Virtue Is Most Important

So... bronze ritual sculptures were believed to have "spiritual" power in ancient China.  There is a well known account in Zou's Commentaries to consider.  The story goes like this.... In the third year of Lord Xuan (605 BC), the Duke of Chu attacked the nomads in the north.  He then marched his troops to the Zhou capital at Luoyang.  When he arrived, a victorious military parade was then conducted for all to see.  This duke's intention was to take political power away from the weakened king of the Zhou dynasty.  However, the duke was greeted by the Zhou king's minister, Wang-sun Man.

The duke asked what the size and weight of the bronze ding tripods at the court were.  Wang-sun Man told the duke that the size and weight of the tripods were of very small importance.  What really mattered was the virtue they possessed!  Man went on to explain that in ancient times, when the Xia dynasty was distinguished by its virtue, the people of distant lands made drawings of many creatures.  The nine governors of the nine provinces sent these drawings, and the metals that they paid in tribute, to the king.  These tripods were then cast with all the creatures as ornaments.  This was done to benefit the people.  The idea was to maintain harmony between the world above and world below.

When the Xia king lost his virtue, the tripods were transferred to the Shang.  Later, the tripods were passed to the Zhou dynasty.  Wang-sun Man told the duke in plain terms that when virtue is massive and brilliant, the small tripods would become heavy.  When the virtue is compromised by wickedness and deception, the large tripods would become very light.  Heaven blesses brilliant virtue.  Such blessings will stay with those who have it!  For this reason, Wang-sun Man concluded again by saying there was little reason to ask about the weight and size of the tripods.  A person of virtue is already aware of being blessed.

Harlan Urwiler

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