Boyi, Taigong, and King Wen
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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。’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。’二老者,天下之大老也;而归之,是天下之父归之也。天下之父归之,其子焉往?诸侯有行文王之政者,七年之内,必为政于天下矣。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Boyi fled from Zhou and lived on the northern seacoast. When he heard that King Wen had risen, he said, ‘Why not go to him? I have heard that the Earl of the West is good at caring for the aged.’ Taigong fled from Zhou and lived on the eastern seacoast. Hearing that King Wen had risen, he said the same. These two elders were the most eminent elders under Heaven. When they returned to him, it was as if the fathers of all under Heaven had returned to him. If the fathers of all under Heaven returned to him, where would their sons go? If a feudal lord practices King Wen’s government, within seven years he will surely govern all under Heaven.”