The Books of Chow

Book XVII: The Charge to Chung of Ts’ae

Ts’ae refers to the name of the small district under Too’s helm (the younger brother of the duke of Chow). Ts’ae was eventually taken away from Too and consequently given to his son Hoo, referred to in this book as Chung. The charge addresses the details of the appointment of Hoo and the importance of his conduct in order to win the emperor’s praise and to right his father’s misdeeds.

When the duke of Chow was in the place of prime minister, and directed all the officers, the king’s uncles spread abroad an evil report, in consequence of which he put to death the prince of Kwan in Shang; confined the prince of Ts’ae in Koh-lin, with an attendance, however, of seven chariots; and reduced the prince of Ho to be a private man, causing his name to be erased from the registers for three years. The son of the prince of Ts’ae being able to display a reverent virtue, the duke of Chow made him a high noble, and when his father died, requested a decree from the king, investing him with the country of Ts’ae.

“The king speaks to this effect, ‘My little child, Hoo, you follow the virtue of our ancestors, and have changed from the conduct of your father; you are able to take heed to your ways; I therefore appoint you to be a prince of the empire in the east. Go to your country. Be reverent!

‘In order that you may cover the faults of your father, be loyal, be filial. Urge on your steps in your own way, diligent and never idle, and so you will hand down an example to your descendants. Follow the constant lessons of your grandfather, king Wan, and be not like your father disobedient to the royal orders.

‘Great Heaven has no affections; it helps only the virtuous. The people’s hearts are not constant; they cherish only the kind. Acts of goodness are different, but they contribute in common to government. Acts of evil are different, but they contribute in common to disorder. Do you be cautious!

‘To give heed to the beginning, think of the end: the end will then be without distress. If you do not think of the end, it will be in distress, and that the greatest.

‘Exert yourself to achieve your proper merit. Seek to be in harmony with all your neighbours. Be a fence to the royal House. Live in harmony with your brethren. Tranquillize and help the inferior people.

‘Follow the course of the Mean, and do not by assuming to be intelligent throw old statutes into confusion. Watch over what you see and hear, and do not for one-sided words deviate from the right rule. Then I, the one man, will praise you.’”

“The king says, ‘Oh! my little child, Hoo, go, and do not idly throw away my charge.’”