Instructions of Yi
After Cheng Tang died, in the first year of Tai Jia, Yi Yin composed the Instructions of Yi, the Four Mandates, and the Following the Ancestors. (This passage is not present in the original text.)
On the day of Yichou in the twelfth month of the first year, Yi Yin conducted a sacrifice to the former kings, and presented the new king to respectfully pay homage to his ancestors. The lords of the Hou and Dian domains were all present. The hundred officials took charge of their respective duties, heeding the orders of the chief minister. Yi Yin then clearly set forth the accomplished virtues of the glorious ancestor, in order to admonish the king.
He said: "Alas! When the ancient kings of Xia were diligently cultivating virtue, there were no calamities from Heaven; the spirits of the mountains and rivers were all undisturbed; even the birds, beasts, fish, and turtles were in harmony. When their descendants strayed from the Way, the great Heaven sent down disasters, employing those of us who possess the Mandate. The attack began at Mingtiao, and our great enterprise commenced from Bo."
Our king of Shang manifested his sage and martial brilliance, replacing cruelty with lenient governance, and the myriad people truly turned to him in their hearts.
Now, O king, you inherit his virtue. In all things, caution must be taken at the beginning. To establish benevolence, begin with your kin; to establish reverence, begin with your elders. Starting from the family and the state, extend it to the four seas.
Alas! The former king began by cultivating the bonds of human relations. He heeded remonstrations without defiance, and followed the laws of the former people. Dwelling above, he was perceptive; dwelling below, he was loyal. He did not demand perfection from others, but in examining himself, he feared he might not measure up. Thus he attained the possession of ten thousand states—this was indeed arduous.
Seek far and wide for wise and discerning men, and let them assist your descendants.
He established the official punishments to warn those in positions of authority, saying: "If anyone dares to constantly dance in the palace or indulge in drunken songs within the chambers, this is the demeanor of shamans. If anyone dares to pursue wealth and women, or frequently engage in hunting and roaming, this is the demeanor of excess. If anyone dares to insult the words of sages, oppose loyal and upright men, distance the venerable and virtuous, and draw near to obstinate youths, this is the demeanor of disorder. Of these three demeanors and ten faults, if a noble possesses even one, his house will surely perish; if a ruler possesses even one, his state will surely perish. If a minister fails to correct him, he shall be punished with the tattoo, and these instructions shall be taught to the ignorant."
Alas! O succeeding king, be reverent in your person, and constantly bear this in mind. The counsels and instructions of the sages are vast and boundless, and their excellent words are exceedingly clear. The Mandate of the Supreme Emperor is not fixed; he who does good receives all kinds of blessings, and he who does evil receives all kinds of calamities. Even if your virtue is not great, the myriad states will rejoice because of you; but if you fail to practice virtue, even if it seems minor, you will bring down the ancestral temple.