THECANONOFYAO(Legge,p.15)

THECANONOFSHUN(Legge,p.29)

THECOUNSELSOFTHEGREATYU(Legge,p.52)

THECOUNSELSOFKAOYAO(Legge,p.68)

THEGREATDECLARATION(Legge,p.281)

THESUCCESSFULCOMPLETIONOFTHEWAR(Legge,p.306)

THEGREATPLAN(Legge,p.320)

THEHOUNDSOFLU(Legge,p.345)

THEMETAL-BOUNDCOFFER(Legge,p.351)

THEANNOUNCEMENTTOTHEPRINCEOFKANG(Legge,p.381)

PRINCESHI(Legge,p.474)

ShuJing

ThesereadingsfromtheShuJing(ShuChing)aretakenfromthetranslationofJamesLegge(reprintedbyHongKongUniversityPress,1960,vol.III).TheywereselectedandenteredbyBro.AndrewThornton,O.S.B.atSaintAnselmCollege.NamesinLegge'sromanizationhavebeenchangedtopinyin.Thetextisinthepublicdomainandmaybefreelyused.

THECANONOFYAO(Legge,p.15)

1Examiningintoantiquity,wefindthattheemperorYaowascalledFangXun.Hewasreverential,intelligent,accomplished,andthoughtful,naturallyandwithouteffort.Hewassincerelycourteousandcapableofallcomplaisance.Thedisplayofthesequalitiesreachedtothefourextremitiesoftheempireandextendedfromearthtoheaven.(2)Hewasabletomaketheableandvirtuousdistinguished,andthenceproceededtotheloveofthenineclassesofhiskindred,whoallbecameharmonious.Healsoregulatedandpolishedthepeopleofhisdomain,whoallbecamebrightlyintelligent.Finally,heunitedandharmonizedthemyriadstatesoftheempire,andlo!theblack-hairedpeopleweretransformed.Theresultwasuniversalconcord.

3ThereuponYaocommandedXiandHe,inreverentaccordancewiththeirobservationofthewideheavens,tocalculateanddelineatethemovementsandappearancesofthesun,themoon,thestars,andthezodiacalspaces,andsotodeliverrespectfullytheseasonstothepeople.

4HeseparatelycommandedthesecondbrotherXitoresideatYu,inwhatwascalledtheBrightValley,andthererespectfullytoreceiveasaguesttherisingsun,andtoadjustandarrangethelaborsofthespring."Theday,"hesaid,"isofthemediumlengthandthestarisinNiao;youmaythusexactlydeterminemid-spring.Thepeoplebegintodisperse,andbirdsandbeastsbreedandcopulate.

5HefurthercommandedthethethirdbrotherXitoresideatNanJiao,andarrangethetransformationsofthesummer,andrespectfullytoobservetheextremelimitoftheshadow."Theday,"saidhe,"isatitslongest,andthestarisinHuo.Youmaythusexactlydeterminemid-summer.Thepeoplearemoredispersed,andbirdsandbeastshavetheirfeathersandhairthinandchangetheircoats."

6HeseparatelycommandedthesecondbrotherHetoresideatthewest,inwhatwascalledtheDarkValley,andthererespectfullytoconvoythesettingsun,andtoadjustandarrangethecompletinglaborsoftheautumn."Thenight,"hesaid,"isofthemediumlength,andthestarisXu;youmaythusexactlydeterminemid-autumn.Thepeoplebegintofeelatease,andbirdsandbeastshavetheircoatsingoodcondition."

7HefurthercommandedthethirdbrotherHetoresideinthenorthernregion,inwhatwascalledtheSombreCapital,andtheretoadjustandexaminethechangesofthewinter."Theday,"saidhe,"isatitsshortest,andthestarisMao.Youmaythusexactlydeterminemid-winter.Thepeoplekeeptheircosycorners,andthecoatsofbirdsandbeastsaredownyandthick."

8Theemperorsaid,"Ah!you,XiandHe,aroundyearconsistsofthreehundred,sixty,andsixdays.Bymeansofanintercalarymonthdoyoufixthefourseasons,andcompletethedeterminationoftheyear.Thereafter,inexactaccordancewiththis,regulatingthevariousofficers,alltheworksoftheyearwillbefullyperformed.

9Theemperorsaid,"Whowillsearchoutformeamanaccordingtothetimes,whomImayraiseandemploy?"FangQisaid,"Thereisyourheir-sonZhu,whoishighlyintelligent."Theemperorsaid,"Alas!heisinsincereandquarrelsome.Canhedo?"

10Theemperorsaid,"Whowillsearchoutformeamanequaltotheexigencyofmyaffairs?"HuanDousaid,"Oh!thereistheministerofWorks,whosemeritshavejustbeendisplayedinvariousways."Theemperorsaid,"Alas!whenunemployed,hecantalk,butwhenemployed,hisactionsturnoutdifferently.Heisrespectfulonlyinappearance.See!thefloodsassailtheheavens!"

11Theemperorsaid,"Oh!chiefofthefourmountains,destructiveintheiroverflowarethewatersoftheinundation.Intheirvastextenttheyembracethemountainsandovertopthehills,threateningtheheavenswiththeirfloods,sothattheinferiorpeoplegroanandmurmur.IsthereacapablemantowhomIcanassignthecorrectionofthiscalamity?"Allinthecourtsaid,"Oh!thereisGun."Theemperorsaid,"Alas!no,bynomeans!Heisdisobedienttoordersandtriestoinjurehispeers."HisEminencesaid,"Well,buttryhim,andthenyoucanhavedonewithhim."TheemperorsaidtoGun,"Go,andbereverent!"Fornineyearshelabored,buttheworkwasunaccomplished.

12Theemperorsaid,"Oh!youchiefofthefourmountains,Ihavebeenonthethroneforseventyyears.Youcancarryoutmyappointments;Iwillresignmythronetoyou."HisEminencesaid,"Ihavenotthevirtue;Ishouldonlydisgracetheimperialseat."Theemperorsaid,"Pointoutsomeoneamongtheillustrious,orsetforthonefromamongthepoorandmean."Allinthecourtsaidtotheemperor,"ThereisanunmarriedmanamongthelowerpeoplecalledShunofYu."Theemperorsaid,"Yes,Ihaveheardofhim.Whatishischaracter?"HisEminencesaid,"Heisthesonofablindman.Hisfatherwasobstinatelyunprincipled;hisstep-motherwasinsincere;hishalfbrotherXiangwasarrogant.Hehasbeenable,however,byhisfilialpietytoliveinharmonywiththem,andtoleadthemgraduallytoself-government,sothattheynolongerproceedtogreatwickedness."Theemperorsaid,"Iwilltryhim!Iwillwivehim,andthenseehisbehaviorwithmytwodaughters."Onthishegaveorders,andsentdownhistwodaughterstothenorthoftheGui,tobewivesinthefamilyofYu.Theemperorsaidtothem,"Bereverent!"

THECANONOFSHUN(Legge,p.29)

1Examiningintoantiquity,wefindtheemperorShunwascalledChongHua.Hecorrespondedtotheformeremperor;hewasprofound,wise,accomplished,andintelligent.Hewasmildandrespectful,andentirelysincere.Thereportofhismysteriousvirtuewasheardonhigh,andhewasappointedtooccupytheimperialSeat.

2Shuncarefullysetforththebeautyofthefivecardinalduties,andtheycametobeuniversallyobserved.BeingappointedtobeGeneralRegulator,theaffairsofeachdepartmentwerearrangedintheirproperseasons.Havingtoreceivetheprincesfromthefourquartersoftheempire,theywerealldocilelysubmissive.Beingsenttothegreatplainsatthefootofthemountains,amidviolentwind,thunder,andrain,hedidnotgoastray.

3Theemperorsaid,"Come,youShun.Ihaveconsultedyouonallaffairs,examinedyourwords,andfoundthatyourwordscanbecarriedintopractice,nowforthreeyears.Doyouascendtheimperialthrone."Shunwishedtodeclineinfavorofsomeonemorevirtuous,andnottoconsenttobesuccessor.(4)Onthefirstday,ofthefirstmonth,however,hereceivedYao'sretirementfromtheimperialdutiesinthetempleoftheAccomplishedancestor.

5Heexaminedthegem-adornedturningsphere,andthetransversetube,thathemightregulatethesevenDirectors.

6Thereafter,hesacrificedspecially,butwiththeordinaryforms,toGod;sacrificedpurelytothesixHonoredones;offeredtheirappropriatesacrificestothehillsandrivers,andextendedhisworshiptothehostofspirits.

7Hecalledinallthefivetokensofgem,andwhenthemonthwasover,hegavedailyaudiencetothechiefofthefourMountains,andallthePastors,finallyreturningthetokenstotheseveralnobles.

8Inthesecondmonthoftheyear,hemadeatourofinspectioneastwards,asfarasDaiZhong,wherehepresentedaburntofferingtoHeaven,andsacrificedinordertothehillsandrivers.ThereafterhegaveaudiencetothenoblesoftheEast,puttinginaccordtheirseasonsandmonths,andrectifyingthedays;hemadeuniformthestandardtubes,themeasuresoflengthandofcapacity,andthesteelyards;heregulatedthefiveclassesofceremonies.Astotheseveralarticlesofintroduction,thefiveinstrumentsofgem,thethreekindsofsilk,thetwolivinganimals,andtheonedeadone.Whenallwasover,hereturnedthefiveinstruments.Inthefifthmonth,hemadeasimilartourtothesouthasfarasthesouthernmountain,observingthesameceremoniesasatDai.Intheeighthmonth,hetravelledwestwards,asfarasthewestern,andintheeleventhmonthhetravellednorthwards,asfarasthenorthernmountain.Whenhereturnedtothecapital,hewenttothetempleofthecultivatedAncestor,andofferedasinglebullock.

9Infiveyearstherewasonetourofinspection,andfourappearancesofthenoblesatcourt.Theysetforthareportoftheirgovernmentinwords.Thiswasclearlytestedbytheirworks.Theyreceivedchariotsandrobesaccordingtotheirservices.

10Shuninstitutedthedivisonofthelandintotwelveprovinces,raisingaltarsupontwelvehillsinthem.Helikewisedeepenedtherivers.

11Hegavedelineationsofthestatutorypunishments,enactingbanishmentasamitigationofthefivegreatinflictions,withthewhiptobeemployedinthemagistrates'courts,thesticktobeemployedinschools,andmoneytobereceivedforredeemablecrimes.Inadvertentoffensesandthosewhichmightbecausedbymisfortuneweretobepardoned,butthosewhooffendedpresumptuouslyorrepeatedlyweretobepunishedwithdeath."Letmebereverent;letmebereverent!"hesaidtohimself."Letcompassionruleinpunishment!"

12HebanishedtheministerofWorkstoYouisland;confinedHuanDouonMountChong;drovethechiefofSanMiaoandhispeopleintoSan-weiandkeptthemthere;heldGuntildeathaprisoneronMountYu.Thesefourcriminalsbeingthusdealtwith,universalsubmissionprevailedthroughouttheempire.

13Aftertwenty-eightyearstheemperordemised,whenthepeoplemournedforhimasforaparentforthreeyears.Allwithinthefourseas,theeightkindsofinstrumentsofmusicwerestoppedandhushed.(14)Onthefirstdayofthefirstmonth,ShunwenttothetempleoftheAccomplishedAncestor.

15HedeliberatedwiththechiefofthefourMountains,howtothrowopenthedoorsofcommunicationbetweenthecourtandtheempire,soughttoseewiththeeyesandhearwiththeearsofall.

16HeconsultedwiththetwelvePastors,andsaid,"Thefood!Itdependsonobservingtheseasons.Bekindtothedistantandcultivatetheabilityofthenear.Givehonortothevirtuous,andyourconfidencetothegood,whileyoudiscountenancetheartful.Soshallthebarbaroustribesleadononeanothertomaketheirsubmission."

17Shunsaid,"Ah!chiefofthefourMountains,isthereanyonewhocanvigorouslydisplayhismerits,andgivewidedevelopmenttotheundertakingsoftheemperor,whomImaymakeGeneralRegulator,toaidmeinallaffairs,andmanageeachdepartmentaccordingtoitsnature?"Allinthecourtsaid,"ThereisbaronYu,thesuperintendentofWorks."Theemperorsaid,"Yes.Ah!Yu,youhaveregulatedthewaterandtheland.Inthisnewofficeexertyourself."Yudidobeisancewithhisheadtotheground,andwishedtodeclineinfavoroftheministerofAgriculture,orXie,orGaoYao.Theemperorsaid,"Yes,butdoyougo,andundertaketheduties."

18Theemperorsaid,"Qi,theblack-hairedpeoplearestillsufferingfromthedistressofhunger.Itisyours,Oprince,theministerofAgriculture,tosowforthemthesevariouskindsofgrain."

19Theemperorsaid,"Xie,thepeoplecontinueunfriendlywithoneanother,anddonotobservedocilelythefiveordersofrelationship.Itisyours,astheministerofInstruction,reverentlytosetforththelessonsofdutybelongingtothosefiveorders.Dosowithgentleness."

20Theemperorsaid,"GaoYao,thebarbaroustribesdisturbourbrightgreatland.Therearealsorobbers,murderers,insurgents,andtraitors.Itisyours,astheministerofCrime,toemploythefivepunishmentsforthetreatmentofoffenses,fortheinflictionofwhichtherearethethreeappointedplaces,andthefivebanishmentswiththeirseveralplacesofdetention,forwhichthreelocalitiesareassigned.Performyourdutieswithintelligence,andyouwillsecureasinceresubmission."

21Theemperorsaid,"Whoisequaltothedutyofsuperintendingmyworkmen?"Allinthecourtsaid,"ThereisChui?"Theemperorsaid,"Yes.Ah!Chui,youmustbeministerofWorks."Chuididobeisance,withhisheadtotheground,andwishedtodeclineinfavorofShu,Qiang,orBoYu.Theemperorsaid,"Yes,butdoyougoandundertaketheduties.Effectaharmonyinallthedepartments."

22Theemperorsaid,"Whoisequaltothedutyofsuperintendingthegrassandthetrees,withthebirdsandbeasts,onmymountainsandinmymarshes?"Allinthecourtsaid,"ThereisYi."Theemperorsaid,"Yes.Ah!Yi,doyoubemyForester."YididobeisancewithhisheadtothegroundandwishedtodeclineinfavorofZhu,Hu,Xiong,orPi.Theemperorsaid,"Yes,butdoyougoandundertaketheduties.Youmustmanagethemharmoniously."

23Theemperorsaid,"Ah!chiefofthefourMountains,isthereanywhocandirectmythreereligiousceremonies?"Allinthecourtsaid,"ThereisthebaronYi?"Theemperorsaid,"Yes.Ah!baron,youmustbetheArrangeroftheancestraltemple.Morningandnightberespectful.Beupright,bepure."Thebarondidobeisancewithhisheadtotheground,andwishedtodeclineinfavorofKuiorLong.Theemperorsaid,"Yes,butdoyougoandundertaketheduties.Bereverential!"

24Theemperorsaid,"Kui,IappointyoutobeDirectorofmusic,andtoteachoursons,sothatthestraightforwardmayyetbemild,thegentlemayyetbedignified,thestrongnottyrannical,andtheimpetuousnotarrogant.Poetryistheexpressionofearnestthought;singingistheprolongedutteranceofthatexpression.Thenotesaccompanythatutterance,andtheyareharmonizedthemselvesbythepitchpipes.Inthiswaytheeightdifferentkindsofinstrumentscanallbeadjustedsothatoneshallnottakefromorinterferewithanother,andspiritsandmenwilltherebybebroughtintoharmony."Kuisaid,"Oh!Ismitethestone;Ismitethestone.Thevariousanimalsleadononeanothertodance."

25Theemperorsaid,"Long,Iabominateslanderousspeakers,anddestroyersofrightways,whoagitateandalarmmypeople.IappointyoutobetheministerofCommunication.Earlyandlategiveforthmyordersandreporttome,seeingthateverythingistrue."

26Theemperorsaid,"Ah!you,twentyandtwomen,bereverent,andsoshallyouaidmeinperformingtheserviceofheaven."

27Everythreeyearstherewasanexaminationofmerits,andafterthreeexaminationstheundeservingweredegraded,andthedeservingpromoted.Bythisarrangementthedutiesofallthedepartmentswerefullydischarged.ThepeopleofSanMiaowerediscriminatedandseparated.

28Inthethirtiethyearofhislife,Shunwascalledtoemployment.ThirtyyearshewasonthethronewithYao.Fiftyyearsafterhewentonhighanddied.

THECOUNSELSOFTHEGREATYU(Legge,p.52)

1Onexaminingintoantiquity,wefindthatthegreatYuwascalledWenMing.Havingarrangedanddividedtheempire,alltothefourseas,inreverentresponsetotheinquiriesoftheformeremperor,(2)hesaid,"Ifthesovereigncanrealizethedifficultyofhissovereignship,andtheministercanrealizethedifficultyofhisministry,governmentwillbewellordered,andthepeoplewillsedulouslyseektobevirtuous."(3)Theemperorsaid,"Yes,letthisreallybethecase,andgoodwordswillnowhereliehidden;nomenofvirtueandtalentswillbeneglectedawayfromcourt,andthemyriadStateswillallenjoyrepose.Buttoascertaintheviewsofall;togiveupone'sopinionandfollowthatofothers;torefrainfromoppressingthehelpless,andnotneglectthestraitenedandpoor:itwasonlytheemperorYaowhocouldattaintothis."

4Yisaid,"Oh!yourvirtue,Oemperor,isvastandincessant.Itissagely,spiritual,awe-inspiring,andadornedwithallaccomplishments.GreatHeavenregardedyouwithitsfavoringdecree,andsuddenlyyouobtainedallwithinthefourseas,andbecamesovereignoftheempire."

5Yusaid,"Accordancewiththerightisgoodfortune;thefollowingofevilisbad:theshadowandtheecho."(6)Yisaid,"Alas!becautious!Admonishyourselftocaution,whenthereseemstobenoreasonforanxiety.Donotfailindueattentiontothelawsandordinances.Donotfindyourenjoymentinindulgentease.Donotgotoexcessinpleasure.Inyouremploymentofmenofworth,letnonecomebetweenyouandthem.Putawayevilwithouthesitation.Donottrytocarryoutdoubtfulplans.Studythatallyourpurposesmaybewiththelightofreason.Donotgoagainstwhatisrighttogetthepraiseofthepeople.Donotopposethepeopletofollowyourowndesires.Attendtothesethingswithoutidlenessoromission,andfromthefourquartersthebarbaroustribeswillcomeandacknowledgeyoursovereignty."

7Yusaid,"Oh!thinkofthesethings,Oemperor.Virtueisseeninthegoodnessofthegovernment,andthegovernmentistestedbyitsnourishingofthepeople.Therearewater,fire,metal,wood,earth,andgrain;thesemustbedulyregulated.Therearetherectificationofthepeople'svirtue,theconveniencesoflife,andthesecuringabundantmeansofsustentation;thesemustbeharmoniouslyattendedto.Whenthenineservicesthusindicatedhavebeenorderlyaccomplished,letthataccomplishmentbecelebratedbysongs.Cautionthepeoplewithgentlewords;correctthemwiththemajestyoflaw;stimulatethemwiththesongsonthoseninesubjects,inorderthatyoursuccessmayneversufferdiminution."

8Theemperorsaid,"Yes,theearthisnowreducedtoorder,andtheinfluencesofheavenoperatewitheffect;thosesixmagazinesandthreebusinessesarealltrulyregulated,sothatamyriadgenerationsmayperpetuallydependonthem:thisisyourmerit."

9Theemperorsaid,"Come,you,Yu.Ihaveoccupiedtheimperialthroneforthirtyandthreeyears.Iambetweenninetyandahundredyearsold,andthelaboriousdutieswearyme.Doyou,eschewingallindolence,taketheleadershipofmypeople."(10)Yusaid,"Myvirtueisnotequaltotheposition;thepeoplewillnotreposeinme.ButthereisGaoYao,withvigorousactivitysowingabroadhisvirtue,whichhasdescendedontheblack-hairedpeople,tilltheycherishhimintheirhearts.Oemperor,thinkofhim!WhenIthinkofhim,mymindrestsonhim,asthemanforthisoffice;whenIwouldputhimoutofmythoughts,theystillrestonhim;whenInameandspeakofhim,mymindrestsonhimforthis;thesincereoutgoingofmythoughtsabouthimisthatheistheman.Oemperor,thinkofhismerits."

11Theemperorsaid,"GaoYao,thatofthesemyministersandpeople,hardlyoneisfoundtooffendagainsttheregulationsofmygovernment,isowingtoyourbeingtheministerofCrime,andintelligentintheuseofthefivepunishmentstoassisttheinculcationofthefiveduties,withaviewtotheperfectionofmygovernment,andthatthroughpunishmenttheremaycometobenopunishments,butthepeopleaccordwiththepathoftheMean.Continuetobestrenuous."(12)GaoYaoreplied,"Yourvirtue,Oemperor,isfaultless.Youcondescendtoyourministerswithaliberalease;youpresideoverthemultitudewithagenerousforbearance.Punishmentsdonotextendtothecriminal'sheirs,whilerewardsreachtoaftergenerations.Youpardoninadvertentfaults,howevergreat,andpunishpurposedcrimes,howeversmall.Incasesofdoubtfulcrimes,youdealwiththemlightly;incasesofdoubtfulmerit,youpreferthehighestimation.Ratherthanputtodeathaninnocentperson,youwillruntheriskofirregularityanderror.Thislife-lovingvirtuehaspenetratedthemindsofthepeople,andthisiswhytheydonotrenderthemselvesliabletobepunishedbyyourofficers."(13)Theemperorsaid,"ToenablemetofollowafterandobtainwhatIdesireinmygovernment,thepeopleeverywhererespondingasifmovedbythewind:thisisyourexcellence."

14Theemperorsaid,"Come,Yu.Theinundatingwatersfilledmewithdread,whenyourealizedallthatyourepresentedandaccomplishedyourtask,thusshowingyoursuperioritytoothermen.FulloftoilsomeearnestnessintheserviceoftheState,andsparinginyourexpenditureonyourfamily,andthiswithoutbeingfullofyourselforelated;youagainshowyoursuperioritytoothermen.Withoutanypridefulassumption,thereisnooneintheempiretocontestwithyouthepalmofability;withoutanyboasting,thereisnooneintheempiretocontestwithyoutheclaimofmerit.Iseehowgreatisyourvirtue,howadmirableyourvastachievements.ThedeterminateappointmentofHeavenrestsonyourperson;youmusteventuallyascendthethroneofthegreatsovereign.(15)Themindofmanisrestless,pronetoerr;itsaffinityfortherightwayissmall.Bediscriminating,beundivided,thatyoumaysincerelyholdfasttheMean.(16)Donotlistentounsubstantiatedwords;donotfollowundeliberatedplans.(17)Ofallwhoaretobeloved,isnotthesovereignthechief?Ofallwhoaretobefeared,arenotthepeoplethechief?Ifthemultitudewerewithoutthesovereign,whomshouldtheysustainaloft?Ifthesovereignhadnotthemultitude,therewouldbenonetoguardthecountryforhim.Bereverent.Carefullydemeanyourselfonthethronewhichyouwilloccupy,respectfullycultivatingthevirtueswhicharetobedesiredinyou.Ifwithinthefourseastherebedistressandpoverty,yourHeaven-conferredrevenueswillcometoaperpetualend.Itisthemouthwhichsendsforthwhatisgood,andgivesrisetowar.MywordsIwillnotrepeat."

18Yusaid,"Submitthemeritoriousministersonebyonetothetrialofdivination,andletthefortunateindicationbefollowed."

Theemperorsaid,"Yu,theofficerofdivination,whenthemindhasbeenmadeuponasubject,thenrefersittothegreattortoise.Now,inthismatter,mymindwasdeterminedinthefirstplace.Iconsultedanddeliberatedwithallmyministersandpeople,andtheywereofoneaccordwithme.Thespiritssignifiedtheirassent,andthetortoiseandthegrasshavingbothconcurred.Divination,whenfortunate,maynotberepeated."Yudidobeisance,withhisheadtotheground,andfirmlydeclinedthethrone.Theemperorsaid,"Donotdoso.Itisyouwhocansuitablyoccupymyplace."(19)Onthefirstmorningofthefirstmonth,YureceivedtheappointmentinthetempleofthespiritualAncestor,andtooktheleadingofalltheofficers,ashadbeendoneatthecommencementoftheemperor'sgovernment.

20Theemperorsaid,"Alas!OYu,thereisonlytheprinceoftheMiao,whorefusesobedience;doyougoandcorrecthim."Yuonthisassembledalltheprinces,andmadeaspeechtothehost,saying,"Yemultitudes,listenalltomyorders.StupidisthisprinceofMiao,ignorant,erring,anddisrespectful.Despitefulandinsolenttoothers,hethinksthatallabilityandvirtuearewithhimself.Arebeltoright,hedestroysalltheobligationsofvirtue.Superiormenarekeptbyhiminobscurity,andmeanmenfillalltheoffices.Thepeoplerejectandwillnotprotecthim.Heavenissendingcalamitiesdownuponhim.OnthisaccountIhaveassembledyou,mymultitudeofgallantmen,andbeartheinstructionsoftheemperortopunishhiscrimes.Doyouproceedwithunitedheartandstrength,soshallourenterprisebecrownedwithsuccess."

21Attheendofthreedecades,thepeopleofMiaocontinuedrebelliousagainsttheemperor'scommands,whenYicametothehelpofYu,saying,"ItisvirtuewhichmovesHeaven;thereisnodistancetowhichitdoesnotreach.Pridebringsloss,andhumilityreceivesincrease:thisisthewayofHeaven.Intheearlytimeoftheemperor,whenhewaslivingbyMountLi,hewentintothefieldsanddailycriedwithtearstocompassionateHeaven,andtohisparents,takingtohimselfandbearingallguiltandevil.Atthesametime,withrespectfulservice,heappearedbeforeGuSou,lookinggraveandawe-struck,tilGualsobecametrulytransformedbyhisexample.Entiresinceritymovesspiritualbeings;howmuchmorewillitmovethisprinceofMiao!"Yudidhomagetotheexcellentwordsandsaid,"Yes."Thereuponheledbackhisarmy,havingdrawnoffthetroops.Theemperoralsosetaboutdiffusinghisaccomplishmentsandvirtuemorewidely.Theydancedwithshieldsandfeathersbetweenthetwostaircasesofthecourt.InseventydaystheprinceofMiaocametomakehissubmission.

THECOUNSELSOFKAOYAO(Legge,p.68)

1Onexaminingintoantiquity,wefindthatGaoYaosaid,"Ifasovereignsincerelypursuethecourseofhisvirtue,thecounselsofferedtohimwillbeintelligent,andtheaidsofadmonitionswillbeharmonious."Yusaid,"Yes,butexplainyourself."GaoYaosaid,"Oh!lethimbecarefulabouthispersonalcultivation,withthoughtsthatarefar-reaching,andthenhewilleffectagenerouskindnessandniceobservanceofdistinctionsamongthenineclassesofhiskindred;alltheintelligentalsowillexertthemselvesinhisservice,andfromwhatisnearhemayreachinthiswaytowhatisdistant."Yudidreverencetotheadmirablewordsandsaid,"Yes."(2)GaoYaosaid,"Oh!itliesinknowingmen,andingivingreposetothepeople."Yusaid,"Alas!toattaintoboththesethingswasadifficultyeventotheemperorYao.Whenasovereignknowsmen,heiswise,andcanputmenintotheirproperoffices.Whenhegivesreposetoth