Excerpted from Wei Zhi's Ten Thoughts of Emperor Taizong in Tang Dynasty, the original excerpt:
Every hundred heads of state, bearing the fate of heaven and scenery, are worried and talk about it, and they are successful and morally declining. Everything that has a good beginning is complicated, and everything that can be overcome is few. Is it difficult to take away the easy things and keep them? In the past, this was more than enough, but today it is not enough. Why?
My husband treats him wholeheartedly when he is worried, and indulges in pride when he succeeds. The five mountains wholeheartedly are an organic whole, while the proud things are connected by flesh and blood. Although Dong Zhi was angered by severe punishment, he finally avoided it mercilessly, with a respectful face but unconvinced. Resentment is not great, but people are to be feared; You should be careful when transporting a boat and capsizing it. How can the car be dying?
Translation:
All the emperors in ancient times undertook the great mission entrusted by heaven, and they were not deeply worried about the country and managed well, but after the success of the monarch, his moral character began to decline. The monarch did a lot of good things at first, but probably not many can persist. Is it difficult to achieve the world easily and keep it up?
In the past, we had more power to seize the world, but now we have less power to defend the world. Why? Usually in deep anxiety, I try my best to treat my subjects sincerely. If I succeed, I will indulge my temperament and look down on others. Make every effort to be sincere. Even if the North and the South can form a family and look down on others, the person you love will become a stranger.
It is to reprimand people with harsh laws and scare people with anger. The subjects just want to be free from punishment, and don't miss thanking the monarch for his kindness. They are respectful on the surface, but they are not convinced in their hearts.
The resentment of the subjects towards the monarch is no big or small, but the people are terrible; Like water, they can load ships or subvert ships, which should be deeply cautious. How can a galloping carriage be pulled by a rotten rope carelessly?
Extended data
Ten thoughts on admonishing Taizong is intended to persuade Taizong to be prepared for danger in times of peace, abstain from extravagance and thrift, and accumulate his moral meaning.
Li Shimin, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was one of the most successful enlightened monarchs in the history of China. During his reign, the political situation was stable and prosperous, which was called "the rule of Zhenguan" in history. "Ten thoughts" is the main content of memorial, that is, ten situations worth pondering. "Shu", that is, "playing Shu", is a kind of speech style of ancient courtiers to the monarch's deliberation, which belongs to argumentative writing.
The whole article revolves around "those who think about the security of the country must accumulate their virtues and righteousness." First of all, it is discussed from both positive and negative aspects, and it is proposed that being a monarch must "be prepared for danger in times of peace, and refrain from extravagance and thrift". Then remind Emperor Taizong that a king who keeps his word is easy to lose people's hearts. Because it is easy to "wait wholeheartedly" when you are "anxious"; However, when you succeed, you will "indulge in pride" and you will be in danger of capsizing.
Therefore, it is suggested that "accumulating virtue and benevolence" must be "ten thoughts", and Taizong should be advised to be moderate in material enjoyment, "modest in cultivation" and "modest in employing people", regardless of personal grievances in the legal system of execution. Finally, it is concluded that the key to the method of governing the country lies in knowing people and being good at their duties, selecting talents, and achieving the ideal state of "bowing to the knees".
These viewpoints of the author were adopted by Emperor Taizong, which contributed to the achievement of "Zhenguan rule" in the Tang Dynasty. The whole article takes the word "thinking" as the main thread running through the whole article, with clear context and clear organization. In this thesis, metaphor is used to make the truth vivid; Moreover, the use of parallelism and antithesis, neat sentences and full of gas field.
Baidu Encyclopedia —— Ten Thoughts on Advising Taizong