1. Those who are ministers of others take it as a merit to enrich the people and take it as a crime to impoverish the people. (Jia Yi) 2. When the source is quiet, the flow will be clear, when the root is solid, it will be lush; when the internal cultivation is in place, the external will be in order, and when the shape is straight, the shadow will be straight. (Wei Zi) 3. If the people's hearts are with them, great things can be accomplished; if the people's hearts are alienated, they will soon be destroyed (Chen Tianhua, Qing Dynasty) 4. The way to govern is based on obeying the people's hearts. (Song Dynasty Cheng Yi's "A Letter to Emperor Shenzong Written by Lu Gong") 5. The country is based on the people, and the country is also established for the people. (Mencius) 6. The people are the foundation of the country, and the foundation is solid and the country is peaceful. ("Shang Shu")
1. "Those who are ministers of others take it as a merit to enrich and live the people, and take it as a crime to impoverish the people." In other words, the successful achievements of the ruler should be manifested in making the people " Fule". Jia Yi's design of "prospering the world", that is, the strategic vision of ensuring political stability through economic development, was well reflected in the Wenjing era. "Hanshu Shi Huo Zhi 1" says, "Emperor Wen ascended the throne and practiced frugality to bring peace to the people." This was of great significance to the recovery and development of the economy at that time. In addition to reducing penalties and avoiding conquests, the light corvee and low taxation were also a reflection of the quiet and inactive thinking of the ruling group at that time.
Whether it is “enriching the people” or “enriching the country”, as different governing principles, has been controversial for a long time. In fact, in the autocratic era, for emperors, "enriching the country" often meant "enriching oneself", which is what Huang Zongxi accused in "Mingyi Waiting for Visits·Yuanjun", "taking all the benefits of the world for oneself", "Take my selfishness as the commonwealth of the world." If this approach goes to extremes, the consequences will be as Jia Yi sternly warned in "Guo Qin Lun": "If you are the emperor and are rich in the world, you will not be immune to killing.
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