召公谏厉王止谤

《召公谏厉王止谤》原文

厉王虐，国人谤王。召公告曰：“民不堪命矣！”王怒，得卫巫，使监谤者。以告，则杀之。国人莫敢言，道路以目。
王喜，告召公曰：“吾能弭谤矣，乃不敢言。”召公曰：“是障之也。防民之口，甚于防川。川壅而溃，伤人必多，民亦如之。是故为川者决之使导，为民者宣之使言。故天子听政，使公卿至于列士献诗，瞽献曲，史献书，师箴，瞍赋，曚诵，百工谏，庶人传语，近臣尽规，亲戚补察，瞽、史教诲，耆、艾修之，而后王斟酌焉，是以事行而不悖。民之有口，犹土之有山川也，财用于是乎出；犹其原隰之有衍沃也，衣食于是乎生。口之宣言也，善败于是乎兴。行善而备败，其所以阜财用衣食者也。夫民虑之于心而宣之于口，成而行之，胡可壅也？若壅其口，其与能几何？”
王不听，于是国人莫敢出言。三年，乃流王于彘。

中文翻译

周厉王暴虐无道，国都里的人公开指责他的暴政。召公告诉厉王说：“百姓忍受不了您的暴政了！”厉王大怒，找来卫国的巫师，派他监视那些指责自己的人。只要巫师来报告，厉王就把被告发的人杀掉。国都里的人都不敢说话了，在路上相遇，也只是以眼神示意。
厉王很高兴，告诉召公说：“我能消除人们对我的指责了，他们都不敢说话了。”召公说：“这只是把人们的嘴堵住了。堵住百姓的嘴，比堵塞河流还要危险。河流被堵塞就会决堤泛滥，伤害的人一定很多，百姓也是这样。因此，治水的人要疏通河道，使水流畅通；治理百姓的人要引导他们发表意见。所以天子处理政事时，让公卿以至列士进献讽谏的诗篇，乐官进献乐曲，史官进献史籍，少师进献规劝的箴言，盲人乐师朗诵诗歌，盲人诵读讽谏的文章，各种工匠向国王进谏，平民百姓通过官吏把自己的意见转达给国王，左右侍臣尽力规劝，宗室亲属弥补过失、监督国王，乐官、史官用乐歌、史籍教诲国王，年高望重的师傅再进一步修饰整理，然后由国王仔细斟酌，这样政事才能施行而不违背情理。百姓有嘴，就像土地上有山川一样，财富、器物都是从这里产生的；又像高原和低地都有平坦肥沃的田地一样，衣服食物也是从这里产生的。百姓发表言论，政事的成败就从中表现出来。推行好的而防止坏的，这是增加财富、器物、衣服、食物的办法啊。百姓在心里考虑，用口发表意见，考虑成熟就自然流露出来，怎么能堵住呢？如果堵住他们的嘴，那能维持多久呢？”
厉王不听劝告，于是国都里的人都不敢说话了。过了三年，人们就把厉王流放到彘地去了。

英文翻译

King Li of Zhou was tyrannical, and the people in the capital criticized him. The Duke of Shao advised him, "The people can't bear your tyranny anymore!" King Li was furious. He found a witch from the state of Wei and ordered her to monitor those who criticized him. Whenever the witch reported someone, King Li would have that person executed. As a result, no one in the capital dared to speak. When people met on the road, they only exchanged glances.
King Li was pleased and said to the Duke of Shao, "I've managed to stop the criticism. They dare not speak now." The Duke of Shao replied, "This is just like blocking their mouths. Blocking the mouths of the people is more dangerous than damming a river. When a river is blocked and then bursts its banks, many people will be harmed. It's the same with the people. Therefore, those who manage rivers should dredge them to make the water flow smoothly; those who govern the people should guide them to express their opinions. So when the Son of Heaven administers the government, dukes and ministers down to the lower - ranking officials present poems; blind musicians present music; historians present historical records; the Grand Preceptor presents admonitions; the blind present odes; the dumb present recitations; craftsmen offer advice; common people convey messages through officials; close attendants offer suggestions; relatives supervise and make up for deficiencies; blind musicians and historians educate; elders and seniors revise. Then the Son of Heaven carefully considers and makes decisions. In this way, affairs can be carried out without going against reason. The people have mouths just as the land has mountains and rivers. Wealth and materials come from them. Just as there are fertile fields in the plains and low - lying areas, food and clothing come from them. When the people speak out, success or failure in governance is revealed from their words. Promote good deeds and guard against bad ones. This is the way to increase wealth, materials, food, and clothing. The people think in their hearts and express their thoughts with their mouths. When they've thought it through, they naturally speak out. How can you block them? If you block their mouths, how long can it last?"
King Li didn't listen to the advice. As a result, no one in the capital dared to speak. Three years later, the people exiled King Li to Zhi.

背景补充

历史背景

西周时期，政治制度逐渐走向衰落。周厉王是西周第十位君主，他在位期间，实行了一系列暴虐的政策。为了增加财政收入，他任用荣夷公实行“专利”政策，将山林川泽收归国有，禁止百姓进入谋生，这严重损害了平民百姓的利益，引起了民众的强烈不满。同时，厉王还派人监视百姓的言论，对批评他的人进行残酷镇压，使得国内政治气氛紧张，社会矛盾日益尖锐。

召公其人

召公，又称召穆公，名虎，是西周宗室大臣，在周厉王时期担任卿士，是当时朝廷中的重要人物。他以贤明和忠诚著称，多次向厉王进谏，试图劝阻厉王的暴政，但厉王不听。在国人暴动后，召公为了保护太子姬静，将自己的儿子冒充太子交给暴动的民众处死，从而保住了太子的性命。后来，周厉王死于彘地，召公与周公共同执政，史称“共和行政”。

文学价值

• ​深刻的思想内涵​：文章通过召公对厉王的劝谏，阐述了“防民之口，甚于防川”的道理，强调了统治者应该广开言路，倾听民众的意见，否则就会导致严重的后果。这一思想具有深刻的哲理性和现实意义，对于后世的统治者和政治家具有重要的启示作用。
• ​生动的比喻手法​：召公在劝谏过程中，运用了“防民之口，甚于防川”这一生动的比喻，将百姓的言论比作河流，形象地说明了堵塞言路的危害。这种比喻手法使抽象的道理变得具体可感，增强了文章的说服力和感染力。
• ​简洁明快的语言风格​：文章语言简洁明了，没有过多的修饰和渲染，但却能够准确地表达出作者的观点和意图。这种简洁明快的语言风格，使文章具有很高的艺术价值和审美价值。