1
武皇帝諱炎，字安世，文帝長子也。 寬惠仁厚，沈深有度量。 魏嘉平中，封北平亭侯，歷給事中、奉車都尉、中壘將軍，加散騎常侍，累遷中護軍、假節。 迎常道鄉公於東武陽，遷中撫軍，進封新昌鄉侯。 及晉國建，立爲世子，拜撫軍大將軍，開府、副貳相國。
The emperor honored posthumously as Wu bore the personal name Yan and the courtesy name Anshi; he was the firstborn son of Emperor Wen (Sima Zhao). Broad-minded, humane, and gentle by nature, he was grave and self-contained, with the measured bearing of a true ruler. During Wei’s Jiaping years he received the Beipingting marquisate and rose through a string of palace and guard posts—gentleman in attendance, commandant of the imperial chariots, general of the central rampart, cavalier attendant-in-ordinary—until he became central protector, bearing the credential staff. At Dongwuyang he received the duke of Changdaoxiang, was named central commander of the army, and was promoted to marquis of Xinxiang. When the Jin state was founded, he was established as heir apparent, appointed Great General Who Pacifies the Army with an office of his own, and made second-in-command assisting the Minister of State.
2
初，文帝以景帝既宣帝之嫡，早世無後，以帝弟攸爲嗣，特加愛異，自謂攝居相位，百年之後，大業宜歸攸。 每曰：「此景王之天下也，吾何與焉。」 將議立世子，屬意於攸。 何曾等固爭曰：「中撫軍聰明神武，有超世之才。 髮委地，手過膝，此非人臣之相也。」 由是遂定。 咸熙二年五月，立爲晉王太子。
Earlier, Emperor Wen, because Emperor Jing was Emperor Xuan’s legitimate heir but had died young without descendants, made the emperor’s younger brother You his successor and showed him exceptional favor. He considered himself only temporarily occupying the position of minister of state, and believed that after a hundred years the great enterprise should pass to You. He was fond of saying, “This is really prince Jing’s world, not mine.” When the time came to choose an heir, his heart was set on You. He Zeng and his colleagues firmly argued, "The Central Pacification Army is intelligent, divinely martial, and has talent beyond the age. His hair reaches the floor and his hands hang below the knees—marks of a sovereign, not a subject.” On that basis the choice was fixed. In the fifth month of the second year of Xianxi, he was named crown prince to the king of Jin.
3
八月辛卯，文帝崩，太子嗣相國、晉王位。 下令寬刑宥罪，撫眾息役，國內行服三日。 是月，長人見於襄武，長三丈，告縣人王始曰：「今當太平。」
On xinmao in the eighth month Wen died, and the crown prince inherited both the minister of state’s portfolio and the kingship of Jin. He ordered punishments lightened, offenses pardoned, the people soothed, and corvée suspended, while the court wore mourning for three days. That month, a tall man appeared at Xiangwu, three zhang in height, and told the county man Wang Shi, "Now there will be great peace."
4
九月戊午，以魏司徒何曾爲丞相，鎮南將軍王沈爲御史大夫，中護軍賈充爲衛將軍，議郎裴秀爲尚書令、光祿大夫，皆開府。
On wuwu in the ninth month he formed his core cabinet: He Zeng as chancellor, Wang Chen as imperial counselor, Jia Chong as guard general, Pei Xiu as director of the Secretariat and grand officer of splendid happiness, each with full general’s establishment.
5
十一月，初置四護軍，以統城外諸軍。 乙未，令諸郡中正以六條舉淹滯：一曰忠恪匪躬，二曰孝敬盡禮，三曰友于兄弟，四曰潔身勞謙，五曰信義可復，六曰學以爲己。
In the eleventh month he created four “army protector” posts to oversee every garrison beyond the capital. On yiwei he ordered the commandery-level evaluators to raise overlooked talent under six rubrics: loyal service, filial piety, fraternal harmony, modest integrity, reliable good faith, and learning pursued for its own sake.
6
是時晉德既洽，四海宅心。 於是天子知曆數有在，乃使太保鄭沖奉策曰：「咨爾晉王：我皇祖有虞氏誕膺靈運，受終于陶唐，亦以命于有夏。 惟三后陟配于天，而咸用光敷聖德。 自茲厥後，天又輯大命于漢。 火德既衰，乃眷命我高祖。 方軌虞夏四代之明顯，我不敢知。 惟王乃祖乃父，服膺明哲，輔亮我皇家，勳德光于四海。 格爾上下神祇，罔不克順，地平天成，萬邦以乂。 應受上帝之命，協皇極之中。 肆予一人，祗承天序，以敬授爾位，曆數實在爾躬。 允執其中，天祿永終。 於戲！ 王其欽順天命。 率循訓典，底綏四國，用保天休，無替我二皇之弘烈。」 帝初以禮讓，魏朝公卿何曾、王沈等固請，乃從之。
By then Jin’s moral authority had spread so widely that the empire looked to it as the natural center. Thereupon the Son of Heaven knew that the calendrical count had found its place, and sent Grand Guardian Zheng Chong to present the writ, saying, “I address you, King of Jin: our august ancestor, the Youyu clan, broadly received the numinous fortune and accepted the completion from Tao Tang, and it was likewise mandated to Xia. Each of the three sage-kings rose to partner Heaven and spread his virtue abroad. Afterward Heaven gathered the mandate once more in Han. When Han’s “fire” virtue faded, it looked to our founding ancestor. Whether we truly match the luminous succession of Yu, Xia, and what lies between—I would not presume to say. Yet your forebears, generation after generation, served our dynasty with enlightened wisdom; their achievements lit the realm. You have won the assent of gods above and below; the cosmos is ordered and every land is ruled aright. You are fit to take up Heaven’s charge and hold the central balance of the realm. Therefore I, humble as I am, bow to the succession of Heaven and solemnly hand you the throne—the mandate plainly rests with you. Hold fast to the middle way, and Heaven’s favor will not end. Oh! May you, king, bow to what Heaven commands. Walk in the tracks of the classics, pacify the four quarters, secure Heaven’s favor, and do not dishonor the mighty work of our two sage predecessors.” The new sovereign first declined out of courtesy, yet He Zeng, Wang Chen, and the rest of the Wei court insisted until he yielded.
7
泰始元年冬十二月丙寅，設壇于南郊，百僚在位及匈奴南單于四夷會者數萬人，柴燎告類于上帝曰：「皇帝臣炎敢用玄牡明告于皇皇后帝：魏帝稽協皇運，紹天明命以命炎。 昔者唐堯，熙隆大道，禪位虞舜，舜又以禪禹，邁德垂訓，多歷年載。 暨漢德既衰，太祖武皇帝撥亂濟時，扶翼劉氏，又用受命于漢。 粵在魏室，仍世多故，幾於顛墜，實賴有晉匡拯之德，用獲保厥肆祀，弘濟于艱難，此則晉之有大造于魏也。 誕惟四方，罔不祗順，廓清梁岷，包懷揚越，八紘同軌，祥瑞屢臻，天人協應，無思不服。 肆予憲章三后，用集大命于茲。 炎維德不嗣，辭不獲命。 於是群公卿士，百辟庶僚，黎獻陪隸，暨于百蠻君長，僉曰：『皇天鑒下，求人之瘼，既有成命，固非克讓所得距違。 天序不可以無統，人神不可以曠主。』 炎虔奉皇運，寅畏天威，敬簡元辰，升壇受禪，告類上帝，永答眾望。」 禮畢，即洛陽宮幸太極前殿，詔曰：「昔朕皇祖宣王，聖哲欽明，誕應期運，熙帝之載，肇啟洪基。 伯考景王，履道宣猷，緝熙諸夏。 至于皇考文王，叡哲光遠，允協靈祇，應天順時，受茲明命。 仁濟于宇宙，功格于上下。 肆魏氏弘鑒于古訓，儀刑于唐虞，疇咨群后，爰輯大命于朕身。 予一人畏天之命，用不敢違。 惟朕寡德，負荷洪烈，託于王公之上，以君臨四海，惴惴惟懼，罔知所濟。 惟爾股肱爪牙之佐，文武不貳之臣，乃祖乃父，實左右我先王，光隆我大業。 思與萬國，共享休祚。」 於是大赦，改元。 賜天下爵，人五級； 鰥寡孤獨不能自存者穀，人五斛。 復天下租賦及關市之稅一年，逋債宿負皆勿收。 除舊嫌，解禁錮，亡官失爵者悉復之。
In the first year of Taishi, winter, twelfth month, bingyin, he set up an altar in the southern suburbs. The hundred officials were in position, and the Southern Chanyu of the Xiongnu and assembled chiefs of the four barbarians numbered in the tens of thousands. He burned firewood and reported by class to the High Deity, saying, "The emperor, your servant Yan, dares to use a dark sacrificial bull to announce clearly to the august High Deity: the Wei emperor examined and accorded with the imperial fortune, continued Heaven’s bright command, and used it to command Yan. In the past, Tang Yao brightly exalted the great Way and abdicated his position to Yu Shun; Shun in turn abdicated to Yu. Their surpassing virtue left instruction behind and endured through many years. When Han faltered, our martial progenitor quelled disorder and upheld the Liu house, then took his mandate from Han in turn. Under Wei, reign after reign tottered on the brink; only Jin’s rescue allowed the altars to survive—Jin had indeed saved Wei from ruin. The four quarters submitted; Liang and Min were pacified, Yang and Yue brought within the fold; omens multiplied, heaven and humankind agreed, and none withheld allegiance. So I model myself on the three sage-kings and gather the great mandate in this place. I, Yan, lack virtue enough to inherit this, yet I cannot refuse what is spoken. Thereupon the assembled dukes, ministers, officers, the hundred nobles and various officials, the common people, attendants and servants, and the chiefs of the hundred barbarians all said: ‘August Heaven looks down and seeks out the people’s suffering. Since there is already a completed mandate, it truly cannot be resisted or rejected by yielding modestly. Heaven’s line cannot go without a sovereign; gods and men cannot long be without a master.” I, Yan, therefore reverence Heaven’s course, choose an auspicious day, mount the altar, receive the abdication, inform the high lord, and answer the hopes of all.” The ceremony done, he entered Luoyang’s Taiji front hall and proclaimed: “My royal grandfather Xuan was a sage who met his age and laid our house’s foundation. My uncle prince Jing walked in the Way and extended his rule through the central lands. My father king Wen, far-sighted and wise, moved spirits and seasons alike and received the bright mandate. His kindness filled the cosmos; his merit spanned heaven and earth. So Wei, looking to antiquity like Yao and Shun, consulted the lords and laid the mandate on me. I stand in awe of Heaven and dare not refuse. I am a man of slender merit yet I must bear this vast charge; resting on my nobles I rule all under heaven, anxious and unsure how to succeed. You who are my ministers—civil and military, loyal as bone and sinew—your fathers aided my forebears and built this great work. I mean to share this blessing with every principality.” He proclaimed a general amnesty and a new era name. Every household gained five steps in rank. Widowers, widows, orphans, and the destitute received five hu of grain each. Land taxes, surcharges, and market dues were forgiven for a year, and old debts were written off. Old feuds were pardoned, political bans lifted, and everyone stripped of office or title was reinstated.
8
丁卯，遣太僕劉原告于太廟。 封魏帝爲陳留王，邑萬戶，居於鄴宮； 魏氏諸王皆爲縣侯。 追尊宣王爲宣皇帝，景王爲景皇帝，文王爲文皇帝，宣王妃張氏爲宣穆皇后。 尊太妃王氏曰皇太后，宮曰崇化。 封皇叔祖父孚爲安平王，皇叔父幹爲平原王，亮爲扶風王，伷爲東莞王，駿爲汝陰王，肜爲梁王，倫爲琅邪王，皇弟攸爲齊王，鑒爲樂安王，機爲燕王，[1]皇從伯父望爲義陽王，皇從叔父輔爲渤海王，晃爲下邳王，瑰爲太原王，珪爲高陽王，衡爲常山王，子文爲沛王，[2]泰爲隴西王，權爲彭城王，綏爲范陽王，遂爲濟南王，遜爲譙王，睦爲中山王，陵爲北海王，斌爲陳王，皇從父兄洪爲河間王，皇從父弟楙爲東平王。 以驃騎將軍石苞爲大司馬，封樂陵公，車騎將軍陳騫爲高平公，衛將軍賈充爲車騎將軍、魯公，尚書令裴秀爲鉅鹿公，侍中荀勖爲濟北公，太保鄭沖爲太傅、壽光公，太尉王祥爲太保、睢陵公，丞相何曾爲太尉、朗陵公，御史大夫王沈爲驃騎將軍、博陵公，司空荀顗爲臨淮公，鎮北大將軍衛瓘爲菑陽公。 其餘增封進爵各有差，文武普增位二等。 改景初曆爲太始曆，臘以酉，社以丑。
On dingmao he dispatched grand coachman Liu Yuan to report to the imperial temple. The last Wei sovereign became king of Chenliu with a fief of ten thousand households, residing at Ye. Every other Wei prince was reduced to county marquis. He posthumously honored King Xuan as Emperor Xuan, King Jing as Emperor Jing, and King Wen as Emperor Wen, and honored Lady Zhang, consort of King Xuan, as Empress Xuanmu. Lady Wang, the grand consort, became empress dowager with her palace named Chonghua. A sweep of enfeoffments followed: granduncle Fu as king of Anping, a ring of royal uncles and cousins as kings of Pingyuan, Fufeng, Dongguan, Ru'yin, Liang, Langye, and more, his brother You as king of Qi, and dozens of kinsmen given kingdoms from Bohai to Dongping (footnotes [1][2] preserved in the text). The chief generals and ministers received ducal fiefs—Shi Bao grand marshal of Leling, Chen Qian of Gaoping, Jia Chong elevated to chariots-and-cavalry general and duke of Lu, Pei Xiu duke of Julu, and so through the senior statesmen. Others were promoted in title by degrees, and the whole bureaucracy gained two steps in rank. The calendar was renamed from Jingchu to Taishi; the year-end rite was fixed in you and the soil altar in chou.
9
戊辰，下詔大弘儉約，出御府珠玉玩好之物，頒賜王公以下各有差。 置中軍將軍，以統宿衛七軍。
On wuchen he called for austerity, handing out palace jewels and playthings to princes and nobles by graded gift. He created the post of general of the central army over seven inner garrisons.
10
己巳，詔陳留王載天子旌旗，備五時副車，行魏正朔，郊祀天地，禮樂制度皆如魏舊，上書不稱臣。 賜山陽公劉康、安樂公劉禪子弟一人爲駙馬都尉。 乙亥，以安平王孚爲太宰、假黃鉞、大都督中外諸軍事。 詔曰：「昔王淩謀廢齊王，而王竟不足以守位。 鄧艾雖矜功失節，然束手受罪。 今大赦其家，還使立後。 興滅繼絕，約法省刑。 除魏氏宗室禁錮。 諸將吏遭三年喪者，遣寧終喪。 百姓復其傜役。 罷部曲將長吏以下質任。 省郡國御調，禁樂府靡麗百戲之伎及雕文游畋之具。 開直言之路，置諫官以掌之。」
On jisi the Chenliu king was allowed imperial pennons, five seasonal chariots, Wei’s calendar, full suburban rites, and Wei-style court music, with the privilege that petitioners omit the phrase “your subject.” One son or younger kinsman each of Liu Kang, Duke of Shanyang, and Liu Shan, Duke of Anle, was granted the post of Commandant of the Consorts’ Escort. On yihai Sima Fu, king of Anping, became grand preceptor, bearing the yellow axe as grand commander of all armies. The edict read: “Wang Ling once tried to unseat the prince of Qi, yet Qi still could not hold the throne. Deng Ai, for all his arrogance, surrendered himself for judgment. I therefore pardon his household and allow a successor to be named. Restore ruined lines, lighten the code, and ease penalties. The Wei imperial clan was freed from house arrest and blacklist. Any official in the three-year mourning for a parent could stay home until the rites were done. Commoners were excused from corvée. Hostages once demanded of prefects and lower officers under hereditary generals were ended. Commandery “palace” surcharges were dropped, and the music office was barred from lavish shows and carved hunting toys. He invited frank criticism and set up remonstrators to channel it.”
11
是月，鳳皇六、青龍三、白龍二、麒麟各一見于郡國。
That month the registers recorded six phoenix sightings, three azure dragons, two white dragons, and a unicorn across the realm.
12
二年春正月丙戌，遣兼侍中侯史光等持節四方，循省風俗，除禳祝之不在祀典者。 丁亥，有司請建七廟，帝重其役，不許。 庚寅，罷雞鳴歌。 辛丑，尊景皇帝夫人羊氏曰景皇后，宮曰弘訓。 丙午，立皇后楊氏。
In the second year of Taishi, in spring, in the first month, on bingxu, Hou Shiguang and colleagues toured the empire with imperial staffs, removing exorcistic and prayer rites that were not in the ritual canon. The ministry asked for seven-temple grandeur; the emperor refused, mindful of the burden. On gengyin he ended the dawn “cock-crow” anthem at court. On xinchou lady Yang, prince Jing’s widow, became empress Jing with palace name Hongxun. On bingwu he took lady Yang as empress.
13
二月，除漢宗室禁錮。 己未，常山王衡薨。 詔曰：「五等之封，皆錄舊勳。 本爲縣侯者傳封次子爲亭侯，鄉侯爲關內侯，[3]亭侯爲關中侯，皆食本戶十分之一。」 丁丑，[4]郊祀宣皇帝以配天，宗祀文皇帝於明堂以配上帝。 庚午，詔曰：「古者百官，官箴王闕。 然保氏特以諫諍爲職，今之侍中、常侍實處此位。 擇其能正色弼違匡救不逮者，以兼此選。」
Second month: surviving Liu-clan nobles were freed from legal disability. On jiwei Sima Heng, king of Changshan, died. The edict said, "The five grades of enfeoffment all record old merit. Those who were originally county marquises may transmit an enfeoffment to a second son as a ting marquis; xiang marquises become marquises "inside the passes" [3], and ting marquises become marquises "within Guan," each eating one tenth of the original households." On dingchou [4] he paired Xuan with Heaven at the southern suburb and Wen with the high lord in the bright hall. On gengwu, an edict said, "In antiquity, among the hundred officials, each office admonished the king’s deficiencies. The guardian’s special duty was frank advice—now filled by palace and regular attendants. Pick men who will speak truth to power and set them to that very task.”
14
三月戊戌，吳人來弔祭，有司奏爲答詔。 帝曰：「昔漢文、光武懷撫尉他、公孫述，皆未正君臣之儀，所以羈縻未賓也。 皓遣使之始，未知國慶，但以書答之。」
Third month, wuxu: Wu’s envoys arrived for the funeral rites, and the clerks drafted a formal answer. The emperor said: “Han Wen and Guangwu treated Zhao Tuo and Gongsun Shu generously without forcing full vassal etiquette—that was how they kept half-independent lords in play. Sun Hao’s first embassy arrived before he knew we were in mourning; a simple letter sufficed.”
15
夏五月戊辰，詔曰：「陳留王操尚謙沖，每事輒表，非所以優崇之也。 主者喻意，非大事皆使王官表上之。」 壬子，[5]驃騎將軍博陵公王沈卒。
Summer, fifth month, wuchen: “The Chenliu king, Cao Shang, still files humble memorials on trifles—that is no way to honor him. Tell his staff: hereafter routine business should go up through his own officers, not his personal brush, unless it is weighty.” On renzi [5] Wang Shen—swift-cavalry general and duke of Boling—passed away.
16
六月壬申，濟南王遂薨。
In the sixth month, on renshen, Sima Sui, king of Jinan, died.
17
秋七月辛巳，營太廟，致荊山之木，采華山之石； 鑄銅柱十二，塗以黃金，鏤以百物，綴以明珠。 戊戌，譙王遜薨。 丙午晦，日有蝕之。
That autumn, seventh month, xinsi, work began on the great temple, with logs floated from the Jing range and ashlar cut from Mount Hua. Twelve bronze columns were cast, sheathed in gold, chased with the hundred emblems, and set with brilliant pearls. On wuxu the king of Qiao, Sima Xun, died. At month’s end, bingwu, the sun was eclipsed.
18
八月丙辰，省右將軍官。
Eighth month, bingchen: the office of general of the right was struck from the rolls.
19
初，帝雖從漢魏之制，既葬除服，而深衣素冠，降席撤膳，哀敬如喪者。 戊辰，有司奏改服進膳，不許，遂禮終而後復吉。 及太后之喪，亦如之。 九月乙未，散騎常侍皇甫陶、傅玄領諫官，上書諫諍，有司奏請寢之。 詔曰：「凡關言人主，人臣所至難，而苦不能聽納，自古忠臣直士之所慷慨也。 每陳事出付主者，多從深刻，乃云恩貸當由主上，是何言乎？ 其詳評議。」
Though he had formally left mourning under Han–Wei precedent, he continued to dress plainly, eat simply, and keep the demeanor of a bereaved son. Officials begged him on wuchen to set aside austerity; he refused until the last ritual day had passed. At the empress dowager’s death he observed the same severe restraint. On yiwei in the ninth month Huangfu Tao and Fu Xun, as remonstrators, sent up blunt advice; the clerks moved to bury their petitions. He replied: “Speaking truth to a ruler is the hardest duty a minister bears, and rulers who will not hear it have always broken the hearts of the faithful. Too often papers were passed to clerks who pressed the harshest reading and then claimed mercy was solely the emperor’s affair. Have every office review this carefully and report.”
20
戊戌，有司奏：「大晉繼三皇之蹤，蹈舜禹之跡，應天順時，受禪有魏，宜一用前代正朔服色，皆如虞遵唐故事。」 奏可。
On wuxu, the responsible offices memorialized, "Great Jin follows the traces of the Three August Ones and treads the path of Shun and Yu; it responds to Heaven and follows the times, receiving abdication from Wei. It should uniformly use the former generation’s first month, calendar, and clothing colors, all as Yu followed Tang’s old precedent." The throne assented.
21
冬十月丙午朔，日有蝕之。 丁未，詔曰：「昔舜葬蒼梧，農不易畝； 禹葬成紀，市不改肆。 上惟祖考清簡之旨，所徙陵十里內居人，動爲煩擾，一切停之。」
Winter, tenth month, new moon on bingwu: a solar eclipse. On dingwei he cited antiquity: “When Shun lay at Cangwu, no ploughman had to move his furrow. When Yu rested at Chengji, shopkeepers kept the same stalls. Mindful of my forebears’ love of simplicity, I stop every plan to uproot households within ten li of the imperial tombs.”
22
十一月己卯，倭人來獻方物。 并圜丘、方丘於南、北郊，二至之祀合於二郊。 罷山陽公國督軍，除其禁制。 己丑，追尊景帝夫人夏侯氏爲景懷皇后。 辛卯，遷祖禰神主于太廟。
Eleventh month, jimao: envoys from Wa arrived with tribute. Suburban ritual was streamlined: the round and square altars were paired with south and north suburb worship, and the solstice services were folded into those sites. The military overseer attached to the mountain-yang ducal fief was dismissed and its special prohibitions lifted. On jichou Xiahou, prince Jing’s widow, was canonized as empress Jinghuai. On xinmao the ancestral tablets were carried into the great temple.
23
十二月，罷農官爲郡縣。
That December the old “agriculture” jurisdictions were converted into ordinary counties.
24
是歲，鳳皇六、青龍十、黃龍九、麒麟各一見于郡國。
The year’s omens included six phoenixes, ten azure dragons, nine yellow dragons, and a unicorn reported across the realm.
25
三年春正月癸丑，白龍二見于弘農、澠池。
the third year of Taishi, spring, guichou: twin white dragons were sighted at Hongnong and Mianchi.
26
丁卯，[6]立皇子衷爲皇太子。 詔曰：「朕以不德，託于四海之上，兢兢祗畏，懼無以康濟宇內，思與天下式明王度，正本清源，於置胤樹嫡，非所先務。 又近世每建太子，寬宥施惠之事，間不獲已，順從王公卿士之議耳。 方今世運垂平，將陳之以德義，示之以好惡，使百姓蠲多幸之慮，篤終始之行，曲惠小仁，故無取焉。 咸使知聞。」
On dingmao [6] Sima Zhong was named heir apparent. The edict said: “I, lacking virtue, have been entrusted with a place above the four seas. Anxious and reverent, I fear I have no means to bring peace and rescue to all within the realm, and I wish together with all under Heaven to make clear the royal standards, rectify the root, and clear the source. As for establishing an heir and setting up the legitimate line, that is not the first task. Lately each new heir brought wholesale amnesties—measures taken only when ministers pressed for them, not because they were inherently right. As peace nears, I would teach the realm through moral example rather than scatter small mercies that teach the crowd to gamble on fortune. Let everyone hear and understand this.”
27
三月戊寅，初令二千石得終三年喪。 丁未，晝昏。 罷武衛將軍官。 以李憙爲太子太傅。 太山石崩。
Third month, wuyin: for the first time, governors at the two-thousand-picul grade were allowed the full three-year funeral for a parent. On dingwei daylight failed at noon. The “martial guard” generalship was eliminated. Li Xi became tutor to the heir. A cliff face on Mount Tai fell in a landslide.
28
夏四月戊午，張掖太守焦勝上言，氐池縣大柳谷口有玄石一所，白畫成文，實大晉之休祥，圖之以獻。 詔以制幣告于太廟，藏之天府。
Summer, fourth month, wuwu: Jiao Sheng of Zhangye sent up word that a black boulder in Dichi’s Great Willow Gorge had sprouted white-inscribed text—a Jin omen—and enclosed a rubbing. The court acknowledged the omen with ritual silks at the great temple and locked the stone away in the imperial archive.
29
秋八月，罷都護將軍，以其五署還光祿勳。
Autumn, eighth month: the “protect all armies” post was cut, its five offices folded back under the superintendent of palace gentlemen.
30
九月甲申，詔曰：「古者以德詔爵，以庸制祿，雖下士猶食上農，外足以奉公忘私，內足以養親施惠。 今在位者祿不代耕，非所以崇化之本也。 其議增吏俸。」 賜王公以下帛各有差。 以太尉何曾爲太保，義陽王望爲太尉，司空荀顗爲司徒。
In the ninth month, jiashen, an edict said, "In antiquity, rank was commanded according to virtue and salary fixed according to service; even lower shi still ate at the level of upper farmers, outwardly enough to serve the public and forget private interest, inwardly enough to support kin and extend kindness. Today’s salaries no longer match a farmer’s harvest—that is a poor way to teach honest government. He ordered a discussion of higher pay for officials.” Silk gifts went out to every rank from princes downward, graded by station. He Zeng, Grand Commandant, was made Grand Guardian; Wang, King of Yiyang, was made Grand Commandant; and Xun Yi, Minister of Works, was made Minister over the Masses.
31
冬十月，聽士卒遭父母喪者，非在疆埸，皆得奔赴。
Winter, tenth month: troops mourning parents could leave camp for the funeral unless they stood on an active frontier.
32
十二月，徙宗聖侯孔震爲奉聖亭侯。 山陽公劉康來朝。 禁星氣讖緯之學。
December: Kong Zhen, “continuer of the sage,” was moved to the smaller fief of “village that honors the sage.” Liu Kang, the mountain-yang duke, paid a formal visit. Astrology, prophecy, and apocryphal “weft” learning were banned.
33
四年春正月辛未，以尚書令裴秀爲司空。
Fourth year, spring, xinwei: Pei Xiu left the secretariat to become minister of works.
34
丙戌，律令成，封爵賜帛各有差。 有星孛于軫。 丁亥，帝耕於藉田。 戊子，詔曰：「古設象刑而眾不犯，今雖參夷而姦不絕，何德刑相去之遠哉！ 先帝深愍黎元，哀矜庶獄，乃命群后，考正典刑。 朕守遺業，永惟保乂皇基，思與萬國以無爲爲政。 方今陽春養物，東作始興，朕親率王公卿士耕藉田千畝。 又律令既就，班之天下，將以簡法務本，惠育海內。 宜寬有罪，使得自新，其大赦天下。 長吏、郡丞、長史各賜馬一匹。」
On bingxu the new code was finished; titles and silk were handed out by grade. A comet blazed across the Zhen mansion in the sky. On dinghai the Son of Heaven broke the soil of the ritual field. On wuzi he mused: “When Yao and Shun relied on symbolic law, crime was rare; today we slaughter whole clans yet treason persists—what has become of moral government? My predecessor pitied the commoners and bade his ministers revise the penal code with mercy. I hold his legacy and mean to secure the throne through quiet, sparing rule. Now, in bright spring, when things are nourished and eastern labors are just beginning, I have personally led the kings, dukes, ministers, and officers in ploughing one thousand mu of the imperial field. The finished statutes will go to every commandery to streamline justice and nurture the people. A general amnesty will let minor offenders begin again. Every prefect, aide, and senior clerk receives a horse from the stable.”
35
二月庚子，增置山陽公國相、郎中令、陵令、雜工宰人、鼓吹車馬各有差。 罷中軍將軍，置北軍中候官。 甲寅，以東海劉儉有至行，拜爲郎。 以中軍將軍羊祜爲尚書左僕射，東莞王伷爲尚書右僕射。
Second month, gengzi: the Chenliu ex-emperor’s apanage gained a full household staff—chancellor, household director, tomb wardens, artisans, cooks, and a band with carriages. The central-army command was deleted in favor of a northern-army inspector. On jiayin Liu Jian of Donghai, famed for virtue, was named a court gentleman. Yang Hu became left vice-president of the secretariat; Sima Zhou of Dongguan became right vice-president.
36
三月戊子，皇太后王氏崩。
Third month, wuzi: Empress Dowager Wang passed away.
37
夏四月戊戌，太保、睢陵公王祥薨。 己亥，祔葬文明皇后王氏於崇陽陵。 罷振威、揚威護軍官，置左右積弩將軍。
Summer, fourth month, wuxu: Wang Xiang, grand protector of Suiling, died. On jihai Empress Wenming was laid beside her husband at Chongyang. The “display might” and “raise might” protector posts were cut; left and right “accumulated crossbow” generals took their place.
38
六月丙申朔，[8]詔曰：「郡國守相，三載一巡行屬縣，必以春，此古者所以述職宣風展義也。 見長吏，觀風俗，協禮律，考度量，存問耆老，親見百年。 錄囚徒，理冤枉，詳察政刑得失，知百姓所患苦。 無有遠近，便若朕親臨之。 敦喻五教，勸務農功，勉勵學者，思勤正典，無爲百家庸末，致遠必泥。 士庶有好學篤道，孝弟忠信，清白異行者，舉而進之； 有不孝敬於父母，不長悌於族黨，悖禮棄常，不率法令者，糾而罪之。 田疇闢，生業修，禮教設，禁令行，則長吏之能也。 人窮匱，農事荒，姦盜起，刑獄煩，下陵上替，禮義不興，斯長吏之否也。 若長吏在官公廉，慮不及私，正色直節，不飾名譽者，及身行貪穢，諂黷求容，公節不立，而私門日富者，並謹察之。 揚清激濁，舉善彈違，此朕所以垂拱總綱，責成於良二千石也。 於戲戒哉！」
Sixth month, new moon, bingshen [8]: an edict said, "Commandery and principality governors and chiefs shall once every three years tour their subordinate counties, necessarily in spring. This is how antiquity required them to report duty, spread customs, and display righteousness. They are to meet with senior officials, observe local customs, harmonize rites and statutes, check weights and measures, inquire after the elders, and personally visit those who have reached one hundred years. They must review dockets, reverse injustice, weigh the quality of justice, and learn what pains the people. Distance must not blunt inspection; each tour should feel like an imperial visit. They should preach the five relationships, push farming, urge scholars toward the orthodox canon, and shun the hundred schools’ pedantry. Promote any commoner or gentleman who studies deeply, keeps filial piety and good faith, and lives with conspicuous integrity. Punish unfilial kin, clan troublemakers, and lawbreakers. Good magistrates open land, enrich households, teach ritual, and enforce the code. Bad ones leave fields idle, invite theft, clog the courts, and let propriety collapse. If senior officials in office are fair and incorrupt, do not let their thoughts reach private interest, keep a stern bearing and straight integrity, and do not embellish their reputation, or if they personally act with greed and corruption, flatter and bribe to seek favor, fail to establish public integrity, and grow richer by the day at their private gates, both types are to be carefully examined. That is how I mean to clarify administration from the capital while counting on strong two-thousand-picul men in the provinces. Take this order to heart.”
39
秋七月，太山石崩，眾星西流。 戊午，[9]遣使者侯史光循行天下。 己卯，謁崇陽陵。
Seventh month: another cliff fell on Mount Tai while meteors streaked west across the sky. On wuwu [9] Hou Shiguang and other inspectors fanned out across the realm. On jimao the emperor paid his respects at Chongyang tomb.
40
九月，青、徐、兗、豫四州大水，伊洛溢，合於河，開倉以振之。 詔曰：「雖詔有所欲，及奏得可而於事不便者，皆不可隱情。」
Ninth month: Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu provinces suffered great floods. The Yi and Luo overflowed and joined the River, and the granaries were opened for relief. An edict said, "Even when an edict has what it desires, and when a memorial obtains approval, if the matter is inconvenient in practice, no one may conceal the facts."
41
冬十月，吳將施績入江夏，萬郁寇襄陽。 [10]遣太尉義陽王望屯龍陂。 荊州刺史胡烈擊敗郁。 吳將顧容寇鬱林，太守毛炅大破之，斬其交州刺史劉俊、將軍修則。
Winter, tenth month: Wu’s Shi Ji pushed into Jiangxia while Wan Yu struck Xiangyang. [10] Grand commandant Sima Wang of Yiyang marched to Longpi. Hu Lie, inspector of Jing, routed Wan Yu. Gu Rong of Wu invaded Yulin; Mao Jiong shattered his army and took the heads of Jiao inspector Liu Jun and general Xiu Ze.
42
十一月，吳將丁奉等出芍陂，安東將軍汝陰王駿與義陽王望擊走之。 己未，詔王公卿尹及郡國守相，舉賢良方正直言之士。
Eleventh month: Ding Feng led Wu forces out of Quepi; Sima Jun and Sima Wang threw them back. On jiwei he called for nominations of worthy, honest, outspoken talent from every princely house and province.
43
十二月，班五條詔書於郡國：一曰正身，二曰勤百姓，三曰撫孤寡，四曰敦本息末，五曰去人事。 庚寅，帝臨聽訟觀，錄廷尉洛陽獄囚，親平決焉。 扶南、林邑各遣使來獻。
December brought the five-point provincial charter—self-cultivation, care for the people, relief for the helpless, agriculture over commerce, and an end to clientage. On gengyin he sat in the Luoyang review court and personally cleared the capital jail. Funan and Lin-yi both dispatched embassies with gifts.
44
五年春正月癸巳，申戒郡國計吏守相令長，務盡地利，禁游食商販。 丙申，帝臨聽訟觀錄囚徒，多所原遣。 青龍二見於滎陽。
Fifth year, spring, guisi: account clerks and magistrates were warned to fill every acre and ban idle hawkers. On bingshen he heard capital cases again and freed a large number. Twin azure dragons were reported at Xingyang.
45
二月，以雍州隴右五郡及涼州之金城、梁州之陰平置秦州。 辛巳，白龍二見於趙國。 青、徐、兗三州水，遣使振恤之。 壬寅，以尚書左僕射羊祜都督荊州諸軍事，征東大將軍衛瓘都督青州諸軍事，東莞王伷鎮東大將軍、都督徐州諸軍事。 丁亥，詔曰：「古者歲書群吏之能否，三年而誅賞之。 諸令史前後，但簡遣疏劣，而無有勸進，非黜陟之謂也。 其條勤能有稱尤異者，歲以爲常。 吾將議其功勞。」 己未，詔蜀相諸葛亮孫京隨才署吏。
That February he carved out Qin province, combining the five Longyou commanderies under Yong with Jincheng from the Hexi frontier and Yinping from the Hanzhong basin. On xinsi two white dragons appeared in Zhao. Flooding struck Qing, Xu, and Yan; the court dispatched inspectors with grain and aid. On renyin Yang Hu took command on the Jing front, Wei Guan on the Qing front, and Sima Zhou of Dongguan became commander-in-chief on the Xu front. On dinghai, an edict said, "In antiquity, each year the ability or inability of the assembled clerks was written down, and after three years they were punished or rewarded. So far prefects had only purged the useless without promoting the able—that was not true evaluation. Any clerk praised year after year for diligence and talent should be entered on a standing honor roll. The throne will then weigh rewards for proven service.” On jiwei, Zhuge Liang's grandson Sun Jing was assigned an office suited to his talents.
46
夏四月，地震。
Summer, fourth month: the earth shook.
47
五月辛卯朔，鳳皇見于趙國。 曲赦交趾、九真、日南五歲刑。
Fifth month began on xinmao with a phoenix sighting in Zhao. A partial amnesty remitted sentences of five years in Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, and Rinan.
48
六月，鄴奚官督郭廙上疏陳五事以諫，言甚切直，擢爲屯留令。 西平人麴路伐登聞鼓，言多祅謗，有司奏棄市。 帝曰：「朕之過也。」 捨而不問。 罷鎮軍將軍，復置左右將軍官。
A Ye workshop overseer named Guo Yi sent up a blunt five-point memorial and was rewarded with the Tunliu magistracy. Qu Lu of Xiping pounded the appeal drum with wild, slanderous talk; the ministry sought a public execution. The emperor answered, “The fault is mine.” He let the man go without punishment. The “guard the army” command was cut while left and right generals returned to the table of organization.
49
秋七月，延群公，詢讜言。
Seventh month: he convened the great nobles and asked for plain speech.
50
九月，有星孛于紫宮。
Ninth month: a comet blazed through the circumpolar palace.
51
冬十月丙子，以汲郡太守王宏有政績，賜穀千斛。
Winter, tenth month, bingzi: Wang Hong of Ji won a thousand-hu bounty for good governance.
52
十一月，追封諡皇弟兆爲城陽哀王，以皇子景度嗣。
November canonized the late prince Zhao as king Ai of Chengyang and installed Prince Jingdu in his line.
53
十二月，詔州郡舉勇猛秀異之才。
December: every province was told to nominate bold and exceptional warriors.
54
六年春正月丁亥朔，帝臨軒，不設樂。 吳將丁奉入渦口，揚州刺史牽弘擊走之。
the sixth year of Taishi, new year on dinghai: he held court in the gallery without music. Ding Feng of Wu probed the Wo estuary until Qian Hong, Yang’s inspector, threw him back.
55
三月，赦五歲刑已下。
Third month: sentences of five years or less were forgiven.
56
夏四月，白龍二見於東莞。
Summer: twin white dragons were reported in Dongguan.
57
五月，立壽安亭侯承爲南宮王。
May raised marquis Cheng of Shou'an village to king of the southern palace.
58
六月戊午，秦州刺史胡烈擊叛虜於萬斛堆，力戰，死之。 詔遣尚書石鑒行安西將軍、都督秦州諸軍事，與奮威護軍田章討之。
Sixth month, wuwu: Hu Lie died charging tribal rebels at Wanhudui. An edict sent Shi Jian of the Secretariat to act as General Who Pacifies the West and area commander-in-chief for all military affairs in Qin province, and to campaign against them together with Tian Zhang, protector-general Who Displays Might.
59
秋七月丁酉，復隴右五郡遇寇害者租賦，不能自存者廩貸之。 乙巳，城陽王景度薨。 詔曰：「自泰始以來，大事皆撰錄祕書，寫副。 後有其事，輒宜綴集以爲常。」 丁未，以汝陰王駿爲鎮西大將軍、都督雍涼二州諸軍事。
Seventh month, dingyou: the five Longyou counties ravaged by raiders were tax-free, and starving households got grain loans. On yisi the young king of Chengyang, Jingdu, died. An edict said, "Since Taishi, all major affairs have been compiled and recorded in the Secretariat archive, with copies written. Future events of the same weight must be added to the dossier as routine.” On dingwei Sima Jun of Ru'yin became western commander over Yong and Liang.
60
九月，大宛獻汗血馬，焉耆來貢方物。
Ninth month: Ferghana sent blood-sweating steeds; Yanqi sent envoys with gifts.
61
冬十一月，幸辟雍，行鄉飲酒之禮，賜太常博士、學生帛牛酒各有差。 立皇子柬爲汝南王。
Winter, eleventh month: at the imperial academy he held the archery feast and handed out silk, beef, and wine to ritual scholars and students by rank. Prince Jian was named king of Runan.
62
十二月，吳夏口督、前將軍孫秀帥眾來奔，拜驃騎將軍、開府儀同三司，封會稽公。 戊辰，復置鎮軍官。
December: Sun Xiu, Wu’s Xiakou commander, defected with his army and received a ducal title and swift-cavalry command. On wuchen the “guard the army” office was revived.
63
七年春正月丙午，皇太子冠，賜王公以下帛各有差。 匈奴帥劉猛叛出塞。
Seventh year, bingwu: the heir was capped and nobles down the line got graded silk gifts. The chieftain Liu Meng broke with the court and fled beyond the frontier.
64
三月，孫皓帥眾趨壽陽，遣大司馬望屯淮北以距之。 丙戌，司空、鉅鹿公裴秀薨。 癸巳，以中護軍王業爲尚書左僕射，高陽王珪爲尚書右僕射。 孫秀部將何崇帥眾五千人來降。
Third month: Sun Hao marched on Shouyang; grand marshal Sima Wang took station north of the Huai to meet him. On bingxu [13] Pei Xiu, minister of works, died. Guisi: Wang Ye, Central Protector of the Army, was made left vice-director of the Secretariat, and Sima Gui, King of Gaoyang, was made right vice-director of the Secretariat. Sun Xiu’s officer He Chong brought five thousand soldiers over to Jin.
65
夏四月，九真太守董元爲吳將虞氾所攻，軍敗，死之。 北地胡寇金城，涼州刺史牽弘討之。 群虜內叛，圍弘於青山，弘軍敗，死之。
Summer: Wu’s Yu Fan crushed Jiuzhen prefect Dong Yuan in the field. Di raiders struck Jincheng; Liang inspector Qian Hong marched to answer. The tribesmen turned, trapped Qian Hong on Mount Qing, and killed him.
66
五月，立皇子憲爲城陽王。 雍、涼、秦三州饑，赦其境內殊死以下。
Prince Xian became king of Chengyang. Famine in Yong, Liang, and Qin brought an amnesty for all but capital crimes there.
67
閏月，大雩，太官減膳。 詔交趾三郡、南中諸郡，無出今年戶調。
Intercalary month: a state prayer for rain went with simpler palace fare. Jiaozhi and the deep south were excused from the year’s head tax.
68
六月，詔公卿以下舉將帥各一人。 辛丑，大司馬義陽王望薨。 大雨霖，伊、洛、河溢，流居人四千餘家，殺三百餘人，有詔振貸給棺。
June: every minister had to name a general. On xinchou Sima Wang, grand marshal of Yiyang, died. Long rains fell. The Yi, Luo, and River overflowed, sweeping away more than four thousand households and killing more than three hundred people; an edict ordered relief loans and coffins supplied.
69
秋七月癸酉，以車騎將軍賈充爲都督秦、涼二州諸軍事。 吳將陶璜等圍交趾，太守楊稷與鬱林太守毛炅及日南等三郡降於吳。
Seventh month, guiyou: Jia Chong took joint command of Qin and Liang. Tao Huang’s Wu army penned Jiaozhi until Yang Ji, Mao Jiong, and the coast surrendered.
70
八月丙戌，以征東大將軍衛瓘爲征北大將軍、都督幽州諸軍事。 丙申，城陽王憲薨。 分益州之南中四郡置寧州，曲赦四郡殊死已下。
In the eighth month, on bingxu, Wei Guan was moved from General-in-chief Who Campaigns East to General-in-chief Who Campaigns North and given command of Youzhou military affairs. On bingshen, Prince Xian of Chengyang died. The four Nanzhong commanderies were detached from Yizhou to form Ningzhou, and a special amnesty there covered capital offenders and below.
71
冬十月丁丑，日有蝕之。
Winter, tenth month, dingchou: a solar eclipse.
72
十一月丁巳，衛公姬署薨。
In the eleventh month, on the dingsi day, Shu, Duke of Wei, died.
73
十二月，大雪。 罷中領軍，并北軍中候。 以光祿大夫鄭袤爲司空。
December brought blizzards. The inner-army commandant post was folded into the northern-army inspectorate. Zheng Mao became minister of works.
74
八年春正月，監軍何楨討匈奴劉猛，累破之，左部帥李恪殺猛而降。 癸亥，帝耕于藉田。
Eighth year, spring: He Zhen broke Liu Meng’s Xiongnu bands until a subchief murdered Meng and yielded. On guihai he turned the soil of the ritual field.
75
二月乙亥，禁彫文綺組非法之物。 壬辰，太宰、安平王孚薨。 詔內外群官舉任邊郡者各三人。 帝與右將軍皇甫陶論事，陶與帝爭言，散騎常侍鄭徽表請罪之。 帝曰：「讜言謇諤，所望於左右也。 人主常以阿媚爲患，豈以爭臣爲損哉！ 徽越職妄奏，豈朕之意。」 遂免徽官。
Second month, yihai: luxury embroidery and illegal weave patterns were banned. On renchen Sima Fu, grand preceptor and king of Anping, died. Every office had to name three candidates willing to serve on the border. Huangfu Tao argued loudly with the throne; Zheng Hui asked that Tao be prosecuted. The emperor replied, “I want blunt counsel from my attendants. Flattery ruins a throne; honest quarrel does not. Zheng Hui had no business filing that petition.” Zheng Hui was dismissed.
76
夏四月，置後將軍，以備四軍。 六月，益州牙門張弘誣其刺史皇甫晏反，殺之，傳首京師。 弘坐伏誅，夷三族。 壬辰，大赦。 丙申，詔復隴右四郡遇寇害者田租。
Summer: a rear general was added to balance the four-army set. June: Yi’s gate captain Zhang Hong murdered inspector Huangfu Yan on a false charge of treason. Zhang Hong was executed and his kin to the third degree wiped out. On renchen came a general amnesty. On bingshen the four raided Longyou counties were forgiven their grain rent.
77
秋七月，以車騎將軍賈充爲司空。
Seventh month: Jia Chong traded his army command for the ministry of works.
78
九月，吳西陵督步闡來降，拜衛將軍、開府儀同三司，封宜都公。 吳將陸抗攻闡，遣車騎將軍羊祜帥眾出江陵，荊州刺史楊肇迎闡於西陵，巴東監軍徐胤擊建平以救闡。
September: Bu Chan defected from Wu’s Xiling garrison and received guard-general rank and a ducal title. Lu Kang besieged Bu Chan while Yang Hu marched from Jiangling, Yang Zhao raced to Xiling, and Xu Yin hit Jianping to break the ring.
79
冬十月辛未朔，日有蝕之。
Winter, new moon on xinwei: eclipse of the sun.
80
十二月，肇攻抗，不克而還。 闡城陷，爲抗所禽。
December: Yang Zhao failed against Lu Kang and pulled back. Xiling fell and Bu Chan fell into Lu Kang’s hands.
81
九年春正月辛酉，司空、密陵侯鄭袤薨。
Ninth year, xinyou: minister Zheng Mao died.
82
二月癸巳，司徒、樂陵公石苞薨。 立安平亭侯隆爲安平王。
Second month, guisi: Shi Bao, steward of the masters of the people, died. Marquis Long of Anping village was promoted to king of Anping.
83
三月，立皇子祗爲東海王。
Prince Zhi became king of Donghai.
84
夏四月戊辰朔，日有蝕之。
Summer opened on wuchen with another eclipse.
85
五月，旱。 以太保何曾領司徒。
May was rainless. He Zeng added the stewardship of the masters of the people to his grand protector’s hat.
86
六月乙未，東海王祗薨。
Sixth month, yiwei: the king of Donghai, Zhi, died.
87
秋七月丁酉朔，日有蝕之。 吳將魯淑圍弋陽，征虜將軍王渾擊敗之。 罷五官左右中郎將、弘訓太僕、衛尉、大長秋等官。 鮮卑寇廣寧，殺略五千人。 詔聘公卿以下子女以備六宮，采擇未畢，權禁斷婚姻。
Autumn began on dingyou with yet another eclipse. Lu Shu of Wu surrounded Yiyang until Wang Hun broke the siege. A bundle of sinecures—five-department generals, Hongxun coachman, commandant of guards, grand prolonger of autumn—was cut. Xianbei horsemen sacked Guangning and took five thousand lives or captives. The court began drafting noble youths for the harem and froze all weddings until the levy ended.
88
冬十月辛巳，制女年十七父母不嫁者，使長吏配之。
Winter, xinsi: any unmarried girl of seventeen would be paired off by the magistrate.
89
十一月丁酉，臨宣武觀大閱諸軍，甲辰乃罷。
Eleventh month, dingyou: he watched a full army parade at Xuanwu Gate until jiachen.
90
十年春正月辛亥，帝耕于藉田。
Tenth year, spring, xinhai: another ploughing rite.
91
閏月癸酉，太傅、壽光公鄭沖薨。 己卯，高陽王珪薨。 庚辰，太原王瑰薨。
Intercalary guiyou: grand tutor Zheng Chong died. On jimao Sima Gui of Gaoyang died. On gengchen Sima Gui of Taiyuan died.
92
丁亥，詔曰：「嫡庶之別，所以辨上下，明貴賤。 而近世以來，多皆內寵，登妃后之職，亂尊卑之序。 自今以後，皆不得登用妾媵以爲嫡正。」
On dinghai, an edict said, "The distinction between principal and secondary lines is how upper and lower are distinguished and noble and base are made clear. In recent reigns, however, palace favorites had climbed to empress and thrown the proper order of rank into confusion. Henceforth no concubine may be elevated to the rank of principal consort."
93
二月，分幽州五郡置平州。
February saw Ping province carved from five Youzhou counties.
94
三月癸亥，日有蝕之。
Third month, guihai: a solar eclipse.
95
夏四月己未，太尉、臨淮公荀顗薨。
Summer, jiwei: Xun Yi, grand commandant of Linhuai, died.
96
六月癸巳，臨聽訟觀錄囚徒，多所原遣。 是夏，大蝗。
Sixth month, guisi: another prison review freed many inmates. Locusts swarmed that summer.
97
秋七月丙寅，皇后楊氏崩。 壬午，吳平虜將孟泰、偏將軍王嗣等帥眾降。
Seventh month, bingyin: Empress Yang passed away. Renwu: Wu officers Meng Tai and Wang Si brought their men over to Jin.
98
八月，涼州虜寇金城諸郡，鎮西將軍、汝陰王駿討之，斬其帥乞文泥等。 戊申，葬元皇后于峻陽陵。
Eighth month: Liang tribes raided Jincheng until Sima Jun cut down chiefs such as Qi Wenni. On wushen the late empress was laid to rest at Junyang.
99
九月癸亥，以大將軍陳騫爲太尉。 攻拔吳枳里城，獲吳立信校尉莊祐。 吳將孫遵、李承帥眾寇江夏，太守嵇喜擊破之。 立河橋于富平津。
Ninth month, guihai: Chen Qian became grand commandant. Jin troops seized Zhili and took colonel Zhuang You prisoner. Sun Zun and Li Cheng struck Jiangxia but Ji Xi drove them off. A bridge over the River was built at Fuping ford.
100
冬十一月，立城東七里澗石橋。 庚午，帝臨宣武觀，大閱諸軍。
Winter: a stone span was built east of Luoyang over the Seven-li Ditch. On gengwu he reviewed the hosts at Xuanwu Gate.
101
十二月，有星孛于軫。 置藉田令。 立太原王子緝爲高陽王。 吳威北將軍嚴聰、揚威將軍嚴整、偏將軍朱買來降。
December: a comet trailed through Zhen. A superintendent of the ritual plough-lands was added to the roster. The Taiyuan king’s son Ji was promoted to king of Gaoyang. Wu’s northern commanders Yan Cong, Yan Zheng, and Zhu Mai defected with their units.
102
是歲，鑿陝南山，決河，東注洛，以通運漕。
Engineers cut a channel through southern Shanxi to swing the river east into the Luo and ease grain barges.
103
咸寧元年春正月戊午朔，大赦，改元。
Xianning opened on wuwu with amnesty and a new era name.
104
二月，以將士應已娶者多，家有五女者給復。 辛酉，以故鄴令夏謖有清稱，賜穀百斛。 以奉祿薄，賜公卿以下帛有差。 叛虜樹機能送質請降。
February brought relief for families swamped with daughters: any household raising five girls was excused from labor levies, so married soldiers could still serve without ruining their kin. Xinyou [14]: Xia Mo, once magistrate of Ye, received a hundred hu for his clean name. Slender salaries were padded with graded silk gifts to the bureaucracy. The Di rebel Shujineng offered hostages and sued for peace.
105
夏五月，下邳、廣陵大風，拔木，壞廬舍。
Summer, fifth month: great winds in Xiapi and Guangling uprooted trees and damaged huts and houses.
106
六月，鮮卑力微遣子來獻。 吳人寇江夏。 西域戊己校尉馬循討叛鮮卑，破之，斬其渠帥。 戊申，置太子詹事官。
Sixth month: Xianbei chief Liwei’s son arrived with gifts. Wu raiders hit Jiangxia again. Western Regions colonel Ma Xun crushed rebel Xianbei and took their chief’s head. On wushen the crown prince gained a full household administration.
107
秋七月甲申晦，日有蝕之。 郡國螟。
Month’s end, jiashen: eclipse of the sun. Crop-worms blighted fields across the provinces.
108
八月壬寅，沛王子文薨。 以故太傅鄭沖、太尉荀顗、司徒石苞、司空裴秀、驃騎將軍王沈、安平獻王孚等及太保何曾、司空賈充、太尉陳騫、中書監荀勖、平南將軍羊祜、齊王攸等皆列於銘饗。
In the eighth month, on renyin, Ziwen, Prince of Pei, died. Zheng Chong, Xun Yi, Shi Bao, Pei Xiu, Wang Shen, Prince Fu of Anping, He Zeng, Jia Chong, Chen Qian, Xun Xu, Yang Hu, Prince You of Qi, and others were all entered among those honored in commemorative offerings.
109
九月甲子，青州螟，徐州大水。
Ninth month, jiazi: Qing province suffered grain insects, and Xu province suffered great floods.
110
冬十月乙酉，常山王殷薨。 癸巳，彭城王權薨。
Tenth month, yiyou: Sima Yin of Changshan died. Guisi: the Pengcheng king Sima Quan died.
111
十一月癸亥，大閱於宣武觀，至于己巳。
Guihai to jisi: another full-dress parade at Xuanwu.
112
十二月丁亥，追尊宣帝廟曰高祖，景帝曰世宗，文帝曰太祖。 是月大疫，洛陽死者太半。 封裴頠爲鉅鹿公。
Dinghai: Xuan, Jing, and Wen received temple names Gaozu, Shizong, and Taizu. A plague carried off over half of Luoyang that month. Pei Wei received the Julu ducal title.
113
二年春正月，以疾疫廢朝。 賜諸散吏至于士卒絲各有差。
Xianning 2 opened with plague so severe that regular court was canceled. Even petty clerks and rank-and-file troops received graded silk handouts.
114
二月丙戌，河間王洪薨。 甲午，赦五歲刑以下。 東夷八國歸化。 并州虜犯塞，監并州諸軍事胡奮擊破之。
Second month, bingxu: Sima Hong of Hejian died. Jiawu: sentences of five years or less were remitted. Eight Yi polities along the eastern seaboard asked to enter the map as Jin subjects. Bing tribes raided the wall; Hu Fen, Bing’s military supervisor, beat them back.
115
初，燉煌太守尹璩卒，州以燉煌令梁澄領太守事，議郎令狐豐廢澄，自領郡事。 豐死，弟宏代之。 至是，涼州刺史楊欣斬宏，傳首洛陽。
Earlier, Dunhuang had fallen into chaos after Yin Qu’s death: Linghu Feng ousted acting magistrate Liang Cheng and seized the prefecture. When Linghu Feng died, his brother Hong continued the usurpation. Now Yang Xin, Liang’s inspector, beheaded Hong and shipped the head to the capital.
116
先是，帝不豫，及瘳，群臣上壽。 詔曰：「每念頃遇疫氣死亡，爲之愴然。 豈以一身之休息，忘百姓之艱邪？ 諸上禮者皆絕之。」
After his illness lifted, the court wanted to celebrate his recovery with formal toasts. He refused: “Each time I remember the plague’s toll, grief stops my breath. How could I indulge my own comfort while the people still mourn? Cancel every proposal for congratulatory banquets.”
117
夏五月，鎮西大將軍、汝陰王駿討北胡，斬其渠帥吐敦。 立國子學。 庚午，大雩。
Summer: Sima Jun struck northern tribes and killed their chief Tudun. The imperial university opened its doors. On gengwu the court prayed for rain.
118
六月癸丑，薦荔支于太廟。 甲戌，有星孛于氐。 自春旱，至于是月始雨。 吳京下督孫楷帥眾來降，以爲車騎將軍，封丹楊侯。 白龍二見于新興井中。
Sixth month, guichou: fresh lychees went onto the ancestral altar. Jiaxu [15]: a comet shone in Di. The long spring drought broke at last in the sixth month. Sun Kai, Wu’s capital-area commander, defected and became chariots-and-cavalry general, marquis of Danyang. Two white dragons were reported in a Xinxing village well.
119
秋七月，有星孛于大角。 吳臨平湖自漢末壅塞，至是自開。 父老相傳云：「此湖塞，天下亂； 此湖開，天下平」癸丑，安平王隆薨。 東夷十七國內附。 河南、魏郡暴水，殺百餘人，詔給棺。 鮮卑阿羅多等寇邊，西域戊己校尉馬循討之，斬首四千餘級，獲生九千餘人，於是來降。
Seventh month: a comet hung at the bright star Arcturus. Linping Lake in Wu, silted since Han’s end, suddenly cleared. Local graybeards said, “When Linping dams up, the empire totters. When it opens again, peace returns.” On guichou Sima Long of Anping died. Seventeen Yi realms asked for annexation. Cloudbursts in Henan and Wei drowned over a hundred; the court paid for coffins. Xianbei chief Arluoduo raided the line until Ma Xun killed four thousand and took nine thousand prisoners, after which they yielded.
120
八月庚辰，河東、平陽地震。 己亥，以太保何曾爲太傅，太尉陳騫爲大司馬，司空賈充爲太尉，鎮軍大將軍齊王攸爲司空。 有星孛于太微，九月又孛于翼。 丁未，起太倉於城東，常平倉於東西市。 [16]
Eighth month, gengchen: Hedong and Pingyang shook. Jihai reshuffled the summit: He Zeng to grand tutor, Chen Qian to grand marshal, Jia Chong to grand commandant, Sima You to minister of works. A comet crossed the “Supreme Palace” asterism in the eighth month; a second brushed the Wings mansion in the ninth. Dingwei: a state granary rose east of Luoyang, with “ever-normal” bins in both market wards. The recension marks commentary note sixteen here.
121
閏月，荊州五郡水，流四千餘家。
Intercalary month: Jing floods displaced over four thousand families.
122
冬十月，以汝陰王駿爲征西大將軍，平南將軍羊祜爲征南大將軍。 丁卯，立皇后楊氏，大赦，賜王公以下及于鰥寡各有差。
Winter: Sima Jun became western expedition commander, Yang Hu southern expedition commander. Dingmao: a new empress Yang, general amnesty, and graded gifts from princes down to the destitute.
123
十一月，白龍二見于梁國。
November: twin white dragons in Liang.
124
十二月，徵處士安定皇甫謐爲太子中庶子，封后父鎮軍將軍楊駿爲臨晉侯。 是月，以平州刺史傅詢、前廣平太守孟桓清白有聞，詢賜帛二百匹，桓百匹。
December called scholar Huangfu Mi to tutor the heir and made empress Yang’s father Yang Jun marquis of Linjin. The same month rewarded honest officials—two hundred rolls for Fu Xun, one hundred for Meng Huan.
125
三年春正月丙子朔，日有蝕之。 立皇子裕爲始平王，安平穆王隆弟敦爲安平王。 詔曰：「宗室戚屬，國之枝葉，欲令奉率德義，爲天下式。 然處富貴而能慎行者寡，召穆公糾合兄弟而賦唐棣之詩，此姬氏所以本枝百世也。 今以衛將軍、扶風王亮爲宗師，所當施行，皆諮之於宗師也。」 庚寅，始平王裕薨。 有星孛於西方。 使征北大將軍衛瓘討鮮卑力微。 三月，平虜護軍文淑討叛虜樹機能等，並破之。 有星孛于胃。 乙未，帝將射雉，慮損麥苗而止。
In the third year, spring, first month, on the bingzi new moon, the sun was eclipsed. The emperor made his son Yu prince of Shiping and made Dun, younger brother of Long, Prince Mu of Anping, prince of Anping. An edict declared: "The imperial kin are the state's branches and leaves; they should uphold virtue and righteousness and serve as models for the realm. Yet few men in wealth and rank remain careful. Lord Mu of Shao gathered his brothers and sang Tangdi; by such means the Ji clan preserved root and branch for generations. I now appoint Liang, Prince of Fufeng and Guards General, as Master of the Clan; all clan measures are to be referred to him." On gengyin, Prince Yu of Shiping died. A comet appeared in the west. Wei Guan, General-in-chief Who Campaigns North, was sent against the Xianbei leader Liwei. Third month: Wen Shu, Protector-general Who Pacifies the Captives, defeated the rebel forces of Shujineng and the others. A comet trailed through the Wei mansion. Yiwei: he canceled a hunt lest arrows trample the wheat.
126
夏五月戊子，吳將邵凱、夏祥帥眾七千餘人來降。 [18]
Summer, wuzi: Shao Kai and Xia Xiang brought seven thousand Wu soldiers over. The recension marks commentary note eighteen here.
127
六月，益、梁八郡水，殺三百餘人，沒邸閣別倉。
June: flash floods in Yi and Liang drowned three hundred and swamped auxiliary granaries.
128
秋七月，以都督豫州諸軍事王渾爲都督揚州諸軍事。 中山王睦以罪廢爲丹水侯。
Autumn, seventh month: Wang Hun, commander-in-chief of all military affairs in Yu province, was made commander-in-chief of all military affairs in Yang province. Sima Mu of Zhongshan lost his kingship for misconduct and became marquis of Danshui.
129
八月癸亥，徙扶風王亮爲汝南王，東莞王伷爲琅邪王，汝陰王駿爲扶風王，琅邪王倫爲趙王，渤海王輔爲太原王，太原王顒爲河間王，北海王陵爲任城王，陳王斌爲西河王，汝南王柬爲南陽王，濟南王耽爲中山王，河間王威爲章武王。 立皇子瑋爲始平王，允爲濮陽王，該爲新都王，遐爲清河王，鉅平侯羊祜爲南城侯。 以汝南王亮爲鎮南大將軍。 大風拔樹，暴寒且冰，郡國五隕霜，傷穀。
Guihai: a wholesale rotation of princely fiefs—Liang to Runan, Zhou to Langye, Jun to Fufeng, Lun to Zhao, and so through the royal cousins. New princely lines were drawn for Wei, Yun, Gai, and Xia, while Yang Hu traded Juling for Nancheng marquisate. Sima Liang of Runan took southern command. Gales, sudden frost, and ice [19] damaged crops in five provinces.
130
九月戊子，以左將軍胡奮爲都督江北諸軍事。 兗、豫、徐、青、荊、益、梁七州大水，傷秋稼，詔振給之。 立齊王子蕤爲遼東王，贊爲廣漢王。
Ninth month, wuzi: Hu Fen, General of the Left, was made commander-in-chief of all military affairs north of the Yangzi. Seven provinces flooded at once, ruining the autumn crop; grain relief followed. The Qi king’s sons Rui and Zan became princes of Liaodong and Guanghan.
131
冬十一月丙戌，帝臨宣武觀大閱，至于壬辰。
Winter, bingxu to renchen: another army parade at Xuanwu.
132
十二月，吳將孫慎入江夏、汝南，略千餘家而去。
December: Sun Shen raided Jiangxia and Runan, dragging off a thousand families.
133
是歲，西北雜虜及鮮卑、匈奴、五溪蠻夷、東夷三國前後十餘輩，[20]各帥種人部落內附。
Year’s end saw a wave of defections—steppe tribes, Xianbei, Xiongnu, Wuxi peoples, and three Yi realms [20]—each chief bringing his people in.
134
四年春正月庚午朔，日有蝕之。
Fourth year, new moon on gengwu: eclipse.
135
三月甲申，尚書左僕射盧欽卒。 辛酉，以尚書右僕射山濤爲尚書左僕射。 東夷六國來獻。
Third month, jiashen: Lu Qin died in office. Xinyou: Shan Tao moved from right to left vice-president of the secretariat. Six Yi realms along the coast sent tribute embassies.
136
夏四月，蚩尤旗見於東井。
Summer: a long-tailed “Chiyou” comet blazed above the Eastern Well asterism.
137
六月丁未，陰平、廣武地震，甲子又震。 涼州刺史楊欣與虜若羅拔能等戰于武威，敗績，死之。 弘訓皇后羊氏崩。
Sixth month, dingwei: Yinping and Guangwu shook; aftershocks hit on jiazi. Liang inspector Yang Xin died in defeat at Wuwei fighting the Ruluobaneng confederation. Lady Yang, dowager empress of the Hongxun palace, passed away.
138
秋七月己丑，祔葬景獻皇后羊氏于峻平陵。 庚寅，高陽王緝薨。 癸巳，范陽王綏薨。 荊、揚郡國二十皆大水。
Seventh month, jichou: Empress Jingxian was laid beside her husband at Junping tomb. Gengyin: Sima Ji of Gaoyang died. Guisi: Sima Sui of Fanyang died. Twenty Jing and Yang jurisdictions were underwater.
139
九月，以太傅何曾爲太宰。 辛巳，以尚書令李胤爲司徒。
September: He Zeng rose from grand tutor to grand preceptor. Xinsi: Li Yin became steward of the masters of the people.
140
冬十月，以征北大將軍衛瓘爲尚書令。 揚州刺史應綽伐吳皖城，斬首五千級，焚穀米百八十萬斛。
Winter: northern commander Wei Guan took over the secretariat. Ying Chuo stormed Wu’s Wan stronghold, counted five thousand kills, and torched nearly two million hu of enemy stores.
141
十一月辛巳，太醫司馬程據獻雉頭裘，帝以奇技異服典禮所禁，焚之於殿前。 甲申，敕內外敢有犯者罪之。 吳昭武將軍劉翻、厲武將軍祖始來降。 辛卯，以尚書杜預都督荊州諸軍事。 征南大將軍羊祜卒。
Xinsi: a court doctor offered a pheasant-skin cloak; the emperor burned it as illegal luxury. Jiashen: a decree threatened punishment for anyone peddling such finery. Wu generals Liu Fan and Zu Shi crossed with their commands. Xinmao: Du Yu took supreme command on the Jing front. Yang Hu, the southern expedition commander, died.
142
十二月乙未，西河王斌薨。 丁未，太宰朗陵公何曾薨。
Yiwei: Sima Bin of Xihe died. Dingwei: He Zeng, grand preceptor, died.
143
是歲，東夷九國內附。
Nine Yi polities entered Jin’s orbit that year.
144
五年春正月，虜帥樹機能攻陷涼州。 乙丑，使討虜護軍武威太守馬隆擊之。
Xianning 5 opened with Shujineng’s Di army seizing Liangzhou. Yichou: Ma Long of Wuwei was sent to retake the northwest.
145
二月甲午，白麟見于平原。
Second month, jiawu: a white kirin was sighted in Pingyuan.
146
三月，匈奴都督拔弈虛帥部落歸化。 乙亥，以百姓饑饉，減御膳之半。 有星孛于柳。
Third month: Xiongnu chief Bayixu brought his people in. Yihai: famine in the realm halved the palace table. A comet trailed through the Willow mansion.
147
夏四月，又孛于女御。 大赦，降除部曲督以下質任。 丁亥，郡國八雨雹，傷秋稼，壞百姓廬舍。
Summer: a second comet shone in the Nüyu asterism. Amnesty followed, and hostage rules were eased for hereditary officers down to company level. Dinghai: hailstorms in eight provinces [22] smashed the harvest and flattened homes.
148
秋七月，有星孛于紫宮。
Seventh month: another comet circled the pole stars.
149
九月甲午，麟見于河南。
Ninth month, jiawu: a kirin appeared in Henan commandery.
150
冬十月戊寅，匈奴餘渠都督獨雍等帥部落歸化。 汲郡人不準掘魏襄王冢，[23]得竹簡小篆古書十餘萬言，藏于祕府。
Tenth month, wuyin: more Xiongnu bands under Duyong surrendered. Bu Zhun of Ji opened King Xiang’s Wei tomb [23] and pulled up a huge cache of Warring States bamboo slips for the imperial library.
151
十一月，大舉伐吳，遣鎮軍將軍、琅邪王伷出涂中，[24]安東將軍王渾出江西，建威將軍王戎出武昌，平南將軍胡奮出夏口，鎮南大將軍杜預出江陵，龍驤將軍王濬、廣武將軍唐彬率巴蜀之卒浮江而下，東西凡二十餘萬。 以太尉賈充爲大都督，行冠軍將軍楊濟爲副，總統眾軍。
November: the conquest of Wu opened on every vector—Sima Zhou from Tu, Wang Hun from the north bank, Wang Rong, Hu Fen, Du Yu, and a river fleet under Wang Jun and Tang Bin—over two hundred thousand soldiers [24]. Jia Chong, Grand Commandant, was made Grand Commander-in-chief; Yang Ji, acting General Who Displays Champion Prowess, served as his deputy, and together they commanded all the armies.
152
十二月，馬隆擊叛虜樹機能，大破，斬之，涼州平。 肅慎來獻楛矢石砮。
December: Ma Long killed Shujineng and recovered Liangzhou. Sushen foresters sent their classic stone-tipped arrows as tribute.
153
太康元年春正月己丑朔，五色氣冠日。 癸丑，王渾克吳尋陽賴鄉諸城，獲吳武威將軍周興。
Taikang opened on jichou with a five-hued halo around the sun. Guichou: Wang Hun captured the various Wu cities of Laixiang in Xunyang and took Zhou Xing, Wu’s General of Martial Might.
154
二月戊午，王濬、唐彬等克丹楊城。 庚申，又克西陵，殺西陵都督、鎮軍將軍留憲，[25]征南將軍成璩，西陵監鄭廣。 壬戌，濬又克夷道樂鄉城，殺夷道監陸晏、水軍都督陸景。 甲戌，杜預克江陵，斬吳江陵督伍延； 平南將軍胡奮克江安。 於是諸軍並進，樂鄉、荊門諸戍相次來降。 乙亥，以濬爲都督益、梁二州諸軍事，復下詔曰：「濬、彬東下，掃除巴丘，與胡奮、王戎共平夏口、武昌，順流長騖，直造秣陵，與奮、戎審量其宜。 杜預當鎮靜零、桂，懷輯衡陽。 大兵既過，荊州南境固當傳檄而定，預當分萬人給濬，七千給彬。 夏口既平，奮宜以七千人給濬。 武昌既了，戎當以六千人增彬。 太尉充移屯項，總督諸方。」 濬進破夏口、武昌，遂泛舟東下，所至皆平。 王渾、周浚與吳丞相張悌戰于版橋，大破之，斬悌及其將孫震、沈瑩，傳首洛陽。 孫皓窮蹙請降，送璽綬於琅邪王伷。
Second month, wuwu: the river fleet seized Danyang. Gengshen: Xiling fell; Liu Xian, Cheng Quan, and Zheng Guang died defending it [25]. Renxu: Wang Jun pushed to Yidao and Lexiang and killed Lu Yan and Lu Jing. Jiaxu: Du Yu entered Jiangling and executed Wu Yan; Hu Fen secured Jiang’an. Fort after fort—Lexiang, Jingmen—raised white flags. On yihai, Wang Jun was made commander-in-chief of military affairs in Yi and Liang provinces, and an edict was again issued, saying, "Jun and Bin shall go east, sweep away Baqiu, and together with Hu Fen and Wang Rong pacify Xiakou and Wuchang, drive swiftly down the current, and go straight to Moling; with Fen and Rong, carefully measure what is appropriate. Du Yu was to hold the southern Jing pocket and win over Hengyang. After the main thrust, Du Yu was to feed ten thousand troops to Wang Jun and seven thousand to Tang Bin. When Xiakou fell, Hu Fen was to shift seven thousand soldiers to Wang Jun. After Wuchang, Wang Rong was to reinforce Tang Bin with six thousand. Jia Chong would move headquarters to Xiang and coordinate all theaters.” Wang Jun smashed the river defenses and swept downstream unopposed. At Banqiao Wang Hun and Zhou Jun killed Zhang Ti and his lieutenants and shipped the heads north. Sun Hao capitulated, handing the imperial seal to Sima Zhou.
155
三月壬寅，王濬以舟師至于建鄴之石頭，[27]孫皓大懼，面縳輿櫬，降于軍門。 濬杖節解縛焚櫬，送于京都。 收其圖籍，克州四，郡四十三，縣三百一十三，戶五十二萬三千，吏三萬二千，兵二十三萬，男女口二百三十萬。 其牧守已下皆因吳所置，除其苛政，示之簡易，吳人大悅。 乙酉，大赦，改元，大酺五日，恤孤老困窮。
Third month, renyin: Wang Jun’s ships closed on Stone City [27]; Sun Hao came out bound, coffin in tow. Wang Jun freed him, burned the surrender coffin, and escorted him to Luoyang. The tally: four provinces, forty-three commanderies, three hundred thirteen counties, 523,000 households, 32,000 officials, 230,000 troops, and 2.3 million people. Wu’s local officials stayed at their posts under lighter rule, and the south rejoiced. Yiyou [28]: amnesty, new era name, five days of public feasting, and relief for the helpless.
156
夏四月，河東、高平雨雹，傷秋稼。 遣兼侍中張側、黃門侍郎朱震分使揚越，慰其初附。 白麟見于頓丘。 三河、魏郡、弘農雨雹，傷宿麥。
Summer hail in Hedong and Gaoping ruined crops. Envoys fanned out through the new south to reassure the conquered. A white kirin appeared at Dunqiu. Hail in the heartland damaged the winter wheat.
157
五月辛亥，封孫皓爲歸命侯，拜其太子爲中郎，諸子爲郎中。 吳之舊望，隨才擢敘。 孫氏大將戰亡之家徙於壽陽，將吏渡江復十年，百姓及百工復二十年。
Xinhai: Sun Hao became “return-the-mandate” marquis while his sons received court sinecures. Wu’s gentry elite were ranked by merit and given posts. Fallen Wu generals’ families were resettled at Shouyang; southern officials got ten years’ tax holiday, commoners twenty.
158
丙寅，帝臨軒大會，引皓升殿，群臣咸稱萬歲。 丁卯，薦酃淥酒于太廟。 郡國六雹，傷秋稼。 庚午，詔諸士卒年六十以上罷歸于家。 庚辰，以王濬爲輔國大將軍、襄陽侯，杜預當陽侯，王戎安豐侯，唐彬上庸侯，賈充、琅邪王伷以下增封。 於是論功行封，賜公卿以下帛各有差。
Bingyin [29]: Sun Hao was paraded before the court amid cheers. Dingmao: Luling wine was poured for the ancestors. Six more provinces reported hail damage. Gengwu: veterans over sixty were sent home. Gengchen: Wang Jun, Du Yu, Wang Rong, and Tang Bin received marquisates while Jia Chong and Sima Zhou gained added revenue. Silks followed to the whole bureaucracy graded by service.
159
六月丁丑，初置翊軍校尉官。 封丹水侯睦爲高陽王。 甲申，東夷十國歸化。
Sixth month, dingchou: a new “flying guard” colonelcy was added. Sima Mu regained kingship as ruler of Gaoyang. Jiashen: ten Yi realms sent submission.
160
秋七月，虜軻成泥寇西平、浩亹，殺督將以下三百餘人。 東夷二十國朝獻。 庚寅，以尚書魏舒爲尚書右僕射。
Seventh month: steppe raider Kecheni hit Xiping and Gaomen, killing three hundred officers. Twenty Yi embassies arrived at court. Gengyin: Wei Shu became right vice-president.
161
八月，車師前部遣子入侍。 己未，封皇弟延祚爲樂平王。 白龍三見于永昌。
Cheshi’s forward king sent his heir to Luoyang. Jiwei: Prince Yanzuo became king of Leping. Three white dragons were reported in Yongchang.
162
九月，群臣以天下一統，屢請封襌，帝謙讓弗許。
In the ninth month, because the realm was unified, the assembled ministers repeatedly requested the Feng and Shan sacrifices; the emperor modestly declined and did not permit it.
163
冬十月丁巳，除五女復。
Dingsi: the five-daughter corvée waiver was canceled.
164
十二月戊辰，廣漢王贊薨。
Wuchen: Sima Zan of Guanghan died.
165
二年春二月，淮南、丹楊地震。
Taikang 2, spring: Huainan and Danyang shook.
166
三月丙申，安平王敦薨。 賜王公以下吳生口各有差。 詔選孫皓妓妾五千人入宮。 東夷五國朝獻。
Third month, bingshen: Sima Dun of Anping died. Wu prisoners were parceled out to Jin nobles by rank. Five thousand of Sun Hao’s harem women were drafted into the harem. Five Yi states sent tribute that spring.
167
夏六月，東夷五國內附。 郡國十六雨雹，大風拔樹，壞百姓廬舍。 江夏、泰山水，流居人三百餘家。
Summer: five more Yi peoples asked for enrollment. Hail and gales tore through sixteen provinces. Floods on the Yangzi and at Taishan displaced three hundred families.
168
秋七月，上黨又暴風雨雹，傷秋稼。
Seventh month: Shangdang’s storms ruined the harvest.
169
八月，有星孛于張。
August: a comet crossed the Zhang mansion.
170
冬十月，鮮卑慕容廆寇昌黎。 十一月壬寅，大司馬陳騫薨。 有星孛于軒轅。 鮮卑寇遼西，平州刺史鮮于嬰討破之。 [30]
Winter: Xianbei chief Murong Hui struck Changli. In the eleventh month, on renyin, Grand Marshal Chen Qian died. A comet appeared in Xuanyuan. When Xianbei raided Liaoxi, Xianyu Ying, Inspector of Pingzhou, attacked and defeated them. [30] The recension marks commentary note thirty here.
171
三年春正月丁丑，罷秦州，并雍州。 甲午，以尚書張華都督幽州諸軍事。
Taikang 3, spring, first month, dingchou: Qin province was abolished and merged into Yong province. Jiawu: Zhang Hua took command on the Youzhou frontier.
172
三月，安北將軍嚴詢敗鮮卑慕容廆於昌黎，殺傷數萬人。
Third month: Yan Xun shattered Murong Hui at Changli with casualties in the tens of thousands.
173
夏四月庚午，太尉、魯公賈充薨。
In summer, in the fourth month, on the gengwu day, Jia Chong, Grand Commandant and Duke of Lu, died.
174
閏月丙子，司徒、廣陸侯李胤薨。 癸丑，白龍二見于濟南。
Intercalary bingzi: Li Yin, steward of the masters of the people, died. Guichou: twin white dragons appeared at Jinan.
175
秋七月，罷平州、寧州刺史三年一入奏事。
Seventh month [31]: Pingzhou was struck from the map, and Ning’s governor no longer had to make the old triennial appearance in Luoyang.
176
九月，東夷二十九國歸化，獻其方物。 吳故將莞恭、帛奉舉兵反，攻害建鄴令，遂圍揚州，徐州刺史嵇喜討平之。
Twenty-nine Yi realms sent tribute that autumn. Two ex-Wu officers, Wan Gong and Bo Feng, murdered the Jianye magistrate and besieged Yangzhou until Xu inspector Ji Xi crushed the rising.
177
冬十二月甲申，以司空齊王攸爲大司馬、督青州諸軍事，鎮東大將軍、琅邪王伷爲撫軍大將軍，[32]汝南王亮爲太尉，光祿大夫山濤爲司徒，尚書令衛瓘爲司空。 丙申，詔四方水旱甚者無出田租。
Winter, twelfth month, jiashen: Sima You, King of Qi and Minister of Works, was made Grand Marshal and supervisor of all military affairs in Qing province; Sima Zhou, Great General Who Garrisons the East and King of Langye, was made Great General Who Pacifies the Army; [32] Sima Liang, King of Runan, was made Grand Commandant; Shan Tao, Grand Master of Brilliant Prosperity, was made Minister over the Masses; and Wei Guan, Director of the Secretariat, was made Minister of Works. Bingshen: disaster counties were forgiven their grain rent.
178
四年春正月甲申，[33]以尚書右僕射魏舒爲尚書左僕射，下邳王晃爲尚書右僕射。 戊午，司徒山濤薨。
Taikang 4, jiashen [33]: Wei Shu and Sima Huang took the left and right vice-presidencies. Wuwu: Shan Tao died.
179
二月己丑，立長樂亭侯寔爲北海王。
Jichou: Shi was promoted from Changle village marquis to king of Beihai.
180
三月辛丑朔，日有蝕之。 癸丑，大司馬齊王攸薨。
In the third month, on the xinchou new moon, the sun was eclipsed. On guichou, Sima You, Prince of Qi and Grand Marshal, died.
181
夏四月，任城王陵薨。
Summer: Sima Ling of Rencheng died.
182
五月己亥，大將軍、琅邪王伷薨。 徙遼東王蕤爲東萊王。
Jihai: Sima Zhou, king of Langye, died. The Liaodong princedom was downgraded to Donglai for Sima Rui.
183
六月，增九卿禮秩。 牂柯獠二千餘落內屬。
June: salaries for the nine chamberlains were raised. Over two thousand Zangke Liao hamlets enrolled under Jin.
184
秋七月壬子，以尚書右僕射、下邳王晃爲都督青州諸軍事。 丙寅，兗州大水，復其田租。
Renzi: Sima Huang took Qing military command. Bingyin: Yanzhou floods brought tax relief.
185
八月，鄯善國遣子入侍，假其歸義侯。 以隴西王泰爲尚書右僕射。
Shanshan sent a royal hostage and received the “return to righteousness” marquis title. Sima Tai of Longxi joined the secretariat as right vice-president.
186
冬十一月戊午，新都王該薨。 以尚書左僕射魏舒爲司徒。
Wuwu: Sima Gai of Xindu died. Wei Shu became steward of the masters of the people.
187
十二月庚午，大閱于宣武觀。
Gengwu: another parade at Xuanwu.
188
是歲，河內及荊州、揚州大水。
That year, Henei and Jing and Yang provinces suffered great floods.
189
五年春正月己亥，青龍二見于武庫井中。
Taikang 5, jihai: two blue dragons in the Luoyang arsenal well.
190
二月丙寅，立南宮王子玷爲長樂王。 壬辰，地震。
Bingyin: Prince Dian of the southern palace became king of Changle. Renchen: the earth shook.
191
夏四月，任城、魯國池水赤如血。 五月丙午，宣帝廟梁折。
Summer: ponds in Rencheng and Lu ran blood-red. Bingwu: a roof-beam snapped in Gaozu’s temple.
192
六月，初置黃沙獄。
June: the “Yellow Sand” review prison was created.
193
秋七月戊申，皇子恢薨。 任城、梁國、中山雨雹，傷秋稼。 減天下戶課三分之一。
Seventh month, wushen: Prince Hui died. Hailstorms in Rencheng, Liang, and Zhongshan ruined crops. The head tax was cut by a third across the realm.
194
九月，南安大風折木，郡國五大水，隕霜，傷秋稼。
September brought gales, floods in five provinces, and black frost.
195
冬十一月甲辰，太原王輔薨。
Jiachen: Sima Fu of Taiyuan died.
196
十二月庚午，大赦。 林邑、大秦國各遣使來獻。
Gengwu: general amnesty. Linyi and the state of Da Qin each sent envoys to present tribute.
197
閏月，鎮南大將軍、當陽侯杜預卒。
Intercalary month: Du Yu died.
198
六年春正月甲申朔，[36]以比歲不登，免租貸宿負。 戊辰，以征南大將軍王渾爲尚書左僕射，尚書褚䂮都督揚州諸軍事，楊濟都督荊州諸軍事。
Taikang 6, new moon jiashen [36]: years of poor harvests brought rent remission and canceled grain loans. Wuchen: Wang Hun, Great General Who Campaigns South, was made left vice-director of the Secretariat; Chu Xian of the Secretariat was made commander-in-chief of all military affairs in Yang province; and Yang Ji was made commander-in-chief of all military affairs in Jing province.
199
三月，郡國六隕霜，傷桑麥。
March frost hurt mulberries and wheat in six jurisdictions.
200
夏四月，扶南等十國來獻，參離四千餘落內附。 郡國四旱，十大水，壞百姓廬舍。
Summer: Southeast embassies arrived and four thousand Shenli hamlets yielded. Four provinces baked while ten flooded.
201
秋七月，巴西地震。
Seventh month: Ba-Xi shook.
202
八月丙戌朔，日有蝕之。 減百姓綿絹三分之一。 白龍見于京兆。 以鎮軍大將軍王濬爲撫軍大將軍。
Eighth month, new moon bingxu: solar eclipse. The silk portion of the poll tax was cut by a third. A white dragon appeared in the Jingzhao capital region. Wang Jun traded “guard the army” for “pacify the army” generalship.
203
九月丙子，山陽公劉康薨。
Bingzi: Liu Kang, last Han-title noble, died.
204
冬十月，南安山崩，水出。 南陽郡獲兩足獸。 龜茲、焉耆國遣子入侍。
Winter: landslides and flash floods in Nan’an. Nanyang reported a two-legged freak beast. Qiuci and Yanqi sent royal hostages.
205
十二月甲申，大閱于宣武觀，旬日而罷。 庚子，撫軍大將軍、襄陽侯王濬卒。
Jiashen: a ten-day army review at Xuanwu. Gengzi: Wang Jun, Great General Who Pacifies the Army and Marquis of Xiangyang, died.
206
七年春正月甲寅朔，日有蝕之。 乙卯，詔曰：「比年災異屢發，日蝕三朝，地震山崩。 邦之不臧，實在朕躬。 公卿大臣各上封事，極言其故，勿有所諱。」
Taikang 7, jiayin: eclipse. On yimao, an edict said, "In recent years disasters and anomalies have repeatedly occurred: solar eclipses in three courts, earthquakes, and mountain collapses. When the realm falters, the blame lies with me alone. I want sealed memorials from every minister, candid and complete.”
207
夏五月，郡國十三旱。 鮮卑慕容廆寇遼東。
Summer drought gripped thirteen provinces. Murong Hui struck Liaodong again.
208
秋七月，朱提山崩，犍爲地震。
Seventh month: Zhuti mountain fell and Qianwei shook.
209
八月，東夷十一國內附。 京兆地震。
August: eleven Yi peoples asked to join Jin. The capital region trembled.
210
九月戊寅，驃騎將軍、扶風王駿薨。 郡國八大水。
Wuyin: Sima Jun of Fufeng died. Eight provinces flooded.
211
冬十一月壬子，以隴西王泰都督關中諸軍事。
Renzi: Sima Tai took command of Guanzhong.
212
十二月，遣侍御史巡遭水諸郡。 出後宮才人、妓女以下二百七十人歸于家。 始制大臣聽終喪三年。 己亥，河陰雨赤雪二頃。
Censors toured flood-hit counties with relief mandates. Two hundred seventy palace women of lower rank were freed to marry out. For the first time chief ministers could sit the full three-year parent funeral. Jihai: red snow covered two qing at Heyin.
213
是歲，扶南等二十一國、馬韓等十一國遣使來獻。
Twenty-one southern and eleven Korean-style states sent embassies.
214
八年春正月戊申朔，日有蝕之。 太廟殿陷。
Taikang 8, wushen: eclipse. The great temple’s main hall fell in.
215
三月乙丑，臨商觀震。
Third month, yichou: the Shangguan watchtower rocked in a tremor.
216
夏四月，齊國、天水隕霜，傷麥。
Summer frost [37] ruined wheat in Qi and Tianshui.
217
六月，魯國大風，拔樹木，壞百姓廬舍。 郡國八大水。
In the sixth month, great winds in Lu principality uprooted trees and damaged the huts and houses of the common people. Eight provinces flooded again.
218
秋七月，前殿地陷，深數丈，中有破船。
The front hall yard opened into a pit revealing an ancient wreck.
219
八月，東夷二國內附。
Two more Yi groups enrolled.
220
九月，改營太廟。
September: plans to rebuild the ancestral temple.
221
冬十月，南康平固縣吏李豐反，聚眾攻郡縣，自號將軍。
Winter: Li Feng’s mutiny in southern Jiangxi.
222
十一月，海安令蕭輔聚眾反。
November: Xiao Fu rose at Hai’an.
223
十二月，吳興人蔣迪聚黨反，圍陽羨縣，州郡捕討，皆伏誅。 南夷扶南、西域康居國各遣使來獻。
December: Jiang Di’s band in Wu-xing was wiped out. Funan and Kangju sent embassies.
224
是歲，郡國五地震。
Five provinces reported quakes.
225
九年春正月壬申朔，日有蝕之。 詔曰：「興化之本，由政平訟理也。 二千石長吏不能勤恤人隱，而輕挾私故，興長刑獄，又多貪濁，煩撓百姓。 其敕刺史二千石糾其穢濁，舉其公清，有司議其黜陟。 令內外群官舉清能，拔寒素。」 江東四郡地震。
Taikang 9, renshen: eclipse. An edict said, "The root of raising transformation lies in government being even and lawsuits being ordered. He scolded magistrates who pile up cases for private gain and bleed the people. Inspectors must expose the corrupt and lift the clean for central review. Every office must nominate honest talent from poor families.” The lower Yangzi region shook in four counties.
226
二月，尚書右僕射、陽夏侯胡奮卒，以尚書朱整爲尚書右僕射。
February: Hu Fen died; Zhu Zheng took his secretariat seat.
227
三月丁丑，皇后親桑于西郊，賜帛各有差。 壬辰，初并二社爲一。
Dingchou: the empress held the silkworm rite and gifts followed. Renchen: the paired earth gods were combined in one rite.
228
夏四月，江南郡國八地震； 隴西隕霜，傷宿麥。
Summer: eight south-of-river counties shook; Longxi frost killed the winter wheat.
229
五月，義陽王奇有罪，黜爲三縱亭侯。 詔內外群官舉守令之才。
May: Sima Qi of Yiyang lost his kingship for crime, becoming village marquis of Sanzongting. The court called for nominations of worthy prefects and magistrates.
230
六月庚子朔，日有蝕之。 徙章武王威爲義陽王。 郡國三十二大旱，傷麥。
Sixth month, new moon gengzi: eclipse. Sima Wei moved from Zhangwu to Yiyang. Thirty-two provinces baked in drought that withered the wheat crop.
231
秋八月壬子，星隕如雨。 詔郡國五歲刑以下決遣，無留庶獄。
Eighth month, renzi: a meteor shower lit the sky. He told magistrates to clear dockets of minor sentences and end jail backlog.
232
九月，東夷七國詣校尉內附。 郡國二十四螟。
Seven Yi peoples reported to the frontier colonel and enrolled as subjects. Crop-worms blighted twenty-four provinces.
233
冬十二月癸卯，立河間平王洪子英爲章武王。 戊申，青龍、黃龍各一見于魯國。
Guimao: Ying, son of Hejian’s Prince Hong, became king of Zhangwu. Wushen: one blue and one yellow dragon sighted in Lu.
234
十年夏四月，以京兆太守劉霄、陽平太守梁柳有政績，各賜穀千斛。 郡國八隕霜。 太廟成。 乙巳，遷神主于新廟，帝迎于道左，遂祫祭。 大赦，文武增位一等，作廟者二等。 丁未，尚書右僕射、廣興侯朱整卒。 癸丑，崇賢殿災。
Taikang 10, summer: Liu Xiao and Liang Liu each won a thousand-hu bounty for good rule. Black frost struck eight provinces. The new imperial temple stood finished. Yisi: ancestral tablets entered the new shrine in a procession the emperor met in person, followed by a combined offering. Amnesty came with promotions—one step for officials, two for temple builders. Dingwei: Zhu Zheng died. Guichou: fire consumed the Chongxian hall.
235
五月，鮮卑慕容廆來降，東夷十一國內附。
May: Murong Hui yielded while eleven Yi realms joined Jin.
236
六月庚子，山陽公劉瑾薨。 復置二社。
Gengzi: Liu Jin, mountain-yang duke, died. The paired earth-god altars were reinstated.
237
冬十月壬子，徙南宮王承爲武邑王。
Renzi: the southern-palace king became prince of Wuyi.
238
十一月丙辰，守尚書令、左光祿大夫荀勖卒。 帝疾瘳，賜王公以下帛有差。 含章殿鞠室火。
Bingchen: Xun Xu died in office. On partial recovery he handed out graded silk to the nobility. Fire broke out in the Hanzhang hall’s indoor ball court.
239
甲申，以汝南王亮爲大司馬、大都督、假黃鉞。 改封南陽王柬爲秦王，始平王瑋爲楚王，濮陽王允爲淮南王，並假節之國，各統方州軍事。 立皇子乂爲長沙王，穎爲成都王，晏爲吳王，熾爲豫章王，演爲代王，皇孫遹爲廣陵王。 立濮陽王子迪爲漢王，始平王子儀爲毗陵王，汝南王次子羕爲西陽公。 徙扶風王暢爲順陽王，暢弟歆爲新野公，琅邪王覲弟澹爲東武公，繇爲東安公，漼爲廣陵公，卷爲東莞公。 改諸王國相爲內史。
Jiashen: Sima Liang became grand marshal and supreme commander with the yellow axe. Three princes were sent out with full powers—Jian to Qin, Wei to Chu, Yun to Huainan. He established the imperial son Yi as King of Changsha, Ying as King of Chengdu, Yan as King of Wu, Chi as King of Yuzhang, Yan as King of Dai, and the imperial grandson Yu as King of Guangling. He established Di, son of the King of Puyang, as King of Han; Yi, son of the King of Shiping, as King of Piling; and Yang, second son of the King of Runan, as Duke of Xiyang. He transferred Chang, King of Fufeng, to be King of Shunyang; made Xin, Chang’s younger brother, Duke of Xinye; and made Dan, younger brother of Jin, King of Langye, Duke of Dongwu, You Duke of Dong’an, Cui Duke of Guangling, and Juan Duke of Dongguan. Princely “chancellors” became “interior historians.”
240
十二月庚寅，太廟梁折。
Gengyin [39]: a roof-beam cracked in the ancestral temple.
241
是歲，東夷絕遠三十餘國、西南夷二十餘國來獻。 虜奚軻男女十萬口來降。 太熙元年春正月辛酉朔，改元。 己巳，以尚書左僕射王渾爲司徒，司空衛瓘爲太保。 [40]
Embassies arrived from thirty-plus eastern and twenty-plus southwestern tribes. A hundred thousand Xike tribespeople submitted to Jin. In Taixi 1, spring, first month, on the xinyou new moon, the reign title was changed. On jisi, Wang Hun was promoted from Left Supervisor of the Secretariat to Minister over the Masses, and Wei Guan from Minister of Works to Grand Protector. Manuscripts mark editorial note [40] here.
242
二月辛丑，東夷七國朝貢。 琅邪王覲薨。
Second month, xinchou: seven Yi missions at court. The king of Langye, Sima Jin, died.
243
三月甲子，以右光祿大夫石鑒爲司空。
Jiazi: Shi Jian became minister of works.
244
夏四月辛丑，以侍中車騎將軍楊駿爲太尉、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事。 己酉，帝崩于含章殿，時年五十五，葬峻陽陵，廟號世祖。
Xinchou: Yang Jun took the triple portfolio—grand commandant, commander-in-chief, and chief of the secretariat. Jiyou: the emperor expired in Hanzhang at fifty-five, resting as Shizu at Junyang.
245
帝宇量弘厚，造次必於仁恕； 容納讜正，未嘗失色於人； 明達善謀，能斷大事，故得撫寧萬國，綏靜四方。 承魏氏奢侈刻弊之後，百姓思古之遺風，乃厲以恭儉，敦以寡慾。 有司嘗奏御牛青絲紖斷，詔以青麻代之。 臨朝寬裕，法度有恆。 高陽許允既爲文帝所殺，允子奇爲太常丞。 帝將有事於太廟，朝議以奇受害之門，不欲接近左右，請出爲長史。 帝乃追述允夙望，稱奇之才，擢爲祠部郎，時論稱其夷曠。 平吳之後，天下乂安，遂怠於政術，耽於遊宴，寵愛后黨，親貴當權，舊臣不得專任，彝章紊廢，請謁行矣。 爰至末年，知惠帝弗克負荷，然恃皇孫聰睿，故無廢立之心。 復慮非賈后所生，終致危敗，遂與腹心共圖後事。 說者紛然，久而不定，竟用王佑之謀，遣太子母弟秦王柬都督關中，楚王瑋、淮南王允並鎮守要害，以強帝室。 又恐楊氏之偪，復以佑爲北軍中候，以典禁兵。 既而寢疾彌留，至於大漸，佐命元勳，皆已先沒，群臣惶惑，計無所從。 會帝小差，有詔以汝南王亮輔政，又欲令朝士之有名望年少者數人佐之，楊駿祕而不宣。 帝復尋至迷亂，楊后輒爲詔以駿輔政，促亮進發。 帝尋小間，問汝南王來未，意欲見之，有所付託。 左右答言未至，帝遂困篤。 中朝之亂，實始於斯矣。
He was large-spirited and humane even under pressure. He heard hard truths without losing his temper. His judgment pacified the realm. After Wei’s luxury and cruelty, he modeled austerity and restraint. When clerks noted the palace ox’s silk lead had broken, he told them to use hemp instead. His sessions were calm and the code steady. Xu Yun, whom Wen had executed, left a son Qi in the ritual office. Ministers wanted Qi barred from the rite as a victim’s son. The emperor overruled them, praised Qi, and raised him—critics called it magnanimous. Peace bred complacency: harem kin and favorites took the reins while law grew slack. Late in life he saw Hui’s weakness but pinned hope on a bright grandson. He worried Jia’s lack of maternity would doom the line and schemed with confidants. Opinions were confused and remained unsettled for a long time. In the end, he adopted Wang You’s plan, sending Jian, King of Qin and the crown prince’s younger full brother, to command Guanzhong, while Wei, King of Chu, and Yun, King of Huainan, both guarded strategic points in order to strengthen the imperial house. To check the Yangs he gave Wang You the northern-army baton. When death neared, his great generals were gone and the court panicked. A brief rally produced orders for Sima Liang and young worthies—Yang Jun hid the edict. Empress Yang forged a regency for Yang Jun. In a lucid moment he asked for Sima Liang. Told Liang had not come, he sank back into coma. The mid-realm disasters trace to this bedside failure.
246
制曰：武皇承基，誕膺天命，握圖御宇，敷化導民，以佚代勞，以治易亂。 絕縑綸之貢，去雕琢之飾，制奢俗以變儉約，止澆風而反淳朴。 雅好直言，留心采擢，劉毅、裴楷以質直見容，嵇紹、許奇雖仇讎不棄。 仁以御物，寬而得眾，宏略大度，有帝王之量焉。 於時民和俗靜，家給人足，聿修武用，思啟封疆。 決神算於深衷，斷雄圖於議表。 馬隆西伐，王濬南征，師不延時，獯虜削跡，兵無血刃，揚越爲墟。 通上代之不通，服前王之未服。 禎祥顯應，風教肅清，天人之功成矣，霸王之業大矣。 雖登封之禮，讓而不爲，驕泰之心，因斯以起。 見土地之廣，謂萬葉而無虞； 睹天下之安，謂千年而永治。 不知處廣以思狹，則廣可長廣； 居治而忘危，則治無常治。 加之建立非所，委寄失才，志欲就於升平，行先迎於禍亂。 是猶將適越者指沙漠以遵途，欲登山者涉舟航而覓路，所趣逾遠，所尚轉難，南北倍殊，高下相反，求其至也，不亦難乎！ 況以新集易動之基，而無久安難拔之慮，故賈充凶豎，懷姦志以擁權； 楊駿豺狼，苞禍心以專輔。 及乎宮車晚出，諒闇未周，藩翰變親以成疏，連兵競滅其本； 棟梁回忠而起僞，擁眾各舉其威。 曾未數年，綱紀大亂，海內版蕩，宗廟播遷。 帝道王猷，反居文身之俗； 神州赤縣，翻成被髮之鄉。 棄所大以資人，掩其小而自託，爲天下笑，其故何哉﹖良由失慎於前，所以貽患於後。 且知子者賢父，知臣者明君； 子不肖則家亡，臣不忠則國亂； 國亂不可以安也，家亡不可以全也。 是以君子防其始，聖人閑其端。 而世祖惑荀勖之姦謀，迷王渾之僞策，心屢移於眾口，事不定於己圖。 元海當除而不除，卒令擾亂區夏； 惠帝可廢而不廢，終使傾覆洪基。 夫全一人者德之輕，拯天下者功之重，棄一子者忍之小，安社稷者孝之大； 況乎資三世而成業，延二孽以喪之，所謂取輕德而捨重功，畏小忍而忘大孝。 聖賢之道，豈若斯乎！ 雖則善始於初，而乖令終於末，所以殷勤史策，不能無慷慨焉。
The court’s summation runs thus: Emperor Wu inherited the enterprise, claimed Heaven’s charge, mastered the realm’s map, and turned exhaustion and disorder into rest and rule. He banned luxury tribute and chased the court back toward plain living. He welcomed Liu Yi, Pei Kai, Ji Shao, and Xu Qi despite awkward pedigrees. He ruled with humane breadth worthy of a founder. The realm prospered while he sharpened the sword for expansion. He decided great strategy in council and in his own mind. Ma Long and Wang Jun finished the frontier and the south without prolonged war. He finished what past dynasties could not. Omens and morale alike proclaimed a golden age. He modestly skipped the Feng sacrifice yet grew complacent. He mistook vast territory for perpetual safety; he mistook quiet rule for an eternal guarantee. Breadth lasts only if one remembers how easily it narrows; peace lasts only if peril stays in mind. Wrong heirs and wrong ministers turned pursuit of stability into invitation to chaos. His choices were as absurd as sailing to a mountaintop. On shaky foundations Jia Chong hoarded authority; Yang Jun seized the regency with predatory intent. Before the tomb closed, princely armies turned on one another; Former pillars of state feigned loyalty while raising private armies. Within years the realm shattered and the altars fled. Civilization collapsed into barbarous custom; the heartland became a steppe frontier. He gave away the store and became history’s cautionary tale. The wise father knows his son, the wise ruler his minister; Bad sons ruin families, disloyal ministers ruin states; Neither state nor house survives that rot. The wise seal trouble at the source. Shizu listened to Xun Xu and Wang Hun and let rumor steer him. He spared Liu Yuan and reaped rebellion; He kept a feeble heir and lost the dynasty. Saving the state outweighs sparing one prince; to waste three reigns’ work for two poisonous branches was to pick the lesser good. That is not the way of the sages. A splendid start and a ruinous end invite the historian’s regret.
247
校勘記
Textual notes
248
子文爲沛王李校：「宗室傳言沛王景字子文。 此舉其字者，蓋沛王名本或作『炳』及『昞』、『秉』之類，唐避世祖諱昞，於『丙』、『秉』等字皆改爲『景』。 故紀稱其字，傳改爲『景』耳。」 李說當是。
For Ziwen as Prince of Pei, Li’s collation note says, "The Biographies of the Imperial Clan says that Prince Jing of Pei had the courtesy name Ziwen. The style is cited here because the Prince of Pei’s personal name was probably once written as "Bing" or with similar forms; in Tang times, to avoid the taboo on Shizu’s name Bing, graphs such as "bing" and "bing" were all changed to "Jing." Therefore the annals call him by his style, while the biography changes the name to Jing." Li’s emendation stands.
249
鄉侯爲關內侯「鄉侯」上原衍「爲」字，今刪。 參拾補。
For xiang hou as guannei hou, before "xiang hou" the original text had an extra "wei"; it is now deleted. Consult the addendum to the collation notes.
250
丁丑二月己酉朔，丁丑爲二十九日，下文庚午爲二十二日，日序誤倒。
The stem-branch sequence is inconsistent in this month’s entries.
251
夏五月戊辰至壬子舉正：五月無戊辰、壬子日。
The May date range is impossible as given.
252
春正月癸丑至丁卯正月甲戌朔，無癸丑、丁卯。
The spring first-month span guichou–dingmao is impossible on the stated calendar.
253
丁未三月癸酉朔，無丁未。
Dingwei cannot fall in that third month.
254
六月丙申朔「丙申」，各本皆作「甲申」。 按：六月應爲丙申朔，丁國鈞晉書校文以下簡稱校文亦言「當從通鑑目錄作丙申」，今改正。
For sixth month, bingshen new moon, editions all write "jiashen" for "bingshen." Note: the sixth month should have had a bingshen new moon; Ding Guojun’s Jinshu Jiaowen, abbreviated below as Jiaowen, also says, "It should follow the Tongjian table of contents and read bingshen"; it is now corrected.
255
戊午七月丙寅朔，無戊午。
Wuwu is absent from the seventh month’s stem-branch grid.
256
萬郁斠注：「吳志三嗣主傳作『萬彧』。」 按：通鑑七九同吳志。
For Wan Yu, the Jiaozhu says, "The Wu zhi biography of the three successor rulers writes Wan Yu with the graph Yu." The Tongjian agrees with Wu zhi’s spelling.
257
梁州之陰平置秦州「陰平」，各本皆作「陽平」。 商榷：「陽平，地理志作陰平，宜從之。」 今據改。
For Qinzhou being set up at Yinping in Liangzhou, editions all write "Yangping" for "Yinping." The Shangque says, "Yangping is written Yinping in the Geography Treatise and should follow it." The editors adopt Yinping.
258
己未二月所見干支有辛巳、壬寅、丁亥、己未。 按：二月壬戌朔，辛巳爲二十日，丁亥爲二十六日； 三月壬辰朔，壬寅爲十一日，己未爲二十八日。 此處不見「三月」，且日序錯亂。
February entries mix stems that spill into March. Renxu opens February, fixing those two dates. March opens on renchen, placing renyin and jiwei in the third month. Here "third month" is not seen, and the day order is confused.
259
丙戌「丙戌」上各本重出「三月」，今刪。
Remove the repeated “third month” before bingxu.
260
辛酉二月丁亥朔，無辛酉。 參舉正。
Xinyou cannot occur in that February. See the collation rectification note.
261
六月癸丑至甲戌六月庚辰朔，無癸丑、甲戌。
The sixth-month range guichou–jiaxu is impossible.
262
丁未起太倉於城東常平倉於東西市九月戊申朔，無丁未。 本書食貨志及御覽一九〇引晉陽秋，謂泰始四年七月起常平倉。
Dingwei cannot fall in that ninth month. Other sources date the granaries to the fourth and seventh years of Taishi.
263
平虜護軍文淑周校：「扶風王駿、東安王繇傳並作『文俶』。」 按：魏志諸葛誕傳作「文鴦」，注引晉諸公贊又作「文俶」。 裴松之云鴦一名俶。
For Pacifying-Caitiffs Protector Wen Shu, Zhou’s collation says, "The biographies of King Jun of Fufeng and King Yao of Dong’an both write Wen Chu." Note: Wei zhi, Zhuge Dan biography writes "Wen Yang," and the Jin Zhu Gong Zan quoted in the commentary also writes "Wen Chu." Pei Songzhi equates the two forms.
264
吳將邵凱斠注：「羊祜傳『凱』作『顗』。」 按：通鑑八〇同祜傳。
For the Wu general Shao Kai, the Jiaozhu says, "In Yang Hu’s biography, Kai is written Yi." Tongjian sides with Yang Hu’s spelling.
265
大風拔樹暴寒且冰拾補：「五行志云河間，此上疑脫二字。」 按：宋書五行志五亦有「河間」。
The Five Phases treatise adds “Hejian,” suggesting a lacuna. Note: Song shu, Five Phases Treatise 5, also has "Hejian."
266
東夷三國前後十餘輩「十」，從宋本，他本作「千」。
Prefer Song’s “ten” over other editions’ absurd “thousand.”
267
丁亥郡國八雨雹據本書五行志下，此爲五、六月間事，疑紀脫月。
Hail narrative likely dropped its month tag.
268
遣鎮軍將軍琅邪王伷出涂中周校：「鎮軍將軍，當作鎮東大將軍，據泰始五年、太康三年及本傳文知之。」 按：周說當是，吳志孫皓傳亦作「鎮東大將軍司馬伷」，此時鎮軍爲司馬攸，與伷無涉。
Zhou’s collation says that “General Who Guards the Army, King Zhou of Langye, was sent out to Tuzhong” should read “Great General Who Guards the East,” as is known from the fifth year of Taishi, Taikang 3, and Zhou’s own biography. Tongjian and Wu zhi agree; “guard the army” belongs to Sima You.
269
鎮軍將軍留憲斠注：「王濬傳『鎮軍』作『鎮南』。」 按：本書杜預傳、冊府元龜以下簡稱冊府三五〇「留憲」作「劉憲」。
Wang Jun’s memoir says “southern” general for Liu Xian. Du Yu’s memoir and the Cefu quotation spell the commander’s name as Liu Xian; the annals use the homophone “stay” for the surname syllable.
270
斬吳江陵都督伍延「伍延」，各本皆作「王延」。 按：本書杜預傳、吳志孫皓傳、冊府一二一、通鑑八一皆作「伍延」，今據改。 參周校及洪頤烜諸史考異。
For beheading Wu’s Jiangling commander Wu Yan, editions all write "Wang Yan" for "Wu Yan." Note: Du Yu’s biography in this book, Wu zhi, Sun Hao biography, Cefu 121, and Tongjian 81 all write "Wu Yan"; it is now corrected accordingly. See Zhou and Hong for discussion.
271
三月壬寅至石頭「壬寅」，各本皆作「壬申」。 按：三月戊子朔，無壬申。 校文云，王濬傳載濬入石頭後上書有「以十五日至秣陵」語，十五日爲壬寅，則「申」當爲「寅」字之誤。 今據改。
For third month, renyin, arriving at Shitou, editions all write "renshen" for "renyin." The calendar excludes renshen. The Jiaowen says that Wang Jun’s biography records a memorial after Jun entered Shitou with the phrase, "arrived at Moling on the fifteenth"; the fifteenth day was renyin, so "shen" should be an error for "yin." Editors change shen to yin.
272
乙酉三月戊子朔，無乙酉。 通鑑八一作「四月乙酉」，爲四月二十九日。
Yiyou is impossible in that third month. Tongjian 81 writes "fourth month, yiyou," which was the twenty-ninth day of the fourth month.
273
丙寅五月丁亥朔，無丙寅。 丙寅及此下丁卯、庚午、庚辰、丁丑、甲申，皆在六月內，下文「丁丑」前「六月」二字應在「丙寅」上。 又庚辰爲六月二十五日，丁丑爲二十二日，日序亦倒。
Bingyin cannot fall in that fifth month. The month label “sixth month” is misplaced; several stem dates belong to June. Even within June the stems are out of sequence.
274
鮮卑慕容廆寇昌黎「慕容廆」，通鑑八一作「涉歸」。 通鑑考異：「按范亨燕書武宣紀。 廆泰始五年生，年十五，父單于涉歸卒，太康四年也。 此年入寇，當是涉歸。」
For the Xianbei Murong Hui raiding Changli, Tongjian 81 writes "Shegui" for "Murong Hui." Tongjian Kaoyi says, "According to Fan Heng’s Yan shu, Basic Annals of Wuxuan. Murong Hui was born in the fifth year of Taishi; he was fifteen when his father, the chanyu Shegui, died, which was Taikang 4. The attacker should be Shegui, not his teen son.”
275
秋七月「七月」，從宋本。 明吳氏西爽堂本以下簡稱吳本同宋本，他本皆作「八月」。
For autumn, seventh month, "seventh month" follows the Song edition. The Ming Wu Xishuangtang edition, abbreviated below as Wu edition, agrees with the Song edition; other editions all write "eighth month."
276
鎮東大將軍琅邪王伷爲撫軍將軍周校：「『撫軍』衍文，據明年伷薨文及職官志、本傳知之。」
For “Great General Who Guards the East, King Zhou of Langye, was made General Who Pacifies the Army,” Zhou’s collation says: “The words ‘Pacifies the Army’ are a stray interpolation, as is known from the text on Zhou’s death the following year, the Treatise on Offices, and his own biography.”
277
四年春正月甲申正月辛丑朔，無甲申。 二月辛未朔，甲申爲是月十四日。
Jiashen cannot open Taikang 4. Jiashen belongs in the second month instead.
278
三月辛丑朔三月庚子朔，辛丑爲初二日。 「朔」字疑衍，或「辛丑」爲「庚子」之誤。
If the month truly begins gengzi, xinchou is day two. Either drop “new moon” or fix xinchou to gengzi.
279
南宮王子玷爲長樂王安平獻王孚傳「玷」作「祐」，太平寰宇記六三亦作「祐」。
For Prince Dian of Nangong becoming King of Changle, the biography of King Xian of Anping, Fu, writes "You" for "Dian," and Taiping Huanyu Ji 63 also writes "You."
280
正月甲申朔正月庚申朔，甲申爲二十五日，疑「甲」爲「庚」字之誤。 下文「戊辰」爲初九日，如作「甲申」，日序不合。
For first month, jiashen new moon, the first month had a gengshen new moon, and jiashen was the twenty-fifth day; "jia" is suspected to be an error for "geng." Below, "wuchen" is the ninth day; if it is written "jiashen," the day order does not fit.
281
齊國天水隕霜「天水」，各本皆作「大水」。 周校：五行志，四月齊國、天水二郡隕霜，『大水』爲『天水』之誤。 按：宋書五行志四亦作「天水」，今據改。
For frost falling in Tianshui of Qi state, editions all write "dashui" for "Tianshui." Zhou cites the treatise to restore Tianshui. Note: Song shu, Five Phases Treatise 4, also writes "Tianshui"; it is now corrected accordingly.
282
立河間平王洪子英爲章武王本書河間王洪傳稱，洪二子威、混，無名英者。 威嗣洪，徙封章武。 其後威出繼義陽王望，又立混爲嗣。 傳云威出繼在太康九年，與英受封章武王正在同年。 成紀咸和六年下有以「章武王混子珍爲章武王」之文，則此處「英」當爲「混」字之誤。
Ying, son of Hong, King Ping of Hejian, was established as King of Zhangwu. The biography of Hong, King of Hejian, in this book says that Hong had two sons, Wei and Hun, and names no Ying. Wei inherited then moved to Zhangwu. Succession shifts to Hun after Wei’s transfer. The biography says that Wei was sent out as heir in Taikang 9, exactly the same year in which Ying was enfeoffed as King of Zhangwu. Under the sixth year of Xianhe in the Chengji annals, there is the text, “Zhen, son of Hun, King Wu of Zhangwu, was made King of Zhangwu”; therefore the “Ying” here should be an error for the graph “Hun.”
283
十二月庚寅十二月辛卯朔，無庚寅。 五行志上、宋書五行志一、通典五一引河南孫平子封事並作十一月。 庚寅爲十一月二十九日。
Gengyin is absent from that December. The first part of the Treatise on the Five Phases, the first Treatise on the Five Phases in the Songshu, and Tongdian 51, quoting the sealed memorial of Sun Pingzi of Henan, all give this as the eleventh month. That makes gengyin the eleventh month’s penultimate day.
284
虜奚軻男女十萬口來降「奚軻」上各本皆有「壬戌」二字。 按：「是歲」下不應再出干支，「虜壬戌奚軻」，文義亦不可通。 冊府九七七、通鑑八二皆無「壬戌」，今據刪。
For the men and women of the captive Xike, one hundred thousand mouths, coming to surrender, editions all have the two characters "renxu" before "Xike." The stray stem breaks syntax after “that year.” Cefu 977 and Tongjian 82 both lack "renxu"; it is now deleted accordingly.