三０頁一五行尹翁歸為右扶風*[卒]*據刊誤補。
Kanwu supplies died.
180
二０三一頁五行* (詩) *國風羔羊詩據汲本、殿本刪。
An asterisk at page 2031 line 5 flags a collation note. (Poetry) Stray duplicate line removed per editions.
181
二０三一頁七行致敬於勰按：「敬」原斗「教」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
jiao to jing emendation.
182
二０三二頁八行常聞語曰汲本「常」作「嘗」。 按：嘗常通。
chang/chang variant. The two chang graphs interchange.
183
二０三四頁六行公大驚懼按：「公」原斗「人」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
ren to gong emendation.
184
二０三四頁六行郭都* (之) *等據刊誤刪。
Guo Du (zhi) Kanwu deletion.
185
二０三五頁三行順時覛土按：「覛」原斗「□」，逕改正。 又按：「覛」字見說文□部，汲本、殿本作「□」，亦誤。
mi restored for lacuna. Further note on mi variant.
186
二０三五頁一五行以宜比周公刊誤謂「以宜」當作「宜以」。 集解引沉欽韓說，謂袁紀無「以」字，更順。 按：原本「以」字漫漶，逕據汲本、殿本補。
Kanwu: transpose yi yi. Shen: Yuan ji omits yi. Faded yi restored from editions.
187
二０三六頁一行增邑三千按：「三千」原作「三十」，然查張元濟校勘記，謂「十」字板損宜修，則原本「十」字或亦作「千」也。 今從汲本、殿本。
The collation note explains that the figure thirty was misprinted and should read three thousand households, following Zhang Yuanji's verification of the woodblock damage. Follow Ji and Dian.
188
二０三六頁六行啟獸土宇按：今詩作「大啟爾宇」。
Variant from Mao text.
189
二０三六頁一一行為冀所飾舉者按：汲本「飾」作「辟」。
Ji: pi for shi.
190
二０三六頁一二行司徒韓演按：惠棟補注謂風俗通「演」作「演」。
Fengsu tong name variant.
191
二０三七頁六行則以賢者為力袁宏紀作「則以忠賢為助」。 按：「忠賢」與上「德義」相對成文，當從袁紀。
Yuan ji variant with zhong xian. Prefer Yuan ji wording.
192
二０三八頁一行念國亡身殿本「亡」作「忘」。 按：亡忘通。
Palace: wang for wu variant. wu/wang interchange.
193
二０三八頁一一行*[阿黨]*相抑集解引王補說，謂袁紀作「阿黨相抑」。 按：「阿黨相抑」與上「讒諛所舉」相對成文，今依袁紀補「阿黨」二字。
Wang: Yuan ji has a dang. a dang restored per Yuan ji.
194
二０三八頁一二行敢以垂絕之日袁紀作「敢以垂死之年」。 按：袁紀瓊上疏在延熹二年，雲會單超等五侯□權，瓊自度力不能制，乃稱疾不朝，上表曰云云，與此雲七年疾篤上疏諫異，措辭亦不同也。
Yuan ji: chui si nian for chui jue zhi ri. The Yuan ji dates Huang Qiong's protest to Yanxi 2, when the five marquises seized power and he feigned illness rather than face court; that text differs from this chapter's account of a deathbed memorial in the seventh year.
195
二０三八頁一三行謚曰忠侯按：惠棟補注謂袁紀作「昭侯」。
Hui Dong notes the Yuan ji gives his posthumous title as Zhao (Bright) rather than Zhong (Loyal).
196
二０三九頁七行則蛟龍不合陰陽汲本、殿本「不合陰陽」作「不處其淵」。 按：史記孔子世家作「不合陰陽」，今本家語困誓篇作「不處其淵」。
Ji and Dian editions read 'the dragon will not stay in its pool' instead of 'will not harmonize yin and yang.' The Shiji agrees with 'yin and yang'; the current Jia yu reads 'deep pool.'
197
二０三九頁一五行琬字子琰按：集解引惠棟說，謂文選注引范書作「公琰」。
Hui Dong: the Wenxuan commentary quotes his courtesy as Gongyan instead of Ziyan.
198
二０三九頁一五行少失父按：集解引惠棟說，謂文選注引云「少失父母」。
The Wenxuan citation adds that he lost both parents in childhood.
199
二０三九頁一五行祖父瓊初為魏郡太守按：集解引惠棟說，謂文選注引云「祖父瓊育之，初為魏郡太守」云云也。
The Wenxuan citation says Huang Qiong raised him before serving as Wei governor.
200
二０四０頁一０行事下御史*[中]*丞王暢據汲本補。
The received text lacked 'central' in censor-in-chief; the Ji edition restores it.
201
二０四一頁一二行白公勝* (殺) **[將弒]*楚惠王據今新序增刪。
Line 12: Bai Gong Sheng (assassinate) The line on plotting against King Hui follows the revised Xin xu.
202
二０四一頁一四行見利不動臨死則死是謂人臣之禮按：校補引柳從辰說，謂今新序作「見利不動，臨死不恐，為人臣者，時生則生，時死則死」。
Liu Congchen: the Xin xu expands the minister's duty with lines on fearlessness and timely life or death.
203
二０四二頁四行賢能按：「賢能」上原衍「仁」字，逕據汲本、殿本刪。
A stray ren before xian neng is removed per the standard editions.
204
二０四二頁六行固亦因識時宜按：刊誤謂案文當作「因時識宜」。
Kanwu transposes the phrase to yi shi shi yi (know the time and the fit).
205
二０四二頁一四行強* (場) **[埸]*宣其智力據汲本改。
Line 14: qiang (strong) (battlefield) The compound for battlefield command is restored from the Ji edition.