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禮運大同篇

禮運大同篇

    大道之行也,天下為公。選賢與能,講信修睦。故人不獨親其親,不獨子其子;使老有所終,壯有所用,幼有所長,矜、寡、孤、獨、廢疾者,皆有所養;男有分,女有歸。貨,惡其棄於地也,不必藏於己;力,惡其不出於身也,不必為己。是故謀閉而不興,盜竊亂賊而不作,故外戶而不閉,是謂「大同」。


THE “DATONG” (THE IDEAL WORLD)

When the Great Way(or Principle) prevails, the whole is owned by all; they elect men of talents, virtue and ability; they practice honesty, and they cultivate universal peace. People love not only their own parents; they treat with parental care not only for their children. Provision is made so that the aged may live comfortably until their death, so that the able-bodied (those in the prime of life) may find employment, and so that the young may have he means of growing up. The widowers, widows orphans, childless, and those who are disabled by disease are all sufficiently maintained. Men have their work, and women have their home.

They do not like goods to be wasted on the ground, but preserve them, not for themselves alone. They do not like their strength to be wasted in idleness, but spend it, not only for their won benefit. In this way selfish scheming are suppressed and have no chance of arising. Robbers, filchers and rebellious traitors do not exist.Hence, the outer doors can be left open, and need not be shut. This is what we call “Datong” (The Ideal World).
From the ‘Liji’ or ‘Book of Rites’