《太平經》Vol. 88

Plain-language interpretation of “The Method for Constructing a House to Bring Goodness,” Chapter 88 of the Taiping Jing

Chapter 88 discusses the one hundred and twenty-ninth method: “The Method for Constructing a House to Bring Goodness.”

The Perfected Ones of the Six Directions bowed again and said they wished to ask about something. They said, “Our master previously instructed us to compare and organize the important scriptures from high antiquity, middle antiquity, and later antiquity, along with the essential, good teachings passed down orally by wise people. Within and beyond the four borders, some places lie ten thousand miles from the imperial capital. Some places have good books, but they are so short that it is not worth sending someone all that way to deliver them to the capital. There are also unusual writings and methods: eminent scholars and recluses travel thousands of miles to the capital to offer the emperor teachings on morality. Common people, the young and frail, the old, farmers, infants, and women each have their own thoughts. Each may know one or two, or perhaps a dozen, useful phrases or methods for doing good, but that is too little to warrant sending them on a long journey to the capital. And among the foreigners, recluses, and Hu and Mo peoples of the four borders, there are good people who know the secret Way well. Though they know that China has a ruler who greatly illuminates the Way and morality, they cannot travel far and can only send unusual writings and good plans from distant places.

“What you have said today is that all the good writings in the ancient and present-day divine books of the Yellow River and Luo River, together with the methods passed on orally by wise people, should be gathered into a single ‘Scripture of the Utmost Mystery.’ Only then can every calamity that has occurred since the creation of Heaven and Earth be completely removed, allowing the emperor to enjoy lasting peace and leisure, ruling with folded hands and free from worry. Discussing just one matter would leave things incomplete, and calamities would remain; therefore everything should be brought together. But we do not know what method to use to gather all the unusual plans and good teachings from every direction.”

The Perfected One praised them: “Excellent! Your reflections are truly profound. The gods of Heaven and those below them have already told you Perfected Ones that the breath of the August Sovereign has come to assist the ruler of the Way and morality. Today, Xing the Perfected One has asked this question on behalf of the imperial spirit. It is my duty to explain this matter fully for the whole world. How could I dare neglect it? Perfected Ones, sit at ease, and I will explain it carefully.

“Very well. Deliver this book back to the August Sovereign, the emperor of the Way and morality. When the emperor sees the heavenly text, he will surely reflect on its essential meaning. He should issue an order to the provinces and command counties, towns, and villages throughout the four borders and distant regions: in each city, on a main road where the thoroughfares meet, build a fine house for goodness, three zhang high.”

A Plain Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing

Main idea of the original: It explains how to establish a “home for worthy people,” attract talent by posting written notices, and bring the surrounding regions to submit once peace reigns throughout the realm.

The residence should be spacious, with a depth of three zhang as well. Its four sides should all be properly maintained, so that it presents a fitting appearance to the public.

The carvings between the gates should be open and uncluttered, allowing people to pass their hands through. The gates should be kept secure: people must not be allowed to open them and enter at will. Outside, post written notices in large, clear characters that can be read at a glance.

The notices may also be written on the residence’s four outer walls. Their general message should be this: The emperor is seeking worthy people, remarkable writings, unusual methods, sound policies and arguments, eloquent words, and oral instructions and essential teachings. Whatever people keep in their hearts or are able to express should be faithfully recorded and submitted to this residence. Each person should write down their name and wait to be summoned; an appropriate title should be assigned according to the extent of each person’s virtue and ability. For now, the local county magistrates and other officials should assess what each person has said and whether their abilities can be verified, then appoint them to suitable posts.

Among the elderly, the weak, and women, those who have good advice should for the time being be rewarded by the head of the residence. Those who have rendered great service but cannot be appointed to office should for the time being be granted exemptions, such as release from labor service. If, from beyond the four borders, people offer tribute, sound policies, or unusual methods that prove highly effective, they should for the time being be generously rewarded.

In this way, once people within and beyond the borders are united in their plans, they will be greatly delighted and eager to serve the emperor. From top to bottom, and from the center to the distant reaches, no policy, fine writing, or unusual method will be overlooked. People everywhere will turn toward goodness with joy. Even hermits who live in caves will venture into the cities to see the emperor’s peaceful rule and the home that welcomes the worthy; no one will continue to hide away. Rain and wind will come in season, and the Three Lights will shine brightly. These are signs of Heaven’s great joy.

The worthy and sages of the Four Barbarians and the eighty-one regions will hear that China is governed in this way by a ruler of great De (Virtue and Power). All will gladly come to submit, bringing rare and precious things in long processions. My words will prove true without exception. Is this not a great joy? When rule by great De is like this, can the perfected beings understand it?

The perfected being replied: Yes, yes. You have already understood.

When the residence has gathered too many written submissions, the head should open its gates and bring them inside. Together with the local magistrates and the assembled worthy people, they should sort the submissions by category, select the good ones, discard the bad and the duplicates, and arrange the rest in order according to subject and sequence. Once everything has been put in order, it should be submitted to the emperor. The emperor should then have the assembled worthy people review and arrange them together, removing duplicates and what is bad or unworthy…

This passage says that documents of each kind should be gathered together and kept in one place until needed. They should then be arranged in order, grouped by type, and held until the remaining documents have arrived. Good writings and household registers sent from the four quarters, along with unusual and worthy policy documents kept in the inner archives, should also be sealed and stored securely. When a large collection has accumulated, take it out, put it in order, and send it to the four quarters. By the day of the court audience’s close, the work should be largely complete. Since the submissions are much the same in content, let all the worthy and wise gather and arrange them together, compiling them into the Scripture of the Utmost Cavern (Dongji zhi Jing). Then a sage of great awakening will transmit the scripture among the people. Once the people have all turned to doing good, they will no longer know how to do evil. This is called fully winning the hearts of Heaven, Earth, humanity, and the Four Barbarians. The day of great joy will arrive: all will become one family and share in a single, peaceful order.

How could the Six Perfected Ones know this principle? (Answer:) Yes, yes; we will carry it out. The Six Perfected Ones already know. When the barbarians hear of it, they will withdraw from the Central States of their own accord, day by day. The realm will grow wider, and its strength will increase without war. Heaven and Earth will assist in eliminating evil. This will be unprecedented since the beginning of Heaven and Earth. Thus all under Heaven will rejoice, and the spirits of Heaven and Earth will together remove the burden of inherited guilt borne by the emperor. Calamities and upheavals will have vanished, and the ruler’s governance will be no different from that of the spirits. The people under Heaven will greatly attain the Dao and De (the Way and Virtue), while those in distant lands will all aspire to good writings and correct characters, and will no longer turn to evil. The submitted documents will grow better with each passing year. After that, a minor compilation will be made every three years and a major compilation every five. The rest will be distributed among the people, so that everyone will delight in doing good and find it impossible to restrain that impulse. Keep back those that are especially good and useful to the emperor’s proper governance; do not release them to the people.

Do the Perfected Ones understand? (Answer:) Yes, yes. Now, Perfected Ones, the Heavenly Messengers and the disciples have asked about this. Since this is a matter asked of Heaven, you must compose the Scripture of Great Joy for the virtuous ruler. Strive hard and do not slacken. Heaven will reward you for your efforts. You will cure the ills of the August Heaven and Sovereign Earth, and remove calamities, malign influences, and the burden of inherited guilt from the emperor. In time, your insight will surely add years to your allotted life. I would not dare deceive the Perfected Ones with these words. Be careful. Yes, yes. Go on your way and return; strive to practice with dedication. If you have questions, come again. Yes, yes. Perfected Ones, when you came before me to ask your questions, I had long wished to depart; that is why I broke off and took leave of you midway.

Plain-Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing

General meaning of the scripture: The perfected person has earnestly asked to understand why Heaven protects the essence of Yang. It is because Heaven sees that, within the perfected person’s essence, China is destined to flourish, pacify eighty-one regions, and welcome virtuous people who will come and join it. So I have stayed longer to explain everything to you in full. The reason is this: I see that you, the perfected person, keep asking Heaven about these matters. I fear you may go too far and be punished by Heaven and Earth, so I do not dare abandon the Dao and leave. Do you understand? “Yes, yes. I will strive to pursue this diligently to the end and not abandon the Heavenly Dao. Please explain one essential teaching.” “Yes, yes. I wish to ask about this teaching.” Why, Celestial Master, did you establish a chamber for bringing forth benevolent writings, unusual strategies, and secret methods for the age of Great Peace on a broad avenue in the city, where roads meet in every direction? “Excellent question, perfected person. You have grasped the main point. Heaven is troubled and discontented. Did the emperor send you to ask me this? Your choice of words is remarkably apt. Yet from my place in Heaven, I have seen what is there. I did not invent this residence of Imperial Peace at the great crossroads for no reason.

“The Lord of Heaven asked why the world below could not be brought to peace. The divine officials of the Five Phases replied: ‘The emperor now lives deep within a hundred layers of palace walls, far, far away from the borders of his realm. Many people are burdened by grievances, and neither good nor evil deeds can reach him. Unusual methods, distinctive writings, and different strategies are cut off along the way and never arrive before the emperor. The people and officials, burdened by grievances, have no way to make their case heard. This has gone on for a long time, until all four quarters are obstructed. Worthy scholars have consequently hidden themselves away. They have long carried the Dao and De in their hearts, distressed, until they died. The emperor has not received their unusual strategies and distinctive counsel that could bring peace to the world. The great calamity lies in the distant borders of the eight directions being closed off and cut off from communication.’

“Now, in keeping with Heaven’s will, I have established a residence on a great avenue where roads meet in every direction, to bring forth the benevolent Qi of the Supreme Sovereign and the Good and Peaceful, for a ruler of the Dao and De in the age of Great Peace. The aim is for all the regions to know that this virtuous ruler has issued these teachings. Then everyone will rejoice together, each bringing the good things of their own region and offering them to the ruler. People from near and far will come; communication will no longer be cut off.” “Excellent, excellent! If you had not pressed the Celestial Master with your questions, I would never have learned this.” “What you say is indeed true, perfected person. By nature, people should know what is above them. If they cannot know it on their own, asking earnestly is the next best thing. Do you understand?” “Yes, yes.”

Explanatory Notes by Section

Why the perfected person is kept to hear the full explanation

The perfected person asks persistently. The Celestial Master fears that asking too much could bring punishment from Heaven and Earth, so he dares not abandon the Dao and leave midway. He intends to explain the matter fully, urging the perfected person to persevere diligently, keep to the Heavenly Dao, and then ask for the “essential teaching”—the key instruction—to be explained.

“The residence of Great Peace on the broad avenue”

The perfected person asks why the Celestial Master chose a main city crossroads—a “broad avenue” connecting in every direction—to establish a “chamber” for benevolent writings, unusual strategies, and secret methods for the age of Great Peace. The Celestial Master praises the question for getting to the heart of the matter. He has seen the truth from Heaven; this is no fabrication. The “residence of Imperial Peace” is to stand at a major crossroads, in keeping with peace throughout the world.

Why the world is not at peace

The Lord of Heaven asks why the world cannot be brought to peace. The divine officials of the Five Phases, who oversee the workings of the Five Phases, report that the emperor lives deep within the palace, far from the borders of his realm. Grievances among the people and their good and bad deeds cannot easily reach him. Unusual methods, distinctive writings, and different strategies from various regions are blocked along the way and never reach the court; ordinary people cannot make their cases heard. Over time, the regions become obstructed, and worthy scholars hide their knowledge of the Dao. They remain distressed, keeping the Dao in their hearts until they die. The emperor therefore receives none of their unusual counsel that might bring peace to the world. The great disaster is that the distant borders in all eight directions are closed off.

The purpose of the present undertaking

Now, in keeping with Heaven’s will, benevolent teachings are being established for a “ruler of the Dao and De in the age of Great Peace,” so that the auspicious Qi of the Supreme Sovereign and the Good and Peaceful may gather at a great crossroads. The aim is for every region to know that the virtuous ruler has issued these teachings. All will rejoice and bring the good things of their own regions as offerings. People near and far will be able to come, and communication will no longer be cut off. The perfected person sighs that without the Celestial Master’s probing questions, he would not have known this, and affirms that the Celestial Master’s words are true. People should ideally know such things by their own nature; if they cannot, asking earnestly is the next best course. The Celestial Master asks whether he understands, and the perfected person answers that he does.

Brief explanations of key terms

• Perfected person / Celestial Master: A cultivator who has attained the Dao, and a teacher who transmits the Heavenly Dao.
• Essence of Yang / Qi of the Supreme Sovereign and the Good and Peaceful: Auspicious Qi associated with the righteous energy of Heaven and Earth and an age of Great Peace.
• Broad avenue: A road connecting in every direction, or a major thoroughfare in a city.
• Unusual strategies and secret methods / distinctive writings and different strategies: Secret methods handed down in different regions, variant forms of writing, and policies for governing the country.
• Divine officials of the Five Phases: Divine messengers responsible for the workings of the Five Phases and communication between Heaven and humanity.
• Essential teaching: A key instruction or central method.

A Plain Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing

Someone asked: “I’d like to ask about one thing. Why must a house, for example, be made three zhang long, three zhang wide, and three zhang high?”

The answer: “That is a good question. ‘One’ is the starting point of number. The numbers associated with Heaven, Earth, and humanity can all be counted up to ‘ten’—Heaven has, for example, the ten Heavenly Stems; Earth has its own ten numbers, and humanity does too. So the measure of three zhang is meant to bring Heaven, Earth, and humanity—the Three Powers—into harmony and joy. That is why this measure is set according to the image of the Three Powers.”

Someone asked again: “Why do these three numbers all end at ‘ten’?”

The answer: “Heaven has the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and it also has Yin-Yang. Earth has the Five Phases and Yin-Yang too, as does humanity. That is why each can be said to extend to ten. All things are the same: they take Heaven, Earth, and humanity as their models. Heaven, Earth, and humanity also wax and wane in keeping with the four seasons and the Five Phases.

“Do you understand this, Perfected One? That was a good question. You can say you understand it now.”

Someone then asked: “Why must there be openings on all four sides, set level with the ‘face’?”

The answer: “The openings are there so worthy scholars can pass documents inside. They represent free passage in all four directions, with no barriers or isolation. Each worthy person should be able to submit the words they have recorded to this Chamber of Great Peace and Goodness.

“The openings are level with the ‘face’ because the face is the part of the human body that most clearly shows goodness. It also represents the domain of the sun and the Way of Heaven. May everyone follow Heaven’s intent, do good, accumulate De, and work in harmony with the Virtuous Ruler to bring peace to the world. That is why the openings are level with the face.

“The face has seven apertures—the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and so on—which allow Qi to flow and provide a means of communication with the spirits. We also hope that great worthies will come to ask questions and offer counsel, so that the four directions, the eight extremities, and distant regions may all become wise and open, and come together here.

“Today the emperor lives within a palace enclosed by a hundred layers of gates, far removed from the common people. Yet his enlightened commands can still reach everywhere without obstruction. He does not lose touch with the intent of Heaven and Earth, and so can keep himself secure.” “Good, good.”

Someone asked again: “What officials should be assigned to guard this residence?”

The answer: “Senior officials should take their turns on duty in the government office, and announce its name as ‘the Residence of Great Peace, the Office of Officials Who Delight in Goodness.’ From this, I, a foolish student, know that Heaven is greatly pleased, Earth is greatly delighted, humanity is governed in great peace, and all things have found their proper place.”

Someone asked: “How do you know this, Perfected One?”

The answer: “I have seen the Celestial Master build this Great Hall of Joy for the Virtuous Ruler of Great Peace, so that it may connect…” The passage continues in the original volume.

Note: The original is in question-and-answer form. Its references to the three zhang measure, the Three Powers, the Five Phases and Yin-Yang, openings on all four sides of a residence, and the face’s seven apertures as an image of the Way of Heaven relate largely to contemporary ideals of Great Peace and the ceremonial order of palaces and residences.

The “discourse” between Heaven and Earth and humanity now allows the people and ministers below to report their innermost thoughts to their ruler, so that the emperor may receive ingenious strategies, unusual writings, and wondrous methods, and thereby enjoy lasting peace and security. Now Heaven and Earth, too, are made able to communicate their intentions. Even people of low status can send good counsel upward, easing the distress in Heaven and Earth’s hearts and helping their ruler become a sage sovereign. Heaven, Earth, and humanity are the foremost among the myriad things. Since they can thus communicate from top to bottom, this is a great joy.

The Perfected One said, “Exactly so. Well said; I have nothing to add. Your discussion of the matter has already reached deep into the true Dao. I would like to ask about one doubt: since Heaven is distressed and wishes to speak, why does it instead have people speak?”

“Excellent. Your question gets to the heart of the matter. The Way of Heaven turns in cycles, each thing relying on and impelling the others. Humanity is the mouth of Heaven and Earth, and people are the same: beings of the same kind seek one another out. Thus people speak on behalf of Heaven and Earth. Do you understand this, Perfected One?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Good. You are quick to awaken. Make every effort, make every effort.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Now this short section is complete. Ask no more: the Daoist writings are difficult to understand, and too many questions will only bring greater confusion.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Good. I charge you, Perfected One: once this matter is finished, collate the book’s wondrous methods. At the end of the scroll, add a good method, placing the techniques for nourishing one’s nature at the beginning of the book, so that worthy people may recite them. Once this scripture has been read through, it will become the ‘Scripture of the Utmost Cavern.’ Let each reader gather these methods to nourish themselves, recite these techniques to preserve themselves, and take joy in attaining long life. Those of the highest worth may serve as ministers of state; those of middling worth may serve as minor officials. Even ordinary people who cannot hold office may nourish their parents for many years and remain with their descendants for a long time. Excellent, excellent! This will bring great joy and delight to all under Heaven. There is no good deed to surpass this, and there will be no more evil people. You already understand. Go now and reflect on it, keep it in mind. Since you have been asked by Heaven to address this matter, do not slacken.”

“Yes, yes.”

(Title above: “Seeking Goodness to Bring About Great Peace: A Text to Unite All Under Heaven at Once in the Great Joy of the Supreme Sovereign’s Abode.”)