The historian says史臣曰
1The historian says
史臣曰：廣谷大川異制，人生其間異俗，嗜欲不同，言語不通，聖人因時設教，所以達其志而通其俗也。九夷所居，與中夏懸隔，然天性柔順，無獷暴之風，雖緜邈山海，而易以道御。夏、殷之代，時或來王。暨箕子避地朝鮮，始有八條之禁，疎而不漏，簡而可久，化之所感，千載不絕。今遼東諸國，或衣服參冠冕之容，或飲食有俎豆之器，好尚經術，愛樂文史，遊學於京都者，往來繼路，或亡沒不歸。非先哲之遺風，其孰能致於斯也？故孔子曰：「言忠信，行篤敬，雖蠻貊之邦行矣。」誠哉斯言。其俗之可採者，豈徒楛矢之貢而已乎？自高祖撫有周餘，惠此中國，開皇之末，方事遼左，天時不利，師遂無功。二代承基，志包宇宙，頻踐三韓之域，屢發千鈞之弩。小國懼亡，敢同困獸，兵連不戢，四海騷然，遂以土崩，喪身滅國。兵志有之曰：「務廣德者昌，務廣地者亡。」然遼東之地，不列於郡縣久矣。諸國朝正奉貢，無闕於歲時，二代震而矜之，以為人莫若己，不能懷以文德，遽動干戈。內恃富強，外思廣地，以驕取怨，以怒興師。若此而不亡，自古未之聞也。然則四夷之戒，安可不深念哉！
The historian says: broad valleys and great rivers make different institutions, and the people born between them have different customs. What they like and want is not the same, and their languages do not carry. Therefore the sage set up his teaching according to the time, so as to reach their purposes and open a way through their customs.
The Nine Yi (九夷) dwell far apart from China, yet their nature is soft and yielding, and they have no wild or violent ways. Though mountains and seas set them far off, they are easy to govern by the way. In the ages of Xia and Yin they came to court from time to time. When Gija fled to Joseon, there were first the eight articles of prohibition. They were loose, and yet nothing leaked through; they were simple, and yet they could last. What that transforming work touched did not break off for a thousand years.
Now among the several states of Liaodong, some have clothing that keeps the form of cap and crown, and some use the sacrificial stand and dish for their food. They love the classics and delight in literature and history, and those who go to study in the capital follow one another along the road, and some die there and do not return. If it were not for the wind of teaching left by the sages of old, what else could have brought this about? Therefore Confucius said, "If words are loyal and true and conduct is earnest and respectful, they will carry even in the countries of the Man and the Mo." True indeed are these words. Of what is worth taking from their customs, how could the tribute of hosi arrows (楛矢) be all?
From the time when Gaozu took in hand what Zhou had left and gave his grace to this Middle Kingdom, at the end of Kaihuang he set about the affairs of Liaodong, but the season of heaven was not favorable, and his army in the end had no success. The second reign (Emperor Yang) carried on the work, and his ambition took in the whole world. Again and again he trod the bounds of the Three Han, and time after time he loosed crossbows of a thousand jun. The small country feared destruction and dared to stand like a beast at bay. War followed on war and did not rest, the four seas were in turmoil, and at last it all fell in like caving earth, and he lost his own body and ruined his country.
The book of war says, "He who works to broaden virtue flourishes; he who works to broaden land perishes." Now the land of Liaodong has long stood outside the commanderies and counties. The several states received the calendar and brought tribute, and they missed no season of the year. Yet the second reign shook itself and made a boast of this, holding that no one was his equal, and since he could not gather them in by the virtue of letters, he moved spear and shield straightaway. Within he trusted to wealth and strength; without he thought of broadening his land. By pride he earned their hatred, and in anger he raised an army. That a man should do this and not perish has never been heard of from of old. This being so, how can the warning about the Four Yi (四夷) not be deeply pondered!