Orders (2)

Introduction

This week covers the second half of Commands and Orders: punishments, spies, the wounded, provisions, and the clauses that bind the commander himself.

Start with the hardest part. The punishments are savage. Whoever spreads rumors is cut down; whoever plots against an officer is treated as a rebel, and parents, wife and children with him; leaving a post, opening a gate without orders, contact with the enemy, all capital. This is the law of the Warring States, not the law of 墨门 / The Mohist Community. Mozi put "not falling apart" above everything and believed only harsh punishment could secure it. That was his age, and his limit. Our 墨者之法 contains no bodily punishment; the heaviest sanction is removal from membership. But "carry out what you say" we keep.

Then care. "Those badly wounded are sent home to be nursed well; give them physicians and medicine, grant two sheng of wine and two jin of meat a day, and have officials go through the lanes regularly to see whether the sick recover." The dead are buried at public charge. Bedding is issued on the wall daily. These clauses are as detailed as the punishments, which tells you that for the Mohists "defense" included every body in the city.

Then counter-espionage: newcomers registered, strangers questioned; and the commander's own attendants and messengers "closely and quietly watched." Even his intimates are under observation.

Last, the commander is bound. His quarters are built where he sees the whole city and the city does not see him; his relatives are held at the ruler's court; those he appoints must be "upright, honest, loyal and trustworthy," each keeping charge of their own funds. The commander holds power of life and death, and he is inside the law too.

The three tests

Care for the wounded and punishment of fakers stand side by side, both by the third test: the first makes people willing to risk themselves, the second keeps them from pretending. Mozi clearly saw them as one: without punishment, care is abused; without care, punishment is not obeyed. This week's question: the Community has dropped punishment and kept care and removal. Does the "half" still hold? Our answer is that care pairs and public 职 reports replace surveillance, "everyone can see" in place of "someone is watching." Whether that is the same function is for 墨辩 to test.

For families

• On "the wounded go home": when someone at home is ill, who takes them to the doctor, who cooks, who sits with them? Settle it.
• "The commander is inside the law": do the adults keep the household rules themselves? Let the children name one the adults often break.
• Write a card together, or cook a meal, for a relative or friend who is ill.

For chapters

• 20 min reading · 20 min 墨辩 · 10 min 三表 review · 10 min 职 reports.
• 墨辩 motion: "An organization without punishment cannot sustain mutual aid for long." One side cites Commands and Orders; the other cites the 墨者之法 and Impartial Care.
• 三表 review: check the chapter's "wounded list." Who in the last three months has been ill, lost work, or had trouble at home? Did the care pairs keep up? Arrange a visit on the spot for anyone missed.