by Pan Ni （ca. 250-ca. 311)
Tai-kang 1 [291] Winter. Twelfth month.
Our sovereign, seeing that the imperial heir had reached his majority and knowing that, in commencing the path of humanity, nothing was more important than filial and fraternal piety, He ordered a convocation at court for a discourse on the Classic of Filial Piety to be held in the Hall of Sublime Rectitude. Such an act is truly an appropriate acknowledgement of Heaven-endowed learning. For it is well known that subtle words and profound meanings issue from sage questions; so when the affair reaches its end, the very essence of meaning will have been achieved.
In the intercalary month of spring in the third year of this era, there was a ceremony in the Upper Palistra in which offerings were made to the masters of the past. This is what is called for in the rites.
On the twenty-fourth, a bingshen day,
The Shrine Attendants line up,
The emperor is present at the Imperial Academy.
The Grand Tutor is out front,
The Junior Tutor behind him.
So faithful are they in perpetuating the teachings!
The palace officials having completed their procession,
The Three Leaders prepare the guards.
So composed is their solemn respect for servce and aid.
Then,
They sweep the platforms, make ready the halls;
Hang partitions and prepare the palace chambers.
The Master is seated in the Western Study
The disciples kneel in attendance at the North Wall.
The Clan Director presides over the ceremony,
The Director of Ceremonial divides all by rank.
The classical scholars of the two academies,
And the masters of the sash,
With dangling pendants and belted jades,
Advance with regulated steps and precise footwork.
All in hierarchical order, are assembled at the foot of the hall,
Attending upon the command to commence the event.
They set out wine goblets and food trays amidst the twin pillars.
And array the rinsing bowls to the left of the receiving steps;
They lay out serving tables and dining mats,
And group the hanging bells on their racks.
Our Heir then, personally makes his formal bows, and acknowledges the virtue of the Three Guides. The excellence of his gleaming modesty becomes all the more extraordinary, as the teachings of Queli are properly honored.
How majestic! How harmonious!
This will truly be a clear testament to the rulers of old--a stunning proceeding which defies description. There could be no substitute for it.
And then,
When the livestock offerings are concluded,
And the xiang offerings have been completed,
Black winter robes are removed,
And green spring vestments donned.
The seasonal closing of verandahs is repealed;
All is done according to the ancient ways.
The Son of Heaven then commands
Those at court and beyond--the assembled bureaucrats,
Court officials, officers of state,
Regional kings and the Three Rectors,
Down to the classical students and sons of the state--
To come and attend the ceremony.
Our ruler proffers to all and joins in the feasting.
There are sounds of gongs, chimes, pipes and flutes;
There are eight file dances from the six dynasties.
Sounds of "keng-qiang"! "tang-ta"!
Dancers circle about looking up and looking down.
We clarify our spirits, cleanse our desires,
Transform our behavior, and amend our habits.
There is none who do not complete the presentation.
We shall suppress lewd songs,
Guard against the music of Zheng and Wei.
We shall keep flattery and perversity at a distance
and cast aside clever sophistry.
On this day,
There is no difference in ignorance or knowledge among people;
The sage path knows nothing of far or near.
People depart their home villages and venture beyond our country's borders;
They help steady the elderly and take young ones by the hand.
Without any prior plan, all have come together.
Everyone cranes their neck to get a look,
And cups their ears to listen.
They long for the Way, they yearn for the path.
Cleansing their minds and renewing their will,
They think reverently of the teachings from Zhu-Si,
And praise in song the magnanimity that brings ease.
After this, they know the excellence of domestic life,
And manifest their appreciation far and wide.
This teaching beyond words
Overflows the nine possessions.
This splendid and hallowed ceremony
Strengthens the magnificent vision of this august age,
Which happens only once in ten thousand years.
Zhongni was humbled to serve as ritual officer,
Once he had smelled the sacrificial meats.
Now joining in at the end of the line,
Personally viewing this magnificent splendor
Soaking and steeping in the emblematic way
Bathed and immersed in sweet moisture
"Without thinking, our hands dance and our mouths recite."
I have made this hymn in one section;
Although its meaning is obvious and its wording crude.
The text reads:
As the Three Epochs circulate in their due course,
And the Five Phases follow one upon the other,
When the yellow essence had reached its peak,
The white phase then gained ascendance.
Our Great Augustus acceded to Heaven's command,
And established the Jin domain.
Bestowed with the great treasure,
He ascended like a dragon taking flight.
Xuan's foundation gave birth to the mandate,
And Jing's brilliance extended the line.
The threefold array began in the time of Wen,
And it was Wu who then succeeded to the throne.
Rolling up the southern barbarians like a mat,
He brought peace to the wasteland defiles.
His Way aided the hosts of people;
His transforming influence coursed throughout the realm.
Our present sovereign inherited this,
And maintains its greatness and prosperity.
In full possession of the myriad regions,
His radiance pervades the entire world.
Blessed with the birth of this imperial heir,
Who will perpetuate this age of distinction and excellence,
Respect for our sage ruler rises day-by-day.
His deep wisdom is so broad and profuse.
He puts his energy into the Ruist tradition,
Devotedly perusing the ancient teachings.
He follows the Way and is deferential toward his elders,
He is humble in mind and willing to inquire of those beneath him.
His repute expands with the resonance of a great bell,
His actions radiate with the luster of fine jade.
He is like the rising of the sun,
Like the progression of Heaven.
He welcomes the ministerial preceptors,
He directs the scholar officials.
His sage countenance is truly reverent,
Those in attendance are silently respectful.
Setting forth subtle explanations,
Offering up truths of the Way,
He investigates the remote, delves into the abstruse,
"By reviewing the old, one knows the new."
When the discourse had reached its conclusion,
All essential points had been examined.
Honoring sages, revering teachers,
They divined a day for making the offering.
They set out the three sacrificial animals,
Brought in the four racks of musical instruments.
Adhering to prohibitions and proper form,
They cleansed themselves and made offerings.
To be humble and sincere as our Sage Confucius,
Such is the hope of all rulers.
And to be as diligent and tireless as Yan Hui,
Who was so fond of learning and without transgressions.
It may be said that our Imperial Heir,
Embodies divine spirit, and brings forth good fortune.
He has foreknowledge of propitious signs,
He can see clearly the details of what is yet to come.
Dignified and stately are the Two Palaces.
Numerous indeed the crowd of officials.
Superior talents gather as densely as the scales of a dragon,
Prominent scholars fill the court.
Like fine goods arrayed in a shop,
There is not one that is not a precious jade
Like the appearance of a glorious phoenix
Singing for us Yun and Shao songs.
Of these precious jades, who can split them apart?
Or open wide the gates to the four directions?
The Yun and Shao-how will they be performed?
Spirits and men-how will they achieve proper harmony?
Cicada caps shimmer throughout the court,
Finely wrought jade pendants jingle as they proceed up the steps.
Virtue is radiant with integrity;
Humanity is suffused with magnanimity.
Our wine offerings are pure;
Our sacrificial meats are fragrant.
We perform the dances of the Six Dynasties;
We sing the song of the "Nine Movements."
Plentiful indeed-the royal progeny,
Ample indeed-the learned students.
Clearing their minds, renewing themselves,
They observe the glory of the state.
Learning is like planting seedlings,
Teaching is like "bending grass."
We are expanded by texts,
We are enlarged by the Way.
The myriad regions shall be renewed,
Superior talents shall make it so.
Crack open an oyster and there may be a lustrous pearl,
Split open a rock and jade may be found.
Silk thread is neither black nor yellow,
Water is shaped neither square nor round.
Move water and it flows,
Dye silk and it can be colored.
Like metal being molded,
Like clay being fashioned.
Above it can be as beautiful as clouds.
Below it may imitate a vast river.
Long ago, with the rise of the Zhou
Came the origin of royal influence.
There was King Wen, there was King Wu,
In their time, they too had royal heirs.
Now, our Crown Prince,
Complete in wisdom, thorough in reason.
Continuously bright with redoubled brilliance,
How solemn-without cease!
How solemn-is he not?
So accomplished-this wise lord.
Loved indeed is this One Man,
A true adjutant to the One Ruler.
His devotion spreads throughout our dynastic realm.
His radiance shines throughout the Nine Possessions.
Such great blessings for the Jin,
And its prolonged age of great prosperity.
Your lowly, insignificant servant,
Mistakenly posted as an imperial attendant
Undeservedly walking among eminent personages,
Moving alongside the grandest of men,
My body is bathed in the fragrant perfume of the inner court;
My eyes delight in the sumptuous display of its grand affairs.
And so, with due devotion, I have composed this hymn,
To venerate in verse the sage will.
Jin shu 55.1510-1512
translated by Tony Fairbank
