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| Simplified Chinese version |
《节用上 - Economy of Expenditures I》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 节用上: |
圣人为政一国，一国可倍也；大之为政天下，天下可倍也。其倍之非外取地也，因其国家，去其无 用之费1，足以倍之。圣王为政，其发令兴事，使民用财也，无不加用而为者，是故用财不费，民德不劳，其兴利多矣。其为衣裘何？以为冬以圉寒，夏以圉暑。凡为衣裳之道，冬加温，夏加凊者，芊䱉不加者去之。其为宫室何？以为冬以圉风寒，夏以圉暑雨，有盗贼加固者，芊䱉不加者去之。其为甲盾五兵何？以为以圉寇乱盗贼，若有寇乱盗贼，有甲盾五兵者胜，无者不胜。是故圣人作为甲盾五兵。凡为甲盾五兵加轻以利，坚而难折者，芊䱉不加者去之。其为舟车何？以为车以行陵陆，舟以行川谷，以通四方之利。凡为舟车之道，加轻以利者，芊䱉不加者去之。凡其为此物也，无 不2加用而为者，是故用财不费，民德不劳，其兴利多 矣3。 |
| Economy of Expenditures I:...: |
When a sage rules a state the benefits of the state will be increased twice. When he governs the empire, those of the empire will be doubled. This increase is not by appropriating land from without. But by cutting out the useless expenditures it is accomplished. In issuing an order, taking up an enterprise, or employing the people and expending wealth, the sage never does anything without some useful purpose. Therefore wealth is not wasted and people's resources are not exhausted, and many are the blessings procured. In making clothing, what is the purpose? It is to keep out the cold in winter and heat in summer. The good of clothing is measured in terms of the amount of warmth it adds in winter and coolness in summer: what is merely decorative and does not contribute to these is to be let alone. In building palaces and houses, what is the purpose? It is to keep out the wind and the cold in winter and heat and rain in summer, and to fortify against thieves. What is merely decorative and contributes nothing to these should be let alone. In forging armour and shields and the five weapons, what is the purpose? It is to prepare against invasion and revolts, bandits and thieves. When these happen, with armor, shields, and the five weapons one will succeed, without them one cannot succeed. Therefore the sages forged armour, shields, and the five weapons. And their good is measured in terms of lightness, sharpness and unbreakability: what is merely decorative and contributes nothing to these should be let alone. In building boats and vehicles, what is the purpose? A vehicle is to go on land and a boat is to sail rivers and valleys in order to transport the wealth in the four quarters. The good of boats and vehicles is measured in terms of the amount of facility and convenience they afford: what is merely decorative and contributes nothing to these should be let alone. Now, in making all these things none is done without its use in view. Therefore wealth is not wasted and people's resources are not exhausted, and many are the blessings procured. 1. 用之费 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 2 | 节用上: |
有去大人之好聚珠玉、鸟兽、犬马，以益衣裳、宫室、甲盾、五兵、舟车之数于数倍乎！若则不难，故孰为难倍？唯人为难倍。然人有可倍也。昔 者1圣王为法曰：“丈夫年二十，毋敢不处家。女子年十五，毋敢不事人。”此圣王之法也。圣王即没，于民次也，其欲蚤处家者，有所二十年处家；其欲晚处家者，有所四十年处家。以其蚤与其晚相践，后圣王之法十年。若纯三年而字，子生可以二三年矣。此不惟使民蚤处家而可以倍与？且不然已。 |
| Economy of Expenditures I:...: |
Besides, (the sages) again gave up all such hobbies as collecting pearls and jade, and pet birds, and animals such as dogs and horses, in order to replenish clothing, houses, armour, shields, and the five weapons, and boats and vehicles. And these were multiplied several times. But to increase these is not difficult. What, then, is difficult to increase? To increase the population is difficult. In ancient times, the sage-kings said: "No man of twenty should dare to be without a family; no girl of fifteen should dare to be without a master." Such were the laws of the sage-kings. Now that the sage-kings have passed away, the people have become loose. Those who like to have a family early sometimes marry at twenty. Those who like to have a family late sometimes marry at forty. When the late marriages are made up by the early ones, (the average) is still later than the legal requirements of the sage-kings by ten years. Supposing births are given to children on an average of one in three years, then two or three children should have been born (by the time men now marry). This is not just to urge men to establish families early in order to increase the population. But also... 1. 者 : Inserted. | |
| 3 | 节用上: |
今天下为政者，其所以寡人之道多，其使民劳，其籍敛厚，民财不足，冻饿死者不可胜数也。且大人惟毋兴师以攻伐邻国，久者终年，速者数月，男女久不相见，此所以寡人之道也。与居处不安，饮食不时，作疾病死者，有与侵就伏橐，攻城野战死者，不可胜数。此不令为政者，所以寡人之道数术而起与？圣人为政特无此，不圣人为政，其所以众人之道亦数术而起与？”故子墨子曰：“去无用之 费，1圣王之道，天下之大利也。” |
| Economy of Expenditures I:...: |
Those who govern the empire to-day diminish the people in more ways than one: Employing the people they exhaust them, levying taxes they make them heavy. People fall into poverty and innumerable persons die of hunger and cold. Moreover the rulers make war and attack some neighbouring states. It may last a whole year, or, at the shortest, several months. Thus man and woman cannot see each other for a long time. Is not this a way to diminish the people? Living in danger, eating and drinking irregularly many become sick and die. Hiding in ambush, setting fire, besieging a city, and battling in the open fields, innumerable men die. Are not ways of diminishing the people getting numerous with the government of the rulers of to-day? They did not exist when the sage-kings administered the government. (In the government by the sagacious), many ways of increasing the population will arise. Therefore Mozi said: To cut out expenditures is the way of the sage-kings and a great blessing to the world. 1. 费， : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 |
URN: ctp:mozi/economy-of-expenditures-i