There are events that cannot be brought about by human effort but that happen spontaneously. Just such an event was the capture of the
qilin in the royal hunt in the west, which tallied with [Confucius’s] receiving Heaven’s Mandate. Consequently, [Confucius] availed himself of the distinction between the proper and improper affairs [recorded] in the
Spring and Autumn to illuminate the righteous principle of reforming regulations to unify governance under the Son of Heaven. He accepted the worries of the world as his own and labored to eradicate what brought misfortune to the world. He wanted to transmit [the teachings of] the Five Thearchs of high antiquity and attain [the virtue of] the Three Kings of later ages in order to comprehend the Way of the One Hundred Kings and to follow the cycles of Heaven.
1 With extensive knowledge of the subtle proofs of success and failure, he investigated the various manifestations of fate and portents. He plumbed the principles of things to develop fully what is suitable to the emotions and nature, thereby extending Heaven’s prosperity.
2 [16/24/8–11]
The task of unifying them lies with the ruler.