and to the reigns of his son and grandson, kings Wu and Khang. The
decades are named from the name of the first piece in each.


The First Decade, or that of Khing Miao.


ODE 1. THE KHING MIAO.


CELEBRATING THE REVERENTIAL MANNER IN WHICH A SACRIFICE TO
KING WAN; WAS PERFORMED, AND FURTHER PRAISING HIM.

Chinese critics agree in assigning this piece to the sacrifice mentioned
in the Shu, in the end of the thirteenth Book of Part V, when, the
building of Lo being finished, king Khang came to

[1. See on the last line but two of ode 3.]

the new city, and offered a red bull to Win, and the same to Wu. It
seems to me to have been sung in honour of Wan, after the service was
completed. This determination of the occasion of the piece being
accepted, we should refer it to B.C. 1108.

Oh! solemn is the ancestral temple in its pure stillness. Reverent and
harmonious were the distinguished assistants[1]; Great was the number of
the officers [2]:--(All) assiduous followers of the virtue of (king
Wan). In response to him in heaven, Grandly they hurried about in the
temple. Distinguished is he and honoured, And will never be wearied of
among men.