1
夏禹，名曰文命。 禹之父曰鯀，鯀之父曰帝顓頊，顓頊之父曰昌意，昌意之父曰黃帝。 禹者，黃帝之玄孫而帝顓頊之孫也。 禹之曾大父昌意及父鯀皆不得在帝位，為人臣。
Yu of Xia bore the name Wenming. Yu's father was Gun; Gun's father was Emperor Zhuanxu; Zhuanxu's father was Changyi; Changyi's father was the Yellow Emperor. Yu was a great-great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor and a grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu. Neither Yu's great-grandfather Changyi nor his father Gun ever held the throne; both served merely as ministers.
2
當帝堯之時，鴻水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民其憂。 堯求能治水者，群臣四嶽皆曰鯀可。 堯曰：「鯀為人負命毀族，不可。」 四嶽曰：「等之未有賢於鯀者，願帝試之。」 於是堯聽四嶽，用鯀治水。 九年而水不息，功用不成。 於是帝堯乃求人，更得舜。 舜登用，攝行天子之政，巡狩。 行視鯀之治水無狀，乃殛鯀於羽山以死。 天下皆以舜之誅為是。 於是舜舉鯀子禹，而使續鯀之業。
Under Emperor Yao the floodwaters rose to the sky, spread around the peaks, and overtopped the hills, and the people lived in dread of them. Yao looked for someone who could manage the flood; the officials and the lords of the Four Peaks all named Gun. Yao replied, "Gun disobeys orders and harms his own people. I cannot use him." The Four Peaks answered, "No one in their ranks surpasses Gun; we ask you to give him a trial." Yao yielded and put Gun in charge of the flood works. Nine years passed, the flood never relented, and the project failed. Emperor Yao began looking again and found Shun. Shun was raised to high office, administered affairs in the Son of Heaven's name, and toured the realm. On his rounds he saw that Gun had achieved nothing with the waters, so he had Gun executed on Mount Yu. Throughout the realm people judged Shun's sentence just. Shun then promoted Gun's son Yu to carry on his father's work.
3
堯崩，帝舜問四嶽曰：「有能成美堯之事者使居官？」 皆曰：「伯禹為司空，可成美堯之功。」 舜曰：「嗟，然！」 命禹：「女平水土，維是勉之。」 禹拜稽首，讓於契、后稷、皋陶。 舜曰：「女其往視爾事矣。」
When Yao died, Emperor Shun asked the Four Peaks whether anyone could bring Yao's projects to fruition and hold office. They said, "Lord Yu, as Minister of Works, could finish what Yao began." Shun exclaimed, "Well said—it shall be so." He ordered Yu: "You shall bring the land and waters to order; give it your whole strength." Yu kowtowed and declined in favor of Xie, Hou Ji, and Gao Yao. Shun told him, "Go—all that matters is that you do the work."
4
禹為人敏給克勤； 其德不違，其仁可親，其言可信； 聲為律，身為度，稱以出； 亹亹穆穆，為綱為紀。
Yu was quick-witted, responsive, and tirelessly industrious. He kept to the moral path, drew others with kindness, and spoke so that men could rely on him. His voice matched the tuning tubes, his bearing matched the plumb line, and he carried himself with measured grace. Steadfast and grave, he set the pattern others followed.
5
禹乃遂與益、后稷奉帝命，命諸侯百姓興人徒以傅土，行山表木，定高山大川。 禹傷先人父鯀功之不成受誅，乃勞身焦思，居外十三年，過家門不敢入。 薄衣食，致孝于鬼神。 卑宮室，致費於溝淢。 陸行乘車，水行乘船，泥行乘橇，山行乘檋。 左準繩，右規矩，載四時，以開九州，通九道，陂九澤，度九山。 令益予眾庶稻，可種卑溼。 命后稷予眾庶難得之食。 食少，調有餘相給，以均諸侯。 禹乃行相地宜所有以貢，及山川之便利。
Yu, with Yi and Hou Ji, carried out the Son of Heaven's orders, mobilized nobles and commoners to shift soil, blazed trails along ridges and marked timbers, and charted every major height and watercourse. He mourned that Gun had died unfinished yet under sentence of death, so he drove himself until body and mind were spent, spent thirteen years away from home, and even passed his own door without stopping. He lived plainly in dress and diet and showed the spirits the utmost reverence. He kept his halls modest and poured labor into drains and canals. He traveled by carriage on dry ground, by boat on water, by sledge in mire, and by litter in the hills. Plumb line in his left hand, square in his right, he followed the seasons, opened the nine provinces, linked the nine highways, diked the nine marshes, and surveyed the nine ranges. He told Yi to distribute rice seed for the people to sow in the wet lowlands. He told Hou Ji to supply food where famine threatened. Where supplies ran short, he moved surplus from one region to another so that no domain starved alone. He then assessed what each region could yield in tribute and how mountains and rivers could serve transport.
6
禹行自冀州始。 冀州：既載壺口，治梁及岐。 既修太原，至于嶽陽。 覃懷致功，至於衡漳。 其土白壤。 賦上上錯，田中中，常、衛既從，大陸既為。 鳥夷皮服。 夾右碣石，入于海。
Yu began his survey in Jizhou. In Jizhou he finished work at Hukou and brought order to the Liang and Qi ranges. He restored Taiyuan and continued south of Mount Yue. He completed the Tanhuai basin and carried the work to the Heng and Zhang rivers. The soil was pale, loose earth. Its tax was rated top grade with some second-grade tracts; its fields were middling; the Chang and Wei ran true, and the great alluvial plain emerged. Coastal peoples sent furs and hides. Tribute went by way of Jieshi on the right and reached the sea.
7
濟、河維沇州：九河既道，雷夏既澤，雍、沮會同，桑土既蠶，於是民得下丘居土。 其土黑墳，草繇木條。 田中下，賦貞，作十有三年乃同。 其貢漆絲，其篚織文。 浮於濟、漯，通於河。
Between the Ji and the Yellow River lay Yanzhou: the Nine Streams were channeled, Leixia became a lake, the Yong and Ju joined their waters, silkworms returned to the mulberry lands, and people could leave the heights for the plain. The ground was dark fertile loam with thick grass and tall straight timber. Fields ranked low-middle; the levy was set at the lowest regular grade until, after thirteen years of reclamation, it matched other districts. It sent lacquer and silk in tribute, and woven figured cloth in baskets. Shipments floated down the Ji and the Ta to join the Yellow River.
8
海岱維青州：堣夷既略，濰、淄其道。 其土白墳，海濱廣潟，厥田斥鹵。 田上下，賦中上。 厥貢鹽絺，海物維錯，岱畎絲、枲、鉛、松、怪石，萊夷為牧，其篚酓絲。 浮於汶，通於濟。
Between the sea and Mount Dai lay Qingzhou: the Yuyi tribes were pacified, and the Wei and Zi were channeled. The soil was pale loam along a coast of wide tidal flats, much of it salt-encrusted. Fields ranked high among the lower grades; the tax was upper-middle. Tribute included salt, fine linen, a miscellany of sea produce, silk and hemp from the Dai valleys, lead, pine, and odd stones; the Lai people sent pasture goods and silkworm baskets. It went by the Wen and linked to the Ji.
9
海岱及淮維徐州：淮、沂其治，蒙、羽其藝。 大野既都，東原底平。 其土赤埴墳，草木漸包。 其田上中，賦中中。 貢維土五色，羽畎夏狄，嶧陽孤桐，泗濱浮磬，淮夷蠙珠臮魚，其篚玄纖縞。 浮于淮、泗，通于河。
Between sea, Dai, and Huai lay Xuzhou: the Huai and Yi were tamed, and the Meng and Yu ranges were opened to the plough. Daye marsh was diked and the eastern lowlands lay smooth. The earth was sticky red clay, slowly clothing itself again in grass and wood. Fields ranked second grade; the tax was middling. It sent five-colored clays, pheasant tails from the Yu valley, lone paulownia from Yiyang, floating lithophones from the Si, pearls and fish from the Huai tribes, and baskets of fine dark silk. Shipments moved on the Huai and Si to reach the Yellow River.
10
淮海維揚州：彭蠡既都，陽鳥所居。 三江既入，震澤致定。 竹箭既布。 其草惟夭，其木惟喬，其土涂泥。 田下下，賦下上上雜。 貢金三品，瑤、琨、竹箭，齒、革、羽、旄，島夷卉服，其篚織貝，其包橘、柚錫貢。 均江海，通淮、泗。
Between the Huai and the sea lay Yangzhou: Lake Pengli was stabilized and became a haunt for wintering birds. The three great channels poured in, and Lake Tai was calmed. Bamboo groves for arrows flourished far and wide. Grasses were tender, trees towered, and the soil was mire. Fields were the poorest grade; the levy was the top of the bottom tier with some higher admixture. Tribute listed three grades of metal, jade, fine stone, bamboo arrows, ivory, hides, feathers, and yak-tail; island peoples sent plant-fiber dress; baskets held patterned shells; bundles of citrus were granted as occasional gifts. He linked the Yangtze to the sea and opened routes to the Huai and Si.
11
荊及衡陽維荊州：江、漢朝宗于海。 九江甚中，沱、涔已道，云土、夢為治。 其土涂泥。 田下中，賦上下。 貢羽、旄、齒、革，金三品，杶、榦、栝、柏，礪、砥、砮、丹，維箘簬、楛，三國致貢其名，包匭菁茅，其篚玄纁璣組，九江入賜大龜。 浮于江、沱、涔、（于）漢，踰于雒，至于南河。
From Mount Jing to south of Mount Heng lay Jingzhou: the Yangtze and Han flowed as tributaries to the sea. The nine channels of the middle Yangtze were cleared, the Tuo and Cen confined, and the Yunmeng marshes brought under control. The ground was alluvial muck. Fields ranked low-middle; taxes upper-lower. Tribute ran to feathers, furs, ivory, hides, three grades of ore, hardwoods, whetstones, cinnabar, specialty bamboos—three chiefdoms each sent their specialties—wrapped iris and thatch, baskets of dark silk and strings of pearls, and from the nine streams the great tortoise as imperial gift. Goods floated on the Yangtze, Tuo, and Cen to the Han, then were portaged to the Luo and the southern Yellow River.
12
荊河惟豫州：伊、雒、瀍、澗既入于河，滎播既都，道荷澤，被明都。 其土壤，下土墳壚。 田中上，賦雜上中。 貢漆、絲、絺、紵，其篚纖絮，錫貢磬錯。 浮於雒，達於河。
Between the Jing mountains and the Yellow River lay Yuzhou: the Yi, Luo, Chan, and Jian were led into the main stream, Lake Xingbo was diked, the He marsh was opened, and Mingdu was flooded out. The upland was loess; the low ground heavier clay. Fields were second grade; the tax blended upper and middle rates. It sent lacquer, silk, fine linen, and kudzu fiber in baskets of fine batting, with lithophone ore as an occasional gift. Shipments floated down the Luo to the Yellow River.
13
華陽黑水惟梁州：汶、嶓既藝，沱、涔既道，蔡、蒙旅平，和夷厎績。 其土青驪。 田下上，賦下中三錯。 貢璆、鐵、銀、鏤、砮、磬，熊、羆、狐、貍、織皮。 西傾因桓是來，浮于潛，踰于沔，入于渭，亂于河。
South of Mount Hua to the Black Water was Liangzhou: the Min and Bo were farmed, the Tuo and Cen confined, the Cai and Meng ranges cleared, and the He tribes brought in order. The soil was dark loam. Fields ranked low among the high grades; the levy shifted among three lower-middle levels. It yielded fine jade, iron, silver, hammered metal, lithophones, and pelts of bear, brown bear, fox, and wildcat. From West Qin the route followed the Huan, then floated on the Qian, was portaged to the Mian, joined the Wei, and crossed to the Yellow River.
14
黑水西河惟雍州：弱水既西，涇屬渭汭。 漆、沮既從，灃水所同。 荊、岐已旅，終南、敦物至于鳥鼠。 原隰厎績，至于都野。 三危既度，三苗大序。 其土黃壤。 田上上，賦中下。 貢璆、琳、瑯玕。 浮于積石，至于龍門西河，會于渭汭。 織皮昆侖、析支、渠搜，西戎即序。
West of the Black Water to the Yellow River was Yongzhou: the Weak River was turned westward, and the Jing joined the Wei at its bend. The Qi and Ju obeyed their channels, and the Feng mingled where appointed. The Jing and Qi ranges were cleared from Zhongnan and Dunwu to Niaoshu. High moors and sunken bogs were drained as far as Duye. The Sanwei region was surveyed, and the Sanmiao tribes were brought into line. The earth was yellow loam. Fields were the finest grade; the tax was set middle-lower to reflect distance. It sent jade, fine stone, and carnelian. Shipments floated from Jishi to Longmen on the western Yellow River and gathered at the Wei's bend. Tribute furs came from Kunlun, Xizhi, and Qusou, and the western Rong were enrolled.
15
道九山：汧及岐至于荊山，踰于河； 壺口、雷首至于太嶽； 砥柱、析城至于王屋； 太行、常山至于碣石，入于海； 西傾、朱圉、鳥鼠至于太華； 熊耳、外方、桐柏至于負尾； 道嶓冢，至于荊山； 內方至于大別； 汶山之陽至衡山，過九江，至于敷淺原。
He traced nine mountain chains: from Qian and Qi to Jingshan, then across the Yellow River. From Hukou and Leishou to Taiyue. From Dizhu and Xicheng to Wangwu. From Taihang and Hengshan to Jieshi and into the sea. From West Qin, Zhuyu, and Niaoshu to Taihua. From Xiong'er, Waifang, and Tongbai to Fuwei. He opened the Bozhong range to Jingshan. From Neifang to Dabie. From the southern slopes of Minshan to Hengshan, across the nine streams, to Fushaoyuan.
16
道九川：弱水至於合黎，餘波入于流沙。 道黑水，至于三危，入于南海。 道河積石，至于龍門，南至華陰，東至砥柱，又東至于盟津，東過雒汭，至于大邳，北過降水，至于大陸，北播為九河，同為逆河，入于海。 嶓冢道瀁，東流為漢，又東為蒼浪之水，過三澨，入于大別，南入于江，東匯澤為彭蠡，東為北江，入于海。 汶山道江，東別為沱，又東至于醴，過九江，至于東陵，東迆北會于匯，東為中江，入于梅。 道沇水，東為濟，入于河，泆為滎，東出陶丘北，又東至于荷，又東北會于汶，又東北入于海。 道淮自桐柏，東會于泗、沂，東入于海。 道渭自鳥鼠同穴，東會于灃，又東北至于涇，東過漆、沮，入于河。 道雒自熊耳，東北會于澗、瀍，又東會于伊，東北入于河。
He channeled nine rivers: the Weak to Heli, its tail into the shifting sands. He led the Black Water to Sanwei and out into the southern sea. He guided the Yellow River from Jishi and Longmen south to Huayin, east past the pillars at Mengjin, across the Luo bend to Dapi, north past the Jiang to the great alluvial plain, where it fanned into the nine channels and the backwash belt before reaching the sea. From Bozhong he opened the Han, turned it east through the Canglang reaches and three gorges to Dabie, then south into the Yangtze, east into Lake Pengli, and east again as the northern stream to the sea. From Minshan he split the Yangtze's eastern arm as the Tuo, led it past the Li reaches and the nine channels to Dongling, bent north to the confluence, and opened the middle stream to the sea. He channeled the Yan into the Ji to the Yellow River, where it burst forth as the Xing pool, ran east from north of Taoqiu to the He marsh, then northeast by the Wen to the sea. He traced the Huai from Tongbai east to join the Si and Yi, then to the sea. He opened the Wei from Niaoshu, east to the Feng, northeast to the Jing, then past the Qi and Ju into the Yellow River. He led the Luo from Xiong'er northeast through the Jian and Chan, east to meet the Yi, and northeast into the Yellow River.
17
於是九州攸同，四奧既居，九山刊旅，九川滌原，九澤既陂，四海會同。 六府甚修，眾土交正，致慎財賦，咸則三壤成賦。 中國賜土姓：「祗臺德先，不距朕行。」
Then the nine provinces were one domain; the four gulfs had homes; ranges were cleared; rivers scoured their beds; marshes were diked; and the four seas became one waterway. The six storehouses were stocked; soils were assayed; taxes were set with care; every grade of earth paid its due. The central lands received clan names and were told: "Honor virtue before all and do not defy my rule."
18
令天子之國以外五百里甸服：百里賦納總，二百里納銍，三百里納秸服，四百里粟，五百里米。 甸服外五百里侯服：百里采，二百里任國，三百里諸侯。 侯服外五百里綏服：三百里揆文教，二百里奮武衛。 綏服外五百里要服：三百里夷，二百里蔡。 要服外五百里荒服：三百里蠻，二百里流。
He fixed the five-hundred-li royal domain: the inner hundred li sent whole stalks, the next grain ears, the next fodder and labor, then millet, then rice at the rim. Beyond that lay another five hundred li for the lords: inner districts for court estates, next for assigned service, outer for the feudal order. Outside that came the pacification belt: inner tracts for civil instruction, outer for military screen. Next was the coercive belt: inner Yi peoples, outer Cai settlements. Outermost lay the wilds: inner Man tribes, outer exiles.
19
東漸于海，西被于流沙，朔、南暨：聲教訖于四海。 於是帝錫禹玄圭，以告成功于天下。 天下於是太平治。
East to the ocean, west to the sands, north and south alike—his influence reached every shore. The Emperor gave Yu a black scepter to proclaim the work finished to the realm. The realm then knew great peace.
20
皋陶作士以理民。 帝舜朝，禹、伯夷、皋陶相與語帝前。 皋陶述其謀曰：「信其道德，謀明輔和。」 禹曰：「然，如何？」 皋陶曰：「於！ 慎其身修，思長，敦序九族，眾明高翼，近可遠在已。」 禹拜美言，曰：「然。」 皋陶曰：「於！ 在知人，在安民。」 禹曰：「吁！ 皆若是，惟帝其難之。 知人則智，能官人； 能安民則惠，黎民懷之。 能知能惠，何憂乎驩兜，何遷乎有苗，何畏乎巧言善色佞人？」 皋陶曰：「然，於！ 亦行有九德，亦言其有德。」 乃言曰：「始事事，寬而栗，柔而立，願而共，治而敬，擾而毅，直而溫，簡而廉，剛而實，彊而義，章其有常，吉哉。 日宣三德，蚤夜翊明有家。 日嚴振敬六德，亮采有國。 翕受普施，九德咸事，俊乂在官，百吏肅謹。 毋教邪淫奇謀。 非其人居其官，是謂亂天事。 天討有罪，五刑五用哉。 吾言厎可行乎？」 禹曰：「女言致可績行。」 皋陶曰：「余未有知，思贊道哉。」
Gao Yao acted as judge to keep order among the people. At Shun's audience Yu, Boyi, and Gao Yao debated policy before the throne. Gao Yao said, "Hold fast to true virtue and clear counsel, and harmony will follow." Yu asked, "Agreed—but how do we put that into practice?" Gao Yao cried, "Ah!" Watch your own conduct, plan far ahead, cherish the nine branches of kin, lift up the worthy, and what is near in yourself will reach what is far. Yu bowed and said, "Well spoken—it is so." Gao Yao continued, "Ah!" Know your officers and secure the people. Yu cried, "Oh—" If everyone did that, even a sage on the throne would find it hard. To know men is wisdom and lets you place each in his post. To pacify the people is kindness, and the common folk will cleave to you. With both wisdom and kindness, why fear Huandou, why exile the Miao, why dread smooth talk and pretty faces? Gao Yao said, "Just so—indeed!" In conduct there are nine virtues; in words there are signs of them. They are: to be generous yet disciplined, gentle yet firm, tractable yet dignified, orderly yet reverent, teachable yet resolute, candid yet mild, spare yet honest, stern yet true, forceful yet just. Show these as steady habits, and all will be well. Practice three virtues each day, morning and night, and you may govern a household. Strictly maintain six virtues with daily care, and you may rule a state. Welcome all talents, put the nine virtues to work, place the able in office, and every clerk will stand in awe. Never teach lewd ways or crooked schemes. Put the wrong man in a post and you throw Heaven's business into chaos. Heaven punishes crime; the five penalties have their five uses. Can my words be carried out in practice? Yu said, "What you say can be carried out and will show results." Gao Yao said, "I know little myself—I only wish to help along the right path."
21
帝舜謂禹曰：「女亦昌言。」 禹拜曰； 「於，予何言！ 予思日孳孳。」 皋陶難禹曰：「何謂孳孳？」 禹曰：「鴻水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民皆服於水。 予陸行乘車，水行乘舟，泥行乘橇，山行乘檋，行山刊木。 與益予眾庶稻鮮食。 以決九川致四海，浚畎澮致之川。 與稷予眾庶難得之食。 食少，調有餘補不足，徙居。 眾民乃定，萬國為治。」 皋陶曰：「然，此而美也。」
Emperor Shun said to Yu, "You speak plainly in your turn." Yu bowed to speak. What more is there to say! Day and night I have only labored without rest. Gao Yao pressed him: "What do you mean by striving without ceasing?" Yu answered: When the flood rose to the sky, wrapped the hills and drowned the valleys, the people were trapped in the waters. I rode a carriage on dry ground, boats on the water, sledges in mud, litters in the hills, and cut paths through the forests. With Yi I gave the people grain and fresh meat from the marshes. I opened the nine rivers to the four seas and deepened the field channels into the trunk streams. With Ji I supplied food wherever famine struck. Where grain ran short I shifted surplus to cover want and resettled the people. Then the masses found a home and the myriad regions were governed. Gao Yao said, "Truly—this is the finest of policies."
22
禹曰：「於，帝！ 慎乃在位，安爾止。 輔德，天下大應。 清意以昭待上帝命，天其重命用休。」 帝曰：「吁，臣哉，臣哉！ 臣作朕股肱耳目。 予欲左右有民，女輔之。 余欲觀古人之象。 日月星辰，作文繡服色，女明之。 予欲聞六律五聲八音，來始滑，以出入五言，女聽。 予即辟，女匡拂予。 女無面諛。 退而謗予。 敬四輔臣。 諸眾讒嬖臣，君德誠施皆清矣。」 禹曰：「然。 帝即不時，布同善惡則毋功。」
Yu said: My lord— Watch how you sit the throne and keep your footing steady. Support true virtue, and the whole realm will answer you. With a clear heart wait on Heaven's command, and Heaven will renew its blessing. The Emperor said: O ministers, ministers! You are my legs, arms, eyes, and ears. I wish to help the people—aid me in it. I wish to read the pattern of the ancients. Sun, moon, and stars should pattern robes and insignia—you shall set them clear. I would hear the six pitch-pipes, five notes, and eight timbres in harmony—you shall attune them. If I go astray, correct and steady me. Do not flatter me to my face. Nor slander me behind my back. Honor the four pillar ministers. If slanderers and favorites abound, let your true virtue shine through and all will be clear. Yu said, Yes. If the Son of Heaven is out of step and spreads the same measure to good and evil alike, we shall accomplish nothing.
23
帝曰：「毋若丹朱傲，維慢游是好，毋水行舟，朋淫于家，用絕其世。 予不能順是。」 禹曰：「予（辛壬）娶涂山，［辛壬］癸甲，生啟予不子，以故能成水土功。 輔成五服，至于五千里，州十二師，外薄四海，咸建五長，各道有功。 苗頑不即功，帝其念哉。」 帝曰：「道吾德，乃女功序之也。」
The Emperor said: Do not be like Danzhu, proud and idle, who boated for pleasure, debauched his household, and lost his line. I cannot follow such a course. Yu said, "I wed a woman of Tushan after four days away; when our son Qi was born I did not dote on him—thus I finished the flood work." I helped shape the five zones out to five thousand li, set twelve divisions in each province, reached to the rim of the seas, appointed five regional overseers, and urged every district to earn its keep. Only the Miao remained stubborn—think of them, my lord. The Emperor answered, "It is your ordering of merit that spreads my virtue."
24
皋陶於是敬禹之德，令民皆則禹。 不如言，刑從之。 舜德大明。
Gao Yao then honored Yu's example and told the people to imitate him. Those who defied his commands faced the law. Shun's virtue shone the brighter for it.
25
於是夔行樂，祖考至，群后相讓，鳥獸翔舞，簫韶九成，鳳皇來儀，百獸率舞，百官信諧。 帝用此作歌曰：「陟天之命，維時維幾。」 乃歌曰：「股肱喜哉，元首起哉，百工熙哉！」 皋陶拜手稽首揚言曰：「念哉，率為興事，慎乃憲，敬哉！」 乃更為歌曰：「元首明哉，股肱良哉，庶事康哉！」 （舜）又歌曰：「元首叢脞哉，股肱惰哉，萬事墮哉！」 帝拜曰：「然，往欽哉！」 於是天下皆宗禹之明度數聲樂，為山川神主。
Then Kui played the Nine Shao; the shades of the ancestors drew near; the lords yielded to one another; birds and beasts danced; phoenixes appeared; every creature joined the measure, and the officers moved in perfect accord. The Emperor made a song: "Heaven's charge is high—mind the seasons and the perilous moments." He sang, "Joy to our limbs! Awake, our head! Brightly thrive all crafts!" Gao Yao bowed and cried, "Remember this! Act to raise new works; watch your pattern; be reverent!" He sang in turn, "The head is wise! The limbs are good! All affairs are at peace!" Shun sang again, "If the head is muddled, the limbs grow slack, and every task collapses!" The Emperor bowed and said, "Yes—go and be reverent!" All the realm then took Yu's calendrics, measures, and music as their model and made him lord of hills and streams.
26
帝舜薦禹於天，為嗣。 十七年而帝舜崩。 三年喪畢，禹辭辟舜之子商均於陽城。 天下諸侯皆去商均而朝禹。 禹於是遂即天子位，南面朝天下，國號曰夏后，姓姒氏。
Emperor Shun presented Yu to Heaven as successor. Seventeen years later Emperor Shun died. When the three years' mourning ended, Yu withdrew to Yangcheng to yield to Shun's son Shangjun. The lords of the realm forsook Shangjun and turned to Yu. Yu then took the throne, faced south over the realm, styled his dynasty Xia, and took the clan name Si.
27
帝禹立而舉皋陶薦之，且授政焉，而皋陶卒。 封皋陶之後於英、六，或在許。 而后舉益，任之政。
When Emperor Yu came to power he promoted Gao Yao and meant to hand him the government, but Gao Yao died. He enfeoffed Gao Yao's descendants at Ying, Liu, and perhaps Xu. Later he raised Yi and entrusted him with administration.
28
十年，帝禹東巡狩，至于會稽而崩。 以天下授益。 三年之喪畢，益讓帝禹之子啟，而辟居箕山之陽。 禹子啟賢，天下屬意焉。 及禹崩，雖授益，益之佐禹日淺，天下未洽。 故諸侯皆去益而朝啟，曰：「吾君帝禹之子也」。 於是啟遂即天子之位，是為夏后帝啟。
In the tenth year of his reign Yu toured east to Kuaiji and died there. He left the realm to Yi. After the mourning Yi yielded to Yu's son Qi and withdrew south of Mount Ji. Yu's son Qi was worthy, and the realm's hopes settled on him. Though Yu had named Yi, Yi had served at Yu's side too briefly to win the people's trust. So the lords left Yi for Qi, saying, "He is our lord, the Son of Yu." Qi then mounted the throne as Emperor Qi of Xia.
29
夏后帝啟，禹之子，其母涂山氏之女也。
Emperor Qi of Xia was Yu's son; his mother was a lady of Tushan.
30
有扈氏不服，啟伐之，大戰於甘。 將戰，作甘誓，乃召六卿申之。 啟曰：「嗟！ 六事之人，予誓告女：有扈氏威侮五行，怠棄三正，天用勦絕其命。 今予維共行天之罰。 左不攻于左，右不攻于右，女不共命。 御非其馬之政，女不共命。 用命，賞于祖； 不用命，僇于社，予則帑僇女。」 遂滅有扈氏。 天下咸朝。
When the Youhu refused submission, Qi attacked and fought the great battle of Gan. Before the fight he issued the Oath of Gan and called the six ministers to hear it. Qi said, "Hear me!" You who command the six hosts, I swear this to you: Youhu has insulted the Five Agents, spurned the Three Beginnings—Heaven therefore ends their mandate. I now join you in executing Heaven's sentence. Those on the left who fail the left wing, those on the right who fail the right—you disobey the command. Charioteers who cannot master their teams—you likewise disobey. Whoever obeys will be rewarded before the ancestral shrine. Whoever disobeys will be slain at the soil altar, you and your households with you. He then destroyed the Youhu. The whole realm submitted.
31
夏后帝啟崩，子帝太康立。 帝太康失國，昆弟五人，須于洛汭，作五子之歌。
When Emperor Qi died, his son Taikang succeeded. Taikang lost the throne; five brothers waited at the Luo bend and composed the Song of the Five Sons.
32
太康崩，弟中康立，是為帝中康。 帝中康時，羲、和湎淫，廢時亂日。 胤往征之，作胤征。
Taikang was succeeded by his brother Zhongkang, known as Emperor Zhongkang. Under Zhongkang the Xi and He stewards sank into vice and threw the calendar into confusion. Yin marched against them in the Punitive Expedition of Yin.
33
中康崩，子帝相立。 帝相崩，子帝少康立。 帝少康崩，子帝予立。 帝予崩，子帝槐立。 帝槐崩，子帝芒立。 帝芒崩，子帝泄立。 帝泄崩，子帝不降立。 帝不降崩，弟帝扃立。 帝扃崩，子帝廑立。 帝廑崩，立帝不降之子孔甲，是為帝孔甲。 帝孔甲立，好方鬼神，事淫亂。 夏后氏德衰，諸侯畔之。 天降龍二，有雌雄，孔甲不能食，未得豢龍氏。 陶唐既衰，其后有劉累，學擾龍于豢龍氏，以事孔甲。 孔甲賜之姓曰御龍氏，受豕韋之後。 龍一雌死，以食夏后。 夏后使求，懼而遷去。
Zhongkang died and his son Xiang ruled. Xiang died and his son Shaokang ruled. Shaokang died and his son Zhu ruled. Zhu died and his son Huai ruled. Huai died and his son Mang ruled. Mang died and his son Xie ruled. Xie died and his son Bujiang ruled. Bujiang died and his brother Jiong ruled. Jiong died and his son Jin ruled. Jin died and Bujiang's son Kongjia took the throne as Emperor Kongjia. Kongjia turned to occult rites and sank into disorder. Xia's virtue waned and the lords rebelled. Heaven sent down a pair of dragons, but Kongjia could not feed them and had no Dragon-keepers. When the house of Taotang waned, a man named Liu Lei learned dragon-tending from the Dragon-keepers and served Kongjia. Kongjia gave him the clan name Yinglong and the fief of the Pig-Wei line. When the female dragon died, he served its flesh to the Xia court. When Xia demanded more, he fled in terror.
34
孔甲崩，子帝皋立。 帝皋崩，子帝發立。 帝發崩，子帝履癸立，是為桀。 帝桀之時，自孔甲以來而諸侯多畔夏，桀不務德而武傷百姓，百姓弗堪。 乃召湯而囚之夏臺，已而釋之。 湯修德，諸侯皆歸湯，湯遂率兵以伐夏桀。 桀走鳴條，遂放而死。 桀謂人曰：「吾悔不遂殺湯於夏臺，使至此。」 湯乃踐天子位，代夏朝天下。 湯封夏之後，至周封於杞也。
Kongjia died and his son Gao ruled. Gao died and his son Fa ruled. Fa died and his son Lügui became the tyrant Jie. Under Jie, lords had rebelled since Kongjia's day; Jie cultivated force, not virtue, until the people could bear no more. He summoned Tang, jailed him in the Xia tower, then let him go. Tang built up his virtue until the lords rallied to him, then led an army against Jie. Jie fled to Mingtiao, was driven out, and died. Jie said to those about him, "I rue not killing Tang in the Xia tower when I could—now I am brought to this pass." Tang then took the throne in Xia's place and faced the realm as Son of Heaven. Tang enfeoffed Xia's descendants; by Zhou times they held the state of Qi.
35
太史公曰：禹為姒姓，其後分封，用國為姓，故有夏后氏、有扈氏、有男氏、斟尋氏、彤城氏、褒氏、費氏、杞氏、繒氏、辛氏、冥氏、斟（氏）戈氏。 孔子正夏時，學者多傳夏小正云。 自虞、夏時，貢賦備矣。 或言禹會諸侯江南，計功而崩，因葬焉，命曰會稽。 會稽者，會計也。
The Grand Scribe remarks: Yu's line took the name Si; later branches adopted their states as surnames, producing houses such as Xiahou, Youhu, Younan, Zhenxun, Tongcheng, Bao, Fei, Qi, Zeng, Xin, Ming, Zhen, and Ge. Confucius set the Xia calendar straight, and scholars still pass down the Xia minor calendar. From the age of Yu and Xia the tribute system was already full-formed. Some hold that Yu met the lords south of the Yangtze, settled accounts of merit, and died there—hence the name Kuaiji, "gathering of tallies." Kuaiji means the reckoning itself.