In ancient times, once a natural disaster occurred, the emperors first reflected on their own virtues
During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, he issued an edict saying: In the past few years, there have been frequent poor harvests, and I have been plagued by floods, droughts, and epidemics, and I am deeply worried. I am foolish and do not know why. Is it because I have made mistakes in my politics and behavior?Or is there something wrong with the way of heaven, the geographical advantages are difficult to obtain, the personnel are not harmonious, and the ghosts and gods are unwilling to enjoy the sacrifice?What is the reason for this?Is it because the officials are too high and the things that cost the people and money are too much?Why is there such a shortage of food?What is the root cause of the mistake that the cultivated land has not decreased, the statistical population has not increased much, and the cultivated land occupied by the population is more than in ancient times, but the grain is extremely insufficientIs it because the people abandon agriculture and do business, such as wasting grain by making a lot of wine, and raising too much livestock and consuming grain, so that agriculture is seriously damaged?From all aspects of my childhood and adulthood, I have not been able to find the crux of the problem. Now I am willing to brainstorm with the prime minister, the princes, the officials and the doctors, and everything that can be helpful to the people, whether it is occasional feeling and mature consideration, can be said endlessly.
Why did the emperor first reflect on whether he was virtuous or not when a natural disaster occurred in ancient times?This is actually influenced by the ancient idea of "the unity of heaven and man". The idea of the unity of nature and man is that people's psychological behavior will affect the climate, affect the wind and rain, and determine whether the wind and rain are smooth. The wind and rain determine the grain harvest of the year, and the grain harvest can be the peace of the country and the people, not only in ancient times, but also in contemporary agriculture depends on the sky to eat. Lao Tzu said: To the world of virtue, Jia Benqi City, agriculture and its wilderness, the doctor is in his position, the priest cultivates his way, and the people are happy with their work, which is not destroyed by wind and rain, the grass and trees are not lost, the river is out of the map, and Luo is out of the book. And the decline of the world, the accumulation is excessive, the killing is endless, the torturer, the killing of the Magi, is a landslide and the river is dry, wriggling endlessly, and there are no vegetables in the wild. Lao Tzu also said: The lord of a country has his benevolent and sincere heart, sweet rain and time, five grains are cultivated, spring and summer are long, autumn harvest and winter are hidden, the month is provincial and time test, the whole year round tribute, the people are raised to the public, the power is sincere, the law is not annoying, the education is like a god, the law is lenient and the sentence is suspended, the prison is empty, the world is customary, Mo Huai treacherous Lao Tzu's thoughts, is to support the unity of heaven and man. If the head of a country governs the country with benevolence, he will not be harsh, and the people will live an easy and happy life. People who do business are happy to do business, farmers are happy to farm, and public officials are fair to handle official affairs, because the happy heart calls the heavens and the earth, and the climate is also very suitable, and it will rain when it should rain, and there will be no drought and flood. Spring grows and summer grows, autumn harvest and winter storage, and the five grains are abundant.