大禮

King Wen asked Taigong: 'What are the proper rites between ruler and minister?' Taigong said: 'The one above must oversee; the one below must be steady. Oversee without becoming distant; be steady without sinking into oblivion. The one above must be all-encompassing; the one below must be resolute. All-encompassing is like heaven; resolute is like earth. With both heaven and earth, the great ritual is complete.'

King Wen asked: 'What of the ruler's position?' Taigong said: 'Be calm, unhurried, and still. Let gentle restraint be established first. Be generous without contention. Keep the mind empty and the will balanced, and treat all matters with correctness.' King Wen asked: 'What of the ruler's hearing?' Taigong said: 'Do not rashly grant approval, nor stubbornly refuse. Granting too readily loses your ground; refusing too readily shuts off communication. Look up at the high mountain — it cannot be reached. Fathom the deep abyss — it cannot be measured. The virtue of spiritual clarity reaches its peak in correctness and stillness.' King Wen asked: 'What of the ruler's insight?' Taigong said: 'The eye values clarity, the ear values acuity, the mind values wisdom. See with the eyes of all the world, and nothing will go unseen. Listen with the ears of all the world, and nothing will go unheard. Think with the minds of all the world, and nothing will go unknown. When information converges from all sides, then your clarity will never be obscured.'