鐔津文集 6.30

6.30

As for the lineage of the Ruists, their Way values comprehensiveness. As for the lineage of Laozi, their Way values simplicity. As for the lineage of the Yin-Yang theorists, their Way values timeliness. As for the lineage of the Mohists, their Way values frugality. As for the lineage of the Legalists, their Way values strictness. As for the lineage of the School of Names, their Way values scrutiny. As for the lineage of the School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances, their Way values adaptability. As for the lineage of the Eclectics, their Way values integration. As for the lineage of the School of Agronomists, their Way values sufficiency. Yet all of them have their shortcomings and strengths. If one discards their shortcomings and unites their strengths, they are also sufficient to aid the way of governing. Ban Gu traced their origins and exalted the Ruists; Sima Qian brought together their conclusions and exalted the beginning. One who exalts the beginning has a mind that is broad; one who exalts the Ruists has a mind that is specialized. Ban Gu once censured Sima Qian, considering it an extreme error that he prioritized Huang-Lao; this was because Ban Gu failed to see that Sima Qian's exaltation of the Ruists was paramount. As for the Way of the Yellow Emperor, it resides in the Changes. The Changes is the root of the myriad things and the source of the Six Arts; is it not thoroughly fitting to prioritize it? Could it be that even Ban Gu's wisdom fell short in some respect? Bo Yi's strength was purity, while his shortcoming was narrowness. Liuxia Hui's strength was harmony, while his shortcoming was lack of solemnity. Mencius, exalting what was strongest in the two gentlemen, said: 'A sage is a teacher for a hundred generations: Bo Yi and Liuxia Hui were such.' Sima Qian's mind was also in accord with Mencius. Therefore, the gentleman approves of him.