A Park Shared with the People

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

King Xuan of Qi asked, ‘Is it true that King Wen's park measured seventy li on each side?’ Mencius replied, ‘It is recorded in transmitted accounts.’

Original Chinese text

English translation

‘Was it really so large?’ the king asked. ‘The people still thought it small,’ Mencius said. ‘My park is only forty li on each side,’ the king replied. ‘Why do the people think it large?’

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, ‘King Wen's park was seventy li on each side, yet people could enter to gather fodder and firewood or to catch pheasants and hares. He shared it with the people. Is it any wonder they thought it small?’

Original Chinese text

English translation

‘When I first reached your border, I asked about the state's strict prohibitions before I dared enter. I heard that within the outer passes lies a park forty li on each side, and that killing its deer is punished as if one had killed a person. Those forty li are thus a trap set within the state. Is it any wonder the people think the park large?’

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