Classic of Documents

The emperor said, “Come Yu, you also must have admirable words to bring before me..” Yu did obeisance, and said, “Oh! what can I say after Kaou-yaou, O emperor? I can only think of maintaining a daily assiduity.” Kaou-yaou said, “Alas! Will you describe it?” Yu said, “The inundating waters seemed to assail the heavens, and in their vast extent embraced the mountains and overtopped the hills, so that people were bewildered and overwhelmed. I mounted my four conveyances, and all along the hills hewed down the woods, at the same time along with Yih showing the multitudes how to get flesh to eat. I also opened passages for the streams throughout the nine provinces, and conducted them to the sea. I deepened moreover the channels and canals, and conducted them to the streams, at the same time along with Tseih sowing grain, and showing the multitudes how to procure the food of toil in addition to flesh meat. I urged them further to exchange what they had for what they had not, and to dispose of their accumulated stores. In this way all the people got grain to eat, and all the States began to come under good rule.” Kaou-yaou said, “Yes; we ought to model ourselves after your excellent words.”

Yu said, “Oh! be careful, O emperor, of the manner in which you occupy the throne.” The emperor said, “Yes.” Yu said, “Find your rest in your resting-point. Attend to the springs of things, study stability; and let your assistants be upright:—then will your every movement be greatly responded to, as if the people only waited for your will, and you will brightly receive gifts from God. Will not Heaven renew its favouring appointment, and give you blessing?”

The emperor said, “Alas! ministers! associates! Associates! ministers!” Yu said, “Yes.”

The emperor said, “My ministers constitute my legs and arms, my ears and eyes. I wish to help and support my people;—you give effect to my wishes. I wish to spread the influence of my government through the four quarters;—you are my agents. I wish to see the emblematic figures of the ancients,—the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountain, the dragon, and the flowery fowl, which are depicted on the upper garment; the temple-cup, the aquatic grass, the flames, the grains of rice, the hatchet, and the symbol of distinction, which are embroidered on the lower garment:—I wish to see all these displayed with the five colours, so as to form the official robes; it is yours to adjust them clearly. I wish to hear the six pitch-tubes, the five notes determined by them, and the eight kinds of musical instruments, regulated again by these, examining thereby the virtues and defects of my government, according as the odes that go from the court, and the ballads that come in from the people are ordered by those five notes:—it is you who hear for me.

When I am doing wrong, it is yours to correct me;—do not follow me to my face, and when you have retired, have other remarks to make. Be reverent, ye who stand before and behind and on each side of me.

As to all the obstinately stupid and calumniating talkers, who are not to be found doing what is right, there is the target to exhibit their true character; the scourge to make them remember; and the book of remembrance! Do we not wish them to live along with us? There are also the masters of music to receive the compositions which they make, and continually to set them forth in song. If they become reformed, they are to be received and employed; if they do not, let the terrors of punishment overtake them.”

Yu said, “Yes, but let your light, O emperor, shine all through the empire, even to the grassy shores of the and in the myriad States the most worthy of the people will all wish to be your ministers. Then, O emperor, you may advance them to office. They will set forth, and you will receive, their reports; you will make proof of them severally by their merits; you will confer chariots and robes according to their services. Who will then dare not to cultivate a humble virtue? Who will dare not to respond to you with reverence? If you, O emperor, do not act thus, all your ministers together will daily proceed to a meritless character.

“Do not be like the haughty Choo of Tan, who found his pleasure only in indolence and dissipation, and pursued a proud oppression. Day and night, without ceasing, he was thus. He would make boats go where there was no water. He introduced licentious associates into his family. The consequence was that he brought the honours of his House to an end. I took warning from his course. When I married in T‘oo-shan, I remained with my wife only the days sin, jin, kwei, and keă. When my son K‘e was wailing and weeping, I did not regard him, but kept planning with all my might my labour on the land. Thus I assisted in completing the five tenures, extending over 5, 000 le; in appointing in the provinces twelve Tutors; and in establishing, in the regions beyond, extending to the four seas, five Presidents. These all pursue the right path and are meritorious; but there are still the people of Meaou, who refuse to acknowledge their duty. Think of this, O emperor.” The emperor said, “That my virtue is followed, this is the result of your meritorious services, so orderly displayed. And now Kaou-yaou is respectfully carrying out your arrangements, and employing the represented punishments with entire intelligence.”

K‘wei said, “When the sounding-stone is tapped or strongly struck; when the lutes are swept or gently touched; to accompany the singing:—the imperial progenitors come to the service, the guest of Yu is in his place, and all the nobles show their virtue in giving place to one another. Below there are the flutes and drums and hand-drums, which join in at the sound of the rattle, and cease at the sound of the stopper; with the calabash organs and bells:—all filling up the intervals; when birds and beasts fall moving. When the nine parts of the service according to the emperor’s arrangements have all been performed, the male and female phœnix come with their measured gambollings into the court.”

K‘wei said, “Oh! when I strike the stone or tap the stone, all kinds of animals lead on one another to gambol, and all the chiefs of the officers become truly harmonious.”

The emperor on this made a song, saying, “Being charged with the favouring appointment of Heaven, we must be careful at every moment, and in the smallest particular.” He then sang, saying,
“When the members work joyfully,
The head rises flourishingly;
And the duties of all the officers are fully discharged!”
Kaou-yaou did obeisance, with his head to the ground, and with a loud and rapid voice said, “Oh! think. It is yours to lead on, and to originate things, with a careful attention to your laws. Be reverent! Oh! often examine what you have accomplished. Be reverent!” With this he continued the song, saying,
“When the head is intelligent,
The members are good;
And all business will be happily performed!”
He again continued the song, saying,
“When the head is vexatious,
The members are idle;
And all affairs will go to ruin!”
The emperor said, “Yes; go ye, and be reverently attentive to your duties!”