Preserving Territories-Six Teachings
From World's Chinese Wiki
Preserving Territories (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Civil Teaching Chapter 7)
本篇论述守卫国土的策略。对内是“无疏其亲，无怠其众“；对外是“安抚近邻，控制远方”。具体要做到事权专一，不失时机，防微杜渐，民殷国富。以仁义团结宗亲，收揽民心。坚持“顺者任之以德，逆者绝之以力“的原则，以达到“天下和服”。
English
King Wen asked Tai Gong:"How does one preserve the state's territory?"
Tai Gong said:"Do not estrange your relatives. Do not neglect the masses. Be concillatory and solicitous towards nearby states and control all that is under you. Do not loan the authority of state to other men. If you loan the authority of state to other men, then you will lose your authority. Do not hurt those of lower position to benefit those of higher position. Do not abandon the fundamental to save those that are inconsequential. When the sun is at midday, you should dry things. If you grasp a knife, you must cut. If you hold an axe, you must attack."
"If at the height of the day, you do not dry things in the sun, this is termed losing the opportunity. If you grasp a knife but do not cut anything, you will lose the moment for profits. If you hold an axe and do not attack, enemies will attack instead."
"If trickling streams are not blocked, they will become great rivers. If you do not extinguish the smallest flames, there is nothing much you can do when it turns into great flames. If you do not eliminate the two-leaf sapling, you might have to use the axe to remove it in future."
"For this reason, the ruler must focus on developing wealth within his state. Without material wealth, he has nothing with which to spread beneficence or to bring his relatives together. If he estranges his relatives it will be harmful. If he loses the common people, he will be defeated. "
"Do not loan sharp weapons to other men. If you loan sharp weapons to other men, you will be hurt by them and will not live out your allotted span of years."
King Wen said:"What do you mean by benevolence and righteousness?"
Tai Gong replied:"Respect the common people, unite your relatives. If you repect the commone people, they will be in harmony. And if you unite your relatives, they will be happy. This is the way to implement the essential cords of benevolence and righteousness."
"Do not allow other men to snatch away your awesomeness. Rely on your wisdom, follow the norm. Those that submit and accord with you, treat them generously and virtuously. Those that oppose you, break with force. If you respect the people and trust, the state will be peaceful and populace submissive."
Modern
文王问太公说：应该怎样守卫国土呢？
太公说：不可疏远宗族，不可怠慢民众，安抚近邻，控制四方。治国大权不可旁落，大权旁落，君主就合失去威权。不要损下益上，不要舍本逐末。太阳到了正午， 要抓紧时机曝晒；拿起刀子就要抓时机宰割；拿起斧子就要抓紧时机砍伐。到了中午不曝晒就会丧失机；拿起刀子不宰割也会丧失时机；拿起武器不杀敌，反会被敌所害。细小的水流不堵塞，将会扩展成江河；微弱的火星不扑灭，将会酿成熊熊大火；刚萌芽的两片嫩叶不撷除，将来就必须用斧头去砍。所以君主必须讲求富国之道，国不富就谈不上行仁政，不行仁政就不能团结宗亲。疏远了宗亲就会受害，失去了人心就会失败。不要把统御国家的权力付托给别人，大权旁落，自己就会为人 所害而身死国亡。
文王问：什么是仁义呢？
太公说：所谓仁、义就是尊重民意，团结宗亲。尊重民意就能得到人民拥护；团结宗亲就能得到他们的爱戴。这些就是行仁义的准则。不要让人篡夺了你的权力，要 根据自己的明察顺乎常理去处理事情。对于顺从你的人，要给与恩德而信任他，对于反对你的人要用武力消灭他。遵循上述原则不变，天下就合拥护而顺从了。
Original
文王问太公曰：守土奈何?
太公曰：无疏其亲，无怠其众，抚其左右，御其四旁。无借人国柄，借人国柄，则失其权。无掘壑而附丘，无舍本而治末。日中必彗，操刀必割，执斧必伐。日中不彗，是谓失时；操刀不割，失利之期；执斧不伐，贼人将来。涓涓不塞，将为江河；荧荧不救，炎炎奈何；两叶不去，将用斧柯。是故人君必从事于富，不富无以为仁，不施无以合亲。疏其亲则害，失其众则败。无借人利器，借人利器则为人所害，而不终其正也。
文王曰：何谓仁义?
太公曰：敬其众，合其亲。敬其众则和，合其亲则喜，是谓仁义之纪。无使人夺汝威，因其明，顺其常。顺者任之以德，逆者绝之以力。敬之勿疑，天下和服。
[Back to Jiang Tai Gong Six Teachings - Civil Teaching]