Constant principles underlie Heaven’s behavior. Heaven does not prevail because you are the sage Yao or disappear because you are the tyrant Jie. Blessings result when you respond to Heaven by creating order; misfortune results when you respond to it with disorder. When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state. When you store provisions and act quickly in emergencies, Heaven cannot inflict illness on your people. When you are single-minded in your cultivation of the Way, Heaven cannot send disasters. Thus, even if they come, droughts and floods will not bring starvation, extremes of temperature will not bring illness, uncanny phenomena will not prove unlucky.
On the other hand, if you ignore agriculture and industry and spend extravagantly, then Heaven cannot make your country rich. If you are negligent concerning provisions and slow to respond to crises, Heaven cannot keep your country whole. If you renounce the Way and act recklessly, Heaven cannot make you lucky. In such a case, starvation will result even without flood or drought; illness will occur even without severe weather; misfortunes will occur without any uncanny phenomena…
Source: Xunzi, a Confucianist, from Xunxi [213 BCE]
5. What does a ruler have to do to gain the favor of Heaven? What are the consequences of his failure to do so? How might this affect the development of society or culture? (5 sentence minimum)
Answer:
According to the Confucianist philosopher Xunzi, a ruler can gain the favor of Heaven by adhering to certain principles. These principles include responding to Heaven by creating order, focusing on agriculture and industry, being frugal in expenditures, storing provisions and acting quickly in emergencies, and remaining single-minded in the cultivation of the Way. By doing so, the ruler establishes a harmonious relationship with Heaven and ensures blessings for the state.
However, if a ruler fails to follow these principles, there are consequences. Heaven does not favor rulers who ignore agriculture and industry, spend extravagantly, or neglect provisions and crises. Furthermore, if a ruler renounces the Way and acts recklessly, Heaven cannot bring them luck. In such cases, misfortunes may occur, such as starvation without floods or droughts, illness without severe weather, and general misfortune without any uncanny phenomena.
The failure of a ruler to gain the favor of Heaven can significantly impact the development of society and culture. Society may suffer from economic instability or resource scarcity if the ruler does not prioritize agriculture and industry or store provisions. In times of crisis, a slow response from the ruler can lead to further damage and loss of life. In addition, if a ruler neglects the cultivation of virtue and the Way, the moral fabric of society may weaken, leading to unethical behavior and social turmoil. The overall development and progress of society and culture are closely tied to the ruler's ability to align with the principles that gain the favor of Heaven.