Small States and the Way of King Wen

English translation

Mencius said, “When the realm has the Way, lesser virtue serves greater virtue, and lesser worth serves greater worth. When the realm lacks the Way, the small serve the great and the weak serve the strong. Both conditions belong to Heaven. Those who follow Heaven survive; those who oppose it perish. Duke Jing of Qi said, ‘Unable either to issue commands or to accept commands is to cut oneself off from others.’ With tears streaming, he gave his daughter in marriage to Wu. Today small states take great states as teachers yet are ashamed to accept their commands. This is like a student who is ashamed to receive instruction from his former teacher. If one is ashamed of that, one should instead take King Wen as a model. If a great state models itself on King Wen for five years, or a small state for seven, it will surely govern the realm. The Book of Songs says, ‘The descendants of Shang were countless. Heaven had already issued its command, and they served Zhou; serving Zhou, they learned that Heaven’s mandate is not constant. The capable and keen men of Yin assisted at the libation rite in the capital.’ Confucius said, ‘Benevolence is not made impossible by numbers! If a ruler loves benevolence, none under Heaven can oppose him.’ To seek invincibility without benevolence is like suffering from heat but refusing to bathe. The Book of Songs says, ‘Who can suffer from heat and not go bathe?’”