The Hounds of Lü
The Western Yi presented a hound, and the Grand Guardian made "The Hound of Lü." (This passage is not in the original text.)
After King Wu conquered the Shang dynasty, he opened up the roads to the nine Yi and eight Man tribes. The Western Yi came to present their hound. The Grand Guardian then made "The Hound of Lü" to admonish King Wu. (This passage is not in the original text.)
He said: "Alas! The enlightened king carefully cultivates virtue, and the Western barbarians all come to submit. Whether far or near, they all present the products of their lands, but only those for clothing, food, vessels, and utensils."
The king then gave what he had obtained through his bright virtue to the states of different surnames, so that they would not neglect their duties. He also distributed precious jade to the states of the same surname as his uncles and brothers, to manifest the principle of kinship. People should not value the objects themselves; only virtue is the most precious thing.
When virtue is great, one does not approach with disrespect. Approaching a gentleman with disrespect fails to win people's hearts; approaching a petty man with disrespect fails to command their strength.
Do not let the ears and eyes be enslaved in pursuit of sound and color; then all regulations will be correct.
Playing with people loses one's virtue; playing with things loses one's ambition.
Ambition must be settled by the Way; speech must respond to the Way.
Do not do useless things to harm useful things, then achievements can be accomplished. Do not value strange things and despise useful things, then the people will be prosperous. Dogs and horses not native to the land are not raised; rare birds and strange animals are not kept within the state. Do not treasure distant strange things, then distant people will come to submit; treasure only worthy men, then nearby people will be at peace.
Alas! Do not be negligent for even a single moment, morning or night. If you are not cautious in small matters, it will eventually harm great virtue. When piling up a nine-ren mountain, failure occurs just one basketful short.
Truly follow these, and the people will be settled, and the king can rule for generations."