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簡文帝
Emperor Jianwen
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簡文皇帝諱昱，字道萬，元帝之少子也。 幼而岐嶷，爲元帝所愛。 郭璞見而謂人曰：「興晉祚者，必此人也。」 及長，清虛寡欲，尤善玄言。
Emperor Jianwen was born Yu, styled Daowan, the youngest son of Emperor Yuan of Jin. Even as a boy he showed unusual alertness, and Emperor Yuan doted on him. Guo Pu looked at him and told others that this boy would be the one to restore Jin’s fortunes. As he matured he cultivated clarity of mind and few desires, and excelled at philosophical conversation in the xuanxue manner.
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永昌元年，元帝詔曰：「先公武王、先考恭王君臨琅邪。 繼世相承，國嗣未立，蒸嘗靡主，朕常悼心。 子昱仁明有智度，可以虔奉宗廟，以慰罔極之恩。 其封昱爲琅邪王，食會稽、宣城如舊。」 咸和元年，所生鄭夫人薨。 帝時年七歲，號慕泣血，固請服重。 成帝哀而許之，故徙封會稽王，拜散騎常侍。 九年，遷右將軍，加侍中。 咸康六年，進撫軍將軍，領秘書監。
In Yongchang 1, Yuan issued an edict: “My grandfather King Wu of Langye and my father King Gong held sway there. The succession passed down through generations, but no heir had yet been named for the kingdom’s shrine—there was no one to tend the offerings—and this weighed on him greatly. Yu is humane, discerning, and fit to honor the shrines and repay grace beyond measure. He ordered Yu enfeoffed as Prince of Langye, with Kuaiji and Xuancheng as before. In Xianhe 1 his natural mother, Lady Zheng, died. He was only seven but mourned so intensely he wept blood and insisted on observing full mourning. Emperor Cheng relented: Yu’s seat moved to Prince of Kuaiji and he received the post of supernumerary gentleman attendant at court. In year nine he rose to General of the Right with concurrent palace attendant rank. Xiankang 6 brought promotion to General Who Guards the Army with supervision of the Palace Library.
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建元元年夏五月癸丑，康帝詔曰：「太常職奉天地，兼掌宗廟，其爲任也，可謂重矣。 是以古今選建，未嘗不妙簡時望，兼之儒雅。 會稽王叔履尚清虛，志道無倦，優遊上列，諷議朝肆。 其領太常本官如故。」 永和元年，崇德太后臨朝，進位撫軍大將軍、錄尚書六條事。 二年，驃騎何充卒，崇德太后詔帝專總萬機。 八年，進位司徒，固讓不拜。 穆帝始冠，帝稽首歸政，不許。 廢帝卽位，以琅邪王絕嗣，復徙封琅邪，而封王子昌明爲會稽王。 帝固讓，故雖封琅邪而不去會稽之號。 太和元年，進位丞相、錄尚書事，入朝不趨，贊拜不名，劍履上殿，給羽葆鼓吹班劍六十人，又固讓。
On guichou in the fifth month of summer, the first year of Jianyuan, Kang declared that the Grand Master of Ceremonies tended Heaven and Earth and the imperial shrines—a weighty charge. Across ages appointees were drawn carefully from leading scholar-officials renowned for learning. The prince uncle of Kuaiji keeps to purity and few desires, tires never of the Way, moves easily among the elite, and weighs policy in court debate. He was to keep his chamberlain title alongside existing duties. Yonghe 1: with Chongde regency he rose to Grand General Who Guards the Army and recorder of affairs for the six statutes. Next year He Chong died; the empress dowager ordered sole custody of government for the emperor. Year eight: minister of education—he repeatedly refused. At Mu’s capping he sought to yield power; the court refused. When Emperor Yi (the future Duke of Haixi) ascended, the Langye title still needed an occupant, so Yu resumed it while his son Changming received Kuaiji. He resisted losing Kuaiji—Langye was added but he kept calling himself prince of Kuaiji. Taihe 1 piled honors—chancellor, recorder, imperial etiquette—and again he refused.
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及廢帝廢，皇太后詔曰：「丞相、錄尚書、會稽王體自中宗，明德劭令，英秀玄虛，神棲事外。 以具瞻允塞，故阿衡三世。 道化宣流，人望攸歸，爲日已久。 宜從天人之心，以統皇極。 主者明依舊典，以時施行。」 于是大司馬桓溫率百官進太極前殿，具乘輿法駕，奉迎帝于會稽邸，于朝堂變服，著平巾幘單衣，東向拜受璽綬。
Her edict praised the prince’s Yuan ancestry, virtue, and withdrawn temperament. All quarters looked to him; he had steadied three sovereigns. His moral sway was entrenched; popularity favored him for years. He should ascend by universal acclaim. Officials were told to follow precedent and act promptly. Huan Wen ushered the court to Taiji Hall with full panoply and fetched Yu from Kuaiji; Yu changed clothes, faced east in humble dress, and took the seals.
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戊午，詔曰：「王室多故，穆哀早世，皇胤夙遷，神器無主。 東海王以母弟近屬，入纂大統，嗣位經年，昏闇亂常，人倫虧喪，大禍將及，則我祖宗之靈靡知所託。 皇太后深懼皇基，時定大計。 大司馬因順天人，協同神略，親帥羣后，恭承明命。 雲霧旣除，皇極載清，乃顧朕躬，仰承弘緒。 雖伊尹之寧殷朝，博陸之安漢室，無以尚也。 朕以寡德，猥居元首，實懼眇然，不克負荷，戰戰兢兢，罔知攸濟。 思與兆庶更始，其大赦天下，大酺五日，增文武位二等，孝順忠貞鰥寡孤獨米人五斛。」 己未，賜溫軍三萬人，人布一匹，米一斛。 庚申，加大司馬桓溫爲丞相，不受。 辛酉，溫旋自白石，因鎮姑孰。 以冠軍將軍毛武生都督荊州之沔中、揚州之義城諸軍事。
His first edict (wuwu): turmoil had orphaned the throne—Mu and Ai gone young, succession unstable. Emperor Yi had seemed a plausible heir as a close prince, yet within a year his misrule threatened the ancestral shrines. The regent feared for the realm and fixed succession. Huan Wen acted with Heaven’s mandate and led lords to obey. With chaos lifted they installed Yu—the speaker claims humility. Not even Yi Yin or Huo Guang surpassed such steadiness. The voice admits weak virtue and dread of the throne. He proclaimed amnesty, five days of public feast, rank bonuses, and grain relief. Next day Wen’s army received cloth and grain allotments. Huan Wen was offered chancellor; he declined. He withdrew from Baishi and camped at Gushu. Mao Wusheng took river-defense commands across Jing and Yang sectors.
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十二月戊子，詔以京都有經年之儲，權停一年之運。 庚寅，廢東海王奕爲海西公，食邑四千戶。 辛卯，初薦酃淥酒於太廟。
Late year: grain surplus paused tribute convoys for one cycle. Emperor Yi was reduced to Duke of Haixi with a token fief. For the first time Ling spirits blessed the temple altar.
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二年春正月辛丑，百濟、林邑王各遣使貢方物。
Baekje and Champa envoys arrived with gifts.
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二月，苻堅伐慕容桓于遼東，滅之。
Former Qin crushed Murong Huan in Liaodong.
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三月丁酉，詔曰：「朕居阿衡三世，不能濟彼時雍，乃至海西失德，殆傾皇祚。 賴祖宗靈祗之德，皇太后淑體應期，籓輔忠賢，百官戮力，用能蕩氣務於昊蒼，耀晨輝於宇宙。 遂以眇身，托于王公之上，思賴羣賢，以弼其闕。 夫敦本息末，抑絕華競，使清濁異流，能否殊貫，官無秕政，士無謗讟，不有懲勸，則德禮焉施？ 且強寇未殄，勞役未息，自非軍國戎祀之耍，其華飾煩費之用皆省之。 夫肥遁窮穀之賢，滑泥揚波之士，雖抗志玄霄，潛默幽岫，貪屈高尚之道，以隆協贊之美，孰與自足山水，棲遲丘壑，徇匹夫之潔，而忘兼濟之大邪？ 古人不借賢於曩代，朕所以虛想於今日。 內外百官，各勤所司，使善無不達，惡無不聞，令詩人元素餐之刺，而吾獲虛心之求焉。」
Dingyou edict: regret over weak governance before the Haixi disaster. Thanks ancestors and officials order returned. He appeals to ministers to shore his faults. He urges sorting talent and thrift—without incentives virtue fails. War continues—cut court luxury outside military or ritual need. He summons recluses who spurn office yet could serve the state. Past courts used talent; he seeks the same now. Demand diligence so laziness vanishes.
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癸丑，詔曰：「吾承祖宗洪基，而昧于政道，懼不能允厘天工，克隆先業，夕惕惟憂，若涉泉冰。 賴宰輔忠德，道濟伊望，羣后竭誠，協契斷金，內外盡匡翼之規，文武致匪躬之節，冀因斯道，終克弘濟。 每念干戈未戢，公私疲悴，籓鎮有疆理之務，征戍懷《東山》之勤，或白首戎陣，忠勞未敘，或行役彌久，擔石靡儲，何嘗不昧旦晨興，夜分忘寢。 雖未能撫而巡之，且欲達其此心。 可遣大使詣大司馬，幷問方伯，逮于邊戍，宣詔大饗，求其所安。 又籌量賜給，悉令周普。」
Guichou self-reproach: fear of misrule. He credited his chief minister with Yi Yin–level steadiness and complete court loyalty. Soldiers suffer—he shares their burden emotionally. He cannot tour armies but would signal concern. Envoys will feast troops and ask needs. Calculate stipends fairly.
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乙卯，詔曰：「往事故之後，百度未充，羣僚常俸，並皆寡約，蓋隨時之義也。 然退食在朝，而祿不代耕，非經通之制。 今資儲漸豐，可籌量增俸。」 騶虞見豫章。
Yimao: post-crisis salaries were thin by necessity. Court pay still failed to equal farming income. Granaries improved—raise official pay. A zouyu was sighted in Yuzhang.
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夏四月，徙海西公於吳縣西柴里。 追貶庾后曰夫人。
The deposed ruler was sent west of Wu county to Chaili. Empress Yu was posthumously stripped to Lady.
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六月，遣使拜百濟王餘句爲鎮東將軍，領樂浪太守。 戊子，前護軍將軍庾希舉兵反，自海陵入京口，晉陵太守卞眈奔于曲阿。
Baekje’s king got eastern command and Lelang title. Yu Xi rebelled from Hailing; the prefect fled.
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秋七月壬辰，桓溫遣東海內史周少孫討希，擒之，斬于建康市。
Huan’s force caught Yu Xi and executed him publicly.
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己未，立會稽王昌明爲皇太子，皇子道子爲琅邪王，領會稽內史。 是日，帝崩于東堂，時年五十三。 葬高平陵，廟號太宗。 遺詔以桓溫輔政，依諸葛亮、王導故事。
Crown prince Changming; Daozi to Langye with Kuaiji interior administration. He died that evening in the Eastern Hall at fifty-three. Burial at Gaoping; temple Taizong. Will entrusted regency to Huan Wen like Zhuge Liang or Wang Dao.
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帝少有風儀，善容止，留心典籍，不以居處爲意，凝塵滿席，湛如也。 嘗與桓溫及武陵王晞同載遊版橋，溫遽令鳴鼓吹角，車馳卒奔，欲觀其所爲。 晞大恐，求下車，而帝安然無懼色，溫由此憚服。 溫旣仗文武之任，屢建大功，加以廢立，威振內外。 帝雖處尊位，拱默守道而已，常懼廢黜。 先是，熒惑入太微，尋而海西廢。 及帝登阼，熒惑又入太微，帝甚惡焉。 時中書郎郗超在直，帝乃引入，謂曰：「命之修短，本所不計，故當無復近日事邪！」 超曰：「大司馬臣溫方內固社稷，外恢經略，非常之事，臣以百口保之。」 及超請急省其父，帝謂之曰：「致意尊公，家國之事，遂至於此！ 由吾不能以道匡衛，愧歎之深，言何能喻。」 因詠庾闡詩云「志士痛朝危，忠臣哀主辱」，遂泣下霑襟。 帝雖神識恬暢，而無濟世大略，故謝安稱爲惠帝之流，清談差勝耳。 沙門支道林嘗言「會稽有遠體而無遠神」。 謝靈運迹其行事，亦以爲赧獻之輩云。
Youth: dignified, bookish, indifferent to housekeeping—dust on the seat yet calm. Huan tested him with sudden martial noise on an outing. Xi panicked; Yu stayed composed—Huan respected him. Huan’s power grew through victories and coups. Yu kept quiet on the throne, fearing removal. The same omen had preceded the Duke of Haixi’s removal. It recurred at his accession—ominous to him. He asked Xi Chao whether short rule meant another coup. Xi assured him Huan Wen was securing home and frontier—no coup imminent. When Xi left for his father, Yu lamented state disaster. He blamed himself for failing moral guidance. He wept reciting loyalist poetry. Xie An likened him to Emperor Hui—better talker, no statesmanship. Zhi Dun quipped Kuaiji had manner without depth. Xie Lingyun grouped him with idle talkers like He Yan.
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孝武帝
Emperor Xiaowu
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孝武皇帝諱曜，字昌明，簡文帝第三子也。 興寧三年七月甲申，初封會稽王。
Xiaowu was Yao, styled Changming, third son of Jianwen. Xingning 3 jiashen: first enfeoffment as Kuaiji prince.
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咸安二年秋七月己未，立爲皇太子。 是日，簡文帝崩，太子卽皇帝位。 詔曰：「朕以不造，奄丁閔凶，號天扣地。 靡知所訴。 藐然幼沖，眇若綴旒，深惟社稷之重，大懼不克負荷。 仰憑祖宗之靈，積德之祀。 先帝淳風玄化，遺詠在民。 宰輔英賢，勳隆德盛。 顧命之託，實賴匡訓。 羣后率職，百僚勤政。 冀孤弱之躬有寄，皇極之基不墜。 先恩遺惠，播于四海，思弘餘潤，以康黎庶。 其大赦天下，與民更始。」
Xian’an 2 jiwei: named heir. Same day Jianwen died; he succeeded. Edict opens with orphan’s grief at sudden death. He had nowhere to turn in grief. Youth on the throne—fears carrying the realm. He invokes ancestral merit. Late father’s legacy still praised among folk. His ministers combined eminent talent with towering merit and reputation. The testamentary trust in them depended on their steering the young ruler. Provincial magnates kept their posts and the bureaucracy stayed at work. He prayed his youth would find support so the throne would not stumble. He vowed to spread his father’s legacy and ease the common people’s hardship. He ordered a general amnesty and a new beginning for the realm.
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九月甲寅，追尊皇妣會稽王妃曰順皇后。
He elevated his late mother, the Kuaiji consort, to Empress Shun.
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冬十月丁卯，葬簡文皇帝于高平陵。
Late autumn brought Jianwen’s interment at Gaoping.
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十一月甲午，妖賊盧悚晨入殿庭，遊擊將軍毛安之等討擒之。
Lu Song’s dawn raid on the hall ended when Mao Anzhi seized him.
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是歲，三吳大旱，人多餓死，詔所在振給。 苻堅陷仇池，執秦州刺史楊世。
Drought across Wu brought starvation; the court ordered local grain relief. Former Qin absorbed Chouchi and captured Yang Shi.
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寧康元年春正月己丑朔，改元。
Ningkang opened with a new reign title on the jichou new moon.
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二月，大司馬桓溫來朝。
Huan Wen entered the capital for audience.
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三月癸丑，詔除丹陽竹格等四桁稅。
River-crossing tolls at four Danyang bridges were lifted.
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夏五月，旱。
Midsummer drought returned.
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秋七月己亥，使持節、侍中、都督中外諸軍事、丞相、錄尚書、大司馬、揚州牧、平北將軍、徐兗二州刺史、南郡公桓溫薨。 庚戌，進右將軍桓豁爲征西將軍。 以江州刺史桓沖爲中軍將軍、都督揚豫江三州諸軍事、揚州刺史，鎮姑孰。
Huan Wen died laden with every civil and military title from Yangzhou shepherd to grand marshal. Huan Huo rose to western expedition command. Huan Chong took the central army, combined Yang-Yu-Jiang command, and camped at Gushu.
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八月壬子，崇德太后臨朝攝政。
The empress dowager began her regency.
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九月，苻堅將楊安寇成都。 丙申，以尚書僕射王彪之爲尚書令，吏部尚書謝安爲尚書僕射，吳國內史刁彝爲北中郎將、徐兗二州刺史，鎮廣陵。 復置光祿勳、大司農、少府官。
Former Qin pressed Chengdu under Yang An. Wang Biaozhi headed the secretariat, Xie An became vice director, and Diao Yi held the northern Xu-Yan command at Guangling. Three palace finance offices were revived.
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冬十月，西平公張天錫貢方物。
Former Liang’s ruler sent tribute from the northwest.
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十一月，苻堅將楊安陷梓潼及梁、益二州，刺史周仲孫帥騎五千南遁。
Yang An drove deep into Shu; Zhou Zhongsun quit his post with cavalry.
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二年春正月癸未朔，大赦。 追封諡故會稽世子郁爲臨川獻王。 己酉，北中郎將、徐兗二州刺史刁彝卒。
The second Ningkang year opened with a general pardon. The late Kuaiji heir Yu received posthumous rank as Prince Xian of Linchuan. Diao Yi died in office on the northern frontier.
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二月癸丑，以丹陽尹王坦之爲北中郎將、徐兗二州刺史。 丁巳，有星孛于女虛。
Wang Tanzhi replaced Diao Yi on the Xu-Yan line. A comet trailed through Nü and Xu.
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三月丙戌，彗星見於氐。 夏四月壬戌，皇太后詔曰：「頃玄象忒愆，上天表異，仰觀斯變，震懼于懷。 夫因變致休，自古之道，朕敢不克意復心，以思厥中？ 又三吳奧壤，股肱望郡，而水旱併臻，百姓失業，夙夜惟憂，不能忘懷，宜時拯卹，救其雕困。 三吳義興、晉陵及會稽遭水之縣尤甚者，全除一年租布，其次聽除半年，受振貸者卽以賜之。」
A comet showed in the Dipper’s Root mansion. She blamed heaven’s omens for recent disasters. She vowed reverent self-correction in the classical manner. She singled out Wu’s flooded counties for tax relief. Worst-hit counties received full or half-year rent waivers and forgiven loans.
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五月，蜀人張育自號蜀王，帥衆圍成都，遣使稱籓。 秋七月，涼州地震，山崩。 苻堅將鄧羌攻張育，滅之。
Zhang Yu proclaimed a Shu kingship and besieged Chengdu while offering Jin overlordship. Gansu quaked and slopes gave way. Deng Qiang crushed Zhang Yu for Former Qin.
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八月，以長秋將建，權停婚姻。
Weddings paused ahead of the empress investiture.
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九月丁丑，有星孛于天市。
A comet burned across the Celestial Market asterism.
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冬十一月己酉，天門蜑賊攻郡，太守王匪死之，征西將軍桓豁遣師討平之。 長城人錢步射、錢弘等作亂，吳興太守朱序討平之。 癸酉，鎮遠將軍桓石虔破苻堅將姚萇於墊江。
Dan raiders killed Prefect Wang Fei until Huan Huo’s column restored order. Qian Bushe’s rising in Changcheng fell to Zhu Xu. Huan Shiqian broke Yao Chang’s army at Dianjiang.
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三年春正月辛亥，大赦。
Ningkang 3 began with empire-wide pardon.
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夏五月丙午，北中郎將、徐兗二州刺史、藍田侯王坦之卒。 甲寅，以中軍將軍、揚州刺史桓沖爲鎮北將軍、徐州刺史，鎮丹徒，尚書僕射謝安領揚州刺史。
Wang Tanzhi died holding the Xu-Yan frontier. Huan Chong shifted north to Dantu while Xie An assumed Yangzhou.
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秋八月癸巳，立皇后王氏，大赦，加文武位一等。
Empress Wang’s installation came with amnesty and promotions.
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九月，帝講《孝經》。
He convened lectures on the Xiaojing.
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冬十月癸酉朔，日有蝕之。
An eclipse darkened the tenth-month new moon.
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十二月癸未，神獸門災。 甲申，皇太后詔曰：「頃日蝕告變，水旱不適，雖克己思救，未盡其方。 其賜百姓窮者米，人五斛。」 癸巳，帝釋奠于中堂，祠孔子，以顏回配。
Fire destroyed the Shenshou Gate. She tied eclipse and weather to imperfect governance. Five hu of grain went to the poorest households. He capped the observances with a Confucius offering in the middle hall.
47
太元元年春正月壬寅朔，帝加元服，見于太廟。 皇太后歸政。 甲辰，大赦，改元。 丙午，帝始臨朝。 以征西將軍桓豁爲征西大將軍，領軍將軍郗愔爲鎮軍大將軍，中軍將軍桓沖爲車騎將軍，加尚書僕射謝安中書監、錄尚書事。 甲子，謁建平等四陵。
Taiyuan opened with his majority rites at the ancestral shrine. The regency ended with her yielding power. Two days later came amnesty and the Taiyuan era. He took personal direction of audiences. Huan Huo, Xi Yin, Huan Chong, and Xie An were reshuffled at the summit of command. He toured four imperial tombs beginning with Jianping.
48
夏五月癸丑，地震。 甲寅，詔曰：「頃者上天垂監，譴告屢彰，朕有懼焉，震惕于心。 思所以議獄緩死，赦過宥罪，庶因大變，與之更始。」 于是大赦，增文武位各一等。
Summer brought another tremor. He read repeated omens as heaven’s rebuke. He sought clemency and reform through amnesty. Amnesty followed, with another rank bonus.
49
六月，封河間王欽子範之爲章武王。
A cadet branch of the imperial clan received the Zhangwu seat.
50
秋七月，苻堅將苟萇陷涼州，虜刺史張天錫，盡有其地。 乙巳，除度田收租之制，公王以下口稅米三斛，蠲在役之身。
Former Qin extinguished Former Liang and took Zhang Tianxi captive. He replaced field-based rent with a flat per-capita rice levy and freed corvée bodies.
51
冬十月，移准北流人於淮南。
Huai frontier evacuees were moved into Jiangdong.
52
十一月己巳朔，日有蝕之。 詔太官撤膳。
The eleventh-month sky showed an eclipse. Court kitchens cut royal fare as penance.
53
十二月，苻堅使其將苻洛攻代，執代王涉翼犍。
Former Qin struck Dai and captured the Tuoba ruler.
54
二年春正月，繼絕世，紹功臣。
He restored fallen titles and rewarded old service.
55
三月，以兗州刺史朱序爲南中郎將、梁州刺史、監沔中諸軍，鎮襄陽。
Zhu Xu took the Liang-Xiangyang theater.
56
閏月壬午，地震。 甲申，暴風，折木髮屋。
An intercalary-month tremor shook the capital region. Gales ripped tiles and broke timber.
57
夏四月己酉，雨雹。
Hail battered the fourth month.
58
五月丁丑，地震。
Earth shook again in summer.
59
六月己巳，暴風，揚沙石。 林邑貢方物。
Sandstorms scourged the sixth month. Champa sent envoys with gifts.
60
秋七月乙卯，老人星見。
The auspicious Old Man star rose.
61
八月壬辰，四騎將軍桓沖來朝。 丁未，以尚書僕射謝安爲司徒。 丙辰，使持節、都督荊梁寧益交廣六州諸軍事、荊州刺史、征西大將軍桓豁卒。
Huan Chong rode to Jiankang for audience. Xie An stepped up to minister of education. The western pillar Huan Huo died in Jingzhou.
62
冬十月辛丑，以車騎將軍桓沖都督荊江梁益寧交廣七州諸軍事、領護南蠻校尉、荊州刺史，尚書王蘊爲徐州刺史、督江南晉陵諸軍，征西司馬謝玄爲兗州刺史、廣陵相、監江北諸軍。 壬寅。 散騎常侍、左光祿大夫、尚書令王彪之卒。
Huan Chong inherited the vast western command; Wang Yun and Xie Xuan took Xu and Yan-Yang respectively. The chronicle notes the renyin day alone. Wang Biaozhi, keeper of the secretariat, died.
63
十二月庚寅，以尚書王劭爲尚書僕射。
Wang Shao succeeded at vice director.
64
三年春二月乙巳，作新宮，帝移居會稽王邸。
New palace works forced him into the Kuaiji princely mansion.
65
三月乙丑，雷雨，暴風，發屋折木。
Spring storms tore through the capital.
66
六月，大水。
Summer floods inundated lowlands.
67
秋七月辛巳，帝入新宮。 乙酉，老人星見南方。
He took up residence in the finished halls. The Old Man star shone in the southern sky.
68
四年春正月辛酉，大赦，郡縣遭水旱者減租稅。 丙子，謁建平等七陵。
Amnesty paired with tax cuts for disaster counties. He sacrificed at seven tombs from Jianping onward.
69
二月戊午，苻堅使其子丕攻陷襄陽，執南中郎將朱序。 又陷順陽。
Fu Pi’s siege captured Zhu Xu and broke Xiangyang. Shunyang fell next.
70
三月，大疫。 壬戌，詔曰：「狡寇縱逸，籓守傾沒，疆埸之虞，事兼平日。 其內外衆官，各悉心戮力，以康庶事。 又年穀不登，百姓多匱。 其詔御所供，事從儉約，九親供給，衆官廩俸，權可減半。 凡諸役費，自非軍國事要，皆宜停省，以周時務。」 癸未，使右將軍毛武生帥師伐蜀。
Spring plague swept the realm. He warned that frontier collapse demanded extraordinary effort. Every officer was to rally to restore stability. Crop failure deepened popular want. Court consumption and official salaries faced a fifty-percent cut. Nonessential projects ended to free resources for crisis. He dispatched Mao Wusheng westward against Shu.
71
夏四月，苻堅將韋鐘陷魏興，太守吉挹死之。
Former Qin seized Weixing; Prefect Ji Yi fell defending it.
72
五月，苻堅將句難、彭超陷盱眙、高密內史毛璪之爲賊所執。
Qin columns captured Xuyi and took Mao Zhi prisoner.
73
六月，大旱。 戊子，征虜將軍謝玄及超、難戰于君川，大破之。
Midsummer drought struck again. Xie Xuan shattered Ju Nan and Peng Chao at Junchuan.
74
秋八月丁亥，以左將軍王蘊爲尚書僕射。 乙未，暴風，揚沙石。
Wang Yun became vice director of the secretariat. Gales whipped grit through the capital.
75
九月，盜殺安太守傅湛。
Raiders murdered Nan’an Prefect Fu Zhan.
76
冬十二月己酉朔，日有蝕之。
A winter new moon brought eclipse.
77
五年春正月乙巳，謁崇平陵。
He sacrificed at Emperor Kang’s Chongping tomb.
78
夏四月，大旱。 癸酉，大赦五歲刑以下。
Fourth-month drought scorched the south. Minor criminals up to five-year terms won release.
79
五月，大水。 以司徒謝安爲衛將軍、儀同三司。
May floods rose across the lowlands. Xie An kept education rank while adding guard-general parity with the Three Dukes.
80
六月甲寅，震含章殿四柱，並殺內侍二人。 甲子，以比歲荒儉，大赦，自太元三年以前逋租宿債皆蠲除之，其鰥寡窮獨孤老不能自存者，人賜米五斛。 丁卯，以驃騎將軍、琅邪王道子爲司徒。
Thunder shattered Hanzhang columns and killed two eunuchs. Famine amnesty wiped arrears through Taiyuan 3 and fed the helpless. Prince Daozi of Langye took the education portfolio.
81
秋九月癸未，皇后王氏崩。
Empress Wang passed away.
82
冬十月，九真太守李遜據交州反。
Li Xun carved out Jiaozhou from the far south.
83
十一月乙酉，葬定皇后于隆平陵。
She joined her tomb at Longping.
84
六年春正月，帝初奉佛法，立精舍於殿內，引諸沙門以居之。 丁酉，以尚書謝石爲尚書僕射。 初置督運御史官。
He opened palace chapels and lodged clerics within the walls. Xie Shi stepped up as vice director. Transport inspectors oversaw grain convoys.
85
夏六月庚子朔，日有蝕之。 揚、荊、江三州大水。 己巳，改制度，減煩費，損吏士員七百人。
Summer’s new moon eclipsed. The lower Yangzi corridor flooded. Bureaucracy shrank by seven hundred slots.
86
秋七月丙子，赦五歲刑已下。 甲午，交阯太守杜瑗斬李遜，交州平。 大饑。
Another round released lighter criminals. Du Yuan’s sword ended Li Xun’s revolt. Starvation gripped the countryside.
87
冬十一月己亥，以鎮軍大將軍郗愔爲司空。 會稽人檀元之反，自號安東將軍，鎮軍參軍謝藹之討平之。
Xi Yin traded army command for the works ministry. Tan Yuanzhi’s eastern-sea bid collapsed before Xie Aizhi.
88
十二月甲辰，苻堅遣其襄陽太守閻震寇竟陵，襄陽太守桓石虔討擒之。
Huan Shiqian bagged Yan Zhen’s raid on Jingling.
89
七年春三月，林邑范熊遣使獻方物。
Champa’s ruler offered gifts again.
90
秋八月癸卯，大赦。
Autumn brought blanket pardon.
91
九月，東夷五國遣使來貢方物。 苻堅將都貴焚燒沔北田穀，略襄陽百姓而去。
Five Wa kingdoms dispatched tribute missions. Qin raiders torched Hannan crops and dragged off civilians.
92
冬十月丙子，雷。
Thunder rolled in winter—an ill omen.
93
八年春二月癸未，黃霧四塞。
Sulfurous mist blanketed the horizon.
94
三月，始興、南康、廬陵大水，平地五丈。 丁巳，大赦。
Southern Jiangxi drowned under thirty feet of water. Another empire-wide amnesty followed the floods.
95
夏五月，輔國將軍楊亮伐蜀，拔五城，擒苻堅將魏光。
Yang Liang clawed back Shu footholds and seized Wei Guang.
96
秋七月，鷹揚將軍郭洽及苻堅將張崇戰于武當，大敗之。
Guo Qia broke Zhang Chong on the Wudang road.
97
八月，苻堅帥衆渡淮，遣征討都督謝石、冠軍將軍謝玄、輔國將軍謝琰、西中郎將桓伊等距之。
Facing Fu Jian’s crossing, Jin threw Xie Shi, Xie Xuan, Xie Yan, and Huan Yi into the line.
98
九月，詔司徒、琅邪王道子錄尚書六條事。
Prince Daozi joined the central recorder’s bench.
99
冬十月，苻堅弟融陷壽春。 乙亥，諸將及苻堅戰于肥水，大破之，俘斬數萬計，獲堅輿輦及雲母車。
Fu Rong seized Shouchun for the invasion. Feishui broke Former Qin’s host and captured Fu Jian’s conveyances.
100
十一月庚申，詔衛將軍謝安勞旋師于金城。 壬子，立陳留王世子靈誕爲陳留王。
Xie An welcomed the victors at Jincheng. The Chenliu heir Sun Bao succeeded to his princely title.
101
十二月庚午，以寇難初平，大赦。 以中軍將軍謝石爲尚書令。 開酒禁。 始增百姓稅米，口五石。 前句町王翟遼背苻堅，舉兵於河南，慕容垂自鄴與遼合，遂攻堅子暉於洛陽。 仇池公楊世奔還隴右，遣使稱籓。
Post-Feishui amnesty marked restored calm. Xie Shi took the secretariat’s head chair. Wine bans ended in celebration. The rice levy jumped to five shi per capita. Zhai Liao’s Henan revolt drew Murong Chui; together they pressed Fu Hui at Luoyang. Yang Shi rushed west and renewed fealty to Jiankang.
102
九年春正月庚子，封武陵王孫寶爲臨川王。 戊午，立新寧王晞子遵爲新寧王。 辛亥，謁建平等四陵。 龍驤將軍劉牢之克譙城。 車騎將軍桓沖部將郭寶伐新城、魏興、上庸三郡，降之。
A Wuling grandson, Sun Bao, received the Linchuan seat. The Xinning princely seat passed to Zun. He sacrificed again at the western tombs. Liu Laizhi seized Qiao from Qin holdouts. Guo Bao folded the Han River triple cities.
103
二月辛巳，使持節、都督荊江梁寧益交廣七州諸軍事、車騎將軍、荊州刺史桓沖卒。 慕容垂自洛陽與翟遼攻苻堅子丕於鄴。
Huan Chong died holding the lower Yangzi theater. Murong Chui and Zhai Liao closed on Ye against Fu Pi.
104
三月，以衛將軍謝安爲太保。 苻堅北地長史慕容泓、平陽太守慕容沖並起兵背堅。
Xie An moved to grand mentor with honors. Murong brothers rose in Guanzhong against Former Qin.
105
夏四月己卯，增置太學生百人。 封張天錫爲西平公。 使竟陵太守趙統伐襄陽，克之。 苻堅將姚萇背堅，起兵於北地，自立爲王，國號秦。
The state academy grew by a hundred places. The fallen Liang ruler kept rank as Xiping duke. Zhao Tong reclaimed Xiangyang for Jin. Yao Chang broke away and founded Later Qin.
106
六月癸丑朔，崇德皇太后褚氏崩。 慕容泓爲其叔父沖所殺，沖自稱皇太弟。
Regent empress dowager Chu died. Murong Chong murdered Hong and claimed Yan heir status.
107
秋七月戊戌，遣兼司空、高密王純之修謁洛陽五陵。 己酉，葬康獻皇后于崇平陵。 百濟遣使來貢方物。 苻堅及慕容沖戰于鄭西，堅師敗績。
Chunzhi swept the lost northern imperial graves. Lady Chu joined Chongping beside her consort. Baekje offered southern seas gifts. Murong Chong shattered Fu Jian west of the Ye capital.
108
八月戊寅，司空郗愔薨。
Xi Yin died in office.
109
九月辛卯，前鋒都督謝玄攻苻堅將兗州刺史張崇于鄄城，克之。 甲午，加太保謝安大都督揚、江、荊、司、豫、徐、兗、青、冀、幽、幷、梁、益、雍、涼十五州諸軍事。
Xie Xuan drove Zhang Chong from Juancheng. Xie An assumed sweeping theater command over fifteen provinces.
110
十二月，苻堅將呂光稱制于河右，自號酒泉公。 慕容沖僭卽皇帝位于阿房。
Lü Guang carved out the northwest as his own. Murong Chong crowned himself at Epang Palace.
111
十年春正月甲午，謁諸陵。
Spring sacrifices swept the mausoleum row.
112
二月，立國學。 蜀郡太守任權斬苻堅益州刺史李平，益州平。
A state academy opened at the capital. Ren Quan’s coup cleared Shu of Qin officers.
113
三月，滎陽人鄭燮以郡來降。 苻堅國亂，使使奉表請迎。 龍驤將軍劉牢之及慕容垂戰于黎陽，王師敗績。
Xingyang flipped to Jin. The beaten Fu Jian begged Jin for rescue. Liu Laizhi lost to Murong Chui on the Yellow River.
114
夏四月丙辰，劉牢之與沛郡太守周次及垂戰于五橋澤，王師又敗績。 壬戌，太保謝安帥衆救苻堅。
Second defeat followed at Five Bridges Marsh. Xie An marched ostensibly to aid the stranded Fu Jian.
115
五月，大水。 苻堅留太子宏守長安，奔于五將山。
Late spring floods returned. Fu Jian abandoned Chang’an for the hills.
116
六月，宏來降，慕容沖入長安。
The crown prince capitulated as Yan forces took the Wei valley capital.
117
秋七月，苻丕自枋頭西走，龍驤將軍檀玄追之，爲丕所敗。 旱，饑。 丁巳，老人星見。
Fu Pi outran Tan Xuan’s pursuit from Fangtou. Parched fields brought hunger again. The Old Man star rose—auspice of age.
118
九月，呂光據姑臧，自稱涼州刺史。 苻丕僭卽皇帝位于晉陽。
Lü Guang seized Wuwei and claimed Liangzhou. Fu Pi declared emperor from Bingzhou.
119
冬十月丁亥，論淮肥之功，追封謝安廬陵郡公，封謝石南康公，謝玄康樂公，謝琰望蔡公，桓伊永脩公，自餘封拜各有差。
Feishui heroes received ducal stacks—Xie kin and Huan Yi foremost.
120
是歲，乞伏國仁自稱大單于、秦河二州牧。
Western Qin’s Qifu Guoren proclaimed dual shepherdships.
121
十一年春正月辛未，慕容垂僭卽皇帝位于中山。 壬午，翟遼襲黎陽，執太守滕恬之。 乙酉。 謁諸陵。 慕容沖將許木末殺慕容沖于長安。
Later Yan rose with Murong Chui’s throne at Zhongshan. Zhai Liao snatched Liyang and captured Teng Tianzhi. The chronicle marks yiyou. He ended the season at the imperial tombs. A Yan officer murdered Murong Chong inside the fallen western capital.
122
三月，大赦。 太山太守張願以郡叛，降于翟遼。
Spring brought another blanket pardon. Taishan flipped to Zhai Liao’s coalition.
123
夏四月，以百濟王世子餘暉爲使持節、都督、鎮東將軍、百濟王。 代王拓拔圭始改稱魏。 癸巳，以尚書僕射陸納爲尚書左僕射，譙王恬爲尚書右僕射。
Baekje’s heir received Jin investiture and full general’s regalia. The Tuoba ruler began calling his realm Wei. Lu Na and Prince Tian split the secretariat’s two chairs.
124
六月己卯，地震。 庚寅，以前輔國將軍楊亮爲西戎校尉、雍州刺史，鎮衛山陵。
Summer tremors returned. Yang Liang was posted to guard the Guanzhong mausolea.
125
秋八月庚午，封孔靖之爲奉聖亭侯，奉宣尼祀。 丁亥，安平王邃之薨。 翟遼寇譙，龍驤將軍朱序擊走之。
A Confucius caretaker received a hereditary fief for the sage’s cult. Prince Anping passed away. Zhu Xu drove Zhai Liao from Qiao prefecture.
126
冬十月，慕容垂破苻丕于河東，丕走東垣，揚威將軍馮該擊斬之，傳首京都。 甲申，海西公奕薨。
Murong Chui finished Fu Pi; his head reached Jiankang. The deposed emperor Yi died in obscurity.
127
十一月，苻丕將苻登僭卽皇帝位於隴東。
Fu Deng declared himself emperor on the Long plateau.
128
十二年春正月乙巳，以豫州刺史朱序爲青、兗二州刺史，鎮淮陰。
Zhu Xu shifted north to guard the Huaiyin crossing.
129
丁未，大赦。 壬子，暴風，發屋折木。
New-year amnesty followed. Gales damaged the capital suburbs.
130
戊午，慕容垂寇河東，濟北太守溫詳奔彭城。 翟遼遣子釗寇陳、潁，朱序擊走之。
Wen Xiang abandoned Jibei before Chui’s advance. Zhai Zhao’s eastern thrust failed against Zhu Xu.
131
夏四月戊辰，尊夫人李氏爲皇太妃。 己丑，雨雹。 高平人翟暢執太守徐含遠，以郡降于翟遼。
The emperor’s mother Li became imperial mother. Ice hail battered the fields. Gaoping rose for Zhai Liao under Zhai Chang’s coup.
132
六月癸卯，束帛聘處士戴逵、襲玄之。
The court wooed Dai Kui and Xi Xuanzhi with formal silk gifts.
133
秋八月辛巳，立皇子德宗爲皇太子，大赦，增文武位二等，大酺五日，賜百官布帛各有差。
Crown prince Dezong’s installation came with nationwide celebration.
134
九月戊午，復新寧王遵爲武陵王，立梁王㻱子和爲梁王。
Princely seats shifted—Zun back to Wuling, He to Liang.
135
冬十一月，松滋太守王遐之討翟遼于洛口，敗之。
Wang Xiazhi checked Zhai Liao at the Huai mouth.
136
十三年夏四月戊午，以青兗二州刺史朱序爲持節、都督雍梁沔中九郡諸軍事、雍州刺史，譙王恬之爲鎮北將軍、青兗二州刺史。
Zhu Xu took Yongzhou while Prince Tian held the northern Yang theater.
137
夏六月，旱。 乞伏國仁死，弟乾歸嗣偽位，僭號河南王。
Sixth-month drought parched the crops. Western Qin passed from brother to brother under the Henan title.
138
秋七月，翟遼將翟發寇洛陽，河南太守郭給距破之。
Guo Ji held the Luoyang march against Zhai Fa.
139
十四年春正月癸亥，詔淮南所獲俘虜付諸作部者一皆散遣，男女自相配匹，賜百日廩，其沿線爲軍賞者悉贖出之，以襄陽、淮南饒沃地各立一縣以居之。 彭城妖賊劉黎僭稱皇帝於皇丘，龍驤將軍劉宰之討平之。
War prisoners won freedom, spouses, short stipends, and resettlement counties. Liu Zaizhi crushed Liu Li’s roadside kingship.
140
二月，扶南獻方物。 呂光僭號三河王。
Funan sent southern tribute. Later Liang’s Lü Guang took a river-king style.
141
夏四月甲辰，彭城王弘之薨。 翟遼寇滎陽，執太守張卓。
Prince Pengcheng died. Zhai Liao captured Zhang Zhuo at Xingyang.
142
六月壬寅，使持節、都督荊益寧三州諸軍事、荊州刺史桓石虔卒。
Huan Shiqian’s death opened Jingzhou.
143
秋七月甲寅，宣陽門四柱災。
Fire consumed Xuanyang Gate’s colonnade.
144
八月，姚萇襲破苻登，獲其偽后毛氏。 丁亥，汝南王羲薨。
Yao Chang seized Fu Deng’s consort in battle. Prince Runan died.
145
九月庚午，以尚書左僕射陸納爲尚書令。
Lu Na rose to director.
146
冬十二月乙巳，雨，木冰。
Freezing rain lacquered branches white.
147
十五年春正月乙亥，鎮北將軍、譙王恬之薨。 龍驤將軍劉牢之及翟遼、張願戰于太山，王師敗績。 征虜將軍朱序破慕容永於太行。 二月辛己，以中書令王恭爲都督青兗幽幷冀五州諸軍事、前將軍、青兗二州刺史。
Prince Tian’s northern command ended with his death. Liu Laizhi lost Taishan to Zhai Liao’s alliance. Zhu Xu broke Murong Yong’s Shanxi thrust. Wang Gong took five-province command on the northern rim.
148
三月己酉朔，地震。 戊辰，大赦。
Spring earth shook on the new moon. May amnesty cleared debts of war.
149
秋七月丁巳，有星孛于北河。
A comet trailed through Northern River asterism.
150
八月，永嘉人李耽舉兵反，太守劉懷之討平之。 己丑，京師地震。 有星孛于北斗，犯紫微。 沔中諸郡及兗州大水。 龍驤將軍朱序攻翟遼于滑台，大敗之，張願來降。
Li Dan’s coastal rising fell to Liu Huaizhi. Jiankang felt an earthquake. Cometary fire brushed the polar stars. The Han River basin and Yanzhou drowned. Zhu Xu broke Zhai Liao at Huatai and flipped Zhang Yuan.
151
九月丁未，以吳郡太守王珣爲尚書僕射。
Wang Xun entered the secretariat from Wu commandery.
152
冬十二月己未，地震。
Year-end tremors struck again.
153
十六年春正月庚申，改築太廟。
Imperial ancestors gained new shrine halls.
154
夏六月，慕容永寇河南，太守楊佺期擊破之。 己未，章武王範之薨。
Yang Quanqi held Henan against Murong Yong. Prince Zhangwu died.
155
秋九月癸未，以尚書右僕射王珣爲尚書左僕射，以太子詹事謝琰爲尚書右僕射。 新廟成。
Wang Xun and Xie Yan rotated the secretariat wings. The ancestral shrine stood finished.
156
冬十一月，姚萇敗苻登于安定。
Later Qin crushed Fu Deng’s northern remnant.
157
十七年春正月己巳朔，大赦，除逋租宿債。
Year seventeen opened with debt forgiveness.
158
夏四月，齊國內史蔣喆殺樂安太守辟閭濬，據青州反，北平原太守辟閭渾討平之。
Qingzhou briefly rebelled before Bikan Hun restored order.
159
五月丁卯朔，日有蝕之。
Summer eclipse darkened the fifth month.
160
六月癸卯，京師地震。 甲寅，濤水入石頭，毀大桁。 永嘉郡潮水湧起，近海四縣人多死者。 乙卯，大風，折木。 戊午，梁王龢薨。 慕容垂襲翟釗于黎陽，敗之，釗奔于慕容永。
Jiankang quaked in summer heat. A tidal bore smashed the Stone City bridge. A tidal bore drowned Yongjia’s shore dwellers. Windstorms followed the surge. Prince Liang died. Chui drove Zhai Zhao into Yong’s orbit.
161
秋七月丁丑，太白晝見。
Daylight Venus augured military stir.
162
八月，新作東宮。
Crown-prince quarters rose anew.
163
冬十月丁酉，太白晝見。 辛亥，都督荊益寧三州諸軍事、荊州刺史王忱卒。
Venus flared again by day in winter. Wang Xin’s death vacated Jingzhou.
164
十一月癸酉，以黃門郎殷仲堪爲都督荊益梁三州諸軍事、荊州刺史。 庚寅，徙封琅邪王道子爲會稽王，封皇子德文爲琅邪王。
Yin Zhongkan inherited the upper Yangzi sword. Daozi moved to Kuaiji while Prince Dewen took Langye.
165
十二月己未，地震。 是歲，自秋不雨，至于冬。
Another winter tremor. Drought stretched from autumn into winter.
166
十八年春正月癸亥朔，地震。
The new year opened with shaking earth.
167
二月乙未，地又震。
Aftershocks rolled through spring.
168
三月，翟釗寇河南。
Zhai Zhao probed Henan again.
169
夏六月己亥，始興、南康、廬陵大水，深五丈。
Southern Jiangxi drowned as before.
170
秋七月，旱。
Autumn dried what floods had spared.
171
閏月，妖賊司馬徽聚党于馬頭山，劉牢之遣部將討平之。
Sima Hui’s hill band fell to Liu Laizhi’s detachment.
172
九月丙戌，龍驤將軍楊佺期擊氐帥楊佛嵩于潼谷，敗之。
Yang Quanqi broke Di auxiliaries at Tonggu.
173
冬十月，姚萇死，子興嗣偽位。
Yao Xing inherited Later Qin from his father.
174
十九年夏六月壬子，追尊會稽王太妃鄭氏爲簡文宣太后。
Xiaowu elevated his grandmother Lady Zheng to Xuan Dowager.
175
秋七月，荊、徐二州大水，傷秋稼，遣使振卹之。
Floods ruined the lower Yangzi harvest; relief followed.
176
八月己巳，尊皇太妃李氏爲皇太后，宮曰崇訓。 慕容垂擊慕容永于長子，斬之。
Lady Li moved from consort to mother-empress at Chongxun Palace. Chui ended Yan Yong at Changzi.
177
冬十月，慕容垂遣其子惡奴寇廩丘，東平太守韋簡及垂將尹國戰于平陸，簡死之。
Wei Jian fell battling Murong raiders on the Shandong plain.
178
是歲，苻登爲姚興所殺，登太子崇奔于湟中，僭稱皇帝。
Fu Chong fled northwest and claimed the Qin flame.
179
二十年春二月，作宣太后廟。 甲寅，散騎常侍、光祿大夫、開府儀同三司、尚書令陸納卒。
A temple rose for Empress Dowager Xuan. Lu Na’s long career ended.
180
三月庚辰朔，日有蝕之。
Spring eclipse on the gengchen new moon.
181
夏六月，荊、徐二州大水。
Summer floods swamped Jing and Xu again.
182
十一月，魏王拓拔珪擊慕容垂子寶于黍谷，敗之。
Northern Wei bloodied Later Yan at Shugu.
183
二十一年春正月，造清暑殿。
Palace builders raised the Clear Summer retreat.
184
三月，慕容垂攻平城，拔之。
Later Yan seized Pingcheng from Wei.
185
夏四月，新作永安宮。 丁亥，雨雹。 慕容垂死，子寶嗣偽位。
Builders raised Yong’an Palace beside the seat of power. Ice pellets crashed down on dinghai. Murong Bao inherited Later Yan after his father’s death.
186
五月甲子，以望蔡公謝琰爲尚書左僕射。 大水。
Xie Yan moved from Wangcai county duke to left vice director. Floods spread across the lowlands.
187
六月，呂光僭卽天王位。 秋九月庚申，帝崩于清暑殿，時年三十五。 葬隆平陵。
Lü Guang crowned himself Tianwang of Later Liang. He died in his lakeside hall at thirty-five. His tomb joined Longping beside prior rulers.
188
帝幼稱聰悟。 簡文之崩也，時年十歲，至晡不臨，左右進諫，答曰：「哀至則哭，何常之有？」 謝安嘗歎以爲精理不減先帝。 旣威權己出，雅有人主之量。 旣而溺于酒色，殆爲長夜之飲。 末年長星見，帝心甚惡之，於華林園舉酒祝之曰：「長星，勸汝一杯酒，自古何有萬歲天子邪！」 太白連年晝見，地震水旱爲變者相屬。 醒日旣少，而傍無正人，竟不能改焉。 時張貴人有寵，年幾三十，帝戲之曰：「汝以年當廢矣。」 貴人潛怒，向夕，帝醉，遂暴崩。 時道子昏惑，元顯專權，竟不推其罪人。
Even as a boy he passed for brilliant. At ten he skipped the scheduled vigil until aides objected; he reasoned that tears should follow feeling, not the clock. Xie An compared his poise favorably to Yuan’s. Once he held real power, he seemed capable of rule. He sank into drinking and consorts and endless banquets. Facing the broom star he drank to it in the garden, mocking immortal kingship. Omens stacked—daylight Venus, tremors, deluge, drought. Rare clarity and no honest counselors left him unreformed. He jested that his favorite concubine was aging out of favor. She murdered him that drunken evening—so tradition holds. Simas Daozi and Yuanxian buried the truth.
189
初，簡文帝見讖云：「晉祚盡昌明。」 及帝之在孕也，李太后夢神人謂之曰：「汝生男，以『昌明』爲字。」 及產，東方始明，因以爲名焉。 簡文帝後悟，乃流涕。 及爲清暑殿，有識者以爲「清暑」反爲「楚」聲，哀楚之徵也。 俄而帝崩，晉祚自此傾矣。
Jianwen once read a book prophecy tying Jin’s fall to “Changming.” Lady Li’s dream named the unborn heir Changming. Dawn at his birth became his personal name Yao tied to Changming. Jianwen grasped the omen and wept. Wits said “Qingshu” punned on grief—clear summer echoing Chu sorrow. His death marked Jin’s downward turn.
190
史臣曰：前史稱「不有廢也，吾何以興」； 若乃天挺惟神，光膺嗣位，邁油雲而驤首，濟沈川而能躍。 少康一旅之衆，所以闡帝圖； 成湯七十之基，所以興王業； 靜河海於旣泄，補穹圓於已紊； 事異於斯，則弗由也。 簡皇以虛白之姿，在屯如之會，政由桓氏，祭則寡人。 太宗晏駕，寧康纂業，天誘其衷，姦臣自隕。 于時西逾劍岫而跨靈山，北振長河而臨清洛； 荊吳戰旅，嘯叱成雲； 名賢間出，舊德斯在：謝安可以鎮雅俗，彪之足以正紀綱，桓沖之夙夜王家，謝玄之善䉼軍事。 于時上天乃眷，強氐自泯。 五尺童子，振袂臨江，思所以掛旆天山，封泥函谷； 而條綱弗垂，威思罕樹，道子荒乎朝政，國寶彙以小人，拜授之榮，初非天旨，鬻刑之貨，自走權門，毒賦年滋，愁民歲廣。 是以聞人、許榮馳書詣闕，烈宗知其抗直，而惡聞逆耳，肆一醉於崇朝，飛千觴於長夜。 雖復「昌明」表夢，安聽神言？ 而金行穨弛，抑亦人事，語曰「大國之政未陵夷，小邦之亂已傾覆」也。 屬苻堅百六之秋，棄肥水之衆，帝號爲「武」，不亦優哉！
The editors cite the old lesson that ruin enables renewal. True restoration takes Heaven-touched heroes who ford chaos. Shaokang’s handful of men rebuilt Xia. Tang rose from seventy square li. They dammed disaster and mended heaven’s frame. Without such heroes the path stays shut. Jianwen reigned in name while Huan Wen ruled fact. After Yu’s death young Kuaiji-Zi’s reign saw Huan Wen’s threat expire by fate. Jin’s arms reached Shu and the northern river. Yangzi armies massed like storm clouds. Xie An, Wang Biaozhi, Huan Chong, and Xie Xuan anchored state and camp. Heaven favored Jin while Former Qin collapsed. Even children dreamed of reconquering the north. But Sima Daozi and Wang Guobao sold offices, poisoned taxes, and rotted administration. Honest memorials went unheard while Xiaowu drank away warnings. Prophecy named his ruin yet he ignored it. Jin declined through men as much as fate. They grant Xiaowu the martial temple name for Feishui—high praise.
191
贊曰：君若綴旒，道非交泰。 簡皇凝寂，不貽伊害。 孝武登朝，姦雄自消。 燕之擊路，鄭叔分鑣。 倡臨帝席，酒勸天妖。 金風不競，人事先彫。
The ruler was pawn; harmony never fully came. Jianwen endured quietly without inviting catastrophe. Xiaowu’s early reign scattered warlords. Triumph still echoed abroad while inner chambers slid toward Zheng-style indulgence. Song girls shared his couch; cups fed ill omens. Jin’s fortune failed before Heaven’s judgment.