South - Confucian Pages

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Is Shun not an example of someone who ruled by means of wu-wei? What did he do? He made himself reverent and took his proper [ritual] position facing south, that is all.”

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

The Master said, Of those who ruled through inaction, surely Shun was one. What did he do? Dedicating himself to courtesy, he faced directly south, that was all.

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

Analects 13.22

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Thirteen

Original Text:

子曰南人有言曰人而无恒不可以作巫医善夫不恒其德或承之羞子曰不占而已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Southerners have a saying, ‘The fate of a person who lacks constancy cannot be diagnosed by the shaman-healers.’ How well put!”
[It is also said,] “One inconstant in Virtue will probably incur disgrace.” The Master commented, “It simply cannot be foretold through divination.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Southerners have a saying: If a person lacks constancy, he cannot become a shaman or a doctor. Well put, is it not? Someone not constant in virtue is likely to suffer disgrace.
And the Master said, No need to consult a diviner to know that much!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.