Section 12.1
In the Spring and Autumn’s record of 240 years, there is nothing that it fails to transmit, [despite] the vastness of the world or the extensiveness of alterations in human affairs. Although this is so, the essential elements of its broad outline [consist] of ten directives. These ten directives are
what bind together all its affairs
and are the source from which the king’s transformative [influence] flows.
To hold up [for scrutiny] the alterations of human affairs and show which ones are weighty is one directive.
To reveal from whence the alterations of human affairs arise is one directive.
To follow the causes of the alterations of human affairs and master them is one directive.
To strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches and to magnify the roots and minimize the twigs is one directive.
To distinguish the deceptively similar and differentiate [things that appear to belong to] the same category is one directive.
To discuss the righteousness of the worthy and talented and distinguish the various strengths of their abilities is one directive.
To show affection toward those who are close and to attract those who are distant and to identify with what the common people desire is one directive.
Having inherited the refinement of the Zhou, to revert to simplicity is one directive.
To take as Heaven’s starting point that Wood generates Fire and Fire constitutes summer is one directive.
1To take as humanity’s
2 starting point examining how those who merit criticism are punished and investigating what brings on anomalies and portents is one directive.
By describing the alterations of human affairs and by illuminating their significance, the one hundred surnames will find security.
By revealing from whence arise the alterations of human affairs, success and failure will be illuminated.
By following the causes of the alterations of human affairs and mastering them, affairs will be rectified at their source.
By strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches and by magnifying the roots and minimizing the twigs, the distinction between ruler and subject will be clarified.
By distinguishing the deceptively similar and by differentiating [things that appear to belong to] the same category, right and wrong will become manifest.
By discussing the righteousness of the worthy and talented and differentiating them according to the strength of their abilities, the hierarchy of officials will be properly ordered.
By having inherited the refinement of Zhou and reverting to simplicity, the responsibility of [kingly] transformation will be accomplished.
By showing affection toward those who are close and attracting those who are distant and by identifying with what the common people desire, humaneness and compassion will become prominent.
By Wood generating Fire and Fire constituting summer, the inherent patterns of yin and yang and the four seasons will follow one another in orderly sequence.
By examining how those who merit criticism are punished by investigating what brings on anomalies and portents, what Heaven desires will be realized.
If you bring together these precepts and promote them, humaneness will [radiate] outward, and righteousness will arrive. The enriching influence of your virtue will broaden and expand, spreading and overflowing within the Four Seas. Yin and yang will be harmoniously balanced, and none of the myriad things will fail to conform to its inherent patterns. All those who explicate the
Spring and Autumn use these directives and [take them] as their standards. [12/21/28–12/22/9]