Black

Analects 17.7

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Original Text:

佛肸召子欲往子路曰昔者由也闻诸夫子曰亲于其身为不善者君子不入也佛肸以中牟畔子之往也如之何子曰然有是言也不曰坚乎磨而不磷不曰白乎涅而不缁吾岂匏瓜也哉焉能系而不食

Translation:

Other Translations:

Bi Xi summoned Confucius, and the Master was inclined to go.

Zilu said, “In the past, Master, I have heard you say, ‘The gentleman does not enter into association with someone who treats badly those who are close to him.’ Bi Xi is using the city of Zhongmou to stage a rebellion against his superior. How could it be acceptable for you, Master, to go to him?”

The Master replied, “Yes, I have said that. But have I not also said, ‘[A gentleman is] so hard that grinding will not wear him down; so pure that dyeing will not stain him black’? Do you take me to be a bitter gourd, content to merely hang on a string without ever being eaten?”

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

Bi Xi invited the Master to join him, and the Master wanted to go. Zilu said, In the past I have heard you say, When someone is personally doing what is not good, the gentleman will not go near him. Bi Xi has raised a revolt in Zhongmou. What reason could you have to go there?

The Master said, You are right—that’s what I said. But don’t people say, So hard, file it, but it never wears thin? And don’t they say, So white, dirty it, but it never turns black? Am I some sort of bitter melon? Can I go on hanging here and never be eaten?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 10.6

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Original Text:

君子不以绀緅饰红紫不以为亵服当暑,袗絺绤必表而出之缁衣羔裘素衣麑裘黄衣狐裘亵裘长短右袂必有寝衣长一身有半狐貉之厚以居去丧无所不佩非帷裳必杀之羔裘玄冠不以吊吉月必朝服而朝

Translation:

Other Translations:

The gentleman did not use reddish-black or maroon for the trim of his garment, nor did he use red or purple for his informal dress.

In the summer, he wore a single layer of linen or hemp but always put on an outer garment before going out.

With a black upper garment he would wear a lambskin robe; with a white upper garment he would wear a fawn-skin robe; and with a yellow upper garment he would wear a fox-fur robe.

His informal fur robe was long, but the right sleeve was short. He required that his nightgown be knee-length.

He wore thick fox and badger furs when at home. Except when he was in mourning, he never went anywhere without having all of his sash ornaments properly displayed.

With the exception of his one-piece ceremonial skirts, his lower garments were always cut and hemmed. He did not wear [black] lambskin robes or dark caps on condolence visits. On the day of the “Auspicious Moon,” he would always put on his [black] court attire and present himself at court.

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

The gentleman did not wear dark purple or puce trimmings on his garments or informal clothes of red or purple. In hot weather, he wore a single garment of fine or coarse kudzu fiber but always put on an outer garment when he went out. With a black robe, he wore black lambskin; with a white robe, white deerskin; and with a yellow robe, yellow fox fur. With informal dress, he wore fur of ordinary length, but with the right sleeve cut somewhat shorter. He always wore a sleeping robe one and a half times his body length. He used thick fox or badger fur for his sitting mat. When not in mourning, he wore any sort of belt ornament. With the exception of ceremonial skirts, his lower garments were always fitted at the waist. He did not wear black lambskin or a black silk hat on visits of condolence. On the first day of the month, he invariably put on court vestments and attended court.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.