The Succession from Yu to Qi
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English translation
Original Chinese text
万章问曰:“人有言‘至于禹而德衰,不传于贤而传于子’,有诸?”孟子曰:“否然也。天与贤则与贤,天与子则与子。昔者舜荐禹于天,十有七年;舜崩,三年之丧毕,禹避舜之子于阳城;天下之民从之,若尧崩之后不从尧之子而从舜也。禹荐益于天,七年,禹崩,三年之丧毕,益避禹子于箕山之阴;朝觐讼狱者,不之益而之启,曰:‘吾君之子也。’讴歌者不讴歌益而讴歌启,曰:‘吾君之子也。’”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “People say that by the time of Yu, virtue had declined, so the realm was passed to a son instead of to a worthy person. Is that true?” Mencius said, “No. When Heaven gives the realm to a worthy person, it goes to a worthy person; when Heaven gives it to a ruler’s son, it goes to the son. In the past, Shun recommended Yu to Heaven, and seventeen years passed. After Shun died and the three-year mourning period ended, Yu withdrew to Yangcheng to make way for Shun’s son. The people followed Yu, just as after Yao’s death they followed Shun rather than Yao’s son. Yu recommended Yi to Heaven, and seven years passed. After Yu died and the mourning period ended, Yi withdrew to the north side of Mount Ji to make way for Yu’s son. Those coming to court and litigants went to Qi rather than Yi, saying, ‘He is our ruler’s son.’ Singers praised Qi rather than Yi, saying the same.”
Original Chinese text
丹朱之不肖,舜之子亦不肖;舜之相尧、禹之相舜也,历年多,施泽于民久。启贤,能敬承继禹之道;益之相禹也,历年少,施泽于民未久。舜、禹、益相去久远,其子之贤不肖皆天也,非人之所能为也。莫之为而为者,天也;莫之致而至者,命也。
English translation
Danzhu was unworthy, and Shun’s son was also unworthy. Shun served Yao and Yu served Shun for many years, so their benefits to the people lasted a long time. Qi was worthy and could respectfully continue Yu’s way. Yi served Yu for fewer years, and his benefits to the people had not lasted long. The long interval between Shun, Yu, and Yi, and whether their sons were worthy or not, were matters of Heaven, beyond human control. What happens without anyone making it happen is Heaven; what arrives without anyone bringing it about is destiny.
Original Chinese text
匹夫而有天下者,德必若舜禹,而又有天子荐之者;故仲尼不有天下。继世而有天下,天之所废,必若桀纣者也;故益、伊尹、周公不有天下。伊尹相汤以王于天下,汤崩,太丁未立,外丙二年,仲壬四年。太甲颠覆汤之典刑,伊尹放之于桐三年;太甲悔过,自怨自艾,于桐处仁迁义,三年以听伊尹之训己也,复归于亳。
English translation
A commoner who comes to possess the realm must have virtue like Shun or Yu and also be recommended by the Son of Heaven; that is why Confucius did not possess the realm. In hereditary succession, Heaven removes only rulers like Jie and Zhou; that is why Yi, Yi Yin, and the Duke of Zhou did not take the realm. Yi Yin assisted Tang in becoming king over the realm. When Tang died, Taiding had not yet been enthroned; Waibing ruled for two years and Zhongren for four. Taijia overturned Tang’s established laws and norms, so Yi Yin exiled him to Tong for three years. Taijia repented, blamed and corrected himself, dwelt in benevolence and turned toward righteousness at Tong, and for three years listened to Yi Yin’s instruction; then he returned to Bo.
Original Chinese text
周公之不有天下,犹益之于夏、伊尹之于殷也。孔子曰:“唐虞禅,夏后、殷、周继,其义一也。”
English translation
The Duke of Zhou did not take the realm, just as Yi did not take it in the Xia and Yi Yin did not take it in the Shang. Confucius said, “Tang and Yu yielded the throne, while the Xia, Shang, and Zhou succeeded by hereditary rule; the principle behind them was one and the same.”