Xia and Shang Dynasties and Historical Idiom Stories of Western Zhou Dynasty

Original text of praying for rain in mulberry forest

History of Shang Dynasty: When Tang Zuo was made (1), there was a long drought (2). Tai Shi took it and said, "Pray with others." Tang said, "I ask for rain, and people also ask for rain." If you must employ people, please be yourself. "Then I fasted, cut my hair, broke my claws, rode on a white horse (3) and a small cogongrass (4), and prayed in the wild of the mulberry forest as a sacrifice. Six things of self-reproach: "Political misconduct (5)? People neglect their duties (6)? Court worship (7)? Female sheng sheng (8)? Does it matter (19)? Rudder (10)? "Haven't said exports, it rained thousands of miles. ("Huai Nan Zi Zhu Shu Xun")

According to the historical records of Yin and Shang Dynasties, there was no rain and drought for a long time when Cheng Tang was in power. After divination, the Taishi said, "You should kill a man to beg for rain." Cheng Tang said, "What I want to do is to save talents and beg for rain. If I must ask God for rain by killing people, please allow me to be that person myself. " So Cheng Tang bathed and fasted, trimmed his hair and nails, rode a white horse, pulled a car without ornate decoration, and was wrapped in imperata. As a victim who prayed to God for rain, he prayed to God in the mulberry wilderness and blamed himself for six things, saying, "Is it my improper government order or my poor management that made my officials dereliction of duty and made the people miserable?" Either my palace is too expensive and luxurious, or because I listened to the concubines playing politics; Or my laws are lax, leading to corruption and bribery; Or because I'm not good at flattering villains with talents! "Cheng Tang's words haven't say that finish, heavy rain in Wan Li, Fiona Fang.