Lessons from Sages-Six Teachings

From World's Chinese Wiki

(Redirected from Tai Gong Six Teachings-Civil Teaching Chapter 5)

Lessons from Sages (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Civil Teaching Chapter 5)

本篇论述为君之道。阐明先圣的至理名言其所以能推行，所以被废弃的原因，以及义、欲、敬、怠与国家盛衰兴亡的关系。

English

King Wen was lying in bed, seriously ill. He summoned Tai Gong and the Crown Prince Fa¹ to his side. "Sigh, Heaven is about to abandom me. Zhou's state affairs will soon be entrusted to you. Today, I hope you, my teacher, discuss some great principles that I can pass down to my future generations."

Tai Gong said:"King, what would you like to ask?"

King Wen asked:"May I hear about former Sages, how they fell, how they rise?"

Tai Gong said:" If one sees good but is dilatory in doing it, if opportunity arise but no action taken, if you know something is wrong but never sanction it, these are the three situations that caused the Sages to fall. If one is soft and quiet when treating himself, dignified and respectful when treating others, strong yet genial when handling things, tolerant and resolute when opportunities arise, these are the three principles that caused Sage to rise. Thus when righteousness overcomes covetous, the state will flourish. When covetous overcomes righteousness, the state will demise. Cautiousness overcomes dilatoriness, it is good for the state. Dilatoriness overcomes cautiousness, the state is destroyed"

[edit]

Modern

文王卧病在床，召见太公望，太子发也在床边，文王叹息说：唉！上天将要抛弃我了，周国的社稷，就托付给你。现在我想请你讲些至理名言，以便明确地传给子孙。

太公问：你要问什么呢?

文王说：先圣治国的至理名言，为什么被废弃，为什么能推行？其原因可以讲给我听吗?

太公说：见到善事却怠惰不为，时机到来却迟疑不决，知道不对却泰然处之，这三种情况就是先圣治国之理废弃的原因。能柔能静以待己，能恭能敬以待人，能强能弱以接物，能忍能刚以待机，这四种就是先圣治国之道能推行的原因。所以正义胜过私欲，国家就昌盛；私欲胜过正义，国家就衰亡；谨慎胜过懈怠，国家就吉祥；懈怠胜过谨慎，国家就会灭亡。

[edit]