~Celebrating the Goodness of the Descendants of King Wan~
As the feet of the lin, which avoid each living thing,
So our prince’s noble sons no harm to men will bring.
They are the lin!
As the front of the lin, never forward thrust in wrath,
So our prince’s noble grandsons of love tread the path.
They are the lin!
As the horn of the lin, flesh-tipped, no wound to give,
So our prince’s noble kindred kindly with all live.
They are the lin!
[NOTE.—The “lin” is the female of “K’e”—a fabulous animal—the symbol of all goodness and benevolence; having the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, the hoofs of a horse, one horn, the scales of a fish, etc. Its feet do not tread on any living thing—not even on live grass; it does not butt with its forehead; and the end of its horn is covered with flesh—to show that, while able for war, it wills to have peace. The “lin” was supposed to appear inaugurating a golden age, but the poet finds a better auspice of that in the character of Wan’s family and kindred.]