[转载]Morrison's San-Tsi-King; th

Morrison's San-Tsi-King; the Three Character Classic (2)

Tien-shan, kuei-tsang, and cheu-ye, are three divisions of Ye-king. 

Shu-king contains tien, mu, hsiun, kae, shi, ming; all profound.

our ancestor Ki-kung, composed Ti-king, which illustrates the six standard laws that tend to preserve rule and order.

The two persons called great and little Tai, explained the Li-king, and handed down the sayings of the perfect men respecting both Li and Yo-king.

Kuo-feng, great and little ya, are four species of odes which ought to be forever recited.

Ya ode when lost was supplied by Kung-fu-tsi. He also composed Tsun-tsien, in which work, by awarding praise and blame, he separates the good from the bad. There are three comments on this classic, viz. kung-yung, Tso-shi, and Ko-leang.

When the six classics are understood, the ancient Tsi may be read, and their important parts collected, and committed to memory. There are five of them; Siun, Yang, Wen-chung, Lao, and Choang.

The King and Tsi being passed through, history may be read. It examines ages as they succeed one another; and by it are known the end and the beginning.

[History commences] from Fo-hi, and proceeds to Shun-nung and Hoang-ti, three emperors who lived in the highest antiquity.

The two emperors Tang or Yao, and Yu or Shun, both governed the empore well, and resigned the throne to worthy persons of their own family; the former to the latter, and he again to Hia or Yin, who left it his son Shang or Tang. Then followed the dynasty Cheu, under which were Wen and Wu, who with the preceding, are called "three kings."

Xia left the throne to his son, and considered the empire as his family. This continued four hundred years, when Hia's She [guardian deity] was removed.

Tang reduced Kio, the last of the dyamsty of Hia. This dynasty was called Jhang, and comtinued six hundred years, till the emperor Cheu, who lost the throne.

The king Wu, whose dynasty was called Cheu, completely extirpated Cheu. This dyansty lasted eight hundred years; a longer term than any other.

When this family fell the court was removed to the eastern part of the empire. The people of this time boasted of the spear and drat, and among them were persons skilled in negociation.

From the time of Tsun-tsien to the time of the general wars, there were five Pa [a certain of leaders], and seven Hiung stood forth. Ying-tsing conquered the last six, and transfered the empire to his son. Tsu and Han contested with him.

Then our great ancestor arose, when the family of Han was founded till Hiao and Zing, whose throne was usurped by Wang-mang.

Next Kuang-wu arose. He was called the eastern Han. This dynasty continued four hundred years till the time of Hien. When Wei, Sho, Wu, three states, strove for the empire of Han. They continued till the time of two Tsin. These were followed by Tsung and Tsi, and these again by Seang and Chin. Their capital was at Kin-ling [Nan-king], and they formed the southern empire.

The northern empire had the kings Yuen and Wei on the east and west.

Yu-wen of the latter dynasty Cheu, with Kao of the northern nation Tsi. continued till the dynasty Sui, when empires became one. It was not transfered beyond the third generation, when it was again lost.

The Tang, our ancestor, arose, who called forth able generals, ejected the distracted family of Sui, and became the founder of a new empire.