Ode I. The Tsing meaou

Solemn and pure the ancestral temple stands.

The princes aiding in the service move

With reverent harmony. The numerous bands

Of officers their rapt devotion prove.

All these the virtues of king Wan pursue;

And while they think of him on high in heaven,

With grace and dignity they haste to do

The duties to them in his temple given.

Glory and honour follow Wan’s great name,

And ne’er will men be weary of his fame.

Ode II. The Wei Teen che ming

Heaven [GOD] by a deep and ceaseless law

Orders its ways with man.

Pure shone, without a single flaw,

The virtue of king Wan.

To us he shows his kindness still.

As all our powers we strain

To be in concord with his will,

His favour [and GOD’s] we shall gain.

So may the last his throne to fill

His love and grace retain!

Ode III. The Wei ts’ing

The statutes of king Wan are pure and clear;

Them we must guard, and in our lives revere.

Since first we sacrificed [to GOD, honouring] him till now

When all the States obedience yield to Chow,

The fortune of our House comes from his laws,

Its happy omen first, and then its cause.

Ode IV. The Lee wăn

Ye brilliant and accomplished lords,

Who with your help my worship [of GOD] crown,

The favours that your grace affords

My sons in future reigns shall own.

Ever in your own States eschew

Alike all greed and wastefulness;

So shall the king still honour you;

And when your present services

He calls to mind, your sons shall know

New honours he will oft bestow.

Let each be strong, and play the man;—

So shall your influence be great.

Ever in virtue lead the van;—

All chiefs your course will imitate.

The former kings in mind still bear;

What glory can with theirs compare?

Ode V. The Peen tsoh

’Twas Heaven [GOD] that made the lofty hill,

And there king T’ae his work began,

Labouring the land all round to till.

Then in tranquillity king Wan

Pursued the work, till that mount K’e,

Rugged and craggy though it frowned,

Was reached by the smooth roads we see.

Long be it by their offspring owned!

Ode VI. The Haou Teen yew shing ming

The fixed decree of mighty Heaven [GOD]

Had long to Chow assigned the throne,

Which first to Wan and Woo was given.

Ching next to them as ruler shone.

Then the foundations of his power

Were made by Ching more deep and sure.

Through night and day no idle hour

He knew,—the reticent and pure.

His virtue wrought, and glorified

The heritage he had obtained;

Nor were his heart’s best powers unplied,

Till o’er the land good order reigned.

Ode VII. The Wo tseang

My offerings here are given,

A ram, a bull.

Accept them, mighty Heaven [GOD],

All-bountiful.

Thy statutes, O great king,

I keep, I love;

So on the realm to bring

Peace from above.

From Wan comes blessing rich [by GOD’s leave];

Now on the right [honoured before GOD]

He owns those gifts to which

Him I invite.

Do I not night and day

Revere great Heaven,

That thus its favour may

To Chow be given?

Ode VIII. The She mae

Now through his many States rides Woo,

A royal progress making.

May Heaven [GOD] its gracious favour show,

Him for its own [servant] taking!

Most surely has the House of Chow

Been called to reign by Heaven.

To our Woo’s slightest nod by all

Trembling response is given.

All [peoples] to himself he draws,

O’er sacred rites presiding;

Even the [peoples] of the Ho,

And those on hills abiding.

Yes, he our sovereign lord is known

As king supreme and glorious.

Our House of Chow distinguished is;

’Tis brilliant and victorious.

Woo to each prince his rank assigns;

And now sweet peace enjoying,

He casts the spear and shield aside,

The bow no more employing.

I will in ways of virtue walk,

And spread it through our regions.

Thus shall the king preserve the throne,

Without the aid of legions.

Ode IX. The Chih king

The arm of Woo was full of might;

None could his fire withstand;

And Ching and K’ang stood forth to sight,

As kinged by GOD’s own hand.

We err not when we call them sage.

How grandly they maintained

Their hold of all the heritage

That Wan and Woo had gained!

As here we worship [GOD], they [are honoured],

While bells and drums resound,

And stones and lutes their music blend.

With blessings we are crowned.

The rites correctly we discharge;

The feast we freely share.

Those sires Chow’s glory will enlarge,

And ever for it care.

Ode X. The Sze wan

O thou, accomplished, great How-tseih [honoured in memory],

To thee alone ’twas given

To be, by what we trace to thee,

The [servant] of Heaven.

On all who dwell within our land

Grain-food didst thou bestow [by GOD’s leave].

’Tis to thy wonder-working hand

This gracious boon we owe.

GOD had the wheat and barley meant

To nourish all mankind.

None would have fathomed His intent,

But for thy guiding mind.

Man’s social duties thou didst show

To every tribe and State.

From thee the polished manners flow

That stamp our land “The Great.”