Follow us on Facebook to receive important updates Follow us on Twitter to receive important updates Follow us on sina.com's microblogging site to receive important updates Follow us on Douban to receive important updates
Chinese Text Project
Back Forward
Mohism -> Mozi -> Book 2 -> Exaltation of the Virtuous II -> 6

王公大人If the rulers now want to govern their states so that they will be permanent and unshakeable, why do they not learn that exaltation of the virtuous is the foundation of government?
墨子Besides, is this principle merely a conception of Mozi?
It is the way of the sage-kings and the tenet of "Ju Nian," a book of an ancient king.
And, thus it is recorded:
"(He) sought out the wise men
』, to protect and aid you."
And thus states the "Oath of Tang":
"I then sought for the Great Sage,
with whom I might unite my strength and mind
天下。』 to govern the empire."
使All these show how the sage-kings never failed to exalt the virtuous and employ the capable in government.
使天下The sage-kings of old comprehended onlv this -- to exalt the virtuous and employ the capable in government and nobody else; so the whole world was benefited.
歷山In times of old, Shun cultivated land at Mt. Li
made pottery by the River,
雷澤 and was engaged in fishing in Lake Lei.
服澤 Yao discovered him at Fuze.
天子Exalting him, Yao made him Emperor
天下and handed to him the government of the empire
天下 and the rule over the people.
Yi Zhi
once served in the bridal party of the daughter of the Prince of Xin,
and later voluntarily served Tang as his cook.
Tang discovered him.
Exalting him, Tang made him his Prime Minister
天下and handed to him the government of the empire
天下 and the rule over the people.
傅說 Fu Yue once wore garments of coarse cloth tied with ropes,
working as an artisan at Fu Yan.
Wu Ding discovered him.
Exalting him, Wu Ding made him High Duke
天下and handed to him the government of the empire
天下 and the rule over the people.
Why is it that these people starting in humility arrived at honour,
starting in poverty arrived at wealth?
王公大人使 It is because these rulers understood the importance of exalting the virtuous and employing the capable in government.
Therefore, none of the people were hungry yet without food,
cold yet without clothing,
tired yet without rest,
disturbed yet without peace.


Enjoy this site? Please help.Site design and content copyright 2006-2024. When quoting or citing information from this site, please link to the corresponding page or to https://ctext.org. Please note that the use of automatic download software on this site is strictly prohibited, and that users of such software are automatically banned without warning to save bandwidth. 沪ICP备09015720号-3Comments? Suggestions? Please raise them here.