| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
《尚同下 - Identification with the Superior III》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 尚同下: | 子墨子言曰：“知者之事，必计国家百姓所以治者而为之，必计国家百姓之所以乱者而辟之。然计国家百姓之所以治者何也？上之为政，得下之情则治，不得下之情则乱。何以知其然也？上之为政，得下之情，则是明于民之1善非也。若苟2明于民之善非也，则得善人而赏之，得暴人而罚之也。善人赏而暴人罚，则国必治。上之为政也，不得下之情，则是不明于民之善非也。若苟不明于民之善非，则是不得善人而赏之，不得暴人而罚之。善人不赏而暴人不罚，为政若此，国众必乱。故赏不得下之情，而不可不察者也。” |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
Mozi said: The interest of the wise (ruler) lies in carrying out what makes for order among the people and avoiding what makes for confusion. But what is it that makes for order among the people? When the administration of the ruler answers to the desires of the people there will be order, otherwise there will be confusion. How do we know it is so? When the administration of the ruler answers to the desires of the subjects, it manifests an understanding of the approvals and disapprovals of the people. When there is such an understanding, the good will be discovered and rewarded and the bad will be discovered and punished, and the country will surely have order. When the administration of the ruler does not answer to the desires of the subjects, it shows a lack of understanding of the approvals and disapprovals of the subjects. When there is no such understanding then the good wiII not be discovered and rewarded and the bad will not be discovered and punished. With the good unrewarded and the evil unpunished, such a government will surely put the country into disorder. Therefore when rewards and punishments do not answer to the desires of the people, the matter has to be carefully looked into. 1. 于民之 : Originally read: "民于". | |
| 2 | 尚同下: |
然计得下之情将柰何可？故子墨子曰：“唯能以尚同一义为政，然后可矣。何以知尚同一义之可而为政于天下也？然胡不审稽古之治为政之说乎。古者，天之始生民，未有正长也，百姓为人。若苟百姓为人，是一人一义，十人十义，百人百义，千人千义，逮至人之众不可胜计也，则其所谓义者，亦不可胜计。此皆是其义，而非人之义，是以厚者有斗，而薄者有争。是故天下之欲同一天下之义也，是故选择贤者，立为天子。天子以其知力为未足独治天下，是以选择其次立为三公。三公又以其知力为未足独左右天子也，是以分国建诸侯。诸侯又以其知力为未足独治其四境之内也，是以选择其次立为卿之宰。卿之宰又以其知力为未足独左右其君也，是以选择其次立而为乡长家君。是故古者天子之立三公、诸侯、卿之宰、乡长家君，非特富贵游佚而择之也，将使助治乱刑政也。故古者建国设都，乃立后王君公，奉以卿士师长，此非欲用说也，唯辩而使助治天 助1明也。 |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
But how can the desires of the people (being so many and various) be met? Therefore Mozi said: It can be done only by adopting the principle of Identification with the Superior in government. How do we know the principle of Identification with the Superior can govern the empire? Why not then examine the administration and the theory of government of the ancient times? In the beginning there was no ruler and everybody was independent. Since every one was independent, there would be one purpose when there was one man, ten purposes when there were ten men, a hundred purposes when there were a hundred men, a thousand purposes when there were a thousand men and so on until the number of men became innumerable and the number of different purposes became innumerable with it. And all of them approved their own ideas and disapproved those of others. And there was strife among the strong and struggle among the weak. Thereupon Heaven wished to unify the standards in the world. The virtuous was selected and made emperor. Conscious of the insufficiency of his power alone to govern the empire, the emperor chose the next best (in virtue and wisdom) and honoured them to be the three ministers. Conscious of the insufficiency of their powers alone to assist the emperor, the three ministers in turn divided the empire into feudal states and assigned them to feudal lords. Conscious of the insufficiency of his power alone to govern all that were within his four borders, the feudal lord in turn selected his next best and commissioned them ministers and secretaries. Conscious of the insufficiency of their power alone to assist their feudal lord, the ministers and secretaries again selected their next best and appointed them district heads and clan patriarchs. Therefore, in appointing the three ministers, the feudal lords, the ministers and secretaries, and the district heads and clan patriarchs, the emperor was not selecting them for wealth and honour, leisure and ease. It was to employ them to help in administration and jurisdiction. Hence, when Heaven established the empire and located the capital and commissioned the sovereign, kings, lords, and dukes, and appointed secretaries, scholars, professors, and elders - it was not to give them ease, but only to divide up the task and let them help carry out the light of Heaven. 1. 助 : Deleted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 3 | 尚同下: |
今此何为人上而不能治其下，为人下而不能事其上，则是上下相贼也，何故以然？则义不同也。若苟义不同者有党，上以若人为善，将赏之，若人唯使得上之赏，而辟百姓之毁，是以为善者，必未可使劝，见有赏也。上以若人为暴，将罚之，若人唯使得上之罚，而怀百姓之誉，是以为暴者，必未可使沮，见有罚也。故计上之赏誉，不足以劝善，计其毁罚，不足以沮暴。此何故以然？ 则义不同也。1” |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
Why are the superiors now unable to govern their subordinates, and the subordinates unwilling to serve their superiors? It is because of a mutual disregard. What is the reason for this? The reason is a difference in standards. Whenever standards differ there will be opposition. The ruler may think a man good and reward him. The man, though rewarded by the ruler, yet by the same act provokes the condemnation of the people. Therefore those who do good are not necessarily encouraged by rewards. The ruler may think a man evil and punish him. This man, though punished by the ruler, yet at the same time receives the approval of the people. Therefore those who do evil are not necessarily obstructed by punishments. Thus reward and honour from the ruler cannot encourage the good and his denunciation and punishment cannot prevent the evil. What is the reason for this? The reason is a difference in standards. 1. 则义不同也。 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 4 | 尚同下: |
然1则欲同一天下之义，将柰何可？故子墨子言曰：“然胡不赏使家君试用家君，发宪布令其家，曰：‘若见爱利家者，必以告，若见恶贼家者，亦必以告。若见爱利家以告，亦犹爱利家者也，上得且赏之，众闻则誉之，若见恶贼家不以告，亦犹恶贼家者也，上得且罚之，众闻则非之。’是以遍若家之人，皆欲得其长上之赏誉，辟其毁罚。是以善言之， 不善言之，2家君得善人而赏之，得暴人而罚之。善人之赏，而暴人之罚，则家必治矣。然计若家之所以治者何也？唯以尚同一义为政故也。 |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
But how can the standards in the world be unified? Mozi said: Why not let each member of the clan organize his purposes and identify them with those of the patriarch? And let the patriarch give laws and proclaim to the clan: "Whoever discovers a benefactor to the clan shall report it; whoever discovers a malefactor to the clan shall report it. Whoever reports the benefactor of the clan upon seeing one is equivalent to benefiting the clan himself. Knowing him the superior will reward him, hearing of him the group will praise him. Whoever fails to report a malefactor of the clan upon seeing one is equivalent to doing evil to the clan himself. Knowing him the superior will punish him, hearing of him the group will condemn him." Thereupon all the members of the clan wish to obtain reward and honor and avoid denunciation and punishment from their superior. Seeing the good they will report; seeing the evil they will report. And the patriarch can reward the good and punish the evil. With the good rewarded and the evil punished, the clan will surely have order. Now, why is it that the clan becomes orderly? Just because the administration is based on the principle of Identification with the Superior. 1. 然 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 5 | 尚同下: |
家既已治，国之道尽此已邪？则未也。国之为家数也甚多，此皆是其家，而非人之家，是以厚者有乱，而薄者有争，故又使家君总其家之 义1，以尚同于国君。国君亦为发宪布令于国之众，曰：‘若见爱利国者，必以告，若见恶贼国者，亦必以告。若见爱利国以告者，亦犹爱利国者也，上得且赏之，众闻则誉之，若见恶贼国不以告者，亦犹恶贼国者也，上得且罚之，众闻则非之。’是以遍若国之人，皆欲得其长上之赏誉，避其毁罚。是以民见善者言之，见不善者言之，国君得善人而赏之，得暴人而罚之。善人赏而暴人罚，则国必治矣。然计若国之所以治者何也？唯能以尚同一义为政故也。 |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
Now that the clan is in order, is that all there is of the way of governing the feudal state? By no means. The state is composed of many clans. They all like their own clan and dislike other clans. And there is strife among the strong and struggle among the weak. Therefore the clan patriarchs should again organize the purposes in the clan and identify them with those of the feudal lord. The feudal lord also should give laws and should proclaim to the state: "Whoever discovers a benefactor of the state shall report it; whoever discovers a malefactor of the state shall report it. Whoever reports a benefactor of the state upon seeing one is equivalent to benefiting the state himself. Knowing him the superior will reward him, hearing of him the people will praise him. Whoever fails to report a malefactor of the state upon seeing one is equivalent to doing evil to the state himself. Knowing him the superior will punish him, hearing of him the people will condemn him." Thereupon all people in the state wish to obtain reward and honour and avoid denunciation and punishment from their superior. Seeing the good they will report, seeing the evil they will report. And the feudal lord can reward the good and punish the evil. With the good rewarded and the evil punished, the feudal state will surely have order. Now, why is it that the state becomes orderly? Just because the administration is based on the principle of Identification with the Superior. 1. 义 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 6 | 尚同下: |
国既已治矣，天下之道尽此已邪？则未也。天下之为国数也甚多，此皆是其国，而非人之国，是以厚者有战，而薄者有争。故又使国君选其国之义，以尚同于天子。天子亦为发宪布令于天下之众，曰：‘若见爱利天下者，必以告，若见恶贼天下者，亦以告。若见爱利天下以告者，亦犹爱利天下者也，上得则赏之，众闻则誉之。若见恶贼天下不以告者，亦犹恶贼天下者也，上得且罚之，众闻则非之。’是以遍天下之人，皆欲得其长上之赏誉，避其毁罚，是以见善不善者告之。天子得善人而赏之，得暴人而罚之，善人赏而暴人罚 之1，天下必治矣。然计天下之所以治者何也？唯而以尚同一义为政故也。 |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
Now that the feudal state is in order, is that all there is to the way of governing the empire? By no means. The empire is composed of many states. They all like their own state and dislike other states. And there is strife among the strong and struggle among the weak. Therefore the feudal lord should again organize the purposes in the state and identify them with those of the emperor. The emperor also should give laws and should proclaim to the empire: "Whoever discovers a benefactor of the empire shall report it; whoever discovers a malefactor of the empire shall report it. Whoever reports a benefactor of the empire upon seeing one is equivalent to benefiting the state himself. Knowing him the superior will reward him, hearing of him the people will praise him. Whoever fails to report a malefactor upon seeing one is equivalent to doing evil to the empire himself. Knowing him the superior will punish him, hearing of him the people will condemn him." Thereupon all the people in the empire will wish to obtain reward and honour and avoid denunciation and punishment from their emperor. Seeing the good and the evil they will report. And the emperor can reward the good and punish the evil. With the good rewarded and the evil punished, the empire will surely have order. Now why is it that the empire becomes orderly? Just because the administration is based on the principle of Identification with the Superior. 1. 之 : Deleted. | |
| 7 | 尚同下: | 天下既已治，天子又总天下之义，以尚同于天。故当尚同之为说也，尚用之天子，可以治天下矣；中用之诸侯，可而治其国矣；小用之家君，可用而治其家矣。是故大用之，治天下不窕，小用之，治一国一家而不横者，若道之谓也。” |
| Identification with the Superior...: | Now that the empire becomes orderly, the emperor will further organize the purposes in the empire and identify them with the Will of Heaven. Therefore Identification with the Superior as a principle can govern the empire when used by the emperor, it can govern the state when used by the feudal lord, and it can govern the clan when used by the clan patriarch. To be found not wanting when used on a large scale to govern the empire, and not useless when employed on a small scale to govern a clan - this is said of such a principle. | |
| 8 | 尚同下: | 故曰治天下之国若治一家，使天下之民若使一夫。意独子墨子有此，而先王无此其有邪？则亦然也。圣王皆以尚同为政，故天下治。何以知其然也？于先王之书也大誓之言然，曰：“小人见奸巧乃闻，不言也，发罪钧。”此言见淫辟不以告者，其罪亦犹淫辟者也。 |
| Identification with the Superior...: | Hence the proverb: "To govern the world-empire is the same as to rule a single family clan; to command all the people in the world is the same as to order a single individual." Does any one think that all this is just a fancy of Mozi, and that this teaching did not exist among the sage-kings of old? Really they were of the same opinion. All the sage-kings administered their government by the principle of Identification with the Superior, therefore the world became orderly. How do we know it is so? It is recorded in the "Grand Oath" among the books of the ancient kings: "If an unscrupulous man discovers a case of intrigue and deception and fails to make it known, he shall be punished equally." This is to say that whoever discovers any crime and does not report it will be taken as committing a crime of the same order. | |
| 9 | 尚同下: |
故古之圣王治天下也，其所差论，以自左右羽翼者皆良，外为之人，助之视听者众。故与人谋事，先人得之；与人举事，先人成之；光1誉令闻，先人发之。唯信身而从事，故利若此。古者有语焉，曰：“一目 之2视也，不若二目之视也。一耳之听也，不若二耳之听也。一手之操也，不若二手 之3强也。”夫唯能信身而从事，故利若此。是故古之圣王之治天下也，千里之外有贤人焉，其乡里之人皆未之均闻见也，圣王得而赏之。千里之内有暴人焉，其乡里未之均 闻4见也，圣王得而罚之。故唯毋以圣王为聪耳明目与？岂能一视而通见千里之外哉！一听而通闻千里之外哉！圣王不往而视也，不就而听也。然而使天下之为寇乱盗贼者，周流天下无所重足者，何也？其以尚同为政善也。 |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
Therefore in governing the empire, the ancient sage-kings chose only the excellent for the outposts as well as for the offices near him. As there were many to help him see and bear, be succeeded before others in planning, and completed before others in executing, and his good name was spread before others. Just because he could trust his staff in the administration, the benefits were as we have stated. There is an ancient proverb saying: "The sight of one eye cannot compare with that of two, the hearing of one ear cannot compare with that of two, the grasp of one hand cannot compare with that of two." Now, just because he could trust his staff in the administration the sage-king received such benefits. Therefore during the reign of the ancient sage-king over the empire, if there was a virtuous man more than a thousand li away he could reward him before the people in the same district and village all got to know it. And if there was a wicked man about a thousand li away he could punish him before the people in the same district and village all got to know it. Though it may be supposed that the sage-king was keen in hearing and sight, how could he see all that is beyond a thousand li at one look, how could he hear all that is beyond a thousand li at one hearing? In fact the sage-king could see without going there and hear without being near. Yet what kept the thieves, robbers, bandits, and highwaymen moving all over the empire without being able to find refuge anywhere? There is the beauty of adopting the principle of Identification with the Superior in government. 1. 光 : Originally read: "先之". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 10 | 尚同下: | 是故子墨子曰：“凡使民尚同者，爱民不疾，民无可使，曰必疾爱而使之，致信而持之，富贵以道其前，明罚以率其后。为政若此，唯欲毋与我同，将不可得也。” |
| Identification with the Superior...: | Therefore Mozi said: Whoever orders his people to identify themselves with their superior must love them dearly. For the people will not obey orders except when they are ordered with love and held in confidence. Lead them with wealth and honour ahead, and push them with just punishments from behind. When government is carried on like this, even though I wanted to have some one not to identify himself with me, it would be impossible. | |
| 11 | 尚同下: |
是以子墨子曰：“今天下王公大人士君子，中情将欲为仁义，求为 上1士，上欲中圣 王2之道，下欲中国家百姓之利，故当尚同之说，而不 可不3察尚同为政之本，而治要也。” |
| Identification with the Superior...: |
Therefore Mozi said: If the kings, dukes, and important personages of the world now sincerely want to practise magnanimity and righteousness and be superior men, if they want to attain the way of the sage-kings on the one hand and contribute toward the benefit of the people on the other, they cannot leave the principle of Identification with the Superior unexamined and un-understood. Identification with the Superior is, indeed, the foundation of government and essence of orderliness. 1. 上 : Inserted. |
URN: ctp:mozi/identification-with-the-superior-iii