Ralph D. Sawyer

King Wen: "May I hear about the Sages of antiquity?"

T'ai Kung: "Former generations referred to Emperor Yao, in his kingship over the realm in antiquity, as a Worthy ruler."

"He honored the positions of the officials who were loyal, upright, and upheld the laws, and made generous the salaries of those who were pure and scrupulous and loved people. He loved and respected those among the people who were filial and compassionate, and he comforted and encouraged those who exhausted their strength in agriculture and sericulture.

He tranquilized his heart and rectified the constraints [of social forms].' With laws and measures he prohibited evil and artifice.

Among those he hated, if anyone had merit he would invariably reward him. Among those he loved, if anyone were guilty of an offense he would certainly punish him. He preserved and nurtured the widows, widowers, orphans, and solitary elderly and gave aid to the families who had suffered misfortune and loss.

"What he allotted to himself was extremely meager, the taxes and services he required of the people extremely few. Thus the myriad peoples were prosperous and happy and did not have the appearance of suffering from hunger and cold.

He reduced his desires and constrained his will, managing affairs by nonaction.

"He honored t

"Sparing the people from death, eliminating the hardships of the people, relieving the misfortunes of the people, and sustaining the people in their extremities is Virtue. Wherever there is Virtue, All under Heaven will give their allegiance.

"Sharing worries, pleasures, likes, and dislikes with the people constitutes righteousness. Where there is righteousness the people will go.

"In general, people hate death and take pleasure in life. They love Virtue and incline to profit. The ability to produce profit accords with the Tao. Where the Tao resides, All under Heaven will give their allegiance."

King Wen said to the T'ai Kung: "I would like to learn about the affair of administering the state. If I want to have the ruler honored and the people settled, how should I proceed?"

Tai Kung: "Just love the people."

King Wen: "How does one love the people?"

T'ai Kung: "Profit them, do not harm them. Help them to succeed, do not defeat them. Give them life, do not slay them. Grant, do not take away. Give them pleasure, do not cause them to suffer. Make them happy, do not cause them to be angry."

T'ai Kung: "When the people do not lose their fundamental occupations, you have profited them. When the farmers do not lose the agricultural seasons, you have completed them. [When you reduce punishments and fines, you give them life.'] When you impose light taxes, you give to them. When you keep your palaces, mansions, terraces, and pavilions few, you give them pleasure. When the officials are pure and neither irritating nor troublesome, you make them happy.

"But when the people lose their fundamental occupations, you harm them. When the farmers lose the agricultural seasons, you defeat them. When they are innocent but you punish them, you kill them. When you impose heavy taxes, you take from them. When you construct numerous palaces, mansions, terraces, and pavilions, thereby wearing out the people's strength, you make it bitter for them. When the officials are corrupt, irritating, and troublesome, you anger them.

"Thus one who excels at administering a state governs the people as parents govern their beloved children or as an older brother acts toward his beloved younger brother.

"Rewards and punishments should be implemented as if being imposed upon yourself. Taxes should be imposed as if taking from yourself. This is the Way to love the people."

The T'ai Kung said: "The ruler only needs to draw near to the people; subordinates only need to be submissive. He must approach them, not being distant from any. They must be submissive without hiding anything. The ruler wants only to be all-encompassing; subordinates want only to be settled [in their positions]. If he is all-encompassing he will be like Heaven. If they are settled, they will be like Earth. One Heaven, one Earth-the Great Li is then complete."