Explanation of a one-word poem in Volume 8 of "The Book of Shang Jun" 1: One people and peasants fight to make the country rich
Inscription poem:
Whenever a country is established, the system must be inspected , The law must be governed with caution, and the country must be prudent,
The foundation of things must be tough. The system is timely, the national customs can be changed, and the people follow the system;
If the law is governed clearly, there will be no officials. Evil; the state affairs are about agriculture, and the people apply them;
The people are interested in doing things, and they like farming and war. The sage, legislation and customs,
enables the people to engage in farming day and night. It is necessary to distinguish between the husband and the people,
engage in the death penalty system, put it above the king, set up honorary names, clearly set rewards and punishments,
the people do not use it, argue about private affairs, and The meritorious service has been established. The old people like farming,
and they also enjoy fighting. When they see those who are respected above, they are farmers and warriors, and then they argue with others.
People who are skilled in crafts despise those who travel and learn. Therefore, if the people are doing something, their families will be rich,
and they will be visible to the country. They will promote public interests and block private doors to benefit the people;
Those who work privately will not be visible to the country. , those who are private are not invited to the king.
If this is done, and the meritorious ministers persuade, then the order will be carried out, and the grass will be cleared,
The people will be raped, and the traitors will Wu Meng. Those who can harness the power of the people and serve the people,
The one who governs the country is strong; the one who can do his own business and restrain the poor, the one who governs the country is rich.
Original text 1
Whenever a country is established, it is necessary to observe the system, to govern the law carelessly, to be cautious in state affairs, and to deal with the fundamentals of things. When the system is in place, the national customs can be transformed and the people obey the system; when the laws and regulations are clear, the officials are innocent; when the state affairs are first, the people apply them; when the affairs are basic, the people like farming and war. The laws and customs made by the saints have enabled the people to engage in farming day and night, and this cannot be changed (differentiation).
The people are engaged in the death penalty system, and the above-mentioned honorary names, rewards and punishments are clear, and there is no need to argue about private affairs and meritorious service. Therefore, the people like farming and enjoy fighting. The people at the top respect those who farm and fight, while the people at the bottom respect those who argue about skills and despise those who travel and study. Therefore, if the people have one thing to do, their families will be rich and their bodies will be prominent in the country. Opening up public interests and blocking private gates will lead to the power of the people; private labor will not be shown to the country, and private gates will not be invited to the king. If this is the case, and the meritorious officials persuade them, then the orders will be carried out but the grass will be cleared, and the people will stop committing adultery, and there will be no cuteness. Those who can govern a country by harnessing the power of the people and serving the people well are strong; those who are able to serve the fundamentals and restrain the weak are rich.
Translation 1
Whenever a country is established, it is necessary to understand the system, study policies and laws carefully, handle the government affairs of the country carefully, and understand the fundamental business that the country should engage in. concentrated. If the country's system conforms to the current situation, then the country's style can be changed, and the people will obey the system; if the policies and laws are clear, then evil things will not happen among officials; if the country's government affairs are unified, then the people will obey the state's orders; If the country's fundamental business is focused, the people will obey it; if the business is concentrated, the people will like agriculture and be willing to fight. The purpose of the saints in establishing laws and policies and changing customs is to enable people to engage in farming sooner or later. This must be understood clearly.
The reason why the people are willing to fight for the country is because the monarch establishes honorary titles and titles in the court, and sets up a clear system of rewards and punishments. The people can serve the country without relying on empty talk or asking for personal connections. Make meritorious service. The reason why the people like to engage in farming and are willing to fight is because they see that the monarch respects those who engage in farming and fighting, despises those who like empty talk and rely on skills to make a living, and even despises those who lobby everywhere. Therefore, if the people concentrate on agricultural warfare, their families will be rich, and they will become prominent in the country and become officials in the court. The monarch opens the door to contribute to the country and blocks the door to those who serve the powerful for private petitions. This method achieves the purpose of attracting the power of the people; private services cannot be prominent in the country, and private individuals cannot petition in front of the monarch. If in this way, those who have done meritorious service for the country are encouraged, then the monarch's orders will be fulfilled, the wasteland will be cultivated, the wandering people will stop, and evil crimes will not occur. If the country can be governed by a country that can gather the power of the people to focus on agriculture and war, the country will be strong; if it can enable the people to engage in the basic industry (farming) and prohibit commerce and handicrafts, the country will be rich.