《击壤歌》
日出而作，日入而息；
凿井而饮，耕田而食。
帝力于我何有哉！
帝尧之世，天下太和，
百姓无事，有老人击壤而歌。
Rough translation
I go to work in the fields at sunrise, I return home at sunset;
I drank from the well I dug, I eat from the fields I tend;
What has the doings of emperor anything to do with me?
Supposedly, this folksong was originated during the reign of emperor Yao.
In the peaceful times, the elderly sang this song while playing a game of hitting earthern blocks.
Was this song ever considered treasonous for belittling the role of rulers?
Personally, I think it stands a good chance of being the world's first anthem for anarchists.
In Bo Yang's commentary, he wrote that Jiang Ziya (姜子牙), the first ruler of the State of Qi (齐太公), supposedly executed two people in his newly conferred fief because they refused to acknowledge the state authority, claiming to be self-sufficient. This was done to make clear to the people of their duty and subordination to the state. Anyone knows where this account come from?
Edited by snowybeagle, 21 July 2006 - 12:08 PM.
