The Shih King (Book of Poetry)ConfucianismAccepted ScriptureClassical ChineseShareSacrificial Odes of Shang 4James Legge (1871) - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableJames Legge (1871)LanguageEnglishEspañol‹Sacrificial Odes of Shang 1Sacrificial Odes of Shang 2Sacrificial Odes of Shang 3Sacrificial Odes of Shang 4Sacrificial Odes of Shang 5Sacrificial Odes of Kau 1Sacrificial Odes of Kau 2Sacrificial Odes of Kau 3Sacrificial Odes of Kau 4Sacrificial Odes of Kau 5Sacrificial Odes of Kau 6Sacrificial Odes of Kau 7Sacrificial Odes of Kau 8Sacrificial Odes of Kau 9Sacrificial Odes of Kau 10›Ode 4: KHANG FÂ — CELEBRATING HSIEH, THE ANCESTOR OF THE HOUSE OF SHANG; HSIANG-THÛ, HIS GRANDSON; THANG,...Sacrificial Odes of Shang 4ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapterProfoundly wise were (the lords of) Shang, And long had there appeared the omens (of their dignity). When the waters of the deluge spread vast abroad, Yû arranged and divided the regions of the land, And assigned to the exterior great states their boundaries, With their borders extending all over (the kingdom). (Even) then the chief of Sung was beginning to be great, And God raised up the son (of his daughter), and founded (the line of) Shang. The dark king exercised an effective sway. Charged with a small state, he commanded success: Charged with a large state, he commanded success. He followed his rules of conduct without error; Wherever he inspected (the people), they responded (to his instructions. (Then came) Hsiang-thû all ardent , And all within the four seas, beyond (the middle regions), acknowledged his restraints. The favour of God did not leave (Shang), And in Thang was found the fit object for its display. Thang was not born too late, And his wisdom and reverence daily advanced:--Brilliant was the influence of his character (on Heaven) for long. God he revered, And God appointed him to be the model for the nine regions. He received the rank-tokens of the states, small and large, Which depended on him like the pendants of a banner:--So did he receive the blessing of Heaven. He was neither violent nor remiss, Neither hard nor soft. Gently he spread his instructions abroad, And all dignities and riches were concentrated in him. He received the tribute of the states, small and large, And he supported them as a strong steed (does its burden):--So did he receive the favour of Heaven. He displayed everywhere his valour, Unshaken, unmoved, Unterrified, unscared:--All dignities were united in him. The martial king displayed his banner, And with reverence grasped his axe. It was like (the case of) a blazing fire which no one can repress. The root, with its three shoots, Could make no progress, no growth. The nine regions were effectually secured by Thang. Having smitten (the princes of) Wei and Kû, He dealt with (him of) Kün-wû and with Kieh of Hsiâ. Formerly, in the middle of the period (before Thang), There was a time of shaking and peril. But truly did Heaven (then) deal with him as a son, And sent him down a high minister, Namely, Â-hang, Who gave his assistance to the king of Shang. ‹Previous chapterSacrificial Odes of Shang 3Next chapterSacrificial Odes of Shang 5›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain