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toppage

TheAnalectsofConfucius

TranslatedbyA.CharlesMuller

TableofContents

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Firsttranslatedduringthesummerof1990.Revised20130606

Whenciting,pleaserefertotheURLofthispage:http://www.acmuller.net/condao/analects.html

1.
[1-1]

[1:1]TheMastersaid:Isn'titapleasuretostudyandpracticewhatyouhavelearned?Isn'titalsogreat
whenfriendsvisitfromdistantplaces?Ifpeopledonotrecognizemeanditdoesn'tbotherme,amInota
nobleman?
[Comment]NoblemanisanEnglishtranslationfortheChinesetermjunzi,whichoriginallymeant
sonofaprincethus,someonefromthenobility.IntheAnalects,Confuciusimbuesthetermwitha
specialmeaning.Thoughsometimesusedstrictlyinitsoriginalsense,italsoreferstoapersonwhohasmade
significantprogressintheWay(dao)ofselfcultivation,bydevelopingasenseofjustice,byloving
treatmentofparents,respectforelders,honestywithfriends,etc.Thoughthejunziisahighly
advancedhumanbeing,heisstilldistinguishedfromthecategoryofsage(shengren),whois,inthe
Analectsmoreofadivinebeing,usuallyamodelfromgreatantiquity.
Thecharacterofthenobleman,incontrasttothesage,isbeingtaughtasatangiblemodelforallinthehere
andnow.Andalthoughmanydescriptionsoftherequirementsforjunzistatusseemquiteoutofourreach,
therearemanypassageswhereConfuciuslabelsacontemporary,oroneofhisdisciplesanobleman,
intendingacomplement.Thus,thecategorizationisnotsorigid.Onemightwanttocomparethetermnoble
mantotheBuddhistbodhisattva,inthatbotharethemodelsforthetradition,bothindicateaveryhighstage
ofhumandevelopmentastechnicalterms,yetbothmaybeusedcolloquiallytorefertoareallygood
person.
[1-2]

[1:2]YouZisaid:Therearefewwhohavedevelopedthemselvesfiliallyandfraternallywhoenjoy
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offendingtheirsuperiors.Thosewhodonotenjoyoffendingsuperiorsarenevertroublemakers.Thenoble
manconcernshimselfwiththefundamentals.Oncethefundamentalsareestablished,theproperway
appears.Arenotfilialpietyandobediencetoeldersfundamentaltotheactualizationoffundamentalhuman
goodness?
[Comment]ThewordrenisperhapsthemostfundamentalconceptinConfucianthought.Ithasbeen
translatedintoEnglishasbenevolence,altruism,goodness,humanenessetc.Itisadifficultconcept
totranslatebecauseitdoesn'treallyrefertoanyspecifictypeofvirtueorpositiveendowment,butrefersto
aninnercapacitypossessedbyallhumanbeingstodogood,ashumanbeingsshould.Itisthequalitythat
makeshumanshuman,andnotanimals.InearlieriterationsofthistranslationIhavegonethroughvarious
transitions:atfirstIattemptedtouseaunifiedEnglishrenderingthroughoutthetext.Ithenpursueda
strategyofleavinguntranslated,asren.NowIampresentlyleaninginthedirectionoftranslatingtheterm
variously,accordingtothecontext,butatpresent,remnantsofallthreestrategiesremaininthetext.Iintend
toeventuallysortthisout.
IntheChineseessencefunctionparadigm,rencanbeunderstoodastheinnate,unmanifestsourceof
allkindsofmanifestationsofvirtuosity:wisdom,filialpiety,reverence,courtesy,love,sincerity,etc.,allof
whichareaspects,orfunctionsofren.Throughone'seffortsatpracticingatthefunctionofren,onemay
enhanceanddevelopone'sren,untilonemaybecalledanobleman,orevenbetter,ahumaneperson.
IntheAnalects,tobecalledahumanepersonbytheMasterisanextremelyhighevaluation,rarely
acknowledgedforanyone.
[1-3]

[1:3]TheMastersaid:Someonewhoisacleverspeakerandmaintainsacontrivedsmileisseldom
consideredtobeareallygoodperson.
[1-4]

[1:4]CengZisaid:EachdayIexaminemyselfinthreeways:indoingthingsforothers,haveIbeen
disloyal?Inmyinteractionswithfriends,haveIbeenuntrustworthy?HavenotpracticedwhatIhave
preached?
[1-5]

[1:5]TheMastersaid:Ifyouwouldgovernastateofathousandchariots(asmalltomiddlesizestate),
youmustpaystrictattentiontobusiness,betruetoyourword,beeconomicalinexpenditureandlovethe
people.Youshouldemploythem[appropriately]accordingtotheseasons.

[Comment]Usageofthepeopleaccordingtotheseasonsisextremelyimportantinanagriculturebased
society,whereplanting,cultivating,orharvestingacertaincropduringacertainfewdayperiodcanbe
critical.DuringtheSpringandAutumnandWarringStatesperiodsinChina,selfishandaggressivewarlords
frequentlypulledfarmersofftheirlandatimportantfarmingtimes,tousethemforpublicworksprojects,or
havethemfightintheruler'spersonalwars.
[1-6]

[1:6]TheMastersaid:Ayoungmanshouldservehisparentsathomeandberespectfultoeldersoutside
hishome.Heshouldbeearnestandtruthful,lovingall,butbecomeintimatewithhisinnategood
heartedness.Afterdoingthis,ifhehasenergytospare,hecanstudyliteratureandthearts.
[Comment]Intheabovementionedessencefunctionview,thedevelopmentofone'sproperrelationshipwith
one'sparentsandothersaroundher/himisfundamentalinlife.Onlyafterthesethingsaretakencareofisit
propertogooffandplayatwhateveronelikesevenifthisplayinvolvestheseriousstudyofsomeart
form.
[1-7]

[1:7]ZiXiasaid:Ifyoucantreattheworthyasworthywithoutstrain,exertyourutmostinservingyour
parents,devoteyourwholeselfinservingyourprince,andbehonestinspeechwhendealingwithyour
friends.Ifyoudothisandsomeonesaysyouarenotlearned(xue),Iwouldsaythatyouaredefinitely
learned.

[Comment]IntheConfuciantradition,learning(xue)ismorethanintellectual,academicstudy,orthe
accumulationoffacts(althoughthisaspectisincluded).Itistheprocessofmanifestingone'srenby
developingoneselfinselfreflectionthroughthevarioustypesofhumanrelationships.
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[1-8]

[1:8]TheMastersaid:Ifthenoblemanlacksgravitas,thenhewillnotinspireaweinothers.Ifheisnot
learned,thenhewillnotbeonfirmground.Hetakesloyaltyandgoodfaithtobeofprimaryimportance,
andhasnofriendswhoarenotofequal(moral)caliber.Whenhemakesamistake,hedoesn'thesitateto
correctit.

[Comment]Thenoblemanstillmakesmistakes.Thedifferencebetweenhimandotherpeopleisthathe
rectifieshiserrorsassoonashebecomesawareofthem.
[1-9]

[1:9]CengZisaid:Whentheyarecareful(abouttheirparents)totheendandcontinueinreverenceafter
(theirparents)arelonggone,thevirtueofthepeoplewillreturntoitsnaturaldepth.
[1-10]

[1:10]ZiQinaskedZiGong:Whenourteacher(Confucius)arrivesinanycountry,heinvariablyfindsout
everythingaboutitsgovernment.Doesheseekthisinformation?Orisitgiventohim?

ZiGongsaid,Ourteachergetsitbybeingcordial,upright,courteous,frugal,andhumble.Hiswayofgetting
informationisquitedifferentfromthatofothermen.

[Comment]Confuciandidn'tneedtodigaround,orpresspeopleforinformation.Peoplenaturallyopenedup
tohimduetohiswarmthandhonesty.
[1-11]

[1:11]TheMastersaid:Whenyourfatherisalive,observehiswill.Whenyourfatherisdeadobservehis
formeractions.If,forthreeyearsyoudonotchangefromthewaysofyourfather,youcanbecalledareal
son(xiao).

[Comment]Intermsofthedevelopmentofthecharacterofthehumanbeing,themostfundamentalpractice
isthatoffilialpiety,theEnglishtranslationoftheChinesexiao,whichmeanstolove,respectandtakecare
ofone'sparents.Confuciusbelievedthatifpeoplecultivatedthisinnatetendencywell,allothernaturalforms
ofhumangoodnesswouldbepositivelyaffectedbyit.
[1-12]

[1:12]YouZisaid:Intheactualpracticeofpropriety,flexibilityisimportant.Thisiswhattheancient
kingsdidsowellboththegreaterandthelesserusedflexibility.Yetthereareoccasionswhenthisdoes
notapply:Ifyouunderstandflexibilityanduseit,butdon'tstructureyourselfwithpropriety,thingswon'tgo
well.

[Comment]ProprietyistheEnglishrenditionoftheChineseli.Thisisawordthatalsohasawiderange
ofmeaninginClassicalChinesethought,andisdifficulttotranslateinasingleword.Itsmostbasicmeaning
isthatofritualorceremony,referringtoallsortsofritualsthatpermeatedearlyEastAsiansociety.The
mostsignificantofcourse,wouldbeweddingceremoniesandfunerals.Buttherewerealsovarious
agriculturalrituals,comingofagerituals,coronations,etc.Confuciuswasanexpertontheproperhandling
ofallsortsofrituals.
Thetermlihowever,has,intheAnalects,amuchbroadermeaningthanritual,sinceitcanalsorefertothe
manysmallerritualizedbehaviorpatternsinvolvedindaytodayhumaninteractions.Thiswouldinclude
properspeechandbodylanguageaccordingtostatus,age,sexthus,manners.Inthissense,limeansany
actionproper,orappropriatetothesituation.Forinstance,inthemoderncontext,Imightgoupandslapmy
friendontheback.ButIcertainlywouldn'ttothattomyprofessor,ortoastudentinmyclasswhomIdon't
knowverywell.
IntheAnalects,li,asageneralcategory,isclearlydefinedinarelationshipwithren,whererenistheinner,
substantialgoodnessofthehumanbeing,andliisthefunctioningofreninthemanifestworld.Thatistosay,
liisfairness,filialpiety,fraternalrespect,etc.

[1-13]

[1:13]YouZisaid:Whenyourowntrustworthinessisclosetofairness,yourwordscanbefollowed.When
yourshowofrespectisaccordingtopropriety,youwillbefarfromshameanddisgrace.Ifyouhavegenuine
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affectionwithinyourfamily,youcanbecomeanancestor.

[Comment]FairnessisonewayofrenderingoftheChineseyi,whichwealsotranslateinthistextas
Justice,accordingtothecontext.Althoughnotquiteasessentialaconceptasren,itisastrongly
internalizedhumancapacity.Beingattunedtofairnessallowspeopletodotheproperthingintheproper
situation,togiveeachperson,placeandthingitsproperdue.IntheAnalectsandotherConfuciantexts,
hasthespecificconnotationsoffairness,orjusticedeliveredinasituationwhenapersonisinapositionof
powerorauthority.Thus,oneofthegreatestqualitiestobepossessedbyteacher,asupervisor,ajudge,a
companyowner,ortheleaderofanysocialcircleisthatoffairness,orjustice,intreatingthoseoverwhom
heorshehaspowerorinfluence.
[1-14]

[1:14]TheMastersaid:Whenthenoblemaneatshedoesnottrytostuffhimselfatresthedoesnotseek
perfectcomfortheisdiligentinhisworkandcarefulinspeech.HeavailshimselftopeopleoftheWayand
therebycorrectshimself.Thisisthekindofpersonofwhomyoucansay,heloveslearning.
[1-15]

[1:15]ZiGongasked:Whatdoyouthinkofapoormanwhodoesn'tgrovelorarichmanwhoisn't
proud?Confuciussaid,Theyaregood,butnotasgoodasapoormanwhoissatisfiedandarichmanwho
lovespropriety.ZiGongsaid,TheBookofOdes1says:

Likecuttingandfiling,
Grindingandpolishing2

Isthiswhatyouaretalkingabout?Confuciussaid,Ah,nowIcanbegintodiscusstheBookofOdeswithCi.Ispeak
ofvariousthings,andheknowswhatistobebroughtback.3

[1-16]

[1:16]TheMastersaid:IamnotbotheredbythefactthatIamunknown.IambotheredwhenIdonot
knowothers.

2.
[2-1]

[2:1]TheMastersaid:Ifyougovernwiththepowerofyourvirtue,youwillbeliketheNorthStar.Itjust
staysinitsplacewhilealltheotherstarspositionthemselvesaroundit.

[Comment]ThisistheAnalects'firststatementongovernment.ScholarsofChinesethoughthavecommonly
placedgreatemphasisonasupposedradicaldistinctionbetweenConfucianauthoritativegovernmentand
Daoistlaissezfairegovernment.ButnumerousConfucianpassagessuchasthiswhichsuggestofthe
ruler'sgovernancebyamereattunementwithaninnerprincipleofgoodness,withoutunnecessaryexternal
action,quiteliketheDaoistwuweiarefarmorenumerousthanhasbeennoted.Thisisonegoodreasonfor
ustobecarefulwhenmakingthecommonplaceConfucian/Daoistgeneralizationswithoutqualification.
[2-2]

[2:2]TheMastersaid:The300versesoftheBookofOdescanbesummedupinasinglephrase:Don't
thinkinanevilway.
[2-3]

[2:3]TheMastersaid:Ifyougovernthepeoplelegalisticallyandcontrolthembypunishment,theywill
avoidcrime,buthavenopersonalsenseofshame.Ifyougovernthembymeansofvirtueandcontrolthem
withpropriety,theywillgaintheirownsenseofshame,andthuscorrectthemselves.
[2-4]

[2:4]TheMastersaid:AtfifteenmyheartwassetonlearningatthirtyIstoodfirmatfortyIhadnomore
doubtsatfiftyIknewthemandateofheavenatsixtymyearwasobedientatseventyIcouldfollowmy
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heart'sdesirewithouttransgressingthenorm.
[2-5]
;

[2:5]MengyiZiaskedaboutthemeaningoffilialpiety.Confuciussaid,Itmeansnotdiverging(fromyour
parents).Later,whenFanChiwasdrivinghim,ConfuciustoldFanChi,Mengsunaskedmeaboutthe
meaningoffilialpiety,andItoldhimnotdiverging.FanChisaid,Whatdidyoumeanbythat?
Confuciussaid,Whenyourparentsarealive,servethemwithproprietywhentheydie,burythemwith
propriety,andthenworshipthemwithpropriety.
[2-6]

[2:6]MengwuBoaskedaboutthemeaningoffilialpiety.Confuciussaid,Themainconcernofyour
parentsisaboutyourhealth.

[Comment]Whenweareseparatedfromourparentsforlongperiodsoftime,wecansettheirmindsatease
bylettingthemknowthatweareingoodhealth.
[2-7]

[2:7]ZiYouaskedaboutthemeaningoffilialpiety.Confuciussaid,Nowadaysfilialpietymeansbeing
abletofeedyourparents.Buteveryonedoesthisforevenhorsesanddogs.Withoutrespect,what'sthe
difference?
[2-8]

[2:8]ZiXiaaskedaboutfilialpiety.Confuciussaid,Whatisimportantistheexpressionyoushowinyour
face.Youshouldnotunderstandfilialtomeanmerelytheyoungdoingphysicaltasksfortheirparents,or
givingthemfoodandwinewhenitisavailable.
[2-9]

[2:9]TheMastersaid:IcantalkwithHuiforawholedaywithouthimdifferingwithmeinanywayas
ifheisstupid.ButwhenheretiresandIobservehispersonalaffairs,itisquiteclearthatheisnotstupid.

[Comment]Hui(YanYuan)wasConfucius'favoritedisciple,whoispraisedinmanypassagesofthe
Analects.Hediedatayoungage,probablyaroundthirty,afactwhichConfuciuslamented.
[2-10]

[2:10]TheMastersaid:Seeaperson'smeans(ofgettingthings).Observehismotives.Examinethatin
whichherests.Howcanapersonconcealhischaracter?Howcanapersonconcealhischaracter?

[Comment]Peoplethinkthattheyaresuccessfullyhidingthedeviousplotsthataregoingonintheirminds.
ButastheDoctrineoftheMeanteaches,Thesincerityontheinsideshowsontheoutside.Whensomeone
isdeceitful,everyoneknowsit.Whensomeoneisgoodandhonest,everyoneknowsit.
[2-11]

[2:11]TheMastersaid:Reviewingwhatyouhavelearnedandlearninganew,youarefittobeateacher.
[2-12]

[2:12]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisnotautensil.

[Comment]Thenoblemanisnotatechnician,tobeusedbyotherstodoasinglejob.Onanotherlevel,his
mindisnotnarrowlyorientedbyaspecifictask.Thejunzithinksbroadlyanddoesnotlimithimselfquickly
intoacertainworldview,andcannoteasilybeusedasacoginsomeoneelse'smachine.
[2-13]

[2:13]ZiGongaskedaboutthecharacterofthenobleman.Confuciussaid,Firsthepracticeswhathe
preachesandthenhefollowsit.
[2-14]

[2:14]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisallembracingandnotpartial.Theinferiormanispartialandnot
allembracing.
[2-15]

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[2:15]TheMastersaid:Tostudyandnotthinkisawaste.Tothinkandnotstudyisdangerous.
[2-16]

[2:16]TheMastersaid:Tothrowoneselfintostrangeteachingsisquitedangerous.
[2-17]
CHINS

[223]
[2:17]TheMastersaid:You,shallIteachyouaboutknowledge?Whatyouknow,youknow,whatyou

don'tknow,youdon'tknow.Thisisknowledge.
[2:23]ZiZhang
askedwhetherthestateofaffairstengenerations
[Comment]Thestageofknowingwhatyouknowandknowingwhatyoudon'tknowisnoteasytoattain.
hencecouldbeknown.Confuciussaid,The
Ithasbeennotedintheteachingsofotherreligioustraditionstobeaveryhighlevelofattainment.
Shang
PORTUGUS
[2-18]
[223]ZiZhangperguntou:X.Confciotambm
visto.Yinporquenoritualdevero,osganhose
perdas,podemosvlo.SemanadevidoaoYinLi,
[2:18]ZiZhangwasstudyingtogetanupgradeinhiscivilservicerank.[Advisinghimaboutself
osganhoseasperdas,conhecidatambm.Aps
semanasdesuaouque,emboraBES,conhecido
improvement,]Confuciussaid,Listenwidelytoremoveyourdoubtsandbecarefulwhenspeakingabout
tambm.[02:23]ZiZhangperguntouseoestado
therestandyourmistakeswillbefew.Seemuchandgetridofwhatisdangerousandbecarefulinactingon
decoisasdezgeraes,portanto,poderiaser
therestandyourcausesforregretwillbefew.Speakingwithoutfault,actingwithoutcausingregret:
conhecido.Confciodisse:"OShang
upgradingconsistsinthis.
OPESDEEXTENSO MAIS

[2-19] ;

[2:19]TheDukeofAiasked:HowcanImakethepeoplefollowme?Confuciusreplied:Advancethe
uprightandsetasidethecrooked,andthepeoplewillfollowyou.Advancethecrookedandsetasidethe
upright,andthepeoplewillnotfollowyou.
[2-20] ; ;

[2:20]JiKangZiasked:HowcanImakethepeoplereverentandloyal,sotheywillworkpositivelyfor
me?Confuciussaid,Approachthemwithdignity,andtheywillbereverent.Befilialandcompassionate
andtheywillbeloyal.Promotetheableandteachtheincompetent,andtheywillworkpositivelyforyou.
[2-21]

[2:21]SomeoneaskedConfucius:Whyareyounotinvolvedingovernment?Confuciussaid,Whatdoes
theBookofHistorysayaboutfilialpiety?Justbybeingagoodsonandfriendlytoonesbrothersandsisters
youcanhaveaneffectongovernment.Sincethisisalsodoinggovernment,whydoIneedtododoing
government?
[2-22] ,

[2:22]TheMastersaid:Ifapersonlackstrustworthiness,Idon'tknowwhats/hecanbegoodfor.Whena
pinismissingfromtheyokebarofalargewagon,orfromthecollarbarofasmallwagon,howcanitgo?
[2-23]

[2:23]ZiZhangaskedwhetherthestateofaffairstengenerationshencecouldbeknown.Confuciussaid,
TheShangbaseditsproprietyonthatoftheYin,andwhatitaddedandsubtractedisknowable.TheZhou
hasbaseditsproprietyonthatoftheShangandwhatitaddedandsubtractedisknowable.Inthisway,what
continuesfromtheZhou,evenif100generationshence,isknowable.
[2-24]

[2:24]TheMastersaid:Toworshiptootherthanone'sownancestralspiritsisflattery.Ifyouseewhatis
rightandfailtoactonit,youlackcourage.

3.
[3-1]

[3:1]Confucius,speakingabouttheheadoftheQifamilysaid,Hehaseightrowsofdancersinhiscourt.If
hedoesthis,whatwillhenotdo?

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[Comment]Inthispassageandthefollowingone,Confuciusiscomplainingaboutalowerlevelaristocrat
usingceremoniesthatwereofficiallyprescribedformuchhigherlevelnobility.Eightrowsofdancers,was
theamountallowabletoonlythemosteliteofthenobility.TheheadoftheQifamilyisoftencriticizedinthe
Analectsforsimilarimproprieties.
[3-2]

[3:2]TheThreeFamiliesusedtheYongSongsattheclearingofthesacrificialvessels.Confuciussaid,

AttendedonbyLordsandPrinces:
HowmagnificentistheSonofHeaven!

HowcouldthesewordsbeusedinthehallsoftheThreeFamilies?

[3-3]

[3:3]TheMastersaid:Ifamanhasnorenwhatcanhisproprietybelike?Ifamanhasnorenwhatcanhis
musicbelike?

[Comment]Sincerenistheessenceofallpositivehumanattributes,withoutit,howcantheytrulyoperate?
[3-4] ;

[3:4]LinFangaskedaboutthefundamentalsofritual.Confuciussaid,Whatanexcellentquestion!In
ritual,itisbettertobefrugalthanextravagantinfuneralsdeepsorrowisbetterthanease.
[3-5]

[3:5]TheMastersaid:ThetribesoftheEastandNorth(KoreansandMongolians),thoughhavingkings,
arenotequaltoourpeople,evenwhenlackingkings,

[Comment]EitherConfuciusisanoutrightethnicchauvinist,orheispointingtoarealdifferenceinthe
relativelevelofculturaldevelopmentatthattimebetweenthecentralChinesekingdomsandthepeoplesof
theoutlyingregions.
[3-6]

[3:6]TheJifamilywenttomakeasacrificeatMt.Tai.ThemastersaidtoRanYou:Can'tyousavethem
fromthis?Youresponded:Ican't.Themastersaid:Alas!DoesthismeantthatMt.Taiisnottheequal
ofLinFang?4
[3-7]

[3:7]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanhasnothingtocompetefor.Butifhemustcompete,hedoesitinan
archerymatch,whereinheascendstohisposition,bowingindeference.Descending,hedrinkstheritual
cup.Thisisthecompetitionofthenobleman.
[3-8]

[3:8]ZiXiaquotedthefollowing:
Hertactfulsmilecharms
Hereyes,fineandclear,
Beautifulwithoutaccessories.
Andaskeditsmeaning.Confuciussaid,Apaintingisdoneonplainwhitepaper.ZiXiasaid,Thenareritualsa
secondarything?Confuciussaid,Ah,Shang,youupliftme.NowwecanreallybegintodiscusstheBookofOdes.

[Comment]Amongalltheancientclassicalworksavailabletoscholarsofthetime,Confuciusseemstoplace
specialvalueontheBookofOdes,foritsstrengthinmoralteachingsaswellastheintellectualstimulationit
provided.
[3-10]

[3:10]TheMastersaid:AttheGreatSacrifice,afterthepouringofthelibation,Ihavenofurtherdesireto
watch.
[3-11]

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[3:11]SomeoneaskedforanexplanationoftheGreatSacrifice.Confuciussaid,Idon'tknow.Iftherewere
someonewhoknewthis,hecouldseethewholeworldasifitwerethis:Hepointedtothepalmofhishand.
[3-12]

[3:12]Sacrificingasifpresentmeanssacrificingtothespiritsasiftheywerepresent.Confuciussaid,IfI
donotpersonallyofferthesacrifice,itisthesameasnothavingsacrificedatall.
[3-13] ; ; ;

[3:13]WangSunJiaasked:WhatdoyouthinkaboutthesayingItisbettertosacrificetothegodofthe
stovethantothegodofthefamilyshrine.?Confuciussaid,Notso.IfyouoffendHeaven,thereisnoone
youcanprayto.
[3-14]

[3:14]TheMastersaid:ThepeopleoftheZhouwereabletoobservethepriortwodynastiesandthustheir
cultureflourished.InowfollowtheZhou.
[3-15]

[3:15]WhenConfuciusenteredtheGrandTemple,heaskedabouteverything.Someonesaid,Whosaid
Confuciusisamasterofritual?HeenterstheGrandTempleandasksabouteverything!

Confucius,hearingthis,said,Thisistheritual.

[3-16]

[3:16]TheMastersaid:Inarcheryitisnotimportanttopiercethroughtheleathercoveringofthetarget,
sincenotallmenhavethesamestrength.ThisistheWayoftheancients.
[3-17]

[3:17]ZiGongwantedtodoawaywiththesacrificeofthesheeponthefirstofthemonth.Confuciussaid,
Ci,youlovethesheepIlovetheceremony.
[3-18]

[3:18]TheMastersaid:Ifyouuseeverysinglecourtesywhileservingyourprince,thepeoplewillcallyou
asycophant.
[3-19]

[3:19]DukeDingaskedhowarulershouldemployhisministersandhowaministershouldservehisruler.
Confuciusreplied,saying:Theprinceemployshisministerswithproprietytheministersservetheirprince
withgoodfaith.
[3-20]

[3:20]TheMastersaid:TheGuanju5allowsforpleasurewithoutbeinglewdandallowsforgriefwithout
beingtoopainful.
[3-21]
,

[3:21]TheDukeofAiaskedZaiWoaboutsacredtemplegrounds.ZaiWosaid,TheXiaemperorplanted
themwithpinestheXiangpeopleplantedthemwithcypressandtheZhoupeopleplantedthemwith
chestnut,thinkingtocausepeopletobeinaweofthesetrees.

Confucius,hearingthis,said,Don'tbotherexplainingthatwhichhasalreadybeendonedon'tbothercriticizing
thatwhichisalreadygonedon'tbotherblamingthatwhichisalreadypast.

[3-22]
,

[3:22]TheMastersaid:GuanZhong6wasquitelimitedincapacity.

Someoneasked:Wasn'tGuanZhongfrugal?

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Confuciussaid,Guanhadthreesetsofwivesandhisofficersneverworkedovertime.Howcanhebe
consideredtohavebeenfrugal?

ButthendidGuanZhongunderstandpropriety?Confuciussaid,Theprincesofthestateshaveaspecial
ritualscreenattheirdoor,andsodidGuanZhong(eventhoughhewasnotoftheproperranktodothis).
Whentheprincesofstatehadafriendlymeeting,theywouldrituallyturntheircupsoveronthetable.Guan
alsoturnedhiscupsoveronthetable.IfGuanZhongunderstoodpropriety,thenwhodoesn't?

[3-23]

[3:23]Confucius,whentalkingwiththeGrandMusicMasterofLu,said,Inmyunderstandingofmusic,
thepieceshouldbebeguninunison.Afterwards,ifitispure,clearandwithoutbreak,itwillbeperfect.
[3-24]

[3:24]TheborderguardatYirequestedanaudiencewiththeMaster,saying:Wheneveranobleman
comeshere,Inevermisstheopportunitytoseehim.Thedisciplessenthimin.Whenhecameout,hesaid,
Friends,don'thaveanydoubtsaboutyourmasterfailing.TheworldhascertainlylackedtheWayforalong
timenow,butHeavenwilluseyourmastertoawakeneveryone.
[3-26]

[3:26]TheMastersaid:Menofhighofficewhoarenarrowmindedproprietywithoutrespectandfunerals
withoutgrief:howcanIbeartolookatsuchthings?!

4.
[4-1]

[4:1]TheMastersaid:Asforaneighborhood,itisitsrenthatmakesitbeautiful.Ifyouchoosetoliveina
placethatlacksren,howcanyougrowinwisdom?
[4-2]

[4:2]TheMastersaid:Ifyoulackrenyoucan'thandlelongperiodsofdifficultyorlongperiodsof
comfort.Humanemenarecomfortableinren.Thewisetakeadvantageofren.
[4-3]

[4:3]TheMastersaid:Onlythehumanepersonisabletoreallylikeothersortoreallydislikethem.
[4-4]

[4:4]TheMastersaid:Ifyouarereallycommittedtoren,youwillnothaveresentments.

[Comment]Inthepriorpassage,ithasbeenstatedthatthemanofreniscapableofhatingpeople.Hereit
wouldseemthatalthoughhehasthatcapability,ifhemakesanefforttoexercisehisinnategoodness,hewill
notholdthatmalice.7
[4-5]

[4:5]Confuciussaid,Richesandhonorsarewhatallmendesire.Butiftheycannotbeattainedin
accordancewiththeWaytheyshouldnotbekept.Povertyandlowstatusarewhatallmenhate.Butifthey
cannotbeavoidedwhilestayinginaccordancewiththeWay,youshouldnotavoidthem.Ifanobleman
departsfromhisfundamentalgoodness,howcanhebeworthyofthatname?Anoblemanneverleaveshis
fundamentalgoodnessforeventhetimeofasinglemeal.Inmomentsofhasteheactsaccordingtoit.In
timesofdifficultyorconfusionheactsaccordingtoit.
[4-6]

[4:6]TheMastersaid:Ihaveneverseenonewhoreallylovesrenorreallyhatesnonren.Ifyoureally
lovedrenyouwouldnotplaceanythingaboveit.Ifyoureallyhatedthenonren,youwouldnotletitnear

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you.Isthereanyonewhohasdevotedhisstrengthtorenforasingleday?Ihavenotseenanyonewhohas
lackedthestrengthtodoso.Perhapstherehasbeensuchacase,butIhaveneverseenit.
[4-7]

[4:7]TheMastersaid:Peopleerraccordingtotheirownlevel.Itisbyobservingaperson'smistakesthat
youcanknowhis/hergoodness.

[Comment]Nooneisperfect,freefromerror.Butwhensomeonemakesamistakeinahumanrelationship,
wecantellbythetypeofmistake,andbytheperson'swayofdealingwithit,whather/histruecharacteris
like.
[4-8]

[4:8]TheMastersaid:IfIcanheartheWayinthemorning,intheeveningIcandiecontent.
[4-9]

[4:9]Ashiwhoissetontheway,butisashamedofoldclothesandcoarsefood,isnotworthconsulting.

[Comment]ThetitleshiistranslatedintoEnglishwithsuchtermsaselite,knight,scholar,etc.While
theshioflaterChinesehistoryismoredefinitelyascholarthanaknight,intheAnalects,whatConfuciusis
referringtoisalevelofspiritual/moraldevelopment,aswellasacademicandmartialcultivationwhichis
clearlyabovethatoftheaverageperson.Thus,wecanunderstandtheshitobeapersonwhoiswellonthe
waytowardbecominganobleman,butisnotquitethereyet.Iamreluctanttorendershi,aseither
scholarorknightbecauseofthelimitationsinmeaningthatoccurwiththeseEnglishwords.
[4-10]

[4:10]TheMastersaid:Whenthenoblemandealswiththeworldheisnotprejudicedfororagainst
anything.HedoeswhatisRight.
[4-11]

[4:11]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemancaresaboutvirtuetheinferiormancaresaboutmaterialthings.The
noblemanseeksdisciplinetheinferiormanseeksfavors.
[4-12]

[4:12]TheMastersaid:Ifyoudoeverythingwithaconcernforyourownadvantage,youwillberesented
bymanypeople.
[4-13]

[4:13]TheMastersaid:Ifyoucangovernthecountrybyputtingproprietyfirst,whatelsewillyouneedto
do?Ifyoucan'tgovernyourcountrybyputtingproprietyfirst,howcouldyouevencallitpropriety?
[4-14]

[4:14]TheMastersaid:Idon'tworryaboutnothavingagoodpositionIworryaboutthemeansIuseto
gainposition.Idon'tworryaboutbeingunknownIseektobeknownintherightway.
[4-15]

[4:15]TheMastersaid:Shan,myWayispenetratedbyasinglethread.CengZisaid,Yes.Whenthe
Masterleft,somedisciplesaskedwhathemeant.CengZisaid,Ourmaster'sWayistobesincereandfair,
andthat'sit.
[4-16]

[4:16]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisawareoffairness,theinferiormanisawareofadvantage.
[4-17]

[4:17]TheMastersaid:Whenyouseeagoodperson,thinkofbecominglikeher/him.Whenyousee
someonenotsogood,reflectonyourownweakpoints.
[4-18]

[4:18]TheMastersaid:Whenyouserveyourmotherandfatheritisokaytotrytocorrectthemonceina
while.Butifyouseethattheyarenotgoingtolistentoyou,keepyourrespectforthemanddon'tdistance
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yourselffromthem.Workwithoutcomplaining.
[4-19]

[4:19]TheMastersaid:Whileyourparentsarealive,itisbetternottotravelfaraway.Ifyoudotravel,you
shouldhaveaprecisedestination.
[4-20]

[4:20]TheMastersaid:If,forthreeyears(afteryourfather'sdeath)youdon'talterhiswaysofdoing
things,youcancertainlybecalledfilial.
[4-21]

[4:21]TheMastersaid:Yourparents'ageshouldnotbeignored.Sometimesitwillbeasourceofjoy,and
sometimesitwillbeasourceofapprehension.
[4-22]

[4:22]TheMastersaid:Theancientswerehesitanttospeak,fearingthattheiractionswouldnotdojustice
totheirwords.
[4-23]

[4:23]TheMastersaid:Ifyouarestrictwithyourself,yourmistakeswillbefew.
[4-24]

[4:24]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemandesirestobehesitantinspeech,butsharpinaction.
[4-25]

[4:25]TheMastersaid:Ifyouarevirtuous,youwillnotbelonely.Youwillalwayshavefriends.
[4-26]

[4:26]ZiYousaid:Inservingyourprince,frequentremonstrancewillleadtodisgrace.Withfriends,
frequentremonstrancewillleadtoseparation.

5.
[5-1]

[5:1]ConfuciussaidofGongYeChangthathewasfitformarriage.Eventhoughhewasarrestedonce,he
hadbeeninnocentthereforeConfuciusgavehimhisdaughterinmarriage.
[5-2]

[5:2]ConfuciussaidofNanYongthatiftheWayprevailedinthestatehewouldneverlackanofficialpost.
IftheWaywaslackinginthestate,hewouldavoidgettingintotrouble.Hegavehimthedaughterofhis
ownelderbrotherinmarriage.
[5-3]

[5:3]ConfuciussaidofZiJian:Heisanobleman.IfthestateofLuisreallylackingSuperiorMenhow
couldhehaveacquiredsuchacharacter?
[5-4]

[5:4]ZiGongasked:Whatdoyousayofme?

Confuciussaid,Youareavessel.
Whatkindofvessel.
Agemmedsacrificialvessel.

[5-5]

[5:5]Someonesaid:Yongisarenman,butheisnotsharpenoughwithhistongue.Confuciussaid,Why
doesheneedtobesharpwithhistongue?Ifyoudealwithpeoplebysmoothtalk,youwillsoonbedisliked.
Idon'tknowifYongisarenman,butwhyshouldhehavetobeacleverspeaker?

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[5-6]

[5:6]ConfuciusencouragedQiDiaoKaitogetemploymentasanofficial.Hereplied:Iamnotyetsincere
enough.Themasterwaspleased.
[5-7]

[5:7]TheMastersaid:TheWayisnotpracticed.IshallgoridearaftontheoceanandIimagineYou
wouldgowithme.ZiLuwasveryhappytohearthis.Confuciussaid,YoulikesdaringmorethanI,buthe
lacksdiscretion.
[5-8]

[5:8]MengWuBoaskedConfuciuswhetherZiLuwasarenman.

Confuciussaid,Idon'tknow.
Heaskedagain.Confuciussaid,Youcoulddirectthepublicworksforcesinastateof1,000chariots,butIdon't
knowifIwouldcallhimarenman.
Mengagainasked:WhataboutQiu?
Confuciussaid,Qiucouldbethegovernorofacityof1,000families,orofaclanof100chariots,butIdon't
knowifheisarenman.
Mengasked:WhataboutChi?
TheMastersaid,Dressedupwithhissash,placedinthemiddleofthecourt,hecouldmakeconversationwiththe
guests,butIdon'tknowifheisarenman.

[5-9]

[5:9]Confucius,speakingtoZiGongsaid,Whoissuperior,youorHui?ZiGonganswered,saying:
HowcouldIcomparemyselftoHui?Hehearsonepointandunderstandsthewholething.Ihearonepoint
andunderstandasecondone.

Confuciussaid,YouarenotequaltohimyouandI,wearenotequaltohim.8

[5-10]

[5:10]ZaiYousleptduringthedaytime.Confuciussaid,Rottenwoodcannotbecarveddirtyearthcannot
beusedforcement:whybotherscoldinghim?AtfirstIusedtolistentowhatpeoplesaidandexpectthemto
actaccordingly.NowIlistentowhatpeoplesayandwatchwhattheydo.IlearnedthisfromYou.
[5-11]

[5:11]TheMastersaid:Ihavenotyetmetareallysolidman.Someonesaid,WhataboutShanCheng?

Confuciussaid,Chengisruledbylust.Howcouldhebesolid?

[5-12]

[5:12]ZiGongsaid:WhatIdon'twantdonetome,Idon'twanttodotoothers.

Confuciussaid,Ci,youhavenotyetgottentothislevel.
[5-13]

[5:13]ZiGongsaid:WhatourMasterhastosayabouttheclassicscanbeheardandalsoembodied.Our
Master'swordsontheessenceandtheHeavenlyWay,thoughnotattainable,canbeheard.
[5-14]

[5:14]WhenZiLuheardateachingandhadnotyetputitintopractice,hewouldbeapprehensiveabout
hearingsomethingnewinthemeantime.

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[5-15]

[5:15]ZiGongasked:HowdidKongWenZigetthetitlewen?(wen=learned,literary,refined)
Confuciussaid,Hewasdiligentandlovedtostudy.Hewasalsounashamedtoaskquestionstohis
inferiors.Thereforehegotthenamewen.
[5-16] ,

[5:16]ConfuciussaidthatZiChanhadfourcharacteristicsofthenobleman:Inhisprivateconducthewas
courteousinservingsuperiorshewasrespectful,inprovidingforthepeoplehewaskindindealingwith
thepeoplehewasjust.
[5-17]

[5:17]TheMastersaid:YanPingZhongwasgoodatgettingalongwithpeople.Evenafteralongperiodof
acquaintance,hewouldcontinuetotreatthemwithrespect.
[5-19]


[5:19]ZiZhangasked:TheChiefMinisterZiWenwasappointedthreetimes,butnevershowedanysign
ofpleasure.Hewasfiredthreetimes,butnevershowedanysignofdisappointment.Hewouldalways
informtheincomingministeronallthedetailsofthepriorgovernment.Whatdoyouthinkofhim?

Confuciussaid,Hewasloyal.

Washehumane?

Confuciussaid,Idon'tknowwhathedidtodeservetobecalledhumane.

ZiZhangagainasked:WhenQiuZiassassinatedtheprinceofQi,ChanWenZi,whohadafiefoften
chariots,abandonedthemandleftthestate.Arrivingtoanotherstate,hesaid,Thegovernmenthereisjust
likethatoftheofficerQiuZi.andheleftit.Comingtoanotherstatehesaid,Theyareagainjustlikethe
officerQiuZi.andheleft.Whatdoyouthinkofhim?

Confuciussaid,Hewaspure.

Washehumane?

Idon'tknowwhathedidtomeritbeingcalledhumane.
[5-20]

[5:20]JiWenZicontemplatedsomethingthreetimesbeforeactinguponit.WhenConfuciusheardthis,he
said,Twiceisenough.
[5-21]

[5:21]TheMastersaid:WhentheWayprevailedinthestate,NingWuZishowedhisintelligence.When
theWaydeclinedinthestate,heplayedstupid.Someonemightbeabletomatchhisintelligence,butnoone
canmatchhisstupidity.
[5-22]

[5:22]Once,whenConfuciuswasinChen,hesaid,Imustreturn!Imustreturn!Myyoungdisciplesare
wild9andunbridled.Thoughtheyaredevelopingwell,theydon'talwaysknowwhentorestrain
themselves.
[5-23]

[5:23]TheMastersaid:BoYiandShuQididnotkeepothers'formerwrongdoingsinmind,andsothere
waslittleresentmentagainstthem.

[Comment]BoYiandShuQiaretwoministersofantiquity,famousfortheirvirtue.
[5-24]

[5:24]TheMastersaid:WhosaidthatWeiShengGaoisofstraightcharacter?Someonebeggedvinegar
fromhim,andhewentandgotsomefromhisneighborsandgaveittohim.(Ratherthangivinghisown).

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[5-25]

[5:25]TheMastersaid:Cleverwords,apretentiousfaceandtooperfectcourtesy:ZuoQiumingwas
ashamedofthem.Iamalsoashamedofthem.Concealingone'sresentmentsandactingfriendlytopeople:
ZuoQiumingwasashamedtoactthiswayandsoamI.
[5-26]

[5:26]YanyuanandZiLuwerebytheMaster'sside.Hesaidtothem:Whydon'teachofyoutellmeof
youraspirations?

ZiLusaid,Iwouldliketohavewagons,horsesandlightfurcoatstogivetomyfriends,andifthey
damagedthem,nottogetangry.

Yanyuansaid,Iwouldlikenottobeproudofmygoodpointsandnottoshowoffmyworks.

ZiLusaid,Whatareyourwishes,Teacher?

Confuciussaid,Iwouldliketogivecomforttotheaged,trusttomyfriendsandnurturancetotheyoung.
[5-27]

[5:27]TheMastersaid:It'sallover!Ihavenotyetmetsomeonewhocanseehisownfaultsandcorrect
themwithinhimself.
[5-28]

[5:28]TheMastersaid:InahamletoftenfamiliestheremustbesomeoneasloyalandtrustworthyasI.
ButIdoubttherewillbesomeoneasfondofstudy.

6.
[6-1]

[6:1]TheMastersaid:Yongcouldfulfilltheroleoffacingsouth(beingaruler).
[6-2]

[6:2]ZhongGongaskedaboutZisangBoZi.

Confuciussaid,Hewilldo.Heiseasygoing.

ZhongGongsaid,Maybeifyouareeasygoingbutabideinreverenceitisallright.Butifyouabidein
easygoingnessandarealsoeasygoinginyouractivities,wouldn'tthatbeexcessive?
Confuciussaid,Yongisright.
[6-3]

[6:3]TheDukeofAiaskedwhichdisciplelovedtostudy.Confuciusanswered:TherewasYanhui.He
lovedtostudy,hedidn'ttransferhisangertothewrongperson,andhedidn'trepeathismistakes.
Unfortunatelyhediedyoung.SincethenIhavenotyetmetanyonewholovestostudythewayhedid.
[6-6]

[6:6]Confucius,speakingofZhongGongsaid:Thecalfofabrindledoxcouldbeallredandhavegood
horns.10Butevenifwedecidenottouseit,wouldnature[lit.themountainsandrivers]castitaway?11
[6-7]

[6:7]TheMastersaid:Huicouldkeephismindonrenforthreemonthswithoutlapse.Othersareluckyif
theycandoitforonedayoutofamonth.
[6-8]

[6:8]JikangZiaskedwhetherZhongyouwascapableofservinginthegovernment.

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Confuciussaid,Youisefficient.Whatproblemcouldhehaveinhandlinggovernmentwork?

Kangasked:IsCicapableofservinginthegovernment?

Confuciussaid,Ciisintelligent.Whatproblemcouldhehaveinhandlinggovernmentwork?
AndwhataboutQiu?

Confuciussaid,Qiuistalented.Whatdifficultywouldhehaveinhandlinggovernmentwork?
[6-9]

[6:9]TheheadoftheQifamilysenttoMinZiqiantoaskhimtogovernPiforthem.MinZiqiansaid,
Pleasedeclineformepolitely.Iftheypursuemefurther,IshallhavetogoliveonthebanksoftheWen
River.12
[6-10]

[6:10]BoniuwassickandConfuciuscametoseehim.Heheldhishandthroughthewindowandsaid,He
isdying!Howawfulitisthatthiskindofmanshouldbesicklikethis!Howawfulitisthatthiskindofman
shouldbesicklikethis!
[6-11]

[6:11]TheMastersaid:Huiwasindeedaworthy!Withasinglebamboobowlofriceandgourdcupof
waterhelivedinabackalley.Otherscouldnothaveenduredhismisery,butHuineverchangedfromhis
happydisposition.Huiwasaworthyindeed!

CommentInConfucianandDaoistthought,thetermxian(worthy)meansgood,kind,intelligent,
courageous,etc.Butitisalsoatechnicaltermforapersonofahighlevelofmoralandintellectual
advancement.Generallyspeaking,itindicatessomeonewhoisalmostperfectbutwhoisnotadivine
being,asage.
[6-12]

[6:12]Yenqiusaid:ItisnotthatIdon'tenjoyyourWay,butmystrengthisnotenough.

Confuciussaid,Thosewhosestrengthisnotenoughgiveuphalfway.Youarenowlimitingyourself.
[6-13]

[6:13]ConfuciussaidtoZiXia:Beanoblescholardon'tbeapettyscholar.
[6-14]

[6:14]ZiYoubecamethegovernorofWucheng.TheMastersaid,Haveyougotanygoodmenworking
foryou?

Heanswered:IhaveDantaiMieming,whonevertakesshortcutsinhisworkanddoesnotcometomy
officeunlesshehasrealbusinesstodiscuss.
[6-15]

[6:15]TheMastersaid:MengZhifanisnotboastful.Oncehewascoveringtherearduringaretreat,and
whenhewasabouttoenterthegate,hewhippedhishorseandsaid,Iwasn'tsobraveastobelast.My
horsewouldnotrunfastenough.
[6-16]

[6:16]TheMastersaid:WithoutthesmoothspeechofPreacherTuoorthegoodlooksofPrinceZhaoof
Song,itisdifficulttostayoutoftroubleinthepresentage.
[6-17]

[6:17]TheMastersaid:Whocangooutwithoutusingthedoor?Sowhydoesn'tanybodyfollowthe
Way?
[6-18]

[6:18]TheMastersaid:Ifrawsubstancedominatesrefinement,youwillbecoarse.Ifrefinementdominates

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rawsubstance,youwillbeclerical.Whenrefinementandrawqualitiesarewellblended,youwillbeanoble
man.
[6-19]

[6:19]TheMastersaid:Peoplearestraightforwardatbirth.Oncetheylosethis,theyrelyonlucktoavoid
trouble.
[6-20]

[6:20]TheMastersaid:Knowingitisnotasgoodaslovingitlovingitisnotasgoodasdelightinginit.
[6-21]

[6:21]TheMastersaid:Youcanteachhighleveltopicstothoseofaboveaverageability,butyoucan't
teachhighleveltopicstothoseoflessthanaverageability.
[6-22]

[6:22]FanChiaskedaboutthenatureofwisdom.

Confuciussaid,Workingtogivethepeoplejusticeandpayingrespecttothespirits,butkeepingawayfrom
them,youcancallwisdom.

Heaskedaboutthenatureofren.

Confuciussaid,Ahyes,ren.Ifyousufferfirstandthenattainit,itcanbecalledren.
[6-23]

[6:23]TheMastersaid:Thewiseenjoythesea,thehumaneenjoythemountains.Thewisearebusy,the
humanearetranquil.Thewisearehappy,thehumaneareeternal.
[6-24]

[6:24]TheMastersaid:ThestateofQi,withonechange,couldbeatthelevelofLu.ThestateofLu,with
onechange,couldattaintotheWay.
[6-25]

[6:25]TheMastersaid:Acorneredvesselwithoutcorners!Isitacorneredvesselornot?
[6-26]

[6:26]ZaiWoasked:Ifyoutellarenmanthereisrenatthebottomofthewell,willheclimbintoit?

Confuciussaid,Areyoukidding?Thenoblemanwillgotothewellbutnotfallintoit.Hecanbedeceived,
butnottothepointofseriousloss!
[6-27]

[6:27]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanwhostudiescultureextensively,anddisciplineshimselfwith
proprietycankeepfromerror.
[6-28]

[6:28]TheMastervisitedNanZi(awomanknownforhersexualexcesses)andZiLuwasdispleased.The
Masterdealtwiththis,saying:WhateverIhavedonewrong,mayHeavenpunishme!MayHeavenpunish
me!
[6-29]

[6:29]TheMastersaid:Evenoveralongperiodoftime,therehavebeenfewpeoplewhohaveactualized
theMeanintoManifestVirtue.
[6-30]

[6:30]ZiGongasked:Supposetherewerearulerwhobenefitedthepeoplefarandwideandwascapable
ofbringingsalvationtothemultitude,whatwouldyouthinkofhim?Mighthebecalledhumane?

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TheMastersaid,Whyonlyhumane?Hewouldundoubtedlybeasage.EvenYaoandShunwouldhave
hadtostrivetoachievethis.Nowtherenman,wishinghimselftobeestablished,seesthatothersare
established,and,wishinghimselftobesuccessful,seesthatothersaresuccessful.Tobeabletotakeone's
ownfeelingsasaguidemaybecalledtheartofren.

7.
[7-1]

[7:1]TheMastersaid:Iamatransmitter,ratherthananoriginalthinker.Itrustandenjoytheteachingsof
theancients.InmyheartIcomparemyselftooldPeng.
[7-2]

[7:2]TheMastersaid:Keepingsilentandthinkingstudyingwithoutsatiety,teachingotherswithout
weariness:thesethingscomenaturaltome.
[7-3]

[7:3]TheMastersaid:Havingvirtueandnotcultivatingitstudyingandnotsiftinghearingwhatisjust
andnotfollowingnotbeingabletochangewrongdoing:thesearethethingsthatmakemeuncomfortable.
[7-4]

[7:4]DuringtheMaster'sleisuretimehewasrelaxedandenjoyedhimself.
[7-5]

[7:5]TheMastersaid:Iamreallygoingdownthedrain.IhavenotdreamtoftheDukeofZhouforalong
timenow.
[7-6]

[7:6]TheMastersaid:SetyouraspirationsontheWay,holdtovirtue,relyonyourren,andrelaxinthe
studyofthearts.
[7-7]

[7:7]TheMastersaid:Fromtheonewhobroughtabundleofdriedmeat(thepoorestperson)upwards,I
haveneverdeniedapersonmyinstruction.
[7-8]

[7:8]TheMastersaid:Ifastudentisnoteager,Iwon'tteachhimifheisnotstrugglingwiththetruth,I
won'trevealittohim.IfIliftuponecornerandhecan'tcomebackwiththeotherthree,Iwon'tdoitagain.
[7-9]

[7:9]IftheMastersatbesideapersoninmourning,hewouldnoteattothefull.Ifhehadweptonacertain
day,hewouldnotsing.
[7-11]

[7:11]ConfuciussaidtoYanyuan:
Whenneeded,acting
Whennotneeded,concealing.
OnlyyouandIcandothis.

ZiLusaid,Ifyouhadtohandleamajorarmy,whowouldyouchoosetoassistyou?

Confuciussaid,Iwouldnotselectthekindofmanwholikestowrestlewithtigersorcrossriversonfoot,
whocandiewithoutasecondthought(likeZiLu).Itmustbesomeonewhoapproacheshisbusinesswith
caution,wholikestoplanthingswellandseethemtotheircompletion.
[7-12]

[7:12]TheMastersaid:Iftheattainmentofwealthwasguaranteedinitsseeking,evenifIweretobecome
agroomwithawhipinhandtogetit,Iwoulddoso.Butsinceitsattainmentcannotbeguaranteed,Iwillgo

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withthatwhichIlove.
[7-13]

[7:13]ThethingswithwhichtheMasterwascautious,werefasting,warandsickness.
[7-14]

[7:14]WhenConfuciuswasinQi,heheardtheShaomusic,andforthreemonthsdidnotknowthetasteof
meat.Hesaid,Ineverknewmusiccouldreachthislevelofexcellence!
[7-15]

[7:15]YenYousaid:IsourTeacherinfavoroftherulerofWei?

ZiGongsaid,Well,Iwillgofindout.HeenteredtheTeacher'sroomandasked:Whatkindofmenwere
BoYiandShuQi?

Confuciussaid,Theywereancientworthies.

ZiGongasked:Weren'ttheyresentedbyanyone?

Confuciussaid,Ifyouseekrenandattainit,whatresentmentcanyouincur?

ZiGongcameoutandsaid,Heisnotinfavorofhim"13
[7-16]

[7:16]TheMastersaid:Icanlivewithcoarsericetoeat,waterfordrinkandmyarmasapillowandstill
behappy.Wealthandhonorsthatonepossessesinthemidstofinjusticearelikefloatingclouds.
[7-17]

[7:17]TheMastersaid:IfIcouldadd50yearstomylife,IwouldstudytheChangesandbecomefreeof
error.
[7-18]

[7:18]TopicswhichtheTeacherregularlydiscussedweretheBookofOdes,theBookofHistory,andthe
maintenanceofpropriety.Thesewerethetopicswhichheregularlydiscussed.
[7-19]

[7:19]TheDukeofShehaskedZiLuaboutConfucius.ZiLudidn'tanswerhim.TheTeachersaid,Why
didn'tyoujusttellhimthatIamamanwhoineagernessforstudyforgetstoeat,inhisenjoymentofit,
forgetshisproblemsandwhoisunawareofoldagesettingin?
[7-20]

[7:20]TheMastersaid:Iwasnotbornwithwisdom.Ilovetheancientteachingsandhaveworkedhardto
attaintotheirlevel.
[7-21]

[7:21]Themasterneverdiscussedstrangephenomena,physicalexploits,disorderorghoststories.
[7-22]

[7:22]TheMastersaid:Whendoingsomethingtogetherasathreesome,theremustbeonewhowillhave
somethingtoteachme.Ipickoutpeople'sgoodandfollowit.WhenIseetheirbadpoints,Icorrectthemin
myself.
[7-23]

[7:23]TheMastersaid:Heavengavebirthtothevirtuewithinme.WhatcanHuanTui14dotome?
[7-24]

[7:24]Confuciussaidtohisdisciples:Myboys,doyouthinkIconcealthingsfromyou?ThereisnothingI
concealfromyou.ThereisnothingthatIdothatisnotrightoutinfrontofyou.ThatisthewayIam.
[7-25]
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[7:25]TheMastertaughtfourthings:Culture,correctaction,loyaltyandtrust.
[7-26]

[7:26]TheMastersaid:Ihavenotyetbeenabletomeetasage,butIwouldbesatisfiedtomeetanoble
man.Ihavenotyetmetamanoftruegoodness,butwouldbesatisfiedtomeetamanofconstancy.Lacking,
yetpossessingempty,yetfullindifficultyyetatease.Howdifficultitistohaveconstancy!
[7-27]

[7:27]WhentheMasterwentfishing,hedidnotuseanetwhenhehunted,hewouldnotshootataperched
bird.
[7-28]

[7:28]TheMastersaid:Theremaybethosewhocanactcreativelywithoutknowledge.Iamnotatthis
level.Ilistenwidely,selectthegoodandfollowtheirways.Iobservebroadlyandcontemplate.Thisisthe
secondlevelofknowledge.(Forthelevelsofknowledge,seeAnalects16:9).
[7-29]

[7:29]SinceitwashardtohaveaworthwhilediscussionwiththepeopleofHuxiang,whenoneoftheir
youngmencametoseetheteacher,thedisciplesdidn'tknowwhattodowithhim.Confuciussaid,Take
peoplethewaytheycometoyou,notforthewaytheyareaftertheyleave.Whybesostrict?Ifsomeone
purifieshismindtoapproachyou,accepthiminhispurity.Don'tworryaboutwhathedoesafterheleaves.
[7-30]

[7:30]TheMastersaid:Isrenfaraway?IfIaspireforrenitisrighthere!
[7-31]

[7:31]TheMinisterofJusticeinChenaskedwhethertheDukeofZhaoknewtherulesofpropriety.

Confuciussaid,Hedid.

WhenConfuciusleft,theministerbowedto(hisprince)WuMaqiandwentuptohim,saying:Ihaveheard
thatthenoblemanisnotpartisan,butmaybehecanbesincePrinceWutookawifewiththesamesurname,
sayingthatshecamefromtheelderfamilyofWu.Ifthisprinceknewtherulesofpropriety,thenwho
doesn'tknowthem?

WuMaqitoldthistoConfucius.

TheTeachersaid,Iamsolucky!WhenImakeamistaketheyalwaysfinditout.
[7-32]

[7:32]WhentheTeacherwassingingwithsomeone,andhefoundoutthattheysangwell,hewouldmake
themstartoveragain,andhewouldsingtheharmony.
[7-33]

[7:33]TheMastersaid:Inliterature,perhapsIamequaltoothers.ButIcannotmanifestthebehaviorofthe
nobleman.
[7-34]

[7:34]TheMastersaid:Idarenotclaimtobeasageorarenman.ButIstriveforthesewithoutbeing
disappointed,andIteachwithoutbecomingweary.Thisiswhatcanbesaidofme.
GongxiHuasaid,Itisexactlythesequalitiesthatcannotbelearnedbythedisciples.
[7-35]

[7:35]TheMasterwasverysick,andZiLusaidthathewouldprayforhim.

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Confuciussaid,istheresuchathing?

ZiLusaid,Thereis.TheEulogiessay:Iprayforyoutothespiritsoftheupperandlowerrealm.

Confuciussaid,ThenIhavebeenprayingforalongtimealready.
[7-36]

[7:36]TheMastersaid:Luxuryleadstolaxity,frugalityleadstorigidity.Itisbettertoberigidthantobe
lax.
[7-37]

[7:37]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisalwaysateasewithhimself.Theinferiormanisalways
anxious.
[7-38]

[7:38]TheMasterwasmildyetstrict,authoritativeyetnotmean,courteous,yetrelaxed.

8.
[8-1]

[8:1]TheMastersaid:Taibocanbesaidtohavehadaperfectedlevelofvirtue.Hedeclinedtheruleofthe
kingdomthreetimes,withoutthepeopleknowingaboutit.
[8-2]

[8:2]TheMastersaid:Courtesywithoutproprietyiswastedenergy.Cautionwithoutproprietyistimidity.
Boldnesswithoutproprietyisrecklessness.Straightforwardnesswithoutproprietyisrudeness.Whenthe
ruleriskindtothosewhoareclosetohim,thepeoplewillbemovedtowardren.Ifhedoesnotforgethisold
friends,thepeopletoo,willnotbefickle.
[8-3]

[8:3]CengZiwasill.Hesummonedhisdisciplesandsaid,Uncovermyfeetandhands.TheBookofOdes
says:
Hewascautious,
Apprehensive.
Asifattheedgeofadeepchasm
Asiftreadingonthinice.
Fromnow,IknowthatIhavegottenpastthis(sickness).
[8-4]

[8:4]WhileCengZiwasill,MengJingZiwenttoseehim.CengZisaid,Whenabirdisabouttodie,its
songismelancholy.Whenamanisabouttodie,hiswordsareexcellent.TheWayprizedbythenobleman
hasthreeaspects:

Inhisbehavioranddeportmentheavoidsbrashnessandarrogance.

Whenpayingattentiontohisfacialexpressionsheisguidedbyhonesty.

Whenspeaking,heavoidsvulgarityandslander.Asfarasattendingtothesacrificialtablesthereare
specialistshiredforthesejobs.
[8-5]

[8:5]CengZisaid:Usingone'sabilitytolearnfromthoseoflessabilityusingone'slearningtolearnfrom
theunlearnedpossessing,yetseemingtolack,beingfullyetseemingempty,abletoacceptharmwithout
retaliation:inthepastIhadafriendwhocoulddothis.15

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[8-6]

[8:6]CengZisaid:Amanwhocanbeentrustedwiththecareofthecrownprince,whocantake
responsibilityforadistrictof100liandwhocanhandleamajorcrisiswithoutlosingtouchwithhimself:Is
heanobleman?Hecertainlyisanobleman.
[8-7]

[8:7]CengZisaid:Tobecalledashiyoumustbeopenmindedaswellasresolute,sinceyourburdenis
heavyandyourcourseislong.Ifyoutakerenasyourburden,isitnotheavy?Ifyoucontinuetodeath,isit
notlong?
[8-8]

[8:8]TheMastersaid:Bearousedbypoetrystructureyourselfwithpropriety,refineyourselfwithmusic.
[8-9]

[8:9]TheMastersaid:Youmightforcepeopleactaccordingacertainprinciple,butyouwon'tbeableto
forcethemtounderstandit.
[8-10]

[8:10]TheMastersaid:Amanwhoenjoysboldnessandhatespovertywillberebellious.Ifamanlacks
renandhisdissatisfactionreachesanextreme,hewillrebel.
[8-11]

[8:11]TheMastersaid:PerhapsyoucouldbeashandsomeandastalentedastheDukeofZhou.Butifyou
arearrogantorstingy,thosegoodqualitieswillnotbenoticed.
[8-12]

[8:12]TheMastersaid:Itisquiteraretoseesomeonewhoapplieshimselftothestudyofsomethingfor
threeyearswithouthavinganoticeableresult.
[8-13]

[8:13]TheMastersaid:Beofunwaveringgoodfaithandlovelearning.Besteadfastuntodeathinpursuit
ofthegoodWay.Donotenterastatewhichisinperil,norresideinonewhichpeoplehaverebelled.When
theWayprevailsintheworld,showyourself.Whenitdoesnot,thenhide.WhentheWayprevailsinyour
ownstate,tobepoorandobscureisadisgrace.ButwhentheWaydoesnotprevailinyourownstate,tobe
richandhonoredisadisgrace.
[8-14]

[8:14]TheMastersaid:Ifyoudon'thavetheofficialposition,youcan'tplantheaffairsofgovernment.
[8-15]

[8:15]TheMastersaid:AfterMusicMasterZhitookover,thefinaleoftheGuanjuwasmagnificent.How
itfilledmyears!
[8-16]

[8:16]TheMastersaid:Ireallydon'tknowwhattodowiththosewhoareardentbutnotupright,frankbut
notcareful,andnaivebutnothonest.
[8-17]

[8:17]TheMastersaid:Studyasifyouhavenotreachedyourgoalasifyouwereafraidoflosingwhat
youhave.
[8-18]

8:18Confuciussaid:HowsublimewasthemannerinwhichShunandYouhandledtheempire,without
liftingafinger!

[Comment]HerewecanasimilarityinConfucius'understandingwiththatofthewuweiornon
manipulation,whichisdiscussedatlengthintheDaodejingandtheZhuangzi.

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[8-19]

[8:19]TheMastersaid:TherulershipofYaowassomagnificent!Hewassosublimethateventhough
thereisnothingasgreatasHeaven,hecouldaccordwithit.Hisgreatnesswassoboundlessitisbeyond
description.Hisefficacywasamazing,hiswritingswereenlightening.
[8-20]

[8:20]Shun,withfiveministers,wasabletosuccessfullygoverntheempire.KingWusaid,AltogetherI
havetenministers.

Confuciussaid,Theirabilityistheissue.Don'tyouthinkso?WhentheTangandWudynastiescombined,
theyhadasmanyministersasyou,withawomanandninemen.KingWen(oftheZhou)controlledtwo
thirdsoftheempire,andwiththis,servedtheYin.Indeed,thevirtueofZhoucanbecalledtheepitomeof
virtue!
[8-21]

[8:21]TheMastersaid:Yuwasflawlessincharacter.Survivingonthesimplestfoodanddrink,yetperfect
inhispietytotheancestralspirits.Normallywearingcoarseclothing,helookedmagnificentinhis
ceremonialcapandgown.Livinginahumbleabode,heexhaustedhimselfintheexcavationofdrainage
waysandcanals.Icannotfindaflawinhischaracter!

9.
[9-1]

[9:1]Themasterneverspokeaboutadvantageinconnectionwithdestinyorinconnectionwithren.
[9-2]

[9:2]AmanfromDaxiangsaid:HowgreatConfuciusis!Hislearningissobroad.However,heisnot
knownforexpertiseinanyparticularskill.

WhenConfuciusheardthis,hesaidtohisdisciples:WhatshallItakeup?ShallItakeupcharioteering?
ShallItakeuparchery?IthinkIwilltakeupcharioteering!
[9-3]

[9:3]TheMastersaid:Thelinencapisprescribedbytherulesofpropriety,butnowadaystheyuseasilk
one.Itiseconomical,andIwillgoalongwiththeconsensus.Bowingbelowthehallisprescribedbythe
rulesofpropriety,butthatispresumptuous.SoevenifIdifferfromtheconsensus,Iwillbowbelowthe
hall.
[9-4]

[9:4]Therewerefourthingsthemasterhadeliminatedfromhimself:imposinghiswill,arbitrariness,
stubbornnessandegotism.
[9-5]

[9:5]TherewasfearfortheMaster'slifewhenhewasinthedistrictofGuang.Hesaid,KingWen16has
alreadydied,buthiscultureabideswithinme.IfHeavenintendedtodestroythisculture,thenitwould
havebeenunattainableforlatergenerations.IfHeavendoesnotwanttodestroythisculture,whatcanthe
menofGuangdotome?
[9-6]

[9:6]AhighministeraskedZiGong:Ifyourmasterisreallyasage,whydoesheknowsomanyskills?17

ZiGonganswered,Heavenhasgrantedhimsagehood,aswellasdiverseskills.

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Themaster,hearingaboutthis,said,Whatdoestheministerknowaboutme?Asayouthmyfamilywas
poorsoIhadtolearnmanyworldlyskills.Isskillfulnessnecessaryforthenobleman?Ofcourseitisn't.
[9-7]

[9:7]Laosaid:Ourteachersaid,Ididn'thaveanofficialposition,therefore,Idevelopedvariousskills.
[9-8]

[9:8]TheMastersaid:DoIpossessknowledge?No,Idonotpossessit.Yetifevensimplemencometo
askaquestionofme,Iclearmymindcompletelyandthoroughlyinvestigatethematterfromoneendtothe
other.18
[9-9]

[9:8]TheMastersaid:ThePhoenixhasnotcome,theYellowRiverhasnotproducedatdiagram.19Alas,I
amfinished.
[9-10]

[9:10]Ifthemastersawsomeoneinmourning,orinfullceremonialdress,orablindperson,evenifthey
wereyoung,hewouldcollecthimself.Ifhehadtopassbythem,hewoulddoitquickly.
[9-11]

[9:11]Yanyuansighedinadmirationsaying:Lookinguptoit,itgetshigher.Boringintoit,itgetsharder.I
seeitinfront,andsuddenlyitisbehindme.Mymasterskillfullyguideshisstudentsastepatatime.Hehas
broadenedmewithliterature,disciplinedmewithpropriety.Iwanttogiveup,butIcan't.Ihaveexhausted
myability,yetitseemsasifthereissomethingrisingupinfrontofme.Iwanttofollowit,butthereisno
way.
[9-12]
42

[9:12]TheMasterwasextremelyill,andZiLuwantedthedisciplestobecomeConfucius'ministers.20

Confucius,duringaremissioninhisillness,said,Ah,Youhasbeendeceitfulforalongtime.ThoughI
don'thaveministers,youwouldmakeitappearthatIhavethem?WhowouldIbefooling?Heaven?Iwould
muchratherdieinthehandsofmydisciplesthaninthehandsofministers.AndIwouldpreferdyinginthe
streetstoapompousfuneral!
[9-13]

[9:13]ZiGongsaid:Wehaveabeautifulgemhere.Shouldwehideitaway,orlookforagoodpriceand
sellit?Confuciussaid,Sellit!Sellit!ButIwouldwaittillIgotagoodprice.
[9-14]

[9:14]TheMasterwantedtogoandstaywiththeNineTribesoftheEast.Someonesaid,Theyareunruly!
Whydoyouwanttodosuchathing?

Confuciussaid,Ifanoblemandwellswiththem,howcouldtheybeunruly?
[9-15]

[9:15]TheMastersaid:OnlyafterIreturnedtoLufromWeididthemusicgetstraightenedout,withthe
RoyalSongsandthePraisesbeingplayedattheproperplaceandtime.
[9-16]

[9:16]TheMastersaid:Whenoutintheworld,Iservedmyrulerandministers.AthomeIservedmy
fatherandelderbrothers.IneverdaredtotakefuneralslightlyandIdidn'tgetintotroublewithalcohol.
WhatproblemscouldIpossiblyhave?
[9-17]

[9:17]TheMaster,standingbyariver,said,Itgoesonlikethis,neverceasingdayornight!
[9-18]

[9:18]TheMastersaid:Ihaveneverseenonewholovesvirtueasmuchashelovesbeauty.
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[9-19]

[9:19]TheMastersaid:Itislikebuildingamound:IfIstopbeforecarryingasinglebasketofearth,itis
mystopping.Itislikelevelingtheground:IfIcontinueevenafterdumpingonlyonebasket,itismy
continuation.

[Comment]Theprocessofselfdevelopmentrequirescontinualeffort,evenifonlyabitatatime.
[9-20]

[9:20]TheMastersaid:Iteachhimandheneverslacksoff.Aah,Hui!
[9-21]

[9:21]TheMaster,speakingofHui,said:Howrareishistype!Ihaveseenhimstriving,andhavenever
seenhimrest.
[9-22]

[9:22]TheMastersaid:Therearesomewhosproutbutdonotblossom,somewhoblossombutdonotbear
fruit.
[9-23]

[9:23]TheMastersaid:Weshouldbeinaweoftheyoungergeneration.Howcanweknowthattheywill
notbeequaltous?Butifamanreachestheageoffortyorfiftyandhasstillnotbeenheardfrom,thenheis
noonetobeinaweof.
[9-24]

[9:24]TheMastersaid:Isanyoneincapableoffollowingwordsofcorrectinstruction?Butitisself
transformationaccordingtoitthatisimportant.Isanyoneincapableofenjoyingwordsofgentleadvice?But
itisinquiringdeeplyintotheirmeaningthatisimportant.IfIenjoywithoutinquiringdeeply,andfollow
withoutchangingmyself,howcanIsaythatIhaveunderstoodthem?

[Comment]Confucianlearningisalwaysfullyconnectedtoselftransformation.
[9-25]

[9:25]TheMastersaid:Baseyourselfinloyaltyandtrust.Don'tbecompanionwiththosewhoarenotyour
moralequal.Whenyoumakeamistake,don'thesitatetocorrectit.
[9-26]

[9:26]TheMastersaid:Youcansnatchawaythegeneralofalargearmy,butyoucannotsnatchawaythe
willofeventhelowliestofmen.
[9-27]

[9:27]TheMastersaid:Standingintatteredworkclothesamonggentlemenclothedinfinefurswithout
anyembarrassmentitisYou!
Notharming,notcoveting:
Howcanhedowrong?21
ZiLucontinuouslychantedthis.Confuciussaid,Withjustthis,howcanyouattainexcellence?

[9-28]

[9:28]TheMastersaid:OnlyafteritturnswinterareweawareofthesurvivalofthePineandCypress.
[9-29]

[9:29]TheMastersaid:Thewisearenotconfused,thehumanearenotanxious,thebravearenotafraid.
[9-30]

[9:29]TheMastersaid:Therearesomewithwhomwecanstudy,butwithwhomwecannottraverseon
thesamepath.Therearesomewithwhomwecantraverseonthesamepath,butwithwhomwecannot
establishourselves.Therearesomewithwhomwecanestablishourselves,butwithwhomwecannotagree

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withonfutureplanning.
[9-31]

[9:31]

Astheflowersoftheaspenplum
Leanandturn,
HowcouldInotthinkofyou?
Butyourhouseissofar.

Confuciussaid,Ifhedoesnotthinkaboutthedistance,howcoulditbeaproblem?

10.
[10-1]

[10:1]WhenConfuciuswasinhisvillage,hewasquietlysincere,asifhecouldnotspeak.Whenhewasin
theancestraltempleorthecourt,hewaseloquent,butextremelycautious.Whenspeakingtothejunior
grandmastersincourt,hewascandidandateasewhenspeakingtotheseniorgrandmasters,hewas
straightforwardbutformal.Whentherulerwaspresent,hestraightenedupceremoniously,butwithacalm
demeanor.
[10-2]

[10:2]Whentherulersummonedhimtotakecareofimportantguests,hisfacetookonaseriousexpression,
andhewalkedbriskly.Hebowedashecametotheplaceofgreeting,andwithhisleftandrighthandheld
hisgarmentinfrontandback,keepingitproperlyadjusted.Hemovedforwardquicklywithhisarmslike
wings.Whentheguestleft,hewouldwithoutfailwatch,andcontinuetoreport,theguesthasstopped
lookingback.
[10-3]

[10:3]Whenhecamethroughthecourtdoor,heshrunkdowndeferentially,asiftherewasnotenough
space.Onceinside,hedidnotstandinthemiddle,andhewouldnotsteponthethreshold.Whenhepassed
infrontoftheruler'sposition,hisexpressionbecameserious,andhesteppedcarefullyinsmallstepsit
seemeddifficultforhimtospeak.Heliftedupthehemsofhisskirtwhenenteringthehallnoddingdeeplyin
respect.Heheldhisbreathasifhecouldnotbreathe.Uponleaving,oncehehadgonedownonestep,his
countenancebecamerelaxed,andheappearedtobecontented.Reachingthebottomofthestairshebeganto
movebriskly,hisarmslikewings.Returningtohisoriginalposition,hewasdeferential.
[10-4]

[10:4]Whenholdingthejadescepter,hewasbentoverwithdeference,asifhecouldnotsupportit.Heheld
itfromaboveinafoldingway,andfrombelowinanofferingway.Heshowedaseriousandanxious
expression,walkinginastraightlinewithshufflingsteps.Inthepresentationceremony,heshowedagenial
expression.Inprivatemeetings,heseemedrelaxedwithoutconcerns.
[10-5]

[10:5]Thenoblemandidnotweardecorativecuffscoloredvioletandpuceforhishouseclothes,hewould
notwearredandmaroon.Duringhotweather,hewouldwearthin,unlinedgarmentsmadeoffineand
coarsevinefiberwhenhewentout.Withablackrobeheworeablacksheepskinmantle:withanuncolored
robeheworeafawnskinmantlewithayellowrobeheworeafoxskinmantle.Hishouserobewaslong,
withashortrightsleeve.Whenalwayssleptinsleepinggarments,whichwerehalfagainaslongashis
body.Athome,hesatonthickfoxandbadgerrugs.Whennotinamourningperiod,therewasnothinghe
wouldnotwearonhisdecorativebeltsash.Ifclotheswerenotceremonial,hewoulddefinitelyadjusttheir
length.Hewouldnotwearablacksheepskinmantleorablackhatwhenpayingvisitsofcondolence.He
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alwaysshowedupincourtonthefirstofthemonthproperlyattiredincourtgarb.Whenfasting,healways
worecleanwhiteclothesoflinen.Duringthefasthewouldalwayschangehisdiet,aswellashisseat.
[10-6]


22

[10:6]Whenheatehewasnotaversetorefinedrice,nortofinelymincedmeat.Hewouldnoteatricethat
wasrancidorhadgonerotten,norfishandmeatthathadspoiled.Hewouldnoteatfoodthatthathadabad
colororsmellhewouldnoteatfoodthatthatwasnotcookedtotheproperlevel,orwhichwasoutof
seasonnorwouldheeatfoodthatwasnotproperlysliced,ordidnotcomewiththeappropriatecondiments.
Eveniftherewasalotofmeat,hewouldnoteatitgreaterquantitythanrice.Itwasonlywinewithwhichhe
didnotlimithimself,butatthesametime,heneverlostcontrolofhimself.Hewouldnotdrinkwineoreat
driedmeatthatcamefromthemarketplace.Hewouldnotrefrainfromeatingfoodwithginger,buthewould
notoverdoit.Whentherewasasacrificefortheruler,hewouldnotkeepthemeatovernight.Asfor
sacrificialmeatsingeneral,hewouldnotkeepthemmorethanthreedays,andiftheyweremorethanthree
daysold,hewouldnoteatthem.Hedidnotchatwhileeating,anddidnottalkafterretiring.Nomatterwhat
kindofsimplefareitmightbe,suchascoarsericeorbroth,hewouldalwaysmakeanoffering,doingso
withduesolemnity.
[10-7]

[10:7]Ifamatwasnotstraight,hewouldnotsitonit.
[10-8]

[10:8]Whendrinkingwiththetownsfolk,hewouldleaveonlyaftertheeldershaddoneso.Whenthe
townsfolkcarriedoutritualsforthecleansingofevilspirits,hewoulddonhisceremonialcourtrobesand
standontheeasternsteps.23
[10-9]

[10:9]Whenheaskedsometogotoanothercountry,hewouldbowtohimtwicebeforesendinghimoff.
[10-10]

[10:10]KangzisenttheMastersomemedicineasapresent.Respectfullyreceivingit,hesaid,Idon'tknow
aboutthismedicine,soIdon'tdaretotakeit.
[10-11]

[10:11]Therewasafireinthestables.WhentheMasterreturnedfromcourt,heasked:Wasanybody
hurt?Hedidn'taskaboutthehorses.
[10-12]

[10:12]Whentherulerwouldsendagiftofcookedfood,hewouldalwayssitstraightandfirsttasteitifthe
rulersentuncookedmeat,hewouldalwayscookitandofferittootherswhentherulerpresentedhimwith
aliveanimal,hewouldalwaysrearit.Whenattendingatamealfortheruler,aftertherulermakesthe
sacrifice,heisfirsttoeatit.24
[10-13]

[10:13]Whenhewassickandtherulercametovisithim,hewouldliedownfacingtotheeastwithhis
courtrobeonhimandhissashdrawnacrosshim.
[10-14]

[10:14]Whentherulersummonedhim,hewouldgoatonce,withoutwaitingforthehorsestobeyokedto
hiscarriage.
[10-15]

[10:15]Whenheenteredthegreatancestraltemple,heinquiredabouteverydetail.
[10-16]

[10:16]Whenafrienddied,iftherewasnoonetohandlethefuneral,hewouldsay,Iwilltakecareofit.
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Whenafriendwouldsendagiftoffoodevenhorsesandcarriagesifitwasnotsacrificialmeat,he
wouldnotbow.

[10-17] 25

[10:17]Whenheslept,hewouldnotlieonthebedlikeacorpse.Athome,hewouldnotputonanyspecial
airs.
[10-18]

[10:18]Whenhesawsomeoneinmourningclothes,evenifheknewthemwell,hewouldchangehis
expression.Encounteringapersoninfullattire,ortheblind,evenifhewasinhisinformalhomedress,he
wouldshowtheproperattitude.Encounteringsomeoneinmourning,hewouldlowerhisheadinthe
carriage,andwoulddothesameforsomeonecarryingcensusboards.Whendeliciousfoodwasserved,his
expressionwouldchangeandhewouldstandup.Hisexpressionwouldalsochangewithasudden
thunderclaporviolentwind.
[10-19]

[10:19]Whenhegotupintothecarriage,hewouldstandstraight,holdingthestraps.Onceinsidethe
carriage,hedidn'tlookabout,talkrapidlyorpointaroundwithhishands.
[10-20]

[10:20]Atachangeinexpressionthebirdtookoffitflewaroundandthenjoinedaflock.TheMastersaid:
Thehenpheasantonthemountainbridge,whattiming,whattiming!ZiLuofferedit[somebait],butafter
sniffingthreetimes,ittookoff.26

11.

[11:1]TheMastersaid:Thecountryfolkdeveloptheirunderstandingofmusicandritualearlier.The
nobilitydeveloptheselater.Fromapracticalperspective,Isuggestearlierdevelopment.
[11-2]

[11:2]AmongthosewhofollowedmeinChenandCai,nonehavecometoseemesince.
[11-3]

[11:3]ThevirtuousinconductwereYanYuan,MinZiqian,RanBoniu,andZhongGonethearticulate
wereZaiWoandZiGongskillfuladministratorswereRanYouandZiLuexcellentintheirscholarship
wereZiYouandZiXia.
[11-4]

[11:4]TheMastersaid:Huiisnohelptome.HesimplydelightsineverythingIsay.
[11-5]

[11:7]TheMastersaid:HowfilialMinZiqianwas!Otherssaynothingofhimdifferentfromthereportof
hisparents.
[11-6]

[11:6]NanRongfrequentlyrecitedthelineoftheWhiteJadeTable.27Confuciusgavehimhiselder
brother'sdaughtertowed.
[11-7]

[11:7]JiKangZiaskedwhichofthediscipleslovedtolearn.Confuciusreplied:Yanhuidid.Unfortunately
hediedyoung,andtherehasbeennoonelikehimsincethen.
[11-8]

[11:8]WhenYanYuandied,YuanLu(hisfather)askedtheMasterforhiscarriagesothathecould(sellit

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to)buyanoutercoffin.TheMastersaidTalentedornot,asoniscalledason.When(myson)Lidied,we
hadaninnercoffin,butnotanoutercoffin.Icouldnotgoonfootjustforthesakeofmakinganoutercoffin.
WhenIamfollowingintherearofthegrandmasters,Ican'twalkonfoot.
[11-9]

[11:9]WhenYanyuandied,themastercried:Howcruel!Heaveniskillingme!Heaveniskillingme!
[11-10]

[11:10]WhenYanhuidied,theMasterweptuncontrollably.Thedisciplessaid,Master,youaregoing
overboardwiththis!Confuciussaid,Goingoverboard?!IfIcan'tcrynow,whenshouldIcry?
[11-11]

[11:11]WhenYanhuidied,thediscipleswantedtogivehimalavishfuneral.TheMastertoldthemnotto,
buttheydiditanyway.Confuciussaid,Huitreatedmelikeafather.NowIhavenotbeenabletotreathim
asason,anditisthefaultofyoustudents.
[11-12]

[11:12]ChiLuaskedaboutservingthespirits.Confuciussaid,Ifyoucan'tyetservemen,howcanyou
servethespirits?

Lusaid,MayIaskaboutdeath?Confuciussaid,Ifyoudon'tunderstandwhatlifeis,howwillyou
understanddeath?
[11-13]

[11:14]WhenMinZiwaitedbytheMaster'sside,hewascalmandprecise.ZiLuwasalwaysreadyfor
action.RanYouandZiGongwereaffable.TheMasterwaspleased,butsaid:PeoplelikeYoucan'tdiea
naturaldeath.
[11-14]

[11:14]ThemenofLuwererebuildingtheMainTreasury.MinZiqiansaid:Whydon'twekeepitsold
style?Whydowehavetochangeitcompletely?

Confuciussaid,Thisfellowdoesn'tsaymuch,butwhenhedoes,heisrightonthemark.
[11-15]

[11:15]Confuciushadsaid,WhatistheluteofYoudoingatmydoor?andsotheotherdiscipleshad
beguntolosetheirrespectforZiLu(You).Confuciussaid,Youhasascendedtothemainhall,buthasnot
yetenteredtheinnerchambers.
[11-16]

[11:16]ZiGongaskedwhowasthemostworthybetweenShihandShang.TheMastersaid,Shihgoestoo
far,Shangdoesnotgofarenough.

ThenisShihsuperior?
TheMastersaid,Goingtoofaristhesameasnotgoingfarenough.
[11-17]

[11:17]EventhoughtheheadoftheChifamilywaswealthierthantheDukeofZhou,Qiucollectedtaxes
forhim,andmadehimricher.Confuciussaid,Heisnodiscipleofmine.Mystudents,youcanbeatthe
drumandattackhimifyouwant.
[11-18]

[11:18]Zhaiissimpleminded,Zengisslow,Shiisbiased,Yuisreckless.Confuciussaid:Huiis
completelyfull,yetalwayspossessionless.Siisnotwealthybyfate,sohehastocontriveinordertoenrich
himself,andisusuallyonthemark.
[11-19]

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[11:19]ZiZhangaskedabouttheWayoftheGoodMan.Confuciussaid,Ifyoudon'tfollowitstraces,you
won'tentertheInnerChamber.Confuciussaid:Someonemayhaveprofoundtheoriesbutisheanoble
man?Orisheonlysuperficiallyimpressive?
[11-20]

[11:20]ZiLuaskedifitwasagoodideatoimmediatelyputateachingintopracticewhenhefirstheardit.
Confuciussaid,Youhaveafatherandanolderbrothertoconsult.Whydoyouneedtobesoquickto
practiceit?

Zanyouaskedthesamequestion.Confuciussaid,Youshouldpracticeitimmediately.

GongXihuasaid,WhenYouaskedyou,youtoldhimheshouldconsulthisfatherandelderbrotherfirst.
WhenQiu(Zanyou)askedyou,youtoldhimtopracticeitimmediately.MayIaskwhy?

Confuciussaid,Qiuhasatendencytogiveupeasily,soIpushhim.You(ZiLu)hasatendencytojump
thegun,soIrestrainhim.
[11-21]

[11:21]DuringtheincidentoftheMaster'sendangermentinGuang,Huihadfallenbehind.Confuciussaid,
Iwasafraidtheyhadkilledyou.

Huisaid,Whileyouarealive,howcanIdaretodie?
[11-22]

[11:22]WhenJiZiranaskedtheMasterwhetherZhongYouandRanQiucouldbecalledgreatministers,the
Mastersaid:Ithoughtyouweregoingtoaskaboutsomeoneelse,butthenyouaskedmeaboutYouand
Qiu.AgreatministerserveshisrulerbymeansoftheWay,andifhecan't,hewillquit.NowYouandQiu
canbecalledstopgapministers.Doesthismeanthattheywilldoastheyaretold?TheMastersaid:If
theywereorderedtokilltheirfatherorruler,theywouldn'tdoit.
[11-23]

[11:23]ZiLugotZiGaoinstalledasPrefectofBi.TheMastersaid:Youaredamagingsomeone'sson.Zi
Lusaid:Therearepeopleandtherearenationalaltars(tobeadministered).Whyshoulditbenecessaryto
readbookstoberegardedaslearned.TheMastersaid:ThisiswhyIdon'tlikeglibpeople.
[11-24]

[11:25]ZiLu(You),TsangHsi(Qiu),ZanYou(Ch'ih)andGongXihua(Tian)weresittingwiththeMaster.
Confuciussaid,AlthoughIamadayorsoolderthanyoufellows,forgetaboutitforthetimebeing.You
areallalwayssaying:Ourtalentsareunrecognized.Supposeyourabilitieswerefullyacknowledged.What
wouldyoudothen?

ZiLujumpedtoreplyfirst,saying:Iwouldliketobeinthepositionofthechargeofarelativelysmallstate
whichwasbeingthreatenedbythearmiesofthesurroundinglargerstates,andsufferingfromcropfailure.If
Iwereinthisposition,withinthreeyearsmypeoplewouldbefearlessandknowhowtotakecareof
themselves.

Confuciuslaughedathim.

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HeturnedtoQiuandsaid,Whataboutyou?

Qiusaid,Letmehavethegovernmentofaterritoryof60to70li,ormaybe50to60li,forthreeyears,and
thepeoplewouldhavealltheyneed.Asforhandlingtheaffairsofritualandmusic,Iwouldseekanoble
man.

Chi,whataboutyou?

Chisaid,IcannotsayIamcapableofwhattheothertwohaveproposed,thoughIwouldliketowork
towardit.Attheservicesattheancestralhall,orattheaudienceswiththePrince,Iwouldliketoserveasa
minorassistant,dressedintheceremonialgownandcap.

Dian,whataboutyou?

Diansethislutedownwithitsstringsstillringing,andstoodup.WhatIwouldliketodo,hesaid,isquite
differentfromthesethree.TheMastersaid,Whatharmcantherebe?Pleasespeakastheothershave.

Diansaid,Attheheightofspring,alldeckedoutinspringclothes,Iwouldliketotakefiveorsixyoung
men,andsixorsevenyoungsterstogoforaswimintheYiriver,enjoyingthecoolbreezeattheRain
DanceFestival,andmakeourwaybackhome,singing.

Confuciussighed,andsaid,Ah,lovely.Iamwithyou,Tien.

ThethreeothersleftandDianaskedtheMaster:Whatdidyouthinkaboutthewordsofthosethree?

Confuciussaid,Eachjusttoldhiswish.

ButwhydidyoulaughatYou?

Becausetogovernastate,youneedpropriety,andhiswordsaretotallylackinginhumility.That'swhyI
laughedathim.

ButQiuwasn'taskingforastate.

Confuciussaid,Haveyoueverseenaterritoryof60or70lithatwasn'tastate?

AtleastChiwasn'taskingforastate.

Yes,butwhobesidesthenobilitycanserveintheancestraltemple,orhaveanaudiencewiththePrince.If
Chiweretobeaminorassistantattheseaffairs,whocouldbeachiefassistant?

12.
[12-1]

[12:1]Yanyuanaskedaboutthemeaningofhumaneness.TheMastersaid,Tocompletelyovercome
selfishnessandkeeptoproprietyishumaneness.Ifforafulldayyoucanovercomeselfishnessandkeepto
propriety,everyoneintheworldwillreturntohumaneness.Doeshumanenesscomefromoneself,orfrom
others?

[Comment]Thispassagehasalwaysprovidedproblemsfortranslatorsandcommentators.Virtuallyallofthe
modernEnglishtranslatorseitheralterthegrammarofthissentenceorreinterpretitandinsuchawayasto
disallowthepossibilitythatpowerofthemindofasingleindividualtobringpeacetotheworld.28I.e.,we
areexpectedtoacknowledgethatasinglepersonobviouslydoesnothavethepowertoinfluencethewhole
world,andonlyoneinapositionofpoliticalpowercandoso.Forthisreason,Ihesitatetorewritethetextin
thiscase,andtrytothinkfurtherofwhatConfuciusmeant.
Forinstance,dowereallyknowwhatitisliketocompletelyovercomeourselfishnessforafullday,and
beperfectlyguidedbyproperaction?Iwouldliketosuggestthatperhapswedonotknowthelevelof
spiritualinfluencethatmaybebroughtaboutbytheactualizationofone'sinnerperfection.Also,inthecase
ofaruler:canpoliticalpowerinitselfmakethepeoplebecomegood?Itisdoubtful.
Thisisanimportantpassageinthatitshowsveryclearlyaworldviewthatiscommontoallthephilosophers
whoseworksarecontainedinthisvolume:aworldnotofisolatedmonads,butaworldthatismuchmore
transparent,unifiedandconnectedthanweofmodernityperceive.Wenowreturntothetext.

Yanyuanasked:MayIaskinfurtherdetailhowthisistobebroughtabout?Confuciussaid,Donotwatchwhatis

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improperdonotlistentowhatisimproperdonotspeakimproperlyanddonotactimproperly.Yanyuansaid,
AlthoughIamnotsoperspicacious,Iwillapplymyselftothisteaching.

[12-2]

[12:2]ZhongGongaskedaboutthemeaningofren.TheMastersaid:Whenyouareoutintheworld,actas
ifmeetinganimportantguest.Employthepeopleasifyouwereassistingatagreatceremony.Whatyou
don'twantdonetoyourself,don'tdotoothers.Liveinyourtownwithoutstirringupresentments,andlivein
yourhouseholdwithoutstirringupresentments.ZhongGongsaid,AlthoughIamnotsosmart,Iwill
applymyselftothisteaching.
[12-3]

[12:3]SimaNiuaskedaboutthemeaningofren.

Confuciussaid,Therenmanishesitanttospeak.

Niureplied,Areyousayingthatrenismerehesitancyinspeaking?

Confuciussaid,Actualizingitissodifficult,howcanyounotbehesitanttospeakaboutit?
[12-4]

[12:4]SimaNiuaskedaboutthequalitiesofthenobleman.

Confuciussaid,Thenoblemanisfreefromanxietyandfear.

Niusaid,Freefromanxietyandfear?Isthisallittakestobeanobleman?

Confuciussaid,Ifyoureflectwithinyourselfandfindnothingtobeashamedof,howcouldyouhave
anxietyorfear?
[12-5]

[12:5]SimaNiu,upset,said:Everyonehasbrothers,Ialonehavenone.
ZiXiasaid,Ihaveheardthisproverb:

LifeanddeathareuptoFate.
WealthandhonorareheldbyHeaven.

Ifthenoblemanisreverentwithoutlapse,andcourteoustoeveryonewithintheframeofpropriety,
everythingwithinthefourseaswillbehisbrother.Whyshouldanoblemanbeconcernedaboutnothaving
brothers?
[12-6]

[12:6]ZiZhangaskedaboutthemeaningofenlightenment.

Confuciussaid,Onewhodoesnotexperiencethepermeationofslanderandwhoisnotagitatedby
accusationscancertainlybecalledenlightened.Indeed,suchapersonmaybecalledtranscendent.
[12-7]

[12:7]ZiGongaskedaboutgovernment.

TheMastersaid,Enoughfood,enoughweaponsandtheconfidenceofthepeople.

ZiGongsaid,Supposeyouhadnoalternativebuttogiveuponeofthesethree,whichonewouldbeletgo
offirst?

TheMastersaid,Weapons.

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ZiGongsaidWhatifyouhadtogiveuponeoftheremainingtwowhichonewoulditbe?

TheMastersaid,Food.Fromancienttimes,deathhascometoallmen,butapeoplewithoutconfidencein
itsrulerswillnotstand.
[12-8]

[12:8]JiZiZhangsaid:Allthenoblemanneedsistohavehissubstance.Whyshouldheneedexternal
refinement?

ZiGongsaid,Amazing!Youspeakaboutthenobleman,butateamofhorsescouldn'tkeepupwithyour
tongue.Refinementissubstancesubstanceisrefinement!Whenthehairistakenoffthehideofatigeror
leopard,itlooksthesameasthehideofadogorsheep.

[Comment]Thisisprobablythecleareststatementoftheunityofessenceandfunctionthatwecanseeinthe
Analects,butwithaninterestingtwist.Mostessencefunctionteachings,hereaswellasintheothertextsof
thisvolume,whileemphasizingunityofessenceandfunction,willstresstheneedforonetoplacehis/her
prioritiesonthemoreessential.Here,ontheotherhand,themessageisthatnomatterhowbright,clearor
sincereyouare,itcannotshowthroughproperlyifyoudon'tcultivateyourmannersandthevariousartsof
expression.ThisemphasisonpolishingtheoutsideissomethingthatwefindintheAnalectsmorethanin
othertexts.
[12-9]

[12:9]DukeAiaskedYouRuo:Ithasbeenayearoffamineandtherearenotenoughrevenuestorunthe
state.WhatshouldIdo?

Ruosaid,Whycan'tyouusea10%tax?

TheDukeanswered:Ican'tevengetbyona20%tax,howamIgoingtodoiton10%?

Ruosaid,Ifthepeoplehaveenough,whatprincecanbeinwant?Ifthepeopleareinwant,howcanthe
princebesatisfied?
[12-10]

[12:10]ZiChangaskedhowtoincreasevirtueanddispelconfusion.Confuciussaid,Baseyourselfin
loyaltyandtrustandpermeateyourselfwithfairness,andyourvirtuewillbeparamount.Wewantlifefor
thethingswelove,anddeathforthethingswehate.Butifwehavealreadydesiredlifeforsomethingand
nowwewantittodie,weareconfused.

Really,itwasnotforwealth.
Justforachange29

[12-11]

[12:11]DukeJingofQiaskedConfuciusaboutgovernment.Confuciusreplied:Lettherulerbearuler,
ministerbeaminister,fatherbeafather,sonbeason.TheDukesaid,Excellent!Indeed,iftherulerisnot
aruler,theministersnotministers,fathersnotfathersandsonsnotsons,evenifIhavefood,howcanIeat
it?
[12-12]

[12:12]TheMastersaid:Youisthekindofmanwhocouldsettleadisputewithasinglesentence.He
neverdelayedingivinghisanswer.30
[12-13]

[12:13]TheMastersaid:Inhearinglawsuits,Iamnobetterthananyoneelse.Whatweneedistohaveno
lawsuits.
[12-14]

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[12:14]Zizhangaskedaboutcarryingotpropergovernance.TheMastersaid:Stayinyourpositionwithout
wearyingcarryyourpoliciesguidedbyloyalty.
[12-15]

[12:15]TheMastersaid:Studyingliberalartsbroadly,anddiscipliningyourselfwithpropriety,itiseasyto
stayonthenarrowpath.
[12-16]

[12:16]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemandevelopspeople'sgoodpoints,nottheirbadpoints.Theinferior
mandoestheopposite.
[12-17]

[12:17]JiKangZiaskedConfuciusaboutgovernment.Confuciusrepliedsaying:Togovernmeansto
rectify.31Ifyouweretoleadthepeoplewithcorrectness,whowouldnotberectified?
[12-18]

[12:18]Beingrobbed,JiKangZiwasupset,andquestionedConfuciusaboutwhattodo.Confuciussaid,If
youweredesireless,theywouldn'tstealfromyou,evenifyouweretoofferthemarewardtodoso.
[12-19]

[12:19]JiKangZiaskedConfuciusaboutgovernmentsaying:SupposeIweretokilltheunjust,inorderto
advancethejust.Wouldthatbeallright?

Confuciusreplied:Indoinggovernment,whatistheneedofkilling?Ifyoudesiregood,thepeoplewillbe
good.Thenatureofthenoblemanislikethewind,thenatureoftheinferiormanislikethegrass.Whenthe
windblowsoverthegrass,italwaysbends.
[12-20]

[12:20]ZiZhangaskedwhatashishouldbelike,thathemaybecalledexcellent.

Confuciussaid,Whatdoyoumeanbyexcellent?

ZiZhangreplied:Itmeanstobefamousinyourtown,andfamousinyourclan.

Confuciussaid,Thisisfame,notexcellence.Onewhoisexcellenthasanuprightcharacterandloves
justice.Ifyoulistencarefullytowhatpeoplesay,observetheirfacialexpressionsandarecarefultobe
humbletothem,youwillbeexcellentinyourtown,andexcellentinyourclan.Asfarasfameis
concerned,ifyouputonashowofgoodnessanddootherwise,andarenottheleastbitbotheredindoingso,
youwillindeedbefamousinyourtownandfamousinyourclan.

[Comment]Inthispassage,excellenceisatranslationoftheChineseworddawhichhassucharangeof
meaninginClassicalEastAsianlanguages.Itsmostbasicmeaningistopenetrate,permeate,pierceorpass
through.Itisusedinreligiousandphilosophicalworkstodescribeaconsciousnessthatisabletopenetrate
allthingsandapprehendthem.Initsusageinthedescriptionoftheoperationofcauseandeffectinthe
externalworld,wecanseetheinherentunderstandingoftheancientsofaninterpermeatedworld,where
thingshaveaprofound,(evenifinvisible)effectoneachotherthroughtheirinterrelatedness.Itisnoaccident
thattheworddaanditssynonymtongbecomecentralintheHuayendescriptionoftheuniversea
millenniumlater.
[12-21]

[12:21]FanChi,whilestrollingwiththeMasteramongtheRainDancealtars,said,MayIaskhowto
heightenvirtue,overcomewickednessandresolvedelusion?

TheMastersaid,Anexcellentquestion!Ifyoutakecareofyourresponsibilitiesbeforeyouseekyourown
gain,won'tthisheightenyourvirtue?Ifyouattackyourownevilratherthantheevilofothers,won'tyou
overcomewickedness?If,becauseofamoment'sanger,youendangeryourownlife,aswellasthatofyour
parents,isthisnotdelusion?

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[12-22]


[12:22]FanChiaskedaboutthemeaningofren.

Confuciussaidloveothers.Heaskedaboutthemeaningofknowledge.

TheMastersaid,Knowothers.FanChicouldn'tgetit.

TheMastersaid,Ifyouputthehonestinpositionsofpoweranddiscardthedishonest,youwillforcethe
dishonesttobecomehonest.

FanChileftandseeingZiXiasaid,AlittlewhileagoIsawtheMasterandaskedhimaboutknowledge,
andhetoldme,Putthehonestinpositionsofpoweranddiscardthedishonest,andyouwillforcethe
dishonesttobehonest.Whatdidhemean?

ZiXiasaid,HowrichourMaster'swordsare!WhenShunwasemperor,heselectedKaoYaofromamong
thepeople,puthimincharge,andtheevilpeoplestayedfaraway.WhenT'angwasemperor,heselectedI
Yin,puthiminchargeandtheevilagainstayedfaraway.
[12-23]

[12:23]ZiGongaskedaboutthewayoffriendship.Confuciussaid,Speaktoyourfriendshonestly,and
skillfullyshowthemtherightpath.Ifyoucannot,thenstop.Don'thumiliateyourself.
[12-24]

[12:24]CengZisaid:Thenoblemanuseshisrefinementtomeethisfriends,andthroughhisfriends
developshisren.

13.
[13-1]

[13:1]ZiLuaskedabouthowtogovern.Confuciussaid,Leadthepeopleandworkhardforthem.

Isthereanythingelse?

Don'tgetdiscouraged.
[13-2]

[13:2]ZhongGong,currentlyservingasprimeministertotheheadoftheChifamily,askedabout
government.

Confuciussaid,Firstgetsomeofficersthengrantpardontoallthepettyoffensesandthenputvirtuousand
ablemenintopositionsofresponsibility.

Heasked,HowamIgoingtofindthesevirtuousandablementogetthemintothesepositions?

TheMastersaid,Selectfromthoseyouknow.Willthepeopleletyouignoretheonesyoudon'tknowof?
[13-3]


[13:3]ZiLusaid:TherulerofWeiisanticipatingyourassistanceintheadministrationofhisstate.What
willbeyourtoppriority?

Confuciussaid,Theremustbeacorrectionofterminology.

ZiLusaid,Areyouserious?Whyisthissoimportant?

Confuciussaid,Youarereallysimple,aren'tyou?Anoblemaniscautiousaboutjumpingtoconclusions
aboutthatwhichhedoesnotknow.

Ifterminologyisnotcorrected,thenwhatissaidcannotbefollowed.Ifwhatissaidcannotbefollowed,
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thenworkcannotbeaccomplished.Ifworkcannotbeaccomplished,thenritualandmusiccannotbe
developed.Ifritualandmusiccannotbedeveloped,thencriminalpunishmentswillnotbeappropriate.If
criminalpunishmentsarenotappropriate,thepeoplecannotmakeamove.Therefore,thenoblemanneeds
tohavehisterminologyapplicabletoreallanguage,andhisspeechmustaccordwithhisactions.Thespeech
ofthenoblemancannotbeindefinite.
[13-4]

[13:4]FanChiwantedtoaskaboutagriculture.

Confuciussaid,Whydon'tyouaskanoldfarmer?

FanChithensaidthathewouldliketolearnaboutgardening.

Confuciussaid,Whydon'tyouaskanoldgardener?FanChileft.Confuciussaid,Fanisreallysimple,
isn'the?Ifthemeninchargelovepropriety,thepeoplecan'tstandtobedisrespectful.Ifthemenincharge
lovefairness,thenthepeoplecan'tstandnottofollowthem.Ifthemeninchargelovetrust,thenthepeople
cannotstandnottorespondwiththeiremotions.Ifyouweretogoverninthisway,thepeoplewouldcome
flockingtoyourkingdom,carryingtheirbabiesontheirbacks.Whydoyouhavetoworryabout
agriculture?
[13-5]

[13:5]TheMastersaid:Youcanrecitethe300poemsfromtheBookofOdes,butwhenyoutrytousethem
inadministration,theyarenoteffective(da),32andinhandlingtheouterlyingregions,youcannotapply
them,theneventhoughyouknowalot,whatgoodisit?
[13-6]

[13:6]TheMastersaid:Whenyouhavegottenyourownlifestraightenedout,thingswillgowellwithout
yourgivingorders.Butifyourownlifeisn'tstraightenedout,evenifyougiveorders,noonewillfollow
them.
[13-7]

[13:7]ThegovernmentsofLuandWeiareelderandyoungerbrothers.33
[13-8]

[13:8]ConfuciussaidofGongziJingofWeithathewasgoodatmanaginghishousehold.Whenhebegan
toaccumulateproperty,hesaiditseemstobeenough.Whenhehadalittlemore,hesaidthiswilldo.
Whenhebecamerich,hesaidthisisprettygood.

Comment:GongziJingwasaseniorofficialinthestateofWeihewassaidtobeexceptionallygoodat
handlingfinances.Thus,thispassagereflectshisselfcriticalattitudetowardhisownaccomplishment,
which,forsomeoneoflesserskills,wouldhavebeenmoreimpressive.
[13-9]

[13:9]RanYouwasdrivingfortheMasteronatriptoWei.Confuciussaid,Howpopulousitishere.

RanYousaid,Oncetherearesomanypeople,whatshouldbedone?

Enrichthem,saidtheMaster.

Oncetheyareenriched,whatnext?

Educatethem.
[13-10]

[13:10]TheMastersaid:Ifanyoftherulersweretoemployme,Iwouldhavecontrolofthesituation
withinamonth,andwouldhaveeverythingstraightenedoutwithinthreeyears.
[13-11]

[13:11]TheMastersaid:Ifgoodmenweretogovernacountryforahundredyears,theycouldovercome
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crueltyanddoawaywithkilling.Howtruethissayingis!
[13-12]

[13:12]TheMastersaid:Evenifyouhavethepositionofkingship,itwouldstilltakeagenerationforren
toprevail.
[13-13]

[13:13]TheMastersaid:Ifyoucancorrectyourself,whatproblemwillyouhaveingoverning?Ifyoucan't
correctyourself,howcanyoucorrectothers?
[13-14]

[13:14]RanZireturnedfromcourt.TheMastersaidWhatkeptyou?Ranreplied:Ihadofficial
business.TheMastersaid,Itwasapersonalmatter,right?Ifitwereofficialbusiness,eventhoughIamno
longerdirectlyinvolved,Iwouldhaveheardaboutit.
[13-15]


[13:15]DukeDingaskediftherewereasinglephrasewhichcouldupliftacountry.

Confuciusreplied:Wordsinthemselvescannothavesuchaneffect.Nonetheless,thereisaproverbwhich
says,Beingarulerisdifficult,andbeingaministerisnoteasy.Ifyoureallyunderstandthedifficultiesof
rulership,mightthisnotbeenoughtoupliftacountry?

TheDukeaskedfurther:Isthisnotclosetothesayingthereasinglephrasewhichcouldruinacountry?

Confuciusanswered,Again,wordsinthemselvescannothavesuchaneffect,butthepeoplealsohavea
proverbwhichsays:IdonotenjoyrulingIonlyenjoypeoplenotdisagreeingwithme.Nowifyouarea
goodmanandnoonedisagreeswithyou,itisfine.Butifyouareevil,andnoonedisagreeswithyou,
perhapsyoucoulddestroythecountrywithasingleutterance.
[13-16]

[13:16]TheDukeofSheaskedaboutgovernment.Confuciussaid,Ifyoudoitright,thenthosecloseto
youwillbehappy,andthosewhoarefarawaywillcometoyou.
[13-17]

[13:17]ZiXia,whowasservingasgovernorofJufu,askedaboutgovernment.Confuciussaid,Don'tbe
impatient,anddon'tlookforsmalladvantages.Ifyouareimpatient,youwillnotbethorough(penetrating,
da).Ifyoulookforsmalladvantages,youwillneveraccomplishanythinggreat.

[13-18]

[13:18]TheDukeofShetoldConfucius:Inmyland,therearerighteousmen.Ifafatherstealsasheep,the
sonwilltestifyagainsthim.

Confuciussaid,Therighteousmeninmylandaredifferentfromthis.Thefatherconcealsthewrongsofhis
son,andthesonconcealsthewrongsofhisfather.Thisisthecorrectway!
[13-19]

[13:19]FanChiaskedaboutren.Confuciussaid,Benaturallycourteous,berespectfulinworkingfor
superiorsandbesinceretopeople.Eventhebarbariantribescannotdowithoutthis.
[13-20]

[13:20]ZiGongasked:Whatmustamanbeliketobecalledashi?

TheMastersaid,Onewhoinconductinghimselfmaintainsasenseofhonor,andwhowhensenttothefour
quartersoftheworlddoesnotdisgracehisprince'scommission,maybecalledashi.[...translation

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incomplete]
[13-21]

[13:21]TheMastersaid:SinceIcan'tgetmenwhoactaccordingtothemiddleway,Imustfindthe
adamantandthecautious.Theadamantgoafterthings,thecautiousrestrainthemselvesfromdoingcertain
things.

[Comment]AdamantisatranslationofguangwhichcanalsobetranslatedintoEnglishas
crazy,wild,unbridledetc.,referringtothesortofpersonalityweoftenassociatewithpoets,painters
andmusicians.ImportantConfucianthinkerssuchasMenciusandWangYangmingunderstoodameasureof
uncontrollednesstobeausefulingredientofthepersonalityofthepersonwhowasstrivingfortheWay.
[13-22]

[13:22]TheMastersaid:TheSouthernershaveasaying:Ifamanisnotconstantinhisselfcultivation,he
cannotbeashamanorahealer.Itisagoodproverb.Ifyouarenotconsistentlydevelopingyourvirtue,
whatcanyougivetoothers?Youwillnotevenbeabletogiveadiagnosis.
[13-23]

[13:23]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisinharmonybutdoesnotfollowthecrowd.Theinferiorman
followsthecrowd,butisnotinharmony.
[13-24]

[13:24]ZiGongasked:Whatdoyouthinkifallthepeopleintownlikesomeone?

Nottoogood,saidConfucius.

Whatiftheyallhateyou?

Alsonottoogood.Itisbetterifthegoodpeopleintownlikeyou,andtheeviloneshateyou.
[13-25]

[13:25]TheMastersaid:Thereasonthatthenoblemaniseasytoworkfor,butdifficulttoplease,is
becauseifyoutrytopleasehimbydeviousmeans,hewillnotbehappy.Andinhisemploymentofpeople,
hegivesthemworkaccordingtotheirability.Theinferiormanisdifficulttoworkfor,buteasytoplease.
Evenifyouhaveuseddeviousmeanstopleasehim,hewillstillbehappy.Andinhisemploymentof
people,hetriestosqueezeeverythingoutofthemthathecan.
[13-26]

[13:26]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisselfconfidentwithoutbeingarrogant.Theinferiormanis
arrogantandlacksselfconfidence.
[13-27]

[13:27]TheMastersaid:Withfirmness,strength,simplicityandcautioninspeaking,youwillbecloseto
ren.
[13-28]

[13:28]ZiLuasked:Whatsortofmandeservestobecalledashi?

Confuciussaid,Ifyouaredecisive,kindandgentle,youcanbecalledashi.Withfriends,theshiisclear
butkind.Withhisbrothersheisgentle.
[13-29-30]

[13:2930]TheMastersaid:Onlywhengoodmenhaveinstructedthepeopleforsevenyears,maythey
takeuparms.Toleaduntrainedpeopleintobattleisthesameasthrowingthemaway.

14.

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[14-1]

[14:1]Xianaskedaboutwhatisshameful.Confuciussaid,WhentheWayprevailsinyourstate,tobe
concernedaboutyoursalaryisshameful.WhentheWayisabsentinyourstate,tobeconcernedaboutyour
salaryisshameful.

Xianasked:Whenoneisnotmotivatedbyarrogance,pride,resentmentanddesire,canbeheconsidered
humane?

Confuciussaid,Thiscancertainlybecalleddifficult,butIdon'tknowifitcanbecalledren.
[14-2]

[14:2]TheMastersaid:Ashiwhoisaddictedtocomfortshouldnotbecalledashi.
[14-3]

[14:3]TheMastersaid:Whenthegovernmentisjust,youmayspeakboldlyandactboldlywhenyouhave
anunjustgovernment,youmayactboldly,butbecarefulofwhatyousay.
[14-4]

[14:4]TheMastersaid:Thevirtuouswillcertainlyhavesomethingtosay,butthosewhohavesomething
tosayarenotnecessarilyvirtuous.Therenmanisalwaysbrave,butthebravemanisnotnecessarily
possessedofren.
[14-5]

[14:5]NanGongguosaidtoConfucius:YiwasskillfulatarcheryandAoshookawholeship34butneither
diedanaturaldeath.YouandJididtheirownfarmingandendedupasemperors.

Confuciusdidn'tanswer.

WhenNanGongguoleft,Confuciussaid,Hereisanobleman,amanofenhancedvirtue.
[14-7]

[14:7]TheMastersaid:Therearesomecaseswhereanoblemanmaynotbeaperfectlyhumaneman,but
therearenocaseswhereaninferiormanisaperfectlyhumaneman.
[14-8

[14:8]TheMastersaid:Canyoulovesomeonewithoutexertingyourselfforthem?Canyoubesincereto
someonewithoutteachingthem?
[14-11

[14:11]TheMastersaid:Tobepoorwithoutresentmentisdifficult.Toberichwithoutarroganceiseasy.
[14-12

[14:12]ZiLuaskedwhatconstitutesaperfectedman.

Confuciussaid:IfyouhavethewisdomofZangWuZhong,thedesirelessnessofGongChuo,thecourage
ofBianZhuangZiandtheabilitiesofZanQiu,andarealsorefinedthroughproprietyandmusic,youmight
indeedbecalledaperfectedman.Butifyouwanttoperfectyourselfrightnow,whywouldyouneedallof
that?Whenyouseeanopportunityforadvantage,thinkofwhatwouldbetherightthingtodo.Encountering
danger,leaveituptodestiny.Whenyoucanstayindifficultyforalongtime,andnotforgetthewordsthat
haveyouhavelivedby,youcanberegardedasaperfectedman.35
[14-13]

[14:14]TheMasteraskedGongMingjiaaboutGongshuWenZi:Isittruethatyourmasterdoesn'tspeak,
doesn'tlaughanddoesn'tacceptanything?

GongMingjiareplied,Thisisanexaggeration.Mymasterspeakswhenitisappropriate,andpeoplenever

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gettiredofhiswords.Helaughswhenheishappy,andpeoplenevertireofhislaughter.Hetakeswhenitis
righttodoso,andpeoplenevergettiredofhistaking.

Confuciussaid,Isthisso?Isitreallyso!?
[14-15]

[14:15]TheMastersaid:DukeWenofJin36wasdevious,andnotupright.DukeHuanofQi37wasupright,
andnotdevious.
[14-16]

[14:16]ZiLusaid,WhenHuanGongassassinatedGongziJiu,38ZhaoHu39followedhimtohisdeath,but
GuanZhong40didnot.HehadnotfullydevelopedhisHumaneness,hadhe?TheMastersaid:WhenHuan
Gongunifiedthenobles,itwasnotthroughmilitaryforce,butbytheeffortsofGuanZhong.Howaboutthis
levelofHumaneness?
[14-17]

[14:17]ZiGongsaid:GuanZhongwasnotatrulygoodmanwhenHuanGongexecuted[hisownbrother]
GongZiJiu,hewasnotonlyincapableofdyingalongwithhislordhebecameHuan'sminister.
Confuciussaid:WhenGuanZhongservedHuanGongasminister,hemadehimleaderofthenoblesand
straightenedoutthedisorderintherealm.Thepeoplearebenefitingfromthisdowntothepresentday.Ifnot
forGuanZhong,wewouldallbelikeunkemptbarbarians,wearingourhairoverourfacesandfasteningour
clothesontheleft.41Shallweexercisethesincerityofsimplepeople,whowouldhangthemselvestodeath
inaditch,withnooneknowingaboutit?
[14-18]

[14:18]TheministerZhuanofGongshuWenzirosetotherankofcourtofficertogetherwithWenzi.When
theMasterheardofithesaid:Hecertainlydeservedtheappellationofrefined.!
[14-19]

[14:19]ConfuciuswasspeakingabouttheevilsofDukeLingofWei.

KangZisaid,Ifheissuchaperson,howcanhestayinpower?
Confuciussaid,ZhongshuYoutakescareofhis(KangZi's)guestspreacherTuohandlesthetemplesand
WangSunjiaishismilitarycommander.Withministerslikethese,howcouldhefallfrompower?
[14-20]

[14:20]TheMastersaid:Ifyourwordsarenothumble,itwillbedifficulttoputthemintoaction.
[14-21]

[14:21]murdered.Confuciusbathedandwenttocourt,reportingontheincidenttoDukeAi,
saying:ChenHenghasmurderedhislordIrequestthatyouchastisehim.TheDukereplied:Reportitto
thechiefsofthethreefamilies.Confuciussaid:SinceIfollowingintherearofthegrandmasters,Ihave
norecoursebuttoreport.Myrulerhassaid,Reportittothechiefsofthethreefamiliesandthethreechiefs
havesaidthatthereisnothingthatcanbedone.Confuciussaid:SinceIfollowintherearofthe
grandmasters,Ihadnorecoursebuttoreport.
[14-22]

[14:22]ZiLuaskedhowtodealwitharuler.Confuciussaid,Ifyouhavetoopposehim,don'tdoitby
deceit.
[14-23]

[14:23]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanpenetratesthatwhichisabove.Theinferiormanpenetratesthat
whichisbelow.

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[14-24]

[14:24]TheMastersaid:Theancientscholarsstudiedfortheirownimprovement.Modernscholarsstudy
toimpressothers.
[14-25]

[14:25]QuBaoyusentamessengertoConfucius.Confuciussatdownwithhimandaskedhim,saying:
Whatisyourmasterlike?Themessengerreplied:Mymasterwantstodecreasehisfaults,butisnotable
todoso.Themessengerleft,andConfuciussaid:Whatamessenger!Whatamessenger!
[14-26]

[14:26]TheMastersaid:Ifyoudon'thaveanofficialposition,youshouldnotmakeplansfor
administration.CengZisaid:Thenoblemandoesn'tworryaboutthosethingswhichareoutsideofhis
control.
[14-27]

[14:27]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanishumbleinhisspeechbutsuperbinhisactions.
[14-28]

[14-29]

[14:29]ZiGongwascorrectingpeople.Confuciussaid,Si(ZiGong)mustbequitetalented!Ihaveno
sparetimetodothis.
[14-30]

[14:30]TheMastersaid:Idon'tworryaboutbeingunknown.Iworryaboutmylackofability.
[14-31]

[14:31]TheMastersaid:Ifyoudon'ttrytoanticipatedeception,andyoudon'tplanforyournotbeing
believed,yetarethefirsttobeawareofthesethings,aren'tyouaworthy?
[14-32]

[14:32]WeishengMousaidtoConfucius:Whyareyousobusyrunningaroundfromplacetoplace?Isit
notthatyoubeaflatterer?Confuciussaid,Iwouldn'tdarepracticeflattery,itisjustthatIdespise
stubbornness.
[14-33]

[14:33]TheMastersaid:Areallyexcellenthorseiscalledsuchnotsimplybecauseofitsphysicalstrength,
butbecauseofitscharacter.42
[14-34]

[14:34]Someonesaid:Whatdoyouthinkofthesaying:Repayharmwithvirtue?

Confuciusreplied,Thenhowwillyourepayvirtue?RepayharmwithJustice43andrepayvirtuewith
virtue.
[14-35]

[14:35]TheMastersaid:Aah!Nooneunderstandsme!

ZiGongsaid,Whatdoyoumean,Nooneunderstandsyou?

Confuciussaid,IhavenoresentmentagainstHeaven,noquarrelwithmen.Istudyfromthebottomand
penetratetothetop.Whounderstandsme?Heavendoes!
[14-36]

[14:36]GongBoliaohadsaidbadthingsaboutZiLutoLisun.ZifuJingbotoldConfuciusaboutit,saying:
Lisun(Jingbo'steacher)iscertainlybeingdeceivedbyGongBoliao.ButIhaveenoughpowertodraghis
carcassoutintothemiddleofthemarketplace.

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Confuciussaid,ItisuptofateastowhentheWayisgoingtofunction,andwhenitisn't.WhatcanGong
Boliaodoaboutfate?
[14-37]

[14:37]TheMastersaid:Aworthybecomesfreeoftheworld,thenhebecomesfreeofhislandthenhe
becomesfreefromlustthenhebecomesfreefromlanguage.
[14-37]

[14:38]TheMastersaid:Theworthyavoidsocietynext,theyavoidservicetoaparticularstatenext,they
leavewhenconfrontedwithadisrespectfulattitudenext,theyleavetoavoidabusivewords.Therewere
sevenwhodidthis.

Comment:ThispassageisonethatreflectssomeoverlapbetweenConfucianandDaoistvalues.
NormallyConfucianismisunderstoodasatraditionwhereonemustremainengagedinsociety.However,in
thiscase,Confucius'attitudeisreminiscentofthatofZhuangzi,whoalwaysrecommendedthatintelligent
peoplenotacceptthenormsofadecadentworld,andretireinsolitudeinstead.
[14-38]

[14:38]ZiLuwasstayingatouterstonegate(ofthecapitalQufu),themorningguardsaid,whereareyou
from?ZiLuanswered:IcamefromtheplacewhereConfuciusisstaying.Theguardsaid,Aah,theone
whotriestodowhatcan'tbedone.
[14-39]

[14:39]ConfuciuswasplayingthejadechimeswheninWei.AmanwhopassedbyConfucius'door
carryingabucket,saidYoureallyaredeterminedIcanhearyourplayingofthechimes!Afterabit,he
said,Howstubbornyouare,playinglikethis!Ifnooneunderstands,juststop!Whenthewaterisdeep,
justplungein.Whenit'sshallow,raiseyourskirt.Confuciussaid:Thatwouldbedecisiveandnot
difficult!
[14-40]

[14:40]ZiZhangsaid:TheBookofHistorysays:Gaozongstayedinmourningforthreeyearswithout
speaking.Whydidhedothis?Confuciussaid:ItneednotbeGaozong.Theancientswerealllikethis.
Aftertherulerdied,alloftheofficialstookordersfromtheMinisterofStateforthreeyears.
[14-41]

[14:41]TheMastersaid:Ifthoseinpowerlovepropriety,thepeoplewillbeeasytomanage.
[14-42]

[14:42]ZiLuaskedaboutthequalitiesofthenobleman.Confuciussaid,Hecultivateshimselfby
comfortingothers.

Isthatall?

Hecultivateshimselfbycomfortingeveryone.Now,thisissomethingthatevenYaoandShunfound
difficult.
[14-43]

[14:43]YuanrangwaswaitingfortheMasterinasprawledoutposition.

Confuciussaid,Tobeyoungandnotactlikeajuniortobematureandhavenothingtopassontogetold
andnotdie:aparasite!Hewhackedhimontheshinswithhisstaff.
[14-44]

[14:44]AboyfromthevillageofQuewasworkingasamessenger.SomeoneaskedConfucius,Ishe
developing?Confuciussaid,Icanseethathelikestositingrownup'splaces,andlikestobebuddieswith
hiselders.Butheisnotseekingtodevelophimself.Hewantstogrowuptooquickly.

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15.
[15-1]

[15:1]DukeLingofWeiaskedConfuciusaboutmilitarytactics.

Confuciussaid,Iknowaboutthehandlingofritualsacrifices,butIhavenotstudiedstrategy.
[15-2]

Thenextday,heandhisdisciplescontinuedtheirtravels.BythetimetheygottoChen,theyhadrunoutof
provisions,andZiLuwasobviouslyangryaboutit.Hesaid,Mustthenoblemansuffersuchdirestraits?

Confuciussaid,Thenoblemanremainsstablewhenindirestraits.Theinferiormanfallsapart.
[15-3]

[15:3]Confuciussaid,Si,doyouthinkthatIamapersonwhostudieswidelyandmemorizesallofit?

Sireplied,Itseemsthatway.Butperhapsnot?

Confuciussaid,Theanswerisno.Ipenetrateallwithone.
[15-4]

[15:4]TheMastersaid:You,thosewhounderstandvirtuearefewandfarbetween.
[15-5]

[15:5]TheMastersaid:CannotShunbeconsideredasonewhogovernedwithoutoverreaching(wuwei)?
Whatdidhedo?HepermeatedhimselfwithcourtesyandcorrectlyfacedSouth.
[15-6]

[15:6]ZiZhangaskedaboutcorrectbehavior.Confuciussaid:Ifyourspeechissincereandhonest,and
yourwayofcarryingyourselfisearnestandreverent,suchbehaviorwillworkevenifyouliveamongthe
SouthernandNorthernbarbarians.Butifyourspeechisinsincereanddishonestandyourwayofcarrying
yourselfisneitherearnestnorreverent,thenevenifyouliveinyourhometown,youwillhaveproblems.
ZhiZhangwrotethesewordsdownonhissash.
[15-7]

[15:7]TheMastersaid:TheHistoriographerYuwastrulyofstraightcharacter.Whenthegovernmentwas
just,hewaslikeanarrow.Whenthegovernmentwasunjust,hewaslikeanarrow.

QuBoyuisdefinitelyanobleman.Whenthegovernmentisjust,hewillhaveapositioninit.Whenthe
governmentisunjusthecanrolluphisprinciplesandkeeptheminhisbreast.
[15-8]

[15:8]TheMastersaid:Whenapersonshouldbespokenwith,andyoudon'tspeakwiththem,youlose
them.Whenapersonshouldn'tbespokenwithandyouspeaktothem,youwasteyourwords.Thewisedo
notlosepeople,nordotheywastetheirwords.
[15-9]

[15:9]TheMastersaid:Theearnestofficerwithatrulyhumanemind(ren)willnotsavehislifeifit
requireshimtosacrificeofhishumaneness.Hewillevensacrificehimselftoconsummatehishumaneness.
[15-10]

[15:10]ZiGongaskedabouthumaneness.Confuciussaid,Whenacraftsmanwantstodoanicepieceof
work,hewillalwayssharpenhistoolsfirst.Whenyouliveinacertaindistrict,getintotheserviceofthe
mostworthyofficers,andseekfriendsamongscholarswhoaresteepedinhumaneness.
[15-11]

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[15:11]YanYuanaskedaboutgoverningthestate.Confuciussaid:UsethecalendarofXiarideinthe
statecarriageofYinweartheceremonialcapofZhouformusic,playthatofShaoandWu.Getridofthe
musicofZhengkeepdistancefromflatterersthemusicofZhengislewdflatterersaredangerous.
[15-12]

[15:12]TheMastersaid:Ifamanisnotfarsighted,thentroubleisimpending.
[15-13]

[15:13]TheMastersaid:Expectmuchfromyourselfandlittlefromothersandyouwillavoidincurring
resentments.
[15-14]

[15:14]TheMastersaid:DidnotZangWenzhongstealthechancesofothersforaposition?Heknewthe
abilityofLiuXiahui,butdidnotrecommendhim.
[15-16]

[15:16]TheMastersaid:Ifamandoesn'tcontinuallyquestion,Whatisit?Whatisit?Idon'tknowwhatI
candoforhim.

[Comment]Ifastudentisnotseriouslyandgenuinelyconcernedaboutthedeeperquestionsoflife,itisvery
hardtoteachher/himanythingofvalue.
[15-17]

[15:17]TheMastersaid:Whenacircleofpeoplecanspendthewholedaytogetherwithouttheir
conversationevertouchingonjustice,andtheyliketoactaccordingtosmallmindedwisdom,whatcanbe
done?
[15-18]

[15:18]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemantakesjusticeasessential.Heactualizesitthroughpropriety,
demonstratesitinhumility,developsitbytruthfulness.Thisisthenobleman!
[15-19]

[15:19]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemansuffersfromhisownlackofability,notfromlackofrecognition.
[15-20]

[15:20]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisconcernedaboutthekindofreputationhewillhaveafterhe
passesaway.
[15-21]

[15:21]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanseekswithinhimself.Theinferiormanseekswithinothers.
[15-22

[15:22]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanstrivesbutdoesnotwrangle.Hehasfriends,butdoesn'tbelongto
aclique.
[15-23]

[15:23]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemandoesnotpromoteamanbecauseofhiswords,anddoesnot
disregardthewordsbecauseoftheman.
[15-24]

[15:24]ZiGongasked:Isthereasingleconceptthatwecantakeasaguidefortheactionsofourwhole
life?

Confuciussaid,Whataboutfairness?Whatyoudon'tlikedonetoyourself,don'tdotoothers.
[15-25]

[15:25]TheMastersaid:Amongpeople,whoshouldIcriticizeandwhoshouldIpraise?IfIpraise
someoneitisbecauseIhavehadsomewayoftestinghim.

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ThepresentcommonpeoplearethesamematerialwithwhichtherulersoftheThreeDynasties44
manifestedthecorrectWay.
[15-26]

[15:26]TheMastersaid:Istilllookforthescribewhowouldleavesomespaceinthetext,andtheman
whowouldlendothershishorsetoride.Nowadayssuchnicetiesaregone!
[15-27]

[15:27]TheMastersaid:Cleverwordsdisruptvirtue.Lackofpatienceinsmallmattersleadstothe
disruptionofgreatplans.
[15-28]

[15:28]TheMastersaid:Ifeverybodyhatessomething,you'dbettercheckintoit.Ifeverybodyloves
something,you'dbettercheckintoit.
[15-29]

[15:29]TheMastersaid:Itisthepersonwhounfoldstheway.Itisnotthewaythatunfoldstheperson.
[15-30]

[15:30]TheMastersaid:Tomakeamistakeandnotcorrectit:thisisarealmistake.
[15-31]

[15:31]TheMastersaid:Ihavespentawholedaywithouteatingandawholenightwithoutsleepingin
ordertothinkbutIgotnothingoutofit.Thinkingcannotcomparewithstudying.
[15-32]

[15:32]TheMastersaid:ThenoblemanindulgesintheWayanddoesnotindulgeinhisstomach.Doesn't
agriculturehavetheavoidanceofstarvationasitsmotivatingfactor,andstudyhaveenrichmentasits
motivatingfactor?ThenoblemanisconcernedaboutfollowingtheWay,andisnotconcernedabout
avoidingpoverty.
[15-33]

[15:33]TheMastersaid:Ifyourwisdomcangraspit,butyourrenisincapableofmaintainingit,even
thoughyouhavegraspedit,youwillcertainlyloseit.Ifyourwisdomgraspsitandyourrenissufficientto
maintainit,butyoudon'tmanifestit,thepeoplewillnotrevereyou.Ifyourwisdomgraspsit,yourrenis
sufficienttomaintainit,andyoumanifestitbutdon'tactaccordingtopropriety,youarestillnotperfect.

[Comment]ThisisadecidedlyConfucianperspectiveontheunityofessenceandfunction,similartothat
expressedin12:8.Evenwithadeepunderstandingofreality(essence)andaconcomitantreflectioninthe
person,externalpolishisstillnecessarytobeacompletehumanbeing.
[15-34]

[15:34]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemancannotactwithintheframeworkoflesserwisdom,buthecan
handlemajoraffairs.Theinferiormancannothandlemajoraffairs,buthecanactwithintheframeworkof
lesserwisdom.
[15-35]

[15:35]TheMastersaid:Thepeoplearemoreinaweofrenthanwaterorfire.ButIhaveseenpeopletread
onwaterorfireanddie.Ihaveneverseensomeonewalkthepathofrenanddie.
[15-36]

[15:36]TheMastersaid:Itisbettertovaluerenthantopassivelyfollowyourteacher.
[15-37]

[15:37]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisprecise,butnotrigid.
[15-38]

[15:38]TheMastersaid:Inservingyourruler,youshouldbeconcernedaboutyourservicetohimfirst

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yourcompensationfortheworkshouldbeasecondarymatter.
[15-39]

[15:39]TheMastersaid:Inteachingpeople,thereisnodiscrimination(ofclass,type,etc.)
[15-40]

[15:40]TheMastersaid:Ifyourpathsaredifferent,youcannotmakeplanstogether.
[15-41]

[15:41]TheMastersaid:Speakenoughtomakethepoint,andthenleaveitatthat.

16.
[16-1]

[16:1]TheJifamilywasabouttoattackZhuanyu.RanYou(RanQiu)andJiLu(Zilu)wenttosee
Confucius,saying:TheJifamilyisgettingreadytomoveagainstZhuanyu.Confuciussaid,Qiu,areyou
notatfaultforthis?SinceancienttimestheformerkingshavemaintainedZhuanyuasthesiteofthe
sacrificeatDongMengmountain.Moreover,itislocatedwithinourowncountry,andhasservedasthesite
ofournationalaltarstothesoilandgrainwhyshoulditbeattacked?RanYousaid,Itisourlordwho
wantstodothisitisnotwetwoministerswhowantit.


Confuciussaid,Qiu,thereisasayingofZhouRen:Theonewhodisplayshispoweristheonewhogets
thepositionthosewhoarenotcapablegiveup.Ifaministerdoesnotsupporthislordwhenheisindanger,
orsupporthimwhenheisabouttofall,thenwhatuseishe?Moreover,whatyouaresayingiswrong.When
atigerorwildbuffalo45escapesfromthecage,orthetortoiseshellandjadearedestroyedintheircases,
whosefaultisthis?RanYousaid,Now,ZhuanyuisstronglyfortifiedandclosetoBi.46Ifwedon'tseizeit
now,therewillbetroubleforthelatergenerations.Confuciussaid,Qiu,theNobleMandoesnotlikethe
onewhodeclinestosaywhathereallywantsandwhomustthenmakeexcuseslater.


Ihaveheardthattheheadsofstatesornoblefamiliesdonotworryoverpovertybutinsteadoverequal
distributionofwealththeydonotworryoverunderpopulation,butwhetherthepeopleareinsecure.47Now,
ifthereisequalityindistributiontherewillbenopovertyifthereisharmonyinsocietytherewillbeno
underpopulation,andifthereissecurity,therewillbesubversion.Ifitdonelikethis,theniftherearedistant
subjectswhodonotsubmit,youcanattractthembycultivatingrefinementandvirtue.Oncetheycome,then
youcangivethemsecurity.NowYouandQiu,servingasadvisorstoyourlord,havedistantsubjectswho
willnotsubmit,andyouareunabletoattractthemthecountryisfallingapart,andyoucandonothingto
preserveit.Yetyounowplanmilitaryactionwithinyourownstate.Iamafraidthatthetroubleofthe
descendantsofJiliesnotinZhuanyu,butrather,withintheconfinesofourowncourt.
[16-2]

[16:2]TheMastersaid:WhentheWay(justgovernment)prevailsintherealm,thenritual,musicand
militarycampaignsareallinitiatedbytheemperor.WhentheWaydeclinesintherealm,thenritual,music
andmilitarycampaignsareinitiatedbythenobles.Whenthesethingsareinitiatedbythenobles,theruling
housewillusuallyloseitspowerwithintengenerations.Whenthesethingsareinitiatedbythehigh
ministers,therulinghousewillusuallyloseitspowerwithinfivegenerations.Whentheyareinitiatedbythe
lowerofficers,therulinghousewillloseitspowerwithinthreegenerations.WhentheWayprevailsinthe
realm,thecommonpeopledonotdebatepoliticsamongthemselves.
[16-3]

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[16:4]Confuciussaid,Ithasbeenfivegenerationssincetheassignmentofemolumentslefttheducal
house.IthasbeenfourgenerationssincethegovernmentcameundercontroloftheCouncilors.Therefore
thedescendantsofthethreeHuan48havebeenindecline.
[16-4]

[16:4]TheMastersaid:Therearethreekindsoffriendshipwhicharebeneficialandthreekindsof
friendshipwhichareharmful.Friendshipwiththehonest,friendshipwiththesincere,andfriendshipwith
thelearnedareallbeneficial.Friendshipwiththedeceptive,friendshipwiththeunprincipled,andfriendship
withsmoothtalkersareharmful.
[16-5]

[16:5]TheMastersaid:Therearethreekindsofenjoymentwhicharebeneficialandthreekindsof
enjoymentwhichareharmful.Theenjoymentofcultivationinmusicandritual,theenjoymentofspeaking
ofthegoodnessofothersandtheenjoymentofbeingsurroundedbyfriendsofgoodcharacterareall
beneficial.Theenjoymentofarrogance,theenjoymentofdissipationandtheenjoymentofcomfortareall
harmful.
[16-6]

[16:6]TheMastersaid:Therearethreecommonmistakesmadebythosewhoareofrank:
(1)Tospeakwhenthereisnothingtobesaidthisisimprudence.
(2)Tobesilentwhenthereissomethingtobesaidthisisdeception.
(3)Tospeakwithoutpayingattentiontotheexpressionontheperson'sfacethisiscalledblindness.
[16-7]

[16:7]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanisonguardagainstthreethings:
(1)Whenheisayoungmanandhisphysicalenergiesarenotyetsettled,heisonguardagainstlust.
(2)Whenheismatureandhisphysicalenergyissolid,heisonguardagainstbeingdrawnintoafight.
(3)Whenheisold,andhisphysicalpowerisweakened,heisonguardnottoclingtohisattainments.
[16-8]

[16:8]TheMastersaid:Thenoblemanstandsinaweofthreethings:
(1)HeisinaweofthedecreeofHeaven.
(2)Heisinaweofgreatmen.
(3)Heisinaweofthewordsofthesages.
TheinferiormandoesnotknowthedecreeofHeavenhetakesgreatmenlightly,andlaughsatthewordsof
thesages.
[16-9]

[16:9]TheMastersaid:Thosewhoarebornknowingitarethebest.Thosewhostudytoknowitarenext
thosewhoarelimitedandyetstudyarenextthosewhoarelimitedanddonotevenstudyareconsideredto
bethelowestlevelofpeople.
[16-10]

[16:10]TheMastersaid:Thereareninepatternswhichareawarenessesofthenobleman.Inseeing,heis
awareofclarityinlistening,heisawareofsharpnessinfaces,isawareofwarmthintheattitudehe
projects,heisawareofcourtesyinspeech,sincerityinservice,reverence.Indoubt,heisinclinedto
questionwhenangry,heisawareofthedifficultiesthatmayensue.Whenheseesanopportunityforgain,
hethinksofwhatwouldbeJust.
[16-11]
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[16:11]Confuciuscitedtheproverb:

IregardgoodnessassomethingIhaven'tattained.Iregardevilasmydeepwellingspring.

andsaid,Ihaveseenthiskindofpersonandhaveheardthesewords.Butasfor:

Ihidemyselfawayinordertofathommyownwill.IactwithfairnesstopenetratetheWay.

Ihaveheardthissaid,buthaven'tseenthiskindofperson.

[16-12]

[16:12]DukeChingofQihadathousandteamsofhorses,butwhenhedied,therewasnothingforwhich
thepeoplecouldpraisehim.BoYiandShuQidiedofstarvationatthefootofShouyangmountain,andthe
peoplepraisethemuptillthisday.Whatmeaningcanyougleanfromthis?
[16-13]


[16:13]ChenkangaskedBoyu(Confucius'son):Haveyouheardanythingfromyourfatherdifferentthan
wediscipleshave?

Boyureplied,Notyet.Once,whenmyfatherwasstandingbyhimself,Ipassedbythehallquickly,andhe
said,HaveyoulearnedtheBookofOdesyet?Isaid,Notyet.SoIwentandstudiedtheBookofOdes.On
anotherday,thesamesceneoccurred,andheaskedme,HaveyoulearnedtheRecordofProprietyyet?I
said,Notyet.Hesaid,Ifyoudon'tlearnproprietyyouwillhavenostructure.SoIwentandstudiedthe
Propriety.Ihaveonlyheardthesetwothings.

Chenkangleft,elated,saying,Iquestionedononethingandgotthree!IlearnedaboutthePoems,Ilearnedaboutthe
ProprietyandIlearnedthatthenoblemanisnotpartialtohisson.

17.
[17-1]

[17:1]YangHuowantedtoseeConfuciusbutConfuciuswouldnotseehim,sohesentConfuciusapigletas
apresent.ConfuciustimedhisvisitofthankswhenYangHuowasnotathome.Theyhappenedtomeeton
theroad,andYangsaidtoConfucius,Come,Iwanttohaveawordwithyou.Andhesaid,Hidingone's
treasureinone'sbosomandlettingone'scountryloseitswaycansuchaonebecalledtrulyhumane?
Confuciusresponded,No,hecan't.Likingtobeinvolvedinpublicaffairsbutalwaysmissingthetiming
canhebecalledwise?No,hecan't.Thedaysandmonthsslipaway,andtimeisnotonourside.
Confuciussaid,Ok,I'lltakethejob.

Comment:AsomewhatunusualnarrativeintheAnalects,asConfuciusclearlylosestheargumenttoahighermoral
ground,acceptingjudgment,atthesametimeadmittinghisdeepdesiretoservethegovernment.

[17-2]

[17:2]TheMastersaid:Peoplearesimilarbynature,butthroughhabituationbecomequitedifferentfrom
eachother.Confuciussaid:Onlythemostwiseandthemostfoolishdonotchange.
[17-3]

[17:3]WhentheMasterwenttoWuChengheheardthesoundofsingingaccompaniedbylutes,helaughed
abitandsaid,Whywouldoneneedanoxcleavertokillachicken?ZiYureplied,Inthepast,Iheard
yousaying,IftheNobleManlearnstheWay,hewillcareaboutpeople.IfregularpeoplelearntheWay,
theybecomeeasytoemploy.Confuciussaid,Mydisciple,Yanisright.WhatIsaidbeforewasonlya
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joke.
[17-4]

[17:4]GongshanFurao,stagingarebellionfromBi[againsttheJifamily],sentaninvitationtoConfucius,
andtheMasterwantedtogo.ZiLu,displeasedwiththis,said,Indeedwemayhavenowheretogo,butwhy
mustwegotoseeGongshan?Confuciussaid,Ifsomeinvitesme,howcoulditbeatotalwaste?Ifthereis
someonewhoiswillingtomakeuseofme,shallInotmakehislandanEasternZhou?
[17-5]

[17:5]ZiZhangaskedConfuciusaboutfundamentalhumangoodness.Confuciussaid,Ifyoucanpractice
thesefivethingswithallthepeople,youcanbecalledafundamentallygoodperson.

ZiZhangaskedwhattheywere.

Confuciussaid,Courtesy,generosity,honesty,persistence,andkindness.Ifyouarecourteous,youwillnot
bedisrespectedifyouaregenerous,youwillgaineverything.Ifyouarehonest,peoplewillrelyonyou.If
youarepersistentyouwillgetresults.Ifyouarekind,youcanemploypeople.
[17-6]

[17:6]TheMastersaid:You,haveyouheardthesixphrasesaboutthesixdistortions?Youansweredthat
hehadn't.Thenstayamoment,Confuciussaid,andIwilltellyou.

Ifyoulovebeingkindtoothers,butdon'tliketostudy,thenyourkindnesswillbedistortedintosimplicity.
Ifyoulovewisdom,butdon'tliketostudy,thenyourwisdomwillbedistortedintoaimlessness.
Ifyoulovetrustworthiness,butdon'tliketostudy,thenyourtrustwillbedistortedintoharm.
Ifyoulovecandor,butdon'tliketostudy,yourcandorwillbedistortedintorudeness.
Ifyouloveboldness,butdon'tliketostudy,yourboldnesswillbedistortedintounruliness.
Ifyoulovepersistence,butdon'tliketostudy,yourpersistencewillbedistortedintorashness.
[17-7]

[17:7]BiXiinvitedConfucius[tocomeandserveinhisadministration],andConfuciuswantedtogo.ZiLu
said,Didn'tIoncehearyousaythattheNobleManwillnotentertheplaceofonewhohasassociated
himselfwithevil?BiXihastakenZhongmou49againstitswill,sohowcantheMastergothere?Confucius
said,Indeed,Ididsaysuchathing.Butisitnotsaidthatifyoupolishsomethinghard,itwillnotwear
thin?Anditisnotsaidthatifsomethingistrulywhite,ifyoutrytodyeitblack,itwon'tchangecolor?Shall
Ibelikeagourdthatcanbehung,butnevereaten?
[17-8]

[17:8]TheMastersaid:Mydisciples,whynotstudytheBookofOdes?TheOdescanupliftyou,canmake
youobservant,canhelpyoutogetalongwithpeople,canhelpyoutouseyouranger[inaproperway].
Appliednearathand,youcanserveyourfatherappliedatadistance,youcanserveyourruler.Youcan
learnmuchaboutthenamesofbirds,beasts,plants,andtrees.
[17-9]

[17:9]AddressingBoYu,theMastersaid:HaveyoustudiedtheZhouNanandShaoNanchapters?Isn't
theonewhodoesnotlearntheZhouNanandShaoNanchaptersjustlikesomeonewhostandsdirectly
facingawall?
[17-10]

[17:10]TheMastersaid:Ritual,theysay,ritual,theysay:isnothingmorethanjadeandsilk?50Music
theysay,Musictheysay:isitnothingmorethanbellsanddrums?

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[17-10]

[17:10]TheMastersaid:Ifyoushowatoughface,butareweakinside,youareamiserablefellow,likea
thiefburrowingthroughthewalls.
[17-11]

[17:11]TheMastersaid:Theconventionaltownsmanisathiefofvirtue.51
[17-12]

[17:12]TheMastersaid:ToapprehendtheWayandlectureonitbeforeactualizationistothrowaway
youraccumulationofvirtue.
[17-13]

[17:13]TheMastersaid:Theselowlifes!Howcantheyeverservearuler?!Whentheydon'thave
something,theymakethemselvesmiserableingettingit.Oncetheygetit,theygonutsaboutlosingit.Once
theyareworriedaboutlosingit,thereisnothingtheywon'tdo.
[17-14]

[17:14]TheMastersaid:Theancientshadthreekindsofshortcomings,someaspectsofwhicharenow
lost.Thewild(guang)52ofantiquitywereunboundedthewildoftodayaredissipated.Theproudof
antiquityweregallanttheproudoftodayarehottempered.Thesimplemindedofantiquitywere
straightforwardthesimplemindedoftodayareliars.
[17-15]

[17:15]TheMastersaid:Skillfulspeechandflatteringexpressionsareseldomindicativeoftruegoodness.

[17-16]

[17:16]TheMastersaid:IhatepurplebecauseitstealstheroleofredIhatethemusicofZheng,53because
itisareconfusedwiththeclassicalmusic54
[17-17]

[17:17]TheMastersaid:IwishIcouldavoidtalking.

ZiGongsaid,Master,ifyoudidn'tspeak,whatwouldwediscipleshavetopasson?

Confuciussaid,DoesHeavenspeak?Yetthefourseasonscontinuetochange,andallthingsareborn.Does
Heavenspeak?
[17-18]

[17:18]RuBeiwantedtoseeConfucius,butConfuciusexcusedhimselfonthegroundsofillness.Whenhis
messengerwenttothedoor,themasterpickeduphisluteandbegantosingsothatBeicouldhearhim.
[17-19]



[17:19]ZaiWoasked:Isn'tthethreeyearmourningperiod[forparents]toolong?IftheNobleMandoes
notexerciseritualforthreeyears,theritualswillcertainlydeteriorateifmusicisnotplayedforthreeyears,
itwillcertainlyvitiate.Lastyear'sgrainisalreadygone,thisyears'grainhasalreadysprouted.Andthe
seasonalcyclefortheuseofwood55forproducingfirebyfrictionhasalreadypassedthrough.Oneyearis
enough.Confuciussaid,Areyoucomfortablewitheatinggoodriceandwearingfinesilk[soonafteryour
parentshavedied]?Yes,Iamfinewithit.IfyouareOKwithit,thengoaheadanddoit.Whenthe
NobleManisinmourning,hecannotenjoythetasteofdeliciousfood,cannotenjoythesoundofmusic,and
cannotbecomfortableinhisownhome,andthereforehewon'tdosuchathing.Now,ifyouarecomfortable
withit,thendoit.ZaiWoleft.Confuciussaid,HowinhumaneZaiWois!Itisonlyafterthreeyearsthata

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childavoidshisparent'sembrace.Thethreeyearperiodofmourningisobservedthroughoutsociety.Wasn't
ZaiWolovedthreeyearsbyhisparents?
[17-20]

[17:20]TheMastersaid:Whatcanbedonewithamanwhostuffshisfacewithfoodallday,without
exercisinghismind.Hecouldatleastplaycardsorchessorsomething.Itwouldbebetterthannothing.
[17-21]

[17:21]ZiLusaid:Doesthenoblemanesteembravery?

Confuciussaid,Thenoblemanputsfairnessfirst.Ifthenoblemanisbravewithoutfairness,hewillbe
rebellious.Iftheinferiormanisbravewithoutfairness,hewillbecomeanoutlaw.
[17-22]

[17:22]ZiGongasked,Doesthenoblemanalsohavethingsthathehates?

Confuciussaid,Hedoes.Hehatesthosewhoadvertisethefaultsofothers.Hehatesthosewhoabidein
lowlinessandslanderthegreat.Hehatesthosewhoareboldwithoutpropriety.Hehatesthosewhoare
convincedoftheirownperfection,andclosedofftoanythingelse.Howaboutyou,whatdoyouhate?

ZiGongsaid,IhatethosewhotakealittlebitofclarityaswisdomIhatethosewhotakedisobedienceas
courageIhatethosewhotakedisclosingpeople'sweakpointstobestraightforwardness.
[17-23]

[17:23]TheMastersaid:Girlsandinferiormenarehardtogetalongwith.Ifyougetfamiliarwiththem,
theylosetheirhumilityifyouaredistant,theyresentit.
[17-24]

[17:26]TheMastersaid:Onewhohasreachedtheageoffortyandisdisliked,willbedislikedtotheend.

18.
[18-1]

[18:1]WeizilefthimJiziwasenslavedbyhimBiGanadmonishedhim,anddiedforit.Confuciussaid,
TherewerethreeGoodMenintheYin.
[18-2]

[18:2]HuiLiuxiawaschiefcriminaljudge,andwasfiredthreetimes.

Someonesaid,Whydon'tyoujustleave,sir?

Hesaid,IfIwanttogivejusticeinservingpeople,wherecanIgowherethiswillnothappen?IfIcanbe
satisfiedwithhandingoutinjustice,whyshouldIbotherleavingthelandofmyparents?
[18-3]

[18:3]DukeJingofQiwastryingtodecidewhattodowithConfucius.Hesaid,Ican'ttreathimtheway
theJifamilydid.IcanemployhimsomewherebetweenthestatusofJiorMeng(Sun).Hesaidagain,Iam
alreadyold.Ican'tusehim.Confuciusleft.
[18-4]

[18:4]ThepeopleofQisentLuapresentofgirlmusicians.JiHuan(rulerofLu)receivedthem,andfor
threedaysdidnotholdcourt.Confuciusleft.
[18-5]

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[18:5]Jieyu,themadmanofChu,passedbyConfucius,singing:

Phoenix!Phoenix!
Howyourvirtuehasdeclined!
Yourpastcannotbecorrected,
Butyourfutureisyettocome.
Giveup!Giveup!
ThosewhoinvolvethemselvesinGovernmentnow
Willbeindanger.

Confuciusjumpeddown,wantingtotalktohim,butheranaway,soConfuciuscouldn'ttalktohim.

[18-6]



[18:6]ZhangZuoandJieNiwereworkingtogetherinthefieldswhenConfuciuswaspassingby.HesentZi
Lutoaskthemwherehecouldfordtheriver.ZhangZuosaid,Whoisthatholdingthecarriage?

ZiLusaid,ItisConfucius

Zhangsaid,TheConfuciusofLu?

Yes.

Well,ifthat'sthecase,thenheknowstheford.

ZiLuthenaskedJieNiwhosaid,Whoareyou?

IamZiLu.

ThefollowerofthisConfuciusofLu?

Right.

Jiesaid,Disorder,disorderthroughouttherealm!Andwhocanchangeit?Ratherthanfollowingashiwho
avoidspeople,youshouldfollowonewhoescapesfromtheworld!Withthat,hewentbacktohishoeing
andwouldn'tstop.

ZiLuwentbackandreportedthistoConfucius.Confuciussighing,said,Ican'tformassociationswiththe
birdsandbeasts.SoifIdon'tassociatewithpeople,thenwhowillIassociatewith?IftheWayprevailedin
therealm,Iwouldnottrytochangeanything.
[18-7]


[18:7]ZiLu,havingfallenbehindthegroup,metanoldmancarryingabasketonapole.Heaskedhim:
Haveyouseenmymaster?

Theoldmansaid,Yourfourlimbshavenottoiled,andyoucan'tdistinguishamongthefivegrainswho
isyourmaster?Heplantedhisstaffinthegroundandbegantoweed.ZiLustoodtherewithhisarms
folded.Theoldmanhadhimstayovernight.Hekilledachicken,preparedmilletandfedhim,andthen
introducedhimtohistwosons.Thenextday,ZiLuleft,andhetoldConfucius.

TheMastersaid,Heisarecluse,andsentZiLubacktoseehim.Whenhearrived,themanwasgone.

ZiLusaid,Ifyoudon'thaveapositioninsociety,howcanyoupracticefairness?Iftherelationship
betweenyoungandoldcannotbeabandoned,howcantherelationshipbetweenrulerandministerbe
abandoned?Desiringtokeephisownpurity,hedisruptsthegreatbondsofsociety.Thenoblemanpractices
hisfairnessfromhisplaceinsociety.Whenfairnessisnotbeingdone,heistheonewhoisawareofit.

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[18-8]

[18:8]AmongmenwhohaveabandonedsocietyareBoYi,ShuQi,YuZhong,Yiyi,ZhuZhang,HuiLiu
Xia,andShaoLian.TheMastersaid,Thosewhowouldnotsurrendertheirwillsorhumiliatethemselves
wereBoYiandShuQi.RegardingLiuxiaHuiandShaoLian,hesaid,Theysurrenderedtheirwillsand
humiliatedthemselvesnonetheless,theirwordswerebasedonsolidprinciplesandtheythoughtbefore
acting.Thatisaboutallthatcanbesaidofthem.ConcerningYuZhongandYiYi:Theyleftsociety,and
intheirseclusioncastoffspeech,theywerepureintheirpersonalactivities,andtheirabandonmentof
officialpositionwasadjustedaccordingtothecircumstances.Iamdifferentthanthis.Ihavenoshoulds
orshouldnots.
[18-9]

[18:10]TheheadmusicianZhi,wenttoQiGan,themusicianforthesecondmeal,wenttoChuLiao,the
musicianforthethirdmeal,wenttoCaiQue,themusicianforthefourthmeal,wenttoQinthedrummer
FangShu,wenttotheareaoftheYellowRiverWu,theplayerofthespinninghanddrum,whentotheHan
RiverYang,theassistantmusician,andXiang,theplayerofthestonechimes,wenttothesea.
[18-10]

[18:10]TheDukeofZhouwastalkingtohisson,theDukeofLu.Hesaid:Thenoblemandoesnotneglect
hisrelativesanddoesnotlettheHighMinisterdevelopresentmentaboutnotbeingutilized.Therefore,he
hasneverfiredanyoneunlesstherewasareallygoodreason,andhedoesnotseektosqueezeeverythingout
ofoneman.
[18-11]

[18:11].TherewereeightGentlemenintheZhou:BoDa,BoKuo,ZhongTu,ZhongHu,ShuYe,ShuXia,
JiSui,andJiGua.

19.
[19-1]

[19:1]ZiZhangsaid:Theshiwhofacedwithdangercanabandonhislifewhoseeinganopportunityfor
gain,thinksoffairnesswhoatritualsisreverentandwhoatfuneralsissorrowful:heisworthsomething.
[19-2]

[19:2]ZiZhangsaid:Keepingone'svirtuewithoutextendingittrustingtheWaywithoutenrichingit.
Whatcanyougain?Andwhatcanyougetridof?
[19-3]

[19:3]ThedisciplesofZiXiawereaskedZiZhangaboutassociations.ZiZhangaskedinresponse:
Whatdoesyourteachertellyou?

Onereplied,Associatewiththecapableandkeepawayfromtheincapable.

ZiZhangsaid,ThisisdifferentfromwhatIhaveheard.Thenoblemanveneratestheworthybutaccepts
everyone.Hepraisesthegoodandpitiestheincapable.NowifIwereaworthy,whomshouldInotaccept?
IfIamunworthy,shallpeoplecastmeaside?Howcanyoujustpushpeopleawaylikethis?
[19-4]

[19:4]ZiXiasaid,Ifsomewhathasjustasmallattainmentoftheway,itcanbeobserved.Butifhetriesto
extendittoofar,itwillloseitsfunctioning.Therefore,thenoblemandoesnotdothis.
[19-5]

[19:5]ZiXiasaid:Someonewhoisawareeverydayofwhathelacks,andeverymonthdoesnotforget
whathehasdeveloped,canbecalledaloveroflearning.

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[19-6]

[19:6]ZiXiasaid:Studyingwidelyandthickeningyourwill,questioningearnestlyandreflectingonthings
athand:renliesinthis.
[19-7]

[19:7]ZiXiasaid:Theartisansstayintheirshopsinordertoaccomplishtheirworks.Thenobleman
studiesinordertoactualizehisWay.
[19-8]

[19:8]ZiXiasaid:Theinferiormanalwaysglossesoverhiserrors.
[19-9]

[19:9]ZiXiasaid:Thenoblemanhasthreeappearances.Fromafar,heappearsmajesticcloseup,he
seemswarmlisteningtohisspeech,heseemspolished.
[19-10]

[19:10]ZiXiasaid:Aftertherulerhasthetrustofthepeople,theywilltoilforhim.Ifhedoesn'thavetheir
trust,theywillregardhimasoppressive.Onlyaftergaininghistrustwilltheycriticizehimopenly.Ifhe
doesn'ttrustthem,hewilltaketheircriticismasbackstabbing.
[19-11]

[19:11]ZiXiasaid:Aslongasyoudon'ttransgressthenormofgreatvirtue,youmayutilizesmallvirtues
freely.
[19-12]

[19:12]ZiYusaid:ThedisciplesofZiXiacancleanthefloor,respondtoquestions,andcomeforwardand
retire,butthesearetrivialmatterswhenitcomestotheessentials,theyarelost.Whyisitso?ZiXia,
hearingofitsaid,What?Isn'tthisabitofanexaggeration?IntheWayoftheNobleMan,thosewho
advancefirstaresummoned,andthosewhoarelatefallaway.56Itislikethevariousplantsthatare
categorizedbytheirspecies.HowcantheWayoftheNobleManbedeceptive?Who,butasage,canboth
taketheinitiativeandbringmatterstotheircompletion?
[19-13]

[19:13]ZiXiasaid:Afteryouhaveaccomplishedyourjob,thenstudy.Afteryouhaveaccomplishedyour
studies,thengetajob.
[19-14]

[19:14]ZiLusaid:Whenmourninghasexpendeditselfingrief,itshouldend.
[19-15]

[19:15]ZiLusaid:MyfriendZhangcanhandledifficulty,butisnotyetperfectinren.
[19-16]

[19:16]CengZisaid:HowimposingZhangis.Itisdifficulttopracticerenwithhim.
[19-17]

[19:17]CengZisaid:Ihaveheardthisfromourmaster:Ifamanhasnotyetfullyexperiencedhimself,he
willwhenhisparentsdie.
[19-18]

[19:18]CengZisaid:IheardourMastersay,Inothermatters,thefilialpietyofMingZhongZiwas
nothingspecial.Buthisrunninghisgovernmentwithoutchanginghisfather'sministersorsystemsthis
wasquitedifficult.
[19-19]

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[19:19]Yangfu,havingbeenappointedMinisterofJusticebytheMengclan,consultedwithCengZi.Tseng
said,Whenthoseinpowerlosetheirsenseofjustice,thepeoplewillscatterfromthem,anditwillbea
longtimebeforetheyreturn.Whenyouareawareoftheirsuffering,thenyoushouldbesorrowful,never
joyful.
[19-20]

[19:20]ZiGongsaid,Zhoucouldnotreallyhavebeenthatbad.ThereforetheNobleMandislikesresiding
inthelowerreaches,wherealltheeviloftheworldaccumulates.
[19-21]

[19:21]ZiGongsaid:Thefaultsofthenoblemanareliketheeclipsesofthesunandmooneveryone
seesthem.Butwhenhecorrectsthem,everyonelooksuptohim.
[19-22]

[19:22]GongSunchaoofWeiaskedZiGong:FromwhomdidConfuciusgethislearning?

ZiGongsaid,TheWayofKingWenandKingWu(thelegendarysagekingsofantiquity)hasnotyetsunk
intotheground.TheWorthieshaveassimilatedthemajorpoints,andthelessthanworthyhaveassimilated
theminorpoints.ThereisnoplacewheretheWayofWenandWudoesnotexist,sohowcouldtheMaster
notlearnit?Whywouldheneedtogetitfromacertainteacher?
[19-23]

[19:23]ShusunWushu,addressingthemajorofficersofhiscourt,said:ZiGongissuperiortoConfucius.

ZifuJingbotoldthistoZiGong,whocommented,Letmeuseasimileofacastleanditswall.Mywallis
onlyshoulderhigh,whichyoumaylookoverandseethedesirablesthatlieinside.MyMaster'swallis
severaltensoffeethighandifyoucan'tfindthedoorandenterbyit,youwillnotseethebeautyofits
ancestraltemple,northesplendorofitshundredofficers.Thosewhofindthedoorarefewindeed.Arenot
myMaster'swordsevenmoredifficulttograsp?
[19-24]

[19:24]ShusunWushu'sdisparagedConfucius.ZiGongsaid,Itisridiculoustalkingthisway.Confucius
cannotbeslandered.Thevirtueofothermenislikeasmallhill,whichcanbeclimbedover.Confuciusis
likethesunandthemoon.Thereisnowaytheycanbeclimbedover.Evenifyouwanttocutyourselfoff
fromthesunandmoon,howcanyouhurtthem?ItiseasytoseethatWushudoesnotknowvalue.
[19-25]

[19:25]ChenZiqinaddressesZiGong,saying,Youaretoohumble.HowcouldZhongni(Confucius)be
moreworthythanyou?ZiGongsaid,ByasinglewordtheNobleManshowshisintelligence,andbya
singlewordheshowshisignorance.Hence,onemustbecarefulwhenchoosingone'swords.Thelevelof
theMastercannotbereached,justastheheavenscannotbeascendedtousingastairway.Ifourmasterhad
attainedcontrolofthestateorclan,itwouldhavebeenasitissaid:Byhisestablishmenttheytooktheir
positionswhenheled,theyfollowedduetohisgentleness,theycamewhenhemotivatedthem,they
workedinharmony.Inlifehewasglorious,indeathheismourned.Whocouldattaintosuchalevel?

20.
[20-1]



[20:1]Yaosaid,Ah,Shun,theheavenlysuccessionhasfallenonyou.Holdfirmtothecenter.Ifthewhole
realmfallsintodirestraits,theheavenlystipendwilldisappearforever.ShunsimilarlyinstructedYu.
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[Tang]said,I,theinconsequentialL,daretosacrificetheblackbull,anddaretoreporttotheillustrious
Lord.Whenacrimeisdone,Iwillnotdaretopardonit.IwillIcoverupforyourservants,butleavethe
decisionuptoyourdiscretion.WhenIamguiltyofafault,Iwillnotblameitonallthepeople,andtheyare
atfault,Iwilltakeresponsibilitymyself.Zhouhadgreatgifts,whichheusedtoenrichgoodmen.Although
hewassurroundedbycloserelatives,theywerenottreatedonaparequalwiththeGood.Iftherearefaults
amongtheofficials,57Iwilltaketheblamemyself.Becarefulwithweightsandmeasures,scrutinizewell
thelegalcode,andrestoreofficesthathavefallenintodisusethenallthelandsinthefourdirectionswill
bewellgoverned.Raiseupfailedstates,reestablishbrokenlineages,empowerthosehadavoidedservice,
andallthecommonpeopleintherealmwillputtheirtrustinyou.Placevalueonthecommonpeople,food,
mourningforthedead,andritualsacrifice.Ifyouaregenerousyouwillgaintheheartsofthepeopleifyou
aretrustworthy,theywillrelyonyouifyouarediligent,youwillgetresultsifyouarefair,theywillbe
happy.
[20-2]




[20:2]ZiZhangaskedConfucius,sayingHowshouldonebesthandletheaffairsofgovernment?The
Mastersaid,Therearefivepointsofexcellencetoberespected,andfourbadpointstobeavoided.Ifyou
canfollowthese,youcanhandletheaffairsofgovernment.ZiZhangasked,Whatarethefivepointsof
excellence?TheMastersaid,TheNobleManisgenerouswithoutbeingwasteful,workshardwithout
resentment,desireswithoutbeingavaricious,isproudwithoutbeingarrogant,strictwithoutbeingsevere.
ZiZhangsaid,Whatdoesitmean,tobegenerouswithoutbeingwasteful?TheMastersaid,Ifyouseea
waytobringbenefittothecommonpeopleandyoucarryitout,isthisnotbeinggenerouswithoutbeing
wasteful?Ifyouselectthematterswhereitisappropriatetoworkandhavepeopleworkhardatthem,who
willberesentful?IfyoudesireGoodnessandattainit,wherewilltherebegreed?Whetherdealingwiththe
manyorthefew,theyoungortheold,theNobleMandoesnotdaretobeconceited.Isthisnotindeedthe
meaningofbeingproudbutnotbeingarrogant?TheNobleMan,straighteninghisrobeandcap,isrespectful
inhisgazeheissevereinthegazesofthepeople,yetisinaweofthem.Isthisnotthemeaningofbeing
strictwithoutbeingsevere?ZiZhangsaid,Whatarethefourbadpoints?TheMastersaid,Toexecute
someonewithoutexplainingwhattheydidwrongiscrueltytoexpectachievementswithoutadmonishment
istyrannicaltobelateingivingordersyetexpectingpunctualityisinjurioustobestingyinbestowingon
peopletheirdueremunerationispettyofficiousness.
[20-3]

[20:3]TheMastersaid:Ifyoudonotunderstanddestiny,thereisnowayyouwillberegardedasaNoble
Man.Ifyoudonotunderstandpropriety,thereisnowayforyoutobeestablished.Ifyoudonotunderstand
words,thereisnowayforyoutounderstandpeople.

Notes

1.Shijing.TheBookofOdes.OneofthefiveChineseclassicsalsocommonlyreferredtoinChineseastheMaoshi.Also
translatedastheBookofPoetry,orBookofSongs.Itisacollectionofpoems,writtenduringthe500yearsbetweenthebeginningof
theZhoudynastyandthemiddleoftheSpringandAutumnperiod.ItisbelievedthatConfuciusselected305frommorethan3,000
piecesandeditedthemintoabooktobeusedforeducation.Ofthe305poems,eachisusuallyknownbyitstitle,whicharedrawn
fromphrasesfoundinitsopeningpassage.

2.ThissimilefortheprocessofselfperfectionisfoundofteninConfuciantexts.

3.Inotherwords:Igivehimahintandhegetsthewholepoint.

4.Legge'snotetothispassagesays(withconversiontoPinyin):TheTaimountainisthefirstofthefivemountainswhichare
celebratedinChineseliterature,andhavealwaysreceivedreligioushonors.ItwasinLu,orratheronthebordersbetweenLuandJi,
abouttwomilesnorthofthepresentdepartmentcityofTaianinShandong.AccordingtotheritualofChina,sacrificecouldonlybe
offeredtothosemountainsbythesovereign,andbytheprincesinwhoseStatesanyofthemhappenedtobe.ForthechiefoftheJi
family,therefore,tosacrificetotheTaimountainwasagreatusurpation.LinPang,seechap.iv,fromwhichthereasonofthis
referencetohimmaybeunderstood.RanYouwasoneofthedisciplesofConfucius,andisnowthird,inthehall,onthewest.He

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enteredtheserviceoftheJifamily,andwasamanofabilityandresource.

5.TheGuanju(TheCryoftheOspreys)isthefirstpoemintheBookofOdes.Itbeginsbydescribingalover'sgriefatbeing
separatedfromhisladyandendsbydescribingtheirjoyfulunion.(Waley,99)

6.:GuanZhong.(?645BCE)SpringandAutumnperiodstatesman,originallyfromtheareaofYingshui.
FamiliarnamewasYiWu,styledZhong,alsoknownasJing,thusalsoknownasGuanZingzhongandGuanzi
.HetheprimeministerwhoswitchedloyaltiesaftertheassassinationofhisoriginallordtoserveDukeHuanofQi.
Heisconsideredtoberesponsibleformanyoftheduke'sadministrativeachievements.Itwasbasedupontherecommendationofhis
friendBaoShuthatDukeHuantookhimintohisservice,andHuanwouldgoontobecomeknownasoneoftheFive
Hegemons.HeisreputedtobetheauthoroftheGuanzi.

7.Leggetranslates:Ifthewillbesetonvirtue,therewillbenopracticeofwickedness.Butwerarelyseeasanentityofevilor
wickednessintextsofthisperiod.AmesandRosemontsay:Ifindeedone'spurposesaresetonauthoritativeconduct,onecoulddo
nowrong.Butisnotgenerallyusedtoindicatewrongdoing.Itusuallymeansugliness,hatefulness,tobeugly,behateful,or
hated,etc.ArthurWaleytriesrightlyIthinktomaintaincontinuitywiththepreviouspassagebysayingHewhoseheartisin
thesmallestdegreesetonGoodnesswilldislikenoone.Iprefer(asIusuallydo),thereadingofBruceBrooks:Ifoncehesetshis
mindonren,hewillhavenohatred.

8.JamesLeggetakesasIgrant...indicatingagreement,andthus:Igrantyou,youarenotequaltohim.

9.Forthemeaningofwildhere,pleaseseethediscussionofthetermguanginthecommenton13:21.

10.I.e.,fitthespecificationsforasacrificialanimal.

11.Leggesays:ThefatherofZhongGong(SeeV.ii.)wasamanofbadcharacterandsomewouldhavevisitedthisuponhisson,
whichdrewforthConfucius'remark.(186)

12.WhichwasoutoftherangeofQi'sinfluence.

13.Leggesays(p.199):[BoYiandShuQi]havinggivenuptheirthrone,andfinallytheirlives,ratherthandoingwhatwaswrong,
andConfucius,fullyapprovingoftheirconduct,itwasplainhecouldnotapproveofason'sholdingbyforcewhatwastherightful
inheritanceofthefather.

14.AhighofficialoftheSong,whowastryingtoassassinateConfucius.

15.ThisisprobablyareferencetoYanhui,Confucius'favoriteamonghisdisciples,whodiedyoung.

16.Wenmeansliteratureorculture.KingWenwastraditionallyrecognizedasateacherofculturetotheancientChinese.

17.Thenoblemanisnotautensil.

18.IhavedivergedfromLeggeandWaleyintakingcompletelyemptyliketoreferpositivelytotheconditionofConfucius'mind,
ratherthannegativelytothemindofthesimplemanwhoisquestioning.

19.Commentatorsandtranslatorsunderstandthischart/diagramvariously.ThemostthoroughandconvincingexplanationthatIhave
foundisthatbyBruceBrookswhichsays:thephoenixomen...andtheRiverDiagram(thereferenceistotheYellowRiver).
ThelatterisnotinterpretedasthemagicsquareoforderthreeuntilHantimes(wearegratefultoNathanSivinforthisclarification)
inthelate4citmayhavebeena3x3arrayrepresentingtheninepartsofChinainDzouYen'sgeographyasymbolofuniversal
dominion.(Commenttopassage9:9)

20.I.e.,hewanted,inthecaseofConfucius'death,forittoappearthatConfuciushadbeenofhighstatus.

21.BookofPoems,number67.

22.AccordingtoZhuXi,thelogographhereisacorruptionof.

23.:Thestepsleadingtotheeasterndoorofthehall.Theplacewherethehoststandswhengreetingguests.

24.FollowingBruceBrooks.

25.InaTangstoneengraving,thisiswrittenas.

26.Thispassageisgivenawiderangeofinterpretationsbycommentatorsandtranslators.Itakeitasanepisodeinthemidstofan

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excursion(perhapsfortheexplicitpurposeofhunting,ornot)byZiLuandConfuciuswheretheopportunityshowsitselfforthemto
catchahenpheasant.

27.AversefromtheBookofOdes(256):Aflawinawhitejadetabletmaybepolishedawaybutnothingcanbedoneforaflawin
one'swords.

28.

Forexample,WingtsitChantranslates:

Ifaman(theruler)canforonedaymasterhimselfandreturntopropriety,allunderheavenwillreturnto
humanity(SourceBook,p.38)

Thisrenderingmakestheassumptionthattheonlywaytomakethepeoplehumaneisthroughtheenforcementof
politicalpower.ThereisnodoubtthatConfuciushimselfsoughttheemploymentofakingtohelpbringpeacetothe
world.Butthereisalsonoindicationthatheisspeakingtoakinghere,nordoesthewordwangappearinthesentence.
JamesLeggesays:
Ifamancanforonedaysubduehimselfandreturntopropriety,allunderheavenwillascribevirtuetohim.(Legge
250)
Thisrenderingdamagestheforceofthepassageevenfurtherbyinterpretingthewordgui(whichclearly
meansreturninChinese)asascribetohim,athoroughlyunnaturalreadingoftheword.D.C.Laustays
fairlyclosetoLeggewhenhetranslates:
Ifforasingledayamancouldreturntotheobservanceofritesthroughovercominghimself,thenthewholeEmpire
wouldconsiderbenevolencetobehis.(Lau112)

29.Waley(166)indicatesthatthislinecomesfromtheBookofOdes#105,fromataleofamanwholeaveshiswifeforanother
woman:anexampleofconfusion.

30.Othertranslations,followingChuhsi,renderthislastlineasheneversleptonapromise.Ibasedmyinterpretationonamore
literalreadingofthetext,andonthefactthatTzulu,throughouttheAnalects,isshowntobeapersonwhospeakshismind
immediatelyanddirectly.

31.HereConfuciusispunningonthefactthatinChinese,thewordsgovernmentandtorectifyarepronouncedthesame
(zhng).

32.Pleaseseediscussionofdainreferenceto12:20.

33.TherulersofLuandWei(ZhougongJidanandKangShu)wereactuallybrothers,whosemilitarytacticswere
similar.Confucius.CommentatorssuggestthatConfuciuswasdisillusionedtofindthatthingsinWeiwerenobetterthaninLu.

34.YiandAoareancientlegendaryfiguresfamousfortheirsuperhumanfeats.

35.TranslatorsandinterpretersoftheAnalectsaredividedintothegroupthattakesasanoldpromiseandthosewhotakeitas
enduringdifficultywithaslightlygreaternumberpreferringtheformerinterpretation.However,wefeelthatthisinterpretation
accordsmorecloselywiththethoughtofConfucius.See,forexample,Analects4:2:.Furthermore,the
logographisnotcommonlyusedtorepresentsomethingoldorformer(,,).Rather,itmeanstomaintainanactivity
overalongperiodoftime.Confusiononthepartofmoderninterpretersmaybeinfluencedbythehomophonyofand.

36.:JnWenGong.(Reign637628BCE)DukeWenofJin.ThesecondoftheFiveHegemonsoftheSpringand
Autumnperiod.ThesecondsonofDukeXian,hewentintoexilefor19yearstoavoidtheplotsofhismotherinlaw
ConcubineLi.Asduke,withtheassistanceofableministersasZhaoCuiandGuYan,heestablishedthesupremacy
ofJinastheleaderofthestatesincentralChinatoopposeChu.AlsocalledandoftenpairedwithDukeHuanofQi
as.

37.:QiHuanGong.DukeHuanofQi,whodiedin643BCE.Hewasoneofthefivehegemonswhoheldpowerin
the7thcentury.YoungerbrotherofXiangGong,firstnameXiaoBai,alsoknownasHuan.Sincehisolderbrother
XiangGongwasinthebusinessofassassinatingthosearoundhim,theyoungerbrothersescapedtoneighboringstates,withHuan
takingrefugeinJu.WhenXiangGongwasassassinatedbyhispeople,hewasinvitedtoreturn,andtakeupthethrone.Atthe
recommendationofBaoShuyahetookthecleverGuanZhongashisprimeminister.Respectingtheroyalhouseof
Zhou,hevanquishedYiQiu,andassemblingallthenobles,unifiedtherealm.,

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38.:GongZijiu.AmanofQiduringtheSpringandAutumnperiod.YoungbrotherofXiangGong.WhenXiang
beganexecutingthosearoundhim,theyoungerbrothersescapedfromthecountry,withJiugoingtoLuandXiaoBai
goingtoJu.WhenXiangwasassassinatedbyhispeople,XiaoBaiwasaskedtoreturntotakethethrone,andLuraisedaforceand
sentJiuaway,allowingXiaoBaitoarrivetoQifirstandtakethethroneasHuanGong.Intheend,thepeopleofLukilledZiJiu
inShengdu.InAnalects14:16,ConfuciusseemstobesayingthathewaskilledbyhisolderbrotherHuangGong.

39.:ZhaoHu.AgrandmasterofQiduringtheSpringandAutumnperiod,acolleagueofGuanZhong.He
wasoriginallyloyaltotheolderbrotherofDukeHuan,sowhenhislordwasassassinatedbyHuan,hetookhisownlifeaswell.
,(DDB)

40.Seenoteon3:22forbioofGuanZhong.

41.:Fasteningone'sgarmentontheleftsideastyleofthenomadictribesonthefringesofChina.TheChinese(aswellas
KoreansandJapanese)fastenedtheirgarmentsontherightside.,[]

42.Thedictionariesglossasahorsethatcanrunathousandliinasingleday.ArthurWaleydepartsfromtheothertranslatorsby
takingittobethenameofagreathorseofantiquity.Thisseemstobetomakesense,buthedoesnotprovidetextualsupportforthis
interpretation,andwehavenotbeenabletolocateitourselves.ItisnotclearwhyConfuciusisquotedashavingsaidthishere,but
perhapshewouldliketoimplythatevenananimalhasthiskindofinnerfortitudeanddedication,sohowmuchmoreinthecaseof
humanbeings?

43.Alsotranslatedelsewhere,bycontext,asrightness.

44.TheXia,theYinandtheZhou.

45.Mosttranslatorsrenderaccordingtoitsmodernmeaningofrhinoceros,inearlyclassicalChinesethisreferstoawildbovine
beastwithasinglehorn.WecanalsonodoubtpresumethattherewerenotallthatmanyrhinocerosesinancientChinaduringthe
WarringStatesperiod.

46.ThestrongholdoftheJifamily.

47.Ascommentatorsandothertranslatorshavenoted,andascanbediscernedbythecontext,thelogographsandhave
obviouslybeentransposedhere.

48.ThreechiefministersinthestateofLuduringtheSpringandAutumnperiods.TheyareMengsun,Shusun
,andJisun.ThesethreeinfluentialfamilieswereallthedescendentsofHuangong,alsocalledSanHuan.Afterthedeath
ofWengong,thesethreemajorfamiliescontrolledthepoliticalpowerofthestateofLu.

49.AtowninWei,capturedbytheJin.

50.Jadeandsilkclothing.Inantiquity,aformalgiftwhenthefeudallordsmeteachotherortheking.Alsousedasanofferingto
gods.

51.Foradiscussionofthissaying,seeMencius7B:37.

52.Forthemeaningofguang,pleaseseethediscussionconnectedto13:21.

53.ThesoundsofZhengarealsocriticizedinAnalects1511.

54.I.e.,themusicofYa.Ihatecleverspeech,becauseitunderminesthestateandtheclans.

55..Thisreferstothevariouskindsofwoodusedtraditionallyasdrillformakingfire.TheearlyChineseusedelmorwillowin
spring,jujubeorapricottreeinearlysummer,mulberryinlatesummer,oakinautumn,andpagodaorsandalwoodtreeinwinter.This
iscalledafullcycle.

56.Thosetranslatorswhoreadhereasmature,seemtobeignoringbasicChinesegrammaticalsensibilities,asitspositionatthe
headofthephrasemakesitobviousthatitsbasicmeaningofwhoisimplied.

57.Mosttranslatorstakeasthecommonpeople.However,theearliermeaningofthistermis.Duringearlierperiods,the
commonpeopledidnothavetheirownsurnames,andsousedthatoftheirlocallordorofficial.SincewearespeakingofYaoand
Shun,thisiscertainlyoneoftheearliestrecordedperiodsinChinesehistory.

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