Six·ThreeTranslation and Notes

Author: Tang Shuwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
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The Duke of Zhou asked the Grand Tutor, "I wish to hear about the essential principles of governing a state, desiring to make the ruler respected and the people at peace. How should this be achieved?" The Grand Tutor replied, "Love the people." The Duke of Zhou asked, "How should the people be loved?" The Grand Tutor said, "Benefit them without harming them, fulfill their endeavors without destroying them, give them a way of life without killing them, give to them without taking from them, make them joyful without making them suffer, and make them happy without provoking their anger." The Duke of Zhou said, "May I ask for an explanation of this principle?" The Grand Tutor replied, "If the people do not lose their livelihood, it benefits them; if the farmers do not miss the planting season, it fulfills their endeavors; if punishments are reduced, it gives them a way of life; if taxes are lightened, it gives to them; if palaces and terraces are modest, it makes them joyful; if officials are honest and do not harass the people, it makes them happy. If the people lose their livelihood, it harms them; if the farmers miss the planting season, it destroys their endeavors; if punishments are inflicted on the guiltless, it kills them; if taxes are heavy, it takes from them; if palaces and terraces are excessively built to exhaust the people's strength, it makes them suffer; if officials are corrupt and harass the people, it provokes their anger. Therefore, those who govern well rule the people as parents love their children and as elder brothers love their younger brothers. They worry for them when they are hungry and cold, and they grieve for them when they are toiled and oppressed. They administer rewards and punishments as if they were applied to themselves, and they levy taxes as if taking their own property: this is the way to love the people." [Note] ① Palaces and terraces: Refers to luxurious buildings of that time. When King Wu of Zhou conquered Zhou, he wrote three chapters titled "The Great Oath," in which the first chapter accused King Zhou of "only building palaces and terraces to exploit your ten thousand subjects." Confucius' commentary: "It means exhausting the people's wealth and strength for luxuriousness." Confucius' annotation cites Li Xun as saying: "A terrace is made of piled earth for viewing; a house on top of a terrace is called a pavilion." The palaces and terraces of the rulers of that time were all built by forcing the people to labor. [Translation] The Duke of Zhou asked the Grand Tutor, "I wish to hear about the essential principles of governing a state, desiring to make the ruler respected and the people at peace. How should this be achieved?" The Grand Tutor replied, "Love the people." The Duke of Zhou asked, "How should the people be loved?" The Grand Tutor said, "Benefit them without harming them, fulfill their endeavors without destroying them, give them a way of life without killing them, give to them without taking from them, make them joyful without making them suffer, and make them happy without provoking their anger." The Duke of Zhou said, "May I ask for an explanation of this principle?" The Grand Tutor replied, "If the people do not lose their livelihood, it benefits them; if the farmers do not miss the planting season, it fulfills their endeavors; if punishments are reduced, it gives them a way of life; if taxes are lightened, it gives to them; if palaces and terraces are modest, it makes them joyful; if officials are honest and do not harass the people, it makes them happy. If the people lose their livelihood, it harms them; if the farmers miss the planting season, it destroys their endeavors; if punishments are inflicted on the guiltless, it kills them; if taxes are heavy, it takes from them; if palaces and terraces are excessively built to exhaust the people's strength, it makes them suffer; if officials are corrupt and harass the people, it provokes their anger. Therefore, those who govern well rule the people as parents love their children and as elder brothers love their younger brothers. They worry for them when they are hungry and cold, and they grieve for them when they are toiled and oppressed. They administer rewards and punishments as if they were applied to themselves, and they levy taxes as if taking their own property: this is the way to love the people." [Theme] This chapter discusses that the essential principle of governing a state lies in practicing the way of loving the people, ensuring that the people live and work in peace, reducing punishments, lightening taxes, alleviating burdens, improving governance, and truly loving the people as one loves one's own children.