Food

Analects 20.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twenty

Original Text:

尧曰咨尔舜天之历数在尔躬允执其中四海困穷天禄永终舜亦以命禹

曰予小子履敢用玄牡敢昭告于皇皇后帝有罪不敢赦帝臣不蔽简在帝心朕躬有罪无以万方万方有罪罪在朕躬

周有大赉善人是富虽有周亲不如仁人百姓有过在予一人

谨权量审法度修废官四方之政行焉兴灭国继绝世举逸民天下之民归心焉

所重民食丧祭

宽则得众信则民任焉敏则有功公则说

Translation:

Correction: Line two fourth character should be a proper name Lu.

Other Translations:

Yao said, “Oh, you Shun! The orderly succession of Heaven now rests upon your shoulders. Hold faithfully to the mean. If those within the Four Seas should fall into hardship and poverty, Heaven’s emoluments will be cut off from you forever.”

Shun charged Yu with the same words.

[Tang] said, “I, your little child Lü, dare to offer up a black bull in sacrifice, and make so bold as to plainly declare to you, my Most August Sovereign Lord, that I do not dare to pardon those who have committed offenses. Your servant, Lord, conceals nothing; examine my actions with your mind, oh Lord. If I should personally commit an offense, let not the punishment be visited upon the inhabitants of the myriad regions; if the inhabitants of the myriad regions commit offenses, let the punishment be visited upon me personally.”

The Zhou were generously endowed, rich in excellent men.

[King Wu said,] “Though I may have many close kinsmen, it is better to employ Good men. If any of the Hundred Clans commit a transgression, let the punishment be visited upon me alone.”

He was scrupulous about weights and measures, carefully examined models and regulations, restored neglected official posts, and the administration of the four quarters was thereby carried out.

He restored destroyed states, re-established interrupted lines of succession, raised lost people back into prominence, and the hearts and minds of all the people in the world turned to him.

He gave weight to the people, food, mourning, and sacrifice.

Generous, he won over the masses. Trustworthy, the people put their faith in him. Diligent, he was successful. Just, [the people] were pleased.

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

Yao said, Ah, you, Shun—the destiny decreed by Heaven rests with you. Hold sincerely to the center. If those within the four seas suffer hardship and want, Heaven’s bounty will end forever.

And Shun voiced the same command [when he ceded the throne] to Yu.

[Tang] said, I, the little one, Lu, venture to sacrifice this black ox, I venture to report clearly to the most august Lord above. The guilty one I have not ventured to pardon, but I do nothing to hinder the Lord’s officials. May they be chosen in accordance with the Lord’s will. If there is blame on my part, let the ten thousand regions not suffer. If the ten thousand regions have any blame, let that blame rest on me.

Zhou has received great gifts; good persons are enriched. Although Zhou has kinsmen, they cannot equal persons of humaneness. If the people have any fault, may the blame be upon me alone.

Carefully adjust the weights and measures; clarify the laws and regulations; restore offices that have been discontinued—then the governing of the four directions will proceed. Reestablish states that have been wiped out; appoint heirs to successions that have come to an end; promote men who have gone into hiding—then the people of the empire will give their hearts to you. What is to be held in esteem: the people, food, mourning, and sacrifice.

Be tolerant, and you win over the multitude. Be trustworthy, and the people will trust you. Be diligent, and your work will go well. Be fair, and the people will rejoice.

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

Analects 15.32

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

子曰君子谋道不谋食耕也馁在其中矣学也禄在其中矣君子忧道不忧贫

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman devotes his thoughts to attaining the Way, not to obtaining food. In the pursuit of agriculture, there is the possibility of starvation; in the pursuit of learning, there is the possibility of salary. The gentleman is concerned about the Way and not about poverty.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman schemes for the Way; he does not scheme for food. You might work the fields and still at times encounter hunger; you might study and at times acquire an official stipend. But the gentleman worries about the Way; he does not worry about poverty.

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

Analects 15.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

在陈绝粮从者病莫能兴子路愠见曰君子亦有穷乎子曰君子固穷小人穷斯滥矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

[When Confucius was besieged] in the state of Chen, all of the provisions were exhausted, and his followers were so weak from hunger that they could not even stand. Upset, Zilu appeared before the Master and said, “Does even the gentleman encounter hardship?”

The Master said, “Of course the gentleman encounters hardship. The difference is that the petty man, encountering hardship, is overwhelmed by it.”

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

When Confucius was in Chen, he ran out of provisions and his followers were so weak that none of them could stand up. Zilu confronted Confucius angrily, saying, Does the gentleman have to put up with such hardships?

The Master said, The gentleman remains firm in the face of hardships. The petty man, when he encounters hardship, gives way to panic.

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

Analects 12.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twelve

Original Text:

子贡问政子曰足食足兵民信之矣子贡曰必不得已而去于斯三者何先曰去兵子贡曰必不得已而去于斯二者何先曰去食自古皆有死民无信不立

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked about governing.

The Master said, “Simply make sure there is sufficient food, sufficient armaments, and that you have the confidence of the common people.”

Zigong said, “If sacrificing one of these three things became unavoidable, which would you sacrifice first?”

The Master replied, “I would sacrifice the armaments.”

Zigong said, “If sacrificing one of the two remaining things became unavoidable, which would you sacrifice next?”

The Master replied, “I would sacrifice the food. Death has always been with us, but a state cannot stand once it has lost the confidence of the people.”

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

Zigong asked about government. The Master said, You need enough food, enough weaponry, and the trust of the common people.

Zigong said, If you had to do without one of these, which of the three would you do without first?

Do without weapons.

And if you had to do without one of the other two, which would it be?

The Master said, Do without food. From times past, everyone has to die. But without the trust of the common people, you get nowhere.

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

Analects 10.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Ten

Original Text:

食不厌精脍不厌细食饐而餲鱼馁而肉败不食色恶不食臭恶不食失饪不食不时不食割不正不食不得其酱不食肉虽多不使胜食气唯酒无量不及乱沽酒市脯不食不撤姜食不多食

Translation:

Other Translations:

He would not eat in excess, even when presented with refined grain or finely minced meat.

He would not eat grain that was damp or musty, fish that had gone bad, or meat that had spoiled. He would eat nothing that was discolored or foul smelling, nor anything that was improperly cooked or gathered out of season. He would not eat any meat that had been improperly butchered or anything that had not been properly seasoned.

Even when meat was plentiful, he would not eat so much that it would overpower the grain. He would only enjoy wine without limit, though never to the point of disorderliness.

He would not drink wine bought from a shop or dried meat purchased from the market.

Although he would not remove the ginger dish from the table, he would not consume it in excess.

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

He had no objection to polished rice or meat or fish finely cut up. But if the rice was moldy or rancid, the fish putrid or the meat spoiled, he would not eat it. If food had a bad color, he would not eat it; if it smelled bad, he would not eat it; if it was improperly cooked, he would not eat it; if it was out of season, he would not eat it; if it was not properly sliced, he would not eat it; if it did not have the proper sauce, he would not eat it.

Although he might eat a large helping of meat, he did not allow it to overwhelm the vital nourishment of the rice. Only in the case of wine did he have no fixed limit, but he never drank to the point of confusion.

He would not drink wine or eat foods bought from the market. He did not refuse ginger, but did not eat much of it.

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

Analects 8.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰禹吾无间然矣菲饮食而致孝乎鬼神恶衣服而致美乎黻冕卑宫室而尽力乎沟洫禹吾无间然矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

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.

Analects 7.16

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

子曰饭疏食饮水曲肱而枕之乐亦在其中矣不义而富且贵于我如浮云

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Eating plain food and drinking water, having only your bent arm as a pillow—certainly there is joy to be found in this! Wealth and eminence attained improperly concern me no more than the floating clouds.”

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

The Master said, Eating simple food, drinking water, a bended arm for a pillow—there’s happiness in these things too. Wealth and eminence gained by unrightful means are to me mere drifting clouds.

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

Analects 7.14

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Original Text:

子在齐闻韶三月不知肉味曰不图为乐之至于斯也

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master was in the state of Qi, he heard the Shao music, and for three months after did not even notice the taste of meat. He said, “I never imagined that music could be so sublime.”

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

When the Master was in Qi, he heard the Shao music and for three months no longer knew what sort of meat he was eating. He said, I never supposed that music could reach such heights!

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

Analects 6.11

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰贤哉回也一箪食一瓢饮在陋巷人不堪其忧回也不改其乐贤哉回也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “What a worthy man was Yan Hui! Living in a narrow alley, subsisting on a basket of grain and gourd full of water—other people could not have born such hardship, yet it never spoiled Hui’s joy. What a worthy man was Hui!”

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

The Master said, What a fine man Hui was! One container of rice, one dipperful of drink, living in a back alley—others couldn’t have endured the gloom of it, but he never let it affect his happiness. What a fine man Hui was!

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

Analects 6.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

原思为之宰与之粟九百辞子曰毋以与尔邻里乡党乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

When Yuan Si was serving as steward, he was offered a salary of nine hundred measures of millet,4 but he declined it.

The Master said, “Do not decline it! [If you do not need it yourself], could you not use it to aid the households in your neighborhood?”

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

When Yuan Si was given the post of steward, he was offered an allotment of nine hundred measures of grain, but he declined it.

The Master said, Oh, no! You could have shared it with your neighboring communities, couldn’t you?

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