Watching a dyer of silk at work, Motse sighed, saying: What is dyed in blue becomes blue, what is dyed in yellow becomes yellow. When the silk is put in a different dye, its colour becomes also different. Having been dipped in five times, it has changed its colour five times. Therefore dyeing should be done with great care. This is true not only with silk dyeing; even a country changes its colour in response to its influences.

Thus Shun came under the influences of Hsü Yu and Po Yang; Yü, under that of Kao T'ao and Po Yi; T'ang, under that of Yi Yin and Chung Huei; and King Wu, under that of the Grand Duke and Duke Chou. Now these four kings had been under good influences. Therefore they came to possess the empire and were commissioned [rulers under GOD] (Emperors). Their achievements and great fame extended from Heaven to earth. And when the pre-eminently magnanimous and righteous figures of the world are mentioned, they are invariably those referred to.

Chieh of Hsia came under the influence of Kan Hsin and T'uei Yi; Chow of Yin, under that of the Duke of Ch'ung and O Lai; King Li, under that of Ch'ang Fu, Duke Li and Yi Chung of the State of Jung; and King Yu, under that of Yi, Duke of Fu and Ku, Duke of Ts'ai. Now these four kings had been under bad influences. Therefore they lost their empire and their lives, and were persecuted everywhere. And when the most unrighteous and shameful persons of the world are mentioned, they are invariably those referred to.

Lord Huan of Ch'i came under the influence of Kuan Chung and Pao Shu; Lord Wen of Chin, under that of Uncle Fan and Kao Yen; Lord Chuang of Ch'u, under that of Sun Shu and the Minister of Shen; Ho Lu of Wu, under that of Wu Yuan and Wen Yi; and Kou Chien of Yüeh, under that of Fan Li and Minister Chung. Now these five lords had been under good influences. Therefore they became "Tyrants" among the feudal lords and their achievements and their fame were handed down to posterity.

Fan Chi She came under the influence of Ch'ang Liu Shuo and Wang Sheng; Chung Hsing Yin, under that of Chi Ch'in and Kao Chiang; Fu Ch'a, under that of Wang Sun Lo and Minister P'i; Chih Po Yao, under that of Chih Kuo and Chang Wu; Shang of Chung Shan, under that of Wei Yi and Yen Ch'ang; and Lord K'ang of Sung, under that of T'ang Yang and Tien Pu Li. Now, these six princes had been under bad influences. Therefore their states were ruined and they were executed, their ancestral temples were destroyed and descendants annihilated. The rulers and the subjects were dispersed and the people were left homeless. The whole world point to these six princes as the most greedy and disturbing people.

Now, how can the rulers obtain security? They can obtain it by following the right way. And one will naturally follow the right way when under good influence. Therefore capable rulers are very painstaking in the selection of men while they may not be so careful in attending to the administration (themselves). But the incapable wear out their body and exhaust their energy, tax their mind and stretch their thought, and yet their states are only placed in greater danger and their persons under more humiliation. Now, it is not that these six princes do not value their states or hold their lives cheap, it is really that they do not understand the relative importance of things. And it is due to bad influences that their idea of importance is distorted.

Not only states but also individuals are subject to influences. If one has for friends none but those who love magnanimity and righteousness and who are careful and respectful of course one's family will become more prosperous, one's person more at peace, and one's name more honourable every day; and, as an official, one will be properly qualified. Examples of such are Tuan Kan Mu, Ch'intse, and Fu Yüeh. (On the contrary) if one has for friends none but those who are proud and quarrelsome and who pretend to be intimate, naturally one's family will be reduced to straits, one's person will be more in danger, and one's name more dishonourable every day and one will not be qualified for office. And, examples of such are Tse Hsi, Yi Ya, and Shu Tiao.

An Ode says: "One must choose what to be tinged with." To be careful about what one is to be tinged with is just the theme of this (essay).