入文王之境，則見其人民之讓為士大夫，入其國，則見其士大夫讓為公卿，二國者相謂曰：「其人民讓為士大夫，其士大夫讓為公卿，然則此其君亦讓以天下而不居矣。
On entering King Wen’s territory, they saw that the people there yielded to each other in claiming appointments as retainers and officers; and, upon entering the capital city, they saw that the court officers yielded to each other in claiming positions as ministers of state.
」二國者，未見文王之身，而讓其所爭，以為閑田，而反。
The two then said to each other, “The people here defer to each other in claiming officers’ appointments, and the officers defer to each other in claiming ministers’ positions.
That must mean that their ruler will yield the right to rule the realm to other claimants and will not regard it as his own.” Before the two had even been in the presence of King Wen, they gave up the territory that was in dispute between them, asking that it be treated as ownerless, uncultivated land.
孔子曰：「大哉文王之道乎！
They then returned to their states.
其不可加矣！
Kongzi said, “Great was the Way practiced by King Wen!
不動而變，無為而成，敬慎恭己而虞、芮自平。
It cannot be added to!
Without moving, he transformed others; without acting, he brought about agreement!
故書曰：『惟文王之敬忌。
Merely by being reverent and attentive, he caused the men of Yu and Rui to settle their disputes of their own accord.
』此之謂也。」
Thus, the Documents say, ‘Awesome indeed was King Wen.’ That says it well.”37 35 Yu 虞 was an ancient state located north of present-day Pinglu 平陸 district, Shanxi.
Rui 芮 was an ancient state located south of Zhaoyi city, Dali 大荔 district, Shanxi.