DARK-ENIGMA BIRD

Heaven bade Dark-Enigma bird

descend and give birth to Shang,

our people inhabiting lands boundless and beyond,

then our Celestial Lord bade brave and forceful T’ang

establish boundaries to the far corners of our lands,

bade him then rule these lands,

these nine regions in splendor.

So T’ang, first emperor of Shang,

received the Mandate. Ever safe,

it has passed now to Wu Ting’s

sons, to his sons and grandsons,

our emperors brave and forceful,

nothing they will not overcome—

their lords with dragon banners

parading grains to the sacrifice,

their domain thousands of miles

offering the people sure support.

He pushed the boundaries of our land to the four seas,

and now from the four seas comes

homage, such abounding homage.

And our far frontier is the river.

That Shang received the Mandate was due, right and due,

and its hundred blessings continue.