It does not appear on occasion of what sacrifice this piece was made. The most probable view is that of Mâo, that it was the
The dark king exercised an effective sway 2. Charged with a small state, he commanded success: Charged with a large state, he commanded success 3. He followed his rules of conduct without error; Wherever he inspected (the people), they responded (to his instructions 4. (Then came) Hsiang-thû all ardent 5, And all within the four seas, beyond (the middle regions), acknowledged his restraints.}
Formerly, in the middle of the period (before
309:1 This line refers to the birth of Hsieh, as described in the previous ode, and his being made lord of Shang.
309:2 It would be hard to say why Hsieh is here called 'the dark king.' There may be an allusion to the legend about the connexion of the swallow,--'the dark bird,'--with his birth, He never was 'a king;' but his descendants here represented him as such.
309:3 All that is meant here is, that the territory of Shang was enlarged under Hsieh.
309:4 There is a reference here to Hsieh's appointment by Shun to be Minister of Instruction.
309:5 Hsiang-thû appears in the genealogical lists as grandson of Hsieh. We know nothing of him but what is related here.
310:1 By 'the root' we are to understand Thang's chief opponent, Kieh, the last king of Hsiâ. Kieh's three great helpers were 'the three shoots,'--the princes of Wei, Kû, and Kün-wû; but the exact sites of their principalities cannot be made out.
311:1 We do not know anything of this time of decadence in the fortunes of Shang between Hsieh and Thang.
311:2 Â-hăng is Î Yin, who plays so remarkable a part in the Shû, IV, Books iv, v, and vi.
