Analects - Confucian Pages

Analects 3.22

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰管仲之器小哉或曰管仲俭乎曰管氏有三归官事不摄焉得俭然则管仲知礼乎曰邦君树塞门管氏亦树塞门邦君为两君之好有反坫管氏亦有反坫管氏而知礼孰不知礼

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Guan Zhong’s vessel was of small capacity.”
Someone asked, “Do you mean that he was frugal?”
The Master replied, “Guan maintained three separate residences and had a separate staff member for each duty. How could be called frugal?”
“Well, then, do you mean to say that Guan Zhong understood ritual?”
The Master replied, “The lord of a state erects a wall in front of his gate, and Guan did the same. The lord of a state, when entertaining other lords, has a stand upon which to place the drinking ups after the toast, and Guan also had one of these. If Guan understood ritual, who does not understand it?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Guan Zhong was a man of small parts!
Someone objected, saying, Guan Zhong was noted for frugality, was he not?
The Master said, Guan Zhong had his Three Returning mansion, and he did not require his staff to perform double duties – how can that be called frugal?
But, said the other person, Guan Zhong understood ritual, did he not?
The Master said, Rulers of states put up gate screens, and Mr. Guan put up a gate screen too. Rulers of states, when entertaining another ruler, have a stand for inverted wine cups, and Mr. Guan had a stand for inverted wine cups too. If Mr. Guan understood ritual, who doesn’t understand ritual?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

哀公问社于宰我宰我对曰夏后氏以松殷人以柏周人以栗曰使民战栗子闻之曰成事不说遂事不谏既往不咎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altar to the soil.
Zai Wo replied, “The clans of the Xia sovereigns used the pine tree, the Shang people used the cypress tree, and the Zhou people used the chestnut tree (li). It is said that they wanted to instill fear (li) in the people.”
Having been informed of this, the Master remarked, “One does not try to explain what is over and done with, one does not try to criticize what is already gone, and one does not try to censure that which is already fast.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altar to the god of the soil. Zai Wo replied, The Xia rulers planted it with pines, the men of Yin planted it with cedars, the men of Zhou plant it with chestnuts (li), in order, they say to make the common people tremble (li).
When the Master heard of this, he said, Completed affairs one does not comment on; things done one does not carp over; what is past one does not criticize.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.20

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰关雎乐而不淫哀而不伤

Translation:

Other Translations:

That Master said, “The ‘Cry of the Osprey’ expresses joy without becoming licentious, and expresses sorrow without falling into excessive pathos.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The Guanju ode – joy, with not excessive; sadness, but not to the point of injury.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

定公问君使臣臣事君如之何孔子对曰君使臣以礼臣事君以忠

Translation:

Other Translations:

Duke Ding asked, “How should a lord employ his ministers? How should a minister serve his lord?”
Confucius replied, “A lord should employ his minsters with ritual, and ministers should serve their lord with dutifulness.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ding asked how the ruler should treat his ministers and how the ministers should serve the ruler. Confucius replied, The ruler should treat his ministers in accordance with ritual. The minsters should serve the ruler with loyalty.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.18

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰事君尽礼人以为谄也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If in serving your lord you are careful to observe every detail of ritual propriety, people will [wrongly] think you obsequious.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, In serving the ruler, if you carry out all the acts prescribed by ritual, people think you are toadying.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.17

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子贡欲去告朔之饩羊子曰赐也尔爱其羊我爱其礼

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong wanted to do away with the practice of sacrificing a lamb to announce the beginning of the month.
The Master said, “Zigong! You regret the loss of the lamb, whereas I regret the loss of the rite.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong wanted to do away with the sacrificial sheep at the first-of-the-month announcement to the ancestors. The Master said, Si (Zigong), you care about the sheep, I care about the ritual.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.16

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰射不主皮为力不同科古之道也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “It is said, ‘In archery, one does not emphasize piercing the hide of the target,’ because people’s strengths differ. Such is the ancient Way.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said,
In archery hitting the target is not the point – people are not all of equal strength.
That was the old-time way.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.15

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子入太庙每事问或曰孰谓鄹人之子知礼乎入太庙每事问子闻之曰是礼也

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master went into the Great Ancestral Temple, he asked questions about everything that took place.
Someone said, “Who said that this son of a man from Zou understands ritual? When he went into the Great Ancestral Temple, he had to ask questions about everything.”
When this comment was reported to the Master, his reply was, “This asking is, in fact, part of ritual.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When the Master entered the Grand Temple, he asked questions about everything. Someone said,
Who claims that this son of a man of Zou understands ritual? When he enters the Grand Temple he asks about everything!
When the Master heard this, he said, Asking is part of the ritual.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.14

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰周监于二代郁郁乎文哉吾从周

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Zhou gazes down upon the two dynasties that preceded it. How brilliant in culture it is! I follow the Zhou.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Zhou surveyed the two dynasties that went before, its ways are refined and elegant. I follow Zhou.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

王孙贾问曰与其媚于奥宁媚于灶何谓也子曰然获罪于天无所祷也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Wang-sun Jia asked, “What do you think about the saying,
‘It is better to pay homage to the kitchen stove
Than to the corner shrine’
The Master replied, “This is not so. Once you have incurred the wrath of Heaven, there is no one whom you can pray for help.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Wangsun Jia said,
Better pay compliments to the kitchen stove
than to the southwest corner.
What does this mean?
The Master said, Not true! If you incur blame with Heaven, you have nowhere to turn for forgiveness!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.