Let the nation be small,
and the people few.

Though there are tools for ten or a hundred tasks,
they have no use for them.
Let the people regard death heavily,
and not travel far.
Though there are boats and carriages,
no one rides them.
Though there are weapons and armor,
no one displays them.

Let the people return
to knotting cords for their records.
They find their food sweet,
their clothing beautiful,
their homes peaceful,
their customs delightful.

Neighboring nations are within sight of each other,
the sounds of roosters and dogs reach across to each other,
yet the people grow old and die
without ever visiting one another.