Gong Liu (Duke Liu)

Preface to "Gong Liu": "Gong Liu" is a poem by the Duke of Shao, admonishing King Cheng of Zhou. When King Cheng was about to personally attend to state affairs, the Duke of Shao used the affairs of the people to caution him, praising the virtue of Gong Liu in treating the people generously, and presented this poem.

Sincere and steadfast was Gong Liu! He could not dwell in peace nor enjoy comfort. So he marked out the fields and fixed the boundaries; he stored up grain and filled the granaries. He packed dry provisions into small bags and large sacks, wishing to unite the people and make them flourish. Bows and arrows were thus prepared; shields, spears, halberds, and axes were raised high, and then they began their journey.

Sincere and steadfast was Gong Liu! He went to inspect this plain. The people had become numerous and prosperous; their hearts were won over, and they spread in all directions. The people had no long-drawn sighs. When climbing high, they reached the summit; when descending, they came to the level ground. What did he use to adorn himself? It was beautiful jade and precious stones, jade ornaments on the scabbard and the girdle knife.

Sincere and steadfast was Gong Liu! He went to the place of many springs, gazed upon the vast plain, and then ascended the southern hill. There he saw Jingshi (a place name). This vast plain of Jingshi—here he dwelt and settled, here he set up lodges and stayed. Here they laughed and talked; here they conversed and spoke.

Sincere and steadfast was Gong Liu! Having settled in Jingshi, the ministers and officials were dignified and respectful. They set out mats and low tables. Having ascended the mats, they leaned on the tables. Then they sacrificed to the boar god, caught a pig from the sty to kill, and ladled wine with gourd dippers. They made them eat and made them drink; they honored him as their lord and honored him as their patriarch.

Sincere and steadfast was Gong Liu! The land was both broad and long. He measured the shadows of the sun and climbed the hills, examining the yin and yang aspects of the mountains. He observed the flowing springs. His army was divided into three shifts (taking turns in service). He measured the low wetlands and the high plains, and cultivated the fields to produce grain. He measured the land to the west (the land of the setting sun); the settlement in Bin was indeed vast.

Sincere and steadfast was Gong Liu! In Bin he built palaces and lodges. He crossed the Wei River (by cutting across the current) and brought back whetstones and forged iron. The foundations for settlement were thus prepared; thus the people became numerous and resources abundant. They dwelt on both banks of the Huang Stream, and went upstream along the Guo River. The settled people became dense and numerous, extending all the way to the bend of the Rui River.

"Gong Liu" consists of six stanzas, each of ten lines.