The Announcement at Luo

The Duke of Shao had already inspected and chosen the settlement site. The Duke of Zhou then went to build Chengzhou, and sent someone back to report the results of the divination. Therefore, the "Announcement concerning Luo" was composed. (This passage is not in the original text.)

The Duke of Zhou bowed his head to the ground, touching his hands to his forehead, and said: "I have returned to report to you, the enlightened sovereign.

The King seemed not to dare to lightly involve himself in the foundation and fixed commands established by Heaven. I therefore continued to protect it, and extensively inspected the lands to the east, in order to establish the foundation for an enlightened sovereign for the people.

I arrived at the Luo settlement on the morning of the day Yimao. I divined concerning the area of the Li River on the north bank of the Yellow River, and again divined concerning the area east of the Jian River and west of the Chan River. Only the Luo area received an auspicious omen. I also divined concerning the area east of the Chan River, and again the Luo area received the auspicious omen. I then sent someone back, presenting the map and the results of the divination."

The King bowed his head to the ground, touching his hands to his forehead, and said: "Duke, you did not dare to be disrespectful of Heaven's excellent intent, and thus inspected the settlement site, making it a fine enterprise matching Zhou. The Duke has already fixed the settlement site, and sent someone back, allowing me to see the results of the divination, which are auspicious and enduring. We two have jointly settled it. The Duke will probably cause me to be reverent of Heaven's excellent intent for myriads of years. I bow my head to the ground, touching my hands to my forehead, and follow the Duke's instructions."

The Duke of Zhou said: "The King began to perform the Yin rites, and conducted sacrifices in the new settlement. All the ritual sequences were orderly, without omission or deficiency.

I organized the hundred officials and sent them to follow the King to the Zhou region. I said: I hope there will be achievements.

Now the King has received Heaven's mandate, saying: Record the achievements, honor the ancestors, and take the achievements as the foundation of the great sacrifices. He also commanded, saying: You have received the command; you must be solid and supportive.

You must extensively inspect the records of achievements. Then you must completely teach the hundred officials yourself.

Young King, draw close to worthy companions; young King, draw close to worthy companions. You must go to the new settlement. Do not be like a fire when it first starts burning, weak and faint, but wait until the area it scorches expands, and the sequence cannot be cut off.

If it conforms to the constant norms, and you handle government affairs like me, then you can take the hundred officials of Zhou to the new settlement, send them to face their duties, each in his official position, clearly manifest achievements, solidly enlarge accomplishments and generosity. Then you will have words to proclaim for a long time."

The Duke said: "It is well. You are still a young son; you must ensure a good beginning and a good end.

You must be reverent. You must distinguish which feudal lords from the various regions come to present tribute, and also distinguish those who do not come to present tribute. The presentation of tribute has many rituals; if the rituals fall short of the tribute goods, it is called 'not presenting tribute.' If the mind and will do not submit to the presentation of tribute, then all the people will also say it is 'not presenting tribute.' Government affairs will then be faulty and despised.

You, young King, must share in the tasks I do not have time for. Listen to my teaching on how to assist the constant way of the people. If you do not exert yourself to do this, then it cannot last long. You must be solid and orderly in following your correct father, and not be disobedient to me. I dare not abandon your commands. When you go, be reverent! From now on, I will clearly attend to agriculture, causing our people to have abundance, so that they do not need to travel far to be attached."

The King spoke thus: "The Duke has clearly protected me, this young person. The Duke has exalted the great and manifest virtue, causing me, this young son, to carry forward the achievements of King Wen and King Wu, to respond to Heaven's mandate, to harmonize and settle the people of the four quarters, and to cause the multitudes to dwell in peace.

You must be solid and reverent, present the offerings with ritual propriety, conduct the great sacrifices in proper order, and cause all the ritual sequences to be complete without omission or deficiency.

The Duke's virtue is bright, shining above and below, diligently implemented throughout the four quarters, broadly establishing solemn welcome and balance, not losing the path of the diligent teachings of King Wen and King Wu. I, this young son, will be cautious in the morning and evening sacrifices."

The King said: "The Duke's achievement is solid in assistance, and nothing is not like this."

The King said: "Duke, I, this young son, will withdraw and return, to go to the Zhou region and assume the royal position. I order the Duke to remain behind.

The four quarters still need guidance and ordering; they have not yet been settled in the ancestral temple rituals, and they cannot yet pacify the Duke's achievements.

You must guide and continue the subsequent affairs, oversee my officers, commanders, and functionaries, greatly protect the people received by King Wen and King Wu, and order the support of the four quarters."

The King said: "The Duke has already settled it. I will go. The Duke's achievements are reverently implemented, reverent and pleasing. Let the Duke not grow weary! I will tirelessly manage the task of bringing peace to the people. Let the Duke not abandon the statutes, and the four quarters will enjoy peace for generations."

The Duke of Zhou bowed his head to the ground, touching his hands to his forehead, and said: "The King has commanded me to come, to receive and protect the people received by your cultured ancestor, and the enterprise of your father, King Wu, of glorious achievements, to enlarge my reverence.

The young King has come to inspect the settlement site, to greatly solidify the statutes. The worthy people of Yin must be ordered to become the new sovereign of the four quarters, to act as the reverent vanguard of Zhou, saying that from now on, governing on the path of centrality and correctness, the myriad states will all be excellent. This is the King's achievement of success.

I, Dan, lead the many sons and the officers in charge of affairs, to solidly continue the achievements of our predecessors, to respond to their multitudes, and to act as the trustworthy vanguard of Zhou. Examining the model of my enlightened virtuous son, one can fully manifest the virtue of the cultured ancestor.

Sending someone to instruct the Yin people, and also commanding to comfort me, giving me two you-vessels of black millet fragrant wine, saying this is a pure sacrifice. I bowed my head to the ground, touching my hands to my forehead, praised it, and received it.

I dared not let it stay overnight, and used it to sacrifice to King Wen and King Wu.

You must be gracious and solidly orderly, so that you do not encounter illness in your own person. For myriads of years, be satisfied with your virtue, and the Yin people will prolong their years.

The King sent an envoy to Yin, and then received the orderly enterprise of myriads of years, causing them to long observe that my son possesses virtue."

On the day Wuchen, the King conducted the winter sacrifice and the annual sacrifice in the new settlement. He used one red ox to sacrifice to King Wen, and one red ox to sacrifice to King Wu. The King ordered the Recorder, Yi, to read the prayer, informing the Duke of Zhou of the matters of future succession.

The King performed the guest ritual, slaughtered the victims, and the spirits all arrived. The King entered the Grand Chamber and performed the libation. The King ordered the Duke of Zhou to remain behind, and also ordered the Recorder, Yi, to issue the announcement. At that time, it was the twelfth month.

The Duke of Zhou greatly protected the mandate received by King Wen and King Wu, until the seventh year.