聚斂

聚斂

1. to amass wealth by heavy taxation; to levy heavy taxes

   • 季氏富於周公，而求也為之聚斂而附益之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     季氏富于周公，而求也为之聚敛而附益之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Jìshì fù yú Zhōugōng, ér Qiú yě wèi zhī jùliǎn ér fùyì zhī.

     The head of the Ji family was richer than the duke of Zhou had been, and yet Qiu collected his imposts for him, and increased his wealth.

2. to collect; to gather

   • 聚斂天下之美名而加之焉，曰：此仁也，義也，愛人利人，順天之意，得天之賞者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     聚敛天下之美名而加之焉，曰：此仁也，义也，爱人利人，顺天之意，得天之赏者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mozi, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on Y. P. Mei's version

     Jùliǎn tiānxià zhī měimíng ér jiā zhī yān, yuē: cǐ rén yě, yì yě, ài rén lì rén, shùn tiān zhī yì, dé tiān zhī shǎng zhě yě.

     The most excellent names in the world were gathered and attributed to them, and they were called magnanimous, righteous, beloved of man and beneficial to the people, obedient to the will of Heaven and rewarded of Heaven.

3. to extort the wealth of the people

   • 百乘之家，不畜聚斂之臣。與其有聚斂之臣，寧有盜臣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     百乘之家，不畜聚敛之臣。与其有聚敛之臣，宁有盗臣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Bǎishèng zhī jiā, bù xù jùliǎn zhī chén. Yǔqí yǒu jùliǎn zhī chén, nìng yǒu dàochén.

     So, the house which possesses a hundred chariots should not keep a minister to look out for imposts that he may lay them on the people. Than to have such a minister, it were better for that house to have one who should rob it of its revenues.

• (to collect):

• (to extort the wealth of the people):