Mencius. Book 1, Part 2, Chapter 5.
1. The king Seuen of Ts'e said, "People all tell me to pull down and remove the Brilliant palace. Shall I pull it down, or stop the movement for that object?"
2. Mencius replied, "The Brilliant palace is a palace appropriate to the emperors. If Your Majesty wishes to practice the true royal government, then do not pull it down."
3. The king said, "May I hear from you what the true royal government is?" "Formerly," was the reply, "King Wan's government of K'e was as follows: ‹ The husbandmen cultivated for the government one ninth of the land; the descendants of officers were salaried; at the passes and in the markets, strangers were inspected, but goods were not taxed; there were no prohibitions respecting the ponds and weirs; the wives and children of criminals were not involved in their guilt. There were the old and wifeless, or widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows; the old and childless, or solitaries; the young and fatherless, or orphans: ‹ these four classes are the most destitute of the people, and have none to whom they can tell their wants, and King Wan, in the institution of his government with its benevolent action, made them the first objects of his regard, as it is said in the 'Book of Poetry,'
'The rich may get through.
But alas! for the miserable and solitary!' "
4. The king said, "O excellent words!" Mencius said, "Since Your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practice them?" "I have an infirmity," said the king; "I am fond of wealth." The reply was, "Formerly, Kung-lew was fond of wealth. It is said in the 'Book of Poetry':
'He reared his ricks, and filled his granaries,
He tied up dried provisions and grain,
In bottomless bags, and sacks,
That he might gather his people together, and glorify his state.
With bows and arrows all displayed,
With shields, and spears, and battle-axes, large and small,
He commenced his march.'
In this way those who remained in their old seat had their ricks and granaries, and those who marched had their bags of provisions. It was not till after this that he thought he could commence his march. If Your Majesty loves wealth, let the people be able to gratify the same feeling, and what difficuty will there be in your attaining the imperial sway?"
5. The king said, "I have an infirmity; I am fond of beauty." The reply was, "Formerly, King T'ae was fond of beauty, and he loved his wife. It is said in the 'Book of Poetry':
'Koo-kung T'an-foo
Came in the morning, galloping his horse,
By the banks of the western waters,
As far as the foot of K'e hill,
Along with the lady of Keang;
They came and together chose the site of settlement.'
At that time, in the seclusion of the house, there were no dissatisfied women, and abroad, there were no unmarried men. If Your Majesty loves beauty, let the people be able to gratify the same feeling, and what difficulty will there be in your attaining the imperial sway?"
1. The king Seuen of Ts'e said, "People all tell me to pull down and remove the Brilliant palace. Shall I pull it down, or stop the movement for that object?"
2. Mencius replied, "The Brilliant palace is a palace appropriate to the emperors. If Your Majesty wishes to practice the true royal government, then do not pull it down."
3. The king said, "May I hear from you what the true royal government is?" "Formerly," was the reply, "King Wan's government of K'e was as follows: ‹ The husbandmen cultivated for the government one ninth of the land; the descendants of officers were salaried; at the passes and in the markets, strangers were inspected, but goods were not taxed; there were no prohibitions respecting the ponds and weirs; the wives and children of criminals were not involved in their guilt. There were the old and wifeless, or widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows; the old and childless, or solitaries; the young and fatherless, or orphans: ‹ these four classes are the most destitute of the people, and have none to whom they can tell their wants, and King Wan, in the institution of his government with its benevolent action, made them the first objects of his regard, as it is said in the 'Book of Poetry,'
'The rich may get through.
But alas! for the miserable and solitary!' "
4. The king said, "O excellent words!" Mencius said, "Since Your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practice them?" "I have an infirmity," said the king; "I am fond of wealth." The reply was, "Formerly, Kung-lew was fond of wealth. It is said in the 'Book of Poetry':
'He reared his ricks, and filled his granaries,
He tied up dried provisions and grain,
In bottomless bags, and sacks,
That he might gather his people together, and glorify his state.
With bows and arrows all displayed,
With shields, and spears, and battle-axes, large and small,
He commenced his march.'
In this way those who remained in their old seat had their ricks and granaries, and those who marched had their bags of provisions. It was not till after this that he thought he could commence his march. If Your Majesty loves wealth, let the people be able to gratify the same feeling, and what difficuty will there be in your attaining the imperial sway?"
5. The king said, "I have an infirmity; I am fond of beauty." The reply was, "Formerly, King T'ae was fond of beauty, and he loved his wife. It is said in the 'Book of Poetry':
'Koo-kung T'an-foo
Came in the morning, galloping his horse,
By the banks of the western waters,
As far as the foot of K'e hill,
Along with the lady of Keang;
They came and together chose the site of settlement.'
At that time, in the seclusion of the house, there were no dissatisfied women, and abroad, there were no unmarried men. If Your Majesty loves beauty, let the people be able to gratify the same feeling, and what difficulty will there be in your attaining the imperial sway?"
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Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.
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