天有时

Heaven Has Seasons

东山译

Heaven has seasons, the earth is abundant in all kinds of resources. Being able to share all this with everyone is benevolence. People will pledge their allegiance to the ruler of benevolence. Sparing people from death, alleviating people's hardships , rescuing them from calamities, and helping those in need, are acts of virtues. People will offer their full support to the ruler who practise virtues. Going through thick and thin with the people, sharing their likes and dislikes, are acts of righteousness. People will commit their devotion to the ruler of righteousness. Working for the benefits of the people is the right way of ruling. People will be loyal to the governance of virtues.

-- 《Essences of Myriad Books》, Vol. 31: “The Six Strategies of Ruling”

【註】《群书治要》（以下简称《治要》）是我国古代治政书籍的选辑。唐初著名谏官魏征及虞世南、褚亮等在贞观初年受命于唐太宗李世民（599年-649年），以辑录前人著述作谏书，为唐太宗"偃武修文"、"治国安邦"，创建"贞观之治"提供警示的匡政巨著。《治要》取材于六经、四史、诸子百家，"上始五帝，下迄晋年"，以"务乎政术，存乎劝戒"为宗旨，从一万四千多部、八万九千多卷古籍中"采摭群书，剪截淫放"，呕心沥血数年，于贞观五年（631年）编辑成书，计六十五部约五十余万言。 《群书治要》的特点，一言以蔽之，曰"博而要"。魏徵等人博采经、史、子典籍六十五种，又以"务乎政术"、"本乎治要"为原则，删其繁芜，择其精粹，浓缩成五十卷的珍本。

（原载《海外南开人》103期，3/21/2016）