Educating the Population-Sima Rangju

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Educating the Population-Sima Rangju

English

When the ancients instructed the people, they would establish the relationships and fixed distinctions of noble and common - causing them not to encroach on each other; the virtuous and righteous not to exceed each other; the talented and technically skilled can be used; and the courageous and strong will not clash with authority. Thus their strength will be united and their thoughts in harmony.

In antiquity, the rules governing the state cannot be used in military; and those appropriate in the military may not be appropriate in governing the state. Thus righteousness and virtue do not infringe each other.

Superior should value officers who were not boastful for such officers are great talents. For if he is not boastful, it shows that he is not contentious. When the ruler seek the opinions of these officers, for civilian affairs, he would get the true situations; for military affairs, the affairs will be attended to properly. Thus those talented and technically skilled will be used. For those that follow orders, they should be rewarded well; for those that defy orders, they should be severely punished. Then the strong and courageous will not clash with authority.

Only after effective instructions have been given to the people, can the state carefully select and employ them. Only after government affairs have been thoroughly ordered, can we say the offices have been sufficiently provided. When instructions are thoroughly examined and cut down so that it is easily understood, the people can practise the teaching well. When practice becomes habit, the people will embody the customs. This then is the pinnacle of transformation through education.

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Modern

古代教育民众，必须制定上、下、尊、卑的人伦道德规范，使上下尊卑之间彼此不相欺凌，德和义不互相踰越，有才技的人不被埋没，有勇力的人不敢违抗命令，这样，大家就会同心协力了。古时候，朝廷的礼仪法度，不能用于军队，军队的礼仪法度，不能用于朝廷。所以德和义就不会互相踰越。君主必须敬重不自夸的人，因为不自夸的人，是君主所宝贵的人才，如能不自夸，就说明他没有奢望，没有奢望就不会和别人相争。朝廷听取这些人的意见，一定会掌握真实情况，军队里能听取这些人的意见，事情就会得到妥善处理，这样，有才技的人就不致被埋没了。对服从命令的人，上级要给予奖励，对违抗命令的人，上级要给予制裁，这样，有勇力的人就不敢违抗命令了。民众经受了这些教育，然后再慎重选拔任用他们。各项事业都治理得很好，各级官吏就尽到职责了。教育内容简明扼要，民众就容易学得好，习惯一经养成，民众就会按习俗行事了。这就是教育的最大成效。

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Original

古之教民，必立贵贱之伦经，使不相陵。德义不相踰，材技不相掩，勇力不相犯，故力同而意和也。古者，国容不入军，军容不入国，故德义不相踰。上贵不伐之士，不伐之士，上之器也，苟不伐则无求，无求则不争。国中之听，必得其情，军旅之听，必得其宜，故材技不相掩。从命为士上赏，犯命为士上戮，故勇力不相犯。既致教其民，然后谨选而使之。事极修，则百官给矣，教极省，则民兴良矣，习惯成，则民体俗矣，教化之至也。

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