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| Simplified Chinese version |
《非乐上 - Condemnation of Music I》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 非乐上: | 子墨子言曰：“仁之事者，必务求兴天下之利，除天下之害，将以为法乎天下。利人乎，即为；不利人乎，即止。且夫仁者之为天下度也，非为其目之所美，耳之所乐，口之所甘，身体之所安，以此亏夺民衣食之财，仁者弗为也。”是故子墨子之所以非乐者，非以大锺、鸣鼓、琴瑟、竽笙之声，以为不乐也；非以刻镂华文章之色，以为不美也；非以犓豢煎炙之味，以为不甘也；非以高台厚榭邃野之居，以为不安也。虽身知其安也，口知其甘也，目知其美也，耳知其乐也，然上考之不中圣王之事，下度之不中万民之利。是故子墨子曰：“为乐，非也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: | Mozi said: The policy of the magnanimous will pursue what procures benefits of the world and destroy its calamities. If anything, when established as a law, is beneficial to the people it will be done; if not, it will not be done. Moreover, the magnanimous in their care for the world do not think of doing those things which delight the eyes, please the ears, gratify the taste, and ease the body. When these deprive the people of their means of clothing and food, the magnanimous would not undertake them. So the reason why Mozi condemns music is not because that the sounds of the big bell, the sounding drum, the qin and the se and the yu and the sheng are not pleasant, that the carvings and ornaments are not delightful, that the fried and the broiled meats of the grass-fed and the grain-fed animals are not gratifying, or that the high towers, grand arbours, and quiet villas are not comfortable. Although the body knows they are comfortable, the mouth knows they are gratifying, the eyes know they are delightful, and the ears know they are pleasing, yet they are found not to be in accordance with the deeds of the sage-kings of antiquity and not to contribute to the benefits of the people at present. And so Mozi proclaims: To have music is wrong. | |
| 2 | 非乐上: | 今王公大人，虽无造为乐器，以为事乎国家，非直掊潦水折壤坦而为之也，将必厚措敛乎万民，以为大锺、鸣鼓、琴瑟、竽笙之声。古者圣王亦尝厚措敛乎万民，以为舟车，既以成矣，曰：‘吾将恶许用之？曰：舟用之水，车用之陆，君子息其足焉，小人休其肩背焉。’故万民出财赍而予之，不敢以为戚恨者，何也？以其反中民之利也。然则乐器反中民之利亦若此，即我弗敢非也。然则当用乐器譬之若圣王之为舟车也，即我弗敢非也。民有三患：饥者不得食，寒者不得衣，劳者不得息，三者民之巨患也。然即当为之撞巨锺、击鸣鼓、弹琴瑟、吹竽笙而扬干戚，民衣食之财将安可得乎？即我以为未必然也。意舍此。今有大国即攻小国，有大家即伐小家，强劫弱，众暴寡，诈欺愚，贵傲贱，寇乱盗贼并兴，不可禁止也。然即当为之撞巨锺、击鸣鼓、弹琴瑟、吹竽笙而扬干戚，天下之乱也，将安可得而治与？即我未必然也。”是故子墨子曰：“姑尝厚措敛乎万民，以为大锺、鸣鼓、琴瑟、竽笙之声，以求兴天下之利，除天下之害而无补也。”是故子墨子曰：“为乐，非也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: | Now the rulers construct musical instruments as an undertaking of the state. They cannot be produced as easily as by evaporating water or digging into the earth. Inevitably heavy taxes have to be collected from the people to obtain sounds of the big bell, the sounding drum, the qin and the se, and the yu and the sheng. The ancient sage-kings had, indeed, collected heavy taxes from the people to build boats and vehicles. But when they were completed, and when the people asked: "What use have we for these?" the answer was: "The boats are to be employed on water and the vehicles on land, so that the gentlemen can rest their feet and the labourers can rest their shoulders and backs." Thus the people contributed their money and dared not grumble about it. This was because the boats and vehicles contributed to the benefit of the people. If the musical instruments also contribute to the benefit of the people, even I shall not dare condemn them. Thus if the musical instruments are as useful as the boats and carts with the sage-kings, even I shall not dare condemn them. There are three things that the people worry about, namely, that the hungry cannot be fed, that the cold cannot be clothed, and that the tired cannot get rest. These three are the great worries of the people. Now suppose we strike the big bell, beat the sounding drum, play the qin and the se, and blow the yu and the sheng, can the material for food and clothing then be procured for the people? Even I do not think this is possible. Again, every large state now attacks small states and every large house molests small houses. The strong plunder the weak, the many oppress the few, the clever deceive the stupid and the honoured disdain the humble. And bandits and thieves rise all together and cannot be suppressed. But can the chaos in the world be put in order by striking the big bell, beating the sounding drum, playing the qin and the se, and blowing the yu and the sheng? Even I do not think it is possible. Therefore Mozi said : The levy of heavy taxes on the people to construct the big bell, the sounding drum, the qin and the se, and the yu and the sheng, is not at all helpful in the endeavour to procure the benefits of the world and destroy its calamities. Therefore Mozi said: To have music is wrong. | |
| 3 | 非乐上: | 今王公大人，唯毋处高台厚榭之上而视之，锺犹是延鼎也，弗撞击将何乐得焉哉？其说将必撞击之，惟勿撞击，将必不使老与迟者，老与迟者耳目不聪明，股肱不毕强，声不和调，明不转朴。将必使当年，因其耳目之聪明，股肱之毕强，声之和调，眉之转朴。使丈夫为之，废丈夫耕稼树艺之时，使妇人为之，废妇人纺绩织紝之事。今王公大人唯毋为乐，亏夺民衣食之财，以拊乐如此多也。”是故子墨子曰：“为乐，非也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: | As the rulers look down from a high tower or in a grand arbour, a bell is just like an inverted ding. If it is not struck wherefrom would come the pleasure? Therefore it must be struck. To strike it of course the aged and the young would not be employed. For their eyes and ears are not keen, their arms are not strong, and they cannot produce an harmonious tone with varied expression. So, those in the prime of life must be employed because their eyes and ears are keen, their limbs strong, their voices harmonious and varied in expression. If men are employed it interferes with their ploughing and planting. If women are employed it interferes with their weaving and spinning. Now, the rulers take to music and deprive the people of their means of clothing and food to such an extent! Therefore Mozi said: To have music is wrong. | |
| 4 | 非乐上: |
今大锺、鸣鼓、琴瑟、竽笙之声既已具矣，大人锈然奏而独听之，将何乐得焉哉？其说将必与贱人不与君子。 与君子1听之，废君子听治；与贱人听之，废贱人之从事。今王公大人惟毋为乐，亏夺民之衣食之财，以拊乐如此多也。”是故子墨子曰：“为乐，非也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: |
Now when the big bell, the sounding drum, the qin and the se, and the yu and the sheng are provided it is yet no pleasure for the lords alone to listen to the playing. Therefore they must enjoy it with either the common people or the gentlemen. If with the gentlemen, it will interfere with their attending to government. If with the common people it will interfere with their work. Now the rulers take to music and deprive the people of so many of their opportunities to produce food and clothing! Therefore Mozi said: It is wrong to have music. 1. 与君子 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 5 | 非乐上: |
昔者齐康公兴乐万，万人不可衣短褐，不可食糠糟，曰食饮不美，面目颜色不足视也；衣服不美，身体从容丑羸，不足观也。是以食必粱肉，衣必文绣，此掌不从事乎衣食之财，而掌食乎人者也。”是故子墨子曰：“今王公大人惟毋为 乐1，亏夺民衣食之财，以拊乐如此多也。”是故子墨子曰：“为乐，非也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: |
Formerly, Lord Kang of Qi (404-379 B.C.) loved music and dancing. The dancers were not to wear garments of coarse cloth or to eat husks and bran. For if food and drink are not dainty the appearance and complexion will not be enjoyable. And if clothing is not elegant the body and the movement will not be delightful. Therefore their food must consist of grain and meat and their clothing must be made of silk and embroidery. They did not produce material of clothing and food at all, but lived on others all the time. Hence Mozi said: Now the lords take to music and deprive the people of so many of their opportunities to produce food and clothing! Therefore Mozi proclaimed: To have music is wrong. 1. 乐 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 6 | 非乐上: |
今人固与禽兽麋鹿、蜚鸟、贞虫异者也，今之禽兽麋鹿、蜚鸟、贞虫，因其羽毛以为衣裘，因其蹄蚤以为裤屦，因其水草以为饮食。故唯使雄不耕稼树艺，雌亦不纺绩织紝，衣食之财固已具矣。今人与此异者也，赖其力者生，不赖其力者不生。君子不强听治，即刑政乱；贱人不强从事，即财用不足。今天下之士君子，以吾言不然，然即姑尝数天下分事，而观乐之害。王公大人蚤朝晏退，听狱治政，此其分事也；士君子竭股肱之力，亶其思虑之智，内治官府，外收敛关市、山林、泽梁之利，以实仓廪府库，此其分事也；农夫蚤出暮入，耕稼树艺，多聚叔粟，此其分事也；妇人夙兴夜寐，纺绩织紝，多治麻丝葛绪困布縿，此其分事也。今惟毋在乎王公大人说乐而听之，即必不能蚤朝晏退，听狱治政，是故国家乱而社稷危矣。今惟毋在乎士君子说乐而听之，即必不能竭股肱之力，亶其思虑之智，内治官府，外收敛关市、山林、泽梁之利，以实仓廪府库，是故仓廪府库不实。今惟毋在乎农夫说乐而听之，即必不能蚤出暮入，耕稼树艺，多聚叔1粟，是故 叔粟不足2。今惟毋在乎妇人说乐而听之，即不必 能3夙兴夜寐，纺绩织紝，多治麻丝葛绪困布縿，是故布縿不兴。曰：孰为大人之听治而废国家之从事？曰：乐也。”是故子墨子曰：“为乐，非也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: |
Also, man is different from birds and beasts and insects. The birds, beasts, and insects have their feathers and furs for coats and fur coats, have their hoofs and claws for sandals and shoes, and have water and grass for drink and food. Therefore the male do not sow seeds or plant trees, neither do the female weave or spin, yet food and clothing are provided. Now, man is different from these. Those who exert themselves will live. Those who do not exert themselves cannot live. When the gentlemen do not attend to government diligently, the jurisdiction will be in chaos. When the common men do not attend to work, supply will not be sufficient. If the gentlemen of the world should doubt my word, let us enumerate the several duties in the world and see the harm music does (to them): For the rulers to go to court early and retire late to listen to lawsuits and attend to government is their duty. For the gentlemen to exhaust the energy of their limbs and employ fully the wisdom of their minds to attend to the court within and to collect taxes without from passes, markets, and products from mountains, woods, and water and fields in order to fill up the granaries and the treasury is their duty. For the farmers to set out early and come back late, to sow seeds and plant trees in order to produce a large quantity of soy beans and millet is their duty. For the women to rise up at dawn and retire in the night to weave and spin in order to produce much silk, flax linen, and cloth is their duty. Now if the rulers should love music and listen to it, they would not be able to go to court early and retire late to listen to lawsuits and attend to government. Then the country would be in chaos and the state would be in danger. If the gentlemen should love music and listen to it, they would not be able to exhaust the energy in their Iimbs and employ fully the wisdom in the mind to attend to court within and collect taxes without from passes and markets and products from mountains, woods, water, and fields to fill up the granaries and the treasury. Then the granaries and the treasury would not be filled. If the farmers should love music and listen to it, they would not be able to set out early and come back late, to sow seeds and plant trees and produce a large quantity of soy beans and millet. Then the soy beans and millet would not be sufficient. If the women should love music and listen to it, they would not be able to rise up at dawn and retire in the night to weave and spin and produce much silk, flax linen, and cloth. Then cloth and linen will not be sufficient. If it is asked what is it that interfered with the rulers' attending to government and the common man's attending to work? it must be answered, music. Therefore Mozi said: To have music is wrong. 1. 叔 : Originally read: "升". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 7 | 非乐上: | 何以知其然也？曰先王之书，汤之官刑有之曰：“其恒舞于宫，是谓巫风。其刑君子出丝二卫，小人否，似二伯黄径。”乃言曰：‘呜乎！舞佯佯，黄言孔章，上帝弗常，九有以亡，上帝不顺，降之百1𦍙，其家必怀丧。’察九有之所以亡者，徒从饰乐也。于武观曰：‘启乃淫溢康乐，野于饮食，将将铭苋磬以力，湛浊于酒，渝食于野，万舞翼翼，章闻于大，天用弗式。’故上者天鬼弗戒，下者万民弗利。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: |
How do we know it is so? It is found in the "Code of Punishment of Tang" among the books of the ancient kings. This proclaims: "To have constant dancing in the palace is called the witch's pleasure." As to its punishment, a gentleman will be fined six hundred and forty pieces of silk, a common man will be let go free. Again, "Ah! How much is the dancing. His word is all known. God does not bless him, therefore the nine districts are lost to him. God does not favour him, therefore He visited him with various curses. His family must be destroyed too." Now the reason that the nine districts are lost to him (Jie of Xia) lies in his attention to embellishing music. Quoting Wu Guan: "Ch'i thereupon abandoned himself to lust and music. He drank and ate in improper places. Ding ding, dong dong went the wood winds and percussion instruments in harmony. He indulged in drinking and ate in improper places. Brilliantly went on the dancing. It reached the hearing of Heaven, and Heaven was not pleased." So, it was not pleasing to Heaven above and not beneficial to the people below. 1. 百 : Originally read: "日". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 8 | 非乐上: | 是故子墨子曰：“今天下士君子，请将欲求兴天下之利，除天下之害，当在乐之为物，将不可不禁而止也。” |
| Condemnation of Music I:...: | Therefore Mozi said: If the gentlemen really desire to procure benefits for the world and destroy its calamities they cannot but prohibit such a thing as music. |
URN: ctp:mozi/condemnation-of-music-i