Text of Confucianism Part 01

SR No.: 007675
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1879
Total Pages: 2829
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 50 MB

Page 444

ODE 9.
THE MAJOR ODES OF THE KINGDOM.
407
Your chariots, O sovereign, Are numerous, many. Your horses, O sovereign, Are well trained and fleet. I have made my few verses, In prolongation of your song.'
ODE 9, Stanza 1. THE MIN LÂO.
.
IN A TIME OF DISORDER AND SUFFERING, SOME OFFICER OF DISTINC
TION CALLS ON HIS FELLOWS TO JOIN WITH HIM TO EFFECT A REFORMATION IN THE CAPITAL, AND PUT AWAY THE PARTIES WHO
WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PREVAILING MISERY. With the Khuan Â, what are called the correct' odes of Part III,
or those belonging to a period of good government, and the composition of which is ascribed mainly to the duke of Kâu, come to an end; and those that follow are the changed' Major Odes of the Kingdom, or those belonging to a degenerate period, commencing with this. Some among them, however, are equal to any of the former class. The Min Lâo has been assigned to duke Md of Shâo, a descendant of duke Khang, the Shih of the Shů, the reputed author of the Khuan Â, and was directed against king Li, B.C. 878 to 828.
The people indeed are heavily burdened, But perhaps a little relief may be got for them. Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom, To secure the repose of the four quarters of it. Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious, In order to make the unconscientious careful, And to repress robbers and oppressors, Who have no fear of the clear will (of Heaven)? Then let us show kindness to those who are distant, And help those who are near,—Thus establishing (the throne of) our king.
1.The clear will,' according to KQ Hsî, is the clear appointment of Heaven;' according to Ku Kung-khien, 'correct principle.' They both mean the law of human duty, as gathered from the nature of man's moral constitution conferred by Heaven.
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