| | 万章上: |
万章曰：“尧以天下与舜，有诸？” |
| Wan Zhang I: |
Wan Zhang said, 'Was it the case that Yao gave the throne to Shun?' |
| | |
孟子曰：“否。天子不能以天下与人。” |
| |
Mencius said, 'No. The sovereign cannot give the throne to another.' |
| | |
“然则舜有天下也，孰与之？” |
| |
'Yes - but Shun had the throne. Who gave it to him?' |
| | |
曰：“天与之。” |
| |
'Heaven gave it to him,' was the answer. |
| | |
“天与之者，谆谆然命之乎？” |
| |
'" Heaven gave it to him:" - did Heaven confer its appointment on him with specific injunctions?' |
| | |
曰：“否。天不言，以行与事示之而已矣。” |
| |
Mencius replied, 'No. Heaven does not speak. It simply showed its will by his personal conduct and his conduct of affairs.' |
| | |
曰：“以行与事示之者如之何？” |
| |
"It showed its will by his personal conduct and his conduct of affairs" - how was this?' |
| | |
曰：“天子能荐人于天，不能使天与之天下；诸侯能荐人于天子，不能使天子与之诸侯；大夫能荐人于诸侯，不能使诸侯与之大夫。昔者尧荐舜于天而天受之，暴之于民而民受之，故曰：天不言，以行与事示之而已矣。” |
| |
Mencius's answer was, 'The sovereign can present a man to Heaven, but he cannot make Heaven give that man the throne. A prince can present a man to the sovereign, but he cannot cause the sovereign to make that man a prince. A great officer can present a man to his prince, but he cannot cause the prince to make that man a great officer. Yao presented Shun to Heaven, and Heaven accepted him. He presented him to the people, and the people accepted him. Therefore I say, "Heaven does not speak. It simply indicated its will by his personal conduct and his conduct of affairs."' |
| | |
曰：“敢问荐之于天而天受之，暴之于民而民受之，如何？” |
| |
Zhang said, 'I presume to ask how it was that Yao presented Shun to Heaven, and Heaven accepted him; and that he exhibited him to the people, and the people accepted him.' |
| | |
曰：“使之主祭而百神享之，是天受之；使之主事而事治，百姓安之，是民受之也。天与之，人与之，故曰：天子不能以天下与人。舜相尧二十有八载，非人之所能为也，天也。尧崩，三年之丧毕，舜避尧之子于南河之南。天下诸侯朝觐者，不之尧之子而之舜；讼狱者，不之尧之子而之舜；讴歌者，不讴歌尧之子而讴歌舜，故曰天也。夫然后之中国，践天子位焉。而居尧之宫，逼尧之子，是篡也，非天与也。《太誓》曰：‘天视自我民视，天听自我民听’，此之谓也。” |
| |
Mencius replied, 'He caused him to preside over the sacrifices, and all the spirits were well pleased with them; thus Heaven accepted him. He caused him to preside over the conduct of affairs, and affairs were well administered, so that the people reposed under him; thus the people accepted him. Heaven gave the throne to him. The people gave it to him. Therefore I said, "The sovereign cannot give the throne to another. Shun assisted Yao in the government for twenty and eight years - this was more than man could have done, and was from Heaven. After the death of Yao, when the three years' mourning was completed, Shun withdrew from the son of Yao to the south of South river. The princes of the kingdom, however, repairing to court, went not to the son of Yao, but they went to Shun. Litigants went not to the son of Yao, but they went to Shun. Singers sang not the son of Yao, but they sang Shun. Therefore I said, "Heaven gave him the throne." It was after these things that he went to the Middle Kingdom, and occupied the seat of the Son of Heaven. If he had, before these things, taken up his residence in the palace of Yao, and had applied pressure to the son of Yao, it would have been an act of usurpation, and not the gift of Heaven. This sentiment is expressed in the words of The Great Declaration: "Heaven sees according as my people see; Heaven hears according as my people hear."' |
