Ode 8, Stanzas 4 and 5. The <I>K</I>iang Han

p. 427

ODE 8, STANZAS 4 AND 5. THE KIANG HAN.

CELEBRATING AN EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SOUTHERN TRIBES OF THE HWÂI, AND THE WORK DONE FOR THE KING IN THEIR COUNTRY, BY HÛ, THE EARL OF SHÂO, WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH THE KING REWARDED HIM, AND HE RESPONDED TO THE ROYAL FAVOUR.

Hû was probably the same earl of Shâo, who is mentioned in ode 5, as building his capital of Hsieh for the new marquis of Shan. The lords of Shâo had been distinguished in the service of Kâu ever since the rise of the dynasty.

The king gave charge to Hû of Shâo:--'You have everywhere made known (and carried out my orders). When (the kings) Wăn and Wû received their appointment, The duke of Shâo was their strong support. You not (only) have a regard to me the little child But you try to resemble that duke of Shâo. You have commenced and earnestly displayed your merit; And I will make you happy.

'I give you a large libation-cup of jade ¹, And a jar of herb-flavoured spirits from the black millet ². I have made announcement to the Accomplished one ³, And confer on you hills, lands, and fields. In (Khî-)kâu shall you receive investiture, According as your ancestor received his.' Hû bowed with

p. 428

his head to the ground (and said), 'May the Son of Heaven live for ever!'

Footnotes

427:1 See note 2 on p. 386.

427:2 The cup and the spirits would be used by the earl when sacrificing in his ancestral temple. Compare the similar gift from king Khăng to the duke of Kâu, in the Shû, p. 194. More substantial gifts are immediately specified.

427:3 'The Accomplished one' is understood to be king Wăn (= 'the Accomplished king'). He was the founder of the Kâu dynasty. To him the kingdom had first come by the appointment and gift of Heaven. It was the duty therefore of his successors, in making grants of territory to meritorious officers, to announce them to him in Khî-kâu, the old territory of the family, and obtain, as it were, his leave for what they were doing.