羲农至舜禹,所尚惟朴素。
迨及三代衰,君臣皆不度。
其源既已开,展转若涂附。
秦汉距陈隋,相沿少知悟。
伤财而害民,多不能永祚。
乃知纵奢淫,天人所同恶。
金玉不可衣,锦绣不可茹。
所贵在农桑,工巧皆民蠹。
羲农至舜禹,所尚惟朴素。
迨及三代衰,君臣皆不度。
其源既已开,展转若涂附。
秦汉距陈隋,相沿少知悟。
伤财而害民,多不能永祚。
乃知纵奢淫,天人所同恶。
金玉不可衣,锦绣不可茹。
所贵在农桑,工巧皆民蠹。
从伏羲、神农到舜和禹的时代,所崇尚的只有朴素之风。
等到夏、商、周三代衰微之时,君主和臣子都失去了法度。
奢侈的源头既然已经打开,便辗转蔓延如同污泥附着。
从秦汉到陈朝隋代,沿袭此风,很少有人觉悟。
损耗财物,危害百姓,这样的政权大多不能长久延续。
于是知道放纵奢侈淫逸,是上天与世人共同憎恶的。
黄金美玉不能当衣服穿,锦绣绸缎不能当饭吃。
真正可贵的是农耕与蚕桑,奇技淫巧都是人民的蛀虫。
From Fuxi, Shennong down to Shun and Yu, / Simplicity alone was held in view.
But when the Three Dynasties' decline set in, / Both lord and minister strayed from within.
Once this source of excess had been unsealed, / Like clinging mud, its spread could not be healed.
From Qin and Han to Chen and Sui's last breath, / Few woke to sense along the path to death.
It drained the wealth and brought the people pain; / Few reigns thus founded could long remain.
Thus we know that wanton luxury's sway / Is loathed by Heaven and humankind alike, they say.
Gold and jade cannot serve as clothes to wear, / Nor brocade and embroidery as fare.
What's precious lies in farming, silk, and grain; / Mere craft and cunning are the people's bane.
通过历史认同构建简朴治理的合法性。
追述上古圣王崇尚朴素,以此劝诫当世戒除奢靡。
本诗为五言古诗,押平声韵。
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