墨子 MOZI

Mozi said: The ancient kings and great officials who governed their states desired to have their fame established and their punishments just, and their administration free from mistakes. Therefore Mozi said: There was an old saying: "When a plan does not succeed, then look into the past to find what is right, and look into the present to discover what is hidden." If one plans thus, then it is possible to come to a correct judgment.

Now let us consider the matter of mobilizing an army. In winter, the cold is feared; in summer, the heat. Thus neither winter nor summer is the right season. In spring, the people would miss their sowing and planting; in autumn, they would miss their harvesting. Should they miss but one season, the number of the people who will die of hunger and cold cannot be told. Now let us calculate the costs of a military expedition. Arrows, flags, tents, armor, shields, and sword hilts — countless quantities are taken on a campaign, where they wear, tear, rust, and rot, never to return again. Spears, lances, swords, poniards, chariots, and carts — countless quantities are taken on a campaign, where they break, burst, rust, and rot, never to return again. Oxen and horses start out fat and come back lean, or perish and do not return at all. Countless people will die because the long journey exhausts them and the food supply is cut off. Countless others will fall sick and die because of the irregularity of their eating and drinking, and of hunger and over-eating. Then the army will be largely lost; even the full army will perish. And the spirits will lose their worshippers, which is also beyond reckoning.

The state takes from the people what they use and wastes the people's resources, and ruins things that are of benefit to the people. This it does on an enormous scale. Then why does it do it? It answers: "I covet the fame of the victor, and the possessions that I can obtain through it." Mozi said: But when we consider what they gain by what they call victory, there is nothing useable. When we consider what they obtain, it does not even make up for what they have lost. Now about the siege of a city with inner walls of three li and outer walls of seven li — if one could take this city without the use of weapons and without killing anyone, that would still be all right. But the slain will number in the tens of thousands at least, and those killed in the thousands at the very least, before the city of three li inner walls and seven li outer walls can be taken. Now a great state of ten thousand chariots has empty towns by the thousands and cannot fill them, and broad fields by the tens of thousands and cannot cultivate them. So it has surplus land but not enough people. Now to sacrifice the people's lives and to destroy the well-being of rulers and subjects for the purpose of seizing empty cities — this means giving up what is not enough and adding to what is already in surplus. Such administration does not attend to what is important for the state.

Those who put a pleasing facade upon military aggression say: "In the south there were the kings of Jing and Yue; in the north there were the lords of Qi and Jin. When they were first enfeoffed, their territories did not amount to several hundred li square, and their subjects numbered only a few tens of thousands. By means of wars and attacks, their territories were extended to several thousand li square, and their subjects were increased to several million." Mozi said: Even if four or five states gained thereby, it is still not the proper way. It is like a doctor giving medicine to the sick. Suppose there is a doctor here who compounds medicine and gives it to all the sick in the world. If ten thousand take it and only four or five are cured, it is still said to be no effective medicine. Thus a filial son would not give it to his parents, and a loyal subject would not give it to his sovereign. In ancient times when states were enfeoffed, among those heard of by the ear and seen by the eye, the states that have perished through wars and attacks are beyond counting. How do we know this? In the east, the state of Ju was a small state, caught in between large states. It could not serve the large states respectfully, and the large states did not care for its affection or benefit. Thus in the east the men of Yue pressed upon its territory, and in the west the men of Qi annexed the rest of it. The reason why Ju perished between Qi and Yue was wars and attacks. And the states of Chen and Cai in the south perished between Wu and Yue, also because of wars and attacks. And in the north there were states that perished between Yan, Dai, Hu, and Mo, also because of wars and attacks. Therefore Mozi said: The ancient kings and great officials truly desired to gain and not to lose, desired safety and not danger, and therefore condemned offensive war.

Those who put a pleasing facade upon military aggression say: "Those states perished because they could not gather and employ their multitudes. I can gather and employ my multitudes, and with this wage war against the world — who dares not submit?" Mozi said: Even if you can gather and employ your multitudes, can you compare with the ancient state of Wu under King He Lu? The ancient King He Lu of Wu drilled his soldiers for seven years. With armor on and weapons in hand, they could march three hundred li before encamping. He encamped at Zhulin, and came out through the narrow passes to fight at Boju. He subdued Chu, and the states of Song and Lu came to pay homage. When it came to King Fu Chai, he attacked Qi in the north and encamped on the River Wen. He fought at Ailing and greatly defeated the men of Qi, driving them to take refuge in Mount Tai. In the east he attacked Yue, crossing the Three Rivers and the Five Lakes, driving them to take refuge in Kuaiji. The nine Yi states all submitted. But then in retreat he could not reward the orphans, bestow upon the multitudes. He relied upon his strength, exaggerated his achievements, boasted of his wisdom, and neglected instruction. He then built the terrace of Gusu, which was not completed even in seven years. At this, the people of Wu were weary and discontented. Seeing that the superior and inferior of Wu were no longer getting along, King Gou Jian of Yue gathered his multitudes to avenge himself. He entered through the north gate, moved into the inner city, and surrounded the royal palace, and the state of Wu perished. Formerly, Jin had six generals, and Zhi Bo was the strongest. When he calculated his territory and the number of his people, he wanted to challenge the feudal lords and establish a famous name. His ambition was swift war. He selected his strongest warriors and lined up his boats and chariots. He attacked the house of Zhonghang and took it. His plan having already succeeded, he then attacked the house of Fan and greatly defeated it. Having consolidated three houses into one, he did not stop but further besieged Zhao Xiangzi at Jinyang. At this, the houses of Han and Wei consulted together and said: 'There is an old saying: When the lips are removed the teeth feel cold. If Zhao is destroyed in the morning, we shall follow it by evening. If Zhao is destroyed in the evening, we shall follow it by morning. The Odes say: When the fish has no water, what good is the land?' So the three lords united in mind and strength, opened their gates, cleared their roads, and with armor and weapons joined forces. Han and Wei attacked from outside, Zhao from within, and they greatly defeated Zhi Bo." Therefore Mozi said: There is an old saying: "The superior man does not look at his reflection in water but looks at his reflection in other men. In water one sees one's face, but in other men one learns fortune and misfortune." Now if one takes warfare to be advantageous, then let him examine the case of Zhi Bo. It was unfortunate and not fortunate — this can be readily seen.