f>8 NOTES OX THE SYMBOLISM OF THE 



with the spirit of Heaven and is looked upon as the Son of 

 Heaven which has evidently called upon him to assume 

 office. 



It was not until the Hsia Dynasty 2205-1766 B.C. that 

 the hereditary principle was introduced by the great Yu H 

 and even then no right of primogeniture existed nor has it 

 been introduced : the King chose from among his sons the 

 one best fitted to rule, often abdicating in his favour, and 

 this Rule only lasted while Peace and Tranquility reigned 

 in the Empire; famine, disorder and misery were taken as 

 evidence of the Kuler's incapacity — evidence of Heaven's 

 displeasure; and if the offending monarch did not abdicate 

 it was the duty of some public-spirited subject to raise the 

 Standard of Revolt and found a new Dynasty. From this it is 

 clearly seen that the "Divine Right of Kings" has no place 

 in the Chinese theory of Government but that the "People's 

 Right of Rebellion" is recognized. 



A virtuous noble, T'ang Wi of Shang jgj was the leader 

 of the first successful rebellion in Chinese history 1766 B.C. 

 In the speech made after the campaign T'ang said that 

 Heaven, who favoured the common people, had chastized 

 the wicked government of the late Sovereign and had made 

 use of him, T'ang, as His instrument. It was with fear and 

 trembling that he had undertaken the great task, feeling as 

 though he were standing en the brink of a great abyss; but 

 that The Decree of Heaven was infallibly correct, he had 

 therefore appealed to the people to assist him in carrying 

 out the "punishment determined by Heaven." T'ang made 

 a great and wise Ruler and gave proof of his feeling of deep 

 responsibility when, during a period of dearth and famine, 

 he performed sacrifice to Heaven and prayed that, as he had 

 evidently failed in his duty, his life might be taken but that 

 the people might be spared further suffering. Before the 

 prayer was ended rain fell and the drought was over. 



The following Hymn by King Hsiian of Chou JnJ m. 3: 

 from the Shih Ching ft f3? expresses the same feeling. 



(Hsiian Wang — King Hsiian — of the Chou Dynasty 

 reigned 826-781 B.C. Although it is not certain that the 

 King wrote it, it is phrased as though the words came from 

 his lips. He succeeded to the remnant of power left by Li, 

 and was bent on removing the causes of disorder and bringing 

 about peace. The translation is based on the Analysis of 

 the character). 



Stanza I. 



1. — Immense that Cloudy River; 



2. — Revolving bright as sun and fire in the Heaven ; 

 3. — The King, he who unites in his person Heaven, Earth and Man 

 spoke — Wu Hu (Alas ! !) 



