一孔录The video for this chapter is still in production. For now this page gives the original text, the facsimile page, a working translation and the commentary; the full reading follows when the video is out.
民不畏死，奈何以死懼之？若使民常畏死，而為奇者，吾得執而殺之，孰敢？常有司殺者殺。夫代司殺者殺，是謂代大匠斲。夫代大匠斲者，希有不傷其手矣。If the people do not fear death, how can you frighten them with death? If the people always feared death, and those who did strange things I could seize and kill, who would dare? There is always an executioner who kills. To kill in place of the executioner is like cutting wood in place of the master carpenter. Of those who cut in place of the master carpenter, few avoid hurting their hands.
白Plain Chinese
百姓不怕死，为什么用死来吓唬他们？如果让百姓常常怕死，对那些为非作歹的人，我抓来杀掉，谁还敢再作乱？本来有专管杀人的去杀。代替专管杀人的去杀，就好比代替高明的木匠去砍木头。代替高明的木匠砍木头，很少有不伤到自己手的。
Draft plain-Chinese rendering following Wang Bi; it will be checked when the chapter is taught.
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