The original text and translation of King Wu Ling’s daily leisurely stay

The original text and translation of King Wu Ling's daily life is as follows:

Original text:

Wu Ling King's daily life is leisurely, and Fei Yi sits down and says: "King Are you considering the changes in world affairs, the use of Quan Jia soldiers, thinking about Jian and Xiang's achievements, and considering the benefits of Hu and Di? The theory of ministers is that a virtuous monarch is quiet and has the guidance to make things easier for the people. Those who are ministers in the past have the ability to resign themselves to their elders, and they can benefit the people and the master. There are divisions between kings and ministers. Now I want to continue the work of the lord Xiang and open up the hometown of Hu and Zhai. If the enemy is weak, he will do more with less effort and enjoy the achievements of the past. Those who have made great achievements in the world will bear the burden of legacy; those who have the worry of being independent will be feared by the common people. Now I will use Hu Fu to teach the people, and the world will be in trouble."

Feiyi said: "I have heard that doubtful deeds have no merit, and doubtful deeds have no reputation. Now the king has decided to bear the concerns of the legacy and almost ignore the opinions of the world. The man who is the most virtuous is not in harmony with the common people, and the one who achieves great achievements is not Plan for the public. In the past, Shun danced and had seedlings, but Yu entered the country naked, not to nourish his desires but to enjoy his ambitions, but to discuss virtues and achieve success. "The king said: "I am not suspicious of Hu Fu. I am afraid that the world will laugh at him. The madman will laugh at him, and the wise will be sad. Even if the world laughs at me, I will definitely live in the mountains of Hu Di."

Wang Sui Hu Fu. Wang Sunhui, the king, told the young master Cheng, saying: "I will obey you, and I will go to court, and I also want my uncle to obey me. The family listens to relatives, and the country listens to the emperor. This is the public conduct in ancient and modern times. Sons will not rebel against relatives, and ministers will not rebel. Lord, it is because of the common friendship of the former king. Now I am willing to accept the teaching, but I am afraid that the world will discuss it. The rule of the country is based on the principle of benefiting the people; there is a rule in government, so the virtue lies in the conduct. When it comes to being humble, administration is based on trust. The purpose of Hufu is not to cultivate desires and enjoy ambitions. When things are done, success will be achieved, and then the virtues will be seen. In order to assist the uncle's proposal, I heard that those who do things that benefit the country are not evil, so I would like to recruit my uncle's righteousness to make Hu Fu's uncle a success. "Yan." Loyalty. I heard that China is the place where wisdom and knowledge are gathered, where all things are gathered, where benevolence is imparted, where poetry, ritual and music are used, and where extraordinary skills are tested. , what you observe from afar is what the barbarians do righteously. The king interprets this, and takes over the clothes of the distant place, changes the ancient teachings, changes the ancient ways, and rebels against others. Scholars on the side leave China. I wish you the best. ."

The messenger reported to the king. The king said: "I have heard that my uncle is ill." When the uncle got married, he invited him and said: "My husband is obedient, so it is convenient for him; I am polite, so it is convenient for him." Therefore, the sage observes his hometown and adapts to it, and makes rituals according to its affairs, so it benefits its people and enriches its country. Being tattooed on the left side of his arm, he is a citizen of Ouyue. The inscription is carved with black teeth and the seams on the crown of the anvil are like the great country of Wu. The dress is different, but the convenience is the same. This is because the locales are different and the functions are different, and the things are different and the etiquette is easy to change. Therefore, the sage can only benefit his people, but does not use them in the same way; the fruit can facilitate his affairs, but does not use the rituals.

Confucianism is the same as the teacher but the etiquette is different. In China, the same customs are the same but the teaching is different. How about the convenience of the valley? Therefore, when it comes to the change of coming and going, the wise cannot be the same; when it comes to the subject of far and near, the wise and sages cannot be the same. There are many differences in poor villages, and there are many different kinds of music. Those who don’t know but don’t doubt, those who are different from oneself but not wrong are those who seek goodness openly. What you are saying today is vulgar. What I say is to control customs.

Today there are rivers and Boluo rivers in the east of our country, which are the same as Qi and Zhongshan, but there is no use for boats. From Changshan to Dai and Shangdang, there are the borders of Yan and Donghu in the east, and the borders of Loufan, Qin and Han in the west, and there is no preparation for cavalry and archery. Therefore, the few people gather together boats and boats to seek the people who live on the water to guard the water of the river and Boluo. They change their clothes, ride and shoot, so that they can visit the borders of Hu, Loufan, Qin and Han. In addition, in the past, the Lord Jian did not block Jinyang and Shangdang, but King Xiang took his place with troops to fight off the barbarians. This is clearly understood by fools.

Earlier, Zhongshan lost Qi's powerful troops, invaded our land, and tied up our people. They diverted water to surround Jian, which was not the spirit of Sheji, that is, Jian was not defended. The former king was angry, but his grievances could not be repaid. Today's cavalry and shooting uniforms can be used to prepare for the party's appearance at a distance, and to avenge Zhongshan's grievances from a distance.

And my uncle also followed Chinese customs and rebelled against the wishes of Jian and Xiang. He hated the name of subjugation and forgot the shame of national affairs. This is not what I want in my son! ”

The prince once again paid homage to the governor and said, “I am too foolish to follow the king’s advice and dare to talk about the world.” Now I want to cut off the meaning of Jian and Xiang and conform to the aspirations of the late king. I dare not obey the order. " When he bowed again, he was given Hufu. Zhao Wenjin admonished him and said: "Farmers work hard but gentlemen take care of them. This is the essence of government. The fool expresses his ideas and the wise discuss them. This is the way to teach. The ministers have no hidden loyalty and the king has no secrets, which is the wealth of the country. Although I am foolish, I am willing to be loyal to you. The king said, "If you are careful, you will not be disturbed by evil, and if you are loyal, there will be no fault. This is what you say." ”

Zhao Wen said: “It is the ancient way to assist the secular world. Clothes have their own rules and regulations. It is the duty of the people to practice law without committing any offense. The third is the reason why the sages taught it. Now that the king has interpreted this, he has adopted the service from far away, changed the ancient teachings, and changed the ancient ways. Therefore, I hope that the king will follow his plan. "

The king said: "The Master talks about the secular world. Ordinary people are addicted to customs, and scholars are addicted to what they hear. The reason for these two is to become an official and follow the government, not to judge the beginning from a distance. Moreover, the three generations of my husband did not serve as kings, and the fifth uncle did not teach and governed. The wise teach, the ignorant control. Wise people discuss customs, while unworthy people are restrained. The husband is subject to the people who obey him. Insufficiency and discussion of the heart; sticking to the common people, insufficiency and compliments. The old trend and vulgarity, and the rituals and changes, are the way of the sage. Acting upon the teachings, following the law selflessly, this is the duty of the people. A knowledgeable person can keep up with changes in knowledge, adapt to changes in etiquette, and adapt to the times. Therefore, those who serve themselves do not treat others, and those who control the present do not follow the laws of the past, so they can explain it. ”

Zhao Zao admonished: “Hidden loyalty is unfailing, and it is a traitor. Those who falsely accuse the country of their own affairs are like thieves. Those who commit adultery will die, and those who despise the country will die. On the contrary, the sage's punishment was clear and the minister's crime was serious. Although I am a fool, I am willing to do my best to be loyal and die without escaping. Wang said: "Being honest and honest is loyalty." There is no explanation, it is clear. Loyalty does not avoid danger, wisdom does not distance people. Just what he said. "

Zhao Zao said: "I heard that the sage does not change the people and teaches, and the wise does not change the common people. Those who teach for the sake of the people will succeed without labor; those who act according to the customs will be easy to see by considering the path. In the early days of the Yi Dynasty, the current king did not follow the customs, and he wore Hufu without caring about the world. It was not because he taught the people to become rituals. And those who follow the strange will become promiscuous, and those who follow the secular will mess with the people. Therefore, those who come to the country do not wear the clothes of the strange people, and China does not approach the barbarians. It is not because they teach the people to become polite. There is no fault in following the law, and there is no evil in practicing etiquette. I hope that the king will do it. "

Wang said: "The ancient and modern are different, so why is the ancient method? If the emperor does not attack each other, how can he follow the etiquette? Mi Xi and Shen Nong taught without punishing them; Huang Di, Yao and Shun punished them without getting angry. When it comes to the three kings, they observe the time and make laws, and make rituals according to the situation. The laws and orders are all in accordance with their own suitability. Clothes and equipment are all used according to their purpose. Therefore, there is no need to follow the same way of etiquette in the world, and there is no need to follow the ancient rules to facilitate the country. The rise of saints is to rule without attacking each other. The decline of Xia and Yin was not easy to destroy due to ritual. However, it is okay to go against the past, but it is not enough to follow the rites.

Furthermore, if one obeys the strange and desires to be promiscuous, this means that Zou and Lu have no strange behavior; if the customs change and the people change, this means that Wu and Yue have no good people. Therefore, the sage's benefit to the body is called obedience, his convenience is called teaching, his advance and retreat are called discipline, and the control of his clothes is the reason why the common people are harmonized, not the sage. Therefore, the sage and the secular flow, the virtuous and the changing. As the proverb goes: A man who uses books as his charioteer will not be as affectionate as a horse. Using the past to control the present will not achieve changes in things. Therefore, the merit of following the Dharma is not enough to advance the world; the learning of ancient Dharma is not enough to control the present. Don't rebel, son.

Translation:

When King Zhao Wuling was free on weekdays, he lived alone. Fei Yi sat beside him and said, "Your Majesty, are you considering the changes in current affairs and weighing them? Reasonable use of troops, thinking about the glorious achievements of Tongzi and Xiangzi, and thinking about how to get benefits from Hu and Di."

King Zhao Wuling replied: "Heir to the throne and not forgetting the merits of his ancestors, this is what he is doing." The principles that a king should follow; it is the duty of a minister to be committed to the king and devote himself to promoting the king's strengths and achievements. Therefore, a wise king should educate the people to contribute to the country in peacetime, and strive to establish achievements that can carry forward the past and open up the future in wartime.

As a minister, you should maintain the character of respecting your elders and being humble and giving in when you are frustrated. When you become prominent, you should do things that are beneficial to the people and the king. These two aspects are the duties of a king and his ministers. Now I want to inherit the business of Lord Xiang and develop the area where Hu and Zhai live, but I am worried that no one will understand my intentions in my lifetime. The enemy is weak, and if we put in a small amount of effort, we will achieve great results. If we do not tire the people, we will achieve the feats of Jianzi and Xiangzi.

Those who have made extraordinary achievements will inevitably be criticized by some worldly villains; and those who have unique insights will inevitably arouse the resentment of everyone. Now I am going to teach people to practice horseback riding and archery while wearing Hu clothing. In this way, some people in the country will definitely criticize me. Fei Yi said: "I heard that if you are hesitant about doing something, you will never succeed, and if you are hesitant about taking action, you will never become famous. Now that your Majesty is determined to abandon worldly prejudices, he must not worry about the criticism of the people in the world.

Anyone who pursues the highest morality will not agree with the opinions of the common people; those who achieve great achievements will not consult with others. In the past, Shun danced the dance of Miao (ancient southern tribe), and Yu was naked. When they enter a tribe that doesn't know how to wear clothes, they don't want to indulge their lusts and enjoy themselves, but they want to use it to promote morality, build achievements, and seek fame. Foolish people can't understand it after it happens, but smart people don't understand. But you can notice things before they happen. Your Majesty, you should put your ideas into action immediately.

King Zhao Wuling said: "I am not interested in the 'Hufu riding and shooting' thing. What worries do I have? I'm just worried that people in the world will laugh at me. What a crazy person is happy about will make a rational person feel sad about it; what a stupid person is happy about will make a wise person worry about it. If all Chinese people support me, then the effect of changing to wearing Hu clothing will be immeasurable. Even if the people all over the world laugh at me, I will definitely get the land of the Hu people and the Zhongshan Kingdom in the north. ” King Wuling of Zhao then changed into the clothes of the Hu people.

King Wuling sent Wang Sun to tell the young master what he wanted, saying: I have changed to wear Hu clothes, and I will wear it to court. I hope Uncle Wang also changed to wearing Hu clothes. It has been recognized since ancient times that one should obey the orders of parents at home and the king in court; children cannot disobey their parents, and ministers are not allowed to resist the king. This is the general rule set by the previous kings.

Now I have ordered you to wear Hu clothes. If you don't wear it, Uncle Wang, I'm worried that people in the world will talk about it. There must be certain principles in governing the country, but it must be based on the benefit of the people; political affairs must be handled. There are certain rules, but the first thing is that the decree can be implemented smoothly. Therefore, if you want to improve the moral governance of the court, you must consider the interests of the ordinary people. If you want to take charge of the country, you must first make the nobles accept the emperor's orders. Now I wear Hufu. The purpose is not to indulge in self-indulgence and just enjoy yourself.

Once things start, there will be a basis for success. Only when things are successful can political achievements be revealed. Now I am worried that Uncle Wang has violated his political principles. Principle, and even contributed to the criticism of me by the nobles. Besides, I have heard that as long as what you do is beneficial to the country, you don't have to worry about what others say. If you rely on the nobles to do things, you will not be criticized. So I hope to rely on the king. The prestige of my uncle has contributed to the success of the change to wearing Hu clothes. I sent Wang Sun to tell you that I hope you can also wear Hu clothes.

Gongzi Cheng thanked you again and said: I have heard about it, Your Majesty. The reason why I changed to wearing Hufu was because I was sick in bed and had difficulty moving, so I couldn't go to see the king as soon as possible and express my opinions in person. Now that you have informed me, I should boldly do my part. Foolish loyalty.

I heard that the Central Plains is a place where smart and far-sighted people live, a place where all kinds of materials and wealth gather, a place where sages educate people, and where virtue and justice are common. The place of practice is the place where "Poems", "Books", "Etiquette" and "Music" are read, where all kinds of wonderful skills are displayed, where princes from all over the world come to visit from thousands of miles away, and where the few who are backward from all over the world come to visit. The place where the nation imitates and learns. Now the king has abandoned these excellent cultures and adopted the costumes of backward tribes. This is changing the traditional education methods, updating the ancient moral principles, and going against the will of the people, thus causing the learners to deviate from the way of the previous kings and abandon them. The advanced culture of the Central Plains. I hope your Majesty will consider this matter carefully.

Wang Sun reported Gongzi Cheng’s words to King Wuling of Zhao and said, “I knew Uncle Wang was opposed to this matter. "So he immediately went to Gongzi Cheng's home and explained his point of view to him in person: clothes are generally for the convenience of wearing, and etiquette is for the convenience of doing things.

Therefore, sages observe local customs and then formulate measures to adapt to them, and formulate etiquette and laws according to specific situations. This is beneficial to both the people and the country. It is the custom of the Ouyue people to cut off their hair, tattoo patterns on their bodies, stand with their arms crossed, and cover their clothes to the left.

Dyeing your teeth black, carving pictures on your forehead, wearing a fish skin hat, and clothes with rough sewing are the customs of the Wu state. Although the etiquette and clothing are different, they are the same in seeking to benefit the country and the people. Therefore, the utensils used are different in different places, and the rituals used are also changed in different situations. Therefore, the sage monarch only formulates policies that are beneficial to the people, but does not unify the expenditure of their utensils; if it can be convenient, the etiquette system can be completely different. Although Confucian scholars all studied under the same teacher, the etiquette passed down are different; the customs in the Central Plains are the same, but the politics and religion of each country are different, not to mention that they are located in remote mountainous areas, shouldn't they consider doing things expediently?

So the choice of customs and etiquette is so varied that even smart people cannot unify it; even sages and monarchs cannot make uniform the styles of clothing in different regions. In remote places, people are rare and strange. Ignorant people like to argue. Don't doubt unfamiliar things easily. Don't criticize opinions that are different from your own. This is the attitude of selflessly pursuing the truth. Now, Uncle Wang, what you are talking about is about adapting to customs; what I am talking about is how to change old traditions.

Now, there are the Yellow River and Zhangshui River to the east of our country, which is the border shared by Qi and Zhongshan, but there are no warships to guard it. From Changshan to Daijun and Shangdangjun, it borders Yan State and Donghu State to the east, and Loufan, Qin State, and South Korea to the west, but we have no cavalry troops to defend. Therefore, I plan to build warships, recruit residents who are accustomed to water warfare, and let them defend the Yellow River and Zhang River. I will change into Hu clothes and practice horseback riding and archery to guard the borders with Yan, Donghu, Loufan, Qin, and South Korea.

In the past, Jianzi did not limit himself to Jinyang and Shangdang. Xiangzi annexed the Rong tribe and Daijun to resist the Hu people. Both stupid and smart people understand these principles. In the past, Zhongshan State relied on the support of Qi State's powerful army to invade and plunder our land, plunder and imprison our people, and divert water to surround the city. If it were not for the blessing of the ancestors and gods, the city would have been almost destroyed. The late king was very angry about this incident, and to this day, their grudge has not been avenged. Now we are pursuing the policy of "mounting and shooting in Hufu". From a short distance, we can guard a dangerous place like Shangdang; from a distance, we can avenge the hatred of Zhongshan's invasion of the late king. But Uncle Wang, you insist on following the old customs of the Central Plains, violating the last wishes of Jianzi and Xiangzi, hating the practice of changing clothing styles, and forgetting the shame that the country has suffered. This is definitely not what I expect you to do!

After hearing this, Young Master Cheng paid homage to King Wu Ling and apologized. He said: "I was too stupid to realize the King's good intentions, so I took the liberty to say some worldly remarks. Now the king wants to inherit the wishes of Jianzi and Xiangzi and realize the legacy of the late king. How dare I disobey the order?"

Gongzi Cheng bowed twice more. So King Wuling of Zhao gave him Hufu. Zhao Wen advised King Wu Ling: "Farmers work hard to support gentlemen, which is the basis of governing the country; stupid people express their opinions, and wise people make decisions. This is the way to deal with problems; ministers do not hide their own opinions. Opinion, it is a blessing for the country to be a king who does not block the way of speech. Although I am stupid, I still hope to do my best to be loyal." King Wu Ling said: "People who think about others should not. A person who is too demanding and loyal cannot accuse him of his mistakes, so just speak up." Zhao Wen said: "Adapting to the times and obeying local customs has been a law since ancient times; clothes have certain styles, which is a rule of etiquette; abide by laws and disciplines. , It is the duty of ordinary people not to make mistakes. These three aspects are all taught by ancient sages. Now, your Majesty, you have abandoned these and changed into the clothes of distant barbarians, changed the ancient teachings, and changed the ancient regulations. , so I hope the king will seriously consider it.”

King Wu Ling said: What you said is just a secular opinion.

Ordinary people just indulge in the worldly customs, while nerds always stick to the things in books. For these two kinds of people, they can only abide by their duties and obey the laws. They cannot work with them to plan long-term careers and establish A pioneering achievement. Moreover, although the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties had different costumes, they were able to unify the world; the five hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period had different political and religious beliefs, but they were able to govern the country well.

Smart people make laws, and stupid people are restricted by laws; wise people reform customs, while stupid people stick to old customs. Therefore, there is no need to exchange ideas with those who are bound by secular etiquette; there is no need to explain your intentions to those who are stuck in old customs. Therefore, customs change with the times, and etiquette and law are unified with these changed customs. This is the fundamental principle of sage governing the country!

It is the bounden duty of ordinary people to act immediately after receiving government orders from the country, abide by the law and abandon personal selfishness. A truly knowledgeable person can listen to opinions and change his views, and a truly knowledgeable person can change with the changes of the times. Therefore, people who think about themselves will not consider others. If you want to change the current situation, you cannot completely imitate the ancients. Don't worry!

Zhao Zao also went to admonish King Wuling of Zhao. He said: Not being loyal and knowing but not speaking up is the behavior of a traitor; deceiving the monarch for personal gain is harmful to the country. Those who committed the crime of treachery were sentenced to death, and those who endangered the country were punished by annihilation of their clan. These two points are the criminal laws established by the ancient sage kings, and they are also the most serious crimes committed by ministers. Although I am stupid, I will try my best to be loyal and never escape death.

King Wu Ling said: "Speaking out one's thoughts without any reservation is a loyal minister; not blocking the way of speech and accepting opinions humbly is called a wise master. A loyal minister is not afraid It's dangerous. If the Ming Lord doesn't refuse his ministers to express their opinions, you can speak calmly."

Zhao Zao said: I have heard that sages do not change people's customs but educate them. People govern the country without changing their customs. Enlightenment based on public opinion will yield results without much effort; governing the country based on different customs will be simple and convenient in considering issues, and results will be easily seen in doing so. Now, Your Majesty, you have changed your original clothes instead of following customs, and you have changed into Hu clothes without caring about the opinions of the world. This is not the way to educate the people according to the etiquette laws.

Moreover, wearing strange clothes can make people think wrongly, and weird customs can disturb people's hearts. Therefore, the king should not accept strange and strange clothes, and the people in the Central Plains should not imitate the barbarian lifestyle. This is not a way to educate the people according to the requirements of etiquette and law. Moreover, there will be no mistakes if you follow the laws of the past, and no evil thoughts will arise if you act according to the old etiquette. I hope your Majesty will consider this matter carefully.

King Wu Ling said: Since ancient times, customs have been different. Which time should we imitate? The etiquette of emperors is not passed down from generation to generation. Whose etiquette should we follow? Fuxi and Shennong only educated the people without executing them; Huangdi, Yao, and Shun, although they imposed death sentences, they did not implicate their wives and children.

In the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, the sage kings observed the situation at that time to establish the legal system, and formulated etiquette and customs according to the specific conditions. Laws and decrees are all adapted to the times, and clothes and utensils are all convenient to use. Therefore, governing a country does not necessarily have to follow the same path. As long as it is beneficial to the country, it does not have to follow the ancient times. The emergence of saints did not rule the world because they inherited each other; the decline of the Xia and Yin dynasties did not occur because of changes in etiquette.

In this way, if you don’t follow the ancient laws, you don’t necessarily have to be criticized, and if you stick to the old etiquette and customs, you don’t necessarily deserve praise. Besides, if strange clothes can make people have bad thoughts, then the states of Zou and Lu, which are the most observant of etiquette, will not have people with eccentric behavior; if strange customs can make the people bad, then the Wu and Yue regions will not have eccentric people. There will be no outstanding talents. Therefore, the saint calls what is convenient for wearing clothes, and what is convenient for doing things is called enlightenment.

Some etiquette in behavior and clothing regulations are only used to bring common people into agreement, not to measure whether they are wise or not. Therefore, wise people can adapt to any customs, and talented people can keep up with the changes of the times.

There is a proverb that says: Those who drive according to the book cannot give full play to the actual ability of the horse; using ancient etiquette to govern today's country cannot meet the reality of today's society. Therefore, the achievements established by following the existing system cannot exceed that of the current generation, and it is impossible to manage the current country well by following the practices of the ancients. You'd better not object.

Article Appreciation

In this article, King Zhao Wuling not only had great talents and broad plans, but also had outstanding eloquence, eloquent speech, and was good at analyzing things clearly. Regarding how to view etiquette, he proposed that the purpose of etiquette is only to "benefit the people and benefit the country", and that ancient saints only "made etiquette for their affairs". He pointed out to those who opposed that any etiquette is the product of specific historical conditions and has no Eternal etiquette.

The role of etiquette is also conditional and therefore limited. "When things change, things change." Etiquette and law must change with the changes and development of the times. King Zhao Wuling not only clarified the principles and principles of etiquette, but also pointed out the urgency of reform through analysis of the situation.

He first clarified Zhao’s surrounding situation and the characteristics of the military forces of neighboring countries, and then elaborated on Zhao’s response strategies to these international situations, making people feel that Zhao’s situation at the time was difficult to cope with the complexity. The situation of military struggle naturally gave rise to the desire to reform etiquette and military systems. In this way, the reform concept of "Hufu, riding and shooting" naturally entered the minds of the listeners.