《尚书·洪范》是中国古代君主施行治国之道的大法，它是周人灭商后殷商遗臣箕子讲给周武王的殷商治国之道的经验总结。《洪范》篇的内容分为序论与九个范畴，整篇《洪范》围绕着周武王提出的问题展开，追溯至帝尧治水的历史，阐述了上天制定民众和谐相居的有效政治方略。

在中国古代治国之道中，洪范九畴有着很大的影响。中国历代王朝及其学者都对《洪范》进行了诠释，由此造就了历代特色鲜明的洪范学。这也对历朝历代的治国之道提供了基本的理论框架。在治国之道的理论框架中，《洪范》构成了君主立身践行的五项治国思想，洪范序论与五行范畴构成了君主敬天道的思想，五事范畴、八政范畴与五纪范畴构成了君主尽人事的思想，皇极范畴与三德范畴构成了君主立德的思想，稽疑范畴与庶征范畴构成神道设教的思想，五福、六极范畴构成了君主的治道理想。本文以《洪范》构成的五项政治事务为框架，展开讨论君主治国之道的理论与实践问题。

在古代君主统治的政治体制中，《洪范》篇有一套完整的治国之道体系，但是它并不仅仅包含政治范畴。君主治国是宗教、伦理与政治有机构成的综合活动，君主是宗教、伦理与政治的领袖、榜样。君主需要敬畏天道，天是主宰之神、德的源泉，人间的祸福与上天的安排息息相关。人间的伦理原则与治国原则都出自于天道。君主效法天道的基本原则是遵从五行秩序，自然界的五行是天道的显现。君主效法天道的原则而进行人间的政治活动，按照上天的指示来尽人事，推行教化、把握四季变化规律、组织行政官职。君主效法天道而进行政治活动也要依靠君主的德行，所以君主需要立德、行德，才能使政治活动不悖天道、使人间得福祉。在进行政治活动时，会出现许多复杂疑问、奇异征兆，君主要自己思考、与臣民商讨，根据征兆纠正已有措施以安抚臣民。君主敬天道尽人事的政治活动目的在于社会福利的全面实现，人人都享受到五种幸福、远离六种困厄。

《洪范》成篇至今，虽年代久远，但其思想对当今社会依然有重要的参考价值、启发作用。本文以《洪范》九畴中的具体内容与结构为序，讨论《洪范》中君主治国之道的思想。

“The Great Plan”, a chapter of Shangshu is a great thought used by ancient Chinese monarchs to administer the country. It is a summary of the experience of the Yin (Shang) dynasty explained by the survivor of the Yin Shang Dynasty Ji Zi after the Shang Dynasty destroyed by the Zhou Dynasty. The content of “The Great Plan” is divided into a preface and nine categories, which revolves around the questions raised by King Wu, it traces back to the history of Emperor Yao's flood management and expounds on the effective politics of God's formulation of people living in harmony.

“The Great Plan” had a great influence on the way of ruling the country in ancient China. Different dynasties and their scholars have interpreted “The Great Plan”, which created the special tradition of “The Great Plan” interpretation with distinctive characteristics in each dynasty. This also provides a basic theoretical framework for governance. In the theoretical framework of the way of governing the country, “The Great Plan” constitutes the five-limbs governance thought practiced by the monarch. The preface of Hong Fan and ‘the five elements’ constitute the onarch's thought of respecting heaven, ‘reverent attention to the five(personal) matters’, ‘earnest devotion to the eight(objects of) government,’ and ‘the harmonious use of the five dividers of time’ constitute the monarch's thought of political action, ‘the establishment and use of royal perfection’ and ‘the discriminating use of the three virtues’ constitute the monarch’s idea of morality, ‘the in-telligent use of(the means for) the examination of doubts’, and ‘ the thoughtful use of the various verifications’ constitute the idea of the gods and religions, ‘the hortatory use of the five(sources of) happiness’, and ‘the awing use of the six(occasions of) Suffering’ constitute the monarch's goals of governance. This article uses the five political affairs constituted by “The Great Plan” as a framework to discuss the theory and practice of the monarchy.

In the ancient political system ruled by monarchs, “The Great Plan” chapter has a complete system of governing the country, the rule of the monarchy is a comprehensive activity composed of religion, ethics, and politics. The monarch is the leader and role model of religion, ethics, and politics. Monarchs need to respect the Heavenly way, which is the source of virtue. The misfortunes and blessings of the world are closely related to the arrangements of Heaven. The ethical principles and the principles of governing the country all come from the Heavenly way. The basic principle for the monarch to imitate the way of Heaven is to follow the order of the five elements, and the five elements of nature are manifestations of the Heavenly way. The monarch followed the principles of Heaven and carried out political activities in the world, performed personal affairs following the instructions of Heaven, promoted education, grasped the changing laws of the four seasons, and organized administrative positions. Monarchs imitating the law of Heaven and carrying out political activities also depend on the monarch's virtues, so they need to establish morals and conduct morals to make political activities not contrary to the heavens and make the world happy. When conducting political activities, there will be many complicated questions and strange signs. The emperor mainly have to think himself, have to discusses with his officers and people, and correct an error based on the signs to console his people. The purpose of the political activities of the monarch to respect Heaven and do everything is to realize the full realization of social welfare. Everyone enjoys the five kinds of happiness and avoids the six kinds of distress.

“The Great Plan” has been written so far. Although it is a long time ago, its thoughts still have important reference value for today's political thought. This article takes the specific content and structure of the nine chapters of “The Great Plan” as the preface, discussing the idea of the rule of the monarch in it.