Î Yin), the Pâo-hăng[1]; that Thâi-wû[2] had Î Kih[2] and Khăn Hû[2], through whom (his virtue) was made to affect God,* and Wû Hsien[3] who regulated the royal House; that Zû-yî[3] had Wû Hsien's son; and that Wû-ting had Kan Phan[4]. (These ministers) carried out (their principles), and displayed (their merit), preserving and regulating the dynasty of Yin, so that, while its ceremonies lasted, (those sovereigns), when deceased, were assessors to Heaven[5],* and its duration extended over many years. Heaven thus determinately maintained its favouring appointment, and Shang was replenished with men. The various heads of great surnames and members of the royal House, holding employments, all held fast their virtue, and showed an anxious solicitude (for the kingdom). The smaller ministers, and the guardian princes in the Hâu and Tien domains, hurried about on their services. Thus did they all exert their virtue and aid their sovereign, so that whatever affairs he, the One man, had in hand, throughout the land, an entire faith was reposed in their justice as in the indications of the shell or the divining stalks.'*
The duke said, 'Prince Shih, Heaven gives length of days to the just and the intelligent; (it was thus
- ↑ See Part IV, v, sect. 1, ch. 1, where Î Yin is called Â-hăng, nearly=Pâo-hăng.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Thâi-wû is the Kung Zung last Book. Î Kih would be a son or grandson of Î Yin. Of Khăn Hû we know only what is stated here.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Zû-yî was the eleventh Yin sovereign, reigning B.C. 1525–1507. We know of Wû Hsien only that he was Zû-yî's minister.
- ↑ See Part IV, viii, sect. 3, ch. 1.
- ↑ That is, they were associated with Heaven in the sacrifices to it.
