Chariots

Analects 15.11

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

颜渊问为邦子曰行夏之时乘殷之辂服周之冕乐则韶舞放郑声远佞人郑声淫佞人殆

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yan Hui asked about running a state.

The Master said, “Follow the calendar of the Xia, travel in the carriages of the Shang, and clothe yourself in the ceremonial caps of the Zhou.

“As for music, listen only to the Shao and Wu. Prohibit the tunes of Zheng, and keep glib people at a distance—for the tunes of Zheng are licentious, and glib people are dangerous.”

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

Yan Yuan asked about how to order the state. The Master said, Use the Xia calendar, ride in the chariots of the Yin, wear the caps of the Zhou, and for music, the Shao and Wu. Do away with the Zheng tunes and stay away from artful talkers. The Zheng tunes are excessive, and artful talkers are dangerous.

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

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 1.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book One

Original Text:

子曰道千乘之国敬事而信节用而爱人使民以时

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “To guide a state of one thousand chariots, be respectful in your handing of affairs and display trustworthiness; be frugal in your expenditures and cherish others; and employ the common people only at the proper times.”

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

The Master said, Guiding a state of a thousand chariots, be attentive to affairs and trustworthy, frugal in expenditures and sparing of others. Employ the common people only at proper times.

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