Three Arguments

Cheng Fan asked Mozi, saying, "Sir, you say that 'the sage kings did not create music.' In ancient times, when the feudal lords grew weary from governing affairs, they rested with the music of bells and drums; when the high officials and scholars grew weary from governing affairs, they rested with the music of yu and se; when farmers grew weary from spring plowing, summer weeding, autumn harvesting, and winter storing, they rested with the music of striking earthenware pots. Now, sir, you say that 'the sage kings did not create music.' This is like harnessing a horse to a cart and never unharnessing it, or drawing a bow to full stretch and never relaxing it—I fear this is not something that beings of flesh and blood can endure."

Mozi said, "In ancient times, Yao and Shun had the music called 'Diqi,' using it both as ritual and as music. Tang of Shang banished Jie of Xia to the great waters, unified all under heaven and established himself as king, with his tasks accomplished and his achievements established, without great subsequent troubles. Thus he adopted the music of the former kings, and also created his own music, naming it 'Hu,' and also revised the 'Nine Shao.' King Wu of Zhou defeated Yin Shang and killed Zhou, unified all under heaven and established himself as king, with his tasks accomplished and his achievements established, without great subsequent troubles. Thus he adopted the music of the former kings, and also created his own music, naming it 'Xiang.' King Cheng of Zhou adopted the music of the former kings, and also created his own music, naming it 'Zou Yu.' Now, King Cheng of Zhou's governance of all under heaven was inferior to that of King Wu of Zhou; King Wu of Zhou's governance was inferior to that of Tang of Shang; Tang of Shang's governance was inferior to that of Yao and Shun. Therefore, the more elaborate their music became, the poorer their governance was. From this it can be seen that music is not a means for governing all under heaven."

Cheng Fan said, "Sir, you say that 'the sage kings had no music,' yet what you have just mentioned is also music—how can you say that the sage kings had no music?" Mozi replied, "The rule of the sage kings is that music should be few and refined. As for the benefits of food, it is wise to eat only when hungry; but if one therefore claims that eating without hunger is also wise, that is unwise. Now, though the sage kings had music, their music was very little—this is equivalent to having no music."