This English version was translated from the Chinese original with AI assistance. The Chinese text is authoritative.
The historical text Yi Zhou Shu (Lost Book of Zhou) records a conversation between Prince Jin, eldest son of King Ling of Zhou, and Shi Kuang, the famous statesman, educator and musician of the Spring and Autumn period. Prince Jin was exceptionally intelligent; by the age of fifteen he was already renowned throughout the land.
Once, Duke Ping of Jin sent the high official Shuxiang to the Zhou court. On meeting Prince Jin, Shuxiang had a long conversation with him. The talk came to nothing, but of the five matters they discussed, Shuxiang was left speechless on three, and he had no choice but to take his leave red-faced.
Back in the state of Jin, Shuxiang told Duke Ping: “Prince Jin is only fifteen, and I am simply no match for him. Please return at once the Zhou lands we have occupied, the two places Shengjiu and Fuyu. If we do not return them, when Prince Jin succeeds to the throne and holds the realm, he will use this as a pretext to punish us.”
Hearing this, Duke Ping grew somewhat afraid and intended to return the two places. But the high official Shi Kuang disagreed, saying: “Let me, your blind servant, go and talk with him. If he can get the better of me, you can give him your answer after I return.”
Shi Kuang asked Prince Jin: “In publicly distinguishing titles, including those of other surnames and foreign states (king, marquis, lord, duke and so on), which is the most honored, and which the highest?”
Prince Jin replied: “From birth, people value boys and call them 胄子 (zhòuzǐ, ‘heir’). When an heir grows up and can manage affairs and serve in office, he is called 士 (shì, ‘officer’). An officer who leads the people in working at the proper seasons is called 伯 (bó, ‘earl’). An earl who can spread good deeds among the people, sharing their loves and hates, is called 公 (gōng, ‘duke’). A duke who can establish a good name, nurture other beings and coexist with the Way of Heaven is called 侯 (hóu, ‘marquis’). A marquis who can bring a community to fulfillment is called 君 (jūn, ‘lord’). A lord of great virtue who appoints the feudal lords and is generous and trustworthy is called 予一人 (yú yī rén, ‘the One Man’). One whose good deeds reach the four seas is called 天子 (tiānzǐ, ‘Son of Heaven’). One whose reach extends to the four wild frontiers is called 天王 (tiānwáng, ‘Heavenly King’). When the remote lands in all four directions come to pay homage, and no one resents or criticizes him, he rises to become 帝 (dì, ‘emperor’).”
Thus we can see that in China’s high antiquity, emperors, Sons of Heaven, dukes and marquises were ranked according to their virtue.
