The Will of Heaven I

Mozi said: The noblemen and gentlemen of the world today understand only small principles but not the great principles. How do we know this is so? From their handling of household affairs, we can tell. If one offends the head of the household at home, there are still neighbors to flee to and hide from. Yet relatives, brothers, and acquaintances warn each other, saying: "One must be vigilant! One must be cautious! How can one afford to offend the head of the household at home!" This is not only true at home; even within the state it is the same. If one offends the ruler of the state within the state, there are still neighboring states to flee to and hide from. Yet relatives, brothers, and acquaintances warn each other, saying: "One must be vigilant! One must be cautious! Who can afford to offend the ruler of the state within the state!" When there are places to flee and hide, they still warn each other with such earnestness. How much more earnest must the warnings be when there is no place to flee and hide! Moreover, there is a saying: "If one offends another in broad daylight, where can one flee to and hide?" The answer is: There is no place to flee and hide. Heaven does not fail to see because one is in deep mountains, forests, valleys, or dark, secluded places; it sees all clearly and will surely perceive it. Yet the noblemen and gentlemen of the world neglect Heaven and do not know to warn each other. This is why I know that the noblemen and gentlemen of the world understand only small principles but not the great principles.

Now, what does Heaven love and what does it hate? Heaven loves righteousness and hates unrighteousness. If this is so, then leading the people of the world to do what is righteous is doing what Heaven loves. When we do what Heaven loves, Heaven will also do what we love. Then what do we love and what do we hate? We love blessings and good fortune and hate calamities and misfortune. If this is so, then leading the people of the world to do what is unrighteous is doing what Heaven does not love. When we do what Heaven does not love, Heaven will also do what we do not love, and then we are leading the people of the world into calamities and misfortune.

Then how do we know that Heaven loves righteousness and hates unrighteousness? The answer is: When there is righteousness in the world, there is life; when there is no righteousness, there is death. When there is righteousness, there is wealth; when there is no righteousness, there is poverty. When there is righteousness, there is order; when there is no righteousness, there is chaos. If this is so, then Heaven wishes people to live and hates them to die, wishes people to be wealthy and hates them to be poor, wishes people to be orderly and hates them to be chaotic. This is why I know that Heaven loves righteousness and hates unrighteousness.

Moreover, it is said: Righteousness is what is used to correct people. There is no correcting those above from below; it must be that those above correct those below. Thus the common people exert themselves in labor but cannot act arbitrarily according to their own will; there are the officers to correct them. The officers exert themselves in labor but cannot act arbitrarily according to their own will; there are the generals and great officers to correct them. The generals and great officers exert themselves in their duties but cannot act arbitrarily according to their own will; there are the three dukes and feudal lords to correct them. The three dukes and feudal lords exert themselves in governing but cannot act arbitrarily according to their own will; there is the Son of Heaven to correct them. The Son of Heaven cannot act arbitrarily according to his own will; there is Heaven to correct him. That the Son of Heaven corrects the three dukes, feudal lords, officers, and common people is clearly understood by the noblemen and gentlemen of the world. But that Heaven corrects the Son of Heaven is not entirely clear to the people of the world. Therefore, in ancient times, the three sage kings—Yu of Xia, Tang of Shang, Wen of Zhou, and Wu of Zhou—wanted to make clear to the people of the world the principle of Heaven correcting the Son of Heaven. So they did not fail to raise cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs, and to prepare clean millet, glutinous rice, wine, and sweet wine, to sacrifice to the Supreme Lord and the spirits, and to pray to Heaven for blessings. I have never heard of anyone in the world praying to the Son of Heaven for blessings. This is why I know that Heaven corrects the Son of Heaven.

Thus the Son of Heaven is the most honored person in the world and the wealthiest person in the world. Therefore, those who desire honor and wealth must not disobey the will of Heaven. Those who obey the will of Heaven—that is, mutual love and mutual benefit—will surely receive rewards. Those who oppose the will of Heaven—that is, mutual hatred and mutual harm—will surely receive punishments. So who are those who obeyed the will of Heaven and received rewards? Who are those who opposed the will of Heaven and received punishments? Mozi said: In ancient times, the three sage kings—Yu of Xia, Tang of Shang, Wen of Zhou, and Wu of Zhou—these were those who obeyed the will of Heaven and received rewards. In ancient times, the three tyrant kings—Jie of Xia, Zhou of Shang, You of Zhou, and Li of Zhou—these were those who opposed the will of Heaven and received punishments. Then what was the reason that Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu received rewards? Mozi said: In their actions, they revered Heaven above, served the spirits in the middle, and loved the people below. Thus the will of Heaven said: "These are the people I love; love them universally. These are the people I benefit; benefit them universally. Such love is broad, and such benefit is deep." Therefore, Heaven made them honored as the Son of Heaven, wealthy with all under Heaven, and their descendants inherited their legacy for ten thousand generations. History and records extol their good deeds, their teachings spread throughout the world, and even today people praise them, calling them sage kings. Then what was the reason that Jie, Zhou, You, and Li received punishments? Mozi said: In their actions, they insulted Heaven above, slandered the spirits in the middle, and harmed the people below. Thus the will of Heaven said: "These are the people I love, yet they hate them separately. These are the people I benefit, yet they harm them mutually. Such hatred is broad, and such harm is deep." Therefore, Heaven did not allow them to die a natural death or complete their lives, and even today people revile them, calling them tyrant kings.

Then how do we know that Heaven loves the people of the world? Because Heaven universally sees them clearly. How do we know that Heaven universally sees them clearly? Because Heaven universally possesses them. How do we know that Heaven universally possesses them? Because Heaven universally partakes of their sacrifices. How do we know that Heaven universally partakes of their sacrifices? The answer is: Within the four seas, all people who eat grain do not fail to raise cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs, and to prepare clean millet, glutinous rice, wine, and sweet wine, to sacrifice to the Supreme Lord and the spirits. Since Heaven possesses these cities and people, how could it not love them? Moreover, I have said: If one kills an innocent person, misfortune will surely occur. Who is it that kills an innocent person? It is a person. Who is it that sends down misfortune? It is Heaven. If it were thought that Heaven does not love the people of the world, then why, when people harm each other, does Heaven send down misfortune? This is why I know that Heaven loves the people of the world.

Those who obey the will of Heaven practice righteous government. Those who oppose the will of Heaven practice coercive government. Then what is righteous government? Mozi said: When in the position of a large state, do not attack small states; when in the position of a large clan, do not seize from small clans; the strong do not plunder the weak; the noble do not despise the humble; the clever do not deceive the foolish. This will surely benefit Heaven above, benefit the spirits in the middle, and benefit the people below. When these three aspects are beneficial, nothing is not beneficial. Thus the world bestows upon them a good name, calling them "sage kings." Coercive government is different from this. Words deny these principles, and actions oppose them, as if running in the opposite direction. When in the position of a large state, attack small states; when in the position of a large clan, seize from small clans; the strong plunder the weak; the noble despise the humble; the clever deceive the foolish. This will surely not benefit Heaven above, not benefit the spirits in the middle, and not benefit the people below. When these three aspects are not beneficial, nothing is beneficial. Thus the world bestows upon them an evil name, calling them "tyrant kings."

Mozi said: I possess the will of Heaven, just as a wheelwright has a compass and a carpenter has a square. The wheelwright and carpenter hold their compass and square to measure all things round and square in the world, saying: what conforms is correct, and what does not conform is incorrect. Now the books of the scholars and gentlemen of the world are too many to be carried, and their words are too numerous to be counted. They exhort the feudal lords above and advise the scholars below, yet they are far from benevolence and righteousness. How do I know this? I answer: I have obtained the clear standard of the world to measure them.