Excerpts from the Seventeen Article Constitution, Issued by Prince Shotoku in 604 C. E. 1. Harmony should be valued and quarrels should be avoided. Everyone has his biases... 3. Do not fail to obey the commands of your Sovereign. He is like Heaven, which is above Earth, and the vassal is like Earth, which bears up Heaven. When Heaven and Earth are properly in place, the four seasons follow their course and all is well in Nature. 4. The Ministers and officials of the state should make proper behavior their first principle, for if the superiors do not behave properly, the inferiors are disorderly; if inferiors behave improperly, offenses will naturally result... 7. Every man has his own work. Do not let the spheres of duty be confused... 10. Let us control ourselves and not be resentful when others disagree with us, for all men have hearts and each heart has its own leanings. 11. Know the difference between merit and demerit, and deal out to each its reward and punishment... 16. Employ the people in forced labor . . . in the winter months when they are at leisure, but not from Spring to Autumn, when they are busy with agriculture. For if they do not attend to agriculture, what will there be to eat? 17. Decisions on important matters should not be made by one person alone. They should be discussed with many people. Small matters are of less consequence and it is unnecessary to consult a number of people.
1. What view of government and society does the Seventeen Article Constitution seem to express?