The Books of Chow

Book XIV: The Numerous Officers

The Numerous Officers in the title refers to the men displaced from their previous dynasty and moved to the new city of Lo. This book is an address to the people of Yin who were forced to move to Lo by the duke of Chow. Their arrival to the new settlement gave rise to this address by the duke. Its intention is to alleviate the minds of the people and to stress the benefits of their new conditions.

In the third month, at the commencement of the government of the duke of Chow in the new city of Lo, he announced the royal will to the officers of the Shang dynasty, saying, “The king speaks to this effect: ‘Ye numerous officers who remain from the dynasty of Yin, great ruin came down on Yin from the want of pity in compassionate Heaven, and we, the princes of Chow, received its favouring decree. We accordingly felt charged with its bright terrors; carried out the punishments which kings inflict; rightly disposed of the appointment of Yin; and finished the work of God. Now, ye numerous officers, it was not that our small country dared to aim at the appointment of Yin. But Heaven was not with Yin, for indeed it would not strengthen its misrule. It therefore helped us; did we dare to seek the throne of ourselves? God was not for Yin, as appeared from the conduct of our inferior people, in which there is the brilliant dreadfulness of Heaven.

‘I have heard the saying “God leads men to tranquil security;” but the sovereign of Hea would not move to such security, whereupon God sent down corrections, indicating His mind to him. Kee, however, would not be warned by God, but proceeded to greater dissoluteness and sloth and excuses for himself. Then Heaven no longer regarded nor heard him, but disallowed his great appointment, and inflicted extreme punishment. Hereupon it charged your founder, T’ang the Successful, to set Hea aside, and by means of able men to rule the empire. From T’ang the Successful down to the emperor Yih, every sovereign sought to make his virtue illustrious, and duly attended to the sacrifices. And thus it was that while Heaven exerted a great establishing influence, preserving and regulating the house of Yin, its sovereigns on their part were humble careful not to lose the favour of God, and strove to manifest a good-doing corresponding to that of Heaven. But in these times, their successor showed himself greatly ignorant of the ways of Heaven, and much less could it be expected of him that he would be regardful of the earnest labours of his fathers for the country. Greatly abandoned to dissolute idleness, he paid no regard to the bright principles of Heaven, nor the awfulness of the people. On this account God no longer protected him, but sent down the great ruin which we have witnessed. Heaven was not with him because he did not seek to illustrate his virtue. Indeed, with regard to the overthrow of all States, great and small, throughout the four quarters of the empire, in every case there are reasons to be alleged for their punishment.’”

“The king speaks to this effect: ‘Ye numerous officers of Yin, the case now is this, that the sovereigns of our Chow, from their great goodness were charged with the work of God. There was the charge to them, “Cut off Yin.” They proceeded to perform it, and announced the correcting work to God. In our affairs we have followed no double aims: ye of the royal house of Yin must follow us.

‘May I not say that you were very lawless? I did not want to remove you. The thing came from your own city. When I consider also how Heaven has drawn near to Yin with so great tribulations, it must be that there was there what was not right.’”

“The king says, ‘Ho! I declare to you, ye numerous officers, it is simply on account of these things that I have removed and settled you in the west; it was not that I, the one man, considered it a part of my virtue to make you untranquil. The thing was from the decree of Heaven; do not resist me; I dare not have any further change for you. Do not murmur against me. Ye know that your fathers of the Yin dynasty had their archives and narratives showing how Yin superseded the appointment of Hea. Ye now indeed say further, “The officers of Hea were chosen and promoted to the imperial court, or had their places among the mass of officers.” I, the one man, listen only to the virtuous and employ them; and it was with this view that I presumed to seek you out in your heavenly city of Shang. I thereby follow the ancient example, and have pity on you. Your present non-employment is no fault of mine; it is by the decree of Heaven.’”

“The king says, ‘Ye numerous officers, formerly, when I came from Yen, I greatly mitigated the penalty in favour of the lives of the people of your four countries. At the same time I made evident the punishment appointed by Heaven, and removed you to this distant abode, that you might be near the ministers who had served in our honoured capital, and learn their much obedience.’”

“The king says, ‘I declare to you, ye numerous officers of Yin, now I have not put you to death, and therefore I repeat to you my charge again. I have built this great city here in Lo, considering that there was not other place in which to receive my guests from the four quarters, and also that you, ye numerous officers, might here with zealous activity, perform the part of ministers to us with much obedience. You have still here I may say your grounds, and here you may still rest in your duties and dwellings.

If you can reverently obey, Heaven will favour and compassionate you. If you cannot reverently obey, you will not only not have your lands, but I will also carry to the utmost Heaven’s inflictions on your persons. Now you may here dwell in your villages, and perpetuate your families; you may pursue your occupations and enjoy your years in this Lo; your children also will prosper: all from your being removed here.’”

“The king says, - ; and again he says, ‘Whatsoever I have spoken, is all on account of my anxiety about your residence here.’”