Beijing

The six armies wailed, all clad in mourning white; but the rage that lifted his cap was for a rosy-cheeked beauty. "A beauty lost and adrift is not what I long for; the rebels were doomed by Heaven through their own wild feasting."

Only then did I realize that outside the suburbs spring had never been absent, though city dwellers were unaware of it. To not neglect duty through excursions, while wandering carefree among mountains, rocks, and trees—such is the joy of this humble official.

The affairs of the state have rotted to this point. I, an old man, am finished; if you too make light of your life and lose sight of the great cause, who will be left to hold up the affairs of the realm?

By the established rules of the prison, the locks are opened only at dawn; in the middle of the night the living and the dead lie heel to head, with no room to turn or get away. That is why so many are infected.

His hair rose against his cap in rage, all for a beauty.

A late-Ming account of Beijing's sights and customs in eight juan.

A late-Qing record of the festival year in Beijing.

A late-Yuan gazetteer of Dadu, now known only from quotations.

He appointed his own officials and called his army the 'Jingnan', the force to quell the troubles.

On jisi Wei Zhongxian hanged himself.

If we now ride this momentum and strike straight at the Yuan capital, we can have it without a battle.

Your servant knows the Way of Heaven; why speak of the people's hearts?

Those who speak of moving south should be beheaded. The capital is the root of the realm; once it is shaken, all is lost.

The emperor left the palace and climbed Coal Hill; gazing at the beacon fires lighting up the sky, he sighed: 'It is only my people who suffer.'

Our state pacified and settled Yan, the capital; we took it from the rebel Chuang, not from the Ming.

Before me I see not the ancients; behind me I see not those to come. Pondering the boundless infinity of heaven and earth, alone in grief my tears stream down!

Seeking refuge at welcoming doors recalls Zhang Jian; enduring death for a brief while awaits Du Gen. I raise my blade and laugh toward Heaven: whether leaving in exile or staying to die, our loyal spirits stand like towering Kunlun peaks!

Though my body cannot stand in the ranks of men, my heart burns fiercer than any man's! In all my life, my loyal courage has ever burned for others. Who among common minds can fathom my spirit? Heroes at dead ends must endure cruel trials. Where in this vast dusty world can I find a kindred soul? My azure robes are drenched in tears!

When times are desperate, integrity shows itself, and one by one these deeds are handed down in the histories.

The safety of the southern realm hangs on this one decision.

so that the useless may become useful and men may be formed who understand the classics and can meet change.

Now is the time to collect them and send them to the capital, to display the glory of a common script through a thousand ages.

Zhen became domineering beyond control.

The palaces of Beijing and the three mausoleums Chang, Xian and Jing were all built under him.

I came south on orders; how can I go back at once without having achieved anything?

In the eighth year he proposed that the dynasty be named Great Yuan, and the Central Capital be made the Great Capital.

The basis of the calendar lies in observation, and of the instruments of observation none comes before the armillary and the gnomon.

The one who will bring chaos to Youzhou is surely this barbarian.