A Great Utopia (The World of Da-Tong)
Confucius’ Ideal of a Commonwealth State* – a Great Utopia
Li-Yun-Da-Tong (Li-Yun-Dah-Tong) Section, the Record of Rites, Book 9, by Confucius (BC551~479)
When the Great Dao (Tao, perfect order) prevails, the world is like a Commonwealth State shared by all, not a dictatorship.
Virtuous, worthy, wise and capable people are chosen as leaders.
Honesty and trust are promoted, and good neighborliness cultivated.
All people respect and love their own parents and children, as well as the parents and children of others.
The aged are cared for until death; adults are employed in jobs that make full use of their abilities; and children are nourished, educated, and fostered.
Widows and widowers, orphans and the old without children, the disabled and the diseased are all well taken care of.
Every man and woman has an appropriate role to play in society and in the family.
They hate to see resources lying idle or cast away, yet they do not necessarily keep them for themselves.
They hate not to make use of their abilities, yet they do not necessarily work for their own self-interest.
Thus intrigues and conspiracies do not arise, and thievery and robbery do not occur; therefore doors need never be locked.
This is the ideal world – a perfect world of equality, fraternity, harmony, welfare, and justice. This is the world called “Da-Tong (Dah-Torng)”.
Original Text:
禮運大同篇 孔子(西元前551~479年)《禮記卷七,禮運第九》
大道之行也,天下為公;選賢與能,講信修睦;故人不獨親其親,不獨子其子;使老有所終,壯有所用,幼有所長;鰥寡孤獨廢疾者,皆有所養;男有分,女有歸;貨惡其棄於地也,不必藏於己;力惡其不出於身也,不必為己;是故謀閉而不興,盜竊亂賊而不作,故外戶而不閉,是謂大同。
Confucius’ Ideal of a Commonwealth State* – a Great Utopia
Li-Yun-Da-Tong (Li-Yun-Dah-Tong) Section, the Record of Rites, Book 9, by Confucius (BC551~479)
When the Great Dao (Tao, perfect order) prevails, the world is like a Commonwealth State shared by all, not a dictatorship.
Virtuous, worthy, wise and capable people are chosen as leaders.
Honesty and trust are promoted, and good neighborliness cultivated.
All people respect and love their own parents and children, as well as the parents and children of others.
The aged are cared for until death; adults are employed in jobs that make full use of their abilities; and children are nourished, educated, and fostered.
Widows and widowers, orphans and the old without children, the disabled and the diseased are all well taken care of.
Every man and woman has an appropriate role to play in society and in the family.
They hate to see resources lying idle or cast away, yet they do not necessarily keep them for themselves.
They hate not to make use of their abilities, yet they do not necessarily work for their own self-interest.
Thus intrigues and conspiracies do not arise, and thievery and robbery do not occur; therefore doors need never be locked.
This is the ideal world – a perfect world of equality, fraternity, harmony, welfare, and justice. This is the world called “Da-Tong (Dah-Torng)”.
Original Text:
禮運大同篇 孔子(西元前551~479年)《禮記卷七,禮運第九》
大道之行也,天下為公;選賢與能,講信修睦;故人不獨親其親,不獨子其子;使老有所終,壯有所用,幼有所長;鰥寡孤獨廢疾者,皆有所養;男有分,女有歸;貨惡其棄於地也,不必藏於己;力惡其不出於身也,不必為己;是故謀閉而不興,盜竊亂賊而不作,故外戶而不閉,是謂大同。
* This is the state “of the people, by the people, and for the people”
Translation Compiled By: Shih-Ming Hwang 黃世明 Translation Consultants: Thomas Maher J.D. Lawyer / Professor ;
Kathleen Maher, Ph.D. Psychology ; Joe Kovar, Editorial Writer ; Dean Drouin, Consultant ; Michael Block, Management ;
Stuart Hamby, Writer ; James Schwab, Director / Consultant ; James Hwang, Engineer ; Lawrence Hwang, Management ;
Bill Verret, Banker / Realtor ; Jennifer Yu, Engineer ; Billy Cheung, Engineer ; Alexander Aaron, Consultant ; Dennis Tai, Engineer
Asst. Researcher: Violet Wu ; Daniel Liu ; Alice Ou ; Wendy Han ; April Lin ; Jay Yen ; Cathy Schwab ; Frances Lai ; Vincent Lee ; Suh Hwang
Translation Compiled By: Shih-Ming Hwang 黃世明 Translation Consultants: Thomas Maher J.D. Lawyer / Professor ;
Kathleen Maher, Ph.D. Psychology ; Joe Kovar, Editorial Writer ; Dean Drouin, Consultant ; Michael Block, Management ;
Stuart Hamby, Writer ; James Schwab, Director / Consultant ; James Hwang, Engineer ; Lawrence Hwang, Management ;
Bill Verret, Banker / Realtor ; Jennifer Yu, Engineer ; Billy Cheung, Engineer ; Alexander Aaron, Consultant ; Dennis Tai, Engineer
Asst. Researcher: Violet Wu ; Daniel Liu ; Alice Ou ; Wendy Han ; April Lin ; Jay Yen ; Cathy Schwab ; Frances Lai ; Vincent Lee ; Suh Hwang