Through using the logical categories, one deals with diversity; through using the principle of

unity, one deals with the myriad. lt is the beginning that is the end, and it is the end that is the
beginning-as though they were an unending circle. Abandon these principles, and the empire
will fall into decay.72

Heaven and Earth are the beginning of life. Ritual and moral principles are the beginning of
order. The gentleman is the beginning of ritual and moral principles." Acting with them,
actualizing them, accumulating them over and over again, and loving them more than all else is
the beginning of the gentleman.7

Thus, Heaven and Earth give birth to the gentleman, and the gentleman provides the organizing
principle for Heaven and Earth. The gentleman is the triadic partner of Heaven and Earth, the
summation of the myriad of things, and the father and mother of the people.

If there were no gentleman, Heaven and Earth would lack any principle of order. Ritual and
moral principles would have no guidelines. Above there would be no proper recognition of lord
and leader: below there would be no proper relationship between father and son. Truly this
may be described as "total chaos." The relationships between lord and minister, father and son,
older and younger brothers, husband and wife, begin as they end and end as they begin, share
with Heaven and Earth the same organizing principle, and endure in the same form through all
eternity.75 Truly this may be described as the "Great Foundation."

Hence, in mourning and sacrificial rites, in court and diplomatic ceremonies, and in military
organization there is a unitary principle. In elevating or degrading, in decreeing death or life, in
bestowing or taking away, there is a unitary principle. In the lord acting as lord, tlw nunister as
minister, the father as father, son as son, the older brother as older brother, the younger
brother as younger brother, there is a unitary principle. In the farmer functioning as a farmer,
the knight as a knight, the artisan as an artisan, and the merchant as a merchant, there is a
unitary principle.

'itt' .uid water possess vitil breath but have nu life. Plants .ind trees 11l,,,sess lite. hut lAck
awareiicss. Birds and beasts have awareness, but lack a sense of morality and justice. Humans
possess vital breath, life, and awareness, and add to them a sense of morality and justice. Lt is
for this reason that they are the noblest beings in the world. In physical power they are not so
good as an ox, in swiftness they do not equal the horse; yet the ox and horse can be put to their
use. Why is that? I say it is because humans alone can form societies and animals cannot.

人何以能群？曰：分。分何以能行？曰：義。故義以分則和…；故宮室可得而居也。故序
四時，裁萬物，兼利天下，無它故焉，得之分義也。

Why can man form a society (qun 群)? (I say it is due to the) division (of society into classes.)
How can (social) divisions be translated (neng 能) into behavior (行)? I say it is because of
humans' sense of morality and justice.77 Thus, if their sense of morality and justice is used to
divide society into classes, concord will result.… For this reason, humans can acquire palaces
and houses where they can dwell in safety. Thus, that they put the four seasons in their proper
sequence, control the myriad of things, universally benefit the whole world, is due to no other
cause than that they have developed social classes from their sense of morality and justice.

故人生不能無群，群而無分則爭，爭則亂，亂則離，離則弱，弱則不能勝物；故宮室不可
得而居也，不可少頃舍禮義之謂也。

Accordingly, from birth all men are capable of forming societies. If a society is formed without
social divisions, strife would result; if there is strife, disorder ensues; if there is disorder,
fragmentation results; if there is fragmentation, weakness comes; if there is weakness, it is
impossible to triumph over objects. For this reason, humans could not acquire palaces and
houses in which to dwell with security. This is precisely why it is unacceptable to neglect ritual
and moral principles even for the shortest moment.

君者，善群也。群道當，則萬物皆得其宜，六畜皆得其長，群生皆得其命。故養長時，則
六畜育；殺生時，則草木殖；政令時，則百姓一，賢良服。

A lord is one who is accomplished at causing men to form societies. If the way of a society is
properly structured, then each of the myriad things acquires its appropriate place, the six
domestic animals can properly increase, and every living thing will have its allotted fate. Thus,
just as the six domestic animals will multiply and increase, if they are nurtured and bred
according to the seasons, and just as plants and trees will flourish, if they are cut and planted
with the seasons, so too, if the acts and orders of government are according to the seasons, the
Hundred Clans will be united and the worthy and good will offer their allegiance

君者，善群也。群道當，則萬物皆得其宜，六畜皆得其長，群生皆得其命。故養長
時，則六畜育；殺生時，則草木殖；政令時，則百姓一，賢良服

A lord is one who is accomplished at forming societies. If the way of a society is properly
structured, then each of the myriad things acquires its appropriate place, the six domestic
animals can properly increase, and every living thing will have its allotted fate. Thus, just
as the six domestic animals will multiply if they are nurtured and bred 養長 according to
the seasons, and just as plants and trees will flourish, if they are cut and planted with the
seasons, so too, if the acts and orders of government are according to the seasons, the
common people will be united and the worthy and good will offer their allegiance
(translation modified, Knoblock Vol II 104-105)
“If the way of society is properly structured, then the myriad things all acquire their
appropriate place, the six domestic animals each obtain their proper growth, and all living
things obtain their allotted fate. Therefore, just as the six domestic animals will multiply if
they are nurtured and bred according to the seasons, and just as plants and trees will
flourish if they are cut and planted with the seasons, so too, if the acts and orders of
government are according to the seasons, the hundred families will be united and the
worthy and good will offer their allegiance.” (Sterckx)
The true lord is one who is good at forming community. When the way of forming
community is properly practiced, then the myriad things will each obtain what is
appropriate for them, the six domestic animals will each obtain their proper growth, and all
the various living things will obtain their proper life spans. And so, when nurturing
accords with the proper times, then the six (350) domestic animals will multiply. When
reaping accords with the proper times, then the grasses and trees will flourish. If
government commands accord with the proper times, then the common people will be
united, and good and worthy men will submit and obey. (Hutton)
The ruler is one who is good at organizing men in society. 20 When society is properly
organized, then all things will find their proper place, the six domestic animals 21 will
breed and flourish, and all living beings will fulfill their allotted span of life. If breeding
and tending is done at the proper time, the six domestic animals will increase. If planting
and cutting is done at the proper time, plants and trees will flourish. If government
commands are issued at the proper time, then the common people will be unified, and
worthy and good men will offer their services. These are the regulations of a sage king.
(Watson)