Mencius. Book 2, Part 1, Chapter 5.
Book 2, Kung-Sun Ch'ow. Part I.
1. Mencius said, "If a ruler give honor to men of talents and virtue and employ the able, so that offices shall all be filled by individuals of distinction and mark; ‹ then all the scholars of the empire will be pleased, and wish to stand in his court.
2. "If, in the market place of his capital, he levy a ground rent on the shops but do not tax the goods, or enforce the proper regulations without levying a ground rent; ‹ then all the traders of the empire will be pleased, and wish to store their goods in his market place.
3. "If, at his frontier passes, there be an inspection of persons, but no taxes charged on goods or other articles, then all the travelers of the empire will be pleased, and wish to make their tours on his roads.
4. "If he require that the husbandmen give their mutual aid to cultivate the public field, and exact no other taxes from them; ‹ then all the husbandmen of the empire will be pleased, and wish to plow in his fields.
5. "If from the occupiers of the shops in his market place he donot exact the fine of the individual idler, or of the hamlet's quota of cloth, then all the people of the empire will be pleased, and wish to come and be his people.
6. "If a ruler can truly practice these five things, then the people in the neighboring kingdoms will look up to him as a parent. From the first birht of mankind till now, never has any one led children to attack their parent, and succeeded in his design. Thus, such a ruler will not have an enemy in all the empire, and he who has no enemy in the empire is the minister of Heaven. Never has there been a ruler in such a case who did not attain to the imperial dignity."
Book 2, Kung-Sun Ch'ow. Part I.
1. Mencius said, "If a ruler give honor to men of talents and virtue and employ the able, so that offices shall all be filled by individuals of distinction and mark; ‹ then all the scholars of the empire will be pleased, and wish to stand in his court.
2. "If, in the market place of his capital, he levy a ground rent on the shops but do not tax the goods, or enforce the proper regulations without levying a ground rent; ‹ then all the traders of the empire will be pleased, and wish to store their goods in his market place.
3. "If, at his frontier passes, there be an inspection of persons, but no taxes charged on goods or other articles, then all the travelers of the empire will be pleased, and wish to make their tours on his roads.
4. "If he require that the husbandmen give their mutual aid to cultivate the public field, and exact no other taxes from them; ‹ then all the husbandmen of the empire will be pleased, and wish to plow in his fields.
5. "If from the occupiers of the shops in his market place he donot exact the fine of the individual idler, or of the hamlet's quota of cloth, then all the people of the empire will be pleased, and wish to come and be his people.
6. "If a ruler can truly practice these five things, then the people in the neighboring kingdoms will look up to him as a parent. From the first birht of mankind till now, never has any one led children to attack their parent, and succeeded in his design. Thus, such a ruler will not have an enemy in all the empire, and he who has no enemy in the empire is the minister of Heaven. Never has there been a ruler in such a case who did not attain to the imperial dignity."
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Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.
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