“Political Turmoil and Cultural Rites in Ancient China”

In the spring of the eighteenth year, in the third month of King Wǔ, Lord Cáo passed away. In the summer of the fifth month, on the day Rénwǔ, Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng suffered calamities. In the sixth month, the people of Zhū entered Yù. In autumn, Lord Cáo Píng was buried. In winter, Xu moved to Báiyǔ.

In the spring of the eighteenth year, in the second month of King Wǔ, on the day Yǐmǎo, Zhōu Máodé killed Máo Bógòu and replaced him. Chàng Hóng said, “Máo Dé will inevitably perish. This is a day of great shame and recklessness. Máo Dé’s conduct in the capital city was wrong, and how could he have survived?” In the third month, Lord Cáo Píng passed away. In the summer of the fifth month, the fire began to appear dim. On the day of Bǐngzǐ, the wind blew. Zǐshèn said, “This is called a melting wind, the beginning of fire. In seven days, the fire will erupt!” On the day of Wùyín, the wind intensified greatly. On the day of Rénwǔ, it intensified even more. Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng were all affected by the fire. Zǐshèn climbed up the Dàtíng clan’s warehouse to observe and said, “It affects Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng.” After several days, everyone came to report about the fire. The assistant cook said, “If you don’t heed my words, Zheng will suffer from the fire again.” The people of Zheng requested to use fire, but Zǐ Chǎn disagreed. Zǐ Dàshū said, “Treasure, to protect the people. If there is a fire, the country will almost be ruined. Can we save the country? Why not love it?” Zǐ Chǎn said, “Heaven’s way is far away, and human’s way is close. It’s not up to me. How can the stove know Heaven’s way? This is also a lot of talk. Isn’t it trusted sometimes?” Therefore, he did not listen and did not use fire again. Before the fire in Zheng, Lǐxī told Zǐ Chǎn, “There will be a great calamity, and the people will be shaken. The country will almost be ruined. Is it okay to move the country?” Zǐ Chǎn said, “Even if it is possible, I am not enough to decide to move.” When the fire broke out, Lǐxī died, and Zǐ Chǎn sent thirty people to move the coffin. During the fire, Zǐ Chǎn refused to meet with the prince and the princes at the East Gate. He sent the magistrate to expel the new guests and prohibited the old guests from leaving the palace. He sent Zǐ Kuān and Zǐ Shàng to patrol the surrounding screens, even to the Grand Palace. He sent Gōngsūn to move the large tortoise. He sent the ritualists to move the master of the master to the Zhou Temple and told the ancestors. He ordered the officials and the treasury to be vigilant. Shāng Chéng-gōng warned the ritual of the palace, sent the old palace out, and put it where the fire was not available. Sīmǎ, Sīkòu, and other fire officials stayed in the fire path. People under the city, Wǔliè climbed the city. The next day, the magistrate kept their drivers as a self-governing monument, and gave them wood. Three days of crying, the country does not market. The envoy told the vassals. Song and Wei are also. Chen didn’t help the fire, and Xu didn know