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《所染 - On Dyeing》

English translation: W. P. Mei [?]
Books referencing 《所染》 Library Resources
1 所染:
子墨子言见染丝者而叹曰：“染于苍则苍，染于黄则黄。所入者变，其色亦变。五入必而已，则为五色矣。故染不可不慎也。”
On Dyeing:
Watching a dyer of silk at work, Mozi sighed, saying: What is dyed in blue becomes blue, what is dyed in yellow becomes yellow. When the silk is put in a different dye, its colour becomes also different. Having been dipped in five times, it has changed its colour five times. Therefore dyeing should be done with great care.

2 所染:
非独染丝然也，国亦有染。舜染于许由1、伯阳，禹染于皋陶、伯益，汤染于伊尹、仲虺，武王染于太公、周公。此四王者所染当，故王天下，立为天子，功名蔽天地。举天下之仁义显人，必称此四王者。
On Dyeing:
This is true not only with silk dyeing; even a country changes its colour in response to its influences. Thus Shun came under the influences of Xu You and Bo Yang; Yu, under that of Gao Yao and Bo Yi; Tang, under that of Yi Yin and Zhong Hui; and King Wu, under that of the Grand Duke and Duke Zhou. Now these four kings had been under good influences. Therefore they came to possess the empire and were commissioned Sons of Heaven (Emperors). Their achievements and great fame extended from Heaven to earth. And when the preeminently magnanimous and righteous figures of the world are mentioned, they are invariably those referred to.

1. 由 : Originally read: "山". 据：《吕氏春秋》、《群书治要》。

3 所染:
夏桀染于干辛、推哆，殷纣染于崇侯、恶来，厉王染于厉公长父、荣夷终，幽王染于傅公夷、蔡公谷。此四王者所染不当，故国残身死，为天下僇。举天下不义辱人，必称此四王者。
On Dyeing:
Jie of Xia came under the influence of Gan Xin and Tui Yi; Zhou of Yin, under that of the Duke of Zhong and E Lai; King Li, under that of Chang Fu, Duke Li, and Yi Zhong of the State of Rong; and King You, under that of Yi, Duke of Fu, and Gu, Duke of Cai. Now these four kings had been under bad influences. Therefore they lost their empire and their lives, and were persecuted everywhere. And when the most unrighteous and shameful persons of the world are mentioned, they are invariably those referred to.

4 所染:
齐桓染于管仲、鲍叔，晋文染于舅犯、高偃，楚庄染于孙叔、沈尹，吴阖闾染于伍员、文义，越句践染于范蠡大夫种。此五君
者1所染当，故霸诸侯，功名傅于后世。
On Dyeing:
Lord Huan of Qi came under the influence of Guan Zhong and Bao Shu; Lord Wen of Jin, under that of Uncle Fan and Gao Yan; Lord Zhuang of Chu, under that of Sun Shu and the Minister of Shen; He Lu of Wu, under that of Wu Yuan and Wen Yi; and Gou Jian of Yue, under that of Fan Li and Minister Zhong. Now these five lords had been under good influences. Therefore they became Tyrants among the feudal lords and their achievements and their fame were handed down to posterity.

1. 者 : Inserted. 据：《吕氏春秋》、《群书治要》。 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》

5 所染:
范吉射染于长柳朔、王胜，中行寅染于籍秦、高强，吴夫差染于王孙雒、太宰嚭，知伯摇染于智国、张武，中山尚染于魏义、偃长，宋康染于唐鞅、佃1不礼。此六君者所染不当，故国家残亡，身为刑戮，宗庙破灭，绝无后类，君臣离散，民人流亡。举天下之贪暴苛扰者，必称此六君也。
On Dyeing:
Fan Ji She came under the influence of Zhang Liu Shuo and Wang Sheng; Zhang Xing Yin, under that of Ji Qin and Gao Jiang; Fu Chai, under that of Wang Sun Luo and Minister Pi; Zhi Bo Yao, under that of Zhi Guo and Zhang Wu; Shang of Zhongshan, under that of Wei Yi and Yan Chang; and Lord Kang of Song, under that of Tang Yang and Tian Bu Li. Now, these six princes had been under bad influences. Therefore their states were ruined and they were executed, their ancestral temples were destroyed and descendants annihilated. The rulers and the subjects were dispersed and the people were left homeless. The whole world points to these six princes as the most greedy and disturbing people.

1. 佃 : Originally read: "伷". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》

6 所染:
凡君之所以安者，何也？以其行理也，行理性于染当。故善为君者，劳于论人，而佚于治官。不能为君者，伤形费神，愁心劳意，然国逾危，身逾辱。此六君者，非不重其国，爱其身也，以不知要故也。不知要者，所染不当也。
On Dyeing:
Now, how can the rulers obtain security? They can obtain it by following the right way. And one will naturally follow the right way when under good influence. Therefore capable rulers are very painstaking in the selection of men while they may not be so careful in attending to the administration (themselves). But the incapable wear out their body and exhaust their energy, tax their mind and stretch their thought, and yet their states are only placed in greater danger and their persons under more humiliation. Now, it is not that these six princes do not value their states or hold their lives cheap, it is really that they do not understand the relative importance of things. And it is due to bad influences that their idea of importance is distorted.

7 所染:
非独国有染也，士亦有染。其友皆好仁义，淳谨畏令，则家日益，身日安，名日荣，处官得其理矣，则段干木、禽子、傅说之徒是也。其友皆好矜奋，创作比周，则家日损，身日危，名日辱，处官失其理矣，则子西、易牙、竖刀1之徒是也。《诗》曰：“必择所堪。”必谨所堪者，此之谓也。
On Dyeing:
Not only states but also individuals are subject to influences. If one has for friends none but those who Iove magnanimity and righteousness and who are careful and respectful of course one's family will become more prosperous, one's person more at peace, and one's name more honorable every day; and, as an official, one will be properly qualified. Examples of such are Duan Gan Mu, Qinzi, and Fu Yue. (On the contrary) if one has for friends none but those who are proud and quarrelsome and who pretend to be intimate, naturally one's family will be reduced to straits, one's person will be more in danger, and one's name more dishonourable every day and one will not be qualified for office. And, examples of such are Zi Xi, Yi Ya, and Shu Diao. An Ode says: "One must choose what to be tinged with." To be careful about what one is to be tinged with is just the theme of this (essay).

1. 刀 : Originally read: "刁". Corrected by 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》

URN: ctp:mozi/on-dyeing