The Influence of Dyeing

Master Mozi once saw someone dyeing silk and sighed, saying, “(The silk) becomes blue when dyed with blue, and yellow when dyed with yellow. As the dye in which it is immersed changes, the color of the silk follows accordingly. When the silk is placed in five different dyes, it takes on five colors. Thus, in dyeing silk, one must not be incautious.”

It is not only in dyeing silk that this is so; states also have their “dyeing.” Shun was dyed by Xu You and Bo Yang, Yu was dyed by Gao Yao and Bo Yi, Tang was dyed by Yi Yin and Zhong Hui, and King Wu was dyed by Grand Duke and the Duke of Zhou. These four rulers were dyed appropriately, so they were able to rule the world as kings, become established as Sons of Heaven, and have their achievements and fame cover heaven and earth. Whenever the world recognizes someone as benevolent and illustrious, it invariably extols these four rulers. Jie of Xia was dyed by Gan Xin and Tui Duo, Zhou of Yin was dyed by Chong Hou and E Lai, King Li was dyed by Li Gong Changfu and Rong Yi Zhong, and King You was dyed by Fu Gong Yi and Cai Gong Gu. These four rulers were dyed inappropriately, so their states were ruined, they themselves perished, and they were shamed by all under heaven. Whenever the world recognizes someone as unrighteous and shameful, it invariably points to these four rulers. Duke Huan of Qi was dyed by Guan Zhong and Bao Shu Ya, Duke Wen of Jin was dyed by Jiu Fan and Gao Yan, King Zhuang of Chu was dyed by Sun Shu Ao and Shen Yin Jing, King Helü of Wu was dyed by Wu Yuan and Wen Yi, and King Gou Jian of Yue was dyed by Fan Li and Wen Zhong. These five rulers were dyed appropriately, so they were able to become hegemon among the feudal lords, and their achievements and fame were transmitted to later generations. Fan Ji She was dyed by Chang Liu Shuo and Wang Sheng, Zhonghang Yin was dyed by Ji Qin and Gao Qiang, King Fuchai of Wu was dyed by Wang Sun Luo and Grand Steward Pi, Zhi Bo Yao was dyed by Zhi Guo and Zhang Wu, Zhongshan Shang was dyed by Wei Yi and Yan Chang, and King Kang of Song was dyed by Tang Yang and Dian Bu Li. These six rulers were dyed inappropriately, so their states were ruined and destroyed, they themselves suffered execution, their ancestral temples were obliterated, their descendants were cut off, ruler and minister were scattered, and the common people fled into exile. Whenever the world recognizes someone as greedy, cruel, harsh, and oppressive, it invariably points to these six rulers. In general, why is it that a ruler can achieve stability? It is because his actions conform to the Way. Actions conforming to the Way arise from being dyed appropriately. Thus, one who is good at being a ruler labors in selecting talented men, but is at ease in managing officials. One who is not good at being a ruler injures his body, exhausts his spirit, worries his mind, and wears out his thoughts, yet his state becomes even more endangered and he himself becomes even more disgraced. These six rulers did not fail to value their states or cherish their own persons, but they did not know the essential principles of governance. The reason they did not know the essential principles is that they were dyed inappropriately.

Not only do states have “dyeing”; scholars also have “dyeing.” If his friends all delight in benevolence and righteousness, are simple and honest, reverent and cautious, and in awe of the laws and ordinances, then his household affairs will daily increase, he himself will daily become more settled, his reputation will daily become more glorious, and when he takes office, he will act in accordance with the Way—such were Duan Gan Mu, Qin Zi, and Fu Yue and their like. If his friends all delight in arrogance and ostentation, and form cliques for private gain, then his household affairs will daily diminish, he himself will daily become more endangered, his reputation will daily be disgraced, and when he takes office, he will lose the Way—such were Zi Xi, Yi Ya, and Shu Diao and their like. The Book of Odes says, “One must choose what to dye in, one must be cautious about what to dye in.” This is what it means.