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Original |
Translation |
| 1 |
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Chapter I. |
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Zizhang said, 'The scholar, trained for public duty, seeing threatening
danger, is prepared to sacrifice his life.
When the opportunity of gain is presented
to him, he thinks of righteousness. In sacrificing, his thoughts
are reverential. In mourning,
his thoughts
are about the grief which he should feel.
Such a man commands our approbation indeed.' |
| 2 |
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Chapter II. |
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Zizhang said, 'When a man holds fast to virtue, but without seeking to enlarge
it, and believes right principles, but without firm sincerity, what
account can be made of his existence
or non-existence?' |
| 3 |
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Chapter III. |
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The disciples of Zixia asked Zizhang about the principles that should
characterize mutual intercourse. Zizhang asked, 'What
does Zixia say on the subject?' They
replied, 'Zixia says:-- "Associate
with those who can advantage you. Put away
from you those who cannot do so."'
Zizhang observed, 'This is different from
what I have learned. The
superior man honours the talented and virtuous,
and bears with all. He praises the good,
and pities the incompetent. Am
I possessed of great talents and virtue?--
who is there among men whom
I will not bear with? Am I devoid of talents
and virtue?-- men will put me away from them.
What have we to do with the putting away
of others?' |
| 4 |
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Chapter IV. |
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Zixia said, 'Even in inferior studies and employments there is something
worth being looked at; but if it be attempted to carrythem out to
what is remote, there is a danger of their proving inapplicable.
Therefore, the superior man does not practise
them.' |
| 5 |
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Chapter V. |
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Zixia said, 'He, who from day to day recognises what he has not yet, and
from month to month does not forget what he
has attained to, may be said indeed to
love to learn.' |
| 6 |
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Chapter VI. |
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Zixia said, 'There are learning extensively, and having a firm and sincere
aim; inquiring with earnestness, and reflecting with self-application:--
virtue is in such a course.' |
| 7 |
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Chapter VII. |
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Zixia said, 'Mechanics have their shops to dwell in, in order to accomplish
their works. The superior man learns, in order to reach to the utmost
of his principles.' |
| 8 |
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Chapter VIII. |
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Zixia said, 'The mean man is sure to gloss his faults.' |
| 9 |
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Chapter IX. |
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Zixia said, 'The superior man undergoes three changes. Looked at from a distance,
he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to
speak, his language is firm
and decided.' |
| 10 |
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Chapter X. |
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Zixia said, 'The superior man, having obtained their confidence, may then
impose labours on his people. If he have not gained their confidence,
they will think that he is oppressing them. Having
obtained the confidence of his prince, one may then remonstrate
with him. If he have not gained his confidence, the prince
will think that he is vilifying him.' |
| 11 |
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Chapter XI. |
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Zixia said, 'When a person does not transgress the boundary line in the great
virtues, he may pass and repass it in the small virtues.' |
| 12 |
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Chapter XII. |
| 12-1 |
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Ziyou said, 'The disciples and followers of Zixia, in sprinkling and sweeping
the ground, in answering and replying, in advancing
and receding, are sufficiently accomplished.
But these are only the branches of learning, and they
are left ignorant of what is essential.--
How can they be acknowledged as sufficiently taught?' |
| 12-2 |
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Zixia heard of the remark and said, 'Alas! Yan You [Yen Yu] is wrong. According
to the way of the superior man in teaching,
what departments are there which he considers
of prime importance, and delivers? what are
there which he considers of secondary importance,
and allows himself to be idle about? But
as in the case of plants, which are
assorted according to their classes, so he deals with his
disciples. How can the way of a superior man be such as to make
fools of any of them? Is it not the sage alone, who can unite
in one the beginning and the consummation of learning?' |
| 13 |
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Chapter XIII. |
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Zixia said, 'The officer, having discharged all his duties, should devote
his leisure to learning. The student, having completed
his learning, should apply himself to be
an officer.' |
| 14 |
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Chapter XIV. |
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Zixia said, 'Mourning, having been carried to the utmost degree of grief,
should stop with that.' |
| 15 |
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Chapter XV. |
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Zixia said, 'My friend Zhang [Chang] can do things which are hard to be done,
but yet he is not perfectly virtuous.' |
| 16 |
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Chapter XVI. |
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The philosopher Zeng said, 'How imposing is the manner of Chang! It is difficult
along with him to practise virtue.' |
| 17 |
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Chapter XVII. |
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The philosopher Zeng said, 'I heard this from our Master:-- "Men may not have shown what
is in them to the full extent, and yet they will be found to do so, on occasion
of mourning
for their parents."' |
| 18 |
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Chapter XVIII. |
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The philosopher Zeng said, 'I have heard this from our Master:-- "The
filial piety of Meng Zhuang [Mang Chwang],
in other matters, was what other men are
competent to, but, as seen in his not changing
the ministers of his father, nor his father's
mode of government, it is difficult to be
attained to."' |
| 19 |
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Chapter XIX. |
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The chief of the Meng family having appointed Yang Fu to be chief criminal judge,
the latter consulted the philosopher Zeng.
Zeng said, 'The rulers have failed in their
duties, and the people consequently have been disorganised, for a
long time.
When you have found out the truth of any accusation, be grieved
for and pity them, and do not feel joy at
your own ability.' |
| 20 |
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Chapter XX. |
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Zigong said, 'Zhou's wickedness was not so great as that name implies. Therefore,
the superior man hates to dwell in a low-lying
situation, where all the evil of the world
will flow
in upon him.' |
| 21 |
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Chapter XXI. |
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Zigong said, 'The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the
sun and moon. He has his faults, and all men see
them; he changes again, and all men look
up to him.' |
| 22 |
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Chapter XXII. |
| 22-1 |
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Gong Sun Zhao [Kung-sun Ch'ao] of Wei asked Zigong, saying, 'From whom did
Zhongni get his learning?' |
| 22-2 |
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Zigong replied, 'The doctrines of Wan and Wu have not yet fallen to the ground.
They are to be found among men. Men of talents and virtue remember
the greater principles of them, and others, not possessing
such talents and virtue, remember the smaller. Thus, all possess
the doctrines of Wan and Wu. Where could our Master go that
he should not have an opportunity of learning them? And yet
what necessity was there for his having
a regular master?' |
| 23 |
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Chapter XXIII. |
| 23-1 |
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Shu Sun Wushu [Shu-sun Wu-shu] observed to the great officers in the court,
saying, 'Zigong is superior to Zhongni [Zhongni].' |
| 23-2 |
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Zi Fu Jingpo [Tsze-fu Ching-po] reported the observation to Zigong, who said,
'Let me use the comparison of a house and
its encompassing wall. My wall only reaches
to the shoulders. One may peep over it, and
see whatever is valuable in the apartments. |
| 23-3 |
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'The wall of my Master is several fathoms high. If one do not find the door and
enter by it, he cannot see the ancestral temple with its beauties,
nor all the officers in their rich array. |
| 23-4 |
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'But I may assume that they are few who find the door. Was not the observation
of the chief only what might have been expected?' |
| 24 |
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Chapter XXIV. |
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Shu-sun Wu-shu having spoken revilingly of Zhongni, Zigong said, 'It is
of no use doing so. Zhongni cannot be reviled. The
talents and virtue of other men are hillocks
and mounds which may be stepped over. Zhongni is the sun
or moon, which it is not possible to step
over. Although a man may wish to cut himself off from the
sage, what harm can he do to the sun or
moon? He only shows that he does not know his own
capacity. |
| 25 |
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Chapter XXV. |
| 25-1 |
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Chen Ziqin, addressing Zigong, said, 'You are too modest. How can Zhongni
be said to be superior to you?' |
| 25-2 |
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Zigong said to him, 'For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for
one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We ought to be careful
indeed in what we say. |
| 25-3 |
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'Our Master cannot be attained to, just in the same way as the heavens cannot
be gone up to by the steps of a stair. |
| 25-4 |
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'Were our Master in the position of the ruler of a State or the chief of a Family,
we should find verified the description which has been given of a
sage's rule:-- he would plant the people, and forthwith they would
be established; he would lead them on, and forthwith they would follow
him; he would make them happy, and forthwith multitudes would
resort to his dominions; he would stimulate them, and forthwith
they would be harmonious. While he lived, he would
be glorious. When he died, he would be bitterly lamented.
How is it possible for him to be attained
to?' |