The Great Oath, Part 2

On the day of Wuwu. The king halted on the northern bank of the Yellow River. The various lords all arrived with their armies and assembled in full. The king then inspected the troops and made this declaration.

He said: Alas! You multitudes from the western lands, all listen to my words.

I have heard that the good man, in doing good, finds the day insufficient; the evil man, in doing evil, also finds the day insufficient. Now Shou, the king of Shang, vigorously pursues lawless deeds. He casts aside and distances himself from the aged and virtuous former ministers. He draws near and colludes with the most heinous criminals. He indulges in excessive drinking and wanton cruelty. His ministers below have been transformed by him and become corrupt. They form cliques and treat each other as enemies. They seize power and destroy one another. The innocent cry out their grievances to Heaven. His foul virtue is widely manifest and known.

Heaven cherishes the people. The sovereign ought to reverently uphold Heaven’s will. In former times, Jie of the Xia dynasty could not accord with Heaven’s will and spread his poison to the states below. Heaven then aided and decreed the mandate to Cheng Tang, sending down the decree to depose the Xia dynasty’s mandate.

The crimes of Shou surpass those of Jie. He has harmed and driven out the good and excellent. He cruelly and violently slaughters the worthy men who remonstrate and assist him. He claims that he himself possesses Heaven’s mandate. He claims that reverence is not worth practicing. He claims that sacrifices are of no benefit. He claims that tyranny brings no harm. His mirror for reflection is not far away — it lies in that Xia king, Jie. Heaven may intend for me to govern the people. My dream accords with my divination, and auspicious signs have overlapped in succession. Attacking Shang will surely lead to victory.

Shou has millions upon millions of ordinary men, but they are divided in heart and divided in virtue. I have ten ministers capable of ordering the world, and they share one heart and one virtue with me. Although he has his closest kin, they are not equal to my men of benevolence and worth.

Heaven sees through the seeing of our people. Heaven hears through the hearing of our people. If the common people have transgressions, the fault rests with me alone. Now I must surely go forth.

Let our martial valor shine forth. We shall invade his borders and seize that cruel and ferocious one. Our punitive expedition shall therefore be spread far and wide. This will also be a glory to the work of Cheng Tang.

Strive hard, you warriors! Let none think there is nothing to fear. Better to hold the cautious view that the enemy is not to be taken lightly. The common people are now fearful and trembling; when they bow their heads to us, it is like wild beasts breaking their horns in a mountain collapse. Alas! Unite your one heart and one virtue, establish and secure your achievements, and only thus can you bring lasting peace and order to the realm for all ages.