Inner Chapters on Observing Things, Part Two
觀物內篇下
The Four Levels of Rulership
皇帝王伯
Transforming All Under Heaven
善化天下
善化天下者上於盡道而已。善教天下者上於盡德而已。
Those who excel at transforming All Under Heaven do so by fully realizing the Way and nothing more. Those who excel at teaching All Under Heaven do so by fully realizing Virtue and nothing more.
The Division of Four Grades
四等之分
皇帝王伯之事也。時異則人異。人異則事異。故不同如此。
These are the affairs of the Sovereign (huang), Emperor (di), King (wang), and Hegemon (ba). When times differ, people differ. When people differ, affairs differ. This is why they are not the same.
Way, Virtue, Merit, and Force
道德功力
皇以道化民，帝以德教民，王以功及民，伯以力服民。
The Sovereign transforms the people through the Way. The Emperor teaches the people through Virtue. The King benefits the people through Merit. The Hegemon subdues the people through Force.
Wang Zhi's Commentary: Four Grades and Four Seasons
王植注：四等與四時
三皇春也，五帝夏也，三王秋也，五伯冬也。七國冬之餘也。
The Three Sovereigns correspond to spring. The Five Emperors correspond to summer. The Three Kings correspond to autumn. The Five Hegemons correspond to winter. The Seven Warring States are winter's aftermath.
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