Book XVII. The Charge to Kung of Zhâi.
Zhâi was the name of the small state or territory, which had been conferred on Tû, the next younger brother of the duke of Kâu. The name still remains in the district of Shang-zhâi, department Zû-ning, Ho-nan. Tû was deprived of his state because of his complicity in the rebellion of Wû-kăng; but it was subsequently restored to his son Hû by this charge. Hû is here called Kung, that term simply denoting his place in the roll of his brothers or cousins. King Khăng and Hû were cousins,—'brothers' according to Chinese usage of terms, and Hû being the younger of the two, was called Zhâi Kung, 'the second or younger brother,—of Zhâi.'
The Book consists of two chapters. The former is of the nature of a preface, giving the details necessary to explain the appointment of Hû. The second contains the king's charge, delivered in his name by the duke of Kâu, directing Hû how to conduct himself, so that he might blot out the memory of his father's misdeeds, and win the praise of the king.
1. When the duke of Kâu was in the place of prime minister and directed all the officers, the (king's) uncles spread abroad an (evil) report, in consequence of which (the duke) put to death the prince of Kwan in Shang[1]; confined the prince of Zhâi in Kwo-lin[2], with an attendance of seven chariots; and reduced the prince of Hwo[3] to be a private man, causing his name to be erased from the registers for three years. The son of the prince
- ↑ The prince of Kwan—corresponding to the present Khăng Kâu, department Khâi-făng, Ho-nan—was the third of the sons of king Wăn, and older than the duke of Kâu. The Shang where he was put to death was probably what had been the capital of the Shang kings.
- ↑ We do not know where Kwo-lin was.
- ↑ The name of Hwo remains in Hwo Kâu, department Phing-yang, Shan-hsî. The prince of Hwo was the eighth of Wăn's sons.
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