Startled by their arrival, a bird arose and circled several times before alighting upon a branch. [The Master] said, “This pheasant upon the mountain bridge—how timely it is! How timely it is!” Zilu saluted the bird, and it cried out three times before flying away.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Seeing his expression, it flew up, and after circling, came to roost.
[The Master] said,
The female pheasant on the mountain bridge—
how timely, how timely!
Zilu saluted it. It sniffed three times and flew away.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
When mounting his carriage, he would always stand facing it directly while grasping the mounting strap. Once in his carriage, he would not let his gaze wander past the crossbar in front of him or to either side, he would not speak rapidly, nor would he point with his hand.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
When mounting a carriage, he always stood in the correct position and took hold of the mounting-cord. Once in the carriage, he did not look toward the rear, speak in a hurried manner, or point at things.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
When he saw someone fasting or mourning, he invariably assumed a changed expression, even if they were an intimate acquaintance. When he saw someone wearing a ritual cap or a blind person, he would invariably display a respectful countenance, even if they were of low birth.
When riding past someone dressed in funeral garb, he would bow down and grasp the crossbar of his carriage. He would do so even if the mourner was a lowly peddler.
When presented food with full ritual propriety, he would invariably assume a solemn expression and rise from his seat.
He would also assume a solemn expression upon hearing a sudden clap of thunder or observing a fierce wind.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
If the Master saw someone in deep mourning, even though it was a person he was familiar with, he always changed his attitude. If he saw someone in a ceremonial cap or a blind person, even someone he knew well, he invariably assumed an appropriate bearing.
If he saw a person in mourning, he bowed from the crossbar of his carriage, and he would likewise bow from his carriage to a person carrying population registers.
Confronted with a sumptuous feast, he invariably changed his expression and rose to his feet. At a sudden clap of thunder or a blast of wind, he would invariably change his posture.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
When receiving a gift from a friend—even something as valuable as a cart or a horse—he did not bow unless it was a gift of sacrificial meat.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
If a friend presented him with a gift, even though it might be a horse or carriage, he did not bow to the ground to receive it. Only in the case of sacrificial meat did he do so.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
When he was sick, and his lord came to visit him, he would lay with his head to the east, draped in his court robes, with his ceremonial sash fastened about him.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
When he was sick and the ruler came to see him, he lay with his head to the east, his court robe spread over him, the sash draped on top.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
When presented with a gift of food from his lord, he would taste it before even straightening his mat. When presented with raw meat, he would always have it cooked and then present it as an offering [to his ancestors]. When presented with livestock, he would always have it reared.
When attending his lord at a meal, he would taste the food his lord had sacrificed before giving it to him to eat.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
When the ruler sent him a gift of food, he would always straighten his sitting mat and first taste it. If the ruler sent a gift of uncooked meat, he would always cook it and make an offering to the ancestors. If the ruler sent a live animal, he would raise it.
If he was attending the ruler at a meal, while the ruler made an offering of a portion of the food, Confucius would first taste it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
