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Mencius – Chapter 8.3 Reciprocity over obedience: Conditional loyalty
Mencius said to King Xuan of Qi: “If a ruler treats his ministers as his own hands and feet, they will treat him as their heart and mind.If he treats them like dogs or horses, they will regard him as a mere stranger.If he treats them like dust or weeds – worthless and disposable…
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Mencius – Chapter 8.2 Institutional Benevolence over Personal Kindness
Zichan (Zi Chan), while governing the state of Zheng, once used his own carriage to ferry people across the Zhen and Wei rivers.
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Mencius – Chapter 8.1 Moral truth across time and space
Mencius said: “Shun was born in Zhufeng, moved to Fuxia, and died in Mingtiao – he was a man of the Eastern Yi (eastern frontier peoples).King Wen of Zhou was born in Qizhou and died in Biying – he was a man of the Western Yi (western frontier peoples).” “Their homelands were over a…
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Tune of the South of the Yangtze [Tang Poems]
— Li Yi I married a merchant bound for Qutang Gorge; Day after day, he breaks the promised rendezvous. Had I known the tide keeps its faith without fail, I’d have wed instead the lad who rides the billows pale.
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A Fisherman’s Song on Orchid Stream [Tang Poems]
— Dai Shulun A cool crescent like an eyebrow hangs over the Willow Bay; Hills of Yue reflected in the stream look like a mirror lay. For three days, rain’s fallen with peach petals on Orchid Stream; At midnight, from the shoal leap up all the bream.
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The Vernal Hill in Moonlit Night [Tang Poems]
— Yu Liangshi How many charming scenes in vernal hill? I forgot to return till night just to enjoy my fill! Scoop water with my hand – the moon rests in the bowl; Toy with flowers – their fragrance clings to my gown. When joy surges, I forget the distance; About to go, I…