Page 39 - 2022(1) International Confusion Studies

32 J. Liu and X. Tong

In some versions the character 籒 has been replaced by 诵. It is the result of erroneous editing
by scholars with unsolid learning, which has now been corrected. [In dictionaries] entries
under the radical for “bamboo” explain that Zhou 籒 means to read a text … by which the
reader extractsits semantic content to the utmost, and that is called du (reading). (Xu, 2005, p.
90)
Evidently, either “reciting” or “reading” The Books of Songs, The Book of History,
and The Book of Rites among the classics, what matters is to understand the
implications of the texts.

1.2.2 On The Book of History

The last chapter of The Analects deals with The Book of History. The subject matter
may be an issue, but its tenet is in the same spirit of The Book of History.
The ancient Emperor Yao, when in his old age he abdicated the throne in favor
of his successor, Shun, thus gave him charge:
“Hail to thee, O Shun! The God-ordained order of succession now rests upon thy person. Hold
fast with thy heart and soul to the true middle course of right. If there shall be distress and
want among the people within the Empire, the title and honor which God has given to thee
will be taken away from thee forever.” (Gu, 2017, p. 444)

(Afterwards the Emperor Shun, when he abdicated in favor of his successor, the
great Yü, used the same language in giving him charge.) The Emperor Tang, when
he ascended the imperial throne, thus offered up his prayer to God:

“I, Li,who am oneofthy children,do heretakeupon metoofferuptothee insacrifice this
black heifer, and to announce to Thee, O supreme and sovereign God that sinners I shall not
dare to pardon; and, in the choice of Thy servants, I pray Thee, O God, that thou wilt let me
know Thy will and pleasure. If I do sin against Thee, let not the people suffer for my sin. But
if the people shall sin against Thee, let me alone bear the penalty of their iniquities.” (Gu,
2017, p. 444)

With the inauguration of the Chou dynasty, the country was greatly prosperous;
but only the good were rich. The Emperors guided themselves by the principle
contained in these words:

“Although there are men attached and related to our person, yet we do not consider them
equal in value to men of moral character. If the people fail in their conduct, it is we alone
who are to blame.” The Emperors set themselves to adjust and enforce uniformity in the use
of weights and measures; to organize the administration and laws; to re-establish disused
offices: in this way the administration throughout the Empire was well carried out. They
restored extinct families of nobles; called to office retired men of virtue and learning thus
the people throughout the Empire gladly acknowledged their authority. What they paid