THE MAJOR ODES OF THE KINGDOM.
The First Decade, or that of Wăn Wang.
Ode 1. The Wăn Wang.
Celebrating king Wăn, dead and alive, as the founder of the dynasty of Kâu, showing how his virtues drew to him the favouring regard of Heaven or God, and made him a bright pattern to his descendants and their ministers.
The composition of this and the other pieces of this decade is attributed to the duke of Kâu, king Wăn's son, and was intended by him for the benefit of his nephew, the young king Khăng. Wăn, it must be borne in mind, was never actually king of China. He laid the foundations of the kingly power, which was established by his son king Wû, and consolidated by the duke of Kâu. The title of king was given to him and to others by the duke, according to the view of filial piety, that has been referred to on p. 299.
King Wăn is on high. Oh! bright is he in heaven. Although Kâu was an old country, The (favouring) appointment lighted on it recently[1]. Illustrious was the House of Kâu, And the
- ↑ The family of Kâu, according to its traditions, was very ancient, but it did not occupy the territory of Kâu, from which it subsequently took its name, till B.C. 1326; and it was not till the time of Wăn (B.C. 1231 to 1135) that the divine purpose concerning its supremacy in the kingdom was fully manifested.
