Shun was born in Chu-fêng. He moved to Fu-hsia, and died
in Ming-t`iao. He was a man [who lived near to] the Eastern
Barbarians. King Wên was born in Chou by [Mount] Ch`i and
died in Pi-ying. He was a man [who lived near to] the Western
Barbarians. In space they were separated by more than a thousand
li; in time they were more than a thousand years apart, but
their success in imposing their wills on the Middle Kingdom was
like the two parts of a tally that fit perfectly together.
Confucius said,[2]
"In their principles the earlier saints and the
later saints are the same." The Ode says,[3]
God's commands were never disobeyed;
Down to T`ang they were all alike [in this].
