Heaven

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 19.25

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

陈子禽谓子贡曰子为恭也仲尼岂贤于子乎子贡曰君子一言以为知一言以为不知言不可不慎也夫子之不可及也犹天之不可阶而升也夫子之得邦家者所谓立之斯立道之斯行绥之斯来动之斯和其生也荣其死也哀如之何其可及也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, “You show reverence to Confucius, but how could he be more worthy than you?”

Zigong replied, “A gentleman can be judged wise or unwise on the basis of a single comment—this is why one cannot fail to be careful in one’s speech. One cannot equal the Master anymore than one can climb a stairway to the heavens. Had the Master acquired control of a state or noble family, then, as they say: ‘When he raised them up, they would stand; when he led them forward they would advance; when he comforted them they would come; and when he moved them they would become harmonious.’ His birth was glorious and his death was universally mourned. How could anyone equal him?”

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

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, You are being too modest. How could Zhongni be a worthier man than you?

Zigong said, The gentleman speaks one word and shows that he is wise, speaks one word and shows that he is unwise. Therefore, he must be careful how he speaks. Our Master can no more be equaled than one can mount a stairway to the sky. If our Master were to preside over a state or a powerful family, then, as the saying has it, If he raised them, they would stand; if he led, they would go forward; if he chose peace, they would flock around; if he moved, they would move in harmony. In life he is glorious; in death, deeply mourned. How, then, could he be equaled?

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

Analects 19.20

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

子贡曰纣之不善不如是之甚也是以君子恶居下流天下之恶皆归焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong said, “Zhow’s wickedness was really not as extreme as they say. This is why the gentleman hates to dwell in low places, because all the badness in the world gathers there.”

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

Zigong said, Zhou was not really as evil as they say. That is why the gentleman hates to be held in low esteem—all the evil in the world ends up on him.

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

Analects 17.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seventeen

Original Text:

子曰予欲无言子贡曰子如不言则小子何述焉子曰天何言哉四时行焉百物生焉天何言哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master sighed, “Would that I did not have to speak!”

Zigong said, “If the Master did not speak, then how would we little ones receive guidance from you?”

The Master replied, “What does Heaven ever say? Yet the four seasons are put in motion by it, and the myriad creatures receive their life from it. What does Heaven ever say?”

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

The Master said, I wish I could just say nothing. Zigong said, But Master, if you do not say anything, what will we, your followers, have to pass on to others?

The Master said, What does Heaven say? The four seasons proceed in order, the hundred creatures live their lives, but what does Heaven say?

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

Analects 16.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Sixteen

Original Text:

孔子曰天下有道则礼乐征伐自天子出天下无道则礼乐征伐自诸侯出自诸侯出盖十世希不失矣自大夫出五世希不失矣陪臣执国命三世希不失矣天下有道则政不在大夫天下有道则庶人不议

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “When the Way prevails in the world, rituals, music, punitive expeditions, and attacks against foreign powers issue from the Son of Heaven. When the Way does not prevail in the world, these things issue from the feudal lords. When they issue from the feudal lords, it is seldom more than ten generations before the lords lose control of them. When they issue from ministers, it is seldom more than five generations before the ministers lose control of them, and once household ministers seize control of state commands, it is seldom more than three generations before they lose control of them.”

“When the Way prevails in the world, control of the government does not reside with the ministers. When the Way prevails in the world, commoners do not debate matters of government.”

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

Confucius said, When the Way prevails in the world, rites, music, and punitive expeditions proceed from the Son of Heaven. When the Way no longer prevails in the world, rites, music, and punitive expeditions proceed from the feudal lords, and rarely does this situation continue for ten generations before failure ensues. If these proceed from the high officials, rarely five generations pass before failure; and if the retainers of the high officials govern the fate of the nation, rarely three generations before failure. When the Way prevails in the world, government is not in the hands of the high officials. When the Way prevails in the world, ordinary people voice no criticisms.

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

Analects 14.35

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子曰莫我知也夫子贡曰何为其莫知子也子曰不怨天不尤人下学而上达知我者其天乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master sighed, “Alas! No one understands me.”

Zigong replied, “How can you say that no one understands you, Master?”

“I am not bitter toward Heaven, nor do I blame others. I study what is below in order to comprehend what is above. If there is anyone who could understand me, perhaps it is Heaven.”

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

The Master said, No one understands me—isn’t that so?

Zigong said, Why do you suppose that no one understands you?

The Master said, I bear no grudge against Heaven; I do not blame others. I study affairs close at hand and try to become adept in higher matters. Perhaps it is Heaven that understands me!

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

Analects 11.9

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eleven

Original Text:

颜渊死子曰噫天丧予天丧予

Translation:

Other Translations:

When Yan Hui passed away, the Master lamented, “Oh! Heaven has bereft me! Heaven has bereft me!”

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

When Yan Yuan died, the Master said, Ah, Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!

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

Analects 9.12

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nine

Original Text:

子疾病子路使门人为臣病间曰久矣哉由之行诈也无臣而为有臣吾谁欺欺天乎且予与其死于臣之手也无宁死于二三子之手乎且予纵不得大葬予死于道路乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was gravely ill, and Zilu instructed his fellow disciples to attend Confucius as if the disciples were his ministers.

During a remission in his illness, the Master [became aware of what was happening and] rebuked Zilu, saying, “It has been quite some time now, has it not, that you have been carrying out this charade! If I have no ministers and yet you act as if I have, who do you think I am going to fool? Am I going to fool Heaven? Moreover, would I not rather die in the arms of a few of my disciples than in the arms of ministers? Even if I do not merit a grand funeral, it is not as if I would be left to die by the side of the road!”

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

The Master was gravely ill. Zilu directed the disciples to attend him in the manner of retainers.

When the Master had recovered somewhat, he said, How long you go on, You, practicing these deceptions! To pretend that I have retainers when I have no retainers—who would I be deceiving? Would I be deceiving Heaven? Moreover, rather than dying in the hands of retainers, isn’t it better that I die in the hands of you, my disciples? And although I may not be entitled to a grand funeral, it’s not as though I were dying by the roadside, is it?

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

Analects 8.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰大哉尧之为君也巍巍乎唯天为大唯尧则之荡荡乎民无能名焉巍巍乎其有成功也焕乎其有文章

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How great was Yao as a ruler! So majestic! It is Heaven that is great, and it was Yao who modeled himself upon it. So vast! Among the common people there were none who were able to find words to describe him. How majestic in his accomplishments, and glorious in cultural splendor!”

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

The Master said, Great was Yao as a ruler! Awesome, awesome, Heaven alone is great, yet Yao alone made it his model. Vast, all-encompassing, the people could put no name to it. Awesome, awesome were his works and accomplishments, brilliant his cultural achievements.

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

Analects 7.23

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

子曰天生德于予桓魋其如予何

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “It is Heaven itself that has endowed me with virtue. What have I to fear from the likes of Huan Tui?”

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

The Master said, Heaven has implanted this virtue in me. Huan Tui—what can he do to me?

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