Pan Geng, Part 2

Pan Geng composed this address. Because he was crossing the river to lead the people in migration, he then admonished the disobedient people, issuing a great proclamation with sincere words. The multitudes all arrived, not daring to show disrespect as they gathered in the king's court. Pan Geng then ascended to a high place and summoned his people.

He said: "Listen clearly to my words; do not neglect or abandon my commands."

Alas! In ancient times, our former kings never failed to think of sustaining the people. The ruler and the people shared joys and sorrows, and few did not comply with the will of Heaven.

When Yin suffered great calamities and disasters, the former kings were not content with their original abodes. What they did was for the benefit of the people, seeing that migration was to their advantage. Why do you not consider the reputation of our ancient rulers? I uphold the way of the former kings, seeking to bring you peace and tranquility. It is not that you have committed offenses to be punished accordingly.

I thus proclaim and cherish this new city, solely for your sake, and to greatly follow the intentions of the former kings.

Now I will attempt to lead you in migration, to stabilize this state. You do not sympathize with the distress in my heart, but instead all greatly fail to express your own intentions. If you could be reverent and sincere in your thoughts, you would move me alone. Yet you only cause hardship for yourselves. It is like boarding a boat; if you refuse to cross the water, you will ruin what you carry. Your sincerity is not continuous, and you will only sink together. Should this not be examined? When you give way to anger, how can it cure the disaster?

You do not plan for the long term, nor think about your own calamities, but instead greatly increase your troubles. Now you consider only the present without regard for the future—how can you survive in high positions?

Now I command you: Do not stir up any foul matters that will cause your own ruin, lest others rely on your bodies but twist your hearts.

I welcome and prolong the lives you have received from Heaven. Am I coercing you? I am doing this to nourish you, the multitudes.

I recall that the former sacred kings labored on behalf of your ancestors. I am able to bring you glory, and I cherish your original state.

If there are failures in governance, set forth here, the great former kings will greatly send down calamities and punishments, saying: "Why do you oppress my people?"

If you, the myriad people, cannot live well and sustain life, and do not join with me, the one man, in unified planning, then the former kings will greatly send down calamities and punishments upon you, saying: "Why do you not draw close and harmonize with my young descendant?" Therefore, if you have errant conduct, punishment from above will fall upon you, and you will not be able to guide yourselves.

In ancient times, our former kings labored for your grandfathers and fathers. You are all collectively the people I nurture. If your hearts harbor harmful principles, my former kings once pacified your grandfathers and fathers, and they will utterly abandon you, not saving you from death.

Now I have those who govern affairs and share my position. If you hoard cowries and jade and wealth, your grandfathers and fathers will greatly tell my former kings, saying: "Inflict severe punishments on our descendants." They will guide the former kings, and the former kings will greatly send down misfortune.

Alas! Now I tell you: affairs are not easy. Always revere and treat great calamities with seriousness; do not cut yourselves off or grow distant from one another. You should clearly plan and reflect, following one another, and establish correctness in your own hearts.

If there are those who are unkind, who do not follow the right path, who are perverse and overstep bounds, who are disrespectful, or who temporarily encounter evil and cause disorder, I will cut off their noses, utterly exterminate them, leaving no descendants, and not allow them to propagate their kind in this new city.

Go forth, and live well and sustain life. Now I will attempt to lead you in migration, to establish your households forever.