| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
《节用中 - Economy of Expenditures II》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 节用中: | 子墨子言曰：“古者明王圣人，所以王天下，正诸侯者，彼其爱民谨忠，利民谨厚，忠信相连，又示之以利，是以终身不餍，殁世1而不卷。古者明王圣人，其所以王天下正诸侯者，此也。 |
| Economy of Expenditures II:...: |
Mozi said: The ancient illustrious kings and sages ruled over the empire and headed the feudal lords because they loved the people loyally and blessed them with many benefits. Loyalty calls out confidence. And, when blessing is shown in addition, the people were not wearied during their whole life and did not feel tired until their death. That the ancient illustrious kings and sages could rule over the empire and head the feudal lords is just because of this. 1. 世 : Originally read: "二十". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 2 | 节用中: | 是故古者圣王，制为节用之法曰：‘凡天下群百工，轮车、韗鞄、陶、冶、梓匠，使各从事其所能’，曰：‘凡足以奉给民用，则止。’诸加费不加于民利者，圣王弗为1。 |
| Economy of Expenditures II:...: |
And the ancient sage-kings authorized the code of laws of economy, saying: "All you artisans and workers, carpenters and tanners, potters and smiths, do what you can do. Stop when the needs of the people are satisfied." What causes extra expense but adds no benefit to the people the sage-kings would not undertake. 1. ，则止。’诸加费不加于民利者，圣王弗为 : Originally read: "。’诸加费不加民利则止". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 3 | 节用中: | 古者圣王制为饮食之法曰：‘足以充虚继气，强股肱，耳目聪明，则止。不极五味之调，芬香之和，不致远国珍怪异物。’何以知其然？古者尧治天下，南抚交址北降幽都，东西至日所出入，莫不宾服。逮至其厚爱，黍稷不二，羹胾不重，饭于土塯，啜于土形，斗以酌。俛仰周旋威仪之礼，圣王弗为。 |
| Economy of Expenditures II:...: | The ancient sage-kings authorized the code of laws regarding food and drink, saying: "Stop when hunger is satiated, breathing becomes strong, limbs are strengthened and ears and eyes become sharp. There is no need of combining the five tastes extremely well or harmonizing the different sweet odours. And efforts should not be made to procure rare delicacies from far countries." How do we know such were the laws? In ancient times, when Yao was governing the empire he consolidated Jiaoze on the south, reached Youdu on the north, expanded from where the sun rises to where the sun sets on the east and west, and none was unsubmissive or disrespectful. Yet, even when he was served with what he much liked, he did not take a double cereal or both soup and meat. He ate out of an earthen liu and drank out of an earthen xing, and took wine out of a spoon. With the ceremonies of bowing and stretching and courtesies and decorum the sage-king had nothing to do. | |
| 4 | 节用中: | 古者圣王制为衣服之法曰：‘冬服绀緅之衣，轻且暖，夏服絺綌之衣，轻且凊，则止。’诸加费不加于民利者，圣王弗为。古者圣人为猛禽狡兽，暴人害民，于是教民以兵行，日带剑，为刺则入，击则断，旁击而不折，此剑之利也。甲为衣则轻且利，动则兵且从，此甲之利也。车为服重致远，乘之则安，引之则利，安以不伤人，利以速至，此车之利也。古者圣王为大川广谷之不可济，于是利为舟楫，足以将之则止。虽上者三公诸侯至，舟楫不易，津人不饰，此舟之利也。 |
| Economy of Expenditures II:...: | The ancient sage-kings authorized the code of laws regarding clothing, saying: "Be satisfied with clothes of blue or grey silk in winter which are light and warm, and with clothes of flax-linen in summer which are light and cool." What causes extra expenditure but does not add benefits to the people the sage-kings would not allow. Because the ferocious and cunning animals were destroying men and injuring the people, the ancient sage-kings taught the people the use of weapons, saying: "Carry a two-edged sword which penetrates when it pierces and severs when it cuts. When struck with the flat side it does not break, this is the utility of a sword. To be light and strong and afford convenience of action, such is the utility of armour. A vehicle is used to carry weight and to travel great distances. It should be safe to ride and easy to pull; safe to ride so as not to hurt the rider, easy to pull so as to reach the destination speedily. This is the utility of the vehicle. Because the wide rivers and broad valleys were once not crossable the sage-kings ordered boats and oars to be made. And these were made just so that they could cross the riveri. Even when the High Duke or a feudal lord arrived, the boat and the oars were not changed and the ferryman put on no decorations. Such is the utility of the boat. | |
| 5 | 节用中: | 古者圣王制为节葬之法曰：‘衣三领，足以朽肉，棺三寸，足以朽骸，堀穴深不通于泉，流不发泄则止。死者既葬，生者毋久丧用哀。’ |
| Economy of Expenditures II:...: | The ancient sage-kings authorized the code of laws limiting funeral expenditure, saying: "Of shrouds. there shall be three pieces in order to be enough to hold the rotting flesh. The coffin shall be three inches thick, to be sufficient to hold the rotting bones. The pit shall be dug not deep enough to reach water, but just so deep that the gases will not escape. When the dead is buried the living shall not mourn too long." | |
| 6 | 节用中: | 古者人之始生，未有宫室之时，因陵丘堀穴而处焉。圣王虑之，以为堀穴曰：‘冬可以辟风寒’，逮夏，下润湿，上熏烝，恐伤民之气，于是作为宫室而利。”然则为宫室之法将柰何哉？子墨子言曰：“其旁可以圉风寒，上可以圉雪霜雨露，其中蠲洁，可以祭祀，宫墙足以为男女之别则止，诸加费不加民利者，圣王弗为。” |
| Economy of Expenditures II:...: | In those ancient days, at the beginning of the race, when there were no palaces or houses, people lived in caves dug at the side of hills and mounds. The sage-kings felt quite concerned, thinking that the caves might keep off the wind and cold in winter, but that in summer it would be wet below and steaming above which might hurt the health of the people. So palaces and houses were built and found useful. Now, what is the standard in building palaces and houses? Mozi said: Just so that on the side it can keep off the wind and the cold, on top it can keep off the snow, frost, rain, and dew, within it is clean enough for sacrificial purposes, and that the partition in the palace is high enough to separate the men from the women. What causes extra expenditure but does not add any benefit to the people, the sage-kings will not undertake. |
URN: ctp:mozi/economy-of-expenditures-ii