Nie Gengchen
All sounds arise from the human heart. The movement of the human heart is caused by things. It is moved by things, so it is shaped in sound. When sounds respond to each other, they change; when they change into squares, they are called music; when sounds are compared and they are enjoyed, such as with the use of halberds, shields, feathers and pennants, they are called music. Music is the origin of sound; its root lies in the human heart's feeling of things. Therefore, when the heart is moved by sorrow, the sound is sad and killing. When the heart is moved by joy, the sound is biting and slow. When the heart is moved by joy, the sound is spreading and dispersing. When the heart is moved by anger, the sound is rough and harsh. When the heart is moved by respect, the sound is straight and honest. When the heart is moved by love, the sound is harmonious and gentle. The six are not innate, but are moved by things before they are moved. Therefore, the ancient kings were careful about what they were moved by. Therefore, rites were used to guide people's aspirations, music was used to harmonize their sounds, politics was used to unify their actions, and punishments were used to prevent their treachery. Rites, music, punishments and politics have the same ultimate; they are used to unify the hearts of the people and to create the way of governance. All sounds are what give rise to the human heart. Emotions move in the heart, so they are expressed in sounds. When sounds become texts, they are called music. Therefore, the music of a well-governed country is peaceful and joyful, and its politics is harmonious. The music of a chaotic country is resentful and angry, and its politics is perverse. The music of a ruined country is sad and thoughtful, and its people are in distress. The way of music is connected with politics. Gong represents the ruler, Shang represents the ministers, Jiao represents the people, Zheng represents the affairs, and Yu represents things. If the five are not in disorder, there will be no music of humiliation. When Gong is in disorder, there will be desolation, and the ruler will be arrogant. When Shang is in disorder, there will be dystopia, and the officials will be corrupt. When Jiao is in disorder, there will be worry, and the people will be resentful. When Zheng is in disorder, there will be sorrow, and the affairs will be diligent. When Yu is in disorder, there will be danger, and the money will be scarce. When the five are in disorder, and they bully each other, it is called slowness. If this happens, the country will be destroyed soon. The music of Zheng and Wei is the music of a chaotic country, which is comparable to slowness. The music of Sangjian and Pushang is the music of a ruined country, and its politics is scattered, its people are wandering, and they accuse the ruler of selfishness and cannot be stopped. All music is born from the human heart. Music is the communication of ethics. Therefore, those who know sound but not music are animals; those who know music but not music are the common people. Only the gentleman can know music. Therefore, if you examine sound, you can know music; if you examine music, you can know politics, and then the way of governance will be complete. Therefore, those who do not know sound cannot talk about music; those who do not know music cannot talk about music. Knowing music means that you are close to etiquette. If you are good at both etiquette and music, you are called virtuous. Virtue is good. Therefore, the grandeur of music is not to extreme music. The etiquette of feasting is not to taste. The zither in the Qing Temple has red strings and sparse Yue, one song and three sighs, which have lost the sound. The ceremony of the grand feast, the dark wine is preferred and the fish is fishy, the soup is not harmonious, which has lost the taste. Therefore, the ancient kings established etiquette and music not to extreme the desires of the mouth, the ears and the eyes, but to teach the people to balance likes and dislikes and return to the right way of humanity. People are born quiet, which is the nature of heaven; they are moved by things, which is the desire of nature. When things come to know, then likes and dislikes take shape. If likes and dislikes are not controlled within, and knowledge is lured from the outside, and one cannot reflect on oneself, then the principles of nature will be destroyed. Things can affect people endlessly, but people's likes and dislikes are uncontrolled, then when things come, people will become things. People who become things are those who destroy the principles of nature and reduce people's desires. Then there will be rebellious and deceitful hearts, and there will be lewd and rebellious things. Therefore, the strong bully the weak, the majority bully the few, the wise deceive the foolish, the brave suffer and are timid, the sick are not taken care of, and the old and the young are lonely and have no place to go. This is the way to great chaos. Therefore, the ancient kings established rituals and music, and people regulated them; mourning clothes and weeping were used to regulate funerals; bells, drums, and halberds were used to harmonize and make people happy; the wedding and marriage ceremony were used to distinguish between men and women; archery and feasting were used to regulate intercourse. Rituals regulate the hearts of the people, and music harmonizes the voices of the people. Politics implements them, and punishments prevent them. Rituals, music, punishments, and politics are spread everywhere without contradiction, and then the kingly way is complete. Music is the same, and rituals are different. If they are the same, they will love each other; if they are different, they will respect each other. If music prevails, they will flow together; if ritual prevails, they will separate. To match feelings and decorate appearances is the business of ritual and music. When ritual and righteousness are established, the noble and the humble are equal; when music and culture are the same, the upper and the lower are harmonious; when likes and dislikes are clear, the virtuous and the unworthy are distinguished. Punish violence, and give titles to the virtuous, and the government will be balanced. Love them with benevolence, and correct them with righteousness. In this way, the people will be governed. Music comes from within, and ritual comes from without. Music comes from within, so it is quiet; ritual comes from without, so it is elegant. Great music must be simple, and great ritual must be simple. When music comes, there is no resentment; when ritual comes, there is no dispute. To rule the world with courtesy and yielding is what ritual and music are. There will be no violence, the princes will be submissive, there will be no war, the five punishments will not be used, the people will not be in trouble, and the emperor will not be angry. In this way, music will be achieved. The relationship between father and son will be unified, the order of the old and the young will be clear, and the emperor will be respected throughout the world. In this way, ritual will be practiced. Great music is in harmony with heaven and earth, and great ritual is in harmony with heaven and earth. Because of harmony, all things are not lost; because of moderation, heaven and earth are worshipped; in the light, there are rituals and music; in the dark, there are ghosts and gods. In this way, all people in the four seas will respect and love each other. Rituals are different things that make people respect each other; music is different texts that make people love each other. The meaning of rituals and music is the same, so the wise kings follow them. The story is in line with the times, and the name is in line with the merit. Therefore, bells, drums, pipes, and chimes, feather flutes, and halberds are instruments of music. Bending and stretching, bowing and raising, and composing signs and slowing down are the texts of music. 簠簋翎碗, system and articles are instruments of ritual. Rising and falling, turning around and returning, and carrying clothes are the texts of ritual. Therefore, those who know the meaning of rituals and music can create, and those who know the texts of rituals and music can describe. The author is called a sage, and the narrator is called a wise; the wise sage is the one who describes and creates. Music is the harmony of heaven and earth; ritual is the order of heaven and earth. Because of harmony, all things are transformed; because of order, all things are different. Music is created by heaven, and ritual is made by earth. Over-regulation leads to chaos, over-exertion leads to violence. Only when one understands the heaven and earth can one promote rituals and music. Discussing ethics without worry is the emotion of music; being happy and loving is the function of music. Being upright and impartial is the essence of rituals, and being solemn, respectful and obedient is the regulation of rituals. If rituals and music are applied to metal and stone, and go beyond sound, and are used in ancestral temples and altars, and in matters of mountains, rivers, ghosts and gods, then this is what the people share.
