Editing Book of Documents (section)

==Contents==
In the orthodox arrangement, the work consists of 58 chapters, each with a brief preface traditionally attributed to Confucius, and also includes a preface and commentary, both purportedly by Kong Anguo.
An alternative organization, first used by [[Wu Cheng (philosopher)|Wu Cheng]], includes only the Modern Script chapters, with the chapter prefaces collected together, but omitting the Kong preface and commentary.
In addition, several chapters are divided into two or three parts in the orthodox form.{{sfnp|Shaughnessy|1993|pp=376–377}}

===Nature of the chapters===
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.{{sfnp|Allan|2011|p=3}}{{sfnp|Allan|2012|p=552}}
Most of these speeches are of one of five types, indicated by their titles:{{sfnp|Shaughnessy|1993|p=377}}
* Consultations ({{lang|zh|謨}} {{tlit|zh|mó}}) between the king and his ministers (2 chapters),
* Instructions ({{lang|zh|訓}} {{tlit|zh|xùn}}) to the king from his ministers (1 chapter),
* Announcements ({{lang|zh|誥}} {{tlit|zh|gào}}) by the king to his people (8 chapters),
* Declarations ({{lang|zh|誓}} {{tlit|zh|shì}}) by a ruler on the occasion of a battle (6 chapters), and
* Commands ({{lang|zh|命}} {{tlit|zh|mìng}}) by the king to a specific vassal (7 chapters).

Classical Chinese tradition lists six types of ''Shu'', beginning with ''dian'' {{lang|zh|典}}, Canons (2 chapters in the Modern corpus).

According to [[Su Shi]] (1037–1101), it is possible to single out Eight Announcements of the early Zhou, directed to the Shang people. Their titles only partially correspond to the modern chapters marked as ''gao'' (apart from the nos. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 that mention the genre, Su Shi names nos. 16 "Zi cai", 19 "Duo shi" and 22 "Duo fang").

As pointed out by [[Chen Mengjia]] (1911–1966), announcements and commands are similar, but differ in that commands usually include granting of valuable objects, land or servants to their recipients.

Guo Changbao {{lang|zh|过常宝}} claims that the graph for announcement ({{lang|zh|誥}}), known since the [[Oracle bone script]], also appears on two bronze vessels (''[[He zun]]'' and ''Shi Zhi gui'' {{lang|zh|史[臣+舌]簋}}), as well as in the "six genres" {{lang|zh|六辞}} of the ''[[Zhou li]]''<ref>{{lang|zh|论5尚书6诰体的文化背景}}</ref>{{clarify|date=February 2014}}

In many cases a speech is introduced with the phrase {{tlit|zh|Wáng ruò yuē}} ({{lang|zh|王若曰}} 'The king seemingly said'), which also appears on commemorative [[Chinese bronze inscriptions|bronze inscriptions]] from the Western Zhou period, but not in other received texts.
Scholars interpret this as meaning that the original documents were prepared scripts of speeches, to be read out by an official on behalf of the king.{{sfnp|Allan|2011|pp=3–5}}{{sfnp|Allan|2012|pp=552–556}}

===Traditional organization===
The chapters are grouped into four sections representing different eras: the semi-mythical reign of [[Yu the Great]], and the three ancient dynasties of the [[Xia dynasty|Xia]], [[Shang dynasty|Shang]] and [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]].
The first two sections – on Yu the Great and the Xia dynasty – contain two chapters each in the Modern Script version, and though they purport to record the earliest material in the ''Documents'', from the 2nd millennium BC, most scholars believe they were written during the [[Warring States period]].
The Shang dynasty section contains five chapters, of which the first two – the "Speech of [[Tang of Shang|King Tang]]" and "[[Pan Geng]]" – recount the conquest of the Xia by the Shang and their leadership's migration to a new capital (now identified as [[Anyang]]).
The bulk of the Zhou dynasty section concerns the reign of [[King Cheng of Zhou]] (r. {{Circa|1040}}–1006 BC) and the king's uncles, the [[Duke of Zhou]] and [[Duke of Shao]].
The last four Modern Script chapters relate to the later Western Zhou and early Spring and Autumn periods.{{sfnp|Shaughnessy|1993|pp=378–380}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|+ Chapters of the {{tlit|zh|Book of Documents}}
|-
! Part
! {{Color box|#F5DEB3|New|border=darkgray}}<br />{{Color box|#EDA|Text|border=darkgray}}
! Orthodox<br />chapter
! colspan="3" | Title
|-
| align="center" rowspan="5" | {{lang|zh|虞書}}<br />Yu [Shun]
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" rowspan="2" | 1
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 1
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|堯典}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Yáo diǎn}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Canon of [[Emperor Yao|Yao]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 2
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|舜典}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Shùn diǎn}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Canon of [[Shun (Chinese leader)|Shun]]
|-
| |
| align="center" | 3
| {{lang|zh|大禹謨}}
| {{tlit|zh|Dà Yǔ mó}}
| Counsels of [[Yu the Great|Great Yu]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" rowspan="2" | 2
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 4
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|皋陶謨}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Gāo Yáo mó}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Counsels of [[Gao Yao (Minister for Law)|Gao Yao]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 5
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|益稷}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Yì jì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Yi and Ji
|-
| align="center" rowspan="4" | {{lang|zh|夏書}}<br />Xia
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 3
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 6
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|禹貢}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | [[Yu Gong|{{tlit|zh|Yǔ gòng}}]]
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Tribute of [Great] Yu
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 4
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 7
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|甘誓}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Gān shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Speech at [the Battle of] Gan
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| align="center" | 8
| {{lang|zh|五子之歌}}
| {{tlit|zh|Wǔ zǐ zhī gē}}
| Songs of the Five Sons
|-
| align="center" | 9
| {{lang|zh|胤征}}
| {{tlit|zh|Yìn zhēng}}
| Punitive Expedition on [King Zhongkang of] Yin
|-
| align="center" rowspan="11" | {{lang|zh|商書}}<br />Shang
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 5
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 10
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|湯誓}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Tāng shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Speech of [[Tang of Shang|Tang]]
|-
| rowspan="5" |
| align="center" | 11
| {{lang|zh|仲虺之誥}}
| {{tlit|zh|Zhònghuī zhī gào}}
| Announcement of Zhonghui
|-
| align="center" | 12
| {{lang|zh|湯誥}}
| {{tlit|zh|Tāng gào}}
| Announcement of Tang
|-
| align="center" | 13
| {{lang|zh|伊訓}}
| {{tlit|zh|Yī xùn}}
| Instructions of [[Yi Yin|Yi [Yin]]]
|-
| align="center" | 14–16
| {{lang|zh|太甲}}
| {{tlit|zh|Tài jiǎ}}
| Great Oath parts 1, 2 & 3
|-
| align="center" | 17
| {{lang|zh|咸有一德}}
| {{tlit|zh|Xián yǒu yī dé}}
| Common Possession of Pure Virtue
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 6
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 18–20
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|盤庚}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Pán Gēng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | [[Pan Geng]] parts 1, 2 & 3
|-
| |
| align="center" | 21–23
| {{lang|zh|說命}}
| {{tlit|zh|Yuè mìng}}
| Charge to [[Fu Yue|Yue]] parts 1, 2 & 3
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 7
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 24
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|高宗肜日}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Gāozōng róng rì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Day of the Supplementary Sacrifice of [[Wu Ding|King Gaozong]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 8
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 25
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|西伯戡黎}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Xībó kān lí}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Chief of the West [King Wen]'s Conquest of [the State of] Li
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 9
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 26
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|微子}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Wēizǐ}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | <span class="lesen">[Prince] Weizi</span>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="30" | {{lang|zh|周書}}<br />Zhou
| |
| align="center" | 27–29
| {{lang|zh|泰誓}}
| {{tlit|zh|Tài shì}}
| Great Speech parts 1, 2 & 3
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 10
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 30
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|牧誓}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Mù shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Speech at [[Battle of Muye|Muye]]
|-
| |
| align="center" | 31
| {{lang|zh|武成}}
| {{tlit|zh|Wǔ chéng}}
| Successful Completion of the War [on Shang]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 11
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 32
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|洪範}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Hóng fàn}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Great Plan [of Jizi]
|-
| |
| align="center" | 33
| {{lang|zh|旅獒}}
| {{tlit|zh|Lǚ áo}}
| Hounds of [the Western Tribesmen] Lü
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 12
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 34
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|金滕}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Jīn téng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Golden Coffer [of Zhou Gong]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 13
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 35
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|大誥}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Dà gào}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Great Announcement
|-
| |
| align="center" | 36
| {{lang|zh|微子之命}}
| {{tlit|zh|Wēizǐ zhī mìng}}
| Charge to Prince Weizi
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 14
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 37
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|康誥}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Kāng gào}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Announcement to [[King Kang of Zhou|Kang]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 15
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 38
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|酒誥}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Jiǔ gào}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Announcement about Drunkenness
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 16
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 39
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|梓材}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Zǐ cái}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Timber of Rottlera
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 17
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 40
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|召誥}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Shào gào}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Announcement of Duke Shao
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 18
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 41
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|洛誥}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Luò gào}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Announcement concerning [[Luoyang]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 19
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 42
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|多士}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Duō shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Numerous Officers
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 20
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 43
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|無逸}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Wú yì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Against Luxurious Ease
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 21
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 44
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|君奭}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Jūn shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Lord Shi [Duke Shao]
|-
| |
| align="center" | 45
| {{lang|zh|蔡仲之命}}
| {{tlit|zh|Cài Zhòng zhī mìng}}
| Charge to Cai Zhong
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 22
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 46
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|多方}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Duō fāng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Numerous Regions
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 23
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 47
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|立政}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Lì zhèng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Establishment of Government
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| align="center" | 48
| {{lang|zh|周官}}
| {{tlit|zh|Zhōu guān}}
| Officers of Zhou
|-
| align="center" | 49
| {{lang|zh|君陳}}
| {{tlit|zh|Jūn chén}}
| Lord Chen
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" rowspan="2" | 24
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 50
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|顧命}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Gù mìng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Testamentary Charge
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 51
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|康王之誥}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Kāng wáng zhī gào}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Proclamation of King Kang
|-
| rowspan="3" |
| align="center" | 52
| {{lang|zh|畢命}}
| {{tlit|zh|Bì mìng}}
| Charge to the [Duke of] Bi
|-
| align="center" | 53
| {{lang|zh|君牙}}
| {{tlit|zh|Jūn Yá}}
| Lord Ya
|-
| align="center" | 54
| {{lang|zh|冏命}}
| {{tlit|zh|Jiǒng mìng}}
| Charge to Jiong
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 25
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 55
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|呂刑}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Lǚ xíng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | [Marquis] Lü on Punishments
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 26
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 56
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|文侯之命}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Wén hóu zhī mìng}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Charge to [[Duke Wen of Jin]]
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 27
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 57
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|費誓}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Fèi shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Speech at [the Battle of] Fei
|-
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 28
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" align="center" | 58
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{lang|zh|秦誓}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | {{tlit|zh|Qín shì}}
| bgcolor="#F5DEB3" | Speech of [[Duke Mu of Qin]]
|}