Culture

Analects 6.18

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰质胜文则野文胜质则史文质彬彬然后君子

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When native substance overwhelms cultural refinement, the result is a crude rustic. When cultural refinement overwhelms native substance, the result is a foppish pedant. Only when culture and native substance are perfectly mixed and balanced do you have a gentleman.”

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

The Master said, Where solid qualities outweigh refinement, you have rusticity. Where refinement outweighs solid qualities, you have the clerkly style. Refinement and solid qualities beautifully balanced—then you have the gentleman.

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

Analects 5.22

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子在陈曰归与归与吾党之小子狂简斐然成章不知所以裁之

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master was in the state of Chen, he sighed, “Oh, let us go home! Let us go home! Our young followers back in Lu are wild and ambitious—they put on a great show of brilliant culture, but they lack the means to prune and shape it.”

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

When the Master was in Chen, he said, Let’s go home, let’s go home! The young people of our district are in high spirits but hasty. The cloth has been handsomely woven, but no one knows how to cut it.

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

Analects 5.15

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子贡问曰孔文子何以谓之文也子曰敏而好学不耻下问是以谓之文也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “Why was Kong Wenzi accorded the title ‘Cultured’ ?”

The Master replied, “He was diligent and loved learning, and was not ashamed to ask advice from his inferiors. This is why he was accorded the title, ‘Cultured.’ ”

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

Zigong asked, Why was Kong Wenzi given the posthumous name Cultured (Wen)?

The Master said, Clear-sighted and a lover of learning, he was not ashamed to ask questions of his inferiors. Therefore he was given the name Cultured.

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

Analects 5.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子贡曰夫子之文章可得而闻也夫子之言性与天道不可得而闻也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong said, “The Master’s cultural brilliance is something that is readily heard about, whereas one does not get to hear the Master expounding upon the subjects of human nature or the Way of Heaven.”

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

Zigong said, The Master’s views on cultural and emblematic matters—these we have heard. But his views on human nature and the Way of Heaven—these we have never been able to hear!

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

Analects 3.14

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰周监于二代郁郁乎文哉吾从周

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Zhou gazes down upon the two dynasties that preceded it. How brilliant in culture it is! I follow the Zhou.”

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

The Master said, Zhou surveyed the two dynasties that went before, its ways are refined and elegant. I follow Zhou.

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

Analects 3.9

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰夏礼吾能言之杞不足征也殷礼吾能言之宋不足征也文献不足故也足则吾能征之矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “As for the rites of the Xia Dynasty,, I can speak of them, but there is little remaining in the state of Qi to document them. As for the rites of the Shang Dynasty, I can speak of them, but there is little remaining in the state of Song to document them. This is because there is not much in way of culture or moral worthies left in either state. If there were something there, then I would be able to document them.”

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

The Master said, As for the Xia rites, I could describe them, but the state of Qi can’t provide the proofs I need. As for the Yin rites, I could describe them, but the state of Song can’t provide the proofs I need.

This is due to the lack of records and persons of authority. If these were sufficient, I could prove my words.

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