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| Scope: Shang Jun Shu Request type: Paragraph |
| Condition 1: Contains text "辞" Matched:2. |
| Total 2 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1. |
《商君書 - Shang Jun Shu》 | [Warring States (475 BC - 221 BC)] English translation: J. J. L. Duyvendak [?] | Books referencing 《商君書》 Library Resources Source Related resources |
《農戰 - Agriculture and War》 | English translation: J. J. L. Duyvendak [?] | Library Resources |
| 8 | 農戰: | 今世主皆憂其國之危而兵之弱也，而強聽說者。說者成伍，煩言飾辭，而無實用。主好其辯，不求其實。說者得意，道路曲辯，輩輩成群。民見其可以取王公大人也，而皆學之。夫人聚黨與說議於國，紛紛焉小民樂之，大人說之。故其民農者寡，而游食者眾；眾則農者怠，農者怠則土地荒。學者成俗，則民舍農，從事於談說，高言偽議，舍農游食，而以言相高也。故民離上而不臣者，成群。此貧國弱兵之教也。夫國庸民以言，則民不畜於農。故惟明君知好言之不可以強兵闢土也。惟聖人之治國，作壹，摶之於農而已矣。 |
| Agriculture and War: | Nowadays, the rulers of the world are all anxious over the perilous condition of their countries and the weakness of their armies, and they listen at all costs to the professional talkers: but though these may form battalions, talk profusely and employ beautiful expressions, it is of no practical use. When a ruler loves their sophistry and does not seek for their practical value, then the professional talkers have it all their own way, expound their crooked sophistries in the streets, their various groups become great crowds, and the people, seeing that they succeed in captivating kings, dukes and great men, all imitate them. Now, if men form parties, the arguments and dissensions in the country will be of confusing diversity; the lower classes will be amused and the great men will enjoy it, with the result that amongst such a people farmers will be few and those who, in idleness, live on others will be many. These latter being numerous, farmers will be in a perilous position, and this being so, land will be left lying fallow. If study becomes popular, people will abandon agriculture and occupy themselves with debates, high-sounding words and discussions on false premises; abandoning agriculture, they will live on others in idleness, and seek to surpass one another with words. Thus the people will become estranged from the ruler, and there will be crowds of disloyal subjects. This is a doctrine which leads to the impoverishment of the state and to the weakening of the army. Indeed, if a country employs people for their talking, then the people will not be nurtured in agriculture; so it is only an intelligent prince who understands that by fondness for words one cannot strengthen the army nor open up the land. Only when a sage rules the country will he strive for singleness of purpose and for the consolidation of the people in agriculture, and for that alone. |
《慎法 - Attention to Law》 | English translation: J. J. L. Duyvendak [?] | Library Resources |
| 4 | 慎法: | 千乘能以守者，自存也；萬乘能以戰者，自完也；雖桀為主，不肯詘半辭以下其敵。外不能戰，內不能守，雖堯為主，不能以不臣諧所謂不若之國。自此觀之，國之所以重，主之所以尊者，力也。耕戰二者，力本。而世主莫能致力者，何也？使民之所苦者無耕，危者無戰。二者，孝子難以為其親，忠臣難以為其君。今欲敺其眾民，與之孝子忠臣之所難，臣以為非劫以刑，而敺以賞莫可。 |
| Attention to Law: | A country of a thousand chariots is able to preserve itself by defence, and a country of ten thousand chariots is able to round itself off by fighting - even (a bad ruler like) Jie would not be able to twist one word of this statement in order to subdue his enemies; and if, abroad, one is incapable of waging war, and at home one is incapable of defence, then even (a good ruler like) Yao could not pacify, for any misbehaviour, a country that (normally) would be no match. Looking at it from this point of view, that through which the country is important and that through which the ruler is honoured is force. Force being the basis of both, how is it then that no ruler on earth succeeds in developing force? Bring about a condition where people find it bitter not to till, and where they find it dangerous not to fight. These are two things which filial sons, though they dislike them, do for their fathers' sake, and loyal ministers, though they dislike them, do for their sovereign's sake. Nowadays, if you wish to stimulate the multitude of people to make them do what even filial sons and loyal ministers dislike doing, I think it is useless unless you compel them by means of punishments, and stimulate them by means of rewards. |
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