Yuwen Ze
, the Xiahou clan valued rank and seniority, the Yin people valued wealth and seniority, and the Zhou people valued relatives and seniority. The Yu, Xia, Yin and Zhou dynasties were the most prosperous kings in the world, and there was no one who neglected his age. Age is the most important thing in the world; it is second only to serving one’s parents. Therefore, when the court has the same rank, seniority is valued. When a man is seventy, he cane him in the court, and when the king asks him, he sits down. When a man is eighty, he does not wait for the court, but when the king asks him, he goes to the court. When walking, he does not walk side by side, but follows him if he is not wrong. When seeing an old man, the cart drivers will make way for him; the gray-haired man does not walk on the road by his position, but the younger brother can reach the road. In the countryside, seniority is used, and the old and the poor are not left behind, the strong do not bully the weak, and the majority do not oppress the minority, and the younger brother can reach the alleys of the state. In the ancient way, people at the age of fifty were not forced to work in the fields, and they were given gifts to honor the elders, and the younger brother could be used to hunt. In the army, seniority is valued for the same rank, and the younger brother can reach the army. Filial piety and brotherhood are spread throughout the court, on the roads, in the alleys of the prefectures, in the hunting grounds, and in the army. The people die for the sake of righteousness, and dare not violate it.
