Marquis Ch`êng and Duke Ssŭ were princes who collected
imposts and made surveys;[2]
they did not get so far as to attract
the people.
[3]
Tzŭ-ch`an was one who attracted the people, but he
did not get so far as to govern them.
[4]
Kuan Chung governed them,
but he did not get so far as to regulate
li. Truly he who regulates
li is a true king; he who governs is strong; he who attracts the
people is at ease; he who collects imposts is lost. Hence collecting
imposts is to summon bandits,
[5]
and accumulating property is to
enrich one's enemies. This is the way to endanger one's self and
lose one's state: the intelligent ruler does not follow it. If [the
prince] will reform ritual (
li) to regulate the court, rectify the
laws to regulate the officials, and stabilize the government to
regulate the lower classes,
[6]
then after that the rhythm [of
li and
i]
[7]
will be adjusted in the court, the rules and regulations will be
rectified among the officials; while loyalty, honesty, love, and
gain will appear
[8]
among the lower classes. In this way the people
[come to] love him as their father and mother and to be in awe
of him as they are of spiritual beings.
[9]
By these means his transforming
virtue fills the world, and prosperity and happiness revert
to the nobles. The Ode says,
[10]
Blessing is sent down in large measure;
Careful and exact[11]
is all our deportment;
We have drunk, and we have eaten, to the full;
Our happiness and dignity will be prolonged.