| | 五帝本紀: |
東至于海，登丸山，及岱宗。西至于空桐，登雞頭。南至于江，登熊、湘。北逐葷粥，合符釜山，而邑于涿鹿之阿。遷徙往來無常處，以師兵為營衛。官名皆以雲命，為雲師。置左右大監，監于萬國。萬國和，而鬼神山川封禪與為多焉。獲寶鼎，迎日推筴。舉風后、力牧、常先、大鴻以治民。順天地之紀，幽明之占，死生之說，存亡之難。時播百穀草木，淳化鳥獸蟲蛾，旁羅日月星辰水波土石金玉，勞勤心力耳目，節用水火材物。有土德之瑞，故號黃帝。 |
| Annals of the Five...: |
Eastward his empire extended to the sea, Ball hill, and the ancestral Dai mountain; westward to 'Hollow cave' and Cock's-head hills; southward to the Yangtze river and Xiongxiang hill; while in the north he drove out the Xunyu. He made a treaty on Kettle hill, and built a city on the slopes of Zhuolu. He was constantly changing his residence, while his troops formed an encampment about him. He ordered his officers to be named after cloud omens. He appointed a chief and deputy superintendent over international affairs, and the various states being at peace, he worshipped the demons and spirits of the hills and streams with the feng and shan ceremonies in numbers. He obtained a valuable tripod, and made calculations of future events, appointing 'Chief of the winds,' 'Strength-governor,' 'Everfirst,' and 'Great Swan,' to direct the people to act in accordance with the celestial and terrestrial arrangements, the dark and bright prognostications, the disputations on life and death, the planting of the crops, plants, and trees in their seasons, and the transformations of birds, beasts, insects, and moths. He also prepared a record of the movements of the sun, moon, and stars; the flow of the tides; and the properties of clay, stones, metals, and gems. He devoted much careful attention to these things, and his observation was applied to ascertaining how fire, water, wood, and other elements could be used economically. There was an auspicious omen of the earth's energy, and he was therefore called 'Yellow god.' |
| | 五帝本紀: |
於是帝堯老，命舜攝行天子之政，以觀天命。舜乃在璿璣玉衡，以齊七政。遂類于上帝，禋于六宗，望于山川，辯于群神。揖五瑞，擇吉月日，見四嶽諸牧，班瑞。歲二月，東巡狩，至於岱宗，祡，望秩於山川。遂見東方君長，合時月正日，同律度量衡，修五禮五玉三帛二生一死為摯，如五器，卒乃復。五月，南巡狩；八月，西巡狩；十一月，北巡狩：皆如初。歸，至于祖禰廟，用特牛禮。五歲一巡狩，群后四朝。遍告以言，明試以功，車服以庸。肇十有二州，決川。象以典刑，流宥五刑，鞭作官刑，撲作教刑，金作贖刑。眚災過，赦；怙終賊，刑。欽哉，欽哉，惟刑之靜哉！ |
| Annals of the Five...: |
The Emperor Yao being old ordered that Shun should be associated with him in the government of the Empire in order to observe Heaven's decrees. Shun thereupon examined the gem-adorned armillary sphere, and the jade transverse, so as to adjust the position of the 'Seven Directors.' He then offered a special sacrifice to the Supreme Ruler, sacrificed purely to the six honoured ones, looked with devotion to the hills and rivers, and worshipped with distinctive rites the hosts of spirits. He called in the five tokens, chose a lucky month and day, gave audience to the president of the four mountains, and all the governors, returning the tokens in due course. In the second month of every year he went eastward on a tour of inspection, and on reaching Daizong he presented a burnt-offering, and sacrificed in order to the hills and rivers. He then gave audience to the chieftains of the East, putting in accord their seasons and months, and rectifying the days. He rendered uniform the standard tubes, the measures of length and capacity, and the scales; and regulated the five kinds of ceremonies. The five gems, the three kinds of silks, the two living animals, and one dead one were brought as presents to the audience, but the five implements were returned at the conclusion. In the fifth month he went to the south, in the eighth month to the west, and in the eleventh month northward on his tours of inspection; in each case observing the same ceremonies as before, and on his return he went to the temple of the ancestral tablets, and offered up a single ox. Every five years there was one tour of inspection, and four audiences of the princes at court, when they presented a full verbal report, which was intelligently tested by their works, and chariots and robes given according to their deserts. Shun instituted the division of the Empire into twelve provinces, and deepened the rivers. He gave delineations of the statutory punishments, enacting banishment as a mitigation of the five chief punishments, the whip being employed for public officers, the stick in schools, and a money penalty being inflicted for redeemable crimes. Inadvertent offences, and those caused by misfortune were to be pardoned, and those who offended presumptuously or repeatedly were to be punished with death. 'Be reverent, be reverent' (said he), 'and in the administration of the law be tranquil.' |
| | 殷本紀: |
桀敗於有娀之虛，桀奔於鳴條，夏師敗績。湯遂伐三嵕，俘厥寶玉，義伯、仲伯作典寶。湯既勝夏，欲遷其社，不可，作夏社。伊尹報。於是諸侯畢服，湯乃踐天子位，平定海內。 |
| Annals of Yin: |
Jie was defeated in the wilds of Yousong, and fled to Mingtiao. The army of Xia being entirely defeated, Tang smote Sanzong, where he captured the precious jewels. Yibo and Zhongbo wrote the 'Statutes and Jewels.' When Tang had conquered Xia, he wished to remove the altars to the spirits of the land, but was unable to do so, and the 'Altar of Xia' was written. Yiyin made a report, and the princes being satisfied, Tang ascended the Imperial throne, and tranquillized the country within the four seas. |
| | 殷本紀: |
紂愈淫亂不止。微子數諫不聽，乃與大師、少師謀，遂去。比干曰：「為人臣者，不得不以死爭。」乃彊諫紂。紂怒曰：「吾聞聖人心有七竅。」剖比干，觀其心。箕子懼，乃詳狂為奴，紂又囚之。殷之大師、少師乃持其祭樂器奔周。周武王於是遂率諸侯伐紂。紂亦發兵距之牧野。甲子日，紂兵敗。紂走入，登鹿臺，衣其寶玉衣，赴火而死。周武王遂斬紂頭，縣之［大］白旗。殺妲己。釋箕子之囚，封比干之墓，表商容之閭。封紂子武庚、祿父，以續殷祀，令修行盤庚之政。殷民大說。於是周武王為天子。其後世貶帝號，號為王。而封殷後為諸侯，屬周。 |
| Annals of Yin: |
The tyrant abandoned himself all the more to lust and dissipation, and the viscount of Wei remonstrated with him several times, but he would not heed, so having consulted with the senior and junior tutors the viscount of Wei withdrew from court. Bigan 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 Bigan open to look at his heart. The viscount of Ji, in terror, then feigned himself mad, and 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 Zhou State, and King Wu of Zhou 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 Jiazi 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 Zhou then cut off the tyrant's head and exhibited it on a pole; he also slew Daji, released the viscount of Ji from prison, raised a tumulus over the grave of Bigan, and made a eulogy to the memory of Shangrong. His sons, Wugeng and Lufu, were appointed to continue the sacrifices to the Yins. He restored Pangeng's mode of administration, and the people of Yin were greatly rejoiced. Whereupon King Wu of Zhou became Son of Heaven (emperor). His descendants abolished the title of Di (divine emperor), and called themselves kings (Wang); and the descendants of the Yins were made princes subordinate to the house of Zhou. |
| | 項羽本紀: |
沛公旦日從百餘騎來見項王，至鴻門，謝曰：「臣與將軍戮力而攻秦，將軍戰河北，臣戰河南，然不自意能先入關破秦，得復見將軍於此。今者有小人之言，令將軍與臣有郤。」項王曰：「此沛公左司馬曹無傷言之；不然，籍何以至此。」項王即日因留沛公與飲。項王、項伯東向坐。亞父南向坐。亞父者，范增也。沛公北向坐，張良西向侍。范增數目項王，舉所佩玉珪以示之者三，項王默然不應。范增起，出召項莊，謂曰：「君王為人不忍，若入前為壽，壽畢，請以劍舞，因擊沛公於坐，殺之。不者，若屬皆且為所虜。」莊則入為壽，壽畢，曰：「君王與沛公飲，軍中無以為樂，請以劍舞。」項王曰：「諾。」項莊拔劍起舞，項伯亦拔劍起舞，常以身翼蔽沛公，莊不得擊。於是張良至軍門，見樊噲。樊噲曰：「今日之事何如？」良曰：「甚急。今者項莊拔劍舞，其意常在沛公也。」噲曰：「此迫矣，臣請入，與之同命。」噲即帶劍擁盾入軍門。交戟之衛士欲止不內，樊噲側其盾以撞，衛士仆地，噲遂入，披帷西向立，瞋目視項王，頭髪上指，目眥盡裂。項王按劍而跽曰：「客何為者？」張良曰：「沛公之參乘樊噲者也。」項王曰：「壯士，賜之卮酒。」則與斗卮酒。噲拜謝，起，立而飲之。項王曰：「賜之彘肩。」則與一生彘肩。樊噲覆其盾於地，加彘肩上，拔劍切而啗之。項王曰：「壯士，能復飲乎？」樊噲曰：「臣死且不避，卮酒安足辭！夫秦王有虎狼之心，殺人如不能舉，刑人如恐不勝，天下皆叛之。懷王與諸將約曰『先破秦入咸陽者王之』。今沛公先破秦入咸陽，豪毛不敢有所近，封閉宮室，還軍霸上，以待大王來。故遣將守關者，備他盜出入與非常也。勞苦而功高如此，未有封侯之賞，而聽細說，欲誅有功之人。此亡秦之續耳，竊為大王不取也。」項王未有以應，曰：「坐。」樊噲從良坐。坐須臾，沛公起如廁，因招樊噲出。 |
| Annals of Xiang Yu: |
The second day, accompanied by one hundred cavalrymen, Pei Gong came to meet King Xiang in Hongmen. Pei Gong apologized: "The general and I fought side by side against Qin. The general fought on the northern side of the (Yellow) river, and I fought on the south. I did not expect that I could be the first to break into Guanzhong and defeat Qin, and finally meet the general here. There must be a petty man trying to casts a bone between the general and me." King Xiang said: "This is all because of your officer Cao Wushang, otherwise I would not have done this."
King Xiang invited Pei Gong to a feast on that day. King Xiang and Xiang Bo sat facing the east. Yafu sat facing the south. Yafu was namely Fan Zeng. Pei Gong sat facing the north. Zhang Liang sat beside (Pei Gong) facing the west. Fan Zeng glanced several times at King Xiang, holding the jade on his girdle to hint (that it was time to take action). King Xiang remained silence and did not react. Fan Zeng stood up, came out and found Xiang Zhuang, said to him: "The Lord has not the heart (to kill). You should go in and toast, then ask to dance with a sword, and kill Pei Gong on his seat. Otherwise we all will be his prisoner one day."
So Zhuang went in and toasted, then he said: "The Lord drinks with Pei Gong, but there is no entertainment in the army, please allow me to dance with my sword." King Xiang said: "Approved." Xiang Zhuang drew his sword and danced. Xiang Bo also drew his sword and danced along, protecting Pei Gong obscurely with his body. Zhuang had no chance.
At this moment, Zhang Liang went out to the gate and found Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai asked: "How is the situation?" Liang said: "Very dangerous! Xiang Zhuang is dancing with sword, intending to kill Pei Gong!" Kuai said: "This is urgent! Let me in, I will save him with my life." Kuai broke through the gate with shield and sword. The guards tried to stop him. He crashed the guards to the ground with his shield. Then he rushed in (to the hall), stood facing the west with the mantle on his shoulders, his eyes opening so wide that the brow ridge was about to break up. King Xiang touched his sword and asked: "Who is this?" Zhang Liang said: "This is Pei Gong's stableman, Fan Kuai." King Xiang said: "A hero! Bestow wine on him!" Kuai was hence given wine. He (gave thanks) on his knees, then stood up and drank it all. King Xiang said: "Bestow pork on him!" He was then given raw pork. Kuai laid his shield on the ground, put the pork on it, cut the pork with his sword and ate. King Xiang asked: "Hero! Can you drink again?" Fan Kuai answered: "Even death will not scare me, how would wine! The emperor of Qin was as cruel as tiger and wolf, killing and torturing the people without an end. So the people revolted against him. King Huai (of Chu) made the agreement with all lords that the first who broke into Guanzhong should be king. Since Pei Gong defeated Qin and took over the city of Xian Yang, he kept nothing for himself. He sealed the palace, and waited for the King's arrival. He ordered his men to guard the pass only to prevent bandits and emergencies. You did not award such a man of merit, but instead trusted lies and tricks, intending to kill him. This is the same behavior as the dead Qin. I suggest your highness not do this." The King did not answer him, instead he only said: "Sit." Fan Kuai then took the seat beside Liang. After a while, Pei Gong got up and went out to the washroom, and asked Kuai to come with him. |
| | 項羽本紀: |
沛公已出，項王使都尉陳平召沛公。沛公曰：「今者出，未辭也，為之柰何？」樊噲曰：「大行不顧細謹，大禮不辭小讓。如今人方為刀俎，我為魚肉，何辭為。」於是遂去。乃令張良留謝。良問曰：「大王來何操？」曰：「我持白璧一雙，欲獻項王，玉斗一雙，欲與亞父，會其怒，不敢獻。公為我獻之」張良曰：「謹諾。」當是時，項王軍在鴻門下，沛公軍在霸上，相去四十里。沛公則置車騎，脫身獨騎，與樊噲、夏侯嬰、靳彊、紀信等四人持劍盾步走，從酈山下，道芷陽閒行。沛公謂張良曰：「從此道至吾軍，不過二十里耳。度我至軍中，公乃入。」沛公已去，閒至軍中，張良入謝，曰：「沛公不勝桮杓，不能辭。謹使臣良奉白璧一雙，再拜獻大王足下；玉斗一雙，再拜奉大將軍足下。」項王曰：「沛公安在？」良曰：「聞大王有意督過之，脫身獨去，已至軍矣。」項王則受璧，置之坐上。亞父受玉斗，置之地，拔劍撞而破之，曰：「唉！豎子不足與謀。奪項王天下者，必沛公也，吾屬今為之虜矣。」沛公至軍，立誅殺曹無傷。 |
| Annals of Xiang Yu: |
As Pei Gong has come out, King Xiang ordered Lieutenant Chen Ping to call him back in. Pei Gong said (to Fan Kuai): "I came out without saying goodbye, what should I do now?" Fan Kuai said: "The most powerful never mind small matters; the most polite never care about small etiquette. Now they are knife and chopping block, we are fish in between, why need we say goodbye?" So [Pei Gong decided to] leave. He ordered Zhang Liang to stay and apologize for him. Liang asked: "Have you brought anything here?" [Pei Gong] said: "I have a pair of white jade for the Lord, and a pair of jade pecks for Yafu. They were angry so I dare not give them. Please deliver the gifts for me." Liang said: "Yes."
At that time, the camp of King Xiang was in Hongmen, and the camp of Pei Gong was in Bashang, 40 li from each other. Pei Gong discarded his chariot and rode alone, followed by Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Qi Jiang and Ji Xin with swords and shields in their hands. They took a shortcut at the foot of the Mountain Li through Zhiyang. Pei Gong told Liang [before they left]: "It is only 20 li to our camp through this path. You go back in when you estimate that we have arrived." Pei Gong reached his camp after a while. Zhang Liang went back in (to the hall) and apologized: "Pei Gong has drunk too much, he cannot say his farewells. He ordered me to give this pair of white jade to the Lord, and this pair of jade pecks to the high general." King Xiang asked: "Where is Pei Gong?" Liang said: "He heard that the Lord intended to blame him for his fault, so he left and should have arrived in his camp." King Xiang accepted the jade and put it on the table. Yafu took the jade pecks, put them on the ground and broke them with his sword, saying (to Xiang Yu): "Ah! You idiot, I cannot help you! It shall be Pei Gong who will defeat you. We all will be imprisoned by him!" Upon arriving in his camp, Pei Gong executed Cao Wushang. |
