辭過

Master Mozi said: 'In ancient times when the people did not yet know how to build dwellings, they lived on mounds and hillocks and dwelt in caves. The dampness below harmed the people, so the sage kings created dwellings. The standard for dwellings was: rooms high enough to avoid dampness, walls sufficient to ward off wind and cold, roofs adequate to withstand snow, frost, rain, and dew, and palace walls high enough to maintain the propriety of separating men and women. Once these requirements are met, stop. Whatever wastes resources and exhausts labor without adding benefit should not be done.'

In ancient times when the people did not yet know how to make clothing, they wore animal skins and tied grass around themselves. In winter these were not light yet warm; in summer they were not light yet cool. The sage kings considered this inadequate for human needs, so they taught women to process silk and hemp, to weave cloth and silk, to make clothing for the people. The standard for clothing was: in winter, refined silk of medium quality, sufficient to be light yet warm; in summer, fine linen of medium quality, sufficient to be light yet cool. Once these requirements are met, stop.

These five areas are where the sage practices moderation, and where the petty person indulges in excess. Moderation leads to prosperity; excess leads to ruin. These five areas must be moderated. When husband and wife are moderate, heaven and earth are in harmony; when wind and rain are moderate, the five grains ripen; when clothing is moderate, skin and flesh are healthy.