University · Moderate

Chapter 38 Governing the Country
[Original text]

The way of sincerity can be known in advance.When the country is going to prosper, there must be auspiciousness②; when the country is going to perish, there must be evildoers③.See the yarrow turtle ④, move the four bodies ⑤.Misfortunes and fortunes are coming, good ones must be foretold; bad ones must be foretelled.Therefore, sincerity is like a god ⑥.

【Note】

①The way of sincerity: refers to "sincerity".Predictable: Can predict the future.

②镜 (zhēn) Xiang: Auspicious omen.Objects that originally exist but do not exist today are called Zhen, and objects that do not exist now are called Xiang.

③Monster: An abnormal phenomenon.Monsters like vegetation are called demons, and monsters like insects are called sins.

④See (xiàn) almost yarrow (shī) turtle: found in the divination of yarrow and tortoise shell.In ancient times, yarrow and tortoise shells were used for divination. "Yi Xici [-]": "Explore the bottom (zè) to find out the hidden, the hook is deep and far, to determine the good and bad of the world, and the one who becomes the world's 亹亹 (wěi) is no bigger than a yarrow turtle."

⑤ Moving the four bodies: This refers to the perception from people's appearance and actions.Four body, four limbs, hands and feet.

⑥Like God: Unspeakable, as subtle as God.

【Translation】

The sincerity of the highest state can predict the future.When the country is about to prosper, there must be auspicious omens.When a country is about to perish, evil spirits will definitely come out to make troubles. These can be found from the divination of yarrow and tortoise shell, or from the appearance and movements of the human body.Before misfortune and fortune are about to come, it is a good omen, and it must be known in advance; it is an ominous omen, and it must be known in advance.Therefore, the highest level of sincerity is like a god.

[Zhu Xi Tips]

RightChapter 24.

【Translation】

Zhu Xi said that the above paragraph is Chapter 24.

(End of this chapter)