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.
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.
The Master said, “Clad only in a shabby quilted gown, and yet unashamed to stand side-by-side with someone dressed in expensive furs—does this not describe Zilu?
‘Not envious, not covetous,
How could he not be good?’ ”
Zilu took to reciting this stanza constantly. The Master thereupon remarked, “The Way summed up in these lines is hardly worth treasuring so.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Wearing a shoddy floss-wadded jacket, standing beside someone clad in fox and badger furs, and feeling no shame—that would be You (Zilu)!
Doing no harm, seeking nothing—
why am I not seen as good?
Zilu was forever reciting these lines. The Master said, That approach—why would anyone rate it as good?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
Whenever the Master saw someone who was wearing mourning clothes, was garbed in full official dress, or was blind, he would always rise to his feet, even if the person was his junior. When passing such a person, he would always hasten his step.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
If the Master saw a person in mourning clothes, in ceremonial cap and robe, or a blind person, though the person might be younger in age, he would invariably rise to his feet and, if passing the person, would invariably quicken his steps.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master said, “I can find no fault with [the legendary sage-king] Yu. He subsisted on meager rations, and yet was lavishly filial in his offerings to the ancestral spirits. His everyday clothes were shabby, but his ceremonial headdress and cap were exceedingly fine. He lived in a mean hovel, expending all of his energies on the construction of drainage ditches and canals. I can find no fault with Yu.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, I can find no fault with Yu. Sparing in his food and drink, he yet served the spirits and gods with utmost filial devotion. His ordinary robes were shabby, but his sacrificial aprons and caps were of the utmost beauty. He lived in lowly rooms and halls, devoting his entire energy to the opening of irrigation ditches and channels. I can find no fault with Yu.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master said, “A scholar-official who has set his heart upon the Way, but who is still ashamed of having shabby clothing or meager rations, is not worth engaging in discussion.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said A man of station whose will is set on the Way but who is ashamed of poor clothing and poor food – not worth talking to!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
