According to the Preface, there is an announcement here of the realization of complete peace throughout the kingdom, and some of the old critics refer the ode to a sacrifice to king Win by the duke of Kâu, when he had completed the statutes for the new dynasty. But there is nothing to authorize a more definite argument of the contents than I have given.
The ordinances of Heaven,--How deep are they and unintermitting! And oh! how illustrious Was the singleness of the virtue of king Wan [3]!
How does he (now) show his kindness? We will receive it, Striving to be in accord with him, our
[1. These would be the princes who were assembled on the occasion, and assisted the king in the service.
2 That is, the officers who took part in the libations, prayers, and other parts of the sacrifice.
3 See what Dze-sze says on these four lines in the Doctrine of the Mean, XXVI, par. 10.]
king Wan; And may his remotest descendant be abundantly the same!
ODE 3. THE WEI KHING.
APPROPRIATE AT SOME SACRIFICE TO KING WAN, AND CELEBRATING HIS STATUTES.
Nothing more can, with any likelihood of truth, be said of this short piece, which moreover has the appearance of being a fragment.