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意 yì (N) ideas, intentions, meaning

格 gé (N) a gridwork, a set pattern; (V) to align into a grid, to reach

物 wù (N) thing, affair

平 píng (SV) even, peaceful, level; (V) to make even, peaceful, level

天子 tianzǐ (N) Son of Heaven, the highest earthly ruler

以至於 yǐzhì yú (Idiom) identical with 至於: “reaching to”

庶 shù (Adj/SV) numerous

庶人 shùrén: (N) common people

壹 yi (Number) one [identical with 一]; (Adv/Adj) all

厚 hòu (Adj/SV) thick, generous

薄 bó (Adj/SV) thin, superficial

Grammar and Notes

9.1 Symmetrical prose

This passage exhibits a rhetorical structure very common in WYW: reiterative language
within strict parallel structures. In many cases, such sentence strings will also be rhymed.
The origin of this type of writing lies in the practice of rote learning – these texts were
composed for the purpose of memorization, which is greatly facilitated by metrical
regularity, parallel structure, and rhyme. Symmetrical prose is a widely diffused feature
of WYW, but its monotonous features led skilled writers who were not composing texts
posing as canonical wisdom to lighten it with more variety than we see here.

The specific form of rhetoric used in this passage is known as sorites (so-‘rī-tes, a Greek
term), and consists of a long string of linked syllogisms. It is a common form in early
WYW.

9.2 Complex clauses governed by zhĕ 者

It is frequently true that nominal phrases terminating in 者 can be long and complex. In
English, these phrases are more clearly signaled by the structure of the relative clause (as
in, “people who . . . ,” “the one which . . .”). Because English places the Root element of