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申公臣靈王

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Text ID
KR2p0083
Date
-350–-250
Dynasty
戰國

Shēngōng Chén Líng Wáng 申公臣靈王

The Lord of Shen Serves King Ling (modern editorial title; also sometimes cited as 靈王既位 “Upon King Ling’s Accession”)

(anonymous; excavated bamboo manuscript, no attributable author)

About the work

Shēngōng Chén Líng Wáng 申公臣靈王 is a historical narrative preserved on approximately 5 bamboo strips from the Shanghai Museum corpus of Warring States Chǔ 楚 manuscripts, published in 馬承源 Mǎ Chéngyuán ed., 《上海博物館藏戰國楚竹書》 vol. 9, Shànghǎi gǔjí chūbǎnshè 上海古籍出版社, 2012. The text concerns events involving Chǔ King Líng 楚靈王 (r. 541–529 BCE) and focuses on an anecdote about moderation, restraint, and the behavior appropriate to a noble youth. The implied moral is that refusing to overreach — even when opportunity and license are available — is itself a form of virtue.

Abstract

The narrative opens: “When King Ling had taken the throne (Líng wáng jì wèi 靈王既位), Shēn and Xī [people of those fiefdoms] were not at peace (bù nìng 不慭, reading uncertain). The king defeated the lord of Cài at Lǚ 呂, ordered the men of Shēn to go out [and plunder] in full force, and took the ritual vessels (qì 器) of Cài.” The officials (zhíshì rén 執事人) stationed themselves at Cài’s military gate and ordered that people not leave empty-handed.

The anecdote of Xū. Shēn Chénggōng 申成公 (the lord of Shēn) recognizes his young son Xū 虛, who has not yet had his hair put up (wèi xù fà 未蓄髮, i.e., still a child). He orders that three carts (sān tú 三徒) be released to Xū. The officials try to stop them. Xū mounts one cart with a four-horse team but tells the officials: “I am young and unable to manage these implements; I’ve obtained this cart, but I cannot drive it home.” He is given the cart’s whip (cè 策). Xū takes the whip and departs, but upon reaching Jī ford (jí shè 擊澨 — reading uncertain), he abandons even the whip there.

Chénggōng’s reaction. When Shēn Chénggōng hears of this, he fears Xū might take more (jù qí yòu qǔ 懼其又取焉) and scolds him angrily: “The whole state has seized everything; you alone got nothing (wú dé 亡得)!” Xū makes no reply (xū bù dá 虛不答). The lord repeats his anger. Xū remains silent.

The text ends here or is further damaged. The narrative structure implies that the king or another figure subsequently praises the anecdote — the son’s restraint in taking only one cart, and then relinquishing even its whip, becomes an exemplar of princely self-limitation in the midst of general plundering. The silence of Xū in the face of his father’s incomprehension is part of the moral point: the truly virtuous do not explain themselves.

Textual context. King Líng of Chǔ’s reign — marked by military expansionism, the annexation of Cài, the construction of the Zhānghuá 章華 terrace, and eventual overthrow — is extensively documented in the Zuǒzhuàn 左傳 (Zhāo 昭 and Āi 哀 annals). The subjugation of Cài and seizure of its goods narrated here corresponds to events around 531 BCE (the annexation of Cài). This text provides an unusual close-up anecdote of behavior in the aftermath of conquest, focused not on the political-military narrative but on the ethical formation of a young nobleman.

Translations and research

  • 馬承源 ed., 《上海博物館藏戰國楚竹書》 vol. 9, Shànghǎi gǔjí chūbǎnshè, 2012 — editio princeps.
  • Pines, Yuri. Envisioning Eternal Empire. University of Hawai’i Press, 2009.
  • Shaughnessy, Edward L. Rewriting Early Chinese Texts. SUNY Press, 2006.

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