2 'The nine regions' are the nine provinces into which Yue divided the
kingdom.]

first sovereign of Shang[1] Received the appointment without any element
of instability in it, And it is (now) held by the descendant of Wu-ting [2].

The descendant of Wu-ting Is a martial sovereign, equal to every
emergency. Ten princes, (who came) with their dragon-emblazoned banners,
Bear the large dishes of millet.

The royal domain of a thousand li Is where the people rest; But the
boundaries that reach to the four seas commence there.

From the four seas [3] they come (to our sacrifices); They come in
multitudes. King has the Ho for its outer border [4]. That Yin[5] should
have received the appointment (of Heaven) was entirely right;--(Its
sovereign) sustains all its dignities.


ODE 4. THE KHANG FA.


CELEBRATING HSIEH, THE ANCESTOR OF THE HOUSE OF SHANG;
HSIANG-THU, HIS GRANDSON; THANG, THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY; AND
I-YIN, THANG'S CHIEF MINISTER AND ADVISER.

It does not appear on occasion of what sacrifice this piece was made.
The most probable view is that of Mao, that it was the