Classic of Documents
周書 Zhōu shū
畢命 第五十二 Book Fifty-two · Bì mìng
惟十有二年，六月，庚午朏。越三日壬申，王朝步自宗周，至于豐。以成周之眾，命畢公保釐東郊。
In the sixth month of his twelfth year, the day of the new moon’s appearance was Kăng-woo, and on Jin-shin, the third day after, the king walked in the morning from the honoured city of Chow to Fung, and there, with reference to the multitudes of Ching-chow, gave charge to the duke of Peih to protect and regulate the eastern frontier.
王若曰：「嗚呼！父師，惟文王、武王，敷大德于天下，用克受殷命。
The king spoke thus:—“Oh! Grand-tutor, it was when king Wăn and king Woo had diffused their great virtue through the empire that they were able to receive the appointment which Yin had enjoyed.
「惟周公左右先王，綏定厥家，毖殷頑民，遷于洛邑，密邇王室，式化厥訓。既歷三紀，世變風移，四方無虞，予一人以寧。
The duke of Chow acted as assistant to my royal predecessors, and tranquillized and established their empire. Cautiously did he deal with the refractory people of Yin, and removed them to the city of Lŏ, that they might be quietly near the royal house, and thus be transformed by its lessons. Six and thirty years have elapsed, the generation has been changed, and manners have altered. Through the four quarters of the empire there is no occasion for anxiety, and I, the one man, enjoy repose.
「道有升降，政由俗革，不臧厥臧，民罔攸勸。
The prevailing ways now tend to advancement and now to degeneracy, and measures of government must be varied according to the manners of the time. If you do not manifest your approval of what is good, the people will not be led to stimulate themselves in it.
「惟公懋德，克勤小物，弼亮四世，正色率下，罔不祗師言。嘉績多于先王，予小子垂拱仰成。」
But your virtue, O duke, is strenuous, and you are cautiously attentive to small things. You have been helpful to and brightened four reigns, with deportment all-correct, leading on the inferior officers, so that there is not one who does not reverently take your words as a law. Your admirable merits were that of many in the times of the former kings; I, the little child, have but to let my robes hang down, and fold my hands while I look up for the complete effect of your measures.”
王曰：「嗚呼！父師，今予祗命公以周公之事，往哉！
The king spoke, “Oh! Grand-tutor, I now reverently charge you with the duties of the duke of Chow.—Go!
「旌別淑慝，表厥宅里，彰善癉惡，樹之風聲。弗率訓典，殊厥井疆，俾克畏慕。申畫郊圻，慎固封守，以康四海。
Signalize the good, separating the bad from them; give tokens of your approbation to their neighbourhoods, distinguishing the good so as to make it ill for the evil, thus establishing the influence and reputation of their virtue. Where the people will not obey your lessons and statutes, mark off the boundaries of their hamlets, making them fear to do evil and desire to do good. Define anew the borders and frontiers, and be careful to strengthen the guardposts through the territory, in order to secure the tranquillity of the whole empire.
「政貴有恆，辭尚體要，不惟好異。商俗靡靡，利口惟賢，餘風未殄，公其念哉！
“In measures of government to be consistent and constant, and in proclamations a combination of completeness and brevity, are valuable. There should not be the love of what is extraordinary. Among the customs of Shang was the flattery of superiors. Sharp-tonguedness was the sign of worth. The remains of these manners are not yet obliterated. Do you, O duke, bear this in mind.
「我聞曰：『世祿之家，鮮克由禮，以蕩陵德，實悖天道。敝化奢麗，萬世同流。』
I have heard the saying—‘Families which have for generations enjoyed places of emolument seldom observe the rules of propriety. They become dissolute and do violence to virtue, setting themselves in positive opposition to the way of Heaven. They ruin the formative principles of good; encourage extravagance and display; and tend to carry all future ages on the same stream with them.’
「茲殷庶士，席寵惟舊，怙侈滅義，服美于人。驕淫矜侉，將由惡終，雖收放心，閑之惟艱。
Now the officers of Yin had long relied on the favour which they enjoyed. In the confidence of their prideful extravagance they extinguished their sense of righteousness. They displayed before men the beauty of their robes, proud, licentious, arrogant, and boastful;—the natural issue was that they should have ended in being thoroughly bad. Although their lost minds have been in a measure recovered, it is difficult to keep them under proper restraint.
「資富能訓；惟以永年，惟德惟義，時乃大訓。不由古訓，于何其訓？」
If with their property and wealth they can be brought under the influence of instruction, they may enjoy lengthened years. Virtue and righteousness!—these are the great lessons. If you do not follow with them these lessons of antiquity, wherein will you instruct them?”
王曰：「嗚呼！父師，邦之安危，惟茲殷士，不剛不柔，厥德允修。
The king said, “Oh! Grand-tutor, the security or the danger of the empire depends on these officers of Yin. If you are not too stern with them nor too mild, their virtue will be truly cultivated.
「惟周公克慎厥始，惟君陳克和厥中，惟公克成厥終。三后協心，同底于道，道洽政治，澤潤生民。四夷左衽，罔不咸賴，予小子永膺多福。
The duke of Chow was able to exercise the necessary caution at the beginning of the undertaking; Keun-ch‘in displayed the harmony proper to the middle of it; and you, O duke, can bring it at last to a successful issue. You three princes will have been one in aim, and have equally arrived at the proper way. The penetrating power of your principles, and the good character of your measures of government, will exert an enriching influence on the people, so that the wild tribes, with their coats buttoning on the left, will all seek their dependence on them, and I, the little child, will long enjoy much happiness.
「公其惟時成周，建無窮之基，亦有無窮之聞。子孫訓其成式，惟乂。
Thus, O duke, here in Ching-chow will you establish for ever the imperial possession of Chow, and you will have an inexhaustible fame. Your descendants will follow your perfect pattern, governing accordingly.
「嗚呼！罔曰弗克，惟既厥心；罔曰民寡，惟慎厥事。欽若先王成烈，以休于前政。」
“Oh! do not say, ‘I am unequal to this;’ but exert your mind to the utmost. Do not say, ‘The people are few;’ but attend carefully to your business. Reverently follow the accomplished achievements of the former kings, and complete the excellence of the government of your predecessors.”