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10 十過第十

十過:

一曰行小忠,則大忠之賊也。

二曰顧小利,則大利之殘也。

三曰行僻自用,無禮諸侯,則亡身之至也。

四曰不務聽治而好五音,則窮身之事也。

五曰貪愎喜利,則滅國殺身之本也。

六曰耽於女樂,不顧國政,則亡國之禍也。

七曰離內遠遊而忽於諫士,則危身之道也。

八曰過而不聽於忠臣,而獨行其意,則滅高名,為人笑之始也。

九曰內不量力,外恃諸侯,則削國之患也。

十曰國小無禮,不用諫臣,則絕世之勢也。

奚謂小忠?

昔者楚共王與晉厲公戰於鄢陵,楚師敗,而共王傷其目。酣戰之時, 司馬子反渴而求飲,豎穀陽操觴酒而進之。子反曰:「嘻,退!酒也。」〔穀陽曰〕: 「〔非酒也〕。」子反受而飲之。子反之為人也,嗜酒而甘之,弗能絕於口,而醉。 戰既罷,共王欲復戰,令人召司馬子反,司馬子反辭以心疾。共王駕而自往,入其幄中, 聞酒臭而還,曰:「今日之戰,不穀親傷。所恃者,司馬也。而司馬又醉如此, 是亡楚國之社稷而不(言)〔恤〕吾眾也,不穀無復戰矣。」於是還師而去,斬司馬子反以為大戮。 故豎穀陽之進酒,不以讎子反也,其心忠愛之,而適足以殺之。故曰:行小忠,則大忠之賊也。

奚謂顧小利?

昔者晉獻公欲假道於虞以伐虢。荀息曰:「君其以垂棘之璧與屈產之乘, 賂虞公,求假道焉,必假我道。」君曰:「垂棘之璧,吾先君之寶也;屈產之乘,寡人之駿馬也。 若受吾幣不假之道,將柰何?」荀息曰:「彼不假我道,必不敢受我幣。若受我幣而假我道, 則是寶猶取之內府而藏之外府也,馬猶取之內廄而著之外廄也。君勿憂。」君曰:「諾。」 乃使荀息以垂棘之璧與屈產之乘賂虞公而求假道焉。

虞公貪利其璧與馬而欲許之。宮之奇諫曰:「不可許。夫虞之有虢也。 如車之有輔。輔依車,車亦依輔,虞、虢之勢正是也。若假之道,則虢朝亡而虞夕從之矣。 不可,願勿許。」虞公弗聽,遂假之道。

荀息伐虢〔剋〕之,還反處三年,興兵伐虞,又剋之。荀息牽馬操璧而報獻公, 獻公說曰:「璧則猶是也。雖然,馬齒亦益長矣。」

故虞公之兵殆而地削者,何也?愛小利而不慮其害。故曰:顧小利,則大利之殘也。

奚謂行僻?

昔者楚靈王為申之(命)〔會〕,宋太子後至,執而囚之;狎徐君,拘齊慶封。 中射士諫曰:「合諸侯不可無禮,此存亡之機也。昔者桀為有戎之會,而有緡叛之;紂為黎丘之蒐, 而戎、狄叛之,由無禮也。君其圖之。」君不聽,遂行其意。

居未期年,靈王南遊,群臣從而劫之。靈王餓而死乾溪之上。故曰:行僻自用, 無禮諸侯,則亡身之至也。

奚謂好音?

昔者衛靈公將之晉,至濮水之上,稅車而放馬,設舍以宿。夜分,而聞鼓新聲者而說之。 使人問左右,盡報弗聞。乃召師涓而告之曰:「有鼓新聲者,使人問左右,盡報弗聞。其狀似鬼神,子為〔我〕聽而寫之。」 師涓曰:「諾。」因靜坐撫琴而寫之。師涓明日報曰:「臣得之矣,而未習也,請復一宿習之。」靈公曰:「諾。」因復留宿。 明日(而)〔已〕習之,遂去之晉。

晉平公觴之於施夷之臺。酒酣,靈公起。公曰:「有新聲,願請以示。」 平公曰:「善。」乃召師涓,令坐師曠之旁,援琴鼓之。未終,師曠撫止之,曰:「此亡國之聲,不可遂也。」 平公曰:「此(道奚)〔奚道〕出?」師曠曰:「此師延之所作,與紂為靡靡之樂也。及武王伐紂,師延東走, 至於濮水而自投。故聞此聲者,必於濮水之上。先聞此聲者,其國必削,不可遂。」平公曰: 「寡人所好者,音也,子其使遂之。」師涓鼓究之。平公問師(涓)〔曠〕曰:「此所謂何聲也?」 師曠曰:「此所謂清商也。」

公曰:「清商固最悲乎?」師曠曰:「不如清徵。」公曰:「清徵可得而聞乎?」 師曠曰:「不可。古之聽清徵者,皆有德義之君也。今吾君德薄,不足以聽。」平公曰: 「寡人之所好者,音也,願試聽之。」師曠不得已,援琴而鼓。一奏之,有玄鶴二八道南方來, 集於郎門之垝。再奏之,而列。三奏之,延頸而鳴,舒翼而舞。音中宮商之聲,聲聞于天。平公大說,坐者皆喜,

平公提觴而起為師曠壽,反〔坐〕而問曰:「音莫悲於清徵乎?」師曠曰: 「不如清角。」平公曰:「清角可得而聞乎?」師曠曰:「不可。昔者黃帝合鬼神於泰山之上, 駕象車而六蛟龍,畢方並鎋,蚩尤居前,風伯進掃,雨師洒道,虎狼在前,鬼神在後,騰蛇伏地, 鳳皇覆上,大合鬼神,作為清角。今(主)〔吾〕君德薄,不足聽之。聽之,將恐有敗。」 平公曰:「寡人老矣,所好者音也,願遂聽之。」師曠不得已而鼓之。一奏(而)〔之〕, 有玄雲從西北方起;再奏之,大風至,大雨隨之,裂帷幕,破俎豆,隳廊瓦。坐者散走,平公恐懼, 伏于廊室之間。晉國大旱,赤地三年。平公之身遂(瘙)〔癃〕病。故曰:不務聽治,而好五音不已, 則窮身之事也。

奚謂貪愎?

昔者智伯瑤率趙、韓、魏而伐范、中行,滅之。反歸,休兵數年,因令人請地於韓。 韓康子欲勿與,段規諫曰:「不可不與也。夫知伯之為人也,好利而驁愎。彼來請地而弗與, 則移兵於韓必矣。君其與之。與之彼狃,又將請地他國,他國且有不聽,不聽,則知伯必加之兵。 如是,韓可以免於患而待其事之變。」康子曰:「諾。」因令使者致萬家之縣一於知伯。知伯說,

又令人請地於魏。宣子欲勿與,趙葭諫曰:「彼請地於韓,韓與之。 今請地於魏,魏弗與,則是魏內自強,而外怒知伯也。如弗予,其措兵於魏必矣。〔不如予之〕。」 宣子〔曰〕:「諾。」因令人致萬家之縣一於知伯。

知伯又令人之趙請蔡、皋狼之地,趙襄子弗與。知伯因陰約韓、魏,將以伐趙。

襄子召張孟談而告之曰:「夫知伯之為人也,陽(規)〔親〕而陰。三使韓、魏而寡人不與焉, 其措兵於寡人必矣。今吾安居而可?」張孟談曰:「夫董閼于,簡主之才臣也,其治晉陽,而尹鐸循之,其餘教猶存, 君其定居晉陽而已矣。」君曰:「諾。」乃召延陵生,

令將(軍)車騎先至晉陽,君因從之。君至,而行其城郭及五官之藏。城郭不治, 倉無積粟,府無儲錢,庫無甲兵,邑無守具。襄子懼,乃召張孟談曰:「寡人行城郭及五官之藏, 皆不備具,吾將何以應敵?」張孟談曰:「臣聞聖人之治,藏於(臣)〔民〕,不藏於府庫, 務脩其教不治城郭。君其出令,令民自遺三年之食,有餘粟者入之倉,遺三年之用,有餘錢者入之府; 遺有奇人者使治城郭之繕。」君夕出令,明日,倉不容粟,府無積錢,庫不受甲兵。居五日而城郭已治,守備已具。

君召張孟談而問之曰:「吾城郭已治,守備已具,錢粟已足,甲兵有餘,吾柰無箭何?」 張孟談曰:「臣聞董子之治晉陽也,公宮之垣皆以荻蒿楛楚墻之,有楛高至于丈,君發而用之。」 於是發而試之,其堅則雖菌(餘)〔簵〕之勁弗能過也。

君曰:「吾箭已足矣,柰無金何?」張孟談曰:「臣聞董子〔之〕治晉陽也, 公宮令舍之堂,皆以鍊銅為柱、質,君發而用之。」於是發而用之,有餘金矣。

號令已定,守備已具。三國之兵果至。

至則乘晉陽之城,遂戰。三月弗能拔。因〔舒〕軍而圍之,(決)〔治〕 晉陽之水以灌之,圍晉陽三年。城中巢居而處,懸釜而炊,財食將盡,士大夫羸病。襄子謂張孟談曰: 「糧食匱,財力盡,士大夫羸病,吾恐不能守矣!欲以城下,何國之可下?」張孟談曰: 「臣聞之,亡弗能存,危弗能安,則無為貴智矣。君(失)〔釋〕此計者,臣請試潛行而出,見韓、魏之君。」

張孟談見韓、魏之君曰:「臣聞脣亡齒寒。今知伯率二君而伐趙,趙將亡矣。 趙亡,則二君為之次。」二君曰:「我知其然也。雖然,知伯之為人也麤中而少親。我謀而覺, 則其禍必至矣。為之柰何?」張孟談曰:「謀出二君之口,而入臣之耳,人莫之知也。」 二君因與張孟談約三軍之反,與之期日。夜遣孟談入晉陽,以報二君之反。襄子迎孟談而再拜之,且恐且喜。

二君以約遣張孟談,因朝知伯而出,遇智過於轅門之外。智過怪其色,因入見知伯曰: 「二君貌將有變。」君曰:「何如?」〔曰〕:「其行矜而意高,非他時之節也,君不如先之。」 君曰:「吾與二主約謹矣,破趙而三分其地。寡人所以親之,必不侵欺。兵之著於晉陽三年,今旦暮將拔之, 而嚮其利,何乃將有他心?必不然。子釋勿憂,勿出於口。」明旦,二主又朝而出,復見智過於轅門。 智過入見曰:「君以臣之言告二主乎?」君曰:「何以知之?」曰:「今日二主朝而出,見臣而其色動, 而視屬臣。此必有變,君不如殺之。」君曰:「子置勿復言。」智過曰:「不可,必殺之。若不能殺,遂親之。」 君曰:「親之柰何?」智過曰:「魏宣子之謀臣曰趙葭,韓康子之謀臣曰段規,此皆能移其君之計。 君(與其)〔其與〕二君約,破趙國,因封二子者各萬家之縣一。如是,則二主之心可以無變矣。」 知伯曰:「破趙而三分其地,又封二子者各萬家之縣一,則吾所得者少。不可。」智過見其言之不聽也, 出,因更其族為輔氏。

至於期日之夜,趙氏殺其守堤之吏而決其水灌知伯軍,知伯軍救水而亂, 韓、魏翼而擊之,襄子將卒犯其前,大敗知伯之軍而擒知伯。知伯身死軍破,國分為三, 為天下笑。故曰:貪愎好利,則滅國殺身之本也。

奚謂耽於女樂?

昔者戎王使由余聘於秦,穆公問之曰:「寡人嘗聞道而未得目見之也, 願聞古之明主得國失國(何常)〔常何〕以?」由余對曰:「臣嘗得聞之矣:常以儉得之,以奢失之。」 穆公曰:「寡人不辱而問道於子,子以儉對寡人何也?」由余對曰:「臣聞昔者堯有天下, 飯於土簋,飲於土鉶。其地南至交趾,北至幽都,東西至日月之所出入者,莫不賓服。堯禪天下, 虞舜受之,作為食器,斬山木而財之,削鋸脩(之)〔其〕迹,流漆墨其上,輸之於宮以為食器。 諸侯以為益侈,國之不服者十三。舜禪天下而傳之於禹,禹作為祭器,墨(染)〔漆〕其外,而朱畫其內, 縵帛為茵,蔣席頗緣,觴酌有采,而樽俎有飾。此彌侈矣,而國之不服者三十三。夏后氏沒,殷人受之, 作為大路,而建九旒,食器雕琢,觴酌刻鏤,(四)〔白〕壁堊墀,茵席雕文。此彌侈矣,而國之不服者五十三。 君子皆知文章矣,而欲服者彌少。臣故曰:儉其道也。」

由余出,公乃召內史廖而告之,曰:「寡人聞鄰國有聖人,敵國之憂也。 今由余,聖人也,寡人患之,吾將柰何?」內史廖曰:「臣聞戎王之居,僻陋而道遠,未聞中國之聲。 君其遺之女樂,以亂其政,而後為由余請(其)〔期〕,以其諫。彼君臣有間而後可圖也。」 君曰:「諾。」乃使〔內〕史廖以女樂二八遺戎王,因為由余請期。戎王許諾,見其女樂而說之, 設酒張飲,日以聽樂,終歲不遷,牛馬半死。由余歸,因諫戎王,戎王弗聽,由余遂去之秦。 秦穆公迎而拜之上卿,問其兵勢與其地形。既以得之舉兵而伐之,兼國十二,開地千里。故曰: 耽於女樂,不顧國政,〔則〕亡國之禍也。

奚謂離內遠遊?

昔者(田成子)〔齊景公〕遊於海而樂之。號令諸大夫曰:「言歸者死。」 顏涿聚曰:「君遊海而樂之,柰臣有圖國者何?君雖樂之,將安得?」(田成子)〔齊景公〕曰: 「寡人布令曰『言歸者死。』今子犯寡人之令。」援戈將擊之。顏涿聚曰: 「昔桀殺關龍逢而紂殺王子比干,今君雖殺臣之身以三之可也。臣言為國,非為身也。」 延頸而前曰:「君擊之矣!」君乃釋戈趣駕而歸。至三日,而聞國人有謀不內(田成子) 〔齊景公〕者矣。(田成子)〔齊景公〕所以遂有齊國者,顏涿聚之力也。故曰:離內遠遊,則危身之道也。

奚謂過而不聽於忠臣?

昔者齊桓公九合諸侯,一匡天下,為五伯長,管仲佐之。管仲老,不能用事, 休居於家。桓公從而問之曰:「仲父家居有病,即不幸而不起此病,政安遷之?」管仲曰: 「臣老矣,不可問也。雖然,臣聞之,知臣莫若君,知子莫若父。君其試以心決之。」

君曰:「鮑叔牙何如?」管仲曰:「不可。鮑叔牙為人剛愎而上悍,剛則犯民以暴, 愎則不得民心,悍則下不為用,其心不懼,非霸者之佐也。」

公曰:「然則豎刁何如?」管仲曰: 「不可。夫人之情莫不愛其身。公妬而好內,豎刁自獖以為治內。其身不愛,又安能愛君?」

〔公〕曰:「然則〔衛〕公子開方何如?」(曰)管仲曰: 「不可。齊、衛之間不過十日之行,開方為事君,欲適君之故,十五年不歸見其父母, 此非人情也。其父母之不親也,又能親君乎?」

公曰:「然則易牙何如?」管仲曰:「不可。夫易牙為君主味, 君之所未嘗食唯人肉耳,易牙蒸其子首而進之,君所知也。人之情莫不愛其子, 今蒸其子以為膳於君,其子弗愛,又安能愛君乎?」

公曰:「然則孰可?」管仲曰:「隰朋可。其為人也,堅中而廉外, 少欲而多信。夫堅中則足以為表,廉外則可以大任,少欲則能臨其眾,多信則能親鄰國。 此霸者之佐也,君其用之。」君曰:「諾。」

居一年餘,管仲死,君遂不用隰朋而與豎刁。刁蒞事三年, 桓公南遊堂阜,豎刁率易牙、衛公子開方及大臣為亂。桓公渴餒而死南門之寢, 公守之室,身死三月不收,蟲出于戶。

故桓公之兵橫行天下,為五伯長,卒見弒於其臣,而滅高名,為天下笑者,何也? 不用管仲之過也。故曰:過而不聽於忠臣,獨行其意,則滅其高名,為人笑之始也。

奚謂內不量力?

昔者秦之攻宜陽,韓氏急。公仲朋謂韓君曰:「與國不可恃也, 豈如因張儀為和於秦哉!因賂以名都而南與伐楚,是患解於秦而害交於楚也。」 公曰:「善。」乃警公仲之行,將西和秦。

楚王聞之,懼,召陳軫而告之曰:「韓朋將西和秦,今將柰何?」陳軫曰: 「秦得韓之都一,驅其練甲,秦、韓為一以南鄉楚,此秦王之所以廟祠而求也,其為楚害必矣。 王其趣發信臣,多其車,重其幣,以奉韓曰:『不穀之國雖小,卒已悉起,願大國之信意於秦也。 因願大國令使者入境視楚之起卒也。』」

韓使人之楚,楚王因發車騎,陳之下路,謂韓使者曰:「報韓君,言弊邑之兵今將入境矣。」 使者還報韓君,韓君大悅,止公仲。公仲曰:「不可。夫以實(告)〔害〕我者,秦也,以名救我者,楚也。 聽楚之虛言而輕(誣)強秦之實禍,則危國之本也。」韓君弗聽。公仲怒而歸,十日不朝。

宜陽益急,韓君令使者趣卒於楚,冠蓋相望而卒無至者。宜陽果拔,為諸侯笑。 故曰:內不量力,外恃諸侯者,則國削之患也。

奚謂國小無禮?

昔者晉公子重耳出亡,過於曹,曹君袒裼而觀之。釐負羈與叔瞻侍於前。 叔瞻謂曹君曰:「臣觀晉公子,非常人也。君遇之無禮,彼若有時反國而起兵,即恐為曹傷。 君不如殺之。」曹君弗聽。

釐負羈歸而不樂,其妻問之曰:「公從外來而有不樂之色,何也?」負羈曰: 「吾聞之,有福不及,禍來連我。今日吾君召晉公子,其遇之無禮。我與在前,吾是以不樂。」 其妻曰:「吾觀晉公子,萬乘之主也;其左右從者,萬乘之相也。今窮而出亡過於曹,曹遇之無禮。 此若反國,必誅無禮,則曹其首也。子奚不先自貳焉。」負羈曰:「諾。」盛黃金於壺,充之以餐, 加璧其上,夜令人遺公子。公子見使者,再拜,受其餐而辭其璧。

公子自曹入楚,自楚入秦。入秦三年,秦穆公召群臣而謀曰:「昔者晉獻公與寡人交, 諸侯莫弗聞。獻公不幸離群臣,出入十年矣。嗣子不善,吾恐此將令其宗廟不祓除而社稷不血食也。如是弗定, 則非與人交之道。吾欲輔重耳而入之晉,何如?」群臣皆曰:「善。」公因起卒,革車五百乘,疇騎二千, 步卒五萬,輔重耳入之于晉,立為晉君。

重耳即位三年,舉兵而伐曹矣。因令人告曹君曰:「懸叔瞻而出之,我且殺而以為大戮。」 又令人告釐負羈曰:「軍旅薄城,吾知子不違也。其表子之閭,寡人將以為令,令軍勿敢犯。」曹人聞之, 率其親戚而保釐負羈之閭者七百餘家,此禮之所用也。

故曹,小國也,而迫於晉、楚之間,其君之危猶累卵也,而以無禮蒞之, 此所以絕世也。故曰:國小無禮,不用諫臣,則絕世之勢也。

Chapter X. Ten Faults1

Of the ten faults:—

The first is to practise loyalty in small ways, which betrays loyalty in big ways.

The second is to esteem small advantages, which hampers big advantages.

The third is to force personal bias, assert oneself, and behave discourteously before feudal lords, which leads to self-destruction.

The fourth is to neglect political counsels and indulge in the five musical notes, which plunges one into misery.

The fifth is to keep covetous and self-opinionated and rejoice in nothing but gain, which is the root of state-ruin and self-destruction.

The sixth is to indulge in women singers and neglect state affairs, which forecasts the catastrophe of state-ruin.

The seventh is to leave home for distant travels and ignore remonstrances, which is the surest way to endanger one's august position at home.

The eighth is to commit faults, turn no ear to loyal ministers, and enforce one's own opinions, which destroys one's high reputation and causes people to laugh at one.

The ninth is not to consolidate the forces within one's boundaries but to rely on feudal lords abroad, which causes the country the calamity of dismemberment.

The tenth is to insult big powers despite the smallness of one's own country and take no advice from remonstrants, which paves the way to the extermination of one's posterity.

What is meant by "practising small loyalty"?

Once King Kung 2 of Ch`u and Duke Li of Chin fought at Yen-ling. 3 The Ch`u troops suffered a defeat. King Kung was wounded in the eye. During the bloody battle Tzŭ-fan, High Commissioner of the Army, was thirsty and wanted something to drink. His attendant, Shu Yang-ko, 4 brought a cup of wine and presented it to him. "Fie! Get away!" exclaimed Tzŭ-fan. "It's wine." "No, it isn't wine," replied Yang-ko. Tzŭ-fan, accordingly, took the cup and drank the wine. Habitually fond of wine, he found it so delicious that he could not keep it from his mouth till he became drunk. When the fighting was over, King Kung wanted to have another battle and sent for the High Commissioner of the Army, Tzŭ-fan. The High Commissioner of the Army, Tzŭ-fan, gave a pain in the heart as excuse for his absence from the conference. Thereupon King Kung rode in a carriage and went to make a personal call. As soon as he entered the tent of the Commissioner, he smelt wine and turned back right away, saying: "In to-day's battle, I, the King, 5 was wounded. The only person I have looked to for help is the High Commissioner of the Army. Now that the High Commissioner of the Army is drunken in this manner, he is certainly ruining the Altar of the Spirits of Land and Grain of the Ch`u State and feeling no concern for the welfare of my subjects. I, the King, have no reason to have him with me on the battle-field any longer." So he turned his forces homeward and retreated. He then beheaded Tzŭ-fan as an expiatory punishment for his disgrace of the King. Thus, the presentation of wine by Shu Yang-ko was not meant to revenge himself on Tzŭ-fan, but his mind that loved him with loyalty was just enough to put him to death. Hence the saying: "To practise loyalty in small ways betrays loyalty in big ways."

What is meant by "esteeming small advantages"?

Of old, when Duke Hsien of Chin thought of borrowing the way through Yü to invade Kuo, Hsün Hsi said: "If we bribe the Duke of Yü with the jade from Ch`ui-chi and the team of the Ch`ü breed, 6 he will certainly let us have the way." "The jade from Ch`ui-chi," said the Duke, "was the treasure bequeathed by the late ruler. The team of the Ch`ü breed horses is my best possession. Should they accept our present but refuse us the way, what could we do then?" "If they refuse us the way," said Hsün Hsi in reply, "they never will accept our present. If they accept our present and lend us the way, it will be the same as to take the treasure from the inner treasury and keep it in the outer one or to lead the horses out of the inner stable and put them into the outer one. May Your Highness have no worry about it!" "Very well," the Duke said, and he then sent Hsün Hsi off to bribe the Duke of Yü with the jade from Ch`ui-chi and the team of the Ch`ü breed and thereby ask for the way though the country.

The Duke of Yü, regarding the jade and the horses as inordinate advantages, thought of granting the request. Against this idea Kung Chi-ch`i remonstrated with him, saying: "Your Highness should not grant the request. Indeed, Yü has Kuo as neighbour just as the carriage has its wheels. Just as the wheels depend on the carriage, so does the carriage depend on the wheels. Such is the relationship between Yü and Kuo. Suppose we lend Chin the way. Then, if Kuo falls at dawn, Yü will follow at dusk. It is therefore impossible. May Your Highness never grant the request!" The Duke of Yü would not listen to this advice, and he let Chin have the way.

Three years elapsed after his attack on Kuo, his conquest of the country, and victorious return 7 to his home-land, when Hsün Hsi in turn 8 raised armies to invade Yü and also conquered it. When Hsün Hsi led the horses homeward, brought the jade along, and reported the result of the campaign to Duke Hsien. With delight Duke Hsien said: "The jade is as it was before, but the teeth of the horses have grown somewhat longer."

Thus the Duke of Yü saw his army driven into peril and his country dismembered. Why? It was because of his love of small advantages and unconcern about its harmfulness. Hence the saying: "To esteem small advantages hampers large advantages."

What is meant by "enforcing personal bias"?

In by-gone days, when King Ling of Ch`u called an inter-state conference at Shên, as the Crown Prince of Sung arrived late, he arrested him and put him into jail. Further, he insulted the Ruler of Hsü and detained Ch`ing Fêng of Ch`i. Against these outrageous acts a certain middle chamberlain remonstrated with the King, saying: "In holding a conference of the feudal lords nobody should break the inter-state etiquette. For it involves a death-orlife turning-point to every country. In antiquity, after Chieh held the conference at Yu-jung, Yu-min revolted; after Chow gave a spring hunting party on the Li Hills, the Eastern Barbarians revolted 9 ; and after King Yu organized the T`ai-shih League, 10 the Western and Northern Barbarians revolted. All such incidents were due to the breach of etiquette. May Your Majesty think the matter over!" To this counsel the ruler never listened, but enforced his own opinions instead.

Before ten years elapsed, 11 King Ling made a tour to the south, where the officials molested him. As a result, King Ling starved to death by the Dry Brook. Hence the saying: "To enforce personal bias and assert oneself leads to self-destruction."

What is meant by "indulging in the five musical notes"?

In by-gone days, when Duke Ling of Wei on his way to Chin arrived by the P`u Water, he loosened his carriage, released the horses, and set up a pavilion for sojourning Towards midnight he heard somebody playing a novel piece of music and was thereby greatly pleased. In the morning he sent men out to find the musician in the vicinity, but all came back with the report that he could not be found. Thereupon, the Duke summoned Musician Chüan and said to him: "There was somebody playing strange music last night. I have just sent men out to find the musician in the vicinity, but all reported that they had been unable to find him. It might be the performance by some devil or spirit. Would you, therefore, listen to it and copy it for me?" "At your service," replied Musician Chüan. So he sat still at night and played the harp to copy the music. Next day Musician Chüan gave his report to the Duke, saying: "Thy servant got it but he is still lacking in practice. Let us stay here another night and thy servant will practise it." "Certainly," said Duke Ling. So they spent another night there. By the following day he had mastered it, wherefore they left for Chin.

Duke P`ing of Chin entertained them with a wine feast on the Shih-i Tower. 12 When the drinking was at its height, Duke Ling stood up and said: "There is a novel piece of music. May I have the honour to show it?" "Fine," replied Duke P`ing. Thereupon Duke Ling summoned Musician Chüan and ordered him to sit beside Musician K`uang, hold the harp, and play it. Before the performance was finished, Musician K`uang held down his hands and stopped the music, saying, "This is a state-ruining piece of music, which should not be performed to its end." "Where does this music come from? Do you know?" asked Duke P`ing. "This was composed by Musician Yen," replied Musician K`uang, "and presented to King Chow. It was a piece of frivolous music. When King Wu attacked Chow, Musician Yen ran eastward as far as the P`u Water, where he drowned himself. Therefore, this music has been heard only by the P`u Water. At any rate, whoever hears this music performed, is bound to see his native soil dismembered. Its performance, therefore, should not be completed." "What amuses me in particular is music," remarked Duke P`ing. "Let him finish the performance." Musician Chüan, accordingly, performed the piece to its end. "What is the name of this tune?" Duke P`ing asked Musician K`uang. "It is the so-called `pure sibilant tune'," 13 replied Musician K`uang.

"Is the pure sibilant tune the saddest among all?" asked the Duke further. "No," replied Musician K`uang, "it is not as sad as the pure lingual tune." "Is it possible to hear the pure lingual tune?" asked the Duke still further. "No," replied Musician K`uang. "In antiquity, those who heard the pure lingual tune were all rulers of virtue and justice. Now, as Your Highness's virtue is still shallow, Your Highness as yet does not deserve to hear it." "Music amusing me in particular, let me hear it?" asked the Duke insistently. Thereby Musician K`uang was forced to hold up the harp and play it. Following the performance of the first part, there came from the south black cranes, two times eight, and assembled at the end of the ridge of the gallery roof. After the performance of the second part, they lined up themselves in a row. When the third part was performed, they raised their necks to sing and stretched their wings to dance. Among the notes the pitches of kung and shang echoed in heaven. Thereby Duke P`ing was much pleased and the audience were all amused.

Meanwhile, Duke P`ing held a cup of wine and rose to drink with the expression of his wish for the health and happiness of Musician K`uang. When he took his seat again, he asked, "Is there no tune sadder than the pure lingual tune?" "It is not as sad as the pure dental tune," replied Musician K`uang. "Is it then possible to hear the pure dental tune?" asked Duke P`ing. "No," replied Musician K`uang. "In by-gone days the Yellow Emperor once called a meeting of devils and spirits at the top of the Western T`ai Mountain, 14 he rode in a divine carriage 15 pulled by dragons, with Pi-fang 16 keeping pace with the linchpin, Ch`ih-yu 17 marching in the front, Earl Wind 18 sweeping the dirt, Master Rain 19 sprinkling water on the road, tigers and wolves leading in the front, devils and spirits following from behind, rising serpents rolling on the ground, and male and female phoenixes flying over the top. There in such a splendid manner he met the devils and spirits, where he composed the pure dental tune. Now, as Your Highness's virtue is still shallow, Your Highness does not as yet deserve to hear it. If Your Highness does hear it, thy servant is afraid lest there should be a mishap!" "Being weighed down with years and amused by music in particular," said Duke P`ing, "let me hear the tune performed?" Thereby Musician K`uang was forced to play it. Following the performance of the first part, there arose dark clouds from the north-western direction. After the performance of the second part, there came a hurricane and then a downpour followed, tearing the tents and curtains, breaking the bowls and cups, and sweeping down the tiles of the gallery. The audience all dispersed while Duke P`ing, much terrified, had to hide himself in a gallery room. Thenceforth the Chin State continually had dry weather and suffered a barren land for three years, until finally Duke P`ing himself caught a mortal disease. 20 Hence the saying: "To neglect political counsels and enjoy the five musical notes drives one to misery."

What is meant by "keeping covetous and self-opinionated"?

Of old, Earl Chih Yao led his allies, Chao, Han, and Wey, to attack Fan and Chung-hang and destroyed them. 21 After his victorious return, he rested his soldiers for several years. Then he sent men to demand land from Han. When Viscount K`ang of Han decided not to give it, Tuan Kuei opposed him, saying: "We must not fail to comply with the demand. Earl Chih, indeed, is by nature fond of gain, self-conceited and opinionated. Now that he has sent his men to demand land from us, if we do not give it, he will certainly turn his troops against Han. Suppose Your Highness comply with the demand. For, if we give, he will become over-familiar with this practice and will also demand land from other countries, any of which might fail to obey him. In case any other country fails to obey, Earl Chih will certainly impose military pressure upon her. Then Han will evade the crisis and wait for the change of the whole situation." "Right," said Viscount K`ang, and then ordered messengers to cede a county of ten thousand families to Earl Chih. Thereby Earl Chih was pleased.

Likewise, he sent men to demand land from Wey. When Viscount Hsüan of Wey 22 decided not to give it, Chao Chia protested against the idea, saying: "When he demanded land from Han, Han complied with the demand. Now he is demanding land from Wey, if Wey does not give it, it will mean that Wey counts on its own strength and purposely antagonizes Earl Chih. In case we do not give it, he will certainly move his soldiers against Wey. We had better give it." 23 "Right," said Viscount Hsüan, 24 and then ordered messengers to cede a county of ten thousand families to Earl Chih.

Earl Chih finally sent men to Chao to demand the districts of Ts`ai and Kao-lang. As Viscount Hsiang of Chao refused to give them, Earl Chih formed a secret alliance with Han and Wey on purpose to invade Chao.

Thereupon Viscount Hsiang summoned Chang Mêng-t`an and said to him: "Indeed, Earl Chih is by nature kind 25 to people in appearance but is in reality unkind to everybody. For three times he has sent good-will envoys to Han and Wey, but I have not received any word from him. No doubt, he will move his troops against me. Where can I live in security then?" "Well, Tung An-yü, 26 an able minister of Viscount Chien, 27 governed Chin-yang very well," replied Chang Mêng-t`an, "and Yin To followed his steps so closely that the surviving influences of his teachings are still effective in the locality. Suppose Your Highness were to decide to live nowhere but in Ching-yang." "Right," said the Viscount.

Then he summoned Yen-ling Yü 28 and ordered him to lead the infantry, chariots, and cavalry to Chin-yang first, while he followed after. Upon his arrival he set himself to inspect the city-walls and the provisions stored by the five offices, and found the walls not in good repair, no grain hoarded in the storehouses, no money saved in the treasury, no armour and weapons in the armoury, and the whole city unprepared for defence measures. Feeling rather uneasy, Viscount Hsiang summoned Chang Mêng-t`an and said to him: "I have inspected the city-walls as well as the provisions stored by the five offices and found nothing well prepared and equipped. How can I cope with the enemy?" "Thy servant has heard," said Chang Mêng-t`an, "the sage during his governorship preserved resources among the people 29 and not in the treasury nor in the armoury. He endeavoured to improve his teachings but did not repair the city-walls. Suppose Your Highness issue an emergency decree, requesting the people to keep enough food for three years and put any surplus amount of grain into the public storehouses, to keep enough expenses for three years and put any surplus amount of money into the state treasury, and to send all leisured men 30 out of their families to repair the city-walls." In the evening the Viscount issued the decree. On the following day, the storehouses became unable to hold any more grain, the treasury unable to hold any more money, and the armoury unable 31 to take in any more armour and weapons. In the course of five days the city-walls were well repaired and all provisions for defence measures were ready.

Then the Viscount summoned Chang Mêng-t`an and asked: "Though our city-walls are now in good repair, provisions for defence measures are now ready, money and grain are now sufficient, and armour and weapons are now more than enough, yet what can I do without arrows?" In reply Chang Mêng-t`an said: "As thy servant has heard, when Tung Tzŭ was governing Chin-yang, the fences of the Public Hall all had on their outer enclosures bush-clovers and thorny reeds, whose height nowadays reaches ten feet. Suppose Your Highness take them out and use them. There will then be more than enough arrows." Meanwhile, the Viscount had the reeds and the bushes taken out, had them tried, and found their stiffness not even surpassed by the strength of the stems of fragrant bamboos. 32

Soon afterwards the Viscount asked: "I have enough arrows, but what can I do without metal?" In reply Chang Mêng-t`an said: "Thy servant has heard that when Tung Tzŭ was governing Chin-yang, the drawing rooms of the Public Hall and the Public Dormitory all had columns and pedestals made of refined copper. Suppose Your Highness were to get them out and use them." So the Viscount had them taken out and got more than enough metal.

No sooner than the commands and orders were established and provisions for defence measures were completed, the armies of the three enemy countries actually arrived.

Immediately after their arrival they fell on the city-walls of Chin-yang and started fighting. Yet, despite three months' engagement, they could not take the city; wherefore they spread out their troops and besieged it, and led the water of the river outside Chin-yang to inundate it. For three years 33 they besieged the city of Chin-yang. In the meantime, the people inside had to make nests for living and hang up their pans for cooking. When money and foodstuffs were near exhaustion and officers and officials were worn out, Viscount Hsiang said to Chang Mêng-t`an: "The provisions are scanty, the resources used up, and officers and officials worn out. I am afraid we shall not be able to hold out. If I want to surrender the city, to which country shall I surrender?" In reply Chang Mêng-t`an said: "Thy servant has heard, `If a wise man cannot rescue a doomed city from ruin and protect an endangered object against dangers, there is then no use esteeming wisdom.' Suppose Your Highness were to leave 34 aside such an idea and let thy servant worm through the water and steal out to see the Rulers of Han and Wey."

When Chang Mêng-t`an saw the Rulers of Han and Wey, he said: "Thy servant has heard, `When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold.' Now that Earl Chih has led Your Highnesses to invade Chao, Chao is on the verge of destruction. After the fall of Chao, you both will fall next." "We know that is very likely to happen," said the two rulers, "but as Earl Chih is by nature suspicious 35 of everybody and rarely kind to anybody, once he discloses our scheme, his devastation will befall us at once. What can we do then?" "The scheme coming out from the mouths of both of Your Highnesses," said Chang Mêng-t`an, "slips only into thy servant's ears. Nobody else will ever know it." Accordingly, the two rulers promised Chang Mêng-t`an the revolt of the two armies against Earl Chih and fixed a date. That night they sent Chang Mêng-t`an off into Chin-yang to report their plot to Viscount Hsiang. Frightened and pleased at the same time, Viscount Hsiang welcomed Mêng-t`an and repeated salutations to him.

The two rulers, after having sent Chang Mêng-t`an away with the promise, called on Earl Chih. On leaving they met Chih Kuo outside the gate of the commander's headquarters. Wondering at their looks, Chih Kuo went in to see Earl Chih and said to him: "The two lords in their facial expressions reveal their oncoming insurrection." "How?" asked the Earl. "They were in high spirits," replied Chih Kuo, "and walked with mincing steps. 36 Their attitude was no longer as prudent as before. Your Highness had better take drastic measures in advance." "The covenant I made with the two lords is very solemn," remarked the Earl. "Should Chao be smashed, its territory would be divided into three portions. Therefore, I have kept intimate terms with them. They will never deceive me. 37 Moreover, it is three years 38 since the allied forces were entrenched around Chin-yang. Now that we will take the city in no time and enjoy the spoils, how comes it that they have different minds? It won't be possible. Better discard the idea and never worry about it. Also never let it come out of your mouth again." Next morning the two rulers again called on the Earl, went out, and once more met Chih Kuo at the gate of the commander's headquarters. Chih Kuo then went in to see the Earl and asked, "Did Your Highness pass my words to the two lords?" "How do you know?" asked the Earl. "I know because this morning after they had called on Your Highness, when they were going out and saw thy servant, their looks shifted and their eyes gazed at thy servant. Doubtless, they are plotting an insurrection. Your Highness had better kill them." "Leave them alone," said the Earl, "and never again talk about them." "No," said Chih Kuo, "you should not leave them alone. You must kill them. If you won't kill them, then cultivate your friendship with them." "How to cultivate my friendship with them?" asked the Earl. In reply Chih Kuo said: "The counsellor of Viscount Hsüan of Wey is Chao Chia and the counsellor of Viscount K`ang of Han is Tuan Kuei. Both are equally able to shift the policies of their masters. Suppose Your Highness promise their masters to enfeoff the two counsellors, each with a county of ten thousand families, after Chao is taken. In that case the two lords will have no reason to change their minds." "Upon the break-up of Chao," said Earl Chih, "I will have to divide the territory into three portions, and if in addition I have to enfeoff the two counsellors each with a county of ten thousand families, then what I get will be little. That won't do." Finding his advice not taken, Chih Kuo went away and changed his kinsmen into the Fu Clan.

On the appointed night the Chao Clan killed the enemy garrisons of the dikes and led the water to inundate the army of Earl Chih. Earl Chih's troops on keeping the water out fell into confusion. Meanwhile, Han and Wey launched a surprise attack from both sides while Viscount Hsiang led his forces to raid the front. They defeated Earl Chih's troops by long odds and captured Earl Chih. Earl Chih died, his forces were crushed, his country was divided into three, and he became a laughing-stock of the whole world. 39 Hence the saying: "To keep covetous and self-opinionated fosters the root of self-destruction."

What is meant by "indulging in women singers"?

Of old, when Yu Yü was sent by the King of Jung to pay a courtesy visit to the court of Ch`in, Duke Mu asked him, saying: "I have heard about the right way of government but have not yet been able to witness it. I would like to know how and why the intelligent rulers of antiquity won and lost their states." In reply Yu Yü said: "Thy servant happens to have studied it carefully and found that by reason of their frugality they won their states, and by reason of their extravagance they lost their states." "I am at least worthy of asking you, an honourable scholar, about the right way of government. Yet how comes it that you put `frugality' in your reply to my question?" asked Duke Mu. "Thy servant has heard," replied Yu Yü, "Yao, while ruling All-under-Heaven, ate from earthen plates and drank from earthen bowls. Within his dominion which extended as far as Chiao-chih in the south and Yu-tu in the north and in the east and the west as far as the horizons of sun-rise and moon-rise, sun-set and moon-set, everybody obeyed him willingly. When Yao gave up the rule over All-under-Heaven, Yü Shun 40 accepted it. Thereupon Shun started making new table-wares. He hewed trees from the mountains and cut 41 them into small pieces, which he first whittled, sawed, and smoothed away the traces of the axe, then lacquered them with varnish and ink, and finally transported them to the palace. Of the wood he made table-wares. Therefore, he was regarded by the feudal lords as far more extravagant than his predecessor. And the states that refused to obey him were thirteen. When Shun gave up the rule over All-under-Heaven and bequeathed it to Yü, Yü made sacrificial wares, which he varnished black outside and painted red inside. He had cushions made of pieces of thin, plain silk; mats made of water-oats and hemmed for decoration; cups and decanters embellished with pretty colours; and casks and basins 42 made with ornaments. The extravagance having thus turned from bad to worse, the feudal states that disobeyed were thirty-three. On the downfall of the Hsia-hou Clan the Yins took the reins of government. They then constructed big vehicles 43 and made nine pennants. Their table-wares were carved; cups and decanters were engraved; the walls of the palace were painted white 44 and the courtyard, chalky; and cushions and mats had beautiful designs on them. Such extravagance exceeding that of the predecessors, the states that disobeyed were fifty-three. Thus, the more arts of elegance and refinement the ruling class 45 knew, the less were those willing to obey. Hence thy servant says: `Frugality is the right way.' "

After Yu Yü had gone out, the Duke summoned the Officer of the Censorate Liao and said to him: "I have heard that the presence of a sage in a neighbouring country is a constant threat to the enemy countries adjacent to it. Now Yu Yü is a sage, I am worrying about it. What shall I do?" In reply the Officer of the Censorate Liao said: "As thy servant has heard, the dwelling of the King of Jung is so rustic and so remote 46 that he has never heard the music of the Central Land. Suppose Your Highness present him with women singers, disturb his state affairs thereby, then ask him to postpone the date of Yu Yü's return, and thereby keep off Yu Yü's remonstration. After the discord between ruler and minister appears, we can start plotting against their state." "Right," the Duke said, and then ordered the Officer of the Censorate Liao to take the present of sixteen women singers to the King of Jung and thereby ask him to postpone the date of Yu Yü's return. The request was granted by the King of Jung, who was greatly delighted at seeing the women singers. Thenceforth he set up wine feasts, held drinking parties, and spent every day in hearing music. He continued the same throughout the year, till half of his oxen and horses died off. When Yu Yü came back, he remonstrated with the King of Jung against such misconduct, but the King of Jung would not listen. At last Yu Yü left for Ch`in. Duke Mu of Ch`in welcomed him, appointed him Assistant Premier and asked him about the military strength and topographical features of the land of Jung. Having secured enough information, he mobilized his army and attacked the country. In consequence he annexed twelve states and extended his territory one thousand li farther. 47 Hence the saying: "To indulge in women singers and neglect the state affairs forecasts the catastrophe of state-ruin." 48

What is meant by "leaving home for distant travels"?

Once upon a time, while Viscount T`ien Ch`êng 49 was travelling on the sea and amusing himself, he gave a verbal order to all high officials, saying, "Whoever talks about going home shall be put to death." Thereupon Yen Cho-chü50 remarked: "Your Highness is now travelling on the sea and amusing himself. What can be done in case ministers at home plot against the state? Though you are now enjoying yourself, what will you have when back home?" In reply Viscount T`ien Ch`êng said: "I have already issued the order, saying, `Whoever talks about going home shall be put to death.' Now that you should have disobeyed my order!" So he took up a lance to assail him. "Remember in by-gone days," said Yen Cho-chü, "Chieh killed Kuan Lung-p'êng and Chow killed Prince Pi-kan. Now, though Your Highness kills thy servant and thus makes him the third martyr in the cause of loyalty, be sure that thy servant has spoken in the interests of the whole country and not for himself." So saying, he stretched his neck forward and added, "May Your Highness strike!" At once the ruler threw away the lance and urged his carriage to hurry home. Three days after his arrival home, he heard about some people planning to prevent Viscount T`ien Ch`êng from re-entering the state capital. Thanks to Yen Cho-chü's effort, Viscount T`ien Ch`êng finally had the Ch`i State in his grip. Hence the saying: "To leave home for distant travels and ignore remonstrants 51 is the surest way to endanger one's august position at home."

What is meant by "committing faults and turn no ear to loyal ministers"?

In by-gone days, Duke Huan of Ch`i called the feudal lords to meet nine times, brought All-under-Heaven under one rule, and became the first of the Five Hegemonic Rulers. And Kuan Chung assisted him. When Kuan Chung became aged and unable to attend to his duties, he retired to live at his home. One day Duke Huan went to call on him and asked: "Uncle Chung is ill at home. If by any unlucky chance you should not be up and doing again, to whom should the state affairs be entrusted?" In reply Kuan Chung said: "Thy servant is old and hardly worth consulting. Nevertheless, thy servant has heard, `Nobody knows the ministers better than the ruler does just as nobody knows the sons better than the father does.' Suppose Your Highness select one according to his judgment."

"How about Pao Shu-ya?" asked the Duke. "No." replied Kuan Chung. "For Pao Shu-ya is by nature rigorous, self-opinionated, and stubborn-minded. Rigorous, he is likely to be violent towards the people. Self-opinionated, he cannot win the hearts of the people. If he is stubborn-minded, nobody is willing to work under him and all are not afraid of him. Therefore he is not the right kind of assistant to the Hegemonic Ruler."

"Then how about Shu Tiao?" asked the Duke. "No," replied Kuan Chung. "Such is human nature, indeed, that everybody loves his own body. Now because Your Highness was habitually jealous and fond of women, Shu Tiao castrated himself for the single purpose of administering the harem. If he could not love his own body, how would he be able to love his master?"

"Then how about Prince K`ai-fang of Wei?" asked the Duke. "No," replied Kuan Chung. "The distance between Ch`i and Wei is not more than ten days' walk. Yet K`ai-fang in order to serve Your Highness and meet his needs 52 never went home for fifteen years to see his parents. Such is against human nature. If he could not hold his parents in affectionate esteem, how would he be so able to hold his master?"

"Well, then, how about Yi-ya?" asked the Duke. "No," replied Kuan Chung. "Indeed, Yi-ya was in charge of the tastes of Your Highness's diet, and, finding that what Your Highness had never tasted was human flesh only, he steamed the head of his son and presented his master with the rare taste. This is what Your Highness remembers. Nevertheless, such is human nature that everybody loves his own son. Now that he steamed his own son to make food for his master, if he could not even love his own son, how would he be able to love his master?"

"Well, then, who will be the right man?" asked the Duke. "Hsi P`êng is he," replied Kuan Chung. "For he is habitually steadfast in mind and upright towards people and has few wants but many credits. Indeed, steadfast in mind, he can offer an example to others; upright towards people, he can be appointed to important office; having few wants, he will be able to subject the masses; and having many credits, he will be able to make friends with the neighbouring states. A man like this is the right kind of assistant to the Hegemonic Ruler. Suppose Your Highness employ him." "Certainly," said the Duke.

More than one year later, Kuan Chung died, but the Duke did not employ Hsi P`êng but passed the reins of government to Shu Tiao. Shu Tiao had handled the state affairs for three years already, when Duke Huan travelled southward to T`ang-fu. Thereupon Shu Tiao, leading Yi-ya, Prince K`ai-fang of Wei, and the chief vassals, launched a rebellion. In consequence, Duke Huan died of thirst and hunger in heavily-guarded confinement inside the bed chamber by the south gate. There his dead body lay uncovered for three months, 53 until worms crawled outdoors.

But why was it that Duke Huan was at last murdered by his ministers, deprived of his high reputation, and laughed at by All-under-Heaven, although his armies had marched everywhere in the world and he had become the first Hegemonic Ruler himself? It was because of his fault in turning no ear to Kuan Chung. Hence the saying: "To commit faults, turn no ear to loyal ministers, and enforce one's own opinions, destroys one's high reputation and sets people to laugh at one."

What is meant by "not consolidating the forces within one's boundaries"?

Of old, when Ch`in was attacking Yi-yang, the Han Clan was in imminent danger. Thereupon Kung-chung P`êng said to the Ruler of Han: "Our allies are not reliable. Is it not the best policy to make peace with Ch`in through Chang Yi's good offices? Suppose we bribe Ch`in with a famous city and join her in her southward campaign against Ch`u. This will appease our trouble with Ch`in and defeat her friendship with Ch`u." "Good," the Ruler 54 said, and then ordered Kung-chung to set out westward to make peace with Ch`in.

When the King of Ch`u heard about this scheme, he felt uneasy, summoned Ch`ên Chên, and said to him: "P`êng of Han is going westward to make peace with Ch`in. What shall we do?" In reply Ch`ên Chên said: "Ch`in, after receiving one city from Han, will mobilize her best-trained soldiers, and will turn the combined forces of Ch`in and Han southward against Ch`u. This is what the King of Ch`in has sought in his prayer at his ancestral shrine. No doubt, they will do Ch`u harm. Suppose Your Majesty quickly send out a good-will envoy to present the Ruler of Han with many chariots and precious gifts and say: `My country, small as it is, has already mobilized all her forces. I am hoping your great country will 55 display high morale before the Ch`in invaders, and accordingly expects you to send a delegation to our border to watch our mobilization.' "

Han actually sent a delegation to Ch`u. The King of Ch`u, accordingly, despatched chariots and cavalry and lined them up along the northern road. 56 Then he told the Han delegation to inform the Ruler of Han that his troops were about to cross the border and enter the territory of Han. The delegation brought back the message to the Ruler of Han, who was thereby greatly pleased and stopped Kung-chung from going westward. "No, I should not stop going westward," said Kung-chung. "For Ch`in is harassing 57 us in reality while Ch`u is rescuing us only in name. To listen to the empty words of Ch`u and make light of the real disaster which Ch`in is causing, is the outset of endangering the country." The Ruler of Han would not take Kung-chung's advice, wherefore Kung-chung was angry, went home, and for ten days never visited the court.

The situation at Yi-yang became more and more threatening, when the Ruler of Han despatched envoys to press for reinforcements from Ch`u. One envoy followed on the heels of another so closely that their hats and canopies were almost within one another's sight; but all in vain. Yi-yang was finally taken 58 and the Ruler of Han became a laughing-stock of the feudal lords. Hence the saying: "Not to consolidate the forces within one's boundaries but to rely on other feudal lords causes the country the calamity of dismemberment."

What is meant by "insulting big powers despite the smallness of one's own state"?

In by-gone days, when Prince Ch`ung-erh of Chin 59 was living in exile, he once passed through the Ts`ao State. The Ruler of Ts`ao made him take off his sleeves and upper coat and looked at him. 60 Hsi Fu-chi and Shu Chan then attended in the front. The latter said to the Ruler of Ts'ao: "As far as thy servant can see, the Prince of Chin is not an ordinary man. Your Highness has handled him without mittens. Should he ever get the opportunity to return to his native country and raise armies, he might cause Ts`ao a great harm. Suppose Your Highness kill him now." The Ruler of Ts`ao took no notice, however.

Hsi Fu-chi went home, feeling unhappy. So his wife asked him: "Your Excellency has just come home from outdoors but has some unpleasant colour on the face. Why?" In reply Hsi Fu-chi said: "As I have heard, `When the ruler has good luck, it will not visit me; but when he has bad luck, it will befall me.' To-day His Highness summoned the Prince of Chin and accorded him very discourteous treatment. I was attending before him. Therefore I have felt unhappy." "As far as I can see," said his wife, "the Prince of Chin will be a ruler of ten thousand chariots, and his followers will be ministers to the ruler of ten thousand chariots. Now that he has been destitute and forced to seek refuge in foreign countries and is passing through Ts`ao and Ts`ao is treating him so impolitely, if he ever returns to his native country, he will, no doubt, punish all breakers of etiquette, and then Ts`ao will be the first victim. Why don't you yourself now treat him differently?" "Certainly, I will," replied Fu-chi. He, accordingly, put gold in pots, covered them with food, placed jades upon them, and at night sent men to present them to the Prince. Seeing the messengers, the Prince repeated his salutations and accepted the food but declined the jades.

From Ts`ao the Prince entered Ch`u, and from Ch`u entered Ch`in. After he had stayed in Ch`in for three years, Duke Mu of Ch`in one day summoned all ministers for consultation, saying: "That in by-gone days Duke Hsien of Chin kept intimate friendship with me, every feudal lord has heard. Unfortunately Duke Hsien passed away from the body of officials. It is nearly ten years since. His successors so far have been no good. I am therefore afraid lest this state of continuous chaos should leave their ancestral shrine deserted and deprive their Altar of the Spirits of Land and Grain of regular offerings. To make no decision to restore order to the country is not the way to maintain my intimate friendship with them. I am therefore thinking of supporting Ch`ung-erh and installing him on the throne of Chin. How do you think?" "Fine," replied all the ministers. Thereupon the Duke raised an army of five hundred leather-covered chariots, two thousand good horsemen, and fifty thousand foot-soldiers, to help Ch`ungerh enter Chin and establish him as Ruler of Chin.

After having been on the throne for three years, Ch`ungerh raised an army and fell upon Ts`ao. He, accordingly, ordered his men to say to the Ruler of Ts`ao, "Seize Shu Chan and send him outside the city. His Highness will kill him as an expiatory punishment for his insult of His Highness." He also ordered his men to say to Hsi Fu-chi, "My troops are storming the city. I understand very well that formerly you never meant to offend me. Put a sign on the gate of your residential quarters. 61 I will issue a decree, ordering the troops not to trespass on it." The people of Ts`ao, hearing about this, brought their relatives into Hsi Fu-chi's residential quarters, where upwards of seven hundred families had safety. This was the effect of his respectfulness to the Prince.

Thus, Ts`ao was a small state pressed between Chin and Ch`u. Its ruler was in constant danger as piled eggs are, but he accorded the Prince of Chin such a discourteous reception. This was the reason why his posterity was wiped out. Hence the saying: "To insult big powers despite the smallness of one's own country and take no advice from remonstrants paves the way to the extinction of one's posterity."

Notes

1. 十過.

2. The Historical Records has 共王 in place of 恭王.

3. In 575 B.C.

4. 豎穀陽. Pelliot said in his review of Ivanov's Russian translation of Han Fei Tzŭthat he would like to read the name as "Shu-yang Ko", but did not give any reason therefor (Revue Asiatique, 1913). The Historical Records has 從者 above 豎陽穀. I regard 豎陽穀 as the full name and prefer to read it as "Shu Yang-ko". Among the accepted family names of the Chinese people "Shu" is found but not "Shu-yang". During the Period of Spring and Autumn, however, not many commoners had family names, so 豎 most probably meant a boy attendant in this case. By the time of Ssŭ-ma Ch`ien 豎 seems to have definitely become a family name; so much so that he made the superfluous addition of 從者 to it in the Historical Records.

5. 不穀 means 寡人 by which the ruler refers to himself.

6. 屈產之乘. 乘 here means a team of four good horses harnessed to one chariot.

7. With Yü Yüeh and Wang Hsien-shen 克 should be supplied between 伐虢 and 之遠. 655 b.c.

8. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê and Wang Hsien-shen 反 above 處三年 should be above 興兵伐虢.

9. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 而東夷叛之 should be supplied below 蒐.

10. With Ku 幽王為太室之盟 should be supplied above 而戎狄叛之.

11. Tso-ch`iu Ming's Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals has 不過十年 in place of 居未期年. 529 b.c.

12. 施夷之臺 most probably a mistake for the Ssŭ-ch`i Palace (虒祈之宮).

13. 清商. Ancient Chinese music classified all kinds of tune into five varieties in accordance with five different vocal sounds, which were accordingly named after their representative notes respectively as follows: kung (宮) for all guttural sounds, shang (商) for all sibilant sounds, kioh (角) for all dental sounds, chih (徴) for all lingual sounds, and (羽) for all labial sounds. It is said that the five strings of the harp constructed by Fu-hsi were thus named. The five notes had generally formed the Chinese system of notation down to the Yin Dynasty. To them were added pien-kung (變宮) and pien-kioh (變角) at the beginning of the Chou Dynasty (allegedly by King Wên). In consequence, the ancient Chinese scale became closely equivalent to the modern Western scale as follows:— Kung for C, shang for D, kioh for E, pien-kioh for F # (peculiar), chih for G, for A, pien-kung for B, and kung for C1.

This scale remained the same until the rise of the Yüan Dynasty. For detailed information the English reader is referred to Aalst's Chinese Music.

14. With Wang Hsien-shen this referred to the peak generally known as the T`ai Mountain among the various peaks in the locality, while the Small T`ai Mountain is sometimes called the Eastern T`ai Mountain.

15. 象車 was awarded him by the spirit of the mountain for his virtue and merit.

16. The spirit of the tree.

17. Then a regent.

18. The spirit of wind.

19. The spirit of rain.

20. In 531 b.c.

21. In 458 b.c. These six clans comprised the so-called Six Nobles of Chin.

22. With Wang Hsien-shen the Schemes of the Warring States has 魏 above 宣子.

23. With Wang both Chao Yung-hsien's edition of Han Fei Tzŭ's Works and the Schemes of the Warring States have 不如予之 below 其措兵於魏必矣.

24. With Wang the Schemes of the Warring States has 曰 above 諾.

25. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê the Schemes of the Warring States has 親 in place of 規.

26. Chap. III has 董安于 in place of 董閼于 (vide supra, p. 27).

27. Viscount Hsiang's father. 主 should be 子.

28. I regard 生 as a mistake for 玉.

29. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 臣 should be 民.

30. 奇人. 奇 here means 餘. Therefore, 奇人 means 閒人 or "men leisured in household responsibilities".

31. With Wang Hsien-shen 無積 should be 不容.

32. 菌幹. Chün (菌) was the special name given to the bamboos from the Cloudy Dream Swamps in the Ch`u State.

33. Chap. I has 三月 in place of 三年 (vide supra, p. ii, n. 5).

34. With Lu Wên-shao and Wang Hsien-shen 失 should read 釋.

35. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 麤 should read 怚.

36. With Wang Hsien-shen 行 and 意 in 其行矜而意高 should replace each other.

37. With Lu Wên-shao 侵 should be 我.

38. Apparently the campaign lasted for three years, although the inundation of the city could not possibly last so long.

39. In 453 b.c.

40. Yü was the family name; Shun, the given name.

41. With Wang Hsien-shen 財 reads 裁 as well as 材.

42. 爼 is a tripod basin or bowl for holding meal as sacrifice.

43. With Wang Hsien-shen 路 should read 輅.

44. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 四 should be 白.

45. 君子. Neither "gentlemen" nor "superior men" can convey its sense better than "the ruling class" in this case.

46. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 道 above 遠 should be 遼.

47. In 623 b.c.

48. With Wang Hsien-shen 則 should in accordance with the introductory be supplied above 亡國之禍也.

49. The murderer of Duke Chien of Ch`i in 481 b.c. The "Right Remonstrances" in the Selected Persuasions has 齊景公 in place of 田成子. I think Han Fei Tzŭ mistook 田成子 for 齊景公.

50. The same work has 顏燭趨 in place of 顏涿聚.

51. With Wang Hsien-shen 而忽于諫士 should in accordance with the introductory be supplied below 離內遠遊.

52. With Wang Hsien-shen 欲 above 適君之 should be below it.

53. Sixty-seven days in fact.

54. I propose 君 for 公, because when this event took place in 317 b.c., the Ruler of Han had called himself king for six years and was no longer a duke.

55. 信 above 意 means 申.

56. 下路 was the road leading northward to the Han State.

57. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 告 should be 苦.

58. In 308 b.c.

59. He spent nineteen years (655-636 b.c.) in exile. Upon his return to Chin he ascended the throne as Duke Wên and subsequently became Hegemonic Ruler.

60. It was said that the ribs of Ch`ung-erh grew together like a wall. Therefore, many people of his time were curious to look at his chest.

61. 閭 was ordinarily a village of twenty-five families.

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