Analects - Confucian Pages

Analects 9.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nine

Original Text:

子曰麻冕礼也今也纯俭吾从众拜下礼也今拜乎上泰也虽违众吾从下

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A ceremonial cap made of linen is prescribed by the rites, but these days people use silk. This is frugal, and I follow the majority. To bow before ascending the stairs is what is prescribed by the rites, but these days people bow after ascending. This is arrogant, and—though it goes against the majority—I continue to bow before ascending.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Ritual calls for caps of hemp, though nowadays silk is used, because it is more economical. I go along with others in this.
Ritual calls for one to bow at the foot of the stairs. Nowadays people bow at the top of the stairs, but this is presumptuous. Although it means differing from others, I perform the bow at the foot of the stairs.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 9.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nine

Original Text:

子罕言利与命与仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master openly expressed his views on profit, the Heavenly Mandate, and Goodness.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master seldom spoke about profit, about fate, or about humaneness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 9.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nine

Original Text:

达巷党人曰大哉孔子博学而无所成名子闻之谓门弟子曰吾何执执御乎执射乎吾执御矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

A villager from Daxiang remarked sarcastically, “How great is Confucius! He is so broadly learned, and yet has failed to make a name for himself in any particular endeavor.”
When the Master was told of this, he said to his disciples, “What art, then, should I take up? Charioteering? Archery? I think I shall take up charioteering.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

A villager of Daxiang said, What a great man Confucius is! He has studied widely, but he doesn’t make any particular name for himself.
When the Master heard this, he said to his disciples, What should I specialize in? Should I specialize in charioteering? Should I specialize in archery? I think I’ll specialize in charioteering.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰禹吾无间然矣菲饮食而致孝乎鬼神恶衣服而致美乎黻冕卑宫室而尽力乎沟洫禹吾无间然矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I can find no fault with [the legendary sage-king] Yu. He subsisted on meager rations, and yet was lavishly filial in his offerings to the ancestral spirits. His everyday clothes were shabby, but his ceremonial headdress and cap were exceedingly fine. He lived in a mean hovel, expending all of his energies on the construction of drainage ditches and canals. I can find no fault with Yu.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, I can find no fault with Yu. Sparing in his food and drink, he yet served the spirits and gods with utmost filial devotion. His ordinary robes were shabby, but his sacrificial aprons and caps were of the utmost beauty. He lived in lowly rooms and halls, devoting his entire energy to the opening of irrigation ditches and channels. I can find no fault with Yu.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.20

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

舜有臣五人而天下治武王曰予有乱臣十人孔子曰才难不其然乎唐虞之际于斯为盛有妇人焉九人而已三分天下有其二以服事殷周之德其可谓至德也已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Shun had five ministers and the world was well governed.
King Wu said, “I have ten ministers in charge of establishing order.”
The Master commented, “It is said that talent is difficult to find—is it not the case? Virtue flourished as never before after the reigns of Yao and Shun, and yet [even among King Wu’s ten ministers] there was a woman included, so he really only had nine good men.”
“Two-thirds of the world had already turned to [King Wen], and yet he still continued to defer to and serve the Shang. The Virtue of the Zhou—surely it can be said to represent ultimate Virtue?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Shun had five ministers, and the empire was well governed. King Wu said, I have ten capable ministers.
Confucius said, Talent is hard to find—true, is it not? In the time of Tang and Yu, talent flourished, [yet Shun had only five ministers. As for King Wu’s ten ministers,] one was a woman, so he had only nine men. Zhou already possessed two-thirds of the empire, yet it continued to serve the Yin dynasty. The virtue of the Zhou may be termed the highest virtue.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰大哉尧之为君也巍巍乎唯天为大唯尧则之荡荡乎民无能名焉巍巍乎其有成功也焕乎其有文章

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How great was Yao as a ruler! So majestic! It is Heaven that is great, and it was Yao who modeled himself upon it. So vast! Among the common people there were none who were able to find words to describe him. How majestic in his accomplishments, and glorious in cultural splendor!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Great was Yao as a ruler! Awesome, awesome, Heaven alone is great, yet Yao alone made it his model. Vast, all-encompassing, the people could put no name to it. Awesome, awesome were his works and accomplishments, brilliant his cultural achievements.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.18

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰巍巍乎舜禹之有天下也而不与焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How majestic! Shun and Yu possessed the entire world and yet had no need to actively manage it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Awesome was the way in which Shun and Yu held possession of the empire! Yet they took no part in it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.17

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰学如不及犹恐失之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Learn as if you will never catch up, and as if you feared losing what you have already attained.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Study as though you could never catch up, [and if you did,] you would still be fearful of losing it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.16

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰狂而不直侗而不愿悾悾而不信吾不知之矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “People who are wild without at least being upright, simple-minded without at least being honest, or ingenuous without at least being trustworthy—I simply do not understand them.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Enthusiastic but not straightforward; naive but insincere; simple, guileless, but not to be trusted—such persons I do not understand.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.15

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰师挚之始关雎之乱洋洋乎盈耳哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “From the time Music Master Zhi begins, to the closing strains of the ‘Cry of the Osprey’—how one’s ears are filled with a wondrous ocean of sound!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, When Music Master Zhi has begun and reached the conclusion of the Guanju ode, what a torrent of sound fills our ears!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.