天之經與民之機
Heaven's Constants and the People's Impulse
文王問太公曰：「守國奈何？」太公曰：「齋，將語君天之經，四時所生，仁聖之道，民機之情。」王即齋七日，北面再拜而問之。太公曰：「天生四時，地生萬物，天下有民，仁聖牧之。故春道生，萬物榮；夏道長，萬物成；秋道斂，物盈；冬道藏，萬物尋。盈則藏，藏則復起，莫知所終，莫知所始，聖人配之，以為天地經紀。故天下治，仁聖藏；天下亂，仁聖昌；至道其然也。聖人之在天地間也，其寶固大矣；因其常而視之，則民安。夫民動而為機，機動而得失爭矣。故發之以其陰，會之以其陽，為之先唱，天下和之，極反其常。莫進而爭，莫退而讓。守國如此，與天地同光。」
King Wen asked Taigong: 'How does one guard the state?' Taigong said: 'Fast first, and I shall speak to you of heaven's constants, what the four seasons produce, the Way of the humane sage, and the nature of the people's impulses.' The king thereupon fasted for seven days, faced north, bowed twice, and asked. Taigong said: 'Heaven produces the four seasons, earth produces the myriad things, and the world has its people — the humane sage shepherds them. In spring the Way gives birth, and the myriad things flourish. In summer the Way nurtures growth, and the myriad things come to fullness. In autumn the Way gathers in, and things reach abundance. In winter the Way stores away, and the myriad things lie dormant. When full, store away; when stored, they rise again. None knows where it ends, none knows where it begins. The sage matches himself to this cycle, making it the warp and weft of heaven and earth. When the world is well governed, the humane sage withdraws from view; when the world is in chaos, the humane sage rises to prominence — this is the nature of the highest Way. The sage's presence between heaven and earth is a treasure of the greatest magnitude. Follow the constant and observe it, and the people will be secure. When the people stir, that is the impulse; when the impulse stirs, the struggle for gain and loss begins. Therefore, launch action through what is hidden, converge through what is manifest. Take the lead, and the world will harmonize with you. At the extreme, return to the constant. Neither press forward in contention, nor retreat in yielding. Guard the state in this manner, and you will share the radiance of heaven and earth.'