CLASS REQUIREMENT 1

          

1

Ch’en Hsiang visited Mencius and repeated the words of Hsü Hsing, saying, “The ruler of T’eng is indeed a worthy ruler.  But he has not heard the Way.  [According to it], the worthy cultivate the field together with the people for food, and prepare their own meals while they carry on the government. …”

Mencius said, “… Why does Master Hsü not do the work of the potter and the founder, and supply himself with the articles which he uses solely from his own establishment?  Why does he go in great confusion to deal and exchange with the hundred artisans?  Why does he mind all the trouble?”  “The work of the various artisans can in fact not be done along with farming.”  “When can the government of the empire alone be done along with farming?  There is the work of great men and there is the work of little men.  Furthermore, whatever is needed for one single person is supplied by the various artisans.  If one must make the things himself before he uses them, this would make the whole empire run about on the road.  Therefore it is said, ‘Some labor with their minds and some labor with their strength.  Those who labor with their minds govern others; those who labor with their strength are governed by others.’  Those who are governed by others support them; those who govern them are supported by them.  This is a universal principle. …”

Ch’en Hsiang said, “If the way of Master Hsü were followed, there would not be two prices in the market.  Even if a young boy goes there, none would cheat him.  Linen and silk of the same length would be sold at the same price.  Bundles of hemp and silk of the same weight would be sold at the same price.  Grains of the same quantity would be sold at the same price.  And shoes of the same size would be sold at the same price.”

Mencius said, “It is the nature of things to be unequal.  Some are twice, some five times, some ten times, some a hundred times, and some one thousand or ten thousand times as valuable as others.  If you equalize them all, you would  throw the world into confusion.  If large shoes and small shoes were of the same price, who would make them?  If the doctrines of Master Hsü were followed, people would lead one another to practice deceit.  How can these doctrines be employed to govern a state?”  [Book of Mencius 3A:4]

             In the Book of Mencius 3A:4, Mencius explained inequality as a universal principle. When Ch’en Hsiang criticized the ruler of T’eng as a worthy ruler but one who hasn’t heard the way because he doesn’t cultivate the fields with the people while carrying on with the government, Mencius answered Ch’en Hsiang that this is the way of the universe.

            Mencius explained in the first part that if one has to do everything for one’s self, will not one be in great confusion? If there is no distribution of work and one has to do everything for himself, one would not finish much. There would be lack of time and everyone will be in a hurry to fend for himself. Mencius stated that there is a need for inequality because it is in their differences that one would create flourish. There is a need for division of labor for the entire community to be progressive. Mencius acknowledges that there are people who work with their minds and there are people who work with their hands. The people who work with their minds govern those who work with their hands while the people who work with their hands support those who work with their minds. Through cooperation and helping one another, both the people who work with their minds and those who work with their hands accomplish much and progress together. It is in their differences that they unite together. This makes it much easier for both parties thus there is no need to rush and be confused. The other cares for another. One doesn’t work for one’s self alone which makes their workload lighter. Because of this, it is in their differences that they found harmony instead of disharmony. Like in a guitar, it is in the differences of tone that when strummed as one, is what makes it create beautiful music. It is explained by Mencius that it is in the differences of people, the universal law, that makes harmony, possible.

              Harmony is not uniformity. Harmony lies in the congruity of parts with one another and the whole. It is never being one and the same. It is in the compatibility of opinions and actions that it could be found. Harmony could be found amidst the differences, not in the sameness. It lies in the acceptance and agreement of each and every quality of each parts integrated into its whole. Harmony as what Mencius wanted to explain is "Unity in Diversity".