| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
《三辩 - Threefold Argument》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 三辩: |
程繁问于子墨子曰：“ 夫子曰：1‘圣王不为乐’，昔诸侯倦于听治，息于钟鼓之乐；士大夫倦于听治，息于竽瑟之乐；农夫春耕、夏耘、秋敛、冬藏，息于瓴2缶之乐。今夫子曰：‘圣王不为乐’，此譬之犹马驾而不税，弓张而不弛，无乃非有血气者之所 不3能至邪？” |
| Threefold Argument: |
Cheng Fan asked Mozi: "Sir, you say the sage-kings did not have music. But, anciently, when the feudal lords were tired of attending to government, they found recreation in music of bells and drums. When the ministers and gentlemen were tired of attending to office they found recreation in music of Yu and Se. And the farmers ploughed the fields in spring, weeded them in summer, reaped the harvest in autumn, and stored the grains in winter. Then they would enjoy music of jars and vases. Sir, you say the sage-kings did not have music. This would be comparing them to the horse placed under yoke and never released, and the bow drawn and never unstrung. Is this not impossible for the ordinary human being?" 1. 夫子曰： : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 2 | 三辩: |
子墨子曰：“昔者尧舜有茅茨者，且以为礼，且以为乐。汤放桀于大水，环天下自立以为王，事成功立，无大后患， 因先王之乐，又1自作乐，命曰 《护》，又修2《九招》。武王胜殷杀纣，环天下自立以为王，事成功立，无大后患，因先王之乐，又自作乐，命曰《象》。周成王因先王3之乐， 又自作乐，4命曰《驺虞》。周成王之治天下也，不若武王。武王之治天下也，不若成汤。成汤之治天下也，不若尧舜。故其乐逾繁者，其治逾寡。自此观之，乐非所以治天下也。” |
| Threefold Argument: |
Mozi replied: In ancient times, Yao and Shun lived in huts and yet they made codes of propriety and composed music. Tang sent Jie to exile on the ocean and installed himself ruler of the empire. Having achieved success and without cause for anxiety, he added to the music of the former kings that of his own composition, called "The Salvation" and also instituted the "Jiuzhao." King Wu conquered the Yin dynasty and executed Zhou and installed himself ruler of the empire. Having achieved success and having no cause of anxiety, he added to the music of the former kings that of his own composition, called "Xiang." King Cheng of Zhou again added to the music of the former kings that of his own composition, named "Zouyu." The reign of King Cheng was not so good as that of King Wu, that of King Wu was not so good as that of Tang the Successful, and that of Tang the Successful was not so good as that of Yao and Shun. So, then, he who has the more elaborate music has the less efficient government. Judging from this, music is not anything to govern the empire with. 1. 因先王之乐，又 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 3 | 三辩: | 程繁曰：“子曰：‘圣王无乐’。此亦乐已，若之何其谓圣王无乐也？”子墨子曰：“圣王之命也，多寡之。食之利也，以知饥而食之者智也，因为无智1矣。今圣有乐而少，此亦无也。” |
| Threefold Argument: |
Cheng Fan objected: "Sir, you have said the sage-kings did not have music. This shows they did. How then can you say the sage-kings did not have music?" Mozi said: The desire of the sage-kings was to cut down excesses. Eating is of course profitable, but it takes so little intelligence to eat when one is hungry that it may be said to be nil. Now the sage-kings had music, but it was so little that it may also be said to be nil. 1. 智 : Originally read: "知". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 |
URN: ctp:mozi/threefold-argument