说苑/湯問伊尹曰：「三公、九卿、大夫、列士其相去何如？

湯問伊尹曰：「三公、九卿、大夫、列士其相去何如？

Eric Henry

“How do the Three Dukes, the Nine Ministers, the court officers and the various men-of-service differ from each other?” Tang asked Yi Yin. “The Three Dukes,” replied Yi Yin, “are well versed in the Great Way.

Eric Henry

They respond to change without perplexity; they can distinguish the natures of the myriad things in the world and are well versed in the Way of Heaven. Their words are sufficient to adjust the movements of the greater and lesser orbs, to rectify the four seasons, and to regulate the wind and rain. People of this sort are raised to the office of the Three Dukes.

」伊尹對曰：「三公者，知通於大道，應變而不窮，辯於萬物之情，通於天道者也。

Eric Henry

Thus, the activities of the Three Dukes are related always to the true Way [dao].

Eric Henry

“The Nine Ministers never mistake the four seasons; they connect the waterways, repair the dikes, and plant the five grains; they are well versed in the principles of the earth.

其言足以調陰陽，正四時，節風雨，如是者舉以為三公，故三公之事，常在於道也。

Eric Henry

They are able to link together what cannot be linked and are able to reap profit where profit cannot be reaped.

Eric Henry

People such as these are raised to the position of the Nine Ministers.

九卿者，不失四時，通溝渠，修堤防，樹五榖，通於地理者也，能通不能通，能利不能利，如此者，舉以為九卿，故九卿之事，常在於德也。

Eric Henry

Thus, the activities of the Nine Ministers are related always to inner virtue [de].

Eric Henry

This item, aside from setting forth a correspondence between the four ranks in question, discusses both the four basic dimensions of virtue: dao 道, de, 德, ren, 仁, and yi 義, and the four basic dimensions of existence: heaven, earth, man, and human relations.