The Most Venerable Book (Shang Shu)

by Confucius

  Only gradually have the Confucian Tradition and its Classics returned to some sort of favour as China has sought to rediscover its roots and to try and see what it means to have a distinct, historical, moral and philosophical culture. Interest in its Classics has revived amongst many who mourn the destruction that hardline Communism and in particular the Cultural Revolution of 1966–76 wrought upon Chinese culture. For the second time in 2,300 years, a ruler sought to destroy all knowledge and understanding of China’s past. For the second time in 2,300 years, the Shang Shu has come to symbolize the survival of an ancient tradition, a tradition of virtue and of good governance capable of confronting the evils of corrupt, megalomaniac rulers.

  In the search for values and virtue in today’s China, the words of Minister Yue to the young Shang king in chapter twenty-two ring as true today as they did 3,700 years ago, or whenever they were actually written down in China’s past:

  Just do what is right and proper and then all will be well.

  Martin Palmer

  Easter Sunday, 2014

  THE BOOK OF YU

  According to the traditional chronology of China, Emperor Yao ruled between 2355 and 2285 BC. The flood referred to here and throughout the early chapters was the Great Flood of Chinese mythology set around 2300 BC and against which various heroes struggled.

  1

  The Chronicle of Yao

  Long, long ago there lived the Emperor Yao. He was known to everyone in the land as truly noble. He was attentive, bright, cultured, graceful and he was all these things without effort. He was also sincere, able and his reputation lit up the four corners of the world, reaching from Heaven itself down to Earth. In him were combined all that was best from his ancestors and all that will be best of the generations to come. As a result, he was enlightened and virtuous and so he was able to make sure that the whole world lived in balance and harmony. This meant everyone lived in a state of enlightenment and even the surrounding states and tribes lived peacefully.

  To make sure that the people would know the passage of the seasons in their proper order, he commanded two officials, Xi and He, to study and compile information concerning the vastness of Heaven and the movements of the sun, moon and stars so that the calendar could be properly organized. From this he commanded one of the younger brothers to go to the Yang Valley of the Sunrise and reverently observe the rising of the sun in the east. This was so he could determine when the spring equinox would take place and by observing the stars he could know when the day and night were of equal length. This meant the people would know when it was time to return to work in the fields and they could see this was also when the birds and animals started to mate.

  On top of this, he commanded another brother to go south and to stay there to note the summer solstice and its stars, which would tell the people when the day is the longest and they could then know to hurry up with their labours. This is also the time when the birds and animal start to moult.

  Another brother was commanded to go to the west to the place known as the Yin Valley and there to note the autumn equinox. Observing the stars, he could then calculate when the days were of equal length. This meant the people could know it was the season for resting and that the birds and animals were at their healthiest.

  Finally he commanded his fourth brother to go north to the place known as the Dismal City to study the winter and the stars in order to know when the winter solstice falls. This is a time when the people stay warm indoors, while the birds and animals have their winter coats and hibernate.

  From all this the Emperor was then able to say: ‘Let me explain that the year has three hundred and sixty-six days and by adding an additional month we can balance the seasons. Knowing this, we can appoint the appropriate officials and all will be well.’

  Then the Emperor added: ‘But can anyone find me a man who can understand all the four seasons, who can work with me and be the judge of what is good?’

  ‘What about your heir, the Crown Prince? He seems very bright,’ one of his ministers answered.

  ‘Sadly, thinking he will be the heir, he has become a troublemaker, so that proposal is not realistic,’ the Emperor replied. ‘What I need is a wise minister. Can anyone find one for me?’

  ‘Well, there is the Minister of Labour, who seems pretty competent,’ another minister answered.

  In reply the Emperor said: ‘Sadly he says one thing in public and another thing in private. In public he seems to be very respectful and humble but his vanity rises like a flood to the very Gates of Heaven. Oh, by all that is holy, the ceaseless floods and the vast waters are destroying everything that is good and right. The dark waters have overwhelmed the hills and mountains. They have raged right up to Heaven itself while the people below, why, they are in despair. Is there anyone who can help?’

  All his ministers replied, ‘Well what about Gun?’

  To which the Emperor retorted, ‘Good grief, no! That man is a rebel who goes against whatever is right and refuses to be disciplined.’

  ‘But why not at least give him a try?’ implored the ministers.

  So it was that the Emperor said to Gun, ‘Go and see what you can do.’

  For nine years Gun struggled, trying to succeed at the task set him, but he failed.

  The Emperor said, ‘Oh, by all that is holy, I have now been Emperor for seventy years. Can’t someone take up the Mandate of Heaven from me so I can resign?’

  ‘But there is no one with sufficient virtue, no one worthy enough to sit on the throne,’ replied his distraught ministers.

  So the Emperor commanded: ‘Seek out the most worthy; go and look amongst the humblest of the people.’

  The ministers said: ‘Well, we have heard of one such humble person called Yu Shun,’ to which the Emperor replied: ‘Good idea! I have heard of him. What is he like?’

  ‘His father is a blind musician who is a fool and his stepmother is without principle. While his brother – he is a total prig! However, being a pious and loyal son, he has managed to create such harmony within the home that all of them have become better people as a result,’ the ministers replied.

  The Emperor said: ‘I will test him out by marrying him to my two daughters.’

  So saying, he commanded that his two daughters* be sent to Yu Shun and that they should marry him. And the Emperor commanded them: ‘Do what is right.’

  2

  The Chronicle of Shun

  Yu is the title given to Shun when he became Emperor in around 2285 BC.

  Long, long ago there lived the Emperor Shun. He was known as a person of great solemnity. Like the Emperor Yao who ruled before him, he was renowned for his wisdom, his culture, his intellect, his integrity and his virtue. It was clear from all these qualities that he had the Mandate of Heaven.

  He was passionate about ensuring harmony and balance,

  through observing the five virtues of loyalty.

  He personally attended to the smooth running

  of every part of the bureaucracy on an annual basis.

  He entertained leaders

  from every corner of the Empire

  with great solemnity

  and once,

  even though he was caught in a terrifying storm,

  he nevertheless never gave up on his intention

  to visit and see for himself the

  vast flooded lands of the foothills.

  Shun ascended to the throne because the old Emperor Yao had tested him and had said, ‘Come, my dear Shun. For three years I have tested you, listened to you and seen that you do what you say. Now ascend the Imperial Throne.’ Even so, Shun initially felt unworthy of such a position – so you can see how virtuous he was.

  It was on New Year’s Day that he was finally made Emperor, in a ritual in the Temple of the Ancestors. Here, using the glorious celestial instruments, he observed the Seven Heavenly Bodies* which influence events on earth. Through rituals he offered his respect to the Heavenly Emperor as well as to the six key eleme
nts of the cosmos, and he worshipped all the deities of nature through the medium of the mountains and the rivers. Having himself received the Five Tablets of Authority, he brought together at the auspicious time all those whom he appointed to govern the Empire and bestowed upon them their own Tablets of Authority.

  It was in the second month that he began his official journeys of investigation by going east. He started at Mount Tai, where he offered sacrifices. And then he offered sacrifices in turn to all the auspicious mountains and rivers symbolizing the whole country. The rulers of the East came and offered homage. This made it possible for him to enforce the laws and make sure all the proper procedures were followed and get the calendar sorted out and agreed. He standardized the rituals associated with the tones of music and the proper weights for the chimes. He made sure the officials knew what was expected of them. Indeed, he regulated everything, from the number of colours to the correct numbers of sacrificial animals – two alive to one dead, for example. Only when he saw everything was going well did he confirm the key officials in their posts.

  It was the fifth month when he went south on his official journey of investigation, conducting the proper sacrifices at the Southern Sacred Mountain [Southern Mount Heng] just as he had done at Mount Tai.

  By the eighth month he was in the West on his official journey of investigation, travelling as far as the Western Sacred Mountain [Mount Hua], where once again he offered the proper sacrifices.

  Finally, in the eleventh month, his official journeys of investigation took him to the Northern Sacred Mountain [Northern Mount Heng] and here he carried out the same ritual sacrifices as he had done in the West.

  When he celebrated his return home, he offered a sacrifice to the Noble Ancestor.

  It became his tradition that every five years he would set off on three of these official journeys of investigation. This involved the nobles and princes each reporting to him on the state of affairs in their own regions and it required them to come before him personally. Once he had studied these reports in detail and was satisfied, he rewarded the nobles and princes with appropriate gifts such as chariots and invested them with splendid robes. He created twelve regions and appointed to each a sacred mountain while also dredging the rivers to help them flow through their channels.

  He took special interest and care in defining punishments. He ordered that mutilation or execution should be replaced by banishment, that offending officials should be whipped, that scholars who were unworthy should be caned and that fines should be brought in as compensation for crimes. If someone did something wrong by mistake or ignorance, they were to be pardoned, but anyone who abused their power, and did so constantly, was to suffer the most extreme punishment – execution. His watchwords were ‘Beware! Beware!’ and he attempted to moderate punishment with compassion.

  There were four notorious villains and he dealt with them all. He exiled one to an island, sending another to a more remote island, despatching one chieftain and his whole tribe [Miao people] to a remote mountain fastness while one villain was kept as a prisoner until the day he died. And as a result, everyone was pleased.

  After twenty-eight years, the old Emperor Yao died, his souls ascending and descending,* and his people mourned him as they would their parents. For three years all music was banned throughout the land.

  On New Year’s Day, Shun processed to the Temple of the Ancestors. He consulted with the four guardians and discussed how to throw open the doors so that he could see and hear everything. In his quest for understanding he consulted the twelve judges and gave this advice: ‘Our supply of food depends upon the seasons; be thoughtful to those far away; take care of those close at hand; respect the virtuous; trust the generous; disregard the false. This is how the mob will be helped to accept your rule.’

  ‘Alas’, said Shun, ‘you four great ones, can you name anyone who is so worthy that they can undertake the Emperor’s plans? Anyone who I could name as the Prime Minister? Anyone who can help me to sort things out?’

  ‘There is the Lord Yu,’ said everybody. ‘He has been in charge of the Great Works [against the flood].’

  ‘Well now, Yu,’ said the Emperor, when Yu arrived. ‘You have triumphed over the waters of the flood and created dry land. Go and get on with all this.’

  Yu bowed low but recommended that there were three others, Lords Qi, Xie and Gaoyao, who were better suited to this role. However, the Emperor replied: ‘That is all very well but it is you I have chosen to get on with this.’

  Next the Emperor said to Qi: ‘Qi, the people are suffering for lack of food. I want you to go and run the Ministry of Agriculture and ensure the proper sowing of seeds.’

  The Emperor turned to Xie and said: ‘The people are rebellious and the proper order of society is ignored. It will be your special role to be the Minister of Education and to teach them, and indeed encourage them, to observe the proper order of society according to our traditions. Engage with the people and encourage them to be kind.’

  Turning to Gaoyao, the Emperor said: ‘The barbarians are attacking our lands, robbing, murdering, plundering and creating mayhem. I want you to become the Minister for Justice. Use the full force of punishments; restrain them according to the full force of the law and making public examples of them for major offences, or exile them to remote areas for lesser offences. Do this wisely and this will mean you are obeyed.’

  Next the Emperor asked, ‘Who can oversee the major Works and their workers?’

  ‘Chu,’ replied everyone.

  The Emperor turned to Chui and said, ‘Having discussed this, I have decided to appoint you as Minister of Works.’

  Chui bowed low but did not want to accept. Instead he recommended three other people, but the Emperor said, ‘Well, now! You see I have chosen you as I believe you can take charge.’

  Turning to the Court, the Emperor said, ‘Who is there that really knows this country from top to bottom? Who will care for the land from the plains to the forests; who will care for all nature?’

  The court replied, ‘Yi – that’s the one.’

  Turning to Yi, the Emperor said, ‘I have decided to appoint you especially to take charge of my lands.’ Yi bowed low but declined, saying that there were four others who were much better suited to this task.

  ‘Well, that’s as may be,’ said the Emperor, ‘but it is you that I want to do this.’

  The Emperor one day said, ‘So, my four great ones, is there anyone capable of undertaking the great rituals honouring Heaven, Earth and the deities?’

  To which everyone replied, ‘My Lord Yi.’

  So the Emperor called the Lord Yi to him and said, ‘You must be in charge of the Temple of the Ancestors. Day and night you must oversee that the offerings are made with due reverence. Be pure and honest.’

  The Lord Yi bowed low but recommended that Kui or Long were much better suited. However, the Emperor replied, ‘I want you to do this. Do as you are told.’

  Then he turned to Kui and said:

  ‘Destiny has chosen you

  to facilitate the music

  and train the young.

  Teach them to be honest but also mindful

  to be generous but also circumspect

  to be strong but also receptive

  to be firm – but not arrogant!

  Show them that poetry is the way

  to express their deepest feelings

  shared also through its singing

  where the notes can harmonize

  with the feelings evoked

  – just as the reed notates the voice –

  and the eight instruments effect a harmony.

  With this, harmony and balance

  are brought both to the people

  and the deities.’

  Kui said, ‘Of course. I will sound the finely tuned chime stone and all creation will be moved by this.’

  Turning to Long, the Emperor said, ‘I hate slanderous talk and evil behaviour. This disturbs the people. So
you will be my Minister of Information and you will communicate night and day for me and brief me on the reality of what is happening.’

  ‘So,’ said the Emperor to all those whom he had appointed, ‘do as commanded and undertake in conjunction with Heaven itself these responsibilities. Every three years I will test you and after three such examinations, the weak ones will be dismissed while the brightest ones will be promoted.’ As a result of this, all the officials undertook their duties properly and the Miao people were exiled.

  Rising to power at the age of thirty, for thirty years he was in power and for fifty years he was the Emperor. Then he died, his souls ascending and descending.

  3

  The Counsels of Yu the Great

  Yu the Great was the hero who defeated the Great Flood and is one of the most revered of ancient Chinese figures. As Emperor, he is traditionally the founder of the Xia Dynasty (2205 to 1766 BC).

  Long, long ago there lived the hero Yu the Great, known for his virtuous way of life. He was admired for this throughout the land, and in response he declared: ‘If a ruler knows how to rule properly and if this is echoed in the conduct of the officials and the execution of their responsibilities, then the Affairs of State will run smoothly. This will encourage the people to be both keen and honest.’

  ‘The fact is,’ added the Emperor Shun, ‘good ideas will never be lost. No one who is worthy and hard-working will be neglected and as a result everywhere in our vast country will be at peace. However. Pay attention to everything; put aside your own desires in order that you can serve others; do not oppress the poor and unfortunate. The Emperor is the one who ensures this happens.’

  Yu replied to him:

  ‘It is your virtue which makes this possible. It is your combination of wisdom, devotion, resoluteness and culture, which shows that Heaven has given you its Mandate. As a result you have authority over the Empire and everything under Heaven comes within your sphere of leadership.