The Announcement of Shao

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.3

Word count: 991 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Zhao Gao is a chapter title in the Zhoushu section of the Shangshu (Book of Documents). King Cheng wished to move the capital to Luoyang and first sent the Duke of Shao to oversee the work. When the Duke of Zhou inspected Luoyang, the Duke of Shao entrusted him with submitting a document admonishing King Cheng to revere virtue so that Heaven's mandate might endure.

Editor's review

Zhao Gao is an important document in the Zhoushu section of the Shangshu, recording the historical context of King Cheng's move of the capital to Luoyi and the joint governance of the Duke of Shao and the Duke of Zhou. Centering on the Duke of Shao's entrusting the Duke of Zhou with a petition admonishing King Cheng, it repeatedly sets forth the principles of revering virtue, protecting the people, and being cautious in punishment, closely linking Heaven's mandate with human affairs and embodying the core early Zhou political idea of "matching Heaven with virtue." The 2024 Bashu Press edition provides an accessible text for study and serves as a suitable introductory piece for understanding early Zhou history and political ethics. Readers should attend to its archaic Chinese expression and the argumentative structure characteristic of gao-style documents. Reading it alongside other Zhou documents in the Shangshu will better reveal the early Zhou rulers' line of thought on political legitimacy. The book is not long but information-dense; it rewards slow, careful reading and is especially suited to readers interested in pre-Qin political thought, historical documents, and ancient ideas of governance. Non-specialist readers are advised to use annotations and modern translations to grasp the meaning, then return to the original to appreciate its solemn, plain language.

Who it's for

A good fit for

University students studying pre-Qin historical documents and early Zhou political institutions
Readers interested in the intellectual history of ancient Chinese political ethics and the concept of Heaven's mandate
Teachers and scholars who need selected Shangshu chapters for teaching or research reference
Readers of traditional culture who hope to understand the ideas of revering virtue and protecting the people through the classics

Not a good fit for

General leisure readers expecting vernacular stories or light reading
Beginners lacking classical Chinese who are unwilling to consult annotations
Those who only want a quick overview of the history of the Luoyang capital and have no intention of reading the original closely

Reading tips

First read the modern translation to grasp the gist, then compare it paragraph by paragraph with the original, marking key function words and sentence patterns.
Read alongside other Zhou documents in the Shangshu, such as Kang Gao and Luo Gao, to clarify the context of the capital move and governance.
While reading, note the contexts in which key terms such as "revering virtue" and "Heaven's mandate" appear and summarize the layers of argument.
Use an early Zhou historical timeline and maps to help understand the background of the Dukes of Shao and Zhou administering Luoyi.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

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FAQ

How should the character "Zhao" in Zhao Gao be pronounced?

Here "Zhao" is both a place name and a title, traditionally read Shào, consistent with the surname and title of the Duke of Shao, Shi. Shào is the more common treatment; readers need only keep it in mind when reciting or quoting.

Can I read Zhao Gao without a classical Chinese background?

You can try, but you will need annotations and a modern translation. It is best to read the translation first for the gist, then return to the original for comparison, without insisting on word-by-word mastery. If it feels difficult, start with shorter, simpler Zhou documents.

What is the core idea of Zhao Gao?

According to the text, the core lies in admonishing King Cheng to revere virtue, protect the people, and ensure Heaven's mandate endures. Through the move of the capital to Luoyi, the Dukes of Shao and Zhou repeatedly urge rulers to act virtuously and use punishment cautiously, linking Heaven's mandate with human affairs and embodying the early Zhou political idea of "matching Heaven with virtue."

What background knowledge is needed to read Zhao Gao?

At minimum, know the basic facts of King Cheng's move of the capital to Luoyi and the joint governance of the Dukes of Shao and Zhou, as well as the argumentative features of gao-style documents in the Shangshu. Familiarity with early Zhou enfeoffment and the concept of Heaven's mandate will make the purpose of the repeated admonitions easier to follow.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.