Wubeizhi, Volume 3

Commentary on Military Sayings: The Methods of the Sima

If virtue is discarded, there is no way to evaluate the people. Rewards will have nothing to spring from, and punishments will have no basis for application.

In the time of the Youyu Clan: the era of the legendary sage-king Shun, they neither rewarded nor punished, yet the people could be effectively employed. This represents the pinnacle of virtue. The Xia Dynasty: China’s first traditional dynasty, c. 2070–1600 BCE utilized rewards but did not rely on punishments. This represents the pinnacle of instruction. The Yin Dynasty: also known as the Shang, c. 1600–1046 BCE utilized punishments but did not rely on rewards. This represents the pinnacle of majesty. The Zhou Dynasty: c. 1046–256 BCE utilized both rewards and punishments. This indicated a decline in virtue.

Rewards should not exceed the proper time. The intention is to let the people quickly realize the benefits of doing good. Punishments should not be deferred to another place or rank. The intention is to let the people quickly experience the harm of doing what is not good.

After a great victory, rewards are not immediately distributed. This ensures that both superiors and subordinates do not boast of their own merits. If the superior does not boast of his merits, he will not become arrogant. If the subordinates do not boast of their merits, then the text implies an absence of hierarchy based on vanity distinctions of ego will vanish. When neither superiors nor subordinates boast of their achievements, this is the pinnacle of humility.

After a great defeat, there are no executions. This ensures that both superiors and subordinates take the blame upon themselves. If the superior takes the blame upon himself, he will surely regret his errors. If the subordinates take the blame upon themselves, they will surely distance themselves from their faults. When both superiors and subordinates share the burden of the failure, this is the pinnacle of humility.

In ancient times, when an army was formed for three years, they did not record names, maintain registers, or grant audiences... The text suggests a period of training where formal recognition and bureaucratic status were secondary to the formation of the unit’s character.