Revelations from Shang Shu (Part 2)
 
2. The Will of the People Is the Will of Heaven
 
Wise and able rulers cherish and respect their subjects. After the Zhou Dynasty replaced the Shang Dynasty, Zhou accepted the people of the previous dynasty as their own. It was recorded in the chapter “Kang Gao” (announcement to Kang, otherwise known as Ji Feng) that King Cheng of Zhou (around 1060 BC – 1020 BC) said:
 
"Oh, Feng (Ji Feng, King Cheng’s uncle), you must remember! Now the Yin people of the Shang Dynasty will observe carefully if you respectfully follow King Wen of Zhou and try to listen to the good advice from the Yin people. When you go to the Yin regions, you ought to widely gather the good methods the previous insightful and wise kings of the Yin used to maintain the wellbeing of the people. You should also think deeply about the wise teachings of the elderly among the Yin people. In addition, you need to seek knowledge of the teachings of the deceased wise kings of ancient times on how to keep the people safe and sound. Advocate the Mandate of Heaven, have good virtues for yourself, and don't forget the king’s order!"
 
In “Jiu Gao” (announcement about alcohol), King Cheng followed King Wen’s reminder that alcohol can only be consumed during worship. In addition, food should be cherished and thoughts should be compassionate. The king told Ji Feng, “King Zhou of Shang loved alcohol. He thought that he had the Mandate of Heaven so he neglected the suffering of the people. He was satisfied being resented by the people and declined to change. He surrounded himself with lewdness and entertainment, sacrificing all his majesty. His subjects grieved tremendously. The King of Zhou only wanted to indulge in alcohol, he did not care to restrain his lewdness. With his vicious nature, he had no fear of death. He continued his crimes in the capital of Shang Dynasty. He never worried about the decline and end of the Yin.”
 
In “Zhao Gao” (announcement to the Duke of Shao), King Zhou said:
 
"Heaven had long meant to put an end to the luck of the big nation Yin. Many of the early wise kings of Yin were in Heaven, and that was why the later kings and the people of Yin were able to enjoy the Mandate of Heaven. By the end of King Zhou of Shang, wise people had hidden themselves, and sinister people held official posts. People could only protect and take care of their wives and children, miserably calling Heaven to tell of their sufferings, cursing King Zhou to perish and trying to escape. Ah! Heaven took pity on the people, cared about their fate, and changed the destiny of Yin. Your Excellency must earnestly carry out virtuous policies!"
 
3. Respect Heaven and Know One's Destiny
 
Wise kings in ancient times respected Heaven and protected their people, making every conscientious effort to teach and reassure them.
 
In other excerpts of “Kang Gao”:
“Feng, the people must be educated for them to be kind and stable. We need to keep the virtuous governing policies of the wise rulers of the past in our minds at all times. This should be used to govern the Yin people. If the people are not educated, then there would not kindness and the nation would not have good governance.”    
 
"Feng, we cannot afford not to see these things clearly. I need to advise you on how to carry out virtuous policies and tell you why people bring punishment upon themselves. The people are no longer peaceful, and we have not calmed their hearts; although we often teach them, but they still don't comply. Heaven will soon punish us, and we must not hold any grievances. Faults are faults whether they are big or numerous or not, let alone that they have been clearly heard by Heaven."
 
"Oh, Feng, you must be careful not to create resentments, not to use bad tactics, and not to adopt unlawful measures, so that your sincere heart will not be blocked. Try hard to carry out virtuous policies to reassure people's hearts, to remember their kindnesses and virtues, to relieve their conscript labor so that they could be well-fed and well-clad. This way Heaven will not blame and abandon you."
 
Throughout history from the periods of Shang and Zhou to the last feudal dynasty, Qing, people observed heavenly laws. One can see that the principle of "Heaven and Man are one" had been the spiritual realm of ancient people all along.
 
《尚书》的启示 (下)
 
二、民意即天意
 
贤明的君王爱民重民，周取代商后把殷民收为新民。《康诰》记载周成王曰：“呜呼！封，汝念哉！今民将在祇遹乃文考，绍闻衣德言。往敷求于殷先哲王用保乂民，汝丕远惟商耇成人宅心知训。别求闻由古先哲王用康保民。宏于天，若德裕乃身，不废在王命！”
 
意思是，王说：“啊！封，你要记住啊！现在殷民将观察你恭敬的追随文王，努力听取殷人的好意见。你去殷地，要遍求殷代圣明先王用来保养百姓的方法，你还要深长思考殷商长者揣度民心的明智教导。另外，你还要探求古时圣明帝王安保百姓的遗训。弘扬天命，用美德加于身，不废王命！”
 
《酒诰》中周成王听从文王告诫，祭祀才可以饮酒，要珍惜粮食，心思善良。并对姬封说，“在近世的商纣王，好酒，以为有命在天，不明白臣民的痛苦，安于怨恨而不改。他不作淫乱，游乐在违反常法的活动之中，因宴乐而丧失了威仪，臣民没有不悲痛伤心的。商纣王只想放纵于酒，不想自己制止淫乐。他心地狠毒，不能以死来畏惧他。他作恶在商都，对于殷国的灭亡，没有忧虑过。”
 
《召诰》中周王说：“上天早就要结束大国殷的福命，这个殷国许多圣明的先王都在天上，因此殷商后来的君王和臣民，才能够享受著天命。到了纣王的末年，明智的人隐藏了，害民的人在位。人们只知护著、抱著、牵看、扶著他们的妻子儿女，悲哀的呼告上天，诅咒纣王灭亡，企图脱离困境。啊！上天也哀怜四方的老百姓，它眷顾百姓的命运因此更改殷命。大王要赶快认真施行德政呀！”
 
三、敬天知命
 
古代明君都是敬天保民，教民安民，兢兢业业。
 
《康诰》：
 
“封啊，老百姓受到教化才会善良安定，我们时时要思念著殷代圣明先王的德政，用来安治殷民，作为法则。人民不加教导，就不会善良；不加教导，就没有善政在国邦。”
 
“封啊，我们不可不看清这些，我要告诉你施行德政的意见和招致责罚的道理。现在老百姓不安静，没有安定他们的心，教导屡屡，仍然不曾和同，上天将要责罚我们，我们不可怨恨。本来罪过不在于大，也不在于多，何况这些罪过还被上天明显的听到呢？”
 
“唉！封，要谨慎啊！不要制造怨恨，不要使用不好的计谋，不要采取不合法的措施，以蔽塞你的诚心。于是努力施行德政，以安民心，挂记他们的善德，宽缓他们的徭役，丰足他们的衣食；人民安宁了，上天就不会责备和抛弃你了。”
 
从信史以来的商周时代到最后一个封建王朝大清，过程中都遵从著天道。可见，天人合一是古人生平而守持的境界。