Preserving State-Six Teachings
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Preserving State (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Civil Teaching Chapter 8)
本篇名为守国，实为发动战争以安天下的意思。因此提出了“发之以其阴，会之以其阳，为之先唱，天下和之。极反其常，莫进而争，莫退而让”的策略。
English
King Wen asked Tai Gong:”How does one preserve the state?”
Tai Gong answered:”You should observe a vegetarian fast, for I am about to speak to you about the essential principles of Heaven and Earth, what the four seasons produce, the Way of true humanity and sagacity and the nature of the people’s impulses.”
King Wen observed a vegetarian regime for seven days, then facing the north, bowed twice and requested instruction.
Tai Gong said:”Heaven gives birth to the four seasons, Earth produce the myriad of things. Under Heaven, there are the people, and the Sage acts as their shepherd. The nature of Spring is birth and the myriad of things begin to flourish. The nature of summer is growth and myriad of things mature. The nature of autumn is gathering, and myriad of things are full. The nature of winter is storing away and myriad of things are still. When they are full, they are stored away; after they are stored away, they again revive. No one knows where it ends, no one knows where it begins. The Sage accords with it and models things base on it. Thus when the realm is well ordered, his benevolence and sagacity are hidden. When the realm is in turbulence, his benevolence and sagacity flourish. This is the Way.”
“In his position between Heaven and Earth, the Sage authority is vast and substantial. He govern the people with the norm, the people will be at peace. But when the people are agitated, it creates impulses. When impulses stir, conflict arises, and there will be a fight for authority. The Sage will gather forces and power in the dark, and when the opportunity rises, comes out. If someone ventures to be the first leader to rid the former authority, all under Heaven will unite with him. When things return to normal, do not continue to advance and contend, do not withdraw and yield. If you can preserve the state in this fashion, you will share the splendor of Heaven and Earth.”
Modern
文王问太公道：怎样保卫国家呢?
太公说：请先行斋戒，然后再告诉你关于天地间事物运动的规律，四季万物生长的变化，圣人治国的道理，民心转变的根由。文王斋戒七天，以弟子礼再度拜问太公。
太公说：天有四时，地生万物。天下有人民，人民由圣王来治理他们。春天的规律是滋生，万物都欣欣向荣；夏天的规律是成长，万物都繁荣茂盛；秋天的规律是收 获，万物都饱满成熟；冬天的规律是收藏，万物都潜藏不动。万物成熟就应收藏起来，收藏起来[明年又]播种生长，[循环往复]是没有终点的，也没有起点。圣人可以参照这个规律，作为治理天下的普遍原则。
所以天下大治，仁人圣主就隐而不露；天下大乱，仁人圣主就拨乱反正，建功立业。这是必然的规律。
圣人处在天地间，他的地位作用是很大的。他按照常理教育人民，使人民安定。民心不安，就是动乱发生的原因，动乱一旦发生，天下就有权力得失之争了。这时圣人就秘密地发展力量，时机成熟就公开地进行讨伐。首先倡导除暴安民，天下必然响应。当形势巳恢复正常时，既不要进而争功，也不要退而让位。这样守国，他的威望就可与天地同光了。
Original
文王问太公曰：守国奈何?
太公曰：斋，将语君天地之经，四时所生，仁圣之道，民机之情。
王即斋七日，北面再拜而问之。
太公曰：天生四时，地生万物。天下有民，仁圣牧之。故春道生，万物荣；夏道长，万物成；秋道敛，万物盈；冬道藏，万物寻。盈则藏，藏日复起，莫知所终，莫知所始。圣人敬之，以为天地经纪。
故天下治，仁圣藏；天下乱，仁圣昌。至道其也。
圣人之在天地间也，其宝固大矣。因其常而视之则民安。夫民动而为机，机动而得失争矣。故发之以其阴，会之以其阳。为之先唱，天下和之。极反其常，莫进而争，莫退而让。守国如此，与大地同光。
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