貳

一

孟夏之月，日在畢，昏翼中，旦婺女中。

其日丙丁。

其帝炎帝，其神祝融。

其蟲羽。

其音徵，律中中呂。

其數七。其味苦，其臭焦。

其祀灶，祭先肺。

螻蟈鳴，蚯蚓出，王瓜生，苦菜秀。

天子居明堂左個，乘朱路，駕赤騮，載赤旗，衣朱衣，服赤玉。食菽與雞，其器高以粗。

是月也，以立夏。先立夏三日，大史謁之天子曰：某日立夏，盛德在火。天子乃齊。立夏之日，天子親帥三公、九卿、大夫以迎夏於南郊。還反，行賞，封諸侯。慶賜遂行，無不欣說。

乃命樂師，習合禮樂。

命太尉，贊桀俊，遂賢良，舉長大，行爵出祿，必當其位。

是月也，繼長增高，毋有壞墮，毋起土功，毋發大眾，毋伐大樹。

是月也，天子始絺。

命野虞出行田原，為天子勞農勸民，毋或失時。命司徒巡行縣鄙，命農勉作，毋休於都。

是月也，驅獸毋害五穀，毋大田獵。

農乃登麥，天子乃以彘嘗麥，先薦寢廟。

是月也，聚畜百藥。靡草死，麥秋至。斷薄刑，決小罪，出輕系。

蠶事畢，後妃獻繭。乃收繭稅，以桑為均，貴賤長幼如一，以給郊廟之服。

是月也，天子飲酎，用禮樂。

孟夏行秋令，則苦雨數來，五穀不滋，四鄙入保。行冬令，則草木蚤枯，後乃大水，敗其城郭。行春令，則蝗蟲為災，暴風來格，秀草不實。

二

仲夏之月，日在東井，昏亢中，旦危中。

其日丙丁。其帝炎帝，其神祝融。其蟲羽。其音徵，律中蕤賓。

其數七。其味苦，其臭焦。其祀灶，祭先肺。

小暑至，螳螂生。鵙始鳴，反舌無聲。

天子居明堂太廟，乘朱路，駕赤騮，載赤旗，衣朱衣，服赤玉，食菽與雞，其器高以粗。

養壯佼。

是月也，命樂師修鞀鞞鼓，均琴瑟管簫，執幹戚戈羽，調竽笙篪簧，飭鍾磬柷敔。

命有司為民祈祀山川百源，大雩帝，用盛樂。乃命百縣，雩祀百辟卿士有益於民者，以祈穀實。

農乃登黍。是月也，天子乃以雛嘗黍，羞以含桃，先薦寢廟。

令民毋艾藍以染，

毋燒灰，毋暴布。

門閭毋閉，關市毋索。

挺重囚，益其食。

遊牝別群，則縶騰駒，班馬政。

是月也，日長至，陰陽爭，死生分。君子齊戒，處必掩身，毋躁。止聲色，毋或進。薄滋味，毋致和。節嗜欲，定心氣，百官靜事毋刑，以定晏陰之所成。

鹿角解，蟬始鳴。半夏生，木堇榮。

是月也，毋用火南方。

可以居高明，可以遠眺望，可以升山陵，可以處台榭。

仲夏行冬令，則雹凍傷谷，道路不通，暴兵來至。行春令，則五穀晚熟，百螣時起，其國乃饑。行秋令，則草木零落，果實早成，民殃於疫。

三

季夏之月，日在柳，昏火中，旦奎中。

其日丙丁。其帝炎帝，其神祝融。其蟲羽。其音徵，律中林鍾。

其數七。其味苦，其臭焦。其祀灶，祭先肺。

溫風始至，蟋蟀居壁，鷹乃學習，腐草為螢。

天子居明堂右個，乘朱路，駕赤騮，載赤旗，衣朱衣，服赤玉。食菽與雞，其器高以粗。

命漁師伐蛟取鼉，登龜取黿。

命澤人納材葦。

是月也，命四監大合百縣之秩芻，以養犧牲。令民無不鹹出其力，以共皇天上帝名山大川四方之神，以祠宗廟社稷之靈，以為民祈福。

是月也，命婦官染采，黼黻文章，必以法故，無或差貸。黑黃倉赤，莫不質良，毋敢詐偽，以給郊廟祭祀之服，以為旗章，以別貴賤等給之度。

是月也，樹木方盛，乃命虞人入山行木，毋有斬伐。

不可以興土功，不可以合諸侯，不可以起兵動眾，毋舉大事，以搖養氣。毋發令而待，以妨神農之事也。水潦盛昌，神農將持功，舉大事則有天殃。

是月也，土潤溽暑，大雨時行，燒剃行水，利以殺草，如以熱湯。可以糞田疇，可以美土疆。

季夏行春令，則穀實鮮落，國多風咳，民乃遷徙。行秋令，則丘隰水潦，禾稼不熟，乃多女災。行冬令，則風寒不時，鷹隼蚤鷙，四鄙入保。

中央土。

其日戊己。

其帝黃帝，其神後土。

其蟲裸，

其音宮，律中黃鍾之宮。

其數五。其味甘，其臭香。

其祠中溜，祭先心。

天子居大廟大室，乘大路，駕黃騮，載黃旗，衣黃衣，服黃玉，食稷與牛，其器圜以閎。

SECTION II.

PART 1.

In the first month of summer, the sun is in Pî; the constellation culminating at dusk being Yî, and that culminating at dawn Wû-nü ¹.

Its days are ping and ting ².

Its divine ruler is Yen Tî, and the (attending) spirit is Kû-yung ³.

Its creatures are the feathered.

Its musical note is Kih, and its pitch-tube is the Kung Lü ⁴.

Its number is seven ⁵. Its taste is acrid. Its smell is that of things burning.

Its sacrifice is that at the furnace ⁶; and of the parts of the victim the lungs have the foremost place.

The green frogs croak. Earth-worms come forth. The royal melons grow ⁷. The sow-thistle is in seed.

The son of Heaven occupies the apartment on the left of the Ming Thang (Grand Fane); rides in the vermilion carriage, drawn by the red horses with black tails, and bearing the red flag. He is dressed in the red robes, and wears the carnation jade. He eats beans and fowls. The vessels which he uses are tall, (to resemble) the large growth (of things).

In this month there takes place the inauguration of summer. Three days before this ceremony, the Grand recorder informs the son of Heaven, saying, 'On such-and-such a day is the inauguration of summer. The energies of the season are most fully seen in fire.' On this the son of Heaven devotes himself to self-purification; and on the day, at the head of the three ducal ministers, the nine high ministers, and his Great officers, he proceeds to meet the summer in the southern suburbs. On their return, rewards are distributed. He grants to the feudal princes (an increase of) territory. Congratulations and gifts proceed, and all are joyful and pleased.

Orders are also given to the chief master of music to teach the practice of ceremonies and music together.

Orders are given to the Grand Peace-maintainer ⁸ to recommend men of eminence, allow the worthy and good to have free course and bring forward the tall and large. His conferring of rank and regulation of emolument must be in accordance with the position (of the individual).

In this month what is long should be encouraged to grow longer, and what is high to grow higher. There should be no injuring or overthrowing of anything; no commencing of works in earth; no sending forth of great multitudes (on expeditions); no cutting down of large trees.

In this month the son of Heaven begins to wear thin dolichos cloth.

Orders are given to the foresters throughout the country to go forth over the fields and plains, and, for the son of Heaven, to encourage the husbandmen, and stimulate them to work, and not let the season slip by unimproved.Orders are (also) given to the minister of Instruction to travel in order through the districts to the borders, charging the husbandmen to work vigorously, and not to rest in the towns.

In this month they chase away wild animals to prevent them from doing harm to any of the (growing) grain; but they should not have a great hunting.

When the husbandmen present (the first-fruits of) their wheat, the son of Heaven tastes it along with some pork, first offering a portion in the apartment behind (the hall of the) ancestral temple.

In this month they collect and store up the various medicinal herbs. Delicate herbs (now) die; it is the harvest time (even) of the wheat. They decide cases for which the punishments are light; they make short work of small crimes, and liberate those who are in prison for slight offences ⁹.

When the work with the silk-worms is over, the queen presents her cocoons; and the tithe-tax of cocoons generally is collected, according to the number of mulberry trees; for noble and mean, for old and young there is one law. The object is with such cocoons to provide materials for the robes to be used at the sacrifices in the suburbs and in the ancestral temple.

In this month the son of Heaven (entertains his ministers and princes) with strong drink and with (much) observance of ceremony and with music ¹⁰.

If, in this first month of summer, the proceedings proper to autumn were observed, pitiless rains would be frequent; the five esculent plants ¹¹ would not grow large, and in all the borders people would have to enter the places of shelter. If those proper to winter were observed, all plants and trees would wither early, and afterwards, there would be great floods, destroying city and suburban walls. If those proper to spring were observed, there would be the calamity of locusts, violent winds would come, and plants in flower would not go on to seed.

PART II.

In the second month of summer the sun is in the eastern Zing, the constellation culminating at dusk being Khang, and that culminating at dawn Wei ¹².

Its days are ping and ting. Its divine ruler is Yen Tî, and the (attending) spirit is Khû-yung. Its creatures are the feathered. Its musical note is Kih, and its pitch-tube is Sui Pin ¹³.

Its number is seven. Its taste is acrid. Its smell is that of things burning. Its sacrifice is that at the furnace; and of the parts of the victim the lungs have the foremost place.

The (period of) slighter heat arrives; the praying mantis is produced; the shrike begins to give its notes; the mocking-bird ceases to sing ¹⁴.

The son of Heaven occupies the Ming Thang Grand Fane; rides in the vermilion carriage, drawn by the red horses with black tails, and bearing the red flag. He is dressed in the red robes, and wears the carnation gems. He eats beans and fowls. The vessels which he uses are tall, (to resemble) the large growth (of things).

They encourage the (continued) growth of what is strong and beautiful ¹⁵.

In this month orders are given to the music-masters to put in repair the hand-drums, smaller drums, and large drums; to adjust the lutes, large and small, the double flutes, and the pan-pipes; to teach the holding of the shields, pole-axes, lances, and plumes; to tune the organs, large and small, with their pipes and tongues; and to put in order the bells, sonorous stones, the instrument to give the symbol for commencing, and the stopper ¹⁶.

Orders are given to the (proper) officers to pray for the people and offer sacrifice to the (spirits of the) hills, streams, and all springs. (After that) comes the great summer sacrifice for ram to God, when all the instruments of music are employed. Then orders are given throughout all the districts to sacrifice to the various princes, high ministers, and officers who benefited the people; praying that there may be a good harvest of grain ¹⁷.

The husbandmen present (the first-fruits of) their millet; and in this month the son of Heaven partakes of it along with pullets, and with cherries set forth beside them, first offering a portion in the apartment behind the ancestral temple.

The people are forbidden to cut down the indigo plant to use it in dyeing ¹⁸,

Or to burn wood for charcoal, or to bleach cloth in the sun.

The gates of cities and villages should not be shut ¹⁹, nor should vexatious inquiries be instituted at the barrier gates or in the markets.

Leniency should be shown to prisoners charged (even) with great crimes, and their allowance of food be increased ²⁰.

Impregnated mares are collected in herds by themselves, and the fiery stallions are tied up. The rules for the rearing of horses are given out.

In this month the longest day arrives. The influences in nature of darkness and decay and those of brightness and growth struggle together; the tendencies to death and life are divided ²¹. Superior men give themselves to vigil and fasting. They keep retired in their houses, avoid all violent exercise, restrain their indulgence in music and beautiful sights, eschew the society of their wives, make their diet spare, use no piquant condiments, keep their desires under rule, and maintain their spirits free from excitement. The various magistrates keep things quiet and inflict no punishments ²²;--to bring about that state of settled quiet in which the influence of darkness and decay shall obtain its full development.

Deer shed their horns. Cicadas begin to sing. The midsummer herb is produced. The tree hibiscus flowers ²³.

In this month fires should not be lighted (out of doors) in the southern regions (of the country).

People may live in buildings high and bright. They may enjoy distant prospects. They may ascend hills and heights. They may occupy towers and lofty pavilions ²⁴.

If, in the second month of summer, the governmental proceedings of winter were observed, hail and cold would injure the grain; the roads would not be passable; and violent assaults of war would come. If the proceedings proper to spring were observed, the grains would be late in ripening; all kinds of locusts would continually be appearing; and there would be famine in the states. If those proper to autumn were observed, herbs and plants would drop their leaves; fruits would ripen prematurely; and the people would be consumed by pestilence.

PART III.

In the third month of summer the sun is in Liû, the constellation culminating at dusk being Kwo, and that culminating at dawn Khwei ²⁵.

Its days are ping and ting. Its divine ruler is Yen Tî, and the (assisting) spirit is Khû-yung. Its musical note is Kih, and its pitch-tube is Lin Kung ²⁶.

Its number is seven. Its taste is acrid. Its smell is that of things burning. Its sacrifice is that at the furnace; and of the parts of the victim the lungs have the foremost place.

Gentle winds begin to blow. The cricket takes its place in the walls. (Young) hawks learn to practise (the ways of their parents) ²⁷. Decaying grass becomes fire-flies.

The son of Heaven occupies the apartment on the right of the Ming Thang (Fane); rides in the vermilion carriage, drawn by the red horses with black tails, and bearing the red flag. He is dressed in the red robes, and wears the carnation gems. He eats beans and fowls. The vessels which he uses are tall, (to resemble) the large growth (of things).

Orders are given to the master of the Fishermen to attack the alligator, to take the gavial, to present the tortoise, and to take the great turtle ²⁸.

Orders are given to the superintendent of the Meres to collect and send in the rushes available for use.

In this month orders are given to the four inspectors ²⁹ to make a great collection over all the districts of the different kinds of fodder to nourish the sacrificial victims; and to require all the people to do their utmost towards this end;--to supply what is necessary for (the worship of) God (who dwells in) the great Heaven, and for the spirits of the famous hills, great streams, and four quarters, and for the sacrifices to the Intelligences of the ancestral temple, and at the altars to the spirits of the land and grain; that prayer may be made for blessing to the people.

In this month orders are given by the officers of women's (work), on the subject of dyeing ³⁰. (They are to see) that the white and black, the black and green, the green and carnation, the carnation and white be all according to the ancient rules, without error or change; and that their black, yellow, azure, and carnation be all genuine and good, without any presumptuous attempts at imposition. These furnish the materials for the robes used at the sacrifices in the suburbs and the ancestral temple; for flags and their ornaments; and for marking the different degrees of rank as high or low.

In this month the trees are luxuriant; and orders are given to the foresters to go among the hills and examine the trees, and see that the people do not cut any down or lop their branches ³¹.

There should not be any work in earth ³² (now) undertaken; nor any assembling of the princes of the states; nor any military movements, causing general excitement. There should be no undertaking of (such) great affairs, which will disturb the nourishing growth that is proceeding, nor any issuing of orders to be hereafter carried into effect. All these things will interfere with the business of husbandry, (which is specially dear to) the Spirits ³³. The floods are now great and overflow the roads; husbandry (dear to) the Spirits has to take in hand its various tasks. The curse of Heaven will come on the undertaking of great affairs (at this time).

In this month the ground lies steaming and wet beneath the heats, for great rains are (also) continually coming. They burn the grass lying cut upon the ground ³⁴ and bring the water over it. This is as effectual to kill the roots as hot water would be; and the grass thus serves to manure the fields of grain and hemp, and to fatten the ground which has been but just marked out for cultivation.

If, in the last month of summer, the governmental proceedings proper to spring were observed, the produce of grain would be scanty and fail; in the states there would be many colds and coughs; and the people would remove to other places. If the proceedings proper to autumn were observed, even the high grounds would be flooded; the grain that had been sown would not ripen; and there would be many miscarriages among women. If those proper to winter were observed, the winds and cold would come out of season; the hawks and falcons would prematurely attack their prey; and all along the four borders people would enter their places of shelter.

SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION.

Right in the middle (between Heaven and Earth, and the other elements) is earth.

Its days are wû and kî.

Its divine ruler is Hwang Tî, and the (attending) spirit is Hâu-thû.

Its creature is that without any natural covering but the skin.

Its musical note is Kung, and its pitch-tube gives the kung note from the tube Hwang Kung.

Its number is five. Its taste is sweet. Its smell is fragrant.

Its sacrifice is that of the middle court; and of the parts of the victim the heart has the foremost place.

The son of Heaven occupies the Grand apartment of the Grand fane; rides in the great carriage drawn by the yellow horses with black tails, and bearing the yellow flag; is clothed in the yellow robes, and wears the yellow gems. He eats panicled millet and beef. The vessels which he uses are round, (and made to resemble) the capacity (of the earth) ³⁵.