The Hegemons and the Kuiqiu Covenant
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English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“五霸者,三王之罪人也。今之诸侯,五霸之罪人也。今之大夫,今之诸侯之罪人也。天子适诸侯曰巡狩;诸侯朝于天子曰述职。春省耕而补不足,秋省敛而助不给。入其疆,土地辟,田野治,养老、尊贤、俊杰在位,则有庆,庆以地。入其疆,土地荒芜,遗老、失贤,掊克在位,则有让。一不朝,则贬其爵;再不朝,则削其地;三不朝,则六师移之。是故天子讨而不伐,诸侯伐而不讨。五霸者,搂诸侯以伐诸侯者也,故曰:五霸者,三王之罪人也。五霸,桓公为盛。葵丘之会,诸侯束牲载书而不歃血。初命曰:‘诛不孝,无易树子,无以妾为妻。’再命曰:‘尊贤、育才,以彰有德。’三命曰:‘敬老、慈幼,无忘宾旅。’四命曰:‘士无世官,官事无摄,取士必得,无专杀大夫。’五命曰:‘无曲防,无遏籴,无有封而不告。’曰:‘凡我同盟之人,既盟之后,言归于好。’今之诸侯,皆犯此五禁,故曰:今之诸侯,五霸之罪人也。长君之恶,其罪小;逢君之恶,其罪大。今之大夫皆逢君之恶,故曰:今之大夫,今之诸侯之罪人也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “The Five Hegemons were offenders against the Three Kings; today’s lords offend against the Five Hegemons, and today’s ministers offend against their lords. When the Son of Heaven visits the states, it is a royal inspection; when lords come to court, they report on their duties. In spring the ruler inspects plowing and relieves shortages; in autumn he inspects the harvest and assists those in need. In a state where land is cultivated, fields are orderly, elders are cared for, the worthy are honored, and outstanding people hold office, the Son of Heaven rewards the lord with land. Where land lies waste, elders are abandoned, worthy people are lost, and exploitative officials hold office, he rebukes the ruler. If a lord fails to attend court once, his rank is reduced; twice, his land is cut; three times, the royal forces are sent. Thus the Son of Heaven punishes without launching a punitive war, while lords wage war without rightful authority. The Five Hegemons rallied lords to attack other lords, so they offended against the Three Kings. Among them, Duke Huan of Qi was foremost. At the meeting of Kuiqiu, the lords bound sacrificial animals and recorded their pact but did not smear blood in the oath. Their five injunctions were: punish unfilial conduct, do not replace the designated heir, and do not make a concubine the wife; honor the worthy and nurture talent; respect the old and care for the young, remembering guests and travelers; do not make offices hereditary or combine official posts, choose qualified officers, and do not kill senior ministers arbitrarily; do not impose unauthorized defenses or restrictions, obstruct grain trade, or grant fiefs without reporting them. The alliance then pledged to restore friendship. Today’s lords violate all five prohibitions and thus offend against the Five Hegemons. To indulge a ruler’s wrongdoing is a lesser offense; to flatter it is greater. Today’s ministers all flatter their rulers, so they offend against the lords.”