Complete Text of Plain Book

The Book of Documents, with only six chapters, 132 sentences, and 1360 words, occupies an important position in the history of Chinese strategy despite its thin structure. The language in the book is highly refined, with every word being precise and every famous quote. The book hAS a precise and unique grasp of human nature, observes changes in things in detail, and is just right for strategic points. By understanding the principles in the book, one can definitely create a groundbreaking career.

Original Chapter 1

Fu Dao, De, Ren, Yi, and Li are all in one. The Tao, the way people dance, makes all things unaware of their origin. Virtue is the gain of a person, enabling all things to achieve their desires. Benevolent individuals are loved by people and possess a heart of compassion, wisdom, and empathy, in order to generate them. Righteousness is what a person should do, rewarding good and punishing evil, and establishing oneself through meritorious deeds. Rites are the shoes of a person, rising day and falling asleep at night, following the order of human ethics. To be the foundation of a person, one cannot do without it. A wise and noble person understands the way of prosperity and decline, which is determined by the number of successes and failures, the situation of governing chaos, and the principles of achieving success and failure. Therefore, I secretly reside and embrace the path, waiting for the right moment. If one continues to do so, they will be able to ascend to the position of a high-ranking official; If you seize the oPPOrtunity, you can achieve unparalleled success. If they don't meet, they're nothing. It is because its path is high and its reputation is greater than that of future generations.

Chapter 2 of the Righteous Path

Virtue is enough to carry far, faith is enough to differentiate, righteousness is enough to win over the masses, only then can we learn from the past, and wisdom is enough to shine, this person is also handsome; A person's demeanor is based on their actions, their intelligence is sufficient to determine suspicion, their trustworthiness can lead to keeping promises, and their integrity can lead to wealth distribution. They are truly a great person; The hero of this person is to uphold their duties without giving up, fulfill their duties without returning, refuse to forgive when they feel dissatisfied, and refuse to gain when they see benefits.

Chapter Three of Seeking Human Aspiration

Abstinence and abstinence are essential for eliminating fatigue. Suppressing non destructive evil, so let it go. The wine lacks color, so it is unpolluted. Avoiding suspicion and avoiding suspicion, so it's not wrong. Learned and eager to ask, therefore knowledgeable. High deeds speak softly, so cultivate oneself. Respect, frugality, and humility, therefore self preservation. Long term planning, therefore not poor. Being kind and friendly, therefore supporting the movement. I am diligent in my actions, so I am here to assist. Empowering with materials, therefore benefiting things. Eliminate evil and condemn slander, so put an end to chaos. Pushing back to the past and testing the present, so there is no confusion. We should wait until the end, so we should die. Change leads to power, so it is resolved. The pouch is smooth, so there is no blame. Stakes and steMS, therefore meritorious deeds. Zizi Shushu, so I will keep it until the end.

Chapter Four of the Ben De Zong Dao Chapter

Fu Zhi, the art of independent thinking. Long is not good at strategic planning, safe is not good at enduring humiliation, do not prioritize cultivating virtue, do not enjoy good deeds, do not be divine in sincerity, do not be wise in physical things, do not be auspicious in contentment, do not suffer from excessive desires, do not be sad in essence, do not be sick in impermanence, do not be short in greed, do not be solitary in self-confidence, do not be dangerous in suspicion, and do not be defeated in personal matters.

Chapter 5 of the Moral Code

Those who reveal the truth are hidden, those who have been unaware are concealed, those who have been lost are confused, those who take blame with words bring disaster, those who are well behaved are deposed, and those who are angry but lack authority are punished. Those who insult others are punished, those who harm those they serve are dangerous, those who disrespect them are vicious, those who are separated by appearance and heart are lonely, those who slander and slander distant loyal people are dead, those who are close and distant wise people are faint, women who worship public officials are chaotic, those who use official positions to rise in private, those who win through subordinates are invaded, and those who are not worthy of fame are consumed. Those who neglect themselves and blame others will not be treated, while those who are lenient towards others will be abandoned. Those who give up their merits will suffer, those who are different from others will fall into decline, those who are not willing to use them will be sparse, those who are stingy with rewards and colors will be frustrated, those who have too many grievances will be resentful, and those who welcome but reject them will be well behaved. Those who have high expectations are not rewarded, and those who have high expectations but forget low expectations will not be long. Those who cling to the old and abandon the new will be vicious, those who fail to use people properly will be in danger, those who use people forcefully will not be reckless, those who choose officials will be chaotic, those who lose their strengths will be weak, those who make decisions unkindly will be at risk, those who leak sinister schemes will be defeated, and those who adopt thick and thin methods will wither. Soldiers are poor, wanderers are rich and decline; The corrupt officials are ignorant; Those who hear good things but ignore them, those who remember them but never forget them will be violent; What is entrusted is unreliable, and what is believed to be untrustworthy is turbid. Shepherds gather with virtue, while those who lead with punishment disperse. If small achievements are not rewarded, great achievements will not be achieved; If small grievances are unforgivable, then great grievances will arise. Reward those who refuse to accept, and punish those who refuse to accept. Reward those who have no merit, punish those who have no guilt. Listening to slander brings beauty, listening to advice leads to the death of enemies. Those who have it are safe, while those who are greedy are disabled.

Chapter 6 of the Anli Code

The resentment lies in not letting go of minor mistakes, and the trouble lies in not planning ahead. Fortune accumulates in goodness, misfortune accumulates in evil. Hunger in the poor farmers, cold in the fallen weaving. Safety lies in people, danger lies in accidents. Wealth is welcomed, poverty is abandoned. The upper part is unpredictable and the lower part is suspicious. To commit a crime lightly and insult someone without relatives. Close ministers are not important, distant ministers are not important. Believe in yourself, believe in others. Unworthy scholars have no true friends, and there is no straight line on the melody. There are no wise men in a dangerous country, and no virtuous men in a chaotic government. Those who love deeply are eager to seek wisdom, while those who are happy are nurtured by the wise. The rulers of the country will all return, while the fallen of the country will be avoided by the wise. Those with thin land do not produce large animals, those with shallow water do not swim, those with bare trees do not inhabit large birds, and those with sparse forests do not inhabit large beasts. The steep mountains collapse, while the full marshes overflow. Those who abandon jade and take stones are blind, while those with sheep and tiger skin are gentle. Those who do not lift their clothes and collars will fall, while those who walk without looking at the ground will sway. The weak are supported by the weak, and the weak are supported by the country. Feet are cold and sad, people complain and harm the country. The mountain will collapse before the people descend, and the country will decline before the people perish. Roots and withered branches rot, people are trapped and the country is in ruins. Those who are on the same track as the overturned train will tilt, and those who are on the same track as the fallen country will perish. Be cautious of those who have already been born, and avoid those who show signs of wrongdoing. Those who fear danger are safe, those who fear death remain. Madam's actions are auspicious if there is a way, but inauspicious if there is no way. Those who are fortunate will receive a hundred blessings; The wicked are attacked by a hundred calamities. It is not sacred, but natural. Those who make good decisions have no evil deeds, and those who have no foresight have immediate worries. Comrades gain from each other, colleagues worry from each other, comrades fight against each other, they seek each other's love, they envy each other's beauty, they seek each other's wisdom, they harm each other's nobility, they avoid each other's interests, they respond to each other's voices, they feel the same qi, they rely on each other, they match each other's fate, they help each other with difficulties, they achieve success with the same path, they follow the same rules with the same skill, and they win with the same skill: these are the sum of numbers and cannot go against reason. Those who teach others through self reflection are rebellious, while those who correct themselves are submissive. The reverse is difficult to follow, the smooth is easy to follow, the difficult is chaotic, and the easy is reasonable. It's okay to manage oneself, one's family, and one's country like this!