Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/210

 198 CHINESE LITERATURE

their bodies ; neither have they claws and fangs to aid them in the struggle for food. Hence their organisation, as follows : The sovereign issues commands. The minister carries out these commands, and makes them known to the people. The people produce grain and flax and silk, fashion articles of everyday use, and inter- change commodities, in order to fulfil their obligations to their rulers. The sovereign who fails to issue his com- mands loses his raison d'etre; the minister who fails to carry out his sovereign's commands, and to make them known to the people, loses his raison d'etre ; the people who fail to produce grain and flax and silk, fashion articles of everyday use, and interchange commodities, in order to fulfil their obligations to their rulers, should lose their heads."

" And if I am asked what Method is this, I reply that it is what I call the Method, and not merely a method like those of Lao Tzu and Buddha. The Emperor Yao handed it down to the Emperor Shun ; the Emperor Shun handed it down to the Great Yii ; and so on until it reached Confucius, and lastly Mencius, who died with- out transmitting it to any one else. Then followed the heterodox schools of Hsiin and Yang, wherein much that was essential was passed over, while the criterion was vaguely formulated. In the days before Chou Kung, the Sages were themselves rulers ; hence they were able to secure the reception of their Method. In the days after Chou Kung, the Sages were all high officers of State ; hence its duration through a long period of time.

" And now, it will be asked, what is the remedy ? I answer that unless these false doctrines are rooted out, the true faith will not prevail. Let us insist that the

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