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Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1It extended westward from the present Khai Kau, department Té-ming, Xib-lf, to the borders of the departments of Wei-hui and Hwai-shing, Ho-nan. The Book is called an ‘Announcement,’ whereas it properly belongs to the class of ‘Charges.’ Whether the king who speaks in it, and gives the charge be W4, or his son king Kang, is a point on which there is much difference of opinion among Chinese critics. The older view that the appointment of Fang to be marquis of Wei, and ruler of that part of the people who might be expected to cling most tenaciously to the memory of the Shang dynasty, took place after the death of Wa-kang, the son of the tyrant, and was made by the duke of X4u, in the name of king Khang, is on the whole attended with the fewer difficulties. The first paragraph, which appears within brackets, does not really belong to this Book, but to the thirteenth, where it will be found again. How it got removed from its proper - place, and prefixed to the charge to the prince of Khang, is a question on which it is not necessary to enter. The key-note of the whole charge is in what is said, at the commencement of the first of the five chapters into which I have divided it, about king W4n, that ‘he was able to illustrate his virtue and be careful in the use of punishments.’ The first chapter celebrates the exhibition of these two things given by Wan, whereby he laid the foundations of the great destiny of his House, and set an example to his descendants. The second inculcates on Fang how he should illustrate his virtue, as the basis of his good government of the people entrusted to him. The third inculcates on him how he should be careful in the use of BOOK Ix. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRINCE OF KHANG. 165 punishments, and sets forth the happy effects of his being so. The fourth insists on the influence of virtue, as being superior in government to that of punishment, and how punishments should all be regulated by the ruler’s virtue. The last chapter winds the subject up with a reference to the uncertainty of the appointments of Heaven, and their dependance for permanence on the discharge of the duties connected with them by those on whom they have lighted. [On the third month, when the moon began to wane, the duke of KAu commenced the foundations, and proceeded to build the new great city of Lo, of the eastern states. The people from every quarter assembled in great harmony. From the Hau, Tien, Nan, 3hdi, and Wei domains, the various officers stimulated this harmony of the people, and introduced them to the business there was to be done for Kau. The duke encouraged all to diligence, and made a great announcement about the performance (of the works).]
2From the Hau, Tien, Nan, 3hdi, and Wei domains, the various officers stimulated this harmony of the people, and introduced them to the business there was to be done for Kau. The duke encouraged all to diligence, and made a great announcement about the performance (of the works).] 1. The king speaks to this effect :—‘ Head of the princes!, and my younger brother?, little one*, Fang, it was your greatly distinguished father, the king Wan, who was able to illustrate his virtue and be careful in the use of punishments. He did not dare to treat with contempt (even) wifeless men and widows. He employed the employable, and revered the reverend; he was terrible to those who needed to be awed :—so getting distinction among the people. It was thus he laid the foundations of (the sway of) our small portion of the kingdom’, and the one 1 Fang had, no doubt, been made chief or leader of all the feudal lords in one of the K4u or provinces of the kingdom. * The duke of Au, though speaking in the name of king Khang, yet addresses Fang from the standpoint of his own relation to him. > Referring to the original principality of Kau, 166 THE SHO KING. PART V. or two (neighbouring) regions were brought under his improving influence, until throughout our western land all placed in him their reliance. The fame of him ascended up to the high God, and God approved. Heaven accordingly gave a grand charge to king W4n, to exterminate the great (dynasty of) Yin, and grandly receive its appointment, so that the various countries belonging to it and their peoples were brought to an orderly condition.* Then your unworthy elder brother’ exerted himself; and thus it is that you Fang, the little one, are here in this eastern region.’ 2. The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, bear these things in mind. Now (your success in the management of) the people will depend on your reverently following your father Wan ;—do you carry out his virtuous words which you have heard, and clothe yourself with them, (Moreover), where you go, seek out among (the traces of) the former wise kings of Yin what you may use in protecting and regulating their people. (Again), you must in the remote distance study the (ways of) the old accomplished men of Shang, that you may establish your heart, and know how to instruct (the people). (Further still), you must search out besides what is to be learned of the wise kings of antiquity, and employ it in tranquillizing and protecting the people. (Finally), enlarge (your thoughts) to (the comprehension of all) heavenly (principles), and virtue will be richly displayed in your person, so that you will not render nugatory the king’s charge.’ 1 Is it strange that the duke should thus speak of king Wa? Should we not think the better of him for it? BOOK Ix. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRINCE OF KHANG. 167
3Should we not think the better of him for it? BOOK Ix. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRINCE OF KHANG. 167 The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, the little one, be respectfully careful, as if you were suffering from a disease. Awful though Heaven be, it yet helps the sincere.* The feelings of the people can for the most part be discerned; but it is difficult to preserve (the attachment of) the lower classes. Where you go, employ all your heart. Do not seek repose, nor be fond of ease and pleasure. I have read the saying,—“ Dissatisfaction is caused not so much by great things, or by small things, as by (a ruler’s) observance of principle or the reverse, and by his energy of conduct or the reverse.” Yes, it is yours, O little one,—it is your business to enlarge the royal (influence), and to protect the people of Yin in harmony with their feelings. Thus also shall you assist the king, consolidating the appointment of Heaven, and renovating the people.’* 3. The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, deal reverently and intelligently in your infliction of punishments. When men commit small crimes, which are not mischances, but purposed, they of themselves doing what is contrary to the laws intentionally, though their crimes be but small, you may not but put them to death. But in the case of great crimes, . which were not purposed, but from mischance and misfortune, accidental, if the transgressors confess their guilt without reserve, you must not put them to death.’ The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, there must be the orderly regulation (of this matter), When you show a great discrimination, subduing (men’s hearts), the people will admonish one another, and strive to be obedient. (Deal firmly yet tenderly with evil), as if it were a disease in your own person, and the people 168 THE SHO KING. PART V. will entirely put away their faults. (Deal with them) as if you were protecting your own infants, and the people will be tranquil and orderly. It is not you, O Fang, who (can presume to) inflict a (severe) punishment or death upon a man ;—do not, to please yourself, so punish a man or put him to death.’ Moreover, he says, ‘It is not you, O Fang, who (can presume to inflict a lighter punishment), cutting off a man’s nose or ears ;—do not, to please yourself, cause a man’s nose or ears to be cut off.’ The king says, ‘In things beyond (your immediate supervision), have laws set forth which the officers may observe, and these should be the penal laws of Yin which were rightly ordered.’ He also says, ‘In examining the evidence in (criminal) cases, reflect upon it for five or six days, yea, for ten days or three months. You may then boldly come toa decision in such cases},’
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1It extended westward from the present Khai Kau, department Té-ming, Xib-lf, to the borders of the departments of Wei-hui and Hwai-shing, Ho-nan. The Book is called an ‘Announcement,’ whereas it properly belongs to the class of ‘Charges.’ Whether the king who speaks in it, and gives the charge be W4, or his son king Kang, is a point on which there is much difference of opinion among Chinese critics. The older view that the appointment of Fang to be marquis of Wei, and ruler of that part of the people who might be expected to cling most tenaciously to the memory of the Shang dynasty, took place after the death of Wa-kang, the son of the tyrant, and was made by the duke of X4u, in the name of king Khang, is on the whole attended with the fewer difficulties. The first paragraph, which appears within brackets, does not really belong to this Book, but to the thirteenth, where it will be found again. How it got removed from its proper - place, and prefixed to the charge to the prince of Khang, is a question on which it is not necessary to enter. The key-note of the whole charge is in what is said, at the commencement of the first of the five chapters into which I have divided it, about king W4n, that ‘he was able to illustrate his virtue and be careful in the use of punishments.’ The first chapter celebrates the exhibition of these two things given by Wan, whereby he laid the foundations of the great destiny of his House, and set an example to his descendants. The second inculcates on Fang how he should illustrate his virtue, as the basis of his good government of the people entrusted to him. The third inculcates on him how he should be careful in the use of BOOK Ix. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRINCE OF KHANG. 165 punishments, and sets forth the happy effects of his being so. The fourth insists on the influence of virtue, as being superior in government to that of punishment, and how punishments should all be regulated by the ruler’s virtue. The last chapter winds the subject up with a reference to the uncertainty of the appointments of Heaven, and their dependance for permanence on the discharge of the duties connected with them by those on whom they have lighted. [On the third month, when the moon began to wane, the duke of KAu commenced the foundations, and proceeded to build the new great city of Lo, of the eastern states. The people from every quarter assembled in great harmony. From the Hau, Tien, Nan, 3hdi, and Wei domains, the various officers stimulated this harmony of the people, and introduced them to the business there was to be done for Kau. The duke encouraged all to diligence, and made a great announcement about the performance (of the works).]
2From the Hau, Tien, Nan, 3hdi, and Wei domains, the various officers stimulated this harmony of the people, and introduced them to the business there was to be done for Kau. The duke encouraged all to diligence, and made a great announcement about the performance (of the works).] 1. The king speaks to this effect :—‘ Head of the princes!, and my younger brother?, little one*, Fang, it was your greatly distinguished father, the king Wan, who was able to illustrate his virtue and be careful in the use of punishments. He did not dare to treat with contempt (even) wifeless men and widows. He employed the employable, and revered the reverend; he was terrible to those who needed to be awed :—so getting distinction among the people. It was thus he laid the foundations of (the sway of) our small portion of the kingdom’, and the one 1 Fang had, no doubt, been made chief or leader of all the feudal lords in one of the K4u or provinces of the kingdom. * The duke of Au, though speaking in the name of king Khang, yet addresses Fang from the standpoint of his own relation to him. > Referring to the original principality of Kau, 166 THE SHO KING. PART V. or two (neighbouring) regions were brought under his improving influence, until throughout our western land all placed in him their reliance. The fame of him ascended up to the high God, and God approved. Heaven accordingly gave a grand charge to king W4n, to exterminate the great (dynasty of) Yin, and grandly receive its appointment, so that the various countries belonging to it and their peoples were brought to an orderly condition.* Then your unworthy elder brother’ exerted himself; and thus it is that you Fang, the little one, are here in this eastern region.’ 2. The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, bear these things in mind. Now (your success in the management of) the people will depend on your reverently following your father Wan ;—do you carry out his virtuous words which you have heard, and clothe yourself with them, (Moreover), where you go, seek out among (the traces of) the former wise kings of Yin what you may use in protecting and regulating their people. (Again), you must in the remote distance study the (ways of) the old accomplished men of Shang, that you may establish your heart, and know how to instruct (the people). (Further still), you must search out besides what is to be learned of the wise kings of antiquity, and employ it in tranquillizing and protecting the people. (Finally), enlarge (your thoughts) to (the comprehension of all) heavenly (principles), and virtue will be richly displayed in your person, so that you will not render nugatory the king’s charge.’ 1 Is it strange that the duke should thus speak of king Wa? Should we not think the better of him for it? BOOK Ix. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRINCE OF KHANG. 167
3Should we not think the better of him for it? BOOK Ix. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRINCE OF KHANG. 167 The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, the little one, be respectfully careful, as if you were suffering from a disease. Awful though Heaven be, it yet helps the sincere.* The feelings of the people can for the most part be discerned; but it is difficult to preserve (the attachment of) the lower classes. Where you go, employ all your heart. Do not seek repose, nor be fond of ease and pleasure. I have read the saying,—“ Dissatisfaction is caused not so much by great things, or by small things, as by (a ruler’s) observance of principle or the reverse, and by his energy of conduct or the reverse.” Yes, it is yours, O little one,—it is your business to enlarge the royal (influence), and to protect the people of Yin in harmony with their feelings. Thus also shall you assist the king, consolidating the appointment of Heaven, and renovating the people.’* 3. The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, deal reverently and intelligently in your infliction of punishments. When men commit small crimes, which are not mischances, but purposed, they of themselves doing what is contrary to the laws intentionally, though their crimes be but small, you may not but put them to death. But in the case of great crimes, . which were not purposed, but from mischance and misfortune, accidental, if the transgressors confess their guilt without reserve, you must not put them to death.’ The king says, ‘Oh! Fang, there must be the orderly regulation (of this matter), When you show a great discrimination, subduing (men’s hearts), the people will admonish one another, and strive to be obedient. (Deal firmly yet tenderly with evil), as if it were a disease in your own person, and the people 168 THE SHO KING. PART V. will entirely put away their faults. (Deal with them) as if you were protecting your own infants, and the people will be tranquil and orderly. It is not you, O Fang, who (can presume to) inflict a (severe) punishment or death upon a man ;—do not, to please yourself, so punish a man or put him to death.’ Moreover, he says, ‘It is not you, O Fang, who (can presume to inflict a lighter punishment), cutting off a man’s nose or ears ;—do not, to please yourself, cause a man’s nose or ears to be cut off.’ The king says, ‘In things beyond (your immediate supervision), have laws set forth which the officers may observe, and these should be the penal laws of Yin which were rightly ordered.’ He also says, ‘In examining the evidence in (criminal) cases, reflect upon it for five or six days, yea, for ten days or three months. You may then boldly come toa decision in such cases},’
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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