Analects - Book Five - Confucian Pages

Analects 5.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

孟武伯问子路仁乎子曰不知也又问子曰由也千乘之国可使治其赋也不知其仁也求也何如子曰求也千室之邑百乘之家可使为之宰也不知其仁也赤也何如子曰赤也束带立于朝可使与宾客言也不知其仁也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Meng Wubo asked, “Is Zilu Good?”
The Master replied, “I do not know.”
Meng Wubo repeated his question.
The Master said, “In a state of one thousand chariots, Zilu could be employed to organize the collection of military taxes, but I do not know whether or not he is Good.”
“What about Ran Qiu?”
“In a town of one thousand households, or an aristocratic family of one hundred chariots, Ran Qiu could be employed as a steward, but I do not know whether or not he is Good.”
“What about Zihua?”
“Standing in his proper place at court with his sash tied, Zihua could be employed to converse with guests and visitors, but I do not know whether or not he is Good.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Meng Wu Bo questioned Confucius, saying, Is Zilu a humane person?
The Master said, I don’t know.
Meng Wu Bo asked again.
The Master said, In a state of a thousand war chariots, You (Zilu) could be put in charge of military levies. But I don’t know if he is humane.
What about Qiu (Ran You)?
The Master said, For a town of a thousand households or a clan of a hundred chariots, Qiu could act as overseer. But I don’t know if he is humane.
What about Chi (Gongxi Zihua)?
The Master said, Chi, dressed in formal robes, standing in court, would do very well to discourse with the visitors and guests. But I don’t know if he is humane.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子曰道不行乘桴浮于海从我者其由与子路闻之喜子曰由也好勇过我无所取材

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If the Way is not put into practice, I will set off upon the sea in a small raft. And the one who would follow me—would it not be Zilu?”
Upon hearing this, Zilu was happy.
The Master commented, “Zilu’s fondness for courage exceeds mine. But where can I find some really suitable material?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The Way does not go forward—I’ll get on a raft and set out to sea! And the one who will go with me will be You (Zilu), will it not?
When Zilu heard this, he was delighted.
The Master said, You outdoes me in love of bravery, though he doesn’t always think where that may lead him.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.6

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子使漆雕开仕对曰吾斯之未能信子说

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master gave Qidiao Kai permission to take office.
Qidiao Kai replied, “I cannot yet be trusted with such a responsibility.”
The Master was pleased.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master urged Qidiao Kai to take an official position, but he replied, I am not yet confident I’m up to it. The Master was pleased.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

或曰雍也仁而不佞子曰焉用佞御人以口给屡憎于人不知其仁焉用佞

Translation:

Other Translations:

Someone said, “Zhonggong is Good but not eloquent.”
The Master said, “Of what use is ‘eloquence’? If you go about responding to everyone with a clever tongue you will often incur resentment. I do not know whether or not Zhonggong is Good, but of what use is eloquence?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Someone said of Yong, He is humane but lacking in eloquence.
The Master said, Why does he need to be eloquent? People who overwhelm others with their glibness often end up hated by others. I don’t know if Yong is humane, but why does he need to be eloquent?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.4

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子贡问曰赐也何如子曰女器也曰何器也曰瑚琏也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “What do you think of me?”
The Master replied, “You are a vessel.”
“What sort of vessel?”
“A hu or lian vessel.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked, What would you say of me?
The Master said, You are a vessel.
What kind of vessel? Zigong asked.
A fine sacrificial vessel, said the Master.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子谓子贱君子哉若人鲁无君子者斯焉取斯

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said of Zijian, “What a gentleman he is! If Lu were really without gentlemen, where did he learn how to be like that?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said of Zijian, A real gentleman, this one! If there were no gentlemen in Lu, how could he have become like this?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子谓南容邦有道不废邦无道免于刑戮以其兄之子妻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said of Nan Rong, “When the state possesses the Way he will not be dismissed from office, and when the state is without the Way he will manage to avoid punishment or execution.” He gave the daughter of his elder brother to him in marriage.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

he Master said of Nan Rong, If the state is ruled by the Way, he will not be overlooked. If the state is not ruled by the Way, he will still stay clear of penalties and punishments.

And he gave him the daughter of his elder brother for a wife.

Analects 5.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子谓公冶长可妻也虽在缧绁之中非其罪也以其子妻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said of Gongye Chang, “He is marriageable. Although he was once imprisoned as a criminal, he was in fact innocent of any crime.” The Master gave him his daughter in marriage.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said of Gongye Chang, He deserves a wife. Although he was bound and imprisoned, he was guilty of no crime.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects – Book Five

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations: