尚賢(中)

Therefore the sage kings of old greatly honored and elevated the worthy and employed the capable. They showed no favoritism toward fathers and brothers, no bias toward the rich and noble, and no partiality toward those with pleasing appearances. The worthy were promoted and raised up, enriched and ennobled, and made heads of offices. The unworthy were suppressed and removed, impoverished and debased, and made into menial laborers.

Having stated the principle, if one does not know the method of implementing it, the task will remain unaccomplished. Therefore one must establish three foundations. What are the three foundations? 'If their rank is not high, the people will not respect them; if their salaries are not generous, the people will not trust them; if their authority to command is not decisive, the people will not stand in awe of them. Therefore the ancient sage kings gave them high rank, generous salaries, entrusted them with affairs, and gave them decisive authority to command. Was this done as a gift to their ministers? No -- it was because they desired the tasks to be accomplished.'

Now when kings and great men have a single garment they cannot make, they must rely on a skilled tailor; when they have a single ox or sheep they cannot slaughter, they must rely on a skilled butcher. With regard to these two things, kings and great men have not failed to employ the worthy and capable. Yet when it comes to the disorder of their states and the peril of their altars of soil and grain, they do not know to employ the capable to set things right. They appoint their relatives; they appoint those who are rich and noble without cause; they appoint those whose faces and appearances are attractive.

In ancient times Shun plowed at Mount Li, made pottery on the banks of the Yellow River, and fished at Thunder Marsh. Yao found him on the sunny side of Fu Marsh, promoted him to Son of Heaven, and together they managed the government of the realm and governed its people. Yi Zhi was a personal servant of a woman of the Youshen clan, and himself served as a cook. Tang found him, promoted him to be his own chief minister, and together they managed the government of the realm and governed its people. Fu Yue wore coarse cloth and a rope belt, and labored as a hired builder at the rocks of Fu. Wu Ding found him, promoted him to be one of the Three Dukes, and together they managed the government of the realm and governed its people.