Ritual - Confucian Pages

Analects 7.31

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Original Text:

陈司败问昭公知礼乎孔子曰知礼孔子退揖巫马期而进之曰吾闻君子不党君子亦党乎君取于吴为同姓谓之吴孟子君而知礼孰不知礼巫马期以告子曰丘也幸苟有过人必知之

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The Minister of Crime in the state of Chen asked, “Can we say that Duke Zhao [of Lu] understood ritual?”
Confucius answered, “Yes, he understood ritual.”
Confucius then retired. With a bow, the Minister invited Wuma Qi to approach and said to him, “I have heard it said that the gentleman is not partial. Is the gentleman in fact partial after all? His lordship took as his wife a woman from the state of Wu who was of the same clan, and then called her ‘Elder Daughter of Wu.’ If his lordship understood ritual, who does not understand it?”
Later, Wuma Qi reported this conversation to Confucius. Confucius said, “How fortunate I am! If I happen to make a mistake, others are sure to inform me.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The minister of crime of the state of Chen asked whether Duke Zhao of Lu understood ritual. Confucius replied, Yes, he understood ritual.
After Confucius had retired from the scene, the minister of crime signaled to Wuma Qi to step forward and said, I have heard that a gentleman is not partisan, but some gentlemen appear to be partisan indeed! Duke Zhao took a wife from the state of Wu, but because she was of the same surname as Duke Zhao, she was referred to simply as Wu Mengzi. If Duke Zhao understood ritual, then who doesn’t understand ritual?
Wuma Qi reported this to Confucius. The Master said, How fortunate I am! If I make a mistake, someone is certain to let me know.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.27

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰君子博学于文约之以礼亦可以弗畔矣夫

Translation:

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The Master said, “Someone who is broadly learned with regard to culture, and whose conduct is restrained by the rites, can be counted upon to not go astray.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If the gentleman acquires broad learning in cultural matters and focuses it through ritual, he is hardly likely to go far astray, is he?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.25

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰觚不觚觚哉觚哉

Translation:

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The Master said, “A gu that is not a proper gu—is it really a gu? Is it really a gu?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, A gu drinking cup that is not a gu drinking cup—what a gu, what a gu!
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:

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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 3.22

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰管仲之器小哉或曰管仲俭乎曰管氏有三归官事不摄焉得俭然则管仲知礼乎曰邦君树塞门管氏亦树塞门邦君为两君之好有反坫管氏亦有反坫管氏而知礼孰不知礼

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The Master said, “Guan Zhong’s vessel was of small capacity.”
Someone asked, “Do you mean that he was frugal?”
The Master replied, “Guan maintained three separate residences and had a separate staff member for each duty. How could be called frugal?”
“Well, then, do you mean to say that Guan Zhong understood ritual?”
The Master replied, “The lord of a state erects a wall in front of his gate, and Guan did the same. The lord of a state, when entertaining other lords, has a stand upon which to place the drinking ups after the toast, and Guan also had one of these. If Guan understood ritual, who does not understand it?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Guan Zhong was a man of small parts!
Someone objected, saying, Guan Zhong was noted for frugality, was he not?
The Master said, Guan Zhong had his Three Returning mansion, and he did not require his staff to perform double duties – how can that be called frugal?
But, said the other person, Guan Zhong understood ritual, did he not?
The Master said, Rulers of states put up gate screens, and Mr. Guan put up a gate screen too. Rulers of states, when entertaining another ruler, have a stand for inverted wine cups, and Mr. Guan had a stand for inverted wine cups too. If Mr. Guan understood ritual, who doesn’t understand ritual?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

哀公问社于宰我宰我对曰夏后氏以松殷人以柏周人以栗曰使民战栗子闻之曰成事不说遂事不谏既往不咎

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Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altar to the soil.
Zai Wo replied, “The clans of the Xia sovereigns used the pine tree, the Shang people used the cypress tree, and the Zhou people used the chestnut tree (li). It is said that they wanted to instill fear (li) in the people.”
Having been informed of this, the Master remarked, “One does not try to explain what is over and done with, one does not try to criticize what is already gone, and one does not try to censure that which is already fast.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altar to the god of the soil. Zai Wo replied, The Xia rulers planted it with pines, the men of Yin planted it with cedars, the men of Zhou plant it with chestnuts (li), in order, they say to make the common people tremble (li).
When the Master heard of this, he said, Completed affairs one does not comment on; things done one does not carp over; what is past one does not criticize.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

定公问君使臣臣事君如之何孔子对曰君使臣以礼臣事君以忠

Translation:

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Duke Ding asked, “How should a lord employ his ministers? How should a minister serve his lord?”
Confucius replied, “A lord should employ his minsters with ritual, and ministers should serve their lord with dutifulness.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ding asked how the ruler should treat his ministers and how the ministers should serve the ruler. Confucius replied, The ruler should treat his ministers in accordance with ritual. The minsters should serve the ruler with loyalty.
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 3.17

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子贡欲去告朔之饩羊子曰赐也尔爱其羊我爱其礼

Translation:

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Zigong wanted to do away with the practice of sacrificing a lamb to announce the beginning of the month.
The Master said, “Zigong! You regret the loss of the lamb, whereas I regret the loss of the rite.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong wanted to do away with the sacrificial sheep at the first-of-the-month announcement to the ancestors. The Master said, Si (Zigong), you care about the sheep, I care about the ritual.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.