【段落】《貞觀政要‧君道》第4段

【原文1】

貞觀十一年，特進魏徵上疏曰：「臣觀自古受圖膺運，繼體守文，控御英雄，南面臨下，皆欲配厚德於天地，齊高明於日月，本支百世，傳祚無窮。然而克終者鮮，敗亡相繼，其故何哉？所以求之，失其道也。殷鑒不遠，可得而言。

【白話翻譯1】

貞觀的第十一年，大臣魏徵(這時他擔任的官職名稱為「特進」)向太宗皇帝上書進言說：「微臣我觀察自古以來的歷代帝王，他們承受上天旨意來治理這個國家，接受並努力保守那些歷代君王們創建並傳承下來之體統與文化，培養實力到終於能掌握並使各方強勁對手屈服於己，到達一國之內至尊無二的統治地位。這些帝王們，一開始都是希望他自己的德行能夠厚實到足以匹配天地大德，也期許自己英明能如同日月般照耀世間，以自己做為根本而視後代子孫為枝葉，希望國家命脈、自家事業都能傳承百代而無窮。但是，能夠依照開國之君最初理想而有好結果的國家，實在是太少了。我們從歷史上，看到這些朝代最後仍走向敗亡，而且是一個接一個，無有倖免。這其中的道理到底是什麼呢？微臣我加以探求，總括心得，實在是這些國家的君主，到後期已經失去了為君的法則。前人留下來的借鑑距今都不算遠，似乎可加以舉例來談。

【英文翻譯1】

In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Minister Wei Zheng (the name of the official position he held at this time was called "特進") wrote to Emperor Taizong in a letter saying: "I have observed the emperors of the ages since ancient times. They accepted the will of Heaven to govern this country and accept efforts to preserve the system and culture established and passed down by the monarchs before him, cultivate the strength to finally grasp and make the powerful opponents of all parties succumb to himself, and reach the supreme ruling position in a country. These emperors,in the beginning, all hoped that his own virtues could be strong enough to match the great virtues of heaven and earth, and that he would be wise to shine on the world like the sun and the moon, taking himself as the foundation and the future generations as branches and leaves, hoping that the lifeblood of the country can be passed down for generations and endless. However, there are very few countries that can achieve good results according to the original ideals of the founding emperor. From history, we have seen that these dynasties are still going to be defeated, and they are one after another, there is no escape. What is the reason for this? I will explore it and sum up my experience. It is true that the monarchs of these countries have lost the rule of rule. The lessons left by the predecessors are not far away until now. It seems that we can give an example to talk about.

【原文2】

昔在有隋，統一寰宇，甲兵強銳，三十餘年，風行萬里，威動殊俗，一旦舉而棄之，盡為他人之有。彼煬帝豈惡天下之治安，不欲社稷之長久，故行桀虐，以就滅亡哉？恃其富強，不虞後患。驅天下以從欲，罄萬物而自奉，採域中之子女，求遠方之奇異。宮苑是飾，臺榭是崇，徭役無時，干戈不戢。外示嚴重，內多險忌，讒邪者必受其福，忠正者莫保其生。上下相蒙，君臣道隔，民不堪命，率土分崩。遂以四海之尊，殞於匹夫之手，子孫殄絕，為天下笑，可不痛哉！

【白話翻譯2-1】

從前在隋朝的時候，隋朝的開國君主隋文帝統一了國內，著意訓練國家的軍事力量，治理國家三十餘年，使本國的文化影響到很遠的地方，以文化與軍威鎮服遠方那些文化差異的其他國家。一個不小心，這些辛苦經營的事業，都成為了他人所有。那位隋煬帝難道是討厭天下治理良好而局勢安定嗎？他難道是存心不想讓自己的國家存活長久，故意做出像夏桀那般暴行而讓自己身陷滅亡嗎？(我想，不是這樣的，而是因為：)他仗恃著自己的國家當時有了富強的基礎，沒有考慮到後面可能發生的災難。

【英文翻譯2-1】

In the past in the Sui Dynasty(隋朝), Sui Wendi, the founding monarch of the Sui Dynasty, unified the country. He focused on training the country’s military power and governed the country for more than 30 years. This allowed the country’s culture to affect faraway places and served the distant country with culture and military,and he might those countries with cultural differences. But when Emperor of Sui was not careful, these hard-working businesses have become the property of others. Did the Emperor Yang of Sui hate that the country is well governed and the situation is stable? Is he deliberately not wanting to keep his country alive for a long time, and deliberately committing atrocities like Xia Jie to plunge himself into destruction? (I think thats not, but because:) He relied on his countrys wealth and strength at the time, and did not consider the disasters that might occur later.

【白話翻譯2-2】

所以，他將整個天下視為自己的工具，放縱自己的各種欲求，剝削老百姓的各種資源來奉養自己，(依自己的私欲)將國內百姓的子女派去從事各種差事，大肆追求遠方各種珍奇的玩意。他的皇宮建築在雕飾上十分精美，園藝也十分講究，(為了滿足他的慾望)百姓幾乎無時無刻都在受派苦勞差事，國內、國外的戰爭也從未停止。國外的局勢十分危險，而在國內，君臣之間、朝廷與百姓間，互相猜忌、仇恨，喜歡進讒言、抱持邪念的人，反而都一定得到利益，而忠誠正直的大臣，卻沒有辦法保全自己的生命。國家的上與下互相蒙蔽，君與臣之間應講求的道理到這時全被拋棄，人民終究到了無法承受的地步，國土也因此四分五裂。君主最終以至尊的身分，死亡於匹夫的手裡，後代子孫也隨之滅亡，成為天下的笑話，(回想一下開國君主的理想)，這難道不是悲劇而令人沉痛嗎！

【白話翻譯2-2】

Therefore, he regards the whole country as his own tool, indulges his various desires, exploits the various resources of the common people to support himself, (according to his own selfish desires) sends the children of the domestic common people to do various errands, and pursues various rare and rare things in the distance stuff. His palace buildings are very exquisite in carvings and gardening is very particular. (In order to satisfy his desires) ,the people are being sent to work almost all the time, and domestic and foreign wars have never stopped. The situation abroad is very dangerous, but in the country, people who suspicion and hate each other, the suspicion exists between monarchs and ministers, and the court and the people.In this time, the traitor who like to slander and hold evil thoughts will definitely get benefits, but the loyal and upright ministers have no way to save their life. The top and bottom of the country are blinded to each other, and the principles that should be emphasized between the emperor and the minister are all abandoned. The people will eventually become unbearable, and the country will be divided. The monarch eventually died in the hands of Piff, and his descendants also perished and became a joke in the world. (Recall the ideal of the founding monarch). Isn’t this tragedy and painful!

【原文3】

聖哲乘機拯其危溺，八柱傾而復正，四維弛而更張。遠肅邇安，不逾於期月；勝殘去殺，無待於百年。今宮觀臺榭，盡居之矣；奇珍異物，盡收之矣；姬姜淑媛，盡侍於側矣；四海九州，盡為臣妾矣。若能鑒彼之所以失，念我之所以得，日慎一日，雖休勿休，焚鹿臺之寶衣，毀阿房之廣殿，懼危亡於峻宇，思安處於卑宮，則神化潛通，無為而治，德之上也。

【白話翻譯3】

我唐朝聖明的開國君主高宗皇帝與陛下您，乘著這個時機，拯救天下百姓於危溺之中，使天下的昏亂局勢獲得打理與矯正。在很短的時間內，您們使遠近的國家與人民都安定下來，您們也戰勝了那些兇猛殘暴之徒。現在，以前屬於隋朝的宮殿建築、亭臺園囿，我皇上已經居住在其中了；當年隋朝到處蒐羅來的珍奇寶物，如今也都到了我皇上的收藏之中；這天下最美麗的女子們，都陪伴在我皇上的身邊；而舉目所及的天下土地，即使有些尚非我國領土，也無非是臣服或從屬於我國之地。假如我皇上能明察隋朝皇帝的疏忽與過失，而思維我們當時成功的關鍵道理，日復一日提醒自己要謹慎，每天都比前一天更謹慎；雖然一切看似十分美善，也不縱容自己過分安逸；將一些超乎實際需要的衣著、建築，適當加以拋棄，常常想起身在高處的危險，願意安處於低處，那麼，微臣相信皇上能如同古代聖王那樣，有極高明的教化(感召)力，也能默默使一切事理自然運行，您終究可以達到無為而治的境界，這乃是君王之德最上乘的層次。

【英文翻譯3】

Emperor Gaozong, the founding monarch of the our Tang Dynasty and my emperor, you take this opportunity to save the people of the world from drowning, so that the chaotic situation of the world can be taken care of and corrected. In a very short period of time, you have stabilized the countries and peoples both near and far, and you have also defeated those ferocious and brutal people. Now, my emperor has lived in the palace buildings, pavilions and gardens that belonged to the Sui Dynasty; the rare treasures collected from everywhere in the Sui Dynasty are now in my emperor’s collection; the most beautiful women in our country are all accompanied by my emperors side; and even if some of the land under the sky is not our countrys territory, it is nothing but surrendered or subordinated to our country. If my emperor could observe the negligence and negligence of the emperor of the Sui Dynasty, and think of the key to our success at that time, remind youself to be cautious day after day, and be more cautious than the day before; although everything seems very beautiful, you will not condone youself be too comfortable;and you also appropriately abandon some clothing and architecture that exceed actual needs, and you often think of the dangers of being at a high place and are willing to stay at a low place. Then, I believes that my emperor can be as intelligent as the ancient holy king, you will have enlightenment (inspiration) power can also silently make all things work naturally, and you can eventually reach the state of ruling by doing nothing. This is the highest level of the kings virtue.

【原文4】

若成功不毀，即仍其舊，除其不急，損之又損，雜茅茨於桂棟，參玉砌以土階，悅以使人，不竭其力，常念居之者逸，作之者勞，億兆悅以子來，群生仰而遂性，德之次也。

【白話翻譯4】

假如能使已經成就的功業不被毀敗，依循前人可靠的做法，將一些不是很緊急或重要的事務加以排除，將真正要處理的關鍵事項減到最少程度，在美好華麗的建築中不妨有幾間茅屋，在原本打算用玉推砌而成的階梯中，不妨有些是以實用的土質來做成。讓那些為皇室辛勞的百姓民伕們，在相對較愉悅的工作氣氛中從事勞務，也不要使他們過度操勞而用盡力氣。君王若能常常想到自己安居高位的安逸，同時也體察那些在下方為自己工作者的辛勞，使億兆臣民都如同子女走向父母般的喜悅而來追隨我皇，使天下蒼生景仰我皇而由衷樂意滿足我皇的個性愛好，這是君主之德的第二層次。

【英文翻譯4】

If you can keep your achievements from being destroyed, follow the reliable practices of the predecessors, eliminate some not very urgent or important matters, and minimize the key matters to be dealt with. In a beautiful and gorgeous building, there are several thatched huts, and among the stairs that were originally planned to be built with jade, some might be made of practical soil. Let the people who work for the royal family engage in labor in a relatively pleasant working atmosphere, and dont make them overwork and exhaust their strength. If the emperor can always think of the ease of living in a high position, and at the same time appreciate the hard work of those working for him below, so that billions of trillions of subjects will follow the emperor like the children to their parents, and make the countrys people admire their emperor sincerely, being willing to satisfy their emperors personality and hobbies,that is the second level of the monarchs virtue.

【原文5】

若惟聖罔念，不慎厥終，忘締構之艱難，謂天命之可恃，忽採椽之恭儉，追雕墻之靡麗，因其基以廣之，增其舊而飾之，觸類而長，不知止足，人不見德，而勞役是聞，斯為下矣。譬之負薪救火，揚湯止沸，以暴易亂，與亂同道，莫可測也，後嗣何觀！夫事無可觀則人怨，人怨則神怒，神怒則災害必生，災害既生，則禍亂必作，禍亂既作，而能以身名全者鮮矣。順天革命之後，將隆七百之祚，貽厥子孫，傳之萬葉，難得易失，可不念哉！

【白話翻譯5-1】

假如君王不能考慮到聖明的道理，不謹慎依循能有好的結果之道路，忘了當初開國者開疆闢土時的艱辛困難，而竟然認為可依賴於上天將國家賜予自己的旨意而胡為，拋卻恭敬心態與儉樸作風，追求奢華享受而沒有分際，百姓根本無從看到君王的聖德，只聽見國家需要民伕充任勞役的指令，這是君王之德的最下層次。

【英文翻譯5-1】

If the emperor fails to take into account the doctrine of the sacred mind, does not follow the path of good results carefully, forgets the hardships and difficulties of the founders when opening up the territory, and thinks that he can rely on the will of Heaven and do any things. Those frugal and respectful styles have been abandoned,and he pursuing luxurious enjoyment without distinction,so,the common people have no way of seeing the emperor’s holy virtues, but only hearing the instructions that the country needs the people to serve as labor. This is the lowest level of the emperor’s virtue.

【白話翻譯5-2】

這就好比有個人揹著木柴去救火，將滾燙的熱水波動翻攪而希望那水停止沸騰，拿「殘暴」來取代「混亂」，其實正是與混亂相同的做法，其下場不好的程度是很難預測的，他的子孫即使希望保有平安，卻又有什麼希望呢！君王打理國家政務，在政事上無法得到正向的評價，百姓就會發出怨言，百姓的怨言會召來上天的憤怒，上天的憤怒將導致災害發生，災害發生就必然產生禍亂。一旦國內禍亂四起，君王是無法能讓自己的生命與美名都周全的。

【英文翻譯5-2】

This is like a person carrying firewood on his back to fight a fire, stirring the hot water in the hope that the water will stop boiling, and using "cruel" to replace "chaos". In fact, it is exactly the same way as chaos, and the degree of his failure is difficult to predict. Even if his children and grandchildren wish to keep their peace, but what hope do they have? When the emperor cannot get a positive evaluation in political affairs, the people will complain, and the peoples complaints will arouse the anger of heaven, which will lead to disasters, and disasters will inevitably produce disasters. Once domestic turmoil occurs, the emperor cant still make his life and good name comprehensive.

【白話翻譯5-3】

我英明的皇上與開國君主高宗皇帝，正是順著老天的旨意，來革除前朝末代昏亂之君所製造的亂局，此刻，微臣相信上天必然祝福我們能存在著數百年(比如說七百年)之久，皇上可以將國家的事業與治國的道理，傳承到後代子孫手上，期望他們如同枝葉般將國業傳承下去。但國家從來都是難以得到卻容易失去的，皇上能不謹慎並常常思考這些道理嗎？

【英文翻譯5-3】

My wise emperor and emperor Gaozong, the founding monarch of the country, you followed the will of Heaven to eliminate the chaos which created by the last monarch of the previous dynasty. At this moment, I believes that Heaven will bless us to exist for hundreds of years (Seven hundred years), you can give the country and the principles of governing to your future generations, and hoping that they will inherit the countrys industry like branches and leaves. Since we know that a country is difficult to obtain but easy to lose, shouldnt you be cautious and often think about these principles?

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【參考資料】

貞觀政要全文─中國哲學書電子化計劃

https://ctext.org/wiki.pl?if=gb&res=891288