The Books of Chow

Book XV: Against Luxurious Ease

This book addresses the vices of the young sovereign, king Ching, as witnessed by the duke of Chow. He warns Ching of the grave consequences that luxuriousness and moral laxity could impress on his reign. He urges him not to follow the example of Show but to adhere to the example of king Wan. The duke ends by demonstrating to Ching the benefits of listening to the opinions of the common people.

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! the superior man rests in this, that he will have no luxurious ease. He first understands the painful toil of sowing and reaping, how it conducts to ease, and thus he understands the law of the support of the inferior people. I have observed among the inferior people, that where the parents have diligently laboured in sowing and reaping, their sons often do not understand this painful toil, and abandon themselves to ease, and to village slang, and become quite disorderly. Or where they do not do so, they throw contempt on their parents, saying, ‘Those old people have heard nothing and know nothing.’”

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! I have heard that aforetime the emperor of Yin, Chung-tsung, was grave, humble, reverential, and fearful. He measured himself with reference to the appointment of Heaven, and cherished a reverent apprehension in governing the people, not daring to indulge in useless ease. It was thus that Chung-tsung enjoyed the throne for seventy and five years.

“If we come to the time of Kaou-tsung, he toiled at first away from the court, and was among the inferior people. When he came to the throne, it may be said that, while he was in the mourning shed, for three years he did not speak. Afterwards he was still inclined not to speak; but when he did speak, his words were full of harmonious wisdom. He did not dare to indulge in useless and easy ways, but admirable and tranquilly presided over the empire of Yin, till in all its States, great and small, there was not a single murmur. It was thus that Kaou-tsung enjoyed the throne for fifty and nine years.

“In the case of Tsoo-kea, he would not unrighteously be emperor, and was at first one of the inferior people. When he came to the throne, he understood the law of the support of the inferior people, and was able to exercise a protecting kindness towards their masses and did not dare to treat with contempt the widower and widows. Thus it was that Tsoo-kea enjoyed the throne for thirty and three years.

“The emperors which arose after these all their life-time enjoyed ease. From their birth enjoying ease, they did not understand the painful toil of sowing and reaping, nor hear of the hard labours of the inferior people. They only sought after excessive pleasures, and so not one of them enjoyed the throne for a long period. They continued for ten years, for seven or eight, for five or six, or perhaps only for three or four.”

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! there likewise were king T’ae and king Ke of our own Chow, who attained to humility and reverential awe. King Wan dressed meanly, and gave himself to the work of tranquillization, and to that of husbandry. Admirably mild and beautifully humble, he cherished and protected the inferior people, and showed a fostering kindness to the widower and widows. From morning to midday, and from midday to sundown, he did not allow himself time to eat; thus seeking to secure the happy harmony of the myriads of the people. King Wan did not dare to go to any excess in his excursions or his hunting, and from the various States he received only the correct amount of contribution. He received the appointment of Heaven in the middle of his life, and enjoyed the throne for fifty years.”

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! from this time forward, do you who have succeeded to the throne imitate his avoiding of excess in his sights, his ease, his excursions, his hunting; and from the myriads of the people receive only the correct amount of contribution. Do not allow yourself the leisure to say, ‘To-day I will indulge in pleasure.’ This is not holding out a lesson to the people, nor the way to secure the favour of Heaven. Men will on the contrary greatly imitate you, and practise evil. Become not like Show, the king of Yin, who went quite astray, and was abandoned to the practice of drunkenness.”

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! I have heard it said that, in the case of the ancients, their ministers discharged their functions in warning and admonishing them, in protecting and loving them, in teaching and instructing them; and among their people there was hardly one who would impose on them by extravagant language or deceiving tricks. If you will not listen to this and profit by it, your ministers will imitate you, and so the correct laws of the former kings, both small and great, will be changed and disordered. The people blaming you will disobey and rebel in their hearts; yea, they will curse you with their mouths.”

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! those kings of Yin, Chung-tsung, Kaou-tsung, and Tsoo-kea, with king Wan of our Chow, these four men carried their knowledge into practice. If it was told them, ‘The inferior people murmur against you, and revile you,’ then they paid great and reverent attention to their conduct; and with reference to the faults imputed to them they said, ‘Our faults are really so.’ They acted thus, not simply not daring to cherish anger. If you will not listen to this and profit by it, when men with extravagant language and deceptive tricks say to you, ‘The inferior people are murmuring against you and reviling you,’ you will believe them. Doing this, you will not be always thinking of your princely duties, and will not cultivate a large and generous heart. You will confusedly punish the crimeless, and put the innocent to death. There will be a general murmuring, which will be concentrated upon your person.”

The duke of Chow said, “Oh! you king, who have succeeded to the throne, make a study of these things.”