A book attributed to the Han scholar Liu Xiang 劉向 (71-6 BC), who was the first to compile a catalogue of the imperial library. He was himself a collector of old stories that he put together in four different works, the Lienüzhuan, the Xinxu 新序 "New Prefaces", Shuoyuan 說苑 "Garden of Explanations", and Zhanguoce 戰國策 "Stratagems of the Warring States", probably also of the collection Liexianzhuan 列仙傳 "Biographies of Fairies". His son Liu Xie 劉歆 was an important representant of the Old Text school.

2.＜賢明傳＞2.2.＜齊桓衛姬＞

衛姬者，衛侯之女，齊桓公之夫人也。 桓公好淫樂，衛姬為之不聽鄭衛之音。桓公用管仲、甯戚、行伯（霸）道，諸侯皆朝，而衛獨不至。 桓公與管仲謀伐衛。罷朝入閨，衛姬望見桓公脫簪珥，解環珮，下堂再拜曰：「願請衛之罪。」桓公曰：「吾與衛無故，姬何請邪？」對曰：「妾聞之，人君有三色。 顯然喜樂，容貌淫樂者，鐘鼓酒食之色；寂然清靜，意氣沈抑者，喪禍之色；忿然充滿，手足矜動者，攻伐之色。今妾望君舉趾高，色厲音揚，意在衛也。是以請也。」 桓公許諾。明日臨朝，管仲趨進曰：「君之蒞朝也，恭而氣下，言則徐，無伐國之志，是釋衛也。」桓公曰：「善」乃立衛姬為夫人，號管仲為仲父，曰：「夫人治內，管仲治外，寡人雖愚，足以立于世矣。」君子謂衛姬信而有行。

《詩》曰：「展如之人兮，邦之媛也。」

頌曰：「齊桓衛姬，忠款誠信。公好淫樂，姬為修身。望色請罪，桓公加焉。厥使治內，立為夫人。」

Biographies of wise and intelligent women, 2.2. Duke Huan of Qi's Lady Wey

Lady Wey was the daughter of the marquis of Wey, and the wife of duke Huan of Qi (r. 685-644 BC). The duke loved sensual pleasures and music, but Lady Wey did not want to play the tunes of Zheng and Wey for him. Duke Huan (as a hegemonial ruler), following the advise of Guan Zhong, Ning Qi and Xing Bo (Ba), invited the feudal rulers to his court. Because the marquis of Wey was the only person not attending, the duke and Guan Zhong decided to attack Wey. When the duke left left the court hall and entered the private rooms, Lady Wey laid off her earrings and bracelets, went down the hall and besought the duke, "I would like to take over the responsibility for Wey's fault." The duke said, "There is no problem between Wey and Qi, why do you beseek me with such a matter?" The Lady answered, "I have heard that the ruler of men can have three indulgences: first, open pleasure, manifesting in lust - that is the indulgence for bells and drums, wine and food; second, silent pureness, deepening and rising mind and will - that is the indulgence for funerals and unluck; third, full to the brim with anger, boasting and trembling with hands and feet - that is the indulgence for war and military campaigns. Now I see that your feet is kicking in the height, your appearance is severe and your voice swinging - your mind is pointing at Wey; therefore I beg you to be allowed taking over the responsibility for Wey's fault." The duke granted her wish. On the next day, when he attended to the court, Guan Zhong rushed in and said, "A ruler should open a court session respectful and with a calm mind, his speech should be dignified, and only if he has not the jealousy to attack another state, we will solve the problem of Wey." The duke answered, "Well spoken." Thereupon he promoted Lady Wey to the position as his wife and entitled Guan Zhong as "Uncle", saying, "The Lady shall bring order inside the palace, Guan Zhong shall bring order to the dukedom. Although I am only a simple-minded fellow, I am worth to have successors." The ruler trusted to the words of Lady Wey and followed her advice.

The Book of Songs (Shijing) says, "Truly, such a lady is a beauty matchless in the land."

My eulogy reads: "Duke Huan's Lady Wey was loyal and trustful, sincere and faithful. Although the duke loved pleasure and music, the Lady rectified his behaviour. Observing the duke's indulgences, she begged him to be charged with Wey's guilt, and the duke granted her wish. She was allowed to regulate the palace and was promoted as the duke's wife."

7.＜孽嬖傳＞7.2.＜殷紂妲己＞

妲己者，殷紂之妃也。嬖幸于紂。好酒淫樂，不離妲己。妲己之所譽貴之，妲己之所誅之。作新淫之聲，北鄙之舞，靡靡之樂，收珍物，積之于後宮。 積糟為丘，流酒為池，懸肉為林，使人裸形相逐其間，為長夜之飲。妲己好之。 百姓怨望，諸侯有畔者，紂乃為炮格之法，膏銅柱，加之炭，令有罪者行其上，輒墮炭中，妲己乃笑。 比干諫曰：「不修先王之典法，而用婦言，禍至無日！」紂怒，以為妖言。妲己曰：「吾聞聖人之心有七竅。」于是剖心而觀之。 武王遂受命興師伐紂，戰于牧野。紂師倒戈，紂乃登廩臺，衣寶玉衣而自殺。于是武王遂致天之罰，斬妲己頭，懸于小白旗，以為亡紂者，是女也。

《書》曰：「牝雞無晨。牝雞之晨，惟家之索。」《詩》曰：「君子信盜，亂是用暴。」「匪其止共。維王之邛。」此之謂也。

頌曰：「妲己配紂，惑亂是修。紂既無道，又重相謬，指笑炮炙。諫士刳囚。遂敗牧野，反商為周。」

Biographies of evil consorts, 7.2. King Zhow of Yin (Shang)'s concubine Daji

note: the king's name is written "Zhow" to distinguish it the state of Zhou

Daji (not: Danji!) was a favorite concubine of king Zhow of Shang... King Zhow liked wine and women and did never go away Daji. People that were esteemed highly by Daji, were rewarded by her, and people she disliked, were executed. She created new tunes of pleasure, dancing to the wild music of the northern remoteness (Beibi), and therfore was bestowed with gems that she stored in her palace... She had made a hill of grain, a pond of wine and had hang up meat at trees. People were ordered to chase each other naked, drinking all night long. Daji was very pleased, while the people angrily watched her doings. If there should be anyone among the nobility daring to criticize her, king Zhow put in effect the punishment of the "burning bar", made of bronze and heated with charcoal. People falling out of the king's favour had to walk on the bar, but when they fell off the bar into the fire, Daji used to laugh loudly. Minister Bigan once presented a memorial, saying, "If the king is neglecting the rules of the ancient kings and instead follows the words of a woman, it will not take one single day until the disaster will arise." King Zhow was angry about these words, and so Daji said, "I have heard that the heart of a saint has seven apertures." She had Bigan's heart cut out to observe it...

Thereupon king Wu of Zhou obtained the Heavenly mandate, raised the arms and attacked king Zhow, battling at Muye. After being defeated, king Zhow mounted his Deer Terrace, wearing his jewels and jade ornaments, and killed himself. King Wu employed the Heavenly punishment, beheading Daji. Her head was hung on a small white flag to demonstrate to everybody that it has been a woman bringing desaster to king Zhow. The Book of Documents (Shangshu) says: "The hen does not announce the morning. The crowing of a hen in the morning indicates the subversion of the family." The Book of Songs (Shijing) says: "My lord has followed slanderous thieves, and with that the disorder turned mean... They are not doing their duty, but instead are the king's afflication." That is meant herewith.

My eulogy reads: "Daji, fellow mate of king Zhow, deluded the king's uprightness. Thus king Zhow did not follow the right way, and instead the two seduced each other to misdeeds. They laughed about the burning bar, crippled and imprisoned the admonishing ministers. Being defeated at Muye, the kingdom of Shang was given to Zhou."