法禁

When legal institutions are not debated, the people will not engage in private dealings. When executions and punishments are not pardoned, the people will not slack in doing good. When rank and emolument are not borrowed, subordinates will not disturb their superiors. These three, stored in the offices become law; applied to the state they become custom — and the rest is governed without compulsion.

The sage kings of old, in governing people, did not value wide learning but desired that people harmonize and unite to obey commands. The 'Great Oath' says: 'Zhou had ministers by the hundred million, but they had a hundred million minds. King Wu had ministers of three thousand, but they were of one mind. Therefore Zhou perished with his hundred million minds, and King Wu survived with his one mind.' Those who usurp state authority to deeply exploit the people — the sage king prohibits them. Those who flaunt contrarian conduct and strange rites, speak grandly and act with difficulty, and elevate themselves — the sage king prohibits them.

When the sage king was alive and governing the world, virtue and conduct always had their standard of approval, and the Way and duty always had their clear expression. Therefore no scholar dared to display eccentric customs or unusual rites to make himself conspicuous in the state. None dared spread favors and relaxed conduct to cultivate relationships above and below and curry favor with the people. Therefore none dared surpass their rank or usurp offices, seizing advantage and claiming merit to ingratiate themselves with their ruler. The sage king's governance of the people ensured that advancing, they could not obtain what they desired through improper means; retreating, they could not avoid what they feared through improper means. He made them return to contentment in their positions, delighting in their groups, attending to their duties, and taking pride in their reputations.