Boyi Hears of King Wen
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“伯夷辟纣,居北海之滨,闻文王作兴,曰:‘盍归乎来!吾闻西伯善养老者。’
English translation
Mencius said, “Bo Yi fled King Zhou and lived by the northern sea. When he heard that King Wen had risen, he said, ‘Why should I not go to him? I have heard that the Earl of the West is good at caring for the elderly.’”
Original Chinese text
太公辟纣,居东海之滨,闻文王作兴,曰:‘盍归乎来!吾闻西伯善养老者。’
English translation
“The Grand Duke also fled King Zhou and lived by the eastern sea. When he heard that King Wen had risen, he too said, ‘Why should I not go to him? I have heard that the Earl of the West is good at caring for the elderly.’”
Original Chinese text
天下有善养老,则仁人以为己归矣。
English translation
“When there is a ruler anywhere in the realm who cares well for the elderly, humane people regard his domain as the place to which they should go.”
Original Chinese text
五亩之宅,树墙下以桑,匹妇蚕之,则老者足以衣帛矣。
English translation
“If each household has a homestead of five mu, plants mulberry trees along its walls, and has a woman raise silkworms, the elderly will have enough silk to wear.”
Original Chinese text
五母鸡,二母彘,无失其时,老者足以无失肉矣。
English translation
“With five hens and two sows, and by breeding and using them at the proper times, the elderly will have enough meat.”
Original Chinese text
百亩之田,匹夫耕之,八口之家,足以无饥矣。
English translation
“If one man cultivates a hundred mu of fields, a household of eight will have enough to avoid hunger.”
Original Chinese text
所谓西伯善养老者,制其田里,教之树畜,导其妻子,使养其老。
English translation
“What it means that the Earl of the West cared well for the elderly is that he organized people’s fields and homes, taught them to plant and raise livestock, and guided their wives and children to support the old.”
Original Chinese text
五十非帛不暖,七十非肉不饱。不暖不饱,谓之冻馁。
English translation
“At fifty, one cannot stay warm without silk; at seventy, one cannot be well fed without meat. To lack warmth and food is to suffer from cold and hunger.”
Original Chinese text
文王之民,无冻馁之老者,此之谓也。”
English translation
“Among King Wen’s people, no elderly person suffered from cold or hunger. That is what is meant.”