| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
《天志下 - Will of Heaven III》 | English translation: W. P. Mei [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 天志下: | 子墨子言曰：“天下之所以乱者，其说将何哉？则是天下士君子，皆明于小而不明于大。何以知其明于小不明于大也？以其不明于天之意也。何以知其不明于天之意也？以处人之家者知之。今人处若家得罪，将犹有异家所，以避逃之者，然且父以戒子，兄以戒弟，曰：‘戒之慎之，处人之家，不戒不慎之，而有处人之国者乎？’今人处若国得罪，将犹有异国所，以避逃之者矣，然且父以戒子，兄以戒弟，曰：‘戒之慎之，处人之国者，不可不戒慎也！’今人皆处天下而事天，得罪于天，将无所以避逃之者矣。然而莫知以相极戒也，吾以此知大物则不知者也。” |
| Will of Heaven III: | Mozi said: What is the reason for the disorder in the world? It is because the gentlemen of the world all understand trifles but not things of importance. How do we know they understand trifles but not things of importance? Because they do not understand the will of Heaven. How do we know they do not understand the will of Heaven? By observing the conduct in the family. If a man commits a misdemeanour in the family he still has other families in which to seek shelter. Yet, father reminds son, the elder brother reminds the younger brother, saying: "Be obedient, be careful in conduct in the family. If one is not obedient and careful in conduct in the family how can he live in the state?" If a man commits a misdemeanour in the state he still has other states in which to seek shelter. Yet father reminds son and the elder brother reminds the younger brother, saying: "Be obedient. Be careful. One cannot live in a state and be disobedient and careless." Now all men live in the world and under Heaven. When a man sins against Heaven there is nowhere to seek shelter. But people do not think of warning each other. Thus I know that they do not understand things of importance. | |
| 2 | 天志下: |
是故子墨子言曰：“戒之慎之，必为天之所欲，而去天之所恶。曰天之所欲者何也？所恶者何也？天欲义而恶其不义者也。何以知其然也？曰义者正也。何以知义之为正也？天下有义则治，无义则乱，我以此知义之为正也。然而正者，无自下正上者，必自上正下。是故庶人不得次己而为正，有士正之；士不得次己而为正，有大夫正之；大夫不得次己而为正，有诸侯正之；诸侯不得次己而为正，有三公正之；三公不得次己而为正，有天子正之；天子不得次己而为政，有天正之。今天下之士君子，皆明于天子之正天下也，而不明于天 之1正 天子2也。是故古者圣人，明以此说人曰：‘天子有善，天能赏之；天子有过，天能罚之。’天子赏罚不当，听狱不中，天下疾病祸福，霜露不时，天子必且犓豢其牛羊犬彘，洁为粢盛酒醴，以祷祠祈福于天，我未尝闻天之祷祈福于天子也，吾以此知天之重且贵于天子也。是故义者不自愚且贱者出，必自贵且知者出。曰谁为知？天为知。然则义果自天出也。今天下之士君子之欲为义者，则不可不顺天之意矣。 |
| Will of Heaven III: |
And Mozi said: Be obedient. Be careful. Be sure to do what Heaven desires and avoid what Heaven abominates. Now, what does Heaven desire and what does Heaven abominate? Heaven desires righteousness and abominates unrighteousness. How do we know this? Because righteousness is the standard. How do we know righteousness is the standard? Because with righteousness the world will be orderly; without it the world will be disorderly. So, I know righteousness is the standard. Now a standard is never given by the subordinate to the superior, it is always to be given by the superior to the subordinate. Hence the common people may not make the standard at will. There are the scholars to give them the standard. The scholars may not make the standard at will. There are the ministers to give them the standard. The ministers may not make the standard at will. There are the feudal lords to give them the standard. The feudal lords may not make the standard at will. There is the high duke to give them the standard. The high duke may not make the standard at will. There is the emperor to give him the standard. The emperor may not make the standard at will. There is Heaven to give him the standard. The gentlemen of the world all understand that the emperor gives the standard to the world but do not understand that Heaven gives the standard to the emperor. The sages, explaining this, said: "When the emperor has done good, Heaven rewards him. When the emperor has committed wrong, Heaven punishes him. When the emperor is unjust in reward and punishment and not judicious in hearing lawsuits, Heaven visits him with disease and calamities, and frost and dew will be untimely." The emperor will then have to feed oxen and sheep with grass and dogs and pigs with grains and prepare clean cakes and wine to pray and invoke Heaven for blessing. I have not yet heard of Heaven praying and invoking the emperor for blessing. So, I can say Heaven is more honourable and wise than the emperor. Therefore righteousness does not come from the ignorant and humble but from the honourable and wise. Who is honourable? Heaven is honourable. Who is wise? Heaven is wise. And, so, righteousness assuredly comes from Heaven. And the gentlemen of the world who desire to do righteousness therefore must obey the will of Heaven. 1. 之 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 3 | 天志下: |
曰顺天之意何若？曰兼爱天下之人。何以知兼爱天下之人也？以兼而食之也。何以知其兼而食之也？自古及今无有远灵孤夷之国，皆犓豢其牛羊犬彘，洁为粢盛酒醴，以敬祭祀上帝山川鬼神，以此知兼而食之也。苟兼而食焉，必兼而爱之。譬之若楚、越之君，今是楚王食于楚之四境之内， 故爱楚之人；越王食于越，1故爱越之人。今天兼天下而食焉，我以此知其兼爱天下之人也。 |
| Will of Heaven III: |
What is the will of Heaven that is to be obeyed? It is to love all the people in the world universally. How do we know it is to love all the people in the world universally? Because (Heaven) accepts sacrifices from all. How do we know Heaven accepts sacrifices from all? Because from antiquity to the present day there is no distant or isolated country but what feeds oxen and sheep, dogs and pigs with grass and grains, and prepares clean cakes and wine to worship God, hills and rivers, and the spirits. So we know Heaven accepts sacrifices from all. Accepting sacrifice from all, Heaven must love them all. Take the lords of Chu and Yue for instance. The lord of Chu accepts offering from all within the four borders of Chu, therefore he loves the people of Chu. And, the lord of Yue accepts offering from all within the four borders of Yue, therefore he loves the people of Yue. Now Heaven accepts offerings from all the world and so I know Heaven loves all the people in the world. 1. 故爱楚之人；越王食于越， : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 4 | 天志下: |
且天之爱百姓也，不尽物而止矣。今天下之国，粒食之民， 国1杀一 不辜者，必有一2不祥。曰谁杀不辜？曰人也。孰予之不辜？曰天也。若天之中实不爱此民也，何故而人有杀不辜，而天予之不祥哉？且天之爱百姓厚矣，天之爱百姓别矣，既可得而知也。何以知天之爱百姓也？吾以贤者之必赏善罚暴也。何以知贤者之必赏善罚暴也？吾以昔者三代之圣王知之。故昔也三代之圣王尧舜禹汤文武之兼爱天下也，从而利之，移其百姓之意焉，率以敬上帝山川鬼神，天以为从其所爱而爱之，从其所利而利之，于是加其赏焉，使之处上位，立为天子以法也，名之曰‘圣人’，以此 知3其赏善之证。是故昔也三代之暴王桀纣幽厉之兼恶天下也，从而贼之，移其百姓之意焉，率以诟侮上帝山川鬼神，天以为不从其所爱而恶之，不从其所利而贼之，于是加其罚焉，使之父子离散，国家灭亡，抎失社稷，忧以及其身。是以天下之庶民属而毁之，业万世子孙继嗣，毁之贲不之废也，名之曰‘失王’，以此知其罚暴之证。今天下之士君子，欲为义者，则不可不顺天之意矣。 |
| Will of Heaven III: |
That Heaven loves all the people of the world is proved not only by this. In all the countries in the world and among all the people who live on grains, the murder of one innocent individual brings down one calamity. Now who is it that murders the innocent? It is man. Who is it that sends down the calamity? It is Heaven. If Heaven really did not love the people, why does Heaven send down calamities for the murder of the innocent? Furthermore, Heaven loves the people dearly, Heaven loves the people inclusively. And this can be known. How do we know Heaven loves the people? Because of the certain reward to the good and punishment to the evil from the virtuous (Heaven). How do we know the virtuous (Heaven) certainly rewards the good and punishes the evil? I know this from the (examples of) the sage-kings of the Three Dynasties. Anciently, the sage-kings of the Three Dynasties, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu, loved the world universally and proceeded to benefit them. They converted the desires of the people and led them to worship God, hills and rivers, and the spirits. Heaven was pleased because they loved what it loved and benefited what it would benefit, and bestowed rewards upon them, placing them on the throne, crowning them emperor, upholding them as the standard, and calling them sage-kings. Here we have the proof of reward of the good. Anciently, the wicked kings of the Three Dynasties, Jie, Zhou, You, and Li, hated all the world and proceeded to oppress them. They converted the desires of the people and led them to blaspheme against God, hills and rivers, and the spirits. Heaven was offended because they hated those whom Heaven loved and oppressed those whom Heaven would benefit, and Heaven decreed punishments upon them, letting fathers and sons be scattered, their empire be put to an end, their state be lost to them, and capital punishment fall upon them. Thereupon, the multitudes in the world condemned them, the condemnation lasting all through the ten thousand generations, the people calling them wicked kings. Here we have the proof of punishment of the evil. Those gentlemen of the world who desire to do righteousness have only to obey the will of Heaven. 1. 国 : Deleted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 5 | 天志下: | 曰顺天之意者，兼也；反天之意者，别也。兼之为道也，义正；别之为道也，力正。曰义正者何若？曰大不攻小也，强不侮弱也，众不贼寡也，诈不欺愚也，贵不傲贱也，富不骄贫也，壮不夺老也。是以天下之庶国，莫以水火毒药兵刃以相害也。若事上利天，中利鬼，下利人，三利而无所不利，是谓天德。故凡从事此者，圣知也，仁义也，忠惠也，慈孝也，是故聚敛天下之善名而加之。是其故何也？则顺天之意也。曰力正者何若？曰大则攻小也，强则侮弱也，众则贼寡也，诈则欺愚也，贵则傲贱也，富则骄贫也，壮则夺老也。是以天下之庶国，方以水火毒药兵刃以相贼害也。若事上不利天，中不利鬼，下不利人，三不利而无所利，是谓之贼。故凡从事此者，寇乱也，盗贼也，不仁不义，不忠不惠，不慈不孝，是故聚敛天下之恶名而加之。是其故何也？则反天之意也。” |
| Will of Heaven III: | To obey the will of Heaven is to be universal and to oppose the will of Heaven is to be partial (in love). According to the doctrine of universality righteousness is the standard; in the doctrine of partiality force is the basis of government. What is it like to have righteousness as the basis of government? The great will not attack the small, the strong will not plunder the weak, the many will not oppress the few, the clever will not deceive the ignorant, the honoured will not disdain the humble, the rich will not mock the poor, and the young will not rob the old. And the states in the empire will not ruin each other with water, fire, poison, and weapons. Such a regime will be beneficial to Heaven above, to the spirits in the middle sphere, to the people below. Being beneficial to these three it is beneficial to all. This is called the virtue of Heaven; whoever practises this is a sage, magnanimous, gracious, and righteous, loyal, affectionate, and filial, and all such good names in the world will be gathered and attributed to him. Why so? Because such conduct is in accordance with the will of Heaven. Now, what is it like to have force as the basis of government? The great will attack the small, the strong will plunder the weak, the many will oppress the few, the clever will impose upon the ignorant, the honoured will disdain the humble, the rich will mock the poor, and the young will rob the old. And the states in the empire will ruin each other with water, fire, poison, and weapons. Such a regime will not be helpful to Heaven above, to the spirits in the middle sphere, or to the people below. Not being helpful to these three, it is not helpful to any. This is called the enemy of Heaven. He who practises this is a bad man, not magnanimous, not gracious, and unrighteous, disloyal, unaffectionate, and unfilial, and all such evil names in the world are gathered and attributed to him. Why so? Because such conduct is in opposition to the will of Heaven. | |
| 6 | 天志下: |
故子墨子置立天之，以为仪法，若轮人之有规，匠人之有矩也。今轮人以规，匠人以矩，以此知方圜之别矣。是故子墨子置立天之，以为仪法。吾以此知天下之士君子之去义远也。何以知天下之士君子之去义远也？今知氏大国之君宽者然曰：“吾处大国而不攻小国，吾何以为大哉！”是以差论蚤牙之士，比列其舟车之卒，以攻罚无罪之国，入其沟境，刈其禾稼，斩其树木，残其城郭，以御其沟池，焚烧其祖庙，攘杀其牺牷，民之格者，则刭杀之，不格者，则系操而归，丈夫以为仆圉胥靡，妇人以为舂酋。则夫好攻伐之君，不知此为不仁义，以告四邻诸侯曰：“吾攻国覆军，杀将若干人矣。”其邻国之君亦不知此为不仁义也，有具其皮币，发其总处，使人飨贺焉。则夫好攻伐之君，有重不知此为不仁不义也，有书之竹帛，藏之府库。为人后子者，必且欲顺其先君之行，曰：“何不当发吾 府1库，视吾先君之法美。”必不曰文、武之为正 为正2者若此矣，曰吾攻国覆军杀将若干人矣。则夫好攻伐之君，不知此为不仁不义也，其邻国之君不知此为不仁不义也，是以攻伐世世而不已者，此吾所谓大物则不知也。 |
| Will of Heaven III: |
Hence Mozi established the will of Heaven as his standard, just as the wheelwright uses his compasses and the carpenter uses his square as their standards. The wheelwright with his compasses and the carpenter with his square can judge the circularity and the squareness of objects. Similarly, with the will of Heaven as the standard, Mozi can tell that the gentlemen of the world are far from righteousness. How do we know the gentlemen of the world are far from righteousness ? For, the lords in the large states compete in saying: "Being a big state, if I do not attack the small states, in what way am I big?" Therefore they mustered their warriors and soldiers, and arranged their boat and chariot forces to attack some innocent state. They broke into its borders, cut down its fields, felled its trees, tore down its inner and outer city walls, and filled up its moats and ditches, burned its ancestral temples and seized and killed its sacrificial victims. Of the people the strong were killed, the weak were brought back in chains and ropes. The men were turned into servants and grooms and prisoners. The women were made to be waitresses (to pour wine). Yet, the warring lord did not even know that this is unmagnanimous and unrighteous. He announced to the neighbouring lords: "I have attacked a state, defeated an army, and killed so many generals." And the neighbouring lords did not know that this is unmagnanimous and unrighteous either, but with furs and silk sent envoys to offer congratulations. And the warring lords were even doubly ignorant of its being unmagnanimous and unrighteous. They recorded it on the bamboos and silk and kept them in the archives so that the descendants would imitate their royal ancestors, saying: "Why not let us open up the archives and let us learn of the achievements of our ancestors?" Then they would surely not learn: "Such and such is the regime of Wu," but would learn: "I have attacked states, reversed armies, and killed so many of their generals." Now that the warring lords do not understand this to be unmagnanimous and unrighteous, and neighbouring lords do not understand this to be unmagnanimous and unrighteous, therefore attacks and assaults go on generation after generation without end. This is what I mean when I say they do not understand matters of importance. 1. 府 : Inserted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 7 | 天志下: |
所谓小物则知之者何若？今有人于此，入人之场园，取人之桃李瓜姜者，上得且罚之，众闻则非之，是何也？曰不与其劳，获其实，已非其有所取之故，而况有逾于人之墙垣，抯格人之子女者乎？与角人之府库，窃人之金玉蚤絫者乎？与逾人之栏牢，窃人之牛马者乎？而况有杀一不辜人乎？今王公大人之为政也，自杀一不辜人者；逾人之墙垣，抯格人之子女者；与角人之府库，窃人之金玉蚤絫者 乎1；与逾人之栏牢，窃人 之2牛马 者；与入人之场园，窃人之3桃李瓜姜者，今王公大人之加罚此也，虽古之尧舜禹汤文武之为政，亦无以异此矣。今天下之诸侯，将犹皆侵凌攻伐兼并，此为杀一不辜人者，数千万矣；此为逾人之墙垣，格人之子女者，与角人府库，窃人金玉蚤絫者，数千万矣；逾人之栏牢，窃人之牛马者，与入人之场园，窃人之桃李瓜姜者，数千万矣，而自曰义也。故子墨子言曰：“是蕡我者，则岂有以异是蕡黑白甘苦之辩者哉！今有人于此，少而示之黑谓之黑，多示之黑谓白，必曰吾目乱，不知黑白之别。今有人于此，能少尝之甘谓甘，多尝谓苦，必曰吾口乱，不知其甘苦之味。今王公大人之政也，或杀人，其国家禁之，此蚤越有能多杀其邻国之人，因以为文义，此岂有异蕡白黑、甘苦之别者哉？” |
| Will of Heaven III: |
What do I mean when I say people do not understand things of importance but understand trifles? Supposing some one entered the orchard and garden of another and took the other's peaches and prunes, melon and ginger, he will be punished by the superior when caught and condemned by the public when heard of. Why? Because he did not share the toil but takes the fruit and appropriates what is not his. How much more is this true with him who jumps over another's fence and maltreats the children of the other; of him who digs into another's storehouse and carries away the others gold, jade, silk, and cloth; of him who breaks into another's fold and steals the other's oxen and horses; and of him who kills an innocent person? In the government of the lords of to-day all - from the one who kills an innocent person to the one who jumps over another's fence and maltreats the other's children, who digs into another's warehouse and carries away his gold, jade, silk and cloth, who breaks into another's fold and steals his oxen and horses, and who enters another's orchard and garden and takes his peaches and prunes, melons and ginger - all these are punished quite the same as they would be even in the government of Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu. Now the lords and chiefs in the world all attack and absorb others. This is a thousand and ten thousand times worse than killing one innocent individual, a thousand and ten thousand times worse than jumping over another's fence and maltreating his children or digging into another's storehouse and carrying away his gold, jade, silk, and cloth, a thousand and ten thousand times worse than breaking into another's fold and stealing his oxen and horses, or entering another's orchard and garden and taking his peaches and prunes, melons and ginger. Yet, they claim it to be righteous. Mozi said: This is meant to confuse us. And is this at all different from confusion in the distinctions between black and white, and sweet and bitter? Suppose a man who upon being shown a little blackness says it is black, but upon being shown much blackness says it is white. He will have to admit that his sight is confused and that he cannot tell the difference between black and white. Suppose a man when served with a little bitter says it is bitter, but when served with much bitter says it is sweet. Then he will have to admit that his taste is impaired and that he cannot tell the difference between sweet and bitter. In the government of the present lords, the murderer of an individual is imprisoned by the state. This.... But the murderer of many men of the neighbouring states is upheld as righteous. How is this different from confusing the distinction between black and white and sweet and bitter? 1. 乎 : Deleted. 孙诒让《墨子闲诂》 | |
| 8 | 天志下: | 故子墨子置天之，以为仪法。非独子墨子以天之志为法也，于先王之书大夏之道之然：“帝谓文王，予怀而明德，毋大声以色，毋长夏以革，不识不知，顺帝之则。”此诰文王之以天志为法也，而顺帝之则也。且今天下之士君子，中实将欲为仁义，求为上士，上欲中圣王之道，下欲中国家百姓之利者，当天之志，而不可不察也。天之志者，义之经也。 |
| Will of Heaven III: | Therefore Mozi established the will of Heaven to be the standard. Not only Mozi established the will of Heaven to be the standard, it is also the theme of an ode in the "Da Ya" among the books of the ancient kings: "God said to King Wen, 'I cherish your intelligent virtue. It was not proclaimed with much noise or gesture. It was not modified after the possession of the empire. Instinctively and naturally submissive to the scheme of God.'" This is to proclaim that King Wen used the will of Heaven as standard and was submissive to God's scheme. If the gentlemen of the world really desire to practise magnanimity and righteousness and be superior men, seeking to attain the way of the sage-kings on the one hand and to procure blessings to the people on the other, they must not neglect to understand the will of Heaven. The will of Heaven is truly the standard of righteousness. |
URN: ctp:mozi/will-of-heaven-iii