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| Scope: Anti-Fatalism I Request type: Paragraph |
| Condition 1: References "事乎山川鬼神" Matched:3. |
| Total 2 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1. |
《非命上 - Anti-Fatalism I》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 4 | 非命上: |
然而今天下之士君子，或以命为有。盖尝尚观于先王之书，先王之书，所 以1出国家，布施百姓 者2，宪也。先王之宪，亦尝有曰‘福不可请，而祸不可讳，敬无益，暴无伤’者乎？所以听狱制罪者，刑也。先王之刑亦尝有曰‘福不可请，祸不可讳，敬无益，暴无伤’者乎？所以整设师旅，进退师徒者，誓也。先王之誓亦尝有曰：‘福不可请，祸不可讳，敬无益，暴无伤’者乎？”是故子墨子言曰：“吾当未盐数，天下之良书不可尽计数，大方论数，而五者是也。今虽毋求执有命者之言，不必得，不亦可错乎？今用执有命者之言，是覆天下之义，覆天下之义者，是立命者也，百姓之谇也。说百姓之谇者，是灭天下之人也”。然则所为欲义在上者，何也？曰：“义人在上，天下必治，上帝山川鬼神，必有干主，万民被其大利。”何以知之？子墨子曰：“古者汤封于亳，绝长继短，方地百里，与其百姓兼相爱，交相利，移则分。率其百姓，以上尊天事鬼，是以天鬼富之，诸侯与之，百姓亲之，贤士归之，未殁其世，而王天下，政诸侯。昔者文王封于岐周，“绝长继短，方地百里，与其百姓兼相爱、交相利，则，是以近者安其政，远者归其德。闻文王者，皆起而趋之。罢不肖股肱不利者，处而愿之曰：‘柰何乎使文王之地及我，吾则吾利，岂不亦犹文王之民也哉。’是以天鬼富之，诸侯与之，百姓亲之，贤士归之，未殁其世，而王天下，政诸侯。乡者言曰：义人在上，天下必治，上帝山川鬼神，必有干主，万民被其大利。吾用此知之。 |
| Anti-Fatalism I: |
But the gentlemen of the world still assume that there is fate. Now let us look at some of the writings of the early kings. The writings of the early kings that were issued to the whole country and distributed among the people were the laws. Did any of the laws of the early kings ever say: "Blessing cannot be invoked and disaster cannot be avoided; reverence will not do any good and cruelty will not do any harm"? The standards according to which lawsuits were tried and punishments were meted out were the codes of punishment. Did any of the codes of punishment of the early kings say: "Blessing cannot be invoked and disaster cannot be avoided; reverence will not do any good and cruelty will not do any harm"? The inspiration by which the armies were organized and the soldiers were commanded to advance or to retreat came from the declarations. Did any of the declarations of the early kings say: "Blessing cannot be invoked and disaster cannot be avoided; reverence will do no good and cruelty will do no harm"? Mozi said: I have not enumerated the good books of the empire completely. As they cannot be exhaustively enumerated, I limit myself to the most prominent ones, namely, the three above mentioned. And try as we may, we cannot find any belief in the doctrine of fatalism. Should it not then be abandoned? To adopt the fatalists' doctrine is to overthrow righteousness in the world. To overthrow righteousness in the world will establish fate, which is a temptation to the people. And to offer people temptation is to destroy the people. Now, why is it that we desire righteousness to be with the superiors? Because when the righteous are in authority, the world will have order, God, hills and rivers, and the spirits will have their chief sacrificer, and the people will be visited by the great blessings therefrom. How do we know? Mozi said: In ancient times, Tang was given a fief at Bo. Taking allowance for the irregular boundary lines, his land amounted to about a hundred li square. He worked with the people for mutual love and reciprocal benefit, and shared with them what was in abundance. And he led his people to reverence Heaven and worship the spirits. Thereupon, Heaven and the spirits enriched him, the feudal lords befriended him, the people loved him, and the virtuous came to him. Within a single generation he ruled over the empire and headed the feudal lords. Again in ancient times, King Wen was assigned to the state of Qi Zhou. Making allowance for the irregular boundary lines, his land amounted to about a hundred li square. He worked with his people for mutual love and reciprocal benefit. So those near him enjoyed his government and those distant submitted themselves to his virtues. All who heard of King Wen rose up and rushed over to him. The stupid and insolent and those weak in limbs remained where they were and complained: "Why not let the land of King Wen extend to this place. Wouldn't I then also be a subject of King Wen?" Thereupon Heaven and the spirits enriched him, the feudal lords befriended him, the people loved him and the virtuous came to him. Within a single generation he ruled over the whole empire and headed the feudal lords. As we have said: When the righteous are in authority the world will have order, God, hills and rivers, and the spirits will have their chief sacrificer, and the people will be visited by the great benefits therefrom. And this is how we know it to be so. 1. 以 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 6 | 非命上: |
然则何以知命之为暴人之道？昔上世之穷民，贪于饮食，惰于从事，是以衣 食1之财不足，而饥寒冻馁之忧至，不知曰‘我罢不肖，从事不疾’，必曰‘我命固且贫’。昔上世暴王不忍其耳目之淫，心涂之辟，不顺其亲戚，遂以亡失国家，倾覆社稷，不知曰‘我罢不肖，为政不善’，必曰‘吾命固失之。’于仲虺之告曰：‘我闻于夏人，矫天命布命于下，帝伐之恶，龚丧厥师。’此言汤之所以非桀之执有命也。于太誓曰：‘纣夷处，不用事上帝鬼神，祸厥先神禔不祀，乃曰吾民有命，无廖排漏，天亦纵弃之而弗葆。’此言武王所以非纣执有命也。今用执有命者之言，则上不听治，下不从事。上不听治，则刑政乱；下不从事，则财用不足，上无以供粢盛酒醴，祭祀上帝鬼神， 下无以2降绥天下贤可之士，外无以应待诸侯之宾客，内无以食饥衣寒，将养老弱。故命上不利于天，中不利于鬼，下不利于人，而强执此者，此特凶言之所自生，而暴人之道也。” |
| Anti-Fatalism I: |
Now how do we know fatalism is the way of the wicked? In ancient times, the miserable people indulged in drinking and eating and were lazy in their work. Thereupon their food and clothing became insufficient, and the danger of hunger and cold was approaching. They did not acknowledge: "I was stupid and insolent and was not diligent at work." But they would say: "It is but my lot to be poor." The ancient wicked kings did not control the sensuality of their ears and eyes and the passions of their mind. They did not follow their ancestors and so they lost their country and ruined their state. They did not know that they should confess: "I am stupid and insolent and was not diligent in attending to government." But they would say: "It is but my fate to lose it." The "Announcement of Zhong Hui" says: "I have heard that the man of Xia issued orders, pretending them to be fate of Heaven. God was displeased and destroyed his forces." This tells how Tang showed Jie's belief in fate to be wrong. "The Great Declaration" says: "Zhou became insolent and would not worship God and pushed away the ancestors and spirits without offering them sacrifices. And he said: 'Fortune is with my people,' and neglected and betrayed his duty. Heaven thereupon deserted him and withdrew its protection." This tells how King Wu showed Zhou's belief in fate to be wrong. If the doctrine of the fatalist were put to practice, the superiors would not attend to government and the subordinates would not attend to work. If the superior does not attend to government, jurisdiction and administration will be in chaos. If the subordinates do not attend to work, wealth will not be sufficient. Then, there will not be wherewith to provide for the cakes and wine to worship and do sacrifice to God, ghosts and spirits above, and there will not be wherewith to tranquillize the virtuous of the world below; there will not be wherewith to entertain the noble guests from without, and there will not be wherewith to feed the hungry, clothe the cold, and care for the aged and weak within. Therefore fatalism is not helpful to Heaven above, nor to the spirits in the middle sphere, nor to man below. The eccentric belief in this doctrine is responsible for pernicious ideas and is the way of the wicked. 1. 食 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 |
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