上古結繩而治繫辭下傳第二章013

上古結繩而治，後世聖人易之以書契，百官以治，萬民以察，蓋取諸夬。

上古無文字，結繩以記事，以後不敷使用了，聖人便發明文書契據，百官也利于治理，萬民也賴于此書契，而有所稽察，不致于誤事，是取象于夬卦。

上古結繩而治，後世聖人易之以書契，百官以治，萬民以察，蓋取諸夬。

In the highest antiquity, government was carried on successfully by the use of knotted cords (to preserve the memory of things). 

In subsequent ages the sages substituted for these written characters and bonds. By means of these (the doings of) all the officers could be regulated, and (the affairs of) all the people accurately examined. 

The idea of this was taken, probably, from Guai (the forty-third hexagram).