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Analects 18.9

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Original Text:

太师挚适齐亚饭干适楚三饭缭适蔡四饭缺适秦鼓方叔入于河播鼗武入于汉少师阳击磬襄入于海

Translation:

Other Translations:

Senior Music Master Zhi went to Qi; Conductor for the Second Course Gan went to Chu; Conductor for Third Course Liao went to Cai; Conductor for the Fourth Course Que went to Qin; the large drum player Fangshu went to live on the banks of the Yellow River; the hand-drum player Wu went to live on the banks of the Han River; and Junior Music Master Yang and stone-chime player Xiang went to live on the coast.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Grand Music Master Zhi went to Qi; Gan, musician of the second meal, went to Chu; Liao, musician of the third meal, went to Cai; Que, musician of the fourth meal, went to Qin. The drummer Fang Shu went to the Yellow River region. The hand-drum player Wu went to the Han River region. The Lesser Music Master Yang and Xiang, who played the chiming stones, went to the coast.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 18.4

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Original Text:

齐人归女乐季桓子受之三日不朝孔子行

Translation:

Other Translations:

The people of Qi sent a gift of female entertainers. Ji Huanzi accepted them [on behalf of the Duke of Lu], and court was not held for several days. Confucius thereupon left the state of Lu.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The men of Qi presented Lu with a troupe of women musicians. Ji Huanzi accepted them and for three days failed to appear at court. Confucius left the state.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 17.18

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Original Text:

子曰恶紫之夺朱也恶郑声之乱雅乐也恶利口之覆邦家者

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I hate that purple has usurped the place of vermillion, that the tunes of Zheng have been confused with classical music, and that the clever of tongue have undermined both state and family.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, I hate the way the color purple detracts from red. I hate the way the tunes of Zheng throw the Ya music into confusion. I hate the way clever talkers bring ruin to the state and the leading families.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 17.11

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Original Text:

子曰礼云礼云玉帛云乎哉乐云乐云钟鼓云乎哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When we say, ‘the rites, the rites,’ are we speaking merely of jade and silk? When we say, ‘music, music,’ are we speaking merely of bells and drums?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Ritual! ritual! they say. But is it just a matter of jades and silks? Music! music! they say. But is it just a matter of bells and drums?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 17.4

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Original Text:

子之武城闻弦歌之声夫子莞尔而笑曰割鸡焉用牛刀子游对曰昔者偃也闻诸夫子曰君子学道则爱人小人学道则易使也子曰二三子偃之言是也前言戏之耳

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master went to Wucheng, he heard the sound of stringed instruments and song. Smiling gently, he remarked, “Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?”
Ziyou replied, “In the past, Master, I have heard you say, ‘If the gentleman learns the Way he will be able to care for others, and if commoners learn the Way they will be easy to manage.’ ”
[Addressing the disciples who had accompanied him to Wucheng,] the Master said, “Take note, my disciples! What Ziyou says is true. My earlier comment was meant only as a joke.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When the Master visited Wucheng, he listened to the music of stringed instruments and a chorus. A smile came to his face, and he said, To cut up a chicken, why use an ox-cleaver?
Ziyou replied, In the past I have heard you say, Master, that when the gentleman studies the Way, he learns to love others, and when the petty man studies the Way, he becomes easy to employ.
The Master said, You young men, what Yan (Ziyou) says is right. My earlier remark was just meant as a joke.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 16.5

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Original Text:

孔子曰益者三乐损者三乐乐节礼乐乐道人之善乐多贤友益矣乐骄乐乐佚游乐宴乐损矣

Translation:

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Confucius said, “Beneficial types of joy number three, as do harmful types of joy. Taking joy in regulating yourself through the rites and music, in commending the excellence of others, or in possessing many worthy friends—these are the beneficial types of joy. Taking joy in arrogant behavior, idle amusements, or decadent licentiousness—these are the harmful types of joys.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, Three kinds of delight are beneficial; three kinds are harmful. The delight of regulating oneself with rites and music, the delight of speaking of others’ good points, the delight of having many worthy friends—these are beneficial. Delight in extravagant pleasures, delight in idle wanderings, delight in the joys of the feast—these are harmful.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.42

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Original Text:

师冕见及阶子曰阶也及席子曰席也皆坐子告之曰某在斯某在斯师冕出子张问曰与师言之道与子曰然固相师之道也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Music Master Mian came to see Confucius.
When they came to the steps, the Master said, “Here are the steps.” When they reached his seat, the Master said, “Here is your seat.” After everyone was seated, the Master informed him as to who was present, saying, “So-and-so is seated here, and So-and-so is seated over there.”
When the Music Master left, Zizhang asked, “Is this the way to converse with a Music Master?”
The Master replied, “Yes, this is indeed the way to assist a Music Master.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Music Master Mian called on Confucius. When they reached the steps, the Master said, Here are the steps. When they reached the seating mats, the Master said, Here are the mats. After everyone was seated, the Master reported, So-and-so is over here. So-and-so is over there.
After Music Master Mian had left, Zizhang asked, Is that the way one talks to a music master? The Master said, Yes, of course. That’s how one assists a music master.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.11

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Original Text:

颜渊问为邦子曰行夏之时乘殷之辂服周之冕乐则韶舞放郑声远佞人郑声淫佞人殆

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yan Hui asked about running a state.
The Master said, “Follow the calendar of the Xia, travel in the carriages of the Shang, and clothe yourself in the ceremonial caps of the Zhou.
“As for music, listen only to the Shao and Wu. Prohibit the tunes of Zheng, and keep glib people at a distance—for the tunes of Zheng are licentious, and glib people are dangerous.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Yan Yuan asked about how to order the state. The Master said, Use the Xia calendar, ride in the chariots of the Yin, wear the caps of the Zhou, and for music, the Shao and Wu. Do away with the Zheng tunes and stay away from artful talkers. The Zheng tunes are excessive, and artful talkers are dangerous.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.12

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Original Text:

子路问成人子曰若臧武仲之知公绰之不欲卞庄子之勇冉求之艺文之以礼乐亦可以为成人矣曰今之成人者何必然见利思义见危授命久要不忘平生之言亦可以为成人矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked about the complete person.
The Master said, “Take a person as wise as Zang Wuzhong, as free of desire as Gongchuo, as courageous as Zhuangzi of Bian, and as accomplished in the arts as Ran Qiu, and then acculturate them by means of ritual and music—such a man might be called a complete person.”
He continued: “But must a complete person today be exactly like this? When seeing a chance for profit he thinks of what is right; when confronting danger he is ready to take his life into his own hands; when enduring an extended period of hardship, he does not forget what he had professed in more fortunate times—such a man might also be called a complete person.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zilu asked about the complete person. The Master said, Zang Wuzhong’s understanding, Meng Gongchuo’s freedom from desire, the valor of Zhuangzi of Pian, the arts of Ran Qiu—embellish them through rites and music, and you have what may be termed the complete person.
And he said, But the complete person of our times need not necessarily be like this. If when he spies gain, he remembers what is right; when he spies danger, is ready to risk his life; when faced with old promises, does not forget his past words; then he can be termed a complete person.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.15

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Original Text:

子曰由之瑟奚为于丘之门门人不敬子路子曰由也升堂矣未入于室也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was heard to remark, “What is Zilu doing in my school, playing the zither the way he does?”
After this, the disciples began treating Zilu in a disrespectful manner. The Master reproved them, saying, “Although Zilu has not yet entered the inner chamber, he has at least ascended to the reception hall.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

he Master said, You’s zither playing hardly fits the style of my school. The other disciples began to treat Zilu with disrespect. The Master said, You is qualified to ascend the hall, though he has not yet entered the inner room.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.