Classic of Documents

[In the third month, when the moon began to wane, the duke of Chow commenced the foundations and proceeded to build the new great city at Lŏ of the eastern States. The people from every quarter assembled in great harmony. From the How, Teen, Nan, Ts‘ae, and Wei domains, the various officers stimulated this harmony of the people, and introduced them to the business there was for Chow. The duke of Chow encouraged all to diligence, and made a great announcement about the performance of the works.]

“The king speaks to this effect:—‘Head of the princes, my younger brother, little one, Fung.’

It was your greatly distinguished father, the king Wăn, who was able to illustrate his virtue and be careful in the use of punishments.

He did not dare to show any contempt to the widower and widows. He employed the employable, and revered the reverend; he was terrible to those who needed to be awed:—so getting distinction among the people. It was thus he laid the first beginnings of the sway of our small portion of the Empire, and the one or two neighbouring countries were brought under his improving influence, until throughout our western regions all placed in him their reliance. The fame of him ascended up to the High God, and God approved. Heaven gave a great charge to king an, to exterminate the great dynasty of Yin, and receive its great appointment, so that the various States belonging to it and their peoples were brought to an orderly condition. Then your unworthy elder brother exerted himself;—and so it is that you, Fung, the little one, are here in this eastern region.

“The king says, ‘Oh! Fung, bear these things in mind. Now your management of the people will depend on your reverently following your father Wăn;—do you carry out his virtuous words which you have heard, and clothe yourself with them. Moreover, where you go, seek out extensively among the traces of the former wise kings of Yin what you may use in protecting and regulating their people. Again, you must more remotely study the old accomplished men of shang, that you may establish your heart, and know how to instruct the people. Further still, you must seek out besides what is to be learned of the wise kings of antiquity, and employ it in the tranquillizing and protecting of the people. Finally, enlarge your thoughts to the comprehension of all Heavenly principles, and virtue will be richly displayed in your person, so that you will not render nugatory the king’s charge.

“The king says, ‘Oh! Fung, the little one, it is as if some disease were in your person; be respectfully careful. Heaven in its awfulness yet helps the sincere. The feelings of the people can for the most part be discerned, but it is difficult to calculate on the attachment of the lower classes. Where you go, employ all your heart. Do not seek repose, nor be fond of idleness and pleasure;—so may you regulate the people. I have heard the saying—“Dissatisfaction is caused not so much by great things or by small things, as by a ruler’s observance of principle or the reverse, and by his energy of conduct or the reverse.

‘Yes, it is yours, O little one,—it is your business to enlarge the royal influence, and harmoniously to protect this people of Yin. Thus also shall you assist the king, consolidating the appointment of Heaven, and renovating this people.’”

“The king says, ‘Oh! Fung, deal reverently and understandingly in your infliction of punishments. When men commit small crimes, which are not mischances, but purposed, themselves doing what is contrary to the laws, intentionally, though their crimes be but small, you may not but put them to death. But in the case of great crimes, which are not purposed, but from mischance and misfortune, accidental, if the offenders confess unreservedly their guilt, you may not put them to death.’”

“The king says, ‘Oh! Fung, there must be the right regulation in this matter. When you show a great discrimination, subduing men’s hearts, the people will admonish one another, and strive to be obedient. Deal with evil, as if it were a sickness in your person, and the people will entirely put away their faults. Deal with them, as if you were guarding your infants, and the people will be tranquil and orderly.

It is not you, Fung, who inflict a severe punishment or death upon a man; you may not of yourself so punish a man or put him to death.’ Moreover, he says, ‘It is not you, Fung, who cut off a man’s nose or ears; you may not of yourself cut off a man’s nose or ears.’”

“The king says, ‘In things beyond your immediate jurisdiction, have laws set forth which the officers may observe; and those should be the penal laws of Yin, which were right-ordered.’”

“He also says, ‘In examining the evidence in criminal cases, reflect upon it for five or six days, yea for ten days, or three months. You may then boldly carry your decision into effect in such cases.’”

“The king says, ‘In setting forth the business of the laws the punishments will be determined by the regular laws of Yin. But you must see that those punishments, as well as the penalty of death, be righteous. And you must not let them be warped to agree with your own inclinations, O Fung. Then shall you be entirely accordant with right, and may say, “These are properly ordered;” yet you must say at the same time, “Perhaps they are not yet entirely accordant with right.”

Yes, you are the little one;—who has a heart like you, O Fung? My heart and my virtue also are known to you.

‘All people who of themselves commit crimes, robbing, stealing, practising villainy and treason, and who kill men or violently assault them to take their property, being violent and fearless of death:—those are abhorred by all.’”

“The king says, ‘Fung, such chief criminals are greatly abhorred, and how much more detestable are the unfilial and unbrotherly!—as the son who does not reverently discharge his duty to his father, but greatly wounds his father’s heart; and the father who can no longer love his son, but hates him; and the younger brother who does not think of the manifest will of Heaven, and refuses to respect his elder brother, so that the elder brother does not think of the toil of their parents in bringing them up, and is very unbrotherly to his junior. If we who are charged with government do not treat parties who proceed to such wickedness as offenders, the laws of our nature given by Heaven to our people will be thrown into great disorder or destroyed. You must deal speedily with such parties according to the penal laws of king Wăn, punishing them severely and not pardoning.

‘These, who are disobedient to natural principles, are to be thus severely subjected to the laws;—how much more the officers employed in your State as the instructors of the youth, the heads of the various official departments, and the petty officers, charged with their several commissions; when they propagate and spread abroad other lessons, seeking the praise of the people, not thinking of the sovereign nor using the rules for their duties, but distressing him! These lead on to wickedness and are an abomination to me. Shall they be let alone? Do you quickly, according to what is recognized as right, put them to death.

‘And you are here prince and president;—if you cannot manage your own household, with your petty officers, the instructors, and heads of departments, but use only terror and violence, you greatly set aside the royal charge, and try to regulate your State contrary to virtue.

Do you also in every thing reverence the constant statutes, and so proceed to the happy rule of the people. There are the reverence of king Wăn and his caution;—in proceeding by them to the happy rule of the people, say, “If I can only attain to them.” So will you make me the one man to rejoice.

“The king says, ‘Fung, when I think clearly of the people, I see they are to be led to happiness and tranquillity. I think of the virtue of the former wise kings of Yin, whereby they tranquillized and regulated the people, and rouse myself to realize it. Moreover, the people now are sure to follow a leader. If one do not lead them, he cannot be said to exercise a government in their State.’”

“The king says, ‘Fung, I cannot dispense with the inspection of the ancients, and I make this declaration to you about virtue in the use of punishments. Now the people are not quiet; they have not stilled their minds; notwithstanding my frequent leading of them, they have not come to accord with my government. I reflect on Heaven’s severe punishments, but I do not murmur. The crimes of the people whether they are great or many, are all chargeable on me, and how much more shall this be said, when the report of them goes up so manifestly to Heaven!’”

“The king says, ‘Oh! Fung, be reverent. Do not what will create murmurings; do not use bad counsels, and uncommon ways. Decidedly and with sincerity, give yourself to imitate the active virtue of the ancients. Hereby give repose to your mind, examine your virtue, send far forward your plans, and thus by your generous forbearance you will conduct the people to repose in what is good:—so shall I not have to blame you or cast you off.’”

“The king says, ‘Oh! you, Fung, the little one, Heaven’s appointments are not constant. Do you think of this, and do not make me deprive you of your dignity. Reflect clearly on the charges you have received. Think highly of what you have heard, and tranquillize and regulate the people accordingly.

“The king thus says, ‘Go, Fung. Do not disregard the statutes you should reverence; hearken to what I have told you:—so with the people of Yin you will enjoy your dignity, and hand it down to your posterity.’”