Volume One

Page 2

Governing in accordance with the Way of Heaven and establishing what is appropriate for the Earth modeling oneself after the natural Way of Heaven and Earth, cultivating the virtue of officials and the common people, rectifying names and managing all things, establishing the state and distinguishing official duties, and apportioning stipends according to rank—when the feudal lords are pleased and cherished by the ruler, everyone within the four seas submits, litigation ceases, and weapons are laid to rest: this is the height of Sagely Virtue.

Next in order are the Worthy Kings, who instituted Ritual and Music (Liyue): the foundational structures of ancient Chinese civilization used to harmonize social behavior and internal emotion Ritual and Music as well as laws and regulations. They then created the Five Punishments (Wuxing): a series of physical penalties used in ancient China to maintain social order, ranging from branding to the death penalty Five Punishments and raised armored troops to punish those who were unrighteous.

They went on Inspection Tours (Xunshou): royal progresses where the sovereign personally surveyed the lands of his vassals to ensure stability and adherence to law Inspection Tours of the regions, convened the feudal lords, and examined any discrepancies in their conduct. When there were those who violated royal mandates, disrupted social norms, perverted virtue, or acted against the seasons of Heaven—thereby endangering a ruler of merit if the feudal lords do not perform their duties, this undermines the achievements of the Heavenly King and places him in danger from above—the sovereign would announce it to all the feudal lords, making the guilt of the offender manifest.

He then informed August Heaven and the High Sovereign, the sun, moon, and stars; prayed to the Sovereign Earth, the spirits of the four seas, the mountains, rivers, and the Grand Altars (Zhongshe): the sacred sites dedicated to the soil and grain, symbolizing the foundation of the state Grand Altars; and reported the matter to the spirits of the Former Kings. Only after this did the Prime Minister (Zhongzai): the chief administrator who managed the state's affairs and the mobilization of the army Prime Minister summon an army from the feudal lords, declaring: “A certain state has acted without the Way; we shall campaign against it.”

On a certain year, month, and day, the army arrived at the said state, meeting with Heaven’s...