Illness

Analects 17.20

Original Text:

孺悲欲见孔子孔子辞以疾将命者出户取瑟而歌使之闻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ru Bei [sent a messenger expressing his] wish to have an audience with Confucius, but Confucius declined, saying that he was ill. As soon as the messenger went out the door, however, Confucius picked up his zither and sang, making sure that the messenger could hear him.

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

Ru Bei wanted to visit Confucius, but Confucius excused himself on the grounds of illness. Then, as the person who had delivered the message was going out the door, Confucius took up his zither and began to sing, making certain that the man heard him.

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

Analects 10.19

Original Text:

疾君视之东首加朝服拖绅

Translation:

Other Translations:

When he was sick, and his lord came to visit him, he would lay with his head to the east, draped in his court robes, with his ceremonial sash fastened about him.

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

When he was sick and the ruler came to see him, he lay with his head to the east, his court robe spread over him, the sash draped on top.

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

Analects 8.3

Original Text:

曾子有疾召门弟子曰启予足启予手诗云战战兢兢如临深渊如履薄冰而今而后吾知免夫小子

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng was gravely ill and called his disciples to his bedside. “Uncover my feet! Uncover my hands!” he said to them. “The Odes say,

‘Fearful and cautious

As if looking down into a deep abyss

As if treading upon thin ice.’

Only now can I be sure of having made it through safely. Note this, my little ones!”

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

When Master Zeng was ill, he summoned his disciples and said, Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. The Ode says:

Tremble, tremble, be wary

as one on the brink of a deep pool,

as one crossing thin ice—

Now and hereafter I know I have escaped, my little ones—have I not?

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

Analects 7.35

Original Text:

子疾病子路请祷子曰有诸子路对曰有之诔曰祷尔于上下神祇子曰丘之祷久矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was seriously ill, and Zilu asked permission to offer a prayer.

The Master said, “Is such a thing done?”

Zilu said, “It is. The Eulogy reads, ‘We pray for you above and below, to the spirits of Heaven and of Earth.’ ”

The Master said, “In that case, I have already been offering up my prayers for some time now.”

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

The Master was gravely ill. Zilu asked to be allowed to offer prayers for his recovery. The Master said, Is that done? Zilu replied, Yes. The Eulogies say, Prayers are offered for you to the upper and lower gods and spirits.

The Master said, My praying began a long time ago.

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

Analects 6.10

Original Text:

伯牛有疾子问之自牖执其手曰亡之命矣夫斯人也而有斯疾也斯人也而有斯疾也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Boniu fell ill, and the Master went to ask after his health. Grasping his hand through the window, the Master sighed, “That we are going to lose him must be due to fate! How else could such a man be afflicted with such an illness, [and we left with nothing we can do?] How else could such a man be afflicted with such an illness?”

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

Boniu (Ran Boniu) had an illness. The Master went to ask how he was, holding his hand through the window. He said, We are going to lose him. It’s fate, is it not? Such a man, and to have such an illness. Such a man, and to have such an illness.

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

Analects 2.6

Original Text:

孟武伯问孝子曰父母唯其疾之忧

Translation:

Other Translations:

Meng Wubo asked about filial piety. The Master replied, “Give your parents no cause for anxiety other than the possibility that they might fall ill.”

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

Meng Wu Bo asked about filial devotion. The Master said, Your father and mother should have to worry only about your falling ill.

[Or, according to another interpretation of the last clause:]

In the case of one’s father and mother, one just worries about their falling ill.

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