Duke Ai asked Tzŭ-hsia, "Is it necessarily true that only after
study one can keep a state at peace and protect the people?"
Tzŭ-hsia said, "There has never been such a thing as keeping
a state at peace and protecting the people without having studied."
Duke Ai said, "Did the Five Emperors then have their
teachers?"
Tzŭ-hsia said, "I have heard that Huang-ti studied under
T`ai-chên.[2]
Chuan-hsü studied under Lu T`u.[3]
The Emperor K`u
studied under Ch`ih Sung-tzŭ.[4]
Yao studied under Wu-ch`êng
Tzŭ-fu. Shun studied under Yin Shou.[5]
Yŭ studied under Hsi-wang
Kuo.[6]
T`ang studied under Tai Tzŭ-hsiang.[7]
King Wên
studied under Hsi-ch`ou Tzŭ-ssŭ.[8]
King Wu studied under T`aikung.
The Duke of Chou studied under Kuo Shu.[9]
Chung-ni
studied under Lao Tan. Had these eleven sages not met with
these teachers, it would not have been possible for their accomplishments[10]
to appear in the empire, or for their names to be
transmitted to later generations."
The Ode says,[11]
Erring in nothing, forgetful of nothing,
Observing and following the old statutes.