Confucian Canon phần 7 doc

labourers, who was thus slain and robbed. What is said in the Book of History, "The chief of Ko behaved as an enemy

to the provision-carriers," has reference to this.

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3. 'Because of his murder of this boy, T'ang proceeded to punish him. All within the four seas said, "It is not because

he desires the riches of the kingdom, but to avenge a common man and woman."

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4. 'When T'ang began his work of executing justice, he commenced with Ko, and though he made eleven punitive

expeditions, he had not an enemy in the kingdom. When he pursued his work in the east, the rude tribes in the west

murmured. So did those on the north, when he was engaged in the south. Their cry was-- "Why does he make us last."

Thus, the people's longing for him was like their longing for rain in a time of great drought. The frequenters of the

markets stopped not. Those engaged in weeding in the fields made no change in their operations. While he punished

their rulers, he consoled the people. His progress was like the falling of opportune rain, and the people were delighted.

It is said in the Book of History, "We have waited for our prince. When our prince comes, we may escape from the

punishments under which we suffer."

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5. 'There being some who would not become the subjects of Chýu, king Wÿ proceeded to punish them on the east.

He gave tranquillity to their people, who welcomed him with baskets full of their black and yellow silks, saying-- "From

henceforth we shall serve the sovereign of our dynasty of Chýu, that we may be made happy by him." So they joined

themselves, as subjects, to the great city of Chýu. Thus, the men of station of Shang took baskets full of black and

yellow silks to meet the men of station of Chýu, and the lower classes of the one met those of the other with baskets of

rice and vessels of congee. Wÿ saved the people from the midst of fire and water, seizing only their oppressors, and

destroying them.'

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6. 'In the Great Declaration it is said, "My power shall be put forth, and, invading the territories of Shang, I will seize

the oppressor. I will put him to death to punish him:-- so shall the greatness of my work appear, more glorious than

that of T'ang."

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7. 'Sung is not, as you say, practising true royal government, and so forth. If it were practising royal government, all

within the four seas would be lifting up their heads, and looking for its prince, wishing to have him for their sovereign.

Great as Ch'þ and Ch'ÿ are, what would there be to fear from them?'

Mencius : Chapter 11

Mencius : Chapter 12

Confucian Canon, Retrieved from HolyBooks.net

348

1. Mencius said to Týi Pÿ-shang, 'I see that you are desiring your king to be virtuous, and will plainly tell you how he

may be made so. Suppose that there is a great officer of Ch'ÿ here, who wishes his son to learn the speech of Ch'þ.

Will he in that case employ a man of Ch'þ as his tutor, or a man of Ch'ÿ?' 'He will employ a man of Ch'þ to teach him,'

said Pÿ-shang. Mencius went on, 'If but one man of Ch'þ be teaching him, and there be a multitude of men of Ch'ÿ

continually shouting out about him, although his father beat him every day, wishing him to learn the speech of Ch'þ, it

will be impossible for him to do so. But in the same way, if he were to be taken and placed for several years in

Chwang or Yo, though his father should beat him, wishing him to speak the language of Ch'ÿ, it would be impossible

for him to do so.

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2. 'You supposed that Hsieh Chü-chýu was a scholar of virtue, and you have got him placed in attendance on the king.

Suppose that all in attendance on the king, old and young, high and low, were Hsieh Chü-chýus, whom would the king

have to do evil with? And suppose that all in attendance on the king, old and young, high and low, are not Hsieh

Chü-chýus, whom will the king gave to do good with? What can one Hsieh Chü-chýu do alone for the king of Sung?'

350

1. Kung-sun Chýu asked Mencius, saying, 'What is the point of righteousness involved in your not going to see the

princes?' Mencius replied, 'Among the ancients, if one had not een a minister in a State, he did not go to see the

sovereign.

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2. 'Twan Kan-mÿ leaped over his wall to avoid the prince. Hsieh Liÿ shut his door, and would not admit the prince.

These two, however, carried their scrupulosity to excess. When a prince is urgent, it is not improper to see him.

352

3. 'Yang Ho wished to get Confucius to go to see him, but disliked doing so by any want of propriety. As it is the rule,

therefore, that when a great officer sends a gift to a scholar, if the latter be not at home to receive it, he must go to the

officer's to pay his respects, Yang Ho watched when Confucius was out, and sent him a roasted pig. Confucius, in his

turn, watched when Ho was out, and went to pay his respects to him. At that time, Yang Ho had taken the initiative;--

how could Confucius decline going to see him?

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4. 'Tsang-tsze said, "They who shrug up their shoulders, and laugh in a flattering way, toil harder than the summer

labourer in the fields." Tsze-lÿ said, "There are those who talk with people with whom they have no great community of

feeling. If you look at their countenances, they are full of blushes. I do not desire to know such persons." By

considering these remarks, the spirit which the superior man nourishes may be known.'

354

1. Týi Ying-chih said to Mencius, 'I am not able at present and immediately to do with the levying of a tithe only, and

abolishing the duties charged at the passes and in the markets. With your leave I will lighten, however, both the tax and

the duties, until next year, and will then make an end of them. What do you think of such a course?'

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