臣聞吏議逐客，竊以為過矣。昔繆公求士，西取由余於戎，東得百里奚於宛，迎蹇叔於宋，來丕豹、公孫支於晉。此五子者，不產於秦，而繆公用之，并國二十，遂霸西戎。孝公用商鞅之法，移風易俗，民以殷盛，國以富彊，百姓樂用，諸侯親服，獲楚、魏之師，舉地千里，至今治彊。惠王用張儀之計，拔三川之地，西并巴、蜀，北收上郡，南取漢中，包九夷，制鄢、郢，東據成皋之險，割膏腴之壤，遂散六國之從，使之西面事秦，功施到今。昭王得范睢，廢穰侯，逐華陽，彊公室，杜私門，蠶食諸侯，使秦成帝業。此四君者，皆以客之功。由此觀之，客何負於秦哉！向使四君卻客而不內，疏士而不用，是使國無富利之實而秦無彊大之名也。

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Your servant has heard scholars arguing for the expulsion of foreign guests[1], and humbly suggests that this would be a misstep. In the past, when Duke Mu[2] was recruiting scholars, he acquired You Yu[3] from the Rong[4] in the West and Baili Xi[5] from Wan[6] in the East; he welcomed Jian Shu[7] from Song as well as Pi Bao[8] and Gongsun Zhi[9] from Jin. Of these five advisors, none were born in Qin, and yet Duke Mu employed them and annexed twelve states, becoming overlord of the Western Rong. Duke Xiao[10] adopted the laws of Shang Yang[11], changing national customs in response to the changing times, ensuring that the population would flourish, the state would grow rich and strong, the hundred clans would work cheerfully on his behalf, and the sovereign lords would draw close to him and submit. He tamed the troops of Chu and Wei, unifying 1000 li of territory and creating the strong government we have today. King Hui[12] employed the strategies of Zhang Yi[13], overrunning the lands of Sanchuan[14], annexing Ba and Shu in the West, taking Shang Commandery[15] in the North, and Hanzhong[16] in the south, assimilating the Nine Yi[17], taking control of Yan[18] and Ying[19], and capturing the Chenggao Pass[20] in the East. He divided up fat and fertile lands, thus breaking up the alliance between the six states[21], compelling them to turn West and serve Qin - achievements that have endured down to today[22]. King Zhao[23] acquired Fan Ju[24] and thus dismissed Marquis Rang[25] and exiled Lord Huayang[26], reestablishing the public estate and preventing the encroachment of private households. Like a silkworm he nibbled away the territories of the feudal lords, thus furthering Qin's imperial mission. Of these four lords, all employed foreign guests in their successes. Observing as much, how could the latter be a liability for Qin? Suppose that these four Lords had not invited in their foreign guests, that they had neglected such scholars and refused to employ them - in that case the state would never have grown rich in resources nor earned its intimidating reputation.

 

今陛下致昆山之玉，有隨、和之寶，垂明月之珠，服太阿之劍，乘纖離之馬，建翠鳳之旗，樹靈鼉之鼓。此數寶者，秦不生一焉，而陛下說之，何也？必秦國之所生然後可，則是夜光之璧不飾朝廷，犀象之器不為玩好，鄭、衛之女不充後宮，而駿良駃騠不實外廄，江南金錫不為用，西蜀丹青不為采。所以飾後宮充下陳娛心意說耳目者，必出於秦然後可，則是宛珠之簪，傅璣之珥，阿縞之衣，錦繡之飾不進於前，而隨俗雅化佳冶窈窕趙女不立於側也。夫擊甕叩缶彈箏搏髀，而歌呼嗚嗚快耳者，真秦之聲也；鄭、衛、桑閒、昭、虞、武、象者，異國之樂也。今棄擊甕叩缶而就鄭衛，退彈箏而取昭虞，若是者何也？快意當前，適觀而已矣。今取人則不然。不問可否，不論曲直，非秦者去，為客者逐。然則是所重者在乎色樂珠玉，而所輕者在乎人民也。此非所以跨海內制諸侯之術也。 

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Now Your Majesty receives jade from Kunlun[27], you have the Sui[28] and He[29] jewels, moon-bright pearls hang at your waist and the Tai'e sword[30] in your belt. You ride Xianli horses[31], flying a green phoenix banner[32] to the beating of crocodile-skin drums. Of these various treasures, Qin does not produce a single one, and yet Your Majesty delights in them. Why? If Qin products alone are to be permitted, then your court will no longer be ornamented with night-glowing jade, the guests at your feasts will no longer admire your rhinoceros horn and ivory goblets, your inner palace will no longer be filled with women from Zheng and Wey[33], nor your stables with Junliang and Jueti horses[34], there will be no more gold or tin from Jiangnan for your use[35], nor red and blue pigments from Ba and Shu in the West. If, to ornament your halls, fill your private quarters and please your eyes and ears, you accept only what comes from Qin, then no more pearl hairpins from Wan, no more jeweled earrings, agao silks or jinxu brocades will be brought before you. There will be no more fashionable, elegant and discreet beauties from Zhao to stand by your side[36]. Your musicians can play jar drums and zhengs[37], beating time on their knees and warbling away[38] to delight your ears - authentic Qin music! The melodies of Zheng, Wey, Sangjian, Zhao, Yu, Wu and Xiao[39] are all foriegn, and yet you abandon your jar drums and turn to the music of Zheng and Wey, you put away the zheng and adopt the music of Zhao and Yu. Why is this? Simply to amuse you in the moment and please your senses. Not so when it comes to recruiting partisans - you do not enquire whether an individual is employable or not, whether he is crooked or upright - if he is not from Qin he is sent away, if he is a guest he will be banished. This being so, we must take it that Your Majesty values beauties and music, pearls and jades, while disregarding those who work for you. This is hardly the right technique if you wish to overwhelm the land within the seas and rule the sovereign lords. 

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臣聞地廣者粟多，國大者人眾，兵彊則士勇。是以太山不讓土壤，故能成其大；河海不擇細流，故能就其深；王者不卻眾庶，故能明其德。是以地無四方，民無異國，四時充美，鬼神降福，此五帝、三王之所以無敵也。今乃棄黔首以資敵國，卻賓客以業諸侯，使天下之士退而不敢西向，裹足不入秦，此所謂「藉寇兵而齎盜糧」者也。

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Your servant has heard when territory is enlarged grain resources increase, when a state expands its population grows, and when the army gets stronger its officers become bolder. Thus Mount Tai[40] declines no mote of soil - this is how it grew so big; neither the Yellow River nor the sea refuses the contribution of even the smallest stream - this is how they grew so deep. When a king refuses no one, his honour shines brighter in consequence. There is no distinction made between North, South, East and West, nor between citizen and foreigner; the four seasons are adorned with plenty and the shades and spirits bestow blessings. Thus did the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors[41] ensure that none could stand against them. Now you send your people[42] away, thereby augmenting your opponents' resources. If you send your guests away to labour on behalf of the other sovereign lords, then the scholars of All-Under-Heaven will withdraw, no longer daring to look West[43], or to wrap up their feet[43] and head for Qin. This is what is known as 'lending weapons to enemies and food to brigands'.

 

夫物不產於秦，可寶者多；士不產於秦，而願忠者眾。今逐客以資敵國，損民以益讎，內自虛而外樹怨於諸侯，求國無危，不可得也。

 

Of all the things not produced in Qin, there are many that can be considered treasures. Of all the scholars not born in Qin, there are multitudes who seek only loyal service. If you send your guests away now, you will bolster the states of your enemies, diminishing your citizens and benefiting your rivals, emptying your own estate to establish those who resent you in positions under the other sovereign lords. If you are seeking to avoid endangering your state, it cannot be done thus.   

​

[1] This is recorded as having been a response to the episode of the Zhengguo Canal, described by Sima Qian as follows: "But Han heard that Qin was fond of embarking on enterprises, so with the intention of causing its energies to be dissipated and in order to prevent it from making an attack to the east, it accordingly dispatched a water engineer named Zheng Guo to give controversial advice to Qin by making it excavate a canal from the Jing River west of Mount Zhong as far as Hukou, from where it was to go east along the Northern Mountains and flow into the Luo. It would be more than 300 li long, and the intention would be to use it to irrigate the fields. When it was half completed the true purpose was realized, and Qin intended to kill Zheng Guo, but Zheng Guo said: ‘At first I was acting in order to cause dissension, but when the canal is completed it will surely be a benefit to Qin.’ Qin thought this was true, so in the end had the progress on the canal continued. When the canal did make further progress, it was used to cause the stagnant waters to flow, and irrigate the salty land over an area of more than 40,000 qing, so that the harvest totalled one zhong per mou. Thereupon the area within the passes was turned into fertile but uncultivated land, and there were no calamitous years, and thus Qin became rich and strong, and in the end unified the feudal states. Because of this it was called the Zheng Guo Canal." (tr. Dawson) The King being addressed is King Zheng of Qin.

[2] Duke Mu of Qin (659–621 BCE) greatly expanded Qin territory.

[3] You Yu (also known as Yao Yu) served as an envoy from the Rong people to the Qin court. Duke Mu was so taken with him he sent wine and women to the Rong leaders in order to induce them to disappoint You Yu with their dissipation and convince him to switch sides.

[4] The Rong were non-Huaxia and semi-nomadic peoples living to the north west of China.

[5] Baili Xi was a slave in Chu when Duke Mu heard about his skills and purchased him for five goatskins.

[6] Wan is now Nanyang in Henan.

[7] Jian Shu was another advisor, recommended by Baili Xi.

[8] Pi Bao fled from Jin to Qin after his father was killed in an internal court dispute.

[9] Gongsun Zhi advised Duke Mu to send grain to Jin during a famine and thereby win over the Jin populace.

[10] Duke Xiao of Qin (361-338 BCE) worked with his Chancellor, Shang Yang, to reform Qin's laws and strengthen the administrative state.

[11] Shang Yang originally came from Wey, going on to reform the Qin state and expand its territory.

[12] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE) was the first Qin ruler to adopt a royal title. He oversaw the conquest of Ba and Shu.

[13] Zhang Yi was a Qin diplomat and general, originally from Wei.

[14] This was in northern Henan, containing the confluences of the Luo, Yi and Yellow rivers.

[15] This was in the vicinity of Yulin in Shaanxi, originally being Wei territory.

[16] Hanzhong is still called Hanzhong, and is in Shaanxi.

[17] These were southeastern peoples, possibly Austronesian: the Yanyi, Yuyi, Fangyi, Huangyi, Baiyi, Chiyi, Xuanyi, Fengyi and Yangyi.

[18] Yan was southeast of Yicheng in modern Hubei.

[19] Ying is now called Jingzhou and is in Hubei. At the time it was the capital of Chu.

[20] Chenggao was in modern Xingyang, Henan.

[21] Chu, Han, Qi, Wei, Yan and Zhao.

[22] Some of these events actually took place under the reign of King Zhaoxiang.

[23] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (307–251 BC) also expanded Qin territory, notably wiping out the Eastern Zhou.

[24] Fan Ju was a scholar and politician who assisted King Zhaoxiang to escape the domination of his mother's Chu relations.

[25] Wei Ran, Marquis Rang, a half-brother of Queen Dowager Xuan (Mi Bazi), served as Chancellor of Qin during the early years of King Zhaoxiang.

[26] Lord Huayang was another half-brother of Queen Dowager Xuan, prominent in Qin court politics.

[27] Kunlun jade came and still comes from Xinjiang.

[28] This was supposedly a glowing pearl given to the Marquis of Sui by a snake whose life he had saved.

[29] The Heshibi jade was another storied jewel, gifted and stolen back and forth repeatedly before being carved into the Qin imperial seal and finally lost.

[30] This was one of the ten legendary swords of ancient China, originally made in Chu.

[31] It is not clear precisely what kind of horse this refers to.

[32] It is possible that this ensign was decorated with exotic feathers.

[33] These are noted as celebrated beauties elsewhere.

[34] Again, the precise characteristics of these horses have been lost.

[35] This was a general term for southern China.

[36] Li Si was taking his life in his hands with this observation - King Zheng's mother began her career as a dancer and concubine in Zhao.

[37] The zheng was a type of zither, a simpler form of of the se used to play folk songs.

[38] The sound given is "huwuwu" which tends to get interpreted as being some sort of bird call-related song à la Sumer Is Icumen In.

[39] These tunes have all been lost.

[40] Taishan is a fabled peak in Shandong.

[41] These were semi-legendary early rulers. The precise list of individuals varies depending on the source.

[42] This literally refers to people in civilian occupations - i.e. not immediately subject to state orders.

[43] I.e. towards Qin.

[44] A common expression referring to the puttees worn for foot travel at the time.