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A Record of the Debate on Salt and Iron [PDF] - Asia for Educators ...

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Prim ar y S our ce Doc um e nt<br />

wi t h Qu e st io n s ( D BQ s)<br />

A R E C O R D O F T H E D E B A T E O N S A L T A N D I R O N<br />

Int rod uct io n<br />

This document records <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two sides in a debate <strong>on</strong> government fiscal policy during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

Former or Western Han dynasty (206 BCE-8 CE). The debate took place in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Han Emperor Zhao in 81<br />

BCE. Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, led by Lord Gr<strong>and</strong> Secretary Sang H<strong>on</strong>gyang, <strong>and</strong> a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>fucian scholars ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>red<br />

to debate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic policies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preceding emperor, Emperor Wu (r. 141-87 BCE). The most famous <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />

policies were state m<strong>on</strong>opolies <strong>on</strong> two important goods: ir<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> salt.<br />

Docu m e n t E xc erpt s w it h Q ue s tio n s (Complete document follows this secti<strong>on</strong>)<br />

From Sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chinese Traditi<strong>on</strong>, compiled by Wm. Theodore de Bary <strong>and</strong> Irene Bloom, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia<br />

University Press, 1999), 360-363. © 1999 Columbia University Press. Reproduced with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> permissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> publisher. All rights<br />

reserved.<br />

A
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Record</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Debate</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<strong>on</strong>
<strong>Salt</strong>
<strong>and</strong>
Ir<strong>on</strong>
<br />


<br />

…
 The
 literati
 resp<strong>on</strong>ded:
 We
 have
 heard
 that
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 way
 to
 govern
 men
 is
 to
 prevent
 evil
 <strong>and</strong>
<br />

error
 at
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
 source,
 to
 broaden
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 beginnings
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 morality,
 to
 discourage
 sec<strong>on</strong>dary
<br />

occupati<strong>on</strong>s,
 <strong>and</strong>
 open
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 way
 <strong>for</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 exercise
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 humaneness
 <strong>and</strong>
 rightness.
 Never
 should
<br />

material
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it
appear
as
a
motive
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
government.
Only
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
can
moral
instructi<strong>on</strong>
succeed
<strong>and</strong>
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 customs
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 be
 re<strong>for</strong>med.
 But
 now
 in
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 provinces
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 salt,
 ir<strong>on</strong>,
 <strong>and</strong>
 liquor
<br />

m<strong>on</strong>opolies,
<strong>and</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
system
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
equitable
marketing
have
been
established
to
compete
with
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

people
 <strong>for</strong>
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it,
 dispelling
 rustic
 generosity
 <strong>and</strong>
 teaching
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 greed.
 There<strong>for</strong>e
 those
<br />

who
 pursue
 primary
 occupati<strong>on</strong>s
 [farming]
 have
 grown
 few
 <strong>and</strong>
 those
 following
 sec<strong>on</strong>dary
<br />

occupati<strong>on</strong>s
 [trading]
 numerous.
 As
 artifice
 increases,
 basic
 simplicity
 declines;
 <strong>and</strong>
 as
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

sec<strong>on</strong>dary
occupati<strong>on</strong>s
flourish,
those
that
are
primary
suffer.
When
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
sec<strong>on</strong>dary
is
practiced
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
grow
decadent,
but
when
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
primary
is
practiced
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
are
simple
<strong>and</strong>
sincere.
When
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 are
 sincere
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re
 will
 be
 sufficient
 wealth
 <strong>and</strong>
 goods,
 but
 when
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
 become
<br />

extravagant
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
 famine
 <strong>and</strong>
 cold
 will
 follow.
 We
 recommend
 that
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 salt,
 ir<strong>on</strong>,
 <strong>and</strong>
 liquor
<br />

m<strong>on</strong>opolies
<strong>and</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
system
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
equitable
marketing
be
abolished
so
that
primary
pursuits
may
<br />

be
 advanced
 <strong>and</strong>
 sec<strong>on</strong>dary
 <strong>on</strong>es
 suppressed.
 This
 will
 have
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 advantage
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 increasing
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>itableness
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
agriculture.
<br />


<br />

His
 Lordship
 [<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 Imperial
 Secretary
 Sang
 H<strong>on</strong>gyang]
 replied:
 The
 Xi<strong>on</strong>gnu
 have
 frequently
<br />

revolted
against
our
sovereignty
<strong>and</strong>
pillaged
our
borders.
If
we
are
to
defend
ourselves,
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
it
<br />

means
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 hardships
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 war
 <strong>for</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 soldiers
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 China,
 but
 if
 we
 do
 not
 defend
 ourselves
<br />

properly,
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
incursi<strong>on</strong>s
cannot
be
stopped.
The
<strong>for</strong>mer
emperor
[Wu]
took
pity
up<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>



Prim ar y S our ce Doc um e nt , wit h Qu e st io n s (D B Q s) <strong>on</strong><br />

A R E CO R D O F T HE D EB A TE O N S AL T A ND I R O N<br />

people
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 border
 areas
 who
 <strong>for</strong>
 so
 l<strong>on</strong>g
 had
 suffered
 disaster
 <strong>and</strong>
 hardship
 <strong>and</strong>
 had
 been
<br />

carried
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f
 as
 captives.
 There<strong>for</strong>e
 he
 set
 up
 defense
 stati<strong>on</strong>s,
 established
 a
 system
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 warning
<br />

beac<strong>on</strong>s,
<strong>and</strong>
garris<strong>on</strong>ed
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
outlying
areas
to
ensure
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
protecti<strong>on</strong>.
But
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
resources
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
<br />

areas
 were
 insufficient,
 <strong>and</strong>
 so
 he
 established
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 salt,
 ir<strong>on</strong>,
 <strong>and</strong>
 liquor
 m<strong>on</strong>opolies
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

system
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 equitable
 marketing
 in
 order
 to
 raise
 more
 funds
 <strong>for</strong>
 expenditures
 at
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 borders.
<br />

Now
our
critics,
who
desire
that
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
measures
be
abolished,
would
empty
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
treasuries
<strong>and</strong>
<br />

deplete
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 funds
 used
 <strong>for</strong>
 defense.
 They
 would
 have
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 men
 who
 are
 defending
 our
 passes
<br />

<strong>and</strong>
patrolling
our
walls
suffer
hunger
<strong>and</strong>
cold.
How
else
can
we
provide
<strong>for</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m?
Aboliti<strong>on</strong>
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
measures
is
not
expedient!
<br />


<br />

Q ue st io n s:<br />

1. What was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>opolies <strong>on</strong> salt <strong>and</strong> ir<strong>on</strong>?<br />

2. Why do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> literati oppose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>opolies? How does <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Imperial<br />

Secretary resp<strong>on</strong>d?<br />

3. Which positi<strong>on</strong> is more in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> precepts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>fucian philosophy?<br />

4. What relevance do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments expressed in this debate have <strong>for</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />

times <strong>and</strong> places? Are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments relevant today?<br />

Comp l et e Doc um e nt<br />

From Sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chinese Traditi<strong>on</strong>, compiled by Wm. Theodore de Bary <strong>and</strong> Irene Bloom, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia<br />

University Press, 1999), 360-363. © 1999 Columbia University Press. Reproduced with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> permissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> publisher. All rights<br />

reserved.<br />

A
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Record</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Debate</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<strong>on</strong>
<strong>Salt</strong>
<strong>and</strong>
Ir<strong>on</strong>
<br />


<br />

In
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 sixth
 year
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 era
 Shiyuan
 [81
 BCE],
 an
 imperial
 edict
 was
 issued
 directing
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

chancellor
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 imperial
 secretaries
 to
 c<strong>on</strong>fer
 with
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 worthies
 <strong>and</strong>
 literati
 who
 had
 been
<br />

recommended
 to
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 government
 <strong>and</strong>
 to
 inquire
 into
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 grievances
 <strong>and</strong>
 hardships
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

people.

<br />


<br />

The
literati
resp<strong>on</strong>ded:
We
have
heard
that
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
way
to
govern
men
is
to
prevent
evil
<strong>and</strong>
error
at
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
source,
to
broaden
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
beginnings
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
morality,
to
discourage
sec<strong>on</strong>dary
occupati<strong>on</strong>s,
<strong>and</strong>
<br />

open
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 way
 <strong>for</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 exercise
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 humaneness
 <strong>and</strong>
 rightness.
 Never
 should
 material
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it
<br />

appear
as
a
motive
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
government.
Only
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
can
moral
instructi<strong>on</strong>
succeed
<strong>and</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
customs
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
be
re<strong>for</strong>med.
But
now
in
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
provinces
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
salt,
ir<strong>on</strong>,
<strong>and</strong>
liquor
m<strong>on</strong>opolies,
<strong>and</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

system
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 equitable
 marketing
 have
 been
 established
 to
 compete
 with
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 <strong>for</strong>
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it,
<br />

dispelling
rustic
generosity
<strong>and</strong>
teaching
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
greed.
There<strong>for</strong>e
those
who
pursue
primary
<br />

occupati<strong>on</strong>s
 [farming]
 have
 grown
 few
 <strong>and</strong>
 those
 following
 sec<strong>on</strong>dary
 occupati<strong>on</strong>s
 [trading]
<br />

numerous.
 As
 artifice
 increases,
 basic
 simplicity
 declines;
 <strong>and</strong>
 as
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 sec<strong>on</strong>dary
 occupati<strong>on</strong>s
<br />

flourish,
 those
 that
 are
 primary
 suffer.
 When
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 sec<strong>on</strong>dary
 is
 practiced
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 grow
<br />

decadent,
but
when
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
primary
is
practiced
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
are
simple
<strong>and</strong>
sincere.
When
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
are
<br />

As ia fo r E du cat ors | Colu m bia U niv ers it y | ht t p:/ /af e. ea s ia.colu m bia. e du Page 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 4


Prim ar y S our ce Doc um e nt , wit h Qu e st io n s (D B Q s) <strong>on</strong><br />

A R E CO R D O F T HE D EB A TE O N S AL T A ND I R O N<br />

sincere
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re
will
be
sufficient
wealth
<strong>and</strong>
goods,
but
when
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
become
extravagant
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
<br />

famine
<strong>and</strong>
cold
will
follow.
We
recommend
that
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
salt,
ir<strong>on</strong>,
<strong>and</strong>
liquor
m<strong>on</strong>opolies
<strong>and</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

system
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 equitable
 marketing
 be
 abolished
 so
 that
 primary
 pursuits
 may
 be
 advanced
 <strong>and</strong>
<br />

sec<strong>on</strong>dary
 <strong>on</strong>es
 suppressed.
 This
 will
 have
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 advantage
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 increasing
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>itableness
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

agriculture.

<br />


<br />

His
 Lordship
 [<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 Imperial
 Secretary
 Sang
 H<strong>on</strong>gyang]
 replied:
 The
 Xi<strong>on</strong>gnu
 have
 frequently
<br />

revolted
against
our
sovereignty
<strong>and</strong>
pillaged
our
borders.
If
we
are
to
defend
ourselves,
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
it
<br />

means
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 hardships
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 war
 <strong>for</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 soldiers
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 China,
 but
 if
 we
 do
 not
 defend
 ourselves
<br />

properly,
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
incursi<strong>on</strong>s
cannot
be
stopped.
The
<strong>for</strong>mer
emperor
[Wu]
took
pity
up<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

people
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 border
 areas
 who
 <strong>for</strong>
 so
 l<strong>on</strong>g
 had
 suffered
 disaster
 <strong>and</strong>
 hardship
 <strong>and</strong>
 had
 been
<br />

carried
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f
 as
 captives.
 There<strong>for</strong>e
 he
 set
 up
 defense
 stati<strong>on</strong>s,
 established
 a
 system
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 warning
<br />

beac<strong>on</strong>s,
<strong>and</strong>
garris<strong>on</strong>ed
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
outlying
areas
to
ensure
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
protecti<strong>on</strong>.
But
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
resources
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
<br />

areas
 were
 insufficient,
 <strong>and</strong>
 so
 he
 established
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 salt,
 ir<strong>on</strong>,
 <strong>and</strong>
 liquor
 m<strong>on</strong>opolies
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

system
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 equitable
 marketing
 in
 order
 to
 raise
 more
 funds
 <strong>for</strong>
 expenditures
 at
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 borders.
<br />

Now
our
critics,
who
desire
that
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
measures
be
abolished,
would
empty
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
treasuries
<strong>and</strong>
<br />

deplete
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 funds
 used
 <strong>for</strong>
 defense.
 They
 would
 have
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 men
 who
 are
 defending
 our
 passes
<br />

<strong>and</strong>
patrolling
our
walls
suffer
hunger
<strong>and</strong>
cold.
How
else
can
we
provide
<strong>for</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m?
Aboliti<strong>on</strong>
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
measures
is
not
expedient!
<br />


<br />

His
Lordship
stated:
In
<strong>for</strong>mer
times
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
peers
residing
in
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
provinces
sent
in
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
respective
<br />

products
 as
 tribute,
 but
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re
 was
 much
 c<strong>on</strong>fusi<strong>on</strong>
 <strong>and</strong>
 trouble
 in
 transporting
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

goods
were
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
such
poor
quality
that
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
were
not
worth
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
cost
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
transportati<strong>on</strong>.
For
<br />

this
 reas<strong>on</strong>
 transportati<strong>on</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices
 have
 been
 set
 up
 in
 each
 district
 to
 h<strong>and</strong>le
 delivery
 <strong>and</strong>
<br />

shipping
<strong>and</strong>
to
facilitate
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
presentati<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
tribute
from
outlying
areas.
There<strong>for</strong>e
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
system
is
<br />

called
 “equitable
 marketing.”
 Warehouses
 have
 been
 opened
 in
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 capital
 <strong>for</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 storing
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

goods,
 buying
 when
 prices
 are
 low
 <strong>and</strong>
 selling
 when
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
 are
 high.
 Thereby
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 government
<br />

suffers
 no
 loss
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 merchants
 cannot
 speculate
 <strong>for</strong>
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it.
 There<strong>for</strong>e
 this
 is
 called
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

“balanced
 level”
 [stabilizati<strong>on</strong>].
 With
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 balanced
 level
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 are
 protected
 from
<br />

unemployment,
 <strong>and</strong>
 with
 equitable
 marketing
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 burden
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 labor
 service
 is
 equalized.
 Thus
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se
measures
are
designed
to
ensure
an
equal
distributi<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
goods
<strong>and</strong>
to
benefit
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
<br />

<strong>and</strong>
are
not
intended
to
open
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
way
to
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it
or
provide
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
with
a
ladder
to
crime.

<br />


<br />

The
 literati
 replied:
 In
 ancient
 times
 taxes
 <strong>and</strong>
 levies
 took
 from
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 what
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
 were
<br />

skilled
in
producing
<strong>and</strong>
did
not
dem<strong>and</strong>
what
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
were
poor
at.
Thus
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
husb<strong>and</strong>men
sent
in
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
harvests
<strong>and</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
weaving
women
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
goods.
Nowadays
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
government
disregards
what
<br />

people
have
<strong>and</strong>
requires
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m
what
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
have
not,
so
that
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
are
<strong>for</strong>ced
to
sell
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
goods
<br />

at
 a
 cheap
 price
 in
 order
 to
 meet
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 dem<strong>and</strong>s
 from
 above.
 …
 The
 farmers
 suffer
 double
<br />

hardships
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 weaving
 women
 are
 taxed
 twice.
 We
 have
 not
 seen
 that
 this
 kind
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

marketing
 is
 “equitable.”
 The
 government
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials
 go
 about
 recklessly
 opening
 closed
 doors
<br />

<strong>and</strong>
buying
everything
at
will
so
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
can
corner
all
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
goods.
With
goods
cornered
prices
soar,
<br />

<strong>and</strong>
 when
 prices
 soar
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 merchants
 make
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
 own
 deals
 <strong>for</strong>
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it.
 The
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials
 wink
 at
<br />

As ia fo r E du cat ors | Colu m bia U niv ers it y | ht t p:/ /af e. ea s ia.colu m bia. e du Page 3 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 4


Prim ar y S our ce Doc um e nt , wit h Qu e st io n s (D B Q s) <strong>on</strong><br />

A R E CO R D O F T HE D EB A TE O N S AL T A ND I R O N<br />

powerful
 racketeers,
 <strong>and</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 rich
 merchants
 hoard
 commodities
 <strong>and</strong>
 wait
 <strong>for</strong>
 an
 emergency.
<br />

With
slick
merchants
<strong>and</strong>
corrupt
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials
buying
cheap
<strong>and</strong>
selling
dear
we
have
not
seen
that
<br />

your
level
 is
“balanced.”
The
 system
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
equitable
marketing
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
ancient
times
was
 designed
to
<br />

equalize
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
burden
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
labor
up<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
<strong>and</strong>
facilitate
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
transporting
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
tribute.
It
did
not
<br />

mean
dealing
in
all
kinds
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
commodities
<strong>for</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
sake
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it.

<br />


<br />

The
Literati
Attack
Legalist
Philosophy
<br />

The
literati
spoke:
He
who
is
good
with
a
chisel
can
shape
a
round
hole
without
difficulty;
he
<br />

who
is
good
at
laying
foundati<strong>on</strong>s
can
build
to
a
great
height
without
danger
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
collapse.
The
<br />

statesman
 Yi
 Yin
 made
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 ways
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 Yao
 <strong>and</strong>
 Shun
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 foundati<strong>on</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 Yin
 dynasty,
 <strong>and</strong>
 its
<br />

heirs
succeeded
to
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
thr<strong>on</strong>e
<strong>for</strong>
a
hundred
generati<strong>on</strong>s
without
break.
But
Shang
Yang
made
<br />

heavy
penalties
<strong>and</strong>
harsh
laws
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
foundati<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
Qin
state
<strong>and</strong>
with
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
Sec<strong>on</strong>d
Emperor
it
<br />

was
 destroyed.
 Not
satisfied
with
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 severity
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 laws,
 he
instituted
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 system
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
mutual
<br />

resp<strong>on</strong>sibility,
made
it
a
crime
to
criticize
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
government,
<strong>and</strong>
increased
corporal
punishments
<br />

until
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 people
 were
 so
 terrified
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
 did
 not
 know
 where
 to
 put
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
 h<strong>and</strong>s
 <strong>and</strong>
 feet.
 Not
<br />

c<strong>on</strong>tent
with
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
manifold
taxes
<strong>and</strong>
levies,
he
prohibited
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
people
from
using
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
resources
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

<strong>for</strong>ests
 <strong>and</strong>
 rivers
 <strong>and</strong>
 made
 a
 hundredfold
 pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it
 <strong>on</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 storage
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 commodities,
 while
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

people
were
given
no
chance
to
voice
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
slightest
objecti<strong>on</strong>.
Such
worship
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it
<strong>and</strong>
slight
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
what
is
right,
such
exaltati<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
power
<strong>and</strong>
achievement,
lent,
it
is
true,
to
expansi<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
l<strong>and</strong>
<br />

<strong>and</strong>
acquisiti<strong>on</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
territory.
 Yet
it
was
 like
 pouring
 more
water
 up<strong>on</strong>
 people
who
are
already
<br />

suffering
 from
 flood
 <strong>and</strong>
 <strong>on</strong>ly
 increasing
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
 distress.
 You
 see
 how
 Shang
 Yang
 opened
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<br />

way
to
imperial
rule
<strong>for</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
Qin,
but
you
fail
to
see
how
he
also
opened
<strong>for</strong>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
Qin
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
road
to
<br />

ruin!

<br />


<br />

C<strong>on</strong>fucian
Literati
Ridiculed
<br />

His
Excellency
spoke:
…
Now
we
have
with
us
over
sixty
worthy
men
<strong>and</strong>
literati
who
cherish
<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
ways
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
Six
 C<strong>on</strong>fucian
Arts,
 fleet
in
thought
<strong>and</strong>
exhaustive
 in
argument.
 It
is
proper,
<br />

gentlemen,
that
you
should
pour
<strong>for</strong>th
your
light
<strong>and</strong>
dispel
our
ignorance.
And
yet
you
put
all
<br />

your
 faith
 in
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 past
 <strong>and</strong>
 turn
 your
 backs
 up<strong>on</strong>
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 present,
 tell
 us
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 antiquity
 <strong>and</strong>
 give
 no
<br />

thought
to
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
state
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
times.
Perhaps
we
are
not
capable
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
recognizing
true
scholars.
Yet
do
<br />

you
really
presume
with
your
fancy
phrases
<strong>and</strong>
attacks
up<strong>on</strong>
men
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>
ability
to
pervert
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
truth
<br />

in
this
manner?
<br />


<br />

See
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m
 [<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
 C<strong>on</strong>fucians]
 now
 present
 us
 with
 nothingness
 <strong>and</strong>
 c<strong>on</strong>sider
 it
 substance,
 with
<br />

emptiness
 <strong>and</strong>
 call
 it
 plenty!
 In
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir
 coarse
 gowns
 <strong>and</strong>
 worn
 shoes
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
 walk
 gravely
 al<strong>on</strong>g,
<br />

sunk
 in
 meditati<strong>on</strong>
 as
 though
 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y
 had
 lost
 something.
 These
 are
 not
 men
 who
 can
 do
 great
<br />

deeds
<strong>and</strong>
win
fame.
They
do
not
even
rise
above
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>
vulgar
masses.

<br />


<br />



<br />

As ia fo r E du cat ors | Colu m bia U niv ers it y | ht t p:/ /af e. ea s ia.colu m bia. e du Page 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 4

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