MDDM Ch. 64 Hsi and Ho

[jbor]

The original source for the story of this "Pair of Astronomers legendary in
China" seems to be the 'Shu King', or 'Book of Historical Documents', one of
the five sacred texts of Confucianism.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/sbe03/index.htm#shih

http://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/sbe03/shu03.htm

BOOK IV. THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION OF YIN.

THIS Book is another of the 'Speeches' of the Shû, belonging to the reign of
Kung Khang, a brother of Thâi Khang, the fourth of the kings of Shang (B.C.
2159-2147).

Hsî and Ho, the principal ministers of the Board of Astronomy, descended
from those of the same name in the time of Yâo, had given themselves over to
licentious indulgence in their private cities, and grossly neglected their
duties. Especially had they been unobservant of an eclipse of the sun in
autumn. The king considered them worthy of death, and commissioned the
marquis of Yin to execute on them the sentence of his justice. Where Yin was
is not now known.

The principal part of the Book consists of the speech made by the marquis to
his troops.

I. When Kung Khang commenced his reign over all within the four seas, the
marquis of Yin was commissioned to take charge of the (king's) six hosts.
(At this time) the Hsî and Ho had neglected the duties of their office, and
were abandoned to drink in their (private) cities; and the marquis of Yin
received the king's charge to go and punish them.

2. He made an announcement to his hosts, saying, 'Ah! ye, all my men, there
are the well-counselled instructions of the sage (founder of our dynasty),
clearly verified in their power to give stability and security:--"The former
kings were carefully attentive to the warnings of Heaven[1],* and their
ministers observed the regular laws (of their offices). All the officers
(moreover) watchfully did their duty to

[1. That is, here, such warnings as were supposed to be conveyed by eclipses
and other unusual celestial phenomena.]

assist (the government), and their sovereign became entirely intelligent."
Every year, in the first month of spring, the herald, with his
wooden-tongued bell, goes along the roads [1], (proclaiming), "Ye officers
able to instruct, be prepared with your admonitions. Ye workmen engaged in
mechanical affairs, remonstrate on the subjects of your employments. If any
of you do not attend with respect (to this requirement), the country has
regular punishments for you."

'Now here are the Hsî and Ho. They have allowed their virtue to be
subverted, and are besotted by drink. They have violated the duties of their
office, and left their posts. They have been the first to let the regulating
of the heavenly (bodies) get into disorder, putting far from them their
proper business. On the first day of the last month of autumn, the sun and
moon did not meet harmoniously in Fang [2]. The blind musicians beat their
drums; the inferior officers galloped, and the common people (employed about
the public offices) ran about [3]. The Hsî and the Ho, however, as if they
were (mere) personators; of the dead in their offices, heard nothing and
knew nothing;--so stupidly went they astray (from their duties) in the
matter of the heavenly appearances, and rendered themselves liable to the
death appointed by the former kings. The statutes of government say, "When
they anticipated the time, let them be put to death without mercy; when
(their

[1. A similar practice existed in the Kâu dynasty.

2. See the Introduction, p. 13.

3. Similar observances are still practised on occasion of an eclipse of the
sun. See Biot's Etudes sur I'Astronomie Indienne et Chinoise, pp. 357-360.]

reckoning) is behind the time, let them be put to death without mercy."

'Now I, with you all, am entrusted with the execution of the punishment
appointe by Heaven.* Unite your strength, all of you warriors, for the royal
House. Give me your help, I pray you, reverently to carry out the dread
charge of the Son of Heaven.

'When the fire blazes over the ridge of Khwan[1], gems and stones are burned
together; but if a minister of Heaven exceed in doing his duty, the
consequences will be fiercer than blazing fire. While I destroy,
(therefore), the chief criminals, I will not punish those who have been
forced to follow them; and those who have long been stained by their filthy
manners will be allowed to renovate themselves.

'Oh! when sternness overcomes compassion, things are surely conducted to a
successful issue. When compassion overcomes sternness, no merit can be
achieved. All ye, my warriors, exert yourselves, and take warning, (and obey
my orders)!'

[1. Khwan is perhaps a part of the Khwan-lun mountain in the west of the
Ko-ko-nor, where the Ho has its sources. The speaker evidently thought of it
as volcanic.]

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