發啟

King Wen was at Feng. He summoned Taigong and said: 'Alas! The King of Shang has reached the extremity of cruelty — he condemns and kills the innocent. My lord, please help me. How shall we ease the people's suffering?' Taigong said: 'Let the king cultivate virtue and defer to the worthy, show benevolence to the people and observe the Way of Heaven. When Heaven's Way shows no calamity, you must not take the initiative. When the human way shows no disaster, you must not plot in advance. You must see calamity from Heaven and also see disaster among men — only then can you plan. You must see the yang aspect and also the yin aspect — only then can you know the heart. You must see what is external and also what is internal — only then can you know the intent. You must see what is distant and also what is close — only then can you know the true situation.'

Follow his way, and that way can be attained. Enter through his gate, and that gate can be passed. Establish the proper rites, and those rites can be perfected. Contest his strength, and that strength can be overcome. Complete victory comes without fighting. The greatest army inflicts no wounds. It communicates with the spirits and gods — how subtle! How subtle! When people share the same afflictions, they rescue each other. When they share the same feelings, they support each other. When they share the same hatreds, they help each other. When they share the same desires, they gather together. Therefore you can conquer without armor or weapons, attack without siege engines, and defend without moats or ramparts.'

The greatest wisdom appears unwise. The greatest strategy appears to have no strategy. The greatest courage appears not courageous. The greatest benefit appears to offer no benefit. He who benefits the world, the world opens to him. He who harms the world, the world closes against him. The world does not belong to one man — it belongs to all the world. He who takes the world is like one chasing a wild beast, and all the world shares the desire for a portion of the meat. It is like crossing a river in the same boat — if they succeed, all share the benefit; if they fail, all share the harm. Thus all will open the way, and none will block it. He who takes nothing from the people is the one who wins the people. He who takes nothing from the state is the one who wins the state. He who takes nothing from the world is the one who wins the world. When you take nothing from the people, the people benefit you. When you take nothing from the state, the state benefits you. When you take nothing from the world, the world benefits you. Therefore the Way lies in what cannot be seen, affairs lie in what cannot be heard, and victory lies in what cannot be known. How subtle! How subtle!'

A bird of prey about to strike flies low and folds its wings. A fierce beast about to pounce flattens its ears and crouches. A sage about to act always has an appearance of foolishness. Now that Yin-Shang — the people deceive one another with their words, everything is confused and aimless, their lust for beauty knows no limit. These are the signs of a doomed state. I observe their fields — weeds prevail over grain. I observe their people — the crooked prevail over the straight. I observe their officials — they are cruel, tyrannical, and destructive, they undermine the law and throw punishments into disorder, and neither those above nor below are aware. This is the time of a doomed state. When the great light shines forth, all things are illuminated. When great righteousness is launched, all things are benefited. When the great army is mobilized, all things submit. How magnificent is the sage's virtue! He alone hears, he alone sees — what joy!'