Government - Confucian Pages

Analects 5.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

孟武伯问子路仁乎子曰不知也又问子曰由也千乘之国可使治其赋也不知其仁也求也何如子曰求也千室之邑百乘之家可使为之宰也不知其仁也赤也何如子曰赤也束带立于朝可使与宾客言也不知其仁也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Meng Wubo asked, “Is Zilu Good?”
The Master replied, “I do not know.”
Meng Wubo repeated his question.
The Master said, “In a state of one thousand chariots, Zilu could be employed to organize the collection of military taxes, but I do not know whether or not he is Good.”
“What about Ran Qiu?”
“In a town of one thousand households, or an aristocratic family of one hundred chariots, Ran Qiu could be employed as a steward, but I do not know whether or not he is Good.”
“What about Zihua?”
“Standing in his proper place at court with his sash tied, Zihua could be employed to converse with guests and visitors, but I do not know whether or not he is Good.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Meng Wu Bo questioned Confucius, saying, Is Zilu a humane person?
The Master said, I don’t know.
Meng Wu Bo asked again.
The Master said, In a state of a thousand war chariots, You (Zilu) could be put in charge of military levies. But I don’t know if he is humane.
What about Qiu (Ran You)?
The Master said, For a town of a thousand households or a clan of a hundred chariots, Qiu could act as overseer. But I don’t know if he is humane.
What about Chi (Gongxi Zihua)?
The Master said, Chi, dressed in formal robes, standing in court, would do very well to discourse with the visitors and guests. But I don’t know if he is humane.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.6

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子使漆雕开仕对曰吾斯之未能信子说

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master gave Qidiao Kai permission to take office.
Qidiao Kai replied, “I cannot yet be trusted with such a responsibility.”
The Master was pleased.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master urged Qidiao Kai to take an official position, but he replied, I am not yet confident I’m up to it. The Master was pleased.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 4.14

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰不患无位患所以立不患莫己知求为可知也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Do not be concerned that you lack an official position, but rather concern yourself with the means by which you might become established. Do not be concerned that no one has heard of you, but rather strive to become a person worthy of being known.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Don’t worry that you have no position – worry about how you can qualify for one. Don’t worry that people don’t know you – look for some reason to become known.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 4.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰能以礼让为国乎何有不能以礼让为国如礼何

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If a person is able to govern the state by means of ritual propriety and deference, what difficulties will he encounter? If, on the other hand, a person is not able to govern the state through ritual propriety and deference, of what use are the rites to him?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Can you govern the state with ritual and a deferential approach? then you will have no difficulty. If you cannot govern the state with ritual and a deferential approach, then what use is ritual alone?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.26

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰居上不宽为礼不敬临丧不哀吾何以观之哉

Translation:

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The Master said, “Someone who lacks magnanimity when occupying high office, who is not respectful when performing ritual, and who remains unmoved by sorrow when overseeing mourning rights – how could I bear to look upon such a person?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Standing above others but without tolerance, carrying out rites but without reverence, conducting funeral proceedings but without grief – how can I bear to view such as these?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.24

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

仪封人请见曰君子之至于斯也吾未尝不得见也从者见之出曰二三子何患于丧乎天下之无道也久矣天将以夫子为木铎

Translation:

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A border official from the town of Yi requested an audience with the Master, saying, “I have never failed to obtain an audience with the gentlemen who have passed this way.” Confucius’ followers thereupon presented him.
After emerging from the audience, the border official remarked, “You disciples, why should you be concerned about your master’s loss of office? The world has been without the Way for a long time now, and Heaven intends to use your Master like the wooden clapper for a bell.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The border guard of Yi requested an interview with Confucius, saying, When gentlemen pass this way, I never fail to have an interview with them.
The Master’s followers arranged a meeting. When the border guard emerged from the interview, he said, You young men should not worry about your present bad luck. For a long time now the world has been without the Way. Heaven is going to use your Master as a wooden-clappered bell.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.18

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰事君尽礼人以为谄也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If in serving your lord you are careful to observe every detail of ritual propriety, people will [wrongly] think you obsequious.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, In serving the ruler, if you carry out all the acts prescribed by ritual, people think you are toadying.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰夷狄之有君不如诸夏之亡也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Yi and Di barbarians, even with their rulers, are still inferior to the Chinese states without their rulers.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The Yi and Di tribes with their rulers cannot match the Xia people without a ruler.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 2.23

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子张问十世可知也子曰殷因于夏礼所损益可知也周因于殷礼所损益可知也其或继周者虽百世可知也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang asked, “Can we know what it will be like ten generations from now?”
The Master responded. “The Yin followed the rituals of the Xia., altering them only in ways that we know. The Zhou followed the rituals of the Yin, altering them only in ways that we know. If some dynasty succeeds the Zhou, we can know what it will be like even a hundred generations from now.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zizhang questioned the Master, saying, Can we know how things will be ten generations from now?
The Master said, Yin followed the rites of Xia, and we know in what ways it added to or subtracted from them. Zhou follows the rites of Yin, and we know in what ways it added to or subtracted from them. Whoever carries on from Zhou, we can know how things will be even a hundred generations from now.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 2.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

或谓孔子曰子奚不为政子曰书云孝乎惟孝友于兄弟施于有政是亦为政奚其为为政

Translation:

Other Translations:

Some people said of Confucius, “Why is it that he is not participating in government?”
[Upon being informed of this,] the Master remarked, “The Book of Documents says,
‘Filial, oh so filial,
Friendly to one’s elders and juniors;
[In this way] exerting an influence upon those who govern.’
Thus in being a filial son and good brother one is already taking part in government. What need is there, then, to speak of ‘participating in government’?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Someone questioned Confucius, saying, Why aren’t you in government?
The Master said, The Book of Documents says: Filial, only be filial, a friend to elder and younger brothers – this contributes to government. To do this is in fact to take part in government. Why must I be “in government”?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.