Biography of Historical Records and Shang Jun by Sima Qian in the Western Han Dynasty.
original text
The order was given, but it hasn't been given yet, for fear that the people won't believe it. Has been set up in the south gate of the country, and those who can move to the north gate will be given ten gold. People blame it and dare not migrate. Later, he said, "50 gold for those who can migrate." There is a person who moves to it and needs to pay 50 gold, making it clear that he will not cheat. Order of death
So the prince broke the law. Wei Yang said, "If the law doesn't work, you should commit it from above." Prince Jiang Fa. The prince, your heir, cannot be punished. Punish the piety of his son, Fu Gongzi, and insult his teacher Gong. Tomorrow, Qin people are eager for order. After traveling for ten years, Qin Min-Da said that there were no thieves in the mountains, and the family gave others enough money. People brave public war, fear private struggle, and govern villages and towns.
translate
The decree of Shang Yang's political reform has been prepared, but it has not been announced yet. (Shang Yang) worried that the people didn't believe in themselves, he (ordered) to put a three-foot-high piece of wood in front of the south gate of the capital to recruit people who could (can) move to the north gate and give twelve taels of gold. People were surprised to see this, and no one dared to touch this piece of wood. (Shang Yang) added, "Anyone who can move wood will be rewarded with 50 gold." A man moved wood and gave him fifty gold to show that he didn't cheat (the people). Finally, a decree was issued.
At this time, the prince also broke the law. Shang Yang said: "The new law cannot be implemented smoothly because the upper class took the lead in violating it." As the heir of the monarch, the prince could not be punished, so he died his teacher's son devoutly and tattooed another teacher, Gong Sunjia, as a symbol of punishment. The next day, the people of Qin heard about it and obeyed the law. Ten years after the implementation of the new law, the people of Qin were very happy. No one keeps what others have lost, and there are no thieves in the mountains. Every family has plenty of food and clothing, and the people dare to fight for their country and dare not fight privately. Rural towns are managed by people.
To annotate ...
Shang Yang: a politician in the mid-Warring States Period.
The order has been issued: the order of Shang Yang's political reform is ready.
Strange: feel strange
Gold: Ancient monetary unit.
Announce, promulgate.
Tools: Get ready.
South Gate of Guocheng: refers to the south gate of Houcheng Market.
Do: just.
Duration: a whole year.
Late: Jimo punishment. Carve out the denomination with a knife and then apply ink.
arouse
Integrity is very important. If you want others to believe in yourself, you must first keep your word.
Enlightenment from later generations
The events recorded in this article took place in the tenth year of King Zhou Xian (359 BC). Before the implementation of the new law, Qin stood at the south gate and won the trust of the people. After the implementation of the new law, the prince broke the law and punished his master. These two things show that credit is a national treasure, and people who are good at governing the country will certainly gain the trust of the people.
Classical Chinese knowledge
Definition of "pawn"
1, the noun explains "infantry", "Lv Chunqiu" notes: "In the car, you are a soldier and you are a pawn"; Later, it generally refers to soldiers, such as Sima Guang's Zi Tong Zhi Ji Jian Tang: "Every time you have to surrender, you must ask for advice in person."
2. Nouns explain "the end, the ending", such as "The Analects of Confucius": "There is a beginning and a pawn, only a saint!"
3. Nouns explain "termination, exhaustion and completion", such as "Han Feizi's Jielao": "People begin with life and finally die." Another example is: when you die, when you die (when you are exhausted), when you die, read books (when you are exhausted).
4. In ancient times, it refers to the death of a doctor, followed by death, such as Zi Tongzhi Jian: "At the beginning, Lu Su heard about Liu Biao's death." Another example: sudden death, illness, date of birth, date of death.
5. Adverbs explain "after all, finally", such as "Historical Records, Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru": "Meet the court." "Everyone is happy."
6, through "suddenly" (a function word): suddenly, in a hurry.
The above is equivalent to "finally, finally."
Introduction to Historical Records
Sima Qian in the Western Han Dynasty is the first biography of China. Book 130 articles, including five parts: twelve biographies (about the political records of the emperor), eight books (about various laws and regulations), ten tables (about major events), thirty biographies (about the death of Hou Guoxing), seventy biographies (about the words and deeds of important historical figures), with 520,000 words. It recorded the political, economic and cultural history of 3,000 years from the Yellow Emperor to the Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, comprehensively and profoundly reflected the social outlook of ancient China, and had a far-reaching impact on the historical research of later generations.