入太庙每事问
Upon entering the Grand Ancestral Temple, he asked questions about everything.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
When the Master entered the Grand Temple, he asked questions about everything.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
君赐食必正席先尝之君赐腥必熟而荐之君赐生必畜之侍食于君君祭先饭
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.
虽疏食菜羹瓜祭必齐如也
Even though a meal was only of coarse grain or vegetable broth, he invariably gave some as a sacrificial offering, and would do so in a grave and respectful manner.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Although it was no more than coarse grain, a soup of greens or melon, before eating he always set aside a portion as an offering and did so with a reverential air.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
