水地
Water and Earth
Earth is the fundamental origin of the myriad things, the root-garden of all life, the place where beauty and ugliness, worthy and unworthy, foolish and clever are produced. Water is the blood and qi of the earth, flowing through it like sinews and veins. Therefore it is said: water is the complete material. Why? Water is soft, weak, and clear, delighting in washing away people's faults — this is benevolence. Looked at, it appears black yet is white — this is essence. Measured, it cannot be skimmed; it fills to the brim and stops — this is correctness. It flows only downward, always seeking the level — this is duty. All men rush to the heights; water alone rushes to the depths — this is humility. Humility is the chamber of the Way, the instrument of the king. Jade's preciousness emerges from nine virtues. Man is water: male and female essences combine and water flows into form. Therefore the sage's transformation of the world — the pivot lies in water. Make the water unified and the people's hearts will be correct; make the water clear and the people's hearts will be easy.
Notes
This chapter's theory that water determines national character through its physical properties is a remarkable early example of environmental determinism. The characterizations of different states' peoples through their water (Qi's water makes people greedy and brave; Chu's makes them light and treacherous; Qin's makes them covetous and violent) became widely cited.