Section 24.1
The king regulates the offices. With the three dukes, nine ministers, twenty-seven great officers, and eighty-one senior functionaries, a total of 120, his hierarchy of officials is complete.
1 I have heard that the standards adopted by the sage-kings were modeled on the great warp of Heaven,
2 which completes each season with three months and each year with four [seasonal] revolutions, so the regulations of the offices are as they are. This is the standard.
That three men constitute the first selection [of officials] is a standard derived from the fact that three months constitute one season. That four such selections are made, and no more, is a standard derived from the fact that with the four seasons, [the year] is brought to its conclusion. The three dukes are the means by which the king supports himself. With three [months], Heaven completes [each season]; with three [dukes], the king supports himself. When he establishes the number [three], that brings things to completion as his foundation, and four times repeats it, then the ruler can be free from error.
3 According completely with Heaven’s numbers to assist
4 in [the conduct of] human affairs signifies that government carefully attends to the Way.
5 These 120 officials were the means by which the former kings conducted themselves in accordance with the correct Way. For this reason,
the Son of Heaven assisted himself with the three dukes;
[each of] the three dukes assisted himself with three ministers;
[each of] the [nine] ministers assisted himself with three great officers;
[each of] the [twenty-seven] great officers assisted himself with three senior functionaries.
There is [a multiple] of three men in [each] selection, repeated four times. [Thus] from the “Way of Three” is derived the government of the world. So also Heaven’s four repetitions are derived from the three [months] that make up each season, thus ending and beginning the yearly cycle. There is one yang but three [months in each] spring; does this not accord with there being three [months in each] season? Heaven repeats this four times so that its numerical pattern is identical.
Heaven has its four seasons, and [each] season comprises three months;
the king has his four [rounds of] selections, and [each] selection comprises [a multiple of] three officials.
For this reason, the first, second, and third month of each season constitute the various characteristics
6 of each season, just as the upper, lower, and middle class of officials constitute the various characteristics of each selection of officials. With four selections, the ruler stops, for he has exhausted the various human characteristics. Human talent must have its four selections, just as Heaven’s seasons must have its four permutations.
The sagely person constitutes one selection;
the noble person constitutes one selection;
the good person constitutes one selection;
the upright person constitutes one selection.
Those who exist below these grades are not worthy of being selected.
Within the four [rounds] of selections, each has its own criteria. For this reason, Heaven selects the four seasons, brings them to completion with the twelve [months], and the Heavenly permutations are fully utilized.
7 It is only the sage who can [similarly] fully utilize the permutations of humankind and harmonize them with those of Heaven, thereby establishing the affairs of the king. [24/32/16–29]
Section 24.2
What is meant by “the great warp of Heaven”? There are
the three commencements [sunrise, noon, and sunset] that complete one day;
the three days that complete a
gui [three-day period];
8the three xun [ten-day periods] that complete a month;
the three months that complete a season;
the three seasons that complete the achievements [of the year].
9The cold, warm, and tepid are the three [types of temperature] that complete [the vitality of living] things.
The sun, moon, and stars are the three [types of celestial bodies] that complete [the phenomenon of] light.
Heaven, Earth, and humankind are the three [types of entities] that complete [the perfection of] virtue.
From this we see that to complete one with three is the great warp of Heaven. One takes the great warp of Heaven to create the Heavenly regulations. Therefore,
with ritual, three [instances of] yielding constitute one sequence;
with officials, [multiples of] three men constitute one selection.
Three dukes constitute one selection;
three ministers [for each duke] constitute one selection;
three great officers [for each minister] constitute one selection;
three senior functionaries [for each great officer] constitute one selection.
These four selections, each with their three officers, respond to Heaven’s seasons, each with its three months. For this reason,
taking three [men] to constitute a selection derives from Heaven’s warp;
taking four to constitute a round [of selections] derives from Heaven’s seasons;
taking twelve to constitute a cohort derives from the year’s measuring points;
arriving at ten cohorts and stopping derives from Heaven’s starting points. [24/32/29–24/33/6]
What is meant by “Heaven’s starting points”? The answer is: Heaven has ten starting points. With [these] ten, the starting points come to an end and that is all.
Heaven constitutes one starting point;
Earth constitutes one starting point;
yin constitutes one starting point;
yang constitutes one starting point;
Fire constitutes one starting point;
Metal constitutes one starting point;
Wood constitutes one starting point;
Water constitutes one starting point;
Earth constitutes one starting point;
humankind constitutes one starting point.
With these ten starting points, [we reach] completion. They are Heaven’s constants. Heaven’s constants are completely expressed by the number ten. The king receives these ten starting points from Heaven, and they constitute the measure of one cohort. Each cohort, for each starting point, takes twelve [officers] at a time, just as Heaven completes each year with twelve months. The numbers of Heaven are ten; the measuring points of the year are twelve. The measuring points of the year regulate the numbers of Heaven. With twelve, the numbers of Heaven are completely expressed. Thus ten years are completed with 120 months. [Likewise,] the cohorts for each of the ten starting points are completed with 120 officers. Each corresponds to Heaven. Three chosen officers complete [a group called] “Prudently Selected Officials.”
11 Therefore,
eighty-one senior functionaries constitute twenty seven [groups of] “Prudently Selected Officials” and support twenty seven great officers;
twenty seven great officers constitute nine [groups of] “Prudently Selected Officials” and support nine ministers;
nine ministers constitute three [groups of] “Prudently Selected Officials” and
support three dukes;
three dukes constitute one [group of] “Prudently Selected Officials” and support
the Son of Heaven.
The Son of Heaven accumulates forty [groups of] “Prudently Selected Officials” in order to constitute the four selections. With each selection comprising one [group of] three “Prudently Selected Officials,” all correspond to Heaven’s constants. For this reason, using the four selections to count them,
each selection totals thirty men.
Three times four is twelve, [for a total of] 120 men.
This, too, corresponds to Heaven’s constants.
Using the ten starting points to count them,
ten starting points total forty [groups of] “Prudently Selected Officials.”
Each [group of] “Prudently Selected Officials” has three men.
Three times four is twelve, [for a total of] 120 men.
This, too, corresponds to Heaven’s constants.
Using the subordinates of the three dukes to count them,
the subordinates of one duke total forty men.
Three times four is twelve, [for a total of] 120 men.
This, too, corresponds to Heaven’s constants.
Thus
when disaggregated and named, they are called the 120 officials;
when selected and honored, they are called the twelve “Seniors.”
Thus although their designations are numerous, nothing compares with calling them “the four selections of the twelve ‘Seniors.’” Nonetheless, when they are divided up and counted, each has its proper correspondence, and none fails to hit the mark of Heaven’s constants. [24/33/6–17]
For seeking out the subtleties of Heaven’s constants, none compares with humankind.
The body has four limbs, and each limb has three divisions.
Three times four is twelve.
When these twelve divisions support one another, the embodied form is established.
Heaven has four seasons, and each season has three months.
Three times four is twelve.
When these twelve months receive one another, the yearly cycle is established.
The officials have four selections, and each selection has its three men.
Three times four is twelve.
When these twelve officers support one another, the tasks of government are implemented.
Based on these examples we see that
the constants of Heaven;
the body of humankind;
the regulations of officialdom
support and affect one another. There are many human correspondences with Heaven of this kind, but they are quite subtle. They must be examined. [24/33/17–21]
Section 24.5
The pattern of Heaven and Earth is to allocate the permutations of a single year to make four seasons. The four seasons also constitute Heaven’s four selection times. Therefore,
spring is the selection time of the Lesser Yang,
summer is the selection time of the Greater Yang;
fall is the selection time of the Lesser Yin;
winter is the selection time of the Greater Yin.
Within these four selection times, each has its beginning, middle, and ending [months]. [Thus] there are selection times within selection times. Hence within a year there are four seasons, and within a season there are the three spans [of time]. These are the sequences of Heaven. Human beings are generated by Heaven, and consequently they embody Heaven’s sequences. Hence they also exhibit greatness and pettiness, generosity and meanness. [Such is] the
qi of human beings. The former kings accorded with the
qi of human beings to distinguish such permutations thereby creating the four selections [of officials]. For this reason,
the posts of the three dukes correspond to the selection of sagely men;
the posts of the three ministers correspond to the selection of noble men;
the posts of the three great officers correspond to the selection of good men;
the posts of three senior functionaries correspond to the selection of upright men.
12They distinguished them according to their permutations and thereby created the four selections [for office]. Each selection established three officials, just as Heaven distinguishes the permutations of the year and thereby creates the four seasons, in each of which there are three [monthly] divisions. Heaven thus completes the year by harmonizing the selections of the four seasons with those of the twelve [monthly] divisions. [Likewise,] the ruler smooths out the mutual relationship between the four ranks of selections and the twelve officials [who fill them], thus attaining the perfection [of the Way]. Only when the Way extends to the realm of perfection can the [ruler] avail himself of the moral beauty of Heaven and Earth. [24/33/21–28]