度地

Surveying the Land

View:

地形為國

Shaping the State Through Terrain

昔者，桓公問管仲曰：“寡人請問度地形而為國者，其何如而可？”管仲對曰：“夷吾之所聞，能為霸王者，蓋天子聖人也。故聖人之處國者，必於不傾之地，而擇地形之肥饶者。”

In ancient times, Duke Huan asked Guan Zhong: 'I wish to ask about surveying terrain to build a state — how should this be done?' Guan Zhong replied: 'From what I have heard, those who could achieve hegemony or kingship were no less than sage-emperors of heaven. The sage's placement of a state must be on land that cannot be toppled, choosing terrain that is fertile and rich.'

五害以水為大

Of the Five Calamities, Flood Is the Greatest

桓公曰：“願聞五害之說。”管仲對曰：“水，一害也；旱，一害也；風霧雹霜，一害也；厲，一害也；蟲，一害也。此謂五害。五害之屬，水最為大。”

Duke Huan said: 'I wish to hear about the five calamities.' Guan Zhong replied: 'Flood is one calamity; drought is one calamity; wind, fog, hail, and frost are one calamity; plague is one calamity; pestilence of insects is one calamity. These are called the five calamities. Of the five, flood is the greatest.'

Edition & Source

Text: 《管子》 Guanzi
Edition: 《四部叢刊》本
Commentary: Traditional commentaries