Post by Pathfinder on Feb 21, 2022 18:26:20 GMT
Three Essentials
In general, the way to govern a nation is to nurture the life of the people,
restore the nature of the people, and prevent the people from doing wrong.
These are the three essentials.
Equalize land allotments, minimize taxes, employ the people at the
appropriate times, have the people plant mulberry and flax. When the
farmers till, the women spin silk, the people don’t waste their time, and the
state doesn’t waste land, then there is enough clothing and food so that
there’s no anxiety about supporting parents, wives, and children. The people
are constant, and robbery and banditry don’t occur in the territory. The state
is tranquil, the people are at peace. Because of this, merchants gather and
make markets, artisans come and make utensils; the needs of the nation are
fully met, so the people are prosperous and happy. This is called nurturing
the life of the people.
If you nurture them without educating them, the people won’t know
about courtesy and duty. Without courtesy, social order will be disturbed;
without duty, the ruler is disregarded.
The way to educate the people is to set up schools in districts and
villages, establish colleges in prefectures and provinces, provide officials in
charge of instruction, equip them with books, set aside a budget for
expenses, admit the children and youth of the gentry and populace, and
teach them. In the schools have them study writing and arithmetic and read
classics and literature. In the colleges have them analyze ideograms and
discuss their meanings. Enable everyone to know how to investigate things
to acquire knowledge, cultivate oneself, and govern others. Thus does a
nation develop customs of respect for parents, fraternity, loyalty, faith,
courtesy, duty, and integrity. This is called restoring the nature of the
people.
Even with education and sustenance, there is law; if the people’s wrongs
are not prevented, then dishonesty will develop and the nation will become
disorderly. Therefore the provinces, prefectures, districts, and villages
should all have offices to which intelligent and conscientious people are
promoted, appointing them according to their character to determine legal
prohibitions and make their stipulations known, to assist in government and
education, so people won’t get into trouble. If any violate the law, then
indictments are composed, complete with the reasons, and they are exposed
to the public in the marketplace, to keep the masses of people in line. This
is called preventing the people from doing wrong.
When clothing and food are sufficient, the people are happy and don’t
think of rebelling. When the state provides education, the people know their
duties and don’t act against their leaders. When wrongdoing is prevented,
crooks and schemers don’t arise. If your government is like this, you have
no rivals on earth.
Essentials of Warfare
In a discourse on warfare, Master Xun wrote, “What is essential is the
allegiance of the people.” In the military force of a humane man, superiors
and subordinates are of one mind, the three armies combine their strength.
The ministers are to their ruler, and the subordinates to their superiors, like
sons and younger brothers working for their fathers and elder brothers, like
the hands and arms shielding the head and eyes and protecting the chest and
abdomen. So for warfare the allegiance of the people is essential.
The way wise leaders and intelligent commanders govern subordinates is
to inspire sincerity by being sincere. Thus the feelings of superiors and
subordinates are united. Appreciation of benevolence and submission to
duty lead to the will to sacrifice one’s life for the country out of
In general, the way to govern a nation is to nurture the life of the people,
restore the nature of the people, and prevent the people from doing wrong.
These are the three essentials.
Equalize land allotments, minimize taxes, employ the people at the
appropriate times, have the people plant mulberry and flax. When the
farmers till, the women spin silk, the people don’t waste their time, and the
state doesn’t waste land, then there is enough clothing and food so that
there’s no anxiety about supporting parents, wives, and children. The people
are constant, and robbery and banditry don’t occur in the territory. The state
is tranquil, the people are at peace. Because of this, merchants gather and
make markets, artisans come and make utensils; the needs of the nation are
fully met, so the people are prosperous and happy. This is called nurturing
the life of the people.
If you nurture them without educating them, the people won’t know
about courtesy and duty. Without courtesy, social order will be disturbed;
without duty, the ruler is disregarded.
The way to educate the people is to set up schools in districts and
villages, establish colleges in prefectures and provinces, provide officials in
charge of instruction, equip them with books, set aside a budget for
expenses, admit the children and youth of the gentry and populace, and
teach them. In the schools have them study writing and arithmetic and read
classics and literature. In the colleges have them analyze ideograms and
discuss their meanings. Enable everyone to know how to investigate things
to acquire knowledge, cultivate oneself, and govern others. Thus does a
nation develop customs of respect for parents, fraternity, loyalty, faith,
courtesy, duty, and integrity. This is called restoring the nature of the
people.
Even with education and sustenance, there is law; if the people’s wrongs
are not prevented, then dishonesty will develop and the nation will become
disorderly. Therefore the provinces, prefectures, districts, and villages
should all have offices to which intelligent and conscientious people are
promoted, appointing them according to their character to determine legal
prohibitions and make their stipulations known, to assist in government and
education, so people won’t get into trouble. If any violate the law, then
indictments are composed, complete with the reasons, and they are exposed
to the public in the marketplace, to keep the masses of people in line. This
is called preventing the people from doing wrong.
When clothing and food are sufficient, the people are happy and don’t
think of rebelling. When the state provides education, the people know their
duties and don’t act against their leaders. When wrongdoing is prevented,
crooks and schemers don’t arise. If your government is like this, you have
no rivals on earth.
Essentials of Warfare
In a discourse on warfare, Master Xun wrote, “What is essential is the
allegiance of the people.” In the military force of a humane man, superiors
and subordinates are of one mind, the three armies combine their strength.
The ministers are to their ruler, and the subordinates to their superiors, like
sons and younger brothers working for their fathers and elder brothers, like
the hands and arms shielding the head and eyes and protecting the chest and
abdomen. So for warfare the allegiance of the people is essential.
The way wise leaders and intelligent commanders govern subordinates is
to inspire sincerity by being sincere. Thus the feelings of superiors and
subordinates are united. Appreciation of benevolence and submission to
duty lead to the will to sacrifice one’s life for the country out of