Archery

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 7.27

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

子钓而不纲弋不射宿

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master would fish with a hook, but not with a net. He would shoot with a corded line, but would not aim at roosting birds.

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

The Master fished with a rod but not with a longline. He shot at birds with a stringed arrow, but not if they were roosting.

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 3.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

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.