Bai Gui said, “My skill in controlling the floods is superior to that of Yu the Great.”
Mencius said, “You are wrong. Yu the Great’s control of the waters followed the natural way of water. Therefore, Yu used the four seas as the ultimate receptacles for the floodwaters. But now, you use neighboring states as your receptacles. Water that flows backward and overflows is called ‘jiang’ (inundation). Inundation is a devastating flood, and it is abhorred by benevolent people. You are indeed wrong.”
Note
This passage, also from the Gaozi II chapter of the Mencius, follows Bai Gui’s earlier discussion on taxation. If the previous text was Mencius’ refutation of utilitarianism in economic policy, this dialogue on “flood control” serves as Mencius’ severe ethical critique of extreme egoism in politics. Drawing on historical context and traditional commentaries, we can understand its philosophy through the following dimensions:
- “The Way of Water” and Following Nature: The Confucian Wisdom of Harmonizing Heaven and Humanity
Mencius highly praised Yu the Great for following the “natural way of water.” While Yu’s father, Gun, failed by trying to “block” the water, Yu succeeded by “dredging and guiding” it. This was not only a triumph in hydraulic engineering but also a victory in political philosophy. Mencius used this to point out that whether governing nature or a state, one must conform to objective laws and human nature (an extension of the theory of innate goodness). One cannot forcefully alter reality through subjective arrogance. - “Using Neighboring States as Receptacles”: A Critique of Zero-Sum Games and Extreme Egoism
Bai Gui’s method of flood control was to build dikes and forcibly divert his own floodwaters into neighboring states to protect himself. This was a common short-sighted diplomatic and military strategy during the Warring States period. Mencius labeled this practice as “jiang” (inundation), arguing that it is deeply abhorred by benevolent people. Mencius astutely pointed out that self-preservation built upon the harm of others not only violates the core spirit of “benevolence” but will ultimately provoke endless hatred and warfare, leading to global chaos. - From “Flood Control” to “Governance of the Heart”: The Universal Concern of Kingly Politics
Yu the Great’s approach of “using the four seas as receptacles” reflects a grand vision of embracing the world and benefiting all living beings, whereas Bai Gui’s “using neighboring states as receptacles” reflects narrow-minded parochialism. Through this contrast, Mencius elevated the Confucian political ideal: true Kingly Way politics cannot focus solely on the selfish interests of one’s own state; it must possess a universal compassion of “extending respect for one’s own elders to the elders of others.” Only by abandoning the calculations of “using neighbors as receptacles” and implementing benevolent governance can true global peace be achieved.
白圭曰：“丹之治水也愈于禹。”孟子曰：“子过矣。禹之治水，水之道也。是故禹以四海为壑，今吾子以邻国为壑。水逆行，谓之洚水。洚水者，洪水也，仁人之所恶也。吾子过矣。”
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