Ode 1. The Na

How admirable! how complete! Here are set our hand-drums and drums. The drums resound harmonious and loud, To give joy in remembrance of our meritorious forefather.

The descendant of Thang gives praise with this music, That God may soothe us with the realization of our hopes. Deep is the sound of our hand-drums and drums; Shrilly sound the flutes; All harmonious and blending together, According to the notes of the sonorous gem. Oh! majestic is the descendant of Thang; Very admirable is his music.

The large bells and drums fill the ear; The various dances are grandly performed. We have the admirable visitors, Who are pleased and delighted.

From of old, before our time, The former men set us the example;—How to be mild and humble from morning to night, And to be reverent in discharging the service.

May God regard our offerings of winter and autumn, (Thus) made by the descendant of Thang!

Ode 2. The Lieh Tsu

Ah! ah! the blessings of God! Permanent are the blessings coming from Him, Repeatedly conferred without end;—They have come to you in this place.

The clear drink is in our vessels, And there is granted to us the realization of our hopes. There are also the well-tempered soups, Prepared beforehand, with the ingredients rightly proportioned. By these offerings we seek His favour, without a word, Without (unseemly) contention (among the worshippers). He will bless us with the eyebrows of longevity, With the grey hair and wrinkled face in unlimited degree.

With the naves of their wheels bound with leather, and their ornamented yokes, With the eight bells at their horses' bits all tinkling, (The princes) come to assist at the offerings. We have received the appointment in all its greatness, And from God is our prosperity sent down, Fruitful years of great abundance. He will accept (our offerings), And confer on us happiness without limit.

May God regard our offerings of winter and autumn, (Thus) made by the descendant of Thang!

Ode 3. The Hsuan Niao

God ordained the birth of the father of our Shang. (His descendants) dwelt in the land of Yin, and became great. (Then) long ago God appointed the martial Thang, To regulate the boundaries throughout the four quarters (of the kingdom).

(In those) quarters he appointed the princes, And grandly possessed the nine regions. The first sovereign of Shang Received the appointment without any element of instability in it, And it is (now) held by the descendant of Wu-ting.

The descendant of Wu-ting Is a martial sovereign, equal to every emergency. Ten princes, (who came) with their dragon-emblazoned banners, Bear the large dishes of millet.

The royal domain of a thousand li Is where the people rest; But the boundaries that reach to the four seas commence there.

From the four seas they come (to our offerings); They come in multitudes. King has the Ho for its outer border. That Yin should have received the appointment (of God) was entirely right;—(Its sovereign) sustains all its dignities.

Ode 4. The Chang Fa

Profoundly 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, Yu 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-thu 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, reaching up (to God) 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 God. 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 God. 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 Ku, He dealt with (him of) Kun-wu and with Chieh of Hsia.

Formerly, in the middle of the period (before Thang), There was a time of shaking and peril. But truly did God (then) show him favour, And sent him down a high minister, Namely, A-heng, Who gave his assistance to the king of Shang.

Ode 5. The Yin Wu

Rapid was the warlike energy of (our king of) Yin, And vigorously did he attack King-Chu. Boldly he entered its dangerous passes, And brought the multitudes of King together, Till the country was reduced under complete restraint:—Such was the fitting achievement of the descendant of Thang!

"Ye people," (he said), "of King-Chu, Dwell in the southern part of my kingdom. Formerly, in the time of Thang the Successful, Even from the Chiang of Ti, They dared not but come with their offerings; (Their chiefs) dared not but come to seek acknowledgment:—Such is the regular rule of Shang."

God had given their appointments (to the princes), But where their capitals had been assigned within the sphere of the labours of Yu, For the business of every year they appeared before our king, (Saying), "Do not punish nor reprove us; We have not been remiss in our husbandry."

When God by His will is inspecting (the kingdom), The lower people are to be feared. (Our king) showed no partiality (in rewarding), no excess (in punishing); He dared not to allow himself in indolence:—So was his appointment (established) over the states, And he made his happiness grandly secure.

The capital of Shang was full of order, The model for all parts of the kingdom. Glorious was (the king's) fame; Brilliant his energy. Long lived he and enjoyed tranquillity, And so he preserves us, his descendants.

We ascended the hill of King, Where the pines and cypresses grew symmetrical. We cut them down and conveyed them here; We reverently hewed them square. Long are the projecting beams of pine; Large are the many pillars. The hall was completed,—the tranquil abode in memory of the martial king of Yin.