Offering

Analects 10.18

Original Text:

君赐食必正席先尝之君赐腥必熟而荐之君赐生必畜之侍食于君君祭先饭

Translation:

Other Translations:

When presented with a gift of food from his lord, he would taste it before even straightening his mat. When presented with raw meat, he would always have it cooked and then present it as an offering [to his ancestors]. When presented with livestock, he would always have it reared.

When attending his lord at a meal, he would taste the food his lord had sacrificed before giving it to him to eat.

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

When the ruler sent him a gift of food, he would always straighten his sitting mat and first taste it. If the ruler sent a gift of uncooked meat, he would always cook it and make an offering to the ancestors. If the ruler sent a live animal, he would raise it.

If he was attending the ruler at a meal, while the ruler made an offering of a portion of the food, Confucius would first taste it.

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

Analects 10.11

Original Text:

虽疏食菜羹瓜祭必齐如也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Even though a meal was only of coarse grain or vegetable broth, he invariably gave some as a sacrificial offering, and would do so in a grave and respectful manner.

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

Although it was no more than coarse grain, a soup of greens or melon, before eating he always set aside a portion as an offering and did so with a reverential air.

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

Analects 7.7

Original Text:

子曰自行束脩以上吾未尝无诲焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I have never denied instruction to anyone who, of their own accord, offered up as little as a bundle of silk or bit of cured meat.”

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

The Master said, If a person comes with a bundle of dried meat or better, I’ve never refused him instruction.

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