Answering Yang and Mo

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Gongduzi said, “People outside say that you delight in argument. May I ask why?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, “Do I enjoy arguing? I have no choice. Humankind has lived in the world for a long time, through alternating order and disorder. In Yao’s time, waters flowed backward and flooded the central lands. Snakes and dragons occupied them, and people had nowhere secure to live. Those in low places built nests in trees; those on higher ground lived in dugouts. The Book of Documents says, ‘The overflowing waters warned me.’ These were floodwaters. Yao charged Yu with controlling them. Yu cut channels through the land and led the waters to the sea, driving snakes and dragons into marshes. Water then flowed through the land in rivers such as the Yangtze, Huai, Yellow, and Han. Once the dangers receded and harmful beasts disappeared, people could settle on level ground.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“After Yao and Shun died, the way of the sages declined. Tyrants arose in succession: they demolished palaces to make ponds, leaving the people nowhere to rest, and abandoned farmland for parks, depriving people of clothing and food. Heterodox teachings and violent deeds spread again. Parks, ponds, and marshes multiplied, drawing in wild animals. By the time of King Zhou of Shang, the world was once more in great disorder. The Duke of Zhou assisted King Wu: he executed Zhou and attacked Yan, then spent three years suppressing its ruler; he drove Feilian to the coast and put him to death; he destroyed fifty states and drove tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, and elephants far away. The world rejoiced. The Book of Documents says, ‘How splendid were King Wen’s plans! How great were King Wu’s achievements! They protected and guided those who came after us, so that all might follow the right way without fault.’”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“As the age declined and the Way weakened, heterodox doctrines and violent acts arose. There were ministers who murdered their rulers and sons who murdered their fathers. Confucius was alarmed and composed the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Annals deal with matters belonging to the Son of Heaven. Thus Confucius said, ‘Perhaps only the Spring and Autumn Annals will understand me; perhaps only they will condemn me.’”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“No sage king arises; the feudal lords act without restraint, and recluses air extreme opinions. The teachings of Yang Zhu and Mo Di fill the world: people follow either Yang or Mo. Yang’s ‘for oneself’ leaves no place for a ruler; Mo’s ‘impartial care’ leaves no place for a father. Without father or ruler, one is like a beast. Gongming Yi said, ‘The kitchens hold rich meat and the stables fine horses, while the people look hungry and the countryside holds the dead from starvation. This is leading beasts to eat people.’ If the ways of Yang and Mo do not cease and the way of Confucius is not made clear, false teachings will deceive the people and block benevolence and righteousness. Once these are blocked, people will lead beasts to prey on others, and humans will devour one another. I fear this, so I guard the way of the former sages, oppose Yang and Mo, and drive out extravagant arguments, preventing false doctrines from arising. What begins in the mind harms conduct; what appears in conduct harms government. If a sage rose again, he would not alter what I have said.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

In the past, Yu subdued the floods and brought peace to the world; the Duke of Zhou subdued the Yi and Di and drove away fierce beasts, bringing security to the people; Confucius completed the Spring and Autumn Annals, making rebellious ministers and treacherous sons afraid. The Book of Songs says, “We repelled the Rong and Di and chastened Jing and Shu; none then dared withstand us.” The doctrine that rejects fathers and rulers is what the Duke of Zhou opposed. I too wish to set people’s hearts right, stop false teachings, resist warped conduct, and drive out extravagant words, carrying forward the work of those three sages. Do I enjoy argument? I have no choice. Whoever can speak against Yang and Mo belongs among the followers of the sages.

Feedback