On Being the Son of Heaven

This is a political treatise on the authority and role of the Son of Heaven. Master Xun pointed out that the Son of Heaven had supreme authority, which guaranteed the government of a country. To firmly establish and successfully maintain this authority, it was necessary to follow the example of the sagely kings, handle government affairs with justice, and create a hierarchy in which distinctions were made between noble and humble, close and distant, as well as old and young. He criticized the practices of excessive punishments, undeserved honors, judgement of an offence involving a whole clan, and promotion considering genealogic factors, all of which were the root of disorders. In his opinion, the Son of Heaven should follow rite and morality as well as laws and regulations and make sure that penalties fit the crimes and ranks fit the worth of individuals so that his authority was respected, government decrees were unimpeded, and an ideal political situation was formed with everyone playing his proper role.