Shi Ji Zhuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

An outward demeanour , cautious and grave ,
Is an indication of the [inward] virtue .
People have the saying ,
'There is no wise man who is not [also] stupid . '
The stupidity of the ordinary man ,
Is determined by his [natural] defects .
The stupidity of the wise man ,

What is most powerful is the being the man ;—
In all quarters [of the State] men are influenced by it .
To an upright virtuous conduct ,
All in the four quarters of the State render obedient homage .
With great counsels and determinate orders ,
With far-reaching plans and timely announcements ,
And with reverent care of his outward demeanour ,
One will become the pattern of the people .
Is from his doing violence [to his natural character] .

As for the circumstances of the present time ,
You are bent on error and confusion in your government .
Your virtue is subverted ;
You are besotted by drink .
Although you thus pursue nothing but pleasure ,
How is it you do not think of your relation to the past ,
And do not widely study the former kings ,
That you might hold fast their wise laws ?

Shall not those whom great Heaven does not approve of ,
Surely as the waters flow from a spring ,
Sink down together to ruin ?
Rise early and go to bed late ,
Sprinkle and sweep your court-yard ;—
So as to be a pattern to the people .
Have in good order your chariots and horses ,
Your bows and arrows , and [other] weapons of war ;—
To be prepared for warlike action ,
To keep at a distance [the hordes of] the South .

Perfect what concerns your officers and people ;
Be careful of your duties as a prince [of the kingdom] ;—
To be prepared for unforeseen dangers .
Be cautious of what you say ;
Be reverently careful of your outward demeanour ;
In all things be mild and correct .
A flaw in a mace of white jade ,
May be ground away ,
But for a flaw in speech ,
Nothing can be done .

Do not speak lightly ;— your words are your own :—
Do not say , ' This is of little importance . '
No one can hold my tongue for me ;
Words are not to be cast away .
Every word finds its answer ;
Every good deed has its recompense .
If you are gracious among your friends ,
And to the people , as if they were your children ,
Your descendants will continue in unbroken line ,
And all the people will surely be obedient to you .

Looked at in friendly intercourse with superior men ,
You make your countenance harmonious and mild ;—
Anxious not to do anything wrong .
Looked at in your chamber ,
You ought to be equally free from shame before the light which shines in .
Do not say , ' This place is not public ;
No one can see me here . '
The approaches of spiritual Beings ,
Cannot be calculated [beforehand] ;
But the more should they not be slighted .

O prince , let your practice of virtue ,
Be entirely good and admirable .
Watch well over your behaviour ,
And allow nothing wrong in your demeanour .
Committing no excess , doing nothing injurious ;—
There are few who will not in such a case take you for their pattern .
When one throws to me a peach ,
I return to him a plum .
To look for horns on a young ram ,
Will only weary you , my son .

The soft and elastic wood ,
Can be fitted with the silken string .
The mild and the respectful man ,
Possesses the foundation of virtue .
There is a wise man ;—
I tell him [good] words ,
And he yields to them the practice of docile virtue .
There is a stupid man ;—
He says on the contrary that my words are not true :—
So different are people's minds .

Oh ! my son ,
When you did not know what was good , and what was not good ,
Not [only] did I lead you on by the hand ,
But I showed the difference by appealing to affairs .
Not [only] did I charge you face to face ,
But I held you by the ears .
And still perhaps you do not know ,
Although you have held a son in your arms .
If people are not self-sufficient ,
Who comes [only] to a late maturity after early instruction ?

Great Heaven is very intelligent ,
And I pass my life without pleasure .
When I see you so dark and stupid ,
My heart is full of pain .
I taught you with assiduous repetition ,
And you listened to me with contempt .
You would nto consider me your teacher ,
But regarded me as troublesome .
Still perhaps you do not know ;—
But you are very old .

Oh ! my son ,
I have told you the old ways .
Hear and follow my counsels ;—
Then shall you have no cause for great regret .
Heaven is now inflicting calamities ,
And is destroying the State .
My illustrations are not taken from things remote ;—
Great Heaven makes no mistakes .
If you go on to deteriorate in your virtue ,
You will bring the people to great distress .