Contents
The collection consists of 58 chapters, each with a brief preface traditionally attributed to Confucius. With the exception of a few chapters of late date, the chapters are represented as records of formal speeches by kings or other important figures. The chapters are grouped into parts devoted to pre-dynastic emperors (Yao and Shun), and to the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. The chapters are further categorized into the "New Text" and the "Old Text". Orthodox editions also include a preface and commentary, both traditionally attributed to Kong Anguo. Although the "rediscovered" Old Text chapters (and the preface and commentary) are generally believed to be forgeries from the 3rd or 4th centuries AD, the New Text chapters "are considered by most scholars to be authentic works of the 4th century BC or earlier."
| Part | New Text |
Orthodox chapter |
Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 虞書 Yu |
1 | 1 | 堯典 | Canon of Yao |
| 2 | 舜典 | Canon of Shun | ||
| 3 | 大禹謨 | Counsels of Great Yu | ||
| 2 | 4 | 皋陶謨 | Counsels of Gao Yao | |
| 5 | 益稷 | Yi and Ji | ||
| 夏書 Xia |
3 | 6 | 禹貢 | Tribute of Yu |
| 4 | 7 | 甘誓 | Speech at Gan | |
| 8 | 五子之歌 | Songs of the Five Sons | ||
| 9 | 胤征 | Punitive Expedition on Yin | ||
| 商書 Shang |
5 | 10 | 湯誓 | Speech of Tang |
| 11 | 仲虺之誥 | Announcement of Zhonghui | ||
| 12 | 湯誥 | Announcement of Tang | ||
| 13 | 伊訓 | Instructions of Yi | ||
| 14–16 | 太甲 | Tai Jia parts 1, 2 & 3 | ||
| 17 | 咸有一德 | Common Possession of Pure Virtue | ||
| 6 | 18–20 | 盤庚 | Pan Geng parts 1, 2 & 3 | |
| 21–23 | 說命 | Charge to Yue parts 1, 2 & 3 | ||
| 7 | 24 | 高宗肜日 | Day of the Supplementary Sacrifice of King Gaozong | |
| 8 | 25 | 西伯戡黎 | Chief of the West 's Conquest of Li | |
| 9 | 26 | 微子 | Weizi | |
| 周書 Zhou |
27–29 | 泰誓 | Great Speech parts 1, 2 & 3 | |
| 10 | 30 | 牧誓 | Speech at Muye | |
| 31 | 武成 | Successful Completion of the War | ||
| 11 | 32 | 洪範 | Great Plan | |
| 33 | 旅獒 | Hounds of Lü | ||
| 12 | 34 | 金滕 | Golden Coffer | |
| 13 | 35 | 大誥 | Great Announcement | |
| 36 | 微子之命 | Charge to Prince Weizi | ||
| 14 | 37 | 康誥 | Announcement to Kang | |
| 15 | 38 | 酒誥 | Announcement about Drunkenness | |
| 16 | 39 | 梓材 | Timber of Rottlera | |
| 17 | 40 | 召誥 | Announcement of Duke Shao | |
| 18 | 41 | 洛誥 | Announcement concerning Luoyang | |
| 19 | 42 | 多士 | Numerous Officers | |
| 20 | 43 | 無逸 | Against Luxurious Ease | |
| 21 | 44 | 君奭 | Lord Shi | |
| 45 | 蔡仲之命 | Charge to Cai Zhong | ||
| 22 | 46 | 多方 | Numerous Regions | |
| 23 | 47 | 立政 | Establishment of Government | |
| 48 | 周官 | Officers of Zhou | ||
| 49 | 君陳 | Lord Chen | ||
| 24 | 50 | 顧命 | Testamentary Charge | |
| 51 | 康王之誥 | Announcement of King Kang | ||
| 52 | 畢命 | Charge to the Bi | ||
| 53 | 君牙 | Lord Ya | ||
| 54 | 冏命 | Charge to Jiong | ||
| 25 | 55 | 呂刑 | Lü on Punishments | |
| 26 | 56 | 文侯之命 | Charge to Marquis Wen | |
| 27 | 57 | 費誓 | Speech at Fei | |
| 28 | 58 | 秦誓 | Speech of Qin | |
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