[I N T R O D U C T I O N:   CHAPTER IV:  The Text of the Book of Lord Shang]

APPENDIX I

A lost paragraph

p.160 In the 36th chapter of the Ch’ün-shu-chih-yao, by Wei Cheng (631), the following is quoted as part of the now lost section Liu Fa, “The Six Laws”, which had its place before what is now the 14th paragraph. As the Ch’ün-shu-chih-yao has been lost (583) in China since the Sung dynasty this section has been left out in all the editions of Shang-tzu, and not even in numbering the paragraphs has a place for it been kept. In the early editions, like those of Ch’en Jen -hsi of the Ming dynasty and the Ch’ung -wen ed., no numbers were attached to the paragraphs, but Yen numbered them and left at the end of the book room for the three, which were lost. Wang Shih-jun accidentally followed him in this, but corrects the mistake in a note on p. 2a of his preface.

The portion of the paragraph which has been preserved runs as follows: « The ancient Kings established the laws in accordance with the times, they regulated affairs, calculating what deserved attention. Law, being fitting for its own time, there is order; affairs fitting in with those things to which attention is given, there is success. So it follows that laws create order when it is the proper time for them, and that affairs obtain success when they are apt. But now the times have changed p.161 and yet the laws are not reformed; what deserves attention has altered and yet affairs are transacted in the old way. Thus the laws and the times are contrary to each other and affairs and that, to which attention is given, are different from each other. Therefore, though laws are established, disorder increases; though one acts, giving attention to certain things, affairs fail.

Consequently the way of a Sage in administering a country, is not to model himself on antiquity, and not to follow the present, but to establish success in a way which is fitting for the time (584), and to be able to escape whenever one is in difficulties. But now people may change their customs, but the laws are not altered, the conditions of the state may change their aspect, but in that to which one gives one’s attention, one still follows the old way. Now law is the government of the people, and that, to which attention should be given, is the practical side of affairs. If a state fails in its laws it is in peril, and if affairs fail in their practical application they do not succeed; and therefore, if the laws are not fitting for the times and that to which attention is given, does not fit in with practical needs, there has always been peril.

The paragraph is without much interest and certainly does not belong to the oldest part of the Book. 

APPENDIX II 

List of References 

p.162 In this synoptic table I have assembled all the references to other Chinese books, which I have thought necessary to give in the notes to my translation. Naturally the nature and value of these references differ widely, yet a general idea of various relationships may be obtained by a glance at this list. I only give the paragraphs. p.163
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26
Shih-chi
68
2
47
4
5
39
4
23
Chan-kuo-ts’ê 6
Hsin-hsü 9
Han Fei-tzu
18
14
8
54
56
15
7
54
30
13
54
35
56
9
53
43
36
9
15
34
30
48
50
36
43
45
19
45
40
Kuan-tzu 15 3 20
67
73 52 16 53
3x
67
16
Lü-shih-ch’un -ch’iu 2 8 26
2x
17
Ho Kuan-tzu 6
Huai Nan-tzu 3 17 15
Mo-tzu 70 62
Hsün-tzu 10
Sun-tzu
11
2x,
1,3
9,4
Han-shih-wai-chuan 2
Li-chi 17
Chi-chung-chou-shu 5
Tao-tê-ching 4 33
Mencius 2 6