The Three Pillars of Legitimacy: Confucius on Why Some Things Are Simply Not to Be Assaulted

By / / Ji Shi XVI, just war, legitimacy, minister, territory, The Analects, tradition
Confucius argued: “It was appointed by former kings, lies within our borders, and is a minister of our state. Why attack it?”

Appointed by former kings, within our territory, a minister of our state—why attack it?

昔者先王以为东蒙主，且在邦域之中矣，是社稷之臣也。何以伐为？

Source: The Analects, Ji Shi XVI, Chapter 1

Author: Confucius

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