Analects – Book Three

Analects 3.7

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Original Text:

子曰君子无所争必也射乎揖让而升下而饮其争也君子

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Surely archery can serve as an illustration of the fact that the gentleman does not compete! Before mounting the stairs to the archery hall, gentlemen bow and defer to one another, and after descending from the hall they mutually offer up toasts. This is how a gentleman ‘competes.'”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman never strives with others. To be sure, there are the archery matches. But even they have their bows and deferences as the contestants go up and come down, and the wine drinking at the end. Such is the “striving” of the gentleman.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.5

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Original Text:

子曰夷狄之有君不如诸夏之亡也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Yi and Di barbarians, even with their rulers, are still inferior to the Chinese states without their rulers.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The Yi and Di tribes with their rulers cannot match the Xia people without a ruler.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.4

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Original Text:

林放问礼之本子曰大哉问礼与其奢也宁俭丧与其易也宁戚

Translation:

Other Translations:

Lin Fang asked about the roots of ritual.

The Master exclaimed, “What a noble question! When it comes to ritual, it is better to be pare than extravagant. When it comes to mourning, it is better to be excessively sorrowful than fastidious.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Lin Fang asked what is basic in ritual. The Master said, A big question indeed! In rites in general, rather than extravagance, better frugality. In funeral rites, rather than thoroughness, better real grief.”

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.3

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Original Text:

子曰人而不仁如礼何人而不仁如乐何

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A man who is not Good – what has he to do with ritual? A man who is not Good – what has he to do with music?”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, A human being who lacks humaneness – what is ritual to someone like that? A human being who lacks humaneness – what is music to someone like that?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.2

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Original Text:

三家者以雍彻子曰相维辟公天子穆穆奚取于三家之堂

Translation:

Other Translations:

[When making offerings to their ancestors], the Three Families had the yong ode performed during the clearing away of the sacrificial vessels. The Master quoted a line from the ode,

“Assisting were the Feudal Lords,

The Son of Heaven, solemn and stately,”

adding, “What relevance could this possibly have to the ancestral hall of the Three Families?”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The three Ji families used the Yong ode when sacrifices were being carried away. The Master said,

Assisting are the great lords,

the Son of Heaven in majesty,

How can this be used in the halls of the three Ji families?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.1

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Original Text:

孔子谓季氏八佾舞于庭是可忍也孰不可忍也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said of the Ji Family, “They have eight rows of dancers performing in their courtyard. If they can condone this, what are they not capable of?”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius observed of the JI family, They have eight rows of dancers in their courtyard. If this can be excused, what cannot be excused?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.