CHAPTER III. The Yin Dynasty.

殷契，母曰简狄，有娀氏之女，为帝喾次妃。三人行浴，见玄鸟堕其卵，简狄取吞之，因孕生契。契长而佐禹治水有功。帝舜乃命契曰：“百姓不亲，五品不训，汝为司徒而敬敷五教，五教在宽。”封于商，赐姓子氏。契兴于唐、虞、大禹之际，功业著于百姓，百姓以平。

Hsieh of Yin's mother was Chien Ti, who was one of the daughters of Yusung and the secondary wife of Emperor Ku. She was going with her two sisters to bathe, when she saw a dark bird drop its egg. Chien Ti picked it up, and swallowed it, and thus being with child gave birth to Hsieh. When Hsieh grew up, he was succeseful in assisting Yü to control the flood, and the Emperor Shun, directing Hsieh, said: "The people are wanting in affection for one another, and do not observe the five orders of relationship. You, as Minister of Instruction, should reverently inculcate the lessons of duty belonging to those five orders, but do so with gentleness." He held in fief the principality of Shang, and was given the surname of Tzŭ (son). Hsieh flourished in the reigns of Yao, Shun, and the great Yü. His services were manifest to the people, who were accordingly at peace.

契卒，子昭明立。昭明卒，子相土立。相土卒，子昌若立。昌若卒，子曹圉立。曹圉卒，子冥立。冥卒，子振立。振卒，子微立。微卒，子报丁立。报丁卒，子报乙立。报乙卒，子报丙立。报丙卒，子主壬立。主壬卒，子主癸立。主癸卒，子天乙立，是为成汤。

Hsieh (documents) died, and his son Chaoming (luminous) succeeded him. Chaoming died, and his son Hsiangt‘u (view land) succeeded him. Hsiangt‘u died, and his son Ch‘ang Jo (bright-like) succeeded him. Ch‘ang Jo died, and his son Ts‘ao Yü (cattle-pens) succeeded him. Ts‘ao Yü died, and his son Ming (obscure) succeeded him. Ming died, and his son Chên (shake) succeeded him. Chên died, and his son Wei (diminutive) succeeded him. Wei died, and his son Paoting (report D) succeeded him. Paoting died, and his son Paoyi (report B) succeeded him. Paoyi died, and his son Paoping (report C) succeeded him. Paoping died, and his son Chujên (lord I) succeeded him. Chujên died, and his son Chu Kuei (lord J) succeeded him. Chu Kuei died, and his son T‘ien Yi (Heaven B) or T‘ang the Completer succeeded him. 

成汤，自契至汤八迁。汤始居亳，从先王居，作帝诰。

From Hsieh to T‘ang the Completer there were eight changes of the capital. T‘ang at first dwelt in Po, choosing the residence of the first king, and the 'Emperor's Announcement' was written. 

汤征诸侯。葛伯不祀，汤始伐之。汤曰：“予有言：人视水见形，视民知治不。”伊尹曰：“明哉！言能听，道乃进。君国子民，为善者皆在王官。勉哉，勉哉！”汤曰：“汝不能敬命，予大罚殛之，无有攸赦。”作汤征。

When T‘ang made an expedition against the princes, the chief of Ko was not offering the proper sacrifices, and T‘ang began by punishing him. T‘ang said: 'I observe that if a man looks at the water he sees his reflection; if he seeks to make an impression on the people, should he not know how to govern?' I-yin said: 'That is clear! If you say that you will listen to reason you may offer yourself as ruler of the State. Whether the people do right or not depends entirely on the king and his ministers. Rouse yourself to action!' T‘ang said: 'If you cannot respect my commands, I will inflict upon you the extreme penalty death. You will not obtain forgiveness.' "The punitive expedition of T‘ang" was written. 

伊尹名阿衡。阿衡欲奸汤而无由，乃为有莘氏媵臣，负鼎俎，以滋味说汤，致于王道。或曰，伊尹处士，汤使人聘迎之，五反然后肯往从汤，言素王及九主之事。汤举任以国政。伊尹去汤适夏。既丑有夏，复归于亳。入自北门，遇女鸠、女房，作女鸠女房。

I-yin's name was Ahêng. Ahêng wanted to meet T‘ang, but had no opportunity of doing so; he therefore became cook to the prince of Hsin, and while bringing T‘ang dishes to taste urged him to perfect himself in the way of the ancient kings. Some say that when I-yin was living in retirement T‘ang sent five times to invite him to a meeting before he would obey him, and talk about matters connected with the guileless king and the nine rulers. T‘ang promoted Jên to the administration of affairs. I-yin went from T‘ang to Hsia. Being indignant with the sovereign of Hsia, he returned to Po, and as he entered by the north gate met Juchiu and Jufang, and the 'Juchiu' and 'Jufang' were written.

汤出，见野张网四面，祝曰：“自天下四方皆入吾网。”汤曰：“嘻，尽之矣！”乃去其三面，祝曰：“欲左，左。欲右，右。不用命，乃入吾网。”诸侯闻之，曰：“汤德至矣，及禽兽。”

T‘ang went out and saw a rustic, who was spreading nets in every direction, and vowing that every bird in the sky should go into his net. T‘ang said, 'What! all?' Then, taking away the nets on three sides, he vowed that those which wanted to go to the left should go left, and those which wanted to go right should go right, and that only those which were the victims of fate should be caught in the net. The princes, hearing of it, said, 'T‘ang's kindness is extreme, and extends even to birds and beasts.' 

当是时，夏桀为虐政淫荒，而诸侯昆吾氏为乱。汤乃兴师率诸侯，伊尹从汤，汤自把钺以伐昆吾，遂伐桀。汤曰：“格女众庶，来，女悉听朕言。匪台小子敢行举乱，有夏多罪，予维闻女众言，夏氏有罪。予畏上帝，不敢不正。今夏多罪，天命殛之。今女有众，女曰：‘我君不恤我众，舍我啬事而割政’。女其曰：‘有罪，其柰何’？夏王率止众力，率夺夏国。众有率怠不和，曰：‘是日何时丧？予与女皆亡’！夏德若兹，今朕必往。尔尚及予一人致天之罚，予其大理女。女毋不信，朕不食言。女不从誓言，予则帑僇女，无有攸赦。”以告令师，作汤誓。于是汤曰：“吾甚武”，号曰武王。

At this time Chieh of Hsia was oppressive, and his rule dissipated, and one of the princes K‘unwu rebelled, so T‘ang, levying an army, put himself at the head of the princes. I-yin followed T‘ang, who, grasping a halberd, marched against K‘unwu, and then attacked Chieh. T‘ang said: 'Come, ye multitudes of the people, listen ye all to my words. It is not I, the little child, who dare to raise a rebellion. The ruler of Hsia has committed many crimes. I have indeed heard the words of you all, but the Hsia ruler is an offender, and, as I fear the Supreme god, I dare not but punish him. Now, as the Hsia ruler has committed many crimes, Heaven has charged me to destroy him. Now, ye multitudes, you are saying, 'Our sovereign does not compassionate us; he disregards our husbandry, and his government is a cruel one.' You say, 'As to his crimes, what remedy have we?' The king of Hsia does nothing but exhaust his people's strength, and treat the kingdom of Hsia oppressively. His people have all become idle, and are not in harmony with him, saying, 'When will this sun set? We shall all perish together.' Such being the conduct of the sovereign of Hsia, I must advance. If you help me, the one man, to carry out the punishment decreed by Heaven, and I will greatly reward you. On no account disbelieve me. I will not retract my words. If you do not carry out the words of my speech, I will put you and your children to death; you shall not be pardoned." This being announced to the army, "the speech of T‘ang was written." T‘ang then said, 'I am very warlike'; and he was styled the 'warlike king.' 

桀败于有娀之虚，桀奔于鸣条，夏师败绩。汤遂伐三嵕，俘厥宝玉，义伯、仲伯作典宝。汤既胜夏，欲迁其社，不可，作夏社。伊尹报。于是诸侯毕服，汤乃践天子位，平定海内。

Chieh was defeated in the wilds of Yusung, and fled to Mingt‘iao. The army of Hsia being entirely defeated, T‘ang smote Santsung, where he captured the precious jewels. I-po and Ch‘ungpo wrote the 'Statutes and Jewels.' When T‘ang had conquered Hsia, he wished to remove the altars to the spirits of the land, but was unable to do so, and the 'Altar of Hsia' was written." I-yin made a report, and the princes being satisfied, T‘ang ascended the Imperial throne, and tranquillized the country within the four seas. 

汤归至于泰卷陶，中垒作诰。既绌夏命，还亳，作汤诰：“维三月，王自至于东郊。告诸侯群后：‘毋不有功于民，勤力乃事。予乃大罚殛女，毋予怨。’曰：‘古禹、皋陶久劳于外，其有功乎民，民乃有安。东为江，北为济，西为河，南为淮，四渎已修，万民乃有居。后稷降播，农殖百谷。三公咸有功于民，故后有立。昔蚩尤与其大夫作乱百姓，帝乃弗予，有状。先王言不可不勉。’曰：‘不道，毋之在国，女毋我怨。’”以令诸侯。伊尹作咸有一德，咎单作明居。

When T‘ang returned he came to T‘aichüant‘ao, and Chunghui wrote his announcement. Having made an end of the sovereignty of Hsia, T‘ang returned to Po and wrote the 'Announcement of T‘ang.'" In the third month the king came himself to the eastern suburb and made the following announcement to the princes and nobles: 'If you do not perform meritorious service for the people and be diligent in your business, I shall inflict the extreme punishment of death. Do not murmur against me.' He also said: 'Formerly Yü and Kaoyao laboured long in distant regions. They performed meritorious service for the people, who dwelt in peace. On the east there was the Great river, on the north the Chi, on the west the Yellow river, and on the south the Huai. These four streams were kept within bounds, and the people dwelt in safety. Prince Millet told them how to sow and cultivate the various kinds of grain. These three chiefs all performed meritorious service for the people, and were therefore ennobled. Formerly Ch‘ihyu and his officers raised a rebellion among the people but the [Yellow] Emperor disapproved, and his crimes were exposed. The words of the former kings cannot but rouse you to action. If you are unprincipled you shall not rule in the State. 'Do not murmur against me.' Thus he directed the princes. I-yin wrote the book 'Both possessed pure Virtue,' and Chiutan wrote the 'Illustrious Abode.' 

汤乃改正朔，易服色，上白，朝会以昼。

T‘ang altered the day of the New Year, and changed the colour of the dresses, white being uniformly worn at State functions. 

汤崩，太子太丁未立而卒，于是乃立太丁之弟外丙，是为帝外丙。帝外丙即位三年，崩，立外丙之弟中壬，是为帝中壬。帝中壬即位四年，崩，伊尹乃立太丁之子太甲。太甲，成汤适长孙也，是为帝太甲。帝太甲元年，伊尹作伊训，作肆命，作徂后。

After the demise of T‘ang his eldest son,T‘aiting (Great D), died before he could come to the throne; and so T‘aiting's younger brother Waiping (Outer C), that is Emperor Waiping, came to the throne. Emperor Waiping reigned three years, and died, and his brother Chungjên (Middle I), that is Emperor Chungjên, came to the throne. Emperor "Chungjên" reigned "four years," and died. I-yin then set T‘aiting's son, T‘aichia (Great A), on the throne. He was T‘ang the Completer's eldest legitimate grandson. This was Emperor T‘aichia. In the first year of Emperor T‘aichia. I-yin wrote the 'Instructions of I-yin,' the 'Declaration of the Appointment of Heaven,' and the 'Deceased Sovereign.' 

帝太甲既立三年，不明，暴虐，不遵汤法，乱德，于是伊尹放之于桐宫。三年，伊尹摄行政当国，以朝诸侯。

After Emperor T‘aichia had been on the throne three years, he proved unintelligent and cruel. He did not obey T‘ang's laws, and his conduct was disorderly, so Iyin placed him in the Dryandra palace. For three years I-yin administered the government, and as ruler of the State gave audience to the nobles. 

帝太甲居桐宫三年，悔过自责，反善，于是伊尹乃迎帝太甲而授之政。帝太甲修德，诸侯咸归殷，百姓以宁。伊尹嘉之，乃作太甲训三篇，褒帝太甲，称太宗。

After the Emperor T‘aichia had dwelt in the Dryandra palace for three years, he repented of his errors, blamed himself, and amended his ways. Whereupon I-yin met the Emperor T‘aichia and resigned to him the reins of government. Emperor T‘aichia became virtuous, the princes all returned to the Yin capital, and the people were tranquil. I-yin praised him, and wrote the 'Instructions to T‘aichia' in three books. Commending Emperor T‘aichia, he honoured him with the title of 'Great Master.'

太宗崩，子沃丁立。帝沃丁之时，伊尹卒。既葬伊尹于亳，咎单遂训伊尹事，作沃丁。

'Great Master' died, and his son Wuting (Glossy D) came to the throne. In Emperor Wuting's reign, I-yin died. When they had buried I-yin at Po, Chiu Tan set forth as lessons the doings of I-yin; and the 'Wuting' was written."

沃丁崩，弟太庚立，是为帝太庚。帝太庚崩，子帝小甲立。帝小甲崩，弟雍己立，是为帝雍己。殷道衰，诸侯或不至。

Wuting died, and his brother T‘aikêng (Great G), that is Emperor T‘aikêng, came to the throne. Emperor T‘aikêng died, and his son Emperor Hsiaochia (Little A) came to the throne. Emperor Hsiaochia died, and his brother Yungchi (Harmonious F), that is Emperor Yungchi, came to the throne. The influence of the Yin dynasty beginning to decline, the princes occasionally neglected to come to court.

帝雍己崩，弟太戊立，是为帝太戊。帝太戊立伊陟为相。亳有祥桑谷共生于朝，一暮大拱。帝太戊惧，问伊陟。伊陟曰：“臣闻妖不胜德，帝之政其有阙与？帝其修德。”太戊从之，而祥桑枯死而去。伊陟赞言于巫咸。巫咸治王家有成，作咸艾，作太戊。帝太戊赞伊陟于庙，言弗臣，伊陟让，作原命。殷复兴，诸侯归之，故称中宗。

Emperor Yungchi died, and his brother T‘aimou (Great E), that is Emperor T‘aimou, came to the throne. In his reign I-chih became prime minister, when there were omens in Po, for a mulberry tree and a stalk of grain grew up together in the court. They attained full size in one evening, and Emperor T‘aimou, being alarmed, questioned I-chih on the subject. I-chih said: 'I, your servant, have heard that virtue is not overcome by evil omens. There may be defects in your Majesty's government, but let your Majesty cultivate virtue.' T‘aimou followed his advice, and the ominous mulberry withered away. I-chih consulted with Hsien the wizard, who governed the king's household admirably, and wrote the 'Hsien-ai' and the 'T‘aimou.' Emperor T‘aimou spoke on the subject with I-chih in court, and said he was disloyal. I-chih gave up his post, and wrote the "original commands." Yin prospered again, and the princes gave their allegiance to the Emperor, who was called Middle Master.

中宗崩，子帝中丁立。帝中丁迁于隞。河亶甲居相。祖乙迁于邢。帝中丁崩，弟外壬立，是为帝外壬。仲丁书阙不具。帝外壬崩，弟河亶甲立，是为帝河亶甲。河亶甲时，殷复衰。

Middle Master died, and his son Emperor Chungting (Middle D) came to the throne. Emperor Chungting removed to Hsiao. Hotanchia lived in Hsiang. Tsuyi removed to Keng. Emperor Chungting died, and his brother Waijên (Outer I), that is Emperor Waijen, came to the throne. The omissions in the book 'Chungting' were not supplied. Emperor Waijên died, and his brother Hotanchia (River Truth A), that is Emperor Hotanchia, came to the throne. In his time the influence of Yin again began to wane.

河亶甲崩，子帝祖乙立。帝祖乙立，殷复兴。巫贤任职。

Hotanchia died, and his son Emperor Tsuyi (Ancestor B) came to the throne. In Emperor Tsuyi's time Yin again prospered, and the wizard Hsien held office. Tsuyi died, and his son Emperor Tsuhsin (Ancestor H) came to the throne.

祖乙崩，子帝祖辛立。帝祖辛崩，弟沃甲立，是为帝沃甲。帝沃甲崩，立沃甲兄祖辛之子祖丁，是为帝祖丁。帝祖丁崩，立弟沃甲之子南庚，是为帝南庚。帝南庚崩，立帝祖丁之子阳甲，是为帝阳甲。帝阳甲之时，殷衰。

Emperor Tsuhsin died, and his brother Wuchia (Glossy A), i.e. Emperor Wuchia, came to the throne. Emperor Wuchia died, and Tsuting (Ancestor D), that is Emperor Tsuting, who was Wuchia's elder brother, was put on the throne. Emperor Tsuting died, and his brother Wuchia's son, Nankêng (South G), that is Emperor Nankêng, was put on the throne. Emperor Nankêng died, and Emperor Tsuting's son Yangchia (Male A), that is Emperor Yangchia, was put on the throne. In his reign the power of the Yins declined. 

自中丁以来，废适而更立诸弟子，弟子或争相代立，比九世乱，于是诸侯莫朝。

Ever since the reign of Chungting the legitimate heir had been set aside, and junior scions put on the throne instead. These used to fight and displace each other. For the last nine generations there had been anarchy, and the princes neglected to come to court.

帝阳甲崩，弟盘庚立，是为帝盘庚。帝盘庚之时，殷已都河北，盘庚渡河南，复居成汤之故居，乃五迁，无定处。殷民咨胥皆怨，不欲徙。盘庚乃告谕诸侯大臣曰：“昔高后成汤与尔之先祖俱定天下，法则可修。舍而弗勉，何以成德！”乃遂涉河南，治亳，行汤之政，然后百姓由宁，殷道复兴。诸侯来朝，以其遵成汤之德也。

Emperor Yangchia died, and his brother Pankêng (Plate G), that is Emperor Pankêng, came to the throne. In his reign the Yins had their capital on the north of the Yellow river, but Pankêng crossed to the south of the river, and reoccupied the old palace of T‘ang the Completer. This 1"made the fifth change of capital," and, as they had no fixed place of abode, 1"the people of Yin murmured and repined," for they did not like moving about. Pankêng made the following announcement to the princes and ministers: 'Formerly our exalted sovereign T‘ang the Completer, in conjunction with your ancestors, decided what laws and regulations of the empire should be attended to or set aside, but if you do not make an effort how can p. 609 you attain perfection?' He then crossed over to the south of the river, set up his capital at Po, and having adopted T‘ang's system of government, the people were thereby tranquillized, and the fortunes of Yin were again in the ascendant. The princes came to court, and were influenced by the virtues of T‘ang the Completer.

帝盘庚崩，弟小辛立，是为帝小辛。帝小辛立，殷复衰。百姓思盘庚，乃作盘庚三篇。帝小辛崩，弟小乙立，是为帝小乙。

Emperor Pankêng died, and his brother Hsiaohsin (Little H), that is Emperor Hsiaohsin, came to the throne. In his reign the power of Yin was again on the wane. The people remembered Pankêng, and the 'Pankêng' in three parts was written." Emperor Hsiaohsin died, and his brother Hsiaoyi (Little B), that is Emperor Hsiaoyi, came to the throne.

帝小乙崩，子帝武丁立。帝武丁即位，思复兴殷，而未得其佐。三年不言，政事决定于冢宰，以观国风。武丁夜梦得圣人，名曰说。以梦所见视群臣百吏，皆非也。于是乃使百工营求之野，得说于傅险中。是时说为胥靡，筑于傅险。见于武丁，武丁曰是也。得而与之语，果圣人，举以为相，殷国大治。故遂以傅险姓之，号曰傅说。

Emperor Hsiaoyi died, and his son Emperor Wuting (Martial D) came to the throne. When Emperor Wuting was on the throne, he pondered how the Yin dynasty could be revivified, but as he had not obtained an assistant he did not speak for three years, government affairs having to be conducted by the prime minister, who examined into the customs of the country. Wuting dreamed one night that he had found a holy man named Yue, and, in order that he might secure the man he had seen in his dream, he passed under review his officers and ministers of State, but not one of them was the right man. He then made all his officers search for him in the wilds, and Yue was discovered at the crag of Fu. At this time Yue was a clerk, not a builder at the crag of Fu. He had an audience of Wuting, who said, 'That is the right man.' Having talked with him, and finding that he really was a holy man, Wuting promoted him to be his prime minister. The kingdom of Yin was well governed in consequence, and he was named after the crag of Fu, being called Fu Yue. 

帝武丁祭成汤，明日，有飞雉登鼎耳而呴，武丁惧。祖己曰：“王勿忧，先修政事。”祖己乃训王曰：“唯天监下典厥义，降年有永有不永，非天夭民，中绝其命。民有不若德，不听罪，天既附命正厥德，乃曰其奈何。鸣呼！王嗣敬民，罔非天继，常祀毋礼于弃道。”武丁修政行德，天下咸驩，殷道复兴。

Wuting was sacrificing to T‘ang the Completer the next day, when a pheasant flew up, lighted on the ear of a tripod, and crowed. Wuting was alarmed, but Tsuchi (Ancestor F) said: "the king should not be anxious; he must first rectify the administration of affairs. " Tsuchi accordingly lectured the king, saying, 'In its superintendence over men below, Heaven pays special regard to their proper behaviour, and bestows on them accordingly length of years or the reverse. Heaven does not cut short men's lives; they bring them to an end themselves. Some men may not have conformed to virtue, and will not acknowledge their crimes; Heaven then charges them to correct their conduct, but they say, 'What shall we do?' Ah! the king should continuously treat the people with respect. Are they not Heaven's descendants? Be constant in sacrificing, and do not worship with the rites of a discarded religion.'" Wuting instituted a government reform, and practised virtue. The whole nation rejoiced, and the fortunes of Yin again flourished.

帝武丁崩，子帝祖庚立。祖己嘉武丁之以祥雉为德，立其庙为高宗，遂作高宗肜日及训。

Emperor Wuting died, and his son Emperor Tsukêng (Ancestor G) came to the throne. Tsuchi commended Wuting for considering the omen of the pheasant as a ground for practising virtue, and conferred on him the posthumous title of 'exalted ancestor,' and the 'Day of the Supplementary Sacrifice of Kaotsung' and the 'Instructions [to Kaotsung]' were written.

帝祖庚崩，弟祖甲立，是为帝甲。帝甲淫乱，殷复衰。

Emperor Tsukêng died, and his brother Tsuchia (Ancestor A), that is Emperor Chia, came to the throne. He was dissipated, and the fortunes of Yin again waned.

帝甲崩，子帝廪辛立。帝廪辛崩，弟庚丁立，是为帝庚丁。帝庚丁崩，子帝武乙立。殷复去亳，徙河北。

Emperor Chia died, and his son Emperor Linhsin (Granary H) sat on the throne. Emperor Linhsin died, and his brother Kêngting (G. D), that is Emperor Kêngting, sat on the throne. Emperor Kêngting died, and his son Emperor Wuyi (Martial B) sat on the throne. The Yins again left Po, and crossed to the north bank of the river. 

帝武乙无道，为偶人，谓之天神。与之博，令人为行。天神不胜，乃僇辱之。为革囊，盛血，卬而射之，命曰“射天”。武乙猎于河渭之闲，暴雷，武乙震死。子帝太丁立。帝太丁崩，子帝乙立。帝乙立，殷益衰。

The Emperor Wuyi was unprincipled and made images, which he called 'Heavenly gods.' With these he played chess, ordering some one to make the moves for them; and when the 'celestial gods' did not win he abused them, and making a leather bag, filled it with blood, threw it up and shot at it. This he called shooting at Heaven. While Wuyi was hunting between the Yellow and Wei rivers, there was a clap of thunder, and Wuyi was struck dead by lightning. His son Emperor T‘aiting (Great D) came to the throne. Emperor T‘aiting died, and his son Emperor Yi (B) sat on the throne. In his reign the fortunes of Yin declined still further. 

帝乙长子曰微子启，启母贱，不得嗣。少子辛，辛母正后，辛为嗣。帝乙崩，子辛立，是为帝辛，天下谓之纣。

Emperor Yi's (B) eldest son was Ch‘i, viscount of Wei. Ch‘i's mother being of low caste, he could not be heir to the throne. His younger son was Hsin (H), whose mother was the principal consort, and so he became the heir-apparent. Emperor Yi died, and his son Hsin sat on the throne. Emperor Hsin was called by everybody in the empire Chou (the tyrant).

帝纣资辨捷疾，闻见甚敏；材力过人，手格猛兽；知足以距谏，言足以饰非；矜人臣以能，高天下以声，以为皆出己之下。好酒淫乐，嬖于妇人。爱妲己，妲己之言是从。于是使师涓作新淫声，北里之舞，靡靡之乐。厚赋税以实鹿台之钱，而盈钜桥之粟。益收狗马奇物，充仞宫室。益广沙丘苑台，多取野兽蜚鸟置其中。慢于鬼神。大聚乐戏于沙丘，以酒为池，县肉为林，使男女裸相逐其闲，为长夜之饮。

Emperor Chou's discrimination was acute, his hearing and sight particularly good, his natural abilities extraordinary, and his physical strength equal to that of a wild beast. He had cunning enough to evade reproofs, and volubility enough to gloss over his faults. He boasted that he was above his ministers on the ground of ability, and that he surpassed the people of the empire on account of his reputation. He indulged in wine, women, and lusts of all sorts. His partiality for Tachi (Actress F) caused him to carry out whatever she desired, so that his ministers had to devise new forms of dissipation, the most depraved dances and extravagant music; he increased the taxation in order to fill the Stag tower with money, and to store the granary at 'Big bridge.' He made a collection of dogs, horses, and curiosities, with which he filled his palaces; and enlarging his parks and towers at Shach‘iu, procured numbers of wild beasts and birds and put them therein. He slighted the spirits, assembled a great number of play actors at Shach‘iu, made a pond of wine, hung the trees with meat, made men and women chase each other about quite naked, and had drinking bouts the whole night long. 

百姓怨望而诸侯有畔者，于是纣乃重刑辟，有炮格之法。以西伯昌、九侯、鄂侯为三公。九侯有好女，入之纣。九侯女不喜淫，纣怒，杀之，而醢九侯。鄂侯争之强，辨之疾，并脯鄂侯。西伯昌闻之，窃叹。崇侯虎知之，以告纣，纣囚西伯羑里。西伯之臣闳夭之徒，求美女奇物善马以献纣，纣乃赦西伯。西伯出而献洛西之地，以请除炮格之刑。纣乃许之，赐弓矢斧钺，使得征伐，为西伯。而用费中为政。费中善谀，好利，殷人弗亲。纣又用恶来。恶来善毁谗，诸侯以此益疏。

The people murmured, and when the nobles rebelled Chouhsin increased the severity of his punishments, instituting the punishment of roasting. He appointed Ch‘ang Chief of the West, the prince of Chiu, and the prince of Ou his three principal ministers. The prince of Chiu had a beloved daughter who was sent in to the emperor, and when she disapproved of his debaucheries the tyrant killed her in his rage, and made mincemeat of her father. The prince of Ou objected, and vehemently remonstrated with him, whereupon he was sliced to pieces. Ch‘ang Chief of the West, hearing of all this, sighed furtively, but 'Tiger' the prince of Ts‘ung, being aware of it, informed the tyrant, who thereupon cast Chief of the West into prison at Yuli. His servant Hungyao and others procured a pretty girl, rare curiosities, and fine horses, which they presented to the tyrant, who thereupon pardoned Chief of the West. The latter went forth and gave the country to the west of the Lo river to the tyrant, and begged that he would abolish the punishment of roasting. The emperor agreed to this, and gave him bows, arrows, axes, and halberds, with a commission to start on a warlike expedition. He was appointed Chief of the West, and Feich‘ung was employed in the government. Feich‘ung was fond of flattery and greedy of gain, so the men of Yin were not attached to him. The tyrant also gave Alai an appointment, but Alai was fond of vilifying persons, so the princes became more and more estranged from the court.

西伯归，乃阴修德行善，诸侯多叛纣而往归西伯。西伯滋大，纣由是稍失权重。王子比干谏，弗听。商容贤者，百姓爱之，纣废之。及西伯伐饥国，灭之，纣之臣祖伊闻之而咎周，恐，奔告纣曰：“天既讫我殷命，假人元龟，无敢知吉，非先王不相我后人，维王淫虐用自绝，故天弃我，不有安食，不虞知天性，不迪率典。今我民罔不欲丧，曰‘天曷不降威，大命胡不至’？今王其柰何？”纣曰：“我生不有命在天乎！”祖伊反，曰：“纣不可谏矣。”西伯既卒，周武王之东伐，至盟津，诸侯叛殷会周者八百。诸侯皆曰：“纣可伐矣。”武王曰：“尔未知天命。”乃复归。

Now Chief of the West, on returning from his expedition, secretly cultivated virtue, and was charitable; many of the princes revolted from the tyrant and gave their allegiance to Chief of the West, who from this time gained in influence, while the tyrant rather lost his authority. The monarch's son Pikan remonstrated with his father, but he was not listened to. Shangyung praised his worth, and the people loved him, but the tyrant set him aside. Chief of the West marched against and conquered the Chi State, and the tyrant's minister Tsu-i heard of it, and blaming [the house of] Chou hurried off in alarm to report it to the tyrant. He said: 'Heaven is bringing to an end the destiny of our dynasty of Yin; great men and the ancient tortoise do not venture to foretell good fortune. It is not that the former kings do not aid us men of this later time; but you, O king, by your dissoluteness and oppression are cutting yourself off. Heaven has therefore rejected us; we do not eat our meals in peace, we do not consider our heavenly nature, we do not follow and observe the statutes. Our people are now all longing for the destruction of the dynasty, saying, Why does not Heaven send down its awe-inspiring authority? Why is not its great decree manifested? What remedy is there against the present king?' The tyrant said: 'Is not my life secured by the decree of Heaven?' Tsu-i returned, and said," 'The tyrant cannot be remonstrated with.' Chief of the West having died, King Wu of Chou in his march eastward arrived at the ford of Mêng. The princes revolted, and 800 princes of the house of Chou having assembled declared that the tyrant ought to be attacked. King Wu said, 'You know nothing of Heaven's decree,' and retired. 

纣愈淫乱不止。微子数谏不听，乃与大师、少师谋，遂去。比干曰：“为人臣者，不得不以死争。”乃强谏纣。纣怒曰：“吾闻圣人心有七窍。”剖比干，观其心。箕子惧，乃详狂为奴，纣又囚之。殷之大师、少师乃持其祭乐器奔周。周武王于是遂率诸侯伐纣。纣亦发兵距之牧野。甲子日，纣兵败。纣走入，登鹿台，衣其宝玉衣，赴火而死。周武王遂斩纣头，县之［大］白旗。杀妲己。释箕子之囚，封比干之墓，表商容之闾。封纣子武庚、禄父，以续殷祀，令修行盘庚之政。殷民大说。于是周武王为天子。其后世贬帝号，号为王。而封殷后为诸侯，属周。

The tyrant abandoned himself all the more to lust and dissipation, and the viscount of Wei3 remonstrated with him several times, but he would not heed, so having consulted with the senior and junior tutors the viscount p. 614 of Wei withdrew from court. Pikan said, 'A minister cannot but argue to the death'; he accordingly remonstrated vehemently with the tyrant, who in a rage said, 'I have heard that the heart of a holy man has seven apertures,' and cut Pikan open to look at his heart. The viscount of Chi, in terror, then feigned himself mad, and 1"became a slave," and the tyrant again imprisoned him. The senior and junior tutors of Yin, accordingly, taking the sacrificial and musical implements, hastened to the Chou State, and King Wu of Chou upon this marched at the head of the princes to attack the tyrant, who also sent out an army to withstand him in the plain of Mu. On the day Chia-tzŭ the tyrant's troops were beaten, and he himself fled to the Stag tower, which he ascended, and, putting on his gorgeous robes and jewels, burnt himself to death. King Wu of Chou then cut off the tyrant's head and exhibited it on a pole; he also slew Tachi, 2"released the viscount of Chi from prison, raised a tumulus over the grave of Pikan, and made a eulogy to the memory of Shangyung." His sons, Wukêng and Lüfu, were appointed to continue the sacrifices to the Yins. He restored Pankêng's mode of administration, and the people of Yin were greatly rejoiced. Whereupon King Wu of Chou became Son of Heaven (emperor). His descendants abolished the title of Ti (divine emperor), and called themselves kings (Wang); and the descendants of the Yins were made princes subordinate to the house of Chou.

周武王崩，武庚与管叔、蔡叔作乱，成王命周公诛之，而立微子于宋，以续殷后焉。

After the death of King Wu of Chou, Wukêng, Kuanshu, and Ts‘aishu rebelled. King Ch‘eng ordered the duke of Chou to execute them, and the viscount of Wei was established in the Sung State to continue (the ancestral worship as) a descendant of the Yins.