Original Text:
子张曰书云‘高宗谅阴三年不言何谓也子曰何必高宗古之人皆然君薨百官总己以听于冢宰三年
Translation:
Other Translations:
Zizhang asked, “The Book of Documents says, ‘Gaozong stayed in his mourning hut, and did not speak for three years.’ What does this mean?”
The Master replied, “We do not have to confine ourselves to Gaozong—all of the ancients were the same. When their lord passed away, for three years the hundred officials would all see to their own tasks, under the direction of the Prime Minister.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zizhang said, The Book of Documents states that Gao Zong was in his mourning hut for three years without speaking. What does this mean?
The Master said, Why only Gao Zong? The men of ancient times all did this. When the ruler passed away, the officials under him for three years took all their instructions from the prime minister.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.