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.
When Ji Kangzi sent him a gift of medicinal herbs, he bowed [to the messenger] and accepted it, but said, “I do not know what sort of medicine this is, so I dare not taste it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
(Ji) Kangzi presented Confucius with some medicine. Confucius bowed to the ground in accepting it, but said, As I am not familiar with this medicine, I do not venture to taste it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
