Burial

Analects 11.11

Original Text:

颜渊死门人欲厚葬之子曰不可门人厚葬之子曰回也视予犹父也予不得视犹子也非我也夫二三子也

Translation:

Other Translations:

When Yan Hui passed away, the disciples wished to give him a lavish funeral.

The Master said, “That would not be proper.”

The disciples nonetheless went ahead and buried Yan Hui lavishly.

The Master remarked, “Hui looked upon me as a father, and yet in this case I was unable to treat him as a son. This was not my choice, but rather yours, you disciples.”

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

When Yan Yuan died, the disciples wanted to give him a lavish burial. The Master said, That won’t do! But the disciples gave him a lavish burial anyway.

The Master said, Hui looked on me as a father, but I could not bury him as I would a son. I’m not to blame—it was you young men!

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

Analects 10.22

Original Text:

朋友死无所归曰于我殡

Translation:

Other Translations:

When a friend died without relatives able to take care of the funeral arrangements, he would say, “I will see to burying him properly.”

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

If a friend died and there was no one to receive the body, the Master would say, Let me handle the funeral proceedings.

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