📿 Classic Reading & Reflection
Shared by: Chen Maoxing
Date: October 15, 2026
【Today’s Reading】
- The Great Learning — 1 recitation
- Fa Li De Dao (Law, Ritual, Virtue, Dao) — Page 251
【Reflection】
— Wisdom of “Law, Ritual, Virtue, and Dao” in Songs of Chu
🔹 Governance by Law
Feng xiān gōng yǐ zhào xià xī, míng fǎ dù zhī xián yí.
Jǔ xián ér shòu néng xī, xún shéng mò ér bù pō.
To illuminate past achievements for those below, and clarify any doubts in the legal standards.
To raise the worthy and entrust the capable, following the marking-line without deviation.
🔹 Governance by Ritual
Tāng Yǔ yán ér zhī jìng xī, Zhōu lùn dào ér mò chā.
Shuō cāo zhù yú Fù yán xī, Wǔ Dīng yòng ér bù yí.
Lǚ Wàng zhī gǔ dāo xī, zāo Zhōu Wén ér dé jǔ.
Níng Qī zhī ōu gē xī, Qí Huán wén yǐ gāi fǔ.
Tang and Yu were solemn and reverent; the Zhou discussed the Dao without error.
Fu Yue carried mortar at Fu Yan, and Wu Ding employed him without doubt.
Lü Wang wielded his butcher’s knife, and met King Wen of Zhou to be raised up.
Ning Qi sang his songs, and Duke Huan of Qi heard and made him a minister.
🔹 Governance by Virtue
Huáng tiān wú sī ē xī, lǎn mín dé yān cuò fǔ.
Fú wéi shèng zhé yǐ mào xíng xī, gǒu dé yòng cǐ xià tǔ.
Zhān qián ér gù hòu xī, xiāng guān mín zhī jì jí.
Fú shú fēi yì ér kě yòng xī, shú fēi shàn ér kě fú?
Shàn bù yóu wài lái xī, míng bù kě yǐ xū zuò.
Shù lèi yǐ chéng xī, cǐ dé zhī mén.
Cháng tài xī yǐ yǎn tì xī, āi mín shēng zhī duō jiān.
Heaven shows no partial favor, but surveys mortal virtue to grant its aid.
Only the sage and wise in flourishing conduct may rightly hold the land below.
Look to the past and gaze upon the future; observe the people’s utmost need.
Who could employ what lacks all righteousness? Who could trust what lacks all good?
Goodness does not come from without; a name cannot be built on empty show.
All things flourish through this very gate — the gate of Virtue.
With a long sigh I wipe my tears, grieving for the hardships of the people’s lives.
🔹 Governance by Dao
Suì gǔ zhī chū shéi chuán dào zhī?
Dào kě shòu xī ér bù kě chuán.
Bǐ Yáo Shùn zhī gěng jiè xī, jì zūn dào ér dé lù.
Tāng Yǔ yán ér zhī jìng xī, Zhōu lùn dào ér mò chā.
In the beginning of the primeval past, who handed down the Dao?
The Dao may be received but cannot be transmitted in words.
Those Yao and Shun, so bright and steadfast, already followed the Dao and found their path.
Tang and Yu were solemn and reverent; the Zhou discussed the Dao without error.
🌿 Four Harmonies
When Heaven is in harmony, wind and rain are timely.
When Earth is in harmony, the five grains flourish.
When people are in harmony, a hundred trades thrive.
When family is in harmony, all endeavors prosper.
