Stories of Chinese word and term (6)

望旦论治: two dukes望and旦 talking about policy. 1059 BC, the Zhou Dynasty overthrew the rule of Shang Dynasty. The new emperor subinfeuded two of his meritorious statesmen 吕望and 姬旦 at two places 齐and 鲁 as dukes. Then these two dukes had a very valuable discussion about policy. Duke 吕望 of dukedom 齐 asked duke姬旦 of dukedom鲁, “How you govern your dukedom?”

Duke姬旦 said, “The target is making everybody respecting and loving each other.”

Duke 吕望 said, “Then I am sure, your dukedom will be weak.”

Then Duke 姬旦 asked duke吕望, “How you govern your dukedom?”

Duke吕望 said, “Choosing the outstanding person as leader and advocate efficiency.”

Then Duke姬旦 said, “Then I know, your dukedom will be in turmoil.”

Later history had proved both dukes’ speech. The Dukedom齐 turned to be a superpower of that time step by step, but after 24 generation, a usurper take over the old duke’s family.  While the dukedom 鲁 turned to be weak day by day and finally destroyed by other states.

From the history of these two dukedoms we found that the when they were existing, the dukedom 鲁 still follow the policy of Duke姬旦. Confucius was born in such environmental and throughout his life Duke姬旦 was Confucius’ idol.

At the same time, Sun Tsu 孙武 was born in Dukedom齐. Who was the first person that studied the art of war and wrote the ‘Sun Tzu's Art of War’. I have written a story ‘Two Peaches killed three warriors’. It was a story from Dukedom齐.

This story telling us that if a state pay attention to harmony it could be going to weak, and if a state pay attention to national power, competition and efficiency, it could be going to turmoil.

Map from: http://file1.qidian.com/chapters/20121/28/2123993634633553499320246537310.jpg