The Standard of Law

Mozi said: All those who engage in various tasks under heaven cannot be without standards and measures. There has never been a case where something was accomplished successfully without standards and measures. Even scholars serving as generals or ministers all have their standards; even artisans of all kinds at their work all have their standards. Artisans use the square to draw squares, the compass to draw circles, the ink line to take straight lines, the level to take flat surfaces, and the plumb line to take verticals. Whether they are skilled artisans or ordinary ones, they all take these five methods as their standards. The skilled can fully meet the standards; the unskilled, though unable to meet them fully, by imitating these standards can still surpass their original level. Thus artisans of all kinds, when at work, have standards to follow. Now when it comes to governing the world, or at least governing a great state, there are no standards to follow—this shows that they are not as discerning as artisans.

Since this is the case, what should be taken as the standard for governing the world? Suppose we all take our parents as the standard—how would that be? There are many parents in the world, but few are benevolent. If we all take our parents as the standard, this is taking the unbenevolent as the standard. Taking the unbenevolent as the standard cannot serve as a standard. Suppose we all take our teachers as the standard—how would that be? There are many teachers in the world, but few are benevolent. If we all take our teachers as the standard, this is taking the unbenevolent as the standard. Taking the unbenevolent as the standard cannot serve as a standard. Suppose we all take our rulers as the standard—how would that be? There are many rulers in the world, but few are benevolent. If we all take our rulers as the standard, this is taking the unbenevolent as the standard. Taking the unbenevolent as the standard cannot serve as a standard. Thus parents, teachers, and rulers—these three—cannot be taken as the standard for governing the world.

Since this is the case, what should be taken as the standard for governing the world? Therefore it is said: It is better to take Heaven as the standard. Heaven’s movement is vast and impartial; its giving is generous without claiming merit; its brightness endures long without fading. Thus the sage kings took it as their standard. Since Heaven is taken as the standard, all actions and undertakings must be measured against whether they accord with Heaven’s intent. What Heaven desires, put into practice; what Heaven does not desire, cease from doing. But what does Heaven desire and what does it detest? Heaven surely wishes that people love one another and benefit one another, and does not wish that people detest one another and harm one another. How do we know that Heaven wishes people to love and benefit one another, and does not wish them to detest and harm one another? Because Heaven universally loves people and universally benefits people. How do we know that Heaven universally loves people and universally benefits people? Because Heaven universally possesses people and universally nourishes people. Now under heaven, whether large or small states, all are cities of Heaven. People, whether young or old, noble or lowly, all are subjects of Heaven. Therefore there is no one who does not feed cattle and sheep, raise pigs and dogs, and cleanly prepare wine and offerings to reverently serve Heaven. Is this not evidence that Heaven universally possesses and nourishes people? If Heaven universally possesses and nourishes people, how can it be said that Heaven does not wish people to love and benefit one another? Therefore it is said: "Those who love others and benefit others, Heaven will surely bless them. Those who detest others and harm others, Heaven will surely curse them." It is also said: "Killing the innocent brings misfortune." Why is it that when people harm one another, Heaven brings disaster? This is because Heaven wishes people to love and benefit one another, and does not wish them to detest and harm one another.

The sage kings of antiquity—Yu of Xia, Tang of Shang, King Wen of Zhou, King Wu of Zhou—universally loved the people of the world, led the people to revere Heaven and serve the spirits, and brought much benefit to the people. Thus Heaven blessed them, causing them to be established as Sons of Heaven, and all the feudal lords of the world reverently served them. The tyrannical rulers—Jie of Xia, Zhou of Shang, King You of Zhou, King Li of Zhou—universally detested the people of the world, led the people to curse Heaven and insult the spirits, and brought much harm to the people. Thus Heaven cursed them, causing them to ultimately lose their states, their bodies to be killed by the people of the world, and their descendants to revile them, continuing to this day without cease. Thus those who did evil and received disaster were such as Jie, Zhou, You, and Li; those who loved others and benefited others and received blessings were such as Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu. Those who loved others and benefited others and received blessings truly exist; those who detested others and harmed others and received disaster also truly exist.