说苑/湯問伊尹曰：「古者所以立三公、九卿、大夫、列士者何也？

湯問伊尹曰：「古者所以立三公、九卿、大夫、列士者何也？

Eric Henry

“Why were the positions of the Three Dukes, the Nine Ministers, the court officers, and the various court gentlemen established in ancient times?” Tang asked Yi Yin. “The Three Dukes,” answered Yi Yin, “were the ones who assisted the king in his affairs.

」伊尹對曰：「三公者，所以參王事也，九卿者，所以參三公也，大夫者，所以參九卿也，列士者，所以參大夫也。

Eric Henry

The Nine Ministers were the ones who assisted the Three Dukes in their affairs; the court officers were those who assisted the Nine Ministers in their affairs; and the various court gentlemen were those who assisted the court officers in their affairs.

Eric Henry

Thus, there was assistance within assistance.

故參而有參，是謂事宗，事宗不失，外內若一。」

Eric Henry

This is called the basis of affairs.

Eric Henry

As long as this basis is not lost, external and internal matters will be as one.