Wen Tao: The Governance of State Affairs

King Wen asked Tai Gong:
"I wish to understand the fundamental principles of governing a state. How can we ensure that the sovereign is revered and the people live in peace?"

Tai Gong replied:
"Simply love the people."

King Wen asked:
"How should one love the people?"

Tai Gong answered:
"Benefit them without harming them, ensure their success without undermining their efforts, protect their lives without unjust punishment, grant them prosperity without exploitation, bring them joy without inflicting suffering, and inspire their contentment without provoking resentment."

King Wen said:
"Please elaborate on these principles."

Tai Gong explained:
"To ensure the people do not lose their livelihoods is to benefit them. To avoid disrupting agricultural seasons is to ensure their success. To reduce penalties is to protect their lives. To levy light taxes is to grant them prosperity. To minimize the construction of palaces and towers is to bring them joy. To have officials who govern with integrity and avoid extortion is to inspire their contentment. Conversely, depriving the people of their livelihoods harms them. Disrupting farming seasons ruins their efforts. Punishing the innocent is to kill them. Imposing heavy levies is to exploit them. Exhausting their labor with grand construction projects multiplies their suffering. Corrupt and oppressive officials provoke their resentment. Thus, a ruler skilled in governance guides the people as parents care for their children or elders protect their siblings: grieving at their hunger and cold, lamenting their toil, administering rewards and punishments as if experiencing them personally, and collecting taxes as though taking from their own possessions. These are the principles of loving the people."