TheWisdomofConfucius 10102297

CO NTE NTS
TH E WIS D OM OF CONFUCIUS
Int roduction
B OOK
On Learnin g—Miscell an eous ayin gs S

F
Good Government— ili al Pi ety—The S up en or an M
Ab use o f Proprieti e s in Ceremonial and M usic
S ocial Virtue—Superior an d Inf erior Man
A Discipl e and th e G ol den Rul e—M i sc ell aneou s
More Characteristics—Wi sdom—Ph il anthropy
Charac teristi c s of Conf u cius—An Incident
S
S ayi ng s of Tsan g— enten ces of th e M aster
Fv
His a orite Discipl e s pinion o f Him
’
O
v
Confu cius 111 Pri ate and ffi cial Life O
v
Comparati e Worth of His D iscipl es
Th e M aster s Answers—Phi l an thropy— riend s i p s
’
F h
Answers on th e Art of Governin g—Consistency .
v
G oo d an d B ad Go ernment—Miscell an eous S ay
m s
§ c
Prac ical Wisdom —R e iproci y t e Rul of Lif e t h e
Again st Intestine S trife—Good and Bad Fr1end
XVII Th e
. Master Induced to Tak e Ofi ce—Nature and
Habi t 93
XVII I . Good M en m S eclus1on—D uk e of Chow to His S on 99
XIX . Teachings of Various Chief D iscipl es 103
Extrac ts from th e Book of History 108
TH E S AYI NG S OF ME NCIUS
Introduction
B oox I King k of Leang
' ’
.
y .
Part I .
viii CO N TE N TS
are omitted
!Books 11 , I II, and IV ]
P A GE
BOOK V Wan . Ch ang .
Part I .
TH E S HI KI -
NG
In troduction
I
Part I L essons from the S tates .
. O
BOOK I THE DES OF CH OW A ND TH E S OU TH .
Cel ebrati ng th e Virtue of Kin g Wan s Bride

’
Cel eb rati ng th e Industry of Kin g Wan s ! ueen

’
In Praise of a Bride
"
Cel eb ratin g T ae S ze 3 reedom from J eal ousy
-
F
F
The rui tf ulness of th e Locust
d
.
Lamenting the Ab sence of a Ch erish ed rien F

Cel eb rating th e Goodness of th e D escendants of King
Wan
Virtuou s Manners of th e Young Women
The
Praise of a Rabb it Catch er -
Th e S ong of th e Pl antain Cath et ers -
Th e Affecti on of th e Wi v e s on th e J oo
BOOK I I THE ODES OF S HA OU A ND THE S OUTH
/
. .
Th e Marriage of a Princess
The Indu str y and Re verence of a Princ e 5 Wif e
’
Th e Wife of Som e Great Officer B ewail s hi s Ab s ence

Th e Dil igence of th e Youn g Wif e of an Officer
Th e Lo v e of th e Peopl e for th e Duk e of S haou
Th e Easy D ignity of the Ofi c ers at Some Court
Anxi ety of a Youn g Lady to Get Marri ed
BOOK III THE ODE S OF P E r
‘
. .
An Officer Bewail s th e Negl ect with which He i s

Treated
A Wife D eplores the Ab s ence of Her Husb and .
The Pl aint of a R ejected Wife

Sol diers of Wei Bewail S eparation from their Fam ilies
An Officer Tell s of His Mean E m pl oyment .
An Officer S ets Forth His Hard Lot .

C O N TE N TS
Th e Complaint of a Negl ected Wife

InPraise of a Maiden
Dis content
Husband s
.
Chwang Keang Bemoan s Her Cruel ty

’
!Books IV, V, and VI are om itt e d]

BOOK VII THE ODES OF CH m c
.
‘
.
Th e Peopl e s Admiration for D uk e Woo

’
A Wife Con soled by Her Husb and s Ar n val ’
I n Praise of Som e Lady

A Man s Praise of His Wif e
’
An E ntre aty
A Wom an S com ing Her Lover
A Lady M ourn s th e Ab sence of Her Student Lov er
B OOK VIII THE ODE S OF Ts E
‘
. .
A Wife Urging H er Husb and to Action

The Fol ly of Us el ess Effort
Th e Prin ce of Loo
BOOK IX THE ODEs OF WEI
. .
On th e Mi sgovernm ent of th e State

Th e M ean Husb and
A Young Soldier on Service
BOOK X THE ODES OF T A N G
‘
. .
Th e King G oes to War

Lament of a B ereaved Person
The D rawb ack s of Poverty
A Wife Mourns for Her Husb and
BOOK XI THE ODES OF Ts 1N
.
‘
.
Celeb rating th e Opul en ce of th e Lord s of Ts m

A Complaint
A Wif e s Grief B ecause of Her Husband s Ab sence
’ ’
Lament for Three Broth ers

In Prai se of a Rul er of Ts m
Th e G enerou s N eph ew
BOOK XII TH E OnE s OF CH 1N
.
‘
.
‘
The Contentment of a Poor Recluse

The Di sappointed Lover
1! C O N TE N T S
A Lov e—Song
Th e Lam ent of a Lover
BOOK XI II THE ODEs OF KWE I
. .
Th e Wish of an Unh appy M an

BOOK XI V TH E ODE s OF Ts A OU
‘
. .
Again st Friv ol ous Pursui ts

BOOK XV THE ODEs OF PI N
. .
Th e D uk e of Chow Tell s of His S ol diers

Th ere is a Proper Way for D oing Ev eryth ing
Part II Mino r Ode s of the Kingdom

. .
BOOK I D ECADE
. OF LU H MIN G .
A Festal Ode
A Festal Ode lCom pl imentin g an Offi cer
The Valu e of Friend shi p
The Response to a Festal Ode
An Ode of Congratul ation
An Ode on th e Return of th e Tr0 0 s
p
BOOK I I THE D ECADE OF PI H HW A
. .
An Ode Appropri ate to a Festivity

BOOK III THE DECADE OF T W O KU N G
. .
Cel eb rati n g a Hunti ng E xpedition

The King s Anxiety for His Mornin g Levee
’
Moral Lessons from Natural Facts

BOOK IV TH E DE CADE OF K E FO O
‘
-
. .
O n th e Comple tion of a R oyal Pal ace

Th e Cnoditi on of King S euen s Flocks
’
BOOK V THE DE CADE OF SEA OU Mm

. .
A Eunuch Compl ain s of His Fate

An Officer D epl ore s th e Mi sery of th e Time
On th e Ali enation of a Friend
BOOK VI THE DE CA DE OF Pm SH AN
.
.
A Picture of Husb andry

Th e Compl ain t of an Ofi cer
BOOK VI I D E CA DE O F S A N G Ho o
. .
Th e Rejoicin gs of a Brid egroom

Against Listening to S landerers
C O N TE N T S
BOOK VIII THE DECA DE OF TOO In: S Z E

. .
I n Praise of By gon e S irnpli city

A Wife Bem oans Her Husb and s Abse
.
nce
Th e Earl of S h aou s Work
’
Th e Pl ain t of King Yew s Fors a k en Wife

’
Hospitality
On th e MiseryO f S ol di ers
Part I I I Greater Od es
. o f the Kingd om .
BOOK I DE CADE OF c
. WA N .
C el eb ratin g King Wan

!Book II is om itted ]
BOOK III DE CADE OF TAN G
. .
King Seuen on the Occasion of a Great D rought
Part IV Odes
. o f the Tem pl e and A ltar .
BOOK I S A CRI FICIAL ODEs OF CH OW

.
Appropriate to a Sacrifi ce to Kin g Wan

On S acrificing to the Kings Woo Ching K ang
‘
, , and .
PRONUNCIATION OF PROPE R NAM ES
i
, as in French .
ng , co mm en cin g a word l ik e th e same l etters terminating one

, .
ai or ci , as in aisle or c id er .
au, as in G erman, or lik e a w in cow .
é, as in fete
'
i ( not foll o wed b

y a consonant ), as ee in see .
0 ( fo ll owed b y a c onson ant ), as in bull

.
in, as ew in new .
di, as ooi in cooing

v
.
h at the end of a n am e m ak es th e prece ding owel short .
in the middl e of a word denotes an aspirate ( h ) as K ung

‘
,
INTRO DU CTIO N
THE str anges t figure that meets u s in th e annals of O rienta l

thought is that of Confucius To the popular mind he is th e
.
foun der of a reli gion and yet he has nothin g in comm on

,
with the grea t religious te ach ers of th e E ast We think of .
S iddarth a th e foun d er of Bu ddhism as th e very imper

, ,
son a tion of roman ti c a scetici sm en thus iasti c self sacri fice

,
-
,
an d fa i th in th e thin gs that are in vi s ibl e Z oroaster is th e

.
frien d of God talki ng fac e to face wi th th e Almighty and

, ,
drin king wisd om an d kn owledge from th e lips of Cm

nisc ien c e Mohamm e d is repre s en te d as sn atch ed up in to
.
heaven where h e receives th e Divin e communication

,
which h e is hidden to propagate wi th fire and sword

throughout th e world Th ese great teachers li ved in an at
.
m osphere of th e sup ern atural They spoke wi th the au.
th ority of in spir ed proph ets They brought the unsee n

.
world close to the min ds of th eir disciples They spoke .
posi tively of imm ortality of reward or puni shment be

,
yon d th e grave Th e present life th ey despis ed th e future

. ,
was to them everythin g in its promis e d satisfacti on The .
teachin gs of Confucius were of a very different sort .
Throughout his whole writin gs he has n ot even men tion ed

th e n am e of God He d e clined to discuss th e que s ti on of
.
immor tali ty Wh en h e was aske d about spiri tual b ein gs h e

. ,
remarke d If we canno t even kn ow men how can we

,
“
,
”
know spiri ts ?
Yet thi s was th e man th e im pre ss of whos e tea chi n g has
forme d th e n ation al character of five hundred milli on s of
p eople A temple to Confuciu s stan ds to this day in every
.
3
4 TH E W I SDO M OF CON FU C I US
town and vil lage of Chin a His precepts are comm itted to
.
memory by every child from th e ten dere st age an d each ,
e a r at th e r oyal univ ers i ty at P ekin th e E mp eror holds a

y
festival in hon or of th e ill ustriou s teach er .
Th e influen ce of Conf ucius sprin gs first of all from th e , ,
n a rrown e ss an d defin iten ess of h i s doctrin e He was no .
transcen dentali st and n ever m eddled with supramun dane

,
things His teachin g was of th e earth earthy ; it d eal t eu

.
,
ti t ely with th e common relation s of life an d th e Golden ,
Rul e h e must n ece ssa rily have stu mble d upon as th e most ,
obvi ou s can on of his system He strik es us as being the

.
reat S toi c of th e E ast for h e b elieve d that vi rtu e was
gased on kn owled ge kn owledge of a man s own heart and

,
’
, ,
kn owledge of human kin d There is a pathetic res emblan ce

-
.
between th e accoun ts given of th e death of C onfucius and

th e d e ath of Z eno Both die d al most w i thou t warn in g in
.
dreary hopelessn ess wi thout th e mini stration s of either

,
love or religion Thi s m ay be a m ere coincid ence but the

.
,
lives and teachin gs of both m en must have l ed them to

look wi th in diff eren ce upon such an end For Conf ucius in .
his teachin g tr eated onl y of man s lif e on e arth an d s e ems ,
to have had n o i deas with re gard to th e hum an lot after

death ; if he had any ideas h e pres erved an in scrutable
silen ce about them As a moralist h e prescribed th e du ties
.
of th e Icin g an d of the father an d advocate d the cultiva

,
ti on by the individual m an of that rest or apathy of mind

whi ch resembl es so much th e disposition aim ed at by the
Greek an d R oman S toic Even as a moralist h e s eems to
.
,
have sacrifi ced th e i deal to th e practi cal and his loos e no ,
ti ons abou t marriage his toleran ce of concubinage th e

, ,
sli ght emphasis which he lays on th e virtue of veraci ty /

of wh ich in d eed h e doe s n ot s eem hims elf to have b een
parti cularly studious in hi s historic wri tin gs— place him

low down in th e rank of moralists Yet he taught what he .
TH E W I SDO M OF C O N F U C I US 5
felt p eople could receive and the flat m edio crity of
the ,
his character an d hi s te achin gs has b een stamp ed forever

upon a p eople who whil e they are kin dly gen tle forb ear
, , ,
ing an d full of famil y piety are palpably lackin g not only

, ,
in th e ex altation Of Mysti cism but in an reli gi ous feelin g

y , ,
g enerally so called -
.
Th e s econ d re ason that made th e teachin g of C onfucius

so influential is bas ed on th e circumstan ces of th e tim e .
When thi s thoughtful earnest you th awoke to th e con ,
sciousn ess of life about h im h e saw that th e abu s e s un der

,
which th e pe ople gro aned spran g from th e feudal system ,
which cut up th e coun try in to separate terri tori es over ,
which th e power of th e kin g had n o con trol Chin a was in .
the pos iti on of Fra n ce in th e ye ar s p rec e din g Phil ippe

Au uste excep tin g that there were n o places of san ctuary
,
an n o Truce of God Th e great doctr in e of Con fuc iu s was

.
th e unlim i ted despoti sm of th e E mp eror an d his moral ,
precepts were in tended to teach th e Emp eror how to use

his power ari ght But th e Emp eror was onl y ty pi cal of all
.
those in authori ty— th e feudal duke th e judg e on th e ,
ben ch an d th e fa ther of th e famil y Each could discharge

, .
his duties aright only by submittin g to th e moral d isciplin e

which Conf ucius prescribe d A vital elem en t in this system .
i s its con s ervati sm its adh eren ce to th e imp eri al i dea As

,
.
“
Jam es I said No bishop n o kin g so th e imperial ists of
, , ,
Chin a have foun d in C onf uciani sm th e stron ge st basis for

the throne and have supported its di ssemin ati on accord
,
ingl
rh e An al ects of Confucius con tain th e gi st of his t e ach
in gs an d is worthy of study We find in th i s work most of

,
.
the prec epts whi ch his di sciples have pres erve d an d re

corded They form a code remarkable for sim plicity even
. ,
crudity an d we are compelled to admire th e force of char

,
acter th e practi cal sagaci ty th e in sight in to th e needs of

, ,
6 W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I U S
TH E
th e hour which en able d C onfuciu s wi thou t cla imin g any

, ,
D ivin e san cti on to impos e thi s sy stem upon hi s coun try

,
m en .
Th e ame Confucius is onl y th e Latim zed form of two

n
'
“ ”
words which m ean Master K ung H e was born 551 B C ’
. . .
,
his fath er bein g govern or of S han tun g H e was ma rri ed at .
n in et een an d s e ems to have occu pie d som e m in or posi

,
ti on un der th e governm en t In hi s twen ty fourth ye ar he .

-
e n tere d upon th e thre e y ears mourn in g f or th e d eath of

’
his mother His s eclus i on gav e h im ti m e for deep th ought

.
an d th e study of history an d b e re solv e d u pon th e re gen

,
eration of hi s unh appy coun try By th e tim e h e was thir ty .
he b ecam e k nown as a great te ach er an d disciples flocked ,
to him But he was yet occupied in publi c duties an d rose

.
,
through successive stage s to th e office of Chi ef Judge in

his own coun try of Lu His tenure of offic e is sai d to have
.
“ ”
put an end to crim e an d h e b ecam e th e i dol of th e people
,
in his distri c t Th e j ealou sy of th e feudal lords was rous ed

.
by his fam e as a moral teacher an d a blameless ju dge Con .
i ncius was driven from his home an d wan d ere d about , ,
with a few disciples un til his six ty nin th year when he re

,
-
,
turne d to Lu after accompli shin g a work which has hom e

,
fruit such as it is to th e pres en t day He spen t the remain

, , .
in g five ye ars of his lif e in edi tin g th e od e s an d hi storic

monum en ts in which the glories of th e an cien t Chin ese
dyn asty are set forth H e died in h is s even ty thir d year
.
-
,
478 D C There can b e n o doubt that th e succe ss of Con

. .
fucius has b een s in gularly great owin g e sp eci all y to the ,
narrow sc op e of h is sch em e whi ch has b e com e crystalli zed

,
in th e habi ts u sag es an d cu stoms of th e p eople E sp eci ally

, , .
has it been in strum en tal in c on s oli datin g th e empire and ,
in s tren gth en in g th e power of the mon arch wh o as he , ,
ev er
y year burn s incen s e in th e re d wall e d t emple at -
“
Pekin utter s sin cerely th e invocati on : Great ar t th ou 0
, ,
perfect S age ! Thy virtue is full thy doctrine comple te , .

TH E W I SDO M O F C O N F U CI U S 7
Am on g m ortal men th ere has not b een thine equal All .
kin gs honor th ee Thy statute s and laws have come glori

.
ousl
y down . Th ou art th e patt ern in th i s imp erial school .
Reveren tly have th e sacrificial v ess els b een set out Full .
”
of awe we sound our drums and bell s
, .
E W . .
B OO K I
On Learning— M iscella neous S yings
a
“ ”
To learn said th e Master an d then to practi se oppor
, ,
tunely what one has learn t— does n ot thi s brin g wi th it a

s en s e of satisfacti on?
“
To have associ ate s in study comin g to on e from di stant
parts— does not this also m ean pleasure in store?
An d are not thos e wh o while n ot comprehendin g all
“
,
that is sai d still remain n ot un ple as ed to h ear m en of the

, ,
”
superi or order?
A sayin g of th e S cholar Yu
“
It is rarely th e cas e that those who act th e part of true
men in re gar d to their duty to paren ts and elder brothers
are at th e sam e tim e wil lin g to turn curri shly upon th eir
sup eri ors : it has never yet b een th e cas e that such as desire
n ot to commi t that off en ce have b een m en wi llin g to
pro
mote an archy or disorder .
“
M en of superi or min d busy thems elves first in gettin g
at the roo t of thin gs ; an d when they have succeede d in thi s
th e ri ght cour s e is op en to th em Well are n ot filial piety
.
,
an d fri en dl
y subordin ati on amon g br oth ers a root of that ”
ri ght feelin g whi ch i s owin g g en erall from m an to m an ?
“
y
Th e Master obs erve d R arely d o we m ee t wi th the
,
ri ght feelin g due fr om on e m an to an oth er wh ere th ere is
fine sp eech an d studie d mien .
Th e S cholar Tsan g on ce sai d of hims elf : On three

poin ts I examin e mysel f dail y viz whether in looking
’
, .
, ,
after other pe ople s in terests I h ave n ot b een acti n g whole

,
heartedly ; whether in m y in tercours e with friends I have

, ,
8
Tsz k in put thi s query to h is fellow discipl e Tsz kun g
‘
- -
sai d h e When our Master comes to this or that tate, he

“
,
S
learn s wi th ou t fail how it is b ein g govern ed D o e s h e in .
”
ve sti ate matters ? o r are th e facts giv en h im ?
g “
Tsz k un g an swered Our Master is a m an of pleasant
-
,
mann ers an d of probity court e ous mod erate, and unas

, , ,
sumin : i t is by h i s b ein g such that h e arrives at th e facts

g .
Is n ot h is w ay of arrivin g at th ings differen t from that f

”
o
oth ers ?
A sayi n g of th e Master
“ ’
H e wh o after three ye ars obs ervati on of the will of his
,
father when alive or of his past conduct if d ead do es not

, ,
’
deviate from that father s way s is enti tled to b e call ed a ,

‘
dutiful son .
S“ ayings of th e S cholar Yu
Fo the p actice of
r r th e Rule s of P op ety
r ri 1
on e excel ,
lent way is to b e natural This n aturalness becam e a great .
grace in th e practi ce of kings of former tim es ; l et everyone ,
small or great follow their example

, .
“
It is not however always practicable ; and it is not so
, ,
in th e cas e of a p erson who doe s thin gs n aturally knowing ,
that he should act so and yet who neglects to regulate his

,
acts according to the Rul es .
“
When truth and ri ght are han d in han d a statement ,
wi ll bear repeti ti on Wh en re spectfuln ess an d propriety go

.
han d in hand; disgrace an d sham e are kept afar off Re -

.
move all occasion for alienating thos e to whom you are

boun d by clos e ties an d you have th em sti ll to resort to
, .
A sayin g of th e Master
“
Th e m an of gre ater min d who when h e is e atin g craves , ,
n ot to eat to th e full ; who has a h om e bu t crav e s n ot for ,
comfor ts in it; who is active an d e arn est in hi s work and

An im portant p art of a Chinaman s ed uc ation still The text-b ook , Th e
’
v
.
”
Li Ki, cont ain s rul es f or b eh a ior and propriety f or th e whole lif e, from
th e cradl e to th e gra e v .
TH E W I S DO M O F C O N F U C I US 11
careful in his words ; who makes towards men o f high prin

ci l e an d so ma in ta in s h i s own recti tude—th at man may
p ,
he s tyled a dev oted stu den t

”
.
Tsz kun g asked What say you sir of th e poor who do

“
-
, , ,
n ot crin e and fawn ; an d what of th e rich wh o are
out pri e and “haughtiness ? Th ey are passable th e

” “
,
”
Master repli ed ; yet th ey are scarcely in the sam e category

as th e p o or who are happy an d th e rich who love pro
,
”
riet
p “
y .
“
I n the
B oo k o f
‘
the Od s
e ,
’
Tsz -
kun g went on to say ,
we read of one
Polished , as by th e knife and file,
The graving— tool , the smoo thing-stone .
t o
D oe s hat c in cide with your remark?
“
”
“ ”
o
Ah ! such as y u repli ed th e Master, may well com
,
m en ce a discussi n on the o O
des If one tel l you how a .
thin g g oe s you know what ought to come

,
.
“
It do es not greatly con c ern m e said the Master that , ,
men do not k now me; my great con cern is my not knon ,
them ”
.
B OO K II
Good Gooem m ent— Filia l Piety— The Superior Man
S A YIN GS of th Mast
“
e er :
L et a l
bas e his government upon virtuous prin
ru er
cipl es an d he will b e li ke th e pol e star whi ch remai n s

,
-
,
steadfast in its place while all the host of stars turn to

,
wards it .
Th e Book of O d es con ta in s three hun dre d pieces but

“ ‘ ’
on e expre ss i on in i t m a
y b e taken as coverin g th e purport
of all v1z Un swervin g min dfulness
, .
To govern simply by statute an d to re duce all to order ,
by m ean s of pain s and p enal ti e s is to render th e people ,
evasive and d evoi d of an

“
, y s en s e of shame .
To govern upon prin cipl es of virtu e an d to reduce ,
them to order by th e Rules of Propriety would not only ,
create in them th e s en s e of sham e but would moreover ,
re ach them in all their err ors .
“
When I attained th e age of fifteen I became ben t upon ,
study At th ir ty
. I was a confirmed student At forty
, .
,
n ought could mov e m e from my cours e At fift I com

y .
,
prehen ded th e will an d decree s of H eaven At sixty my .

,
e a rs were attun ed to th em At s even ty I coul d fol low my.

,
’
h a t s desire s wi thout overstepping th e l in es of recti
tue r
,
”
e .
To a que sti on of Man g i as to what fili al pie ty con si sted

-
,
“ ”
in th e Master replied
, In not bein g p ervers e
,
After .
ward s when Fan Ch i was drivin g him th e Master in

,
‘
formed“ hirn of th is questi on an d an swer an d Fan Ch i ,

‘
asked Wh at was your me anin g ? Th e Master repli ed I

,
”
,
TH E W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I US 13
m ean t that th e Rule s of Propriety should always be ad
hered t o in regard to th os e who brought us in to the world
in m inistering to the m while livin g in buryin g th em when ,
dead and afterwards in th e off erin g to th em of sacri ficial

gi fts .
To a query of Man g Wu respecting fili al piety the Mas ,
Paren ts ought to bear but one trouble —that

“
ter repli ed ,
of their own sickness .
To a like qu estion put b y Tsz yu his reply was thi s -

,
Th e filial piety of th e pres ent day Simply m ean s th e b ein g

able to support one s paren ts— which exten ds even to th e
’
cas e of dogs and hors es all of which may have somethin g

,
to give in th e way of supp ort If th ere b e n o reverenti al

.
feelin g in th e matter what is there to distinguish b etween

,
”
th e cas e s ?
“
To a lik e questi on of Tsz hia h e replied : Th e mann er
-
,
is th e diffi culty If in th e cas e of wo rk to b e done th e

.
, ,
youn ger folks sim ply take upon thems elve s th e toil of it ;
or if in th e matter of m eat an d drink the y s imply set th es e
, ,
before their e lders— is thi s to b e taken as filial piety? ”
On ce th e Master remarked I have convers ed wi th

“
,
k i th e whole day lon g and he has con tr overted n oth

,
ing that I hav e sai d as if he were wi thout wits But when

, .
his back was turned and I looke d atten tively at his c on

,
du ct apart from m e I foun d it sati sfactory in all its issue s

,
.
”
No ind eed ! k i is not without hi s wits
,
.
O ther observation s of th e Master

“
If you obs erve What thin gs p eople ( usually ) take in
hand watch their moti ves an d n ote particularly what it is
, ,
that gives th em sa tisfacti on shall th ey b e able to con ceal

,
from you what they are ? C on ceal thems elves indeed ] ,
Be vers e d in an cien t lore and famili arize your s elf with

“
,
th e mod ern ; th en may you b e com e t eachers .
Th e great m an is n ot a mere receptacle .
I n reply to Tsz k un g resp ectin g th e great m an

-
14 TH E W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I US
“
What he first says as a resul t of h is exp erience he
, ,
afterwards foll ows up .
Th e great m an is catholic—
“
minded and not one sided ,
-
.
Th e common m an is th e rev ers e .
“
Learnin g withou t th otrght is a sn are ; thought wi thout
, , ,
learnin g is a dan ger

,
.
Wh ere th e min d is set much upon heterodox prin ciples

“
— th ere truly an d indeed is harm .
To th e d iscipl e of Tsz lu th e Master said S hall I give -

,
you a l esson about kn owledge? When you kn ow a thing ,
main tain that you kn ow it ; and when you do not acknowl ,
e dg e your ign oran ce Th i s is characteri sti c of kn owl edg e

. .
Tsz chan g was s tudyin g wi th an eye to Offi c ial in come

-
.
Th e Master address ed him thus : O f th e many thin gs you

“
hear hold aloof from those that are doubtful an d speak ,
guarde dly wi th referen ce to th e rest; y our m istakes will

then b e f ew Also of th e many cours es you see adopted
.
, ,
hol d aloof from thos e that are ri sky and carefully follow ,
th e others ; you wi ll th en s eldom have occasi on for re gret .
Th us b ein g s eldom mi staken in y our utteran ces an d hav

, ,
in g f ew occasion s for regre t in th e line you take you are on ,
th e high r oad to your preferm en t .
To a question put to him b y D uke Ngai as to what 1
should b e done in order to render th e p eopl e submissive to

“
authority Confucius replied Promote th e straightfor
, ,
ward and rej ect thos e whose cours e s are crooked and the
, ,
th in g will b e effecte d Promote th e crooked an d rej ect the

.
straightforward an d th e eff e ct will b e th e revers e

, .
Wh en Ki K an g aske d of him how th e p eople could b e

‘
2
in du ced to show resp ect loyalty an d will in gn ess to b e l ed;

, ,
“
th e Master a n swered L et th ere b e grave di gnity in him
,
who has th e oversight of them an d they will show him t e ,
spect; l et him b e seen to b e good to his own parents and ,
Of L u ( Confucius s“n ati

’
v e S tate ).
Head of o ne of th e Three Fam il ies of Lu .

kindly in di spos iti on , an d th y will b loyal to him ; l

e e et him
promote thos e who have abil i ty and see to the instructi on ,
pd
e
h
f t ose who have it not and they will b e Will in g to b e
,
Some sp eakin g to Confuciu s inquired Why sir

on e, , ,
“
, ,
”
are you n ot an admin i strator of governm en t ? Th e Master
rejoin ed
“
What says th e Book of th e Ann als with refer
,
‘
,
’
en ce to fil ial duty ?— Make i t a po in t to b e duti ful to your

‘
paren ts an d am icable wi th your brethren ; th e sam e du ties

exten d to an adrnin istrator
’
If the s e then also make an

.
, ,
admini strator how am I to take your words ab out being

,
”
an adm in i s trator ?
“
O n one occas i on th e Master remarked I know n ot what ,
m en are good for on whos e word n o relian ce can b e

,
placed How should your carri ages large or li ttle get

.
, ,
”
alon g wi thout your Whipple trees or swin g trees ? - -
Tsz chan g asked if it were poss ible to forecast th e state

-
of th e coun try te“n gen erati ons hence The Master repli ed .
in th i s mann er : Th e Yin dyn asty ad opte d th e rule s and

mann ers of th e Hia lin e of kin gs and i t is possible to tell ,
whe ther it retrograde d or advan ce d The Chow lin e has .
followed th e Yin adoptin g its ways and whether th ere has

,
'
b een d e teri orati on or impr ov emen t may also be d eter

mined S om e other lin e may take up in turn thos e of Chow;
.
an d supp o s in g ev en thi s p roc ess to go on f or a hundred
g eneration s th e result may b e known

,
.
O
“
th er sayings of th e Master :
It is but flattery to make sacrifici al offerings to departe d
’
spiri ts n ot b e lon g in g to on e s own fam ily .
“
It is moral cowardice to leave un done what one per
”
ceive s t o b e ri gh t to d o .
B OO K III
Abuse o f Proprieties in Ceremonial and Music
ING to the head of th Ki family an d the eight lines

AL L UD e ,
1
of posturers b efore th ir an ces tral hall Confucius r

2
e ,
e
marked If the Ki can allow hi ms elf to g o t o this e tent

,
“
x ,
to what exten t will h not all ow hims lf to e e
Th e Th ree F amilie s we in th e habi t the Re

3
re ,
moval of th e sac ed vess els aft sacrifice of usin g the

r er ,
“
Harmoniously th e Princes
Draw ne ar with re erent tread , v
t
Assis in g in his worsh ip
Hea v ’
en s S on th e great an d dread
,
”
.
H ow claimed th e Master can such words be ap

, ex ,
ro riated i n th e an ce s tr al hal l of th e Thre F am il ies?

p “p
Where a man sai d h e again has not the prop er feel
” “
, ,
in gs due from one m an to an other h ow will h e stand as ,
regards the Rule s of Propri e ty ? An d in such a cas e what ,

”
shall we say of his sen se of harmony?
‘
Th e Chief of the Ki clan was virtually the Duke of Lu, under whom
Confucius for a time held office .
These posturers were m utes who took art in the ritual of th e ancestral
v
templ e wa in plumes flags etc E ach ne o r rank of these li
v
, , , .
ei ht men s househ old sh o uld th ere h a e been e ight

’
y in the soverei
g
fi v
.
lines of them ; a ducal f am ily e the Ki shoul d h a e h ad but six l ines; a
great official h ad four and one of lower gr ade two These were
, .
tions mark in the status of f am ilies and Conf uc ius s sense of )ropriety was
’
fi f
,
’
offended at l e Ki s usur in
p g in th is way th e app earance o royalty .
Three great families rel ated to e ach oth er in whose hands the ovarn ,
ment of the S tate of Lu then was and of whi ch th e Ki was the tef
, .
16
18 W I SDO M O F C O N F U C I US
TH E
Ah ! excla imed th e Mas

” “
re quir e to have a backgroun d !
ter ,
you are th e m an to catch th e drif t of my thought” .
S uch as you may wel“l in tr oduce a discu ssion on th e O des ; .
S aid th e Master As regards th e ceremon ial adopted

,
an d enfo rc ed by th e H iad n asty I am able to de scrib e it

y , ,
although their own descen dants in th e S tate of Ki can ad

duce n o adequate te stim ony in favor of its u se th ere S o .
,
too I am abl e to describe th e ceremonial of th e Yin dy

,
nasty althou gh n o more can th e S un g p e ople show suffi

,
cien t reason for its con tin uan ce amon gst th ems elve s And .
why cann ot they do so? B ecaus e th ey have n ot documents

enough n or m en learn e d en ough If onl y th ey had such I
,
.
,
could refer them to th em in support of th eir usages .
“
Wh en I am presen t at the great quinquenn ial sacrifice
to th e manes of th e royal an cestors th e Master said from , ,
“
th e pourin g out of th e oblati on onwards I have n o heart

-
,
to loo k on .
S ome on e asked what was the purport of th is great sacri

“
fice and th e Master replied I cann ot tell Th e position in
, , .
th e empire of him wh o could tell you is as evi den t as when

ou look at thi s — po in tin g to th e palm of his hand
y .
When h e offered sacrifices to his an cestors he used to ,
act as if they were presen t before him In off ering to other .
sp iri ts i t was th e sam e .
He would say If I do not mys elf take part in my offer

,
in gs i t is all th e sam e as if I did n ot offer them

, .
Wan g sun Kiaasked him on ce What says th e proverb

-
,
“
,
‘
B etter to court favor in the ki tchen th an in th e drawing

“
Th e Master repli ed Nay b etter say He who has
, , ,
sinn ed again st H eaven has n one o ther to whom prayer

”
may b e ad dresse d .
Of th e Chow dyn asty th e Master remarked It looks ,
back upon tw o other dyn asties ; an d what a rich poss ession

”
it has in its records of thos e time s ! I follow Chow !
On his first en try into the gran d templ e h e inquired ,
TH E W I SDO M or C O N FU C I US 19
a b out every matter conn ected with its usages Some one .
thereupon remarked Who says that th e son of the man

“
,
of Tsou un derstands abou t ceremonial ? On” enterin g the

5
gran d temple h e in quired about everything This remark .
comin g to th e Master s ears he said What I di d is part

“ ’
, ,
of th e ceremon”ial !
“
”
In arch ery h e sai d th e gre at po in t to b e obs erved is

, ,
n ot s imply th e p erfor ati on of th e l eath er ; for m en have n ot
all th e same stren gth That was th e fashion in th e olden

.
”
days .
On ce seein g that his disciple Tsz kun g was desirous

,
-
that th e ceremonial observance of offering a sheep at“ the

n ew moo n m ight b e di sp en s e d wi th th e Master said Ah! , ,
you grudge th e lo ss of the sheep ; I grudge the loss of the

”
ceremony .
To s erve one s ruler n owadays h e remar ked

“ ’ “
fully , ,
complyin g with th e Rul e s of Propriety is regarded by ,

”
o th ers as toad i sm !
y
When Duke Tin g quesfi oned him as to how a prince
should d eal with his ministers an d how they in turn shoul d ,
“
s erve th eir prin ce C onfuciu s said in reply In dealin g
, ,
wi th his m in isters a prin ce shoul d obs erve th e propri eties;

in s ervin g hi s prin ce a m ini ster should obs erve the duty of
lo) alt!
Refe rrin g to th e First of th e O de s h e remarked th at it ,
was m irthful wi thout bein g lewd and sad al so wi thout ,
being painful .
D uke Nga i asked th e disciple Tsai W0 respec tin g the

“
places for sacrificing to the E arth The latter replied The .
,
F amily of th e Great Yu of th e Hiadynasty chose a place , ,
of pine trees ; the Yin foun ders chose cypresses; and th e

Chow foun d ers chestnu t trees solemn and maj estic to in , ,
’
sp ire ti s sa i d th e p eopl e wi th fee lin gs of awe
, ,
.
“
Th e Master on hearin g of th is exclaim ed N ever an allu ,
T u w C nfu iu bi thpl ; hi f th g vern f th t wn

’
so as o c ssw r ace s a er as o or o e o .
20 W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I US
TH E
sion to things that have been enacted in th e past! Never a

rem on s tr an c e aga in st what is n ow goin g on ! He has gone
”
awa
y wi thout a word Of cen sure .
6 “
The Master on ce said of Kwan Ch un g A small minded ,
-
”
man in d eed !
Was h e miserly? some on e asked
“
.
“ ”
Miserly in deed ! said h e ; n ot that : he marri ed three
,
times an d h e was n ot a m an wh o r estri cted hi s official

,
busin e ss to too few han ds— how could h e be mis erly? ”
“ ”
He kn ew th e Rules of Propriety I suppos e? ,
Judge — S eein g that th e feu dal lords pl an te d a screen

“
at their gates he too would have one at h is! S eeing that

,
when any two of th e feudal lords m et in friendly conclave

they had an earthenware stan d on which to place their in
verted cups after drin kin g h e must have th e same! If he
,
knew th e Rules of Propri e ty who is th ere that d oes not ,

”
kn ow them ?
In a di scours e to th e Chi ef Preceptor of MuS ic at the
“
court of Lu the Master said Mu sic is an in telligible thing
, , .
When you begin a performance l et all th e various instru ,
men ts produce as it were one soun d inharmonious then ,
as you go on brin g out th e harmony fully distinctly and

, , ,
”
uni n terrupted flow un to th e en d ,
.
Th e wa rd en of th e bord er town Of I requested an in ter

-
vi ew wi th C onfucius and said When great m en have

, ,
“
c om e here I have never yet failed to obtain a sight of

,
”
them Th e followers in trodu ced him ; an d on l eavin g he
.
, ,
said to them S irs why gri eve at his loss of office? The
, ,
emp ire h as for lon g b een withou t good governm en t ; and
Heaven is about to use your master as its edict ann ouncer -

.
C ompa rin g th e mus i c of th e emp eror S hun wi th th e mu

A renowned st atesm an who flouri sh ed ab out two hundred ears b efore
y
Co nf uc ius s ti me A h iIOSOphical work on l aw and ovem ment, sai d to
’
.
v
ha e been written by im , i s sti ll extant H e w as re ar ed as a sa e b the
g g
.
peo ple , but he l acked, in Confucius s eyes, th e one thin

’
n ee ul g
propriety .
TH E W I SDO M O F C O N F U C I US 21
sic of Kin g Wu the Maste said That of Shun is b autiful

, r ,
e
thr ou gh out an d als o good th oughout Th at of Wu i all of

, r . s
it b u ti ful but scarc ly all of it goo d

ea , e .
“ ” “
Hi gh s tati on said th e Mast r occupied by m n who
, e ,
e
have large and en erous heart ; ceremonial perform ed

no
wi th n o reveren ce; uties of mourning en gagin g th e atten
ti on where there is absence of sorrow ;—how sh ould I l ook
,
”
on wh ere this is th e state of thin gs ?
,
B OO K IV
Social Virtue —Superi or and In ferior Man
SA YINGS of th e Mast er
“
It social good feelin g that gives charm to a nu
is
b orhood An d where is th e wi sdom of thos e who choose an
.
abode where it does n ot abide?

“
Thos e who are wi thout it cann ot abide lon g either in ,
straiten e d or in happy circumstan ces Those wh o p ossess it .
fin d con ten tm en t in it Thos e wh o are wi s e go after it as

.
men go after ga in .
“
Only they in whom it exists can have ri ght li kin gs and
dislikin gs for oth ers .
“
Where th e will is set upon it there wil l be no room for ,
malpracti ces .
“
Ri che s an d hon or are what m en d es ire ; but if they ar
ri ve at th em by improp er ways th ey shoul d n ot con tin ue ,
to hold them Poverty and low estate are what men dislike;
.
but if th ey arrive at su ch a conditi on by improper ways ,
th ey should n ot refuse it .
“
If the superior m an make nought Of s ocial good feel
‘ ’
ing how shall h e fully b ear that n am e?

,
’
Not even whi lst h e eats his m eal will the superi or man ‘
forget what h e owe s to his fellow m en Even in hurried -

.
leave tak in gs even in moments of franti c confusion he

-
, ,
keeps On e to this virtue .
I have n ot yet seen a lover of phil an thr opy nor a hater ,
of misan thropy— such that th e former did not tel ce occa

,
sion to magnify that virtue in him self an d that th e latter , ,
in his pos iti ve practice of ph ilan thropy did n ot at tim es , , ,
22
W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I US
TH E 28
all ow in hi s p re sence some thi n g savorin o f misanthropy .
“
S ay you is there an y on e who is able or on e wh ole day
,
to apply th e energy of his min d to thi s virtu e? Well I have ,
n ot s e en an
y on e wh o s e energy was n ot equal to it It may .
be th ere are su ch but I have never m et wi th th em

, .
“
Th e faults of in divi dual s are p eculia r to their parti cular
class and surr oun din gs ; an d it is by Obs erving their faults
that one come s to un derstan d the c ondi ti on of th eir good
fee“lin gs towards their fellows .
On e may h ear the right way in th e mornin g an d at ,
evenin g di e .
“
The scholar wh o is in ten t upon lea rn in g th e ri ght way ,
and who is et asham e d of poor attir e an d poor food is n ot

y ,
worthy of bein g discoursed wi th .
“
Th e masterly man s attitude to th e world is not exclu
’
sivel
y th i s or that : whatsoever is ri ght to that h e will be a ,
Pa“r
T
h mast
e ly man has an eye to virtue th e common
er ,
man to earthl y thin gs ; th e former has an eye to p en alti es

,
for err or— th e latter to favor ,

.
“
Where there is habitual goin g af ter gain there is much ,
il l will
-
.
“
When there is abili ty in a rulerto govern a coun try by
adh erin g to th e Rul e s o f Propriety and by kin dly con ,
d escen s i on what is wan ted more? Wh ere th e abili ty to

,
govern thus is wan tin g what has such a ruler to do wi th

,
the Rul es Of Propri ety?

“
One should n ot b e grea tly concerne d at n ot bein g in
office; but rather ab out th e requirem ents in on e s s elf for ’
such a stan din g N ei ther should one be so mu ch concerned

.
at bein g unk n own ; but rather wi th seeking to become

”
worthy of bein g known .
Addressin g his di sciple Tsan g S in th e Master s ai d , ,

“
Ts ang S in th e prin cipl es whi ch I in culcate have one main
,
“ ”
idea up on whi ch they all han g
”
Aye surely he replied.
, , .
24 TH E W I SD O M O F C O N FU C I U S
When the Master was gone out th e o th er di sciple s asked ’
what was the purport of th is remark Tsan g s answer was .
,
Th e prin ciples of our Master s teachin g are th es e —whole

“ ’
he artedn ess an d kin dly forbear ance; these and no thing

more .
O th er obs ervati on s of th e Master

M en of l oftier min d manifest thems elves in their equi
“
table dealin gs ; smal l min ded m en in their goin g af ter gain

-
.
When you m eet with m en of worth thin k how you may

“
,
attain to their level ; when you see others of an opposite

character look within and examin e your s elf
, ,
.
“
A son in mini sterin g to hi s paren ts may ( on occasion )
, ,
offer g en tle remon stran ces ; when h e s ees that their will is
not to h eed such h e Should n everth ele ss still con tin ue to
,
Show them reverent respe ct never obsh n acy; an d if he ,

'
have to suffer l et him do so wi thout murmuring

, .
“
Whilst th e paren ts are still livin g he should not wan der ,
far; or if a wan d erer h e sh ould at leas t have some fixed

, ,
address .
“
If for three year s h e do not veer from the prin ciples of
hi s fa ther h e may b e calle d a duti ful son
, .
“
A son should n ot i gn ore the years of his parents On the .
on e h an d th ey may b e a matter f or rej oi cin g ( that th ey

,
have been so man y ) and on th e other for apprehension , ,
( that so few remain ) .
“
People in olden tim es were loth to speak out fearing ,
th e di sgrace of n ot bein g thems elves as go o d as their

words .
“
Thos e wh o keep wi thin res train ts are seld om losers .
“
To b e slow to sp eak but p rompt to act is th e des ire of , ,
th e sup eri or m an
‘ ’
.
“
Virtu e dwells n ot al on e : she mus t have n ei ghb
An obs ervati on of Tsz yu -
.
“
Officiousness in th e s ervi ce of prin ces leads to dis
, ,
”
grace ; amon g frien ds to estran g emen t , .
“
Goo d principles ar e makin g no pro gress on ce ex ,
”
claim ed th e Master If I were to take a raft and drift

“
.
,
about on the sea would Tsz ln I wonder b e my follower,

-
, ,
there? That di sciple was delighted at he“arin g the sugges

ti on ; whereupon th e Master con ti nued He surpass es me ,
in his love of de eds of darin g But h e do es not in th e least .
grasp the pith Of my remar

I n reply to a que sti on put to him by Mang Wu re
sp ecting Tsz ln— as to whe ther he might b e called g ood
-
”
n atured towards oth ers th e Master sai d I cannot tell ; , ,
but on the ques tion bein g put again h e an swered Well

,
“
, , ,
in an im portan t S tate h e mi gh t b e intruste d wi th th e man 1
a em en t of th e mili tary l evie s ; but I cann ot an swer for his

g ”
good n ature .
“
What say you then Of Yen Yu?
“ ”
As for Yen he replied In a city of a thousan d families
, , ,
o in a s econ dary fief

r
2
he mi gh t b e char ged wi th th e gov ,
”
ern orshi ; b ut I cann ot an swer for h is good n aturedn ess
p
-
.
“ ”
Take Tsz hwa then ; wh at of h im ?
-
,
“ “ ”
Tsz hwa said he wi th a cincture girt upon him
-
, , ,
stan din g as atten dan t at Court mi ght b e ch arged with the ,
addressin g of visitors and guests ; but as to his good

”
natur edn ess I c ann ot an swer .
Addr essin g Tsz kun g the Master said Which of the

“
-
, ,
two is ahead of th e oth er— your s elf or e ri ? How Shall

” “ ’
I dare he replied even to look at HWtIi ? Only let him

” “ '
, ,
hear on e particul ar and from that he knows ten ; whereas ,
I if I h ear one may from it kn ow two

,
“
, .
You are n ot a match for him I gran t you sai d the , ,

”
Master You are not his match
. .
Tsai Yu a di sciple us ed to sleep in th e daytim e S aid

, , .
“
th e Master O ne may hardly carve rotten wo od or use a
, ,
Lit , . a S tate o f war ch ariots .
Lit , . a House of 100 w ar ch ario ts .

T H E W I SDO M OF C O N F U C I US 27
trowel to th e
wall of a manure yard ! In his case what is -
,
th e u se of rep rim an d ?
“
My
”
at ti tud e towards a m an in my fir st dealings wi th
him h e add ed was to li sten to his profess i on s an d to
, ,
trust to his con duct My a tti tude now is to li sten to his

.
professi ons and to watch his conduct My experi ence wi th

, .
Tsai Yu has l ed to thi s chan ge .
“ ”
I have n ever seen said th e Master a m an Of infl exible
, ,
firmness S om e on e thereupon m en ti on ed S hin Ch an g a

.
‘
,
“
di sciple . sai d he is wan ton ; where do you get ,
at hi s inflexibl en ess?
“
Tsz k un g mad e th e remark : Th at which I do n ot wi sh
-
ot
“
h er s to put upon m e I also wi sh n ot to
pu t upon oth er s
, .
”
Nay said th e Master you have not got so far as that
, , .
“
The sam e d isciple on ce remarked There may b e acces s ,
so as to h ea r th e Master s li tera ry d i scou rs es but when he

’
is treatin g of human n ature and th e way of H e aven there ,

”
may n ot b e such success .
Tsz ln after on ce h earin g him upon some subj ect an d

-
, ,
feelin g himself as yet in compe ten t to carry into practi ce

what he had heard use d to b e appreh ensive only lest he
,
should h ear th e s u bj ect revi ve d .
Tsz M g asked how it was th at Kung Wan had come to

-
be so styled Wan ( th e talente d ) The Master s an s wer

’
.
“
was B ecause though a m an of an active n ature h e was
, , ,
et fon d o f study and h e was not asham ed to sto op to put

y ,
questi on s to his in feri ors .
Resp ectin g Tsz ch an th e Master sa id that he had four

‘
s -
,
of th e ess en ti al qualiti es of th e superior m an — in his own ‘ ’
private walk h e was humble min d ed ; in s erving his su -
eriors h e was d eferenti al ; in h is lo okin g after the materi al

p
welf are of the pe ople h e was g enerously kin d ; and in h is
exacti on of publi c servi c e from th e latter he was jus t .
“
A great statesman Confucius s time
’
of .
28 T H E W I SDO M or C O N FU C I US
“
S peaking of Yen Pin g who was , he sai d , He was on e
h appy in h is mod e of attachin g m en to him However long .
th e in tercour se he was always deferenti al to th em

,
.
Referrin g to Ts an g Wan h e asked What is to b e sai d

“
, ,
of this man s discem m ent?— thi s man wi th his tortoise

’
hous e with the pillar heads and posts bedizen ed wi th

,
-
”
scenes of hill and mere!
Tsz chan g put a questi on relati ve to th e chi ef M ini ster
-
“
of Tsu Tsz wan He sai d Th ree ti me s h e became chi ef
,
-
.
,
Minister an d on n one of these occasi on s di d he betray any

,
si n of exulta tion T h ree tim e s his m in i stry cam e to

’
g .
e n d an d h e showed n o Si gn of chagrin He u sed wi thou t

,
.
fail to inform th e n ew Mini ster as to th e old mod e of ad

mini stration What say you of him ?
”
.
“
Th at h e was a l oyal m an sai d th e Master ,
.
”
But was h e a man of fellow feelin g ? sai d th e dis ciple - .
“
Of that I am n ot sure h e an swered ; h ow am I to get
”
”
,
“
at th at?
The di sciple wen t on to say — After th e assassin ati on
“
of th e prin ce of Ts i by th e Officer Ts ui th e latter s fellow

‘ ‘
,
:
Offici al Ch in Wan wh o had half a score teams of horses

‘
, ,
gave up all an d turned his back u pon h im On comin g to

, .
an oth er S tate he Obs erved There are here characters

, ,
‘
som ewhat like that of our min ister Ts ui and h e turn ed his ’
,
’
back upon them Proceedin g to a certain other S tate he

.
,
had occasion to make th e same remark and left What say , .
”
you of him ?
“
That h e was a pure min de d m an an swered th e Master -
, .
“ ”
But was h e a m an of fellow f eelin g ? urge d th e di sciple -
.
“ “
1:11 atq
that I am not sure h e repli ed ; how am I to get at ,
Ki Wan was on e who thought three tim es over a thin g

before he acted The M aster hearing thi s of him Obs erved
.
, ,
”
T wi ce would hav e been en ough
‘
.
Of Nin g Wu th e Master said th at when matters went

,
T H E W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I US 29
well in the S tat
use d to have his wi ts about him : but
e he
when they went wron g he lost them His in telli gen ce , .
mi ght b e equalle d but n ot his wi tle ssness ! ,
O n ce wh“en the Master lived in the S tate of Ch in he

,
‘
excl a im e d L et me get home again !L et me et home ! My

“
,
g
scho ol chi ldren are wil d an d imp etu ous ! Though th ey are
-
som ewhat aecom lish ed and perfect in on e s en se in their ,
attainm en ts yet ey know n ot how to make ni ce discrimi

,
n ati on s .
O f Peh I and Shuh Ts l he s aid By th e fact of their not

-
,
rem emberin g Ol d gri evan ce s they gradu ally di d away ,
with res entm en t .
Of Wei shang Kau h e said Wh o calls him straigh tfor

-
“
,
ward ? A p erson once b egged som e vinegar of him and he ,
b gged it from a n ei ghbor and th en pres en te d him with

p
,
it
"
Fin e speech said studied mien and sup er
, he , and ,
fluous Show of deference of such thi n gs Tso k iu M in g

‘
h -
was ashame d I too am ashamed of such thin gs Als o of

. .
hidin g res en tm en t felt towards an opponen t and treatin g

him as a frien d— of thi s kin d of thin g h e was asham ed ,
an d so too am I .
Atten ded on ce by the two disciple s Yen Yuen and Tsz

lu he sai d C om e n ow why n ot tell m e e ach of you what 3
, , , , ,
”
in your h ea rts you are really af ter?
“ “
I should like said Tsz ln for myself an d my friends
,
-
,
and associ ates carri age s an d hors es an d to b e clad in l ight 2

, , ,
furs ! n or would I min d much if they should become the

”
worse for wear .
“
“
An d I should li ke sa id Yen Yu en to live wi thout
, ,
boastin g of my abili tie s an d wi thout di splay of m eri tori ,
ous d eeds .
Tsz ln th en sai d I Should lik e S ir to hear what y our

“
-
, ,
heart is set upon .
A f amiliar way of Sp eaking of his disciples in their hearing .

30 T H E W I SD O M OF C O N FU C I US
The Master replied It is this — in regard to old people
,
“
,
to give them qui et and comfort ; in regard to friends and

associates to b e faithful to them ; in regard to th e young
, ,
to treat them wi th fosterin g affe ction and kin dn ess .
“
On one occasi on th e Master exclaim ed Ah tis hope
’
, ,
less !I have not yet s een th e man who can see his errors so ,
”
as inwar dly to accus e hims elf
.
“
In a small cluster of hous e s there may well b e said he
, ,
som e whose in tegri ty and sin cerity may compare wi th '
mine; but I yield to none in point of love Of learning .

B OO K VI
M ore Charac teri stics~Wisdom —Phi lanthropy
“
OF Yen Yun g, a d isciple th e Master said, Yun g mi ght in
,
o
de ed d for a prince! ”
On b eing aske d b y this Yen Yun g his opini on of a certain

“
i nd ividual, the Master replie d , He i s passable Imp e tuous, .
though .
“
But argued th e disciple if a man habituate himself
,
“
,
to a reverent regard for duty—even while in his way Of

doing thin gs he is impetuous—in th e oversi ght of the
people committed to his charge is h e not passable? If on , ,
th e oth er han d h e habit uate hims e lf to irn etuosity of

,
p
m in d an d Show it also in his way o f doin g thin gs is he not
, ,
th e“n over impetu”ous?

-
”
You are ri ght said th e Master

, .
When the Duke N gai inquired whi ch of the disciples “

were devote d to learnin g Con fucius answered him There
, ,
was on e Yen k i who love d it— a man Whose angry feel

in gs towards an y parti cula r p erson h e di d n ot s uffer to
vi sit up on an other; a m an who would n ever fal l in to the
s am e error twi ce Unforttm ately his allotted tim e was
.
short and h e died an d now his like is not to b e foun d ; I

, ,
have never heard of one so devoted to learnin g .
While Tsz hwa a di sciple was away on a missi on to Ts I

-
, , ,
the di sciple Yen Yu on b ehalf o f h is moth er applied for

, ,
“ ”
some gra in Give her three peeks sai d th e Master H e
. ,
.
“ ”
appli e d for m ore Give her eight then “ Yen gave her
.
,
.
fifty tim e s that amoun t The Master said Wh en Tsz hwa

.
,
-
wen t on that journey to Ts i h e had well fed steeds yoked

‘
,
-
81
32 T H E W I SD O M O F C O N FU C I US
to hi s carriage and was arrayed in light fur s I have learnt
,
.
that th e superi or m an Should help thos e whose needs are

‘
urgen t not help th e rich to b e more ri ch

,
.
When Yuen Sz became prefect un der him h e gave him ,
nin e hun dre d m e asure s of gra in bu t th e prefect d eclin ed ,

“ “
to accept them You must not sai d th e Master May
.
1
,
.
”
th ey n ot b e of u se to th e villag es an d haml ets aroun d you?
S peakin g of Yen Yun g again th e Master said If th e off , ,
“
sprin g of a speckled ox be red in color and horn ed even , ,
th ough men may not Wi sh to take it f or sa cri fic e would ,

”
th e Spiri ts of th e hill s and streams rej ect i t?
“
Adverting to k I again he said For three months , ,
there woul d n ot b e in his breast one thought recalci trant

again st his feelin g of goo d will towards his fell ow men - -
.
The oth ers m ay attain to thi s for a day or for a mon th but ,
”
there they end .
Wh en asked by Ki K an g whether Tsz— ln was fit to s erve

‘
th e governm ent th e Master replied T sz ln is a m an of

‘
-
, ,
decision : what shoul d preven t hi m from s erving the gov

emm en t?
Asked th e same!questi on respectin g Tsz k ung an d Yen -
Yu h e an swered s imilarly pronoun cin g Tsz kung to b e a ,

-
man of p erspicacity an d Yen Yu to b e on e v ers ed in the

,
polite arts .
When th e head of th e Ki family s en t for Min Tsz k ien to -

‘
make him govern or Of the town of Pi that disciple said , ,

“
Poli tely decline for m e If the Offer is renewed then in .
,
dee d I shall feel myself obli ged to go and live on the fur
th er bank Of th e Wan .
Peh ni u h ad fallen ill an d th e Master was inquiring

-
,
after him Taldn g hold of his hand held out from th e win
.
At th is time Conf ucius was Criminal J udge in his n ati e S tate of Lu v .
Yuen 82 h ad b een a discipl e The c omm entators add th at this was the
.
officer s ro er sal ar , and th at he di d wron

’
p p y g to refuse it .
34 TH E W I SDO M O F C O N F U CI U S
poli sh we have—the man from the country Where polish
—
.
,
is mo re in evi d en c e than n a turalnes s w e have the town ,
scri b e It is when n atural ness and p olish are equally

.
dent that we have the ideal man

The life of a man is—hi s recti tude Life without it
.
“
.
such may y ou have th e good for tun e t o av oid !

They who know it are n ot as thos e who love it nor they
“
,
who love it as those who rejoice in it— that is have the ,
frui ti on of their love for it .
To th e average man an d th o s e ab ove the average it is

“
, ,
possible to disco urs e on hi gher subj ects ; to those from the

”
averag e downwards i t is n ot poss ibl e ,
.
Fan Ch i put a query about wisdom Th e Master replied

‘
.
,
“
To labor for the promoti n g of ri ghteous c onduct among
th e people of the lan d ; to b e seri ous in re gard to Spiritual
bein gs and to hold al oof from them ; —
, this
”
wisd om .
To a further qu ery abou t philan thropy he replied , , ,

“
Th ose who poss ess that vir tu e fin d di fi cul ty with it at
first su ccess later
, .
“
M en of practi cal knowledge he s aid find th eir grati
“
, ,
fication amon g th e rivers of th e lowlan d men of sympa ,
thetic social feeling find their s amon g th e hill s Th e forma .

'
are active and bustlin g th e la tter calm ,
tir rer tak e their day of pleasure th e latt er l ook to length

if gy a s .
,
Alluding to th e State s of Ts l and Lu he o bserved that , ,
Ts i by one change mi ght att ain t o th e condi ti on of Lu;

‘
, ,
and that Lu by one chan ge mi ght att ain to g o od govem

, ,
men t .
An exclamati on of the Master ( sa tirizin g th e tim es when ,
old terms t elatin to governm“ent were still used whil e

beref t of their 0 ] meanin g ) — A quart and not a quart! ,
”
quart in dee d ! art indeed !
Tsai Wo a g z
, ,
“
ci le p ut a q uery S ai d h e S upp ose a
p , , .
,
TH E W I SDO M or C O N F U C I US 85
“
philan thropic p erson were told Ih ere s a fellow creature ,
’
-
d o“wn in the well ! Would he g o down after him?

’
Why shoul d h e really do so? an swered th e Master

”
.
“
The good m an or a sup eri or man m ight b e induced to go
, ,
but“ n ot to go down He may be mi sled but n ot b efooled

.
, .
”
Th e sup eri or m an sai d h e wi th h is wi d e s tudy of

” “
, ,
books and hedgin g hims elf roun d by th e Rules of Propri

,
et
y is n o
, t surely after all that capable of oversteppin g his
, ,
”
boun ds .
On ce when th e Master had had an in terview wi th

N an tsz which had scan dalize d his disciple Tsz ln he ut
-
,
-
,
“
tered th e sol emn adjurati on If I have done aught amiss
, ,
”
may H eaven rej ect m e ! may H eaven rej ect m e !
“ “
How far reachin g said h e is th e moral excell en ce
-
, ,
that flows from the Con stan t M ean !2 It has for a lon g tim e
been rare amon g th e p eople .
Tsz kun g said S uppos e th e cas e of on e who confers

“
-
,
benefits far an d wid e upon th e people and who can in so , ,
d oin g make his boun ty univ ersally felt— how would you
,
”
sp eak of hi m ? M i ght h e b e called ph ilan thr op ic ?
Th e Master exclaim ed What a work for philan thr opy!

“
,
He would require in deed to b e a sage ! H e would put in to

shade even Yau an d Shun l— Well a philanthropic person , ,
de sirin g for himself a firm footin g is l ed on to give one to ,
o thers ; desiring for hini self an enlightened perception of

thin gs he is l ed on to help others to b e similarly enl ight
,
ened If one could take an illustr ati on comin g clos er home

.
to us than your s that might b e made th e startin g point for

,
-
”
sp eak in g about ph ilan thropy .
The doctrine af terwards known by that name. and which ga v e its title
to a Conf ucian treatise .
B OO K VI I
Characteri sti cs f
o Con ucius—An I ncident
f
S AI D th e M aster
“
I as a transmitter‘ and n ot an ori ginator and as one
, ,
who beli eves in an d loves th e an cien ts ven ture t o com ,

‘
are mys e lf wi th our old P a n g
p .
W hat fin d you in dee d in m e? —a qui et brooder and

“
mem orizer; a stu dent n ever sa tiated with learnin g ; an un

we aried monitor of oth ers !
“
The thin gs whi ch wei gh heavily upon m y mind are
these —failure to improve in th e virtue s failure in discus ,
sion of what is le arn t in abili ty to walk accordi n g to k nowl

,
edge rec eived as to what i s ri ght and ju st in abili ty als o to ,
reform what has b ee n am iss .
In hi s hours of recreati on and refre shment th e Master s

mann er was easy and un con s trained affable and winning ,
.
’
Once h e exclaimed Alas !I must b e gettin g very feeble;
,
“
tis lon g sin ce I have had a rep e ti tion of the dreams in

whi ch I use d to see th e Duke of Chow 2
.
Concen trate th e min d sai d h e upon the Good Way

“ ”
.
, ,
“
Main tain firm hold upon Vir tue .
“
Rely upon Philanthropy .
“
Fin d recreauon in the Arts
'
3
.
In re feren ce to hi s Cl assics of his ti me

e diti n th e six
v
.
“
Th is was on e of hi s h e o ed an ci en ts, f amous for wh at he did in
help in g to foun d the d ' ’ asty of Ch ow, a m an of e at oli tical wi sdom, a
schol ar al so, an d l
“ ”
p oet f was th e dream of Co
.
p
cius s lif e to restore the a
country to th e cond iti on in wh ich the D uke of Chow l ef t it .
These were six in n umb er, viz : Ceremoni al , Musi c, Arch ery , Horse
.
n am bip , Lan guage, and C al cul ati on

TH E W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I U S 37
“
I have n ever wi thheld instruction from any even from ,
those who have com e for it with th e smallest offerin g .
“
N 0 subj e ct do I broach however to those who have no , ,
eag er d e s ire t o l e arn ; n o en cour ag in g hin t do I give to
tho se who Show n o anxiety to sp eak out th eir ideas ; nor

have I anythin g more to say to those who after I have ,
made clear on e corner of th e subj ect cann ot from that give ,
me th e other three .
If th e Master was takin g a m eal an d th ere were any in ,
mournin g b es i de h im h e would not eat to th e full

, .
On on e day on whi ch h e had wept ou that day h e woul d ,

'
not sin g .
Addressin g his favori te disciple he said To you only

“
, ,
and mys elf it has b een giv en to do this— to go when calle d
to s erv e and to go back in to qui et retirem en t wh en re

,
leased from office ”

.
“
Tsz lu he arin g the remark said But if sir you had the
-
, , , ,
han dlin g of the army of on e Of th e g eate S tates whom

r r
‘
,
”
would you have associated with y ou in that cas e?
The Master an swered :
’
Not the one who ll rouse the tiger,
‘ ’
Not th e one who ll wade the Ho ;

‘ ’ ’
not th e who can die with no regret He must be one

m an .
who should watch over affa irs wi th apprehen siv e cauti on ,
a man fon d of s trategy an d of p erfect ski ll and effective

,
”
ness in it .
“
AS to wealth h e remarked If wealth were an obj ect
, ,
that I coul d go in quest of I should do so even if I had t o ,

’
take a whip an d do grooms work But seein g that it is not .
,
I go after thos e obj ects for whi ch I have a li kin g

Am on g matters over which h e exerci sed great cauti on
.
were time s Of fastin g war an d s ickness

'
.
, ,
When h e was in the S tate of TS i an d had heard the ,
Lit , three forces E ach force c onsisted of

. .
men, and three of
such forc es were th e eq uipment of a greater S tate .

38 TH E W I SDO M or C O N FU C I US
ancien t Shau music h e lost all perception of th e taste of
,
his m eat I had n o idea sai d h e that musi c c oul d have

“ “
.
, ,
”
been brought to thi s pitch .
“
In th e cour s e of conv ersati on Yen Yu sai d Does the ,
Master take th e part of th e Prin ce of Wei? Ah yes! said

” “ ”
“ ”
Tsz kung I will go and ask him tha t
-
, .
On goin g in to h im that disciple b egan What sort of

“
, ,
men were Peh I an d S huh Ts i ?

“
Worthies of th e olden
-
‘ ”
“
time th e Master repli ed Had they any feelin gs of re
, .
” “ ”
sentm en t? was th e n ext qu esti on Th eir aim an d obj ect .
,
“
h e an swered was that of doin g th e duty which every man
,
owe s to h is fellows and they succeeded in doing it; what

,
-
roo m furth er for fe elin gs of res entm ent ? T h e questioner

”
“ ”
on com in g out said Th e Master does not take his par t
, .
W i th a meal of coars e ri ce sai d th e Master and with

‘ “
, ,
water to drin k and m y ben t arm for my pil low—even thus

,
I can find happin ess Riches an d hon ors wi th out righteous

.
n ess are to m e as fl ee tin g clouds .
“
Give m e several years more to live s ai d he and after , ,
’
fifty years s tudy of th e Book of Chan ges I mi ght come to

’ ‘
”
b e free from s erious error .
Th e Master s regular subj e cts of discour s e were the

’
” ” “
Books of th e Odes and H istory and the up keeping of ,
-
th e Rul e s of Propriety On all of th ese he regularly di s .
cours ed .
Th e Duk e of S hih questi on ed Tsz lu ab ou t Confucius -

,
and th e latter did n ot a n swer .
H e arin g of this the Master said Why di d you not say

“
, , ,
H e is a m an wi th a min d so in tent on his purs ui ts that he

forgets h is food and fin ds such pleasure in them that he
,
forgets his troubles and does n ot kn ow that old age is ,

”
coming upon him ?
As I cam e n ot in to life with any knowledge of it he
“
,
said an d as my likin gs are for what is old I busy myself

, ,
in s eekin g lm owl edge there .

TH E W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I U S 39
S trange occurrences ploits of stren g th d eeds of law

ex
lessness referen c es to spiri tual b ein gs—such like matters
, ,
-
,
th e Master av oi d ed in c onversati on .
“ ” “
Let th ere he said be three m en walkin g to gether
, ,
from that n umb er I should b e sure to find my instructors ;

for what is goo d in th em I should ch oo s e out and foll ow ,
and what is n ot go od I should m o dify

”
.
On on e occas i on he exclaimed H eaven b egat Virtue in

“
,
”
me; what can man do unto me?
“
To hi s di sciples h e on ce sa id Do you l ook upon me my
, ,
sons as keep in g an ythin g s e cret from you ? I hi de n othin g

,
from you I d o n othin g that is not manifest to your eyes

.
,
my disciples That is s o with m e

. .
Four thin gs th ere were whi ch he kept in view in his

teachin g— scholarliness conduct of life honesty fai thful
, , ,
n ess .
“ ” “
It is not given to me he said to m eet wi th a sage; let
, ,
me but b ehold a man of sup erior min d an d that will suf ,
fice Neither is it giv en to me to m eet with a g oo d m an ; l et

.
me but see a man o f con stan cy and it will s uffice It is dif

,
.
ficul t f or p erson s to hav e con stan cy wh en th ey preten d to ,
have that which they are desti tute of to be full when they ,
are empt to d o thin gs on a grand scal e wh en th eir m ean s

y ,
are con tr acted !
Wh en th e Master fished wi th hook and line he did not ,
also use a n et When out with his how he woul d n ever

. ,
sho ot at gam e in cover .
“
Some there may b e said he who do thin gs in ig
, ,
noranc e of what th ey do I am n ot of th e s e Th ere is an

. .
altern ative way of knowin g thin gs viz — to sif t out th e , .
goo d from the many thin gs one hears and follow it; and to ,
keep in memory th e many thin gs one s ee s .
Pupils from Hu hian g were difficult to speak with One

- .
youth came to in terview th e Master and th e di sciples ,
were in d oubt whether he ought to have been s een Why

“
.
40 TH E W I SDO M or C O N FU C I U S
”
so much ado s ai d th e Master at my merel y p ermitting
, ,
his approach an d not rather at my all owing him to draw

,
back? If a m an have clean s ed him self in order to come and

see m e I rec eive him as such ; but I do n ot un dertak e for
,
”
what he will do when h e goes away .
“ ”
Is th e phil an thr opi c spiri t far to seek in deed? the ,
“ ”
Master excl aime d ; I wish for it an d it is wi th m e! ,
Th e M inister of Crime in th e S tate of Ch in asked Con

‘
fucius whe th er Duk e Ch au of Lu w as acqua in ted with

‘
,
“ ”
th e Propri eti es ; and h e an sw ered Yes h e kn ows them , , .
Wh en Conf ucius had Withdrawn the minister bowed to ,
Wu— ma X i a disciple and moti oned to him to come for

‘
, ,
“
ward H e s ai d I have hear d that superi or m en sh ow no
.
,
partiali ty ; are the y too then partial ? That prince took for
, , ,
his wife a lady of th e Wu family havin g th e same surname ,
as hims elf and had her n amed Lady Tsz of Wu the elder
,
‘
, .
’
If he k nows the Proprieties then wh o does not?

”
,
Th e di sciple repo rted this to th e Master wh o thereupon ,
rem arked
“
Wel l for me! If I err in any way others are
, ,
sur e to kn ow of it .
When th e Master was in company wi th any one who

san g an d who san g w el l h e must n eeds have th e son g over
, ,
again and after that would join in it

, .
“
Although in let ters h e said I may have none to com
” “
, ,
pare wi th m e yet in my personificati on of the superior

,
‘
”
man I have not as yet b een successful
’
.
A S age and a PhilanthrOpist? How sh ould I have the

‘ ’
” “
ambiti on ? sai d h e Al l that I can well b e called is this
.
An in sati able studen t an unwear ied teacher;— th is and no, ,
more — Exactly what we your di sciples cannot by any

.
“
, ,
”
learni n g man age to b e said Kun g si Hwa ,
-
.
On ce when th e Master was seri ously“ ill Tsz ln requested” ,

-
to b e allowed to say prayers for him Are such available? .
“ ” “
asked th e M aster Yes said he; an d the .
,
B OO K V III
Sayings of T san
g
— S entenc es of the M aster
SPEAK IN G of T ai pih the Mast said that h might be p o

‘
-
er e r
n ounced a m an of th e highest moral excellen ce; for he al

lowed th e empir e to pass by him onwards to a third heir;
while th e people in their i gn orance of his motives were
, ,
unable to admire h im for so doin g .
“
With out th e Propri eties said the Master we have , ,
th es e results : for d eferen tial de m ean or a worried one; for ,
calm atten ti veness awkward bashfulness ; for manly con

,
duct di sorderline ss ; for straightforwardn ess perversity

, , .
“
When m en of rank Show genuine care for those nearest
to th em in blood th e people rise to th e duty of neighborh
,
n ess an d sociabili ty An d wh en Ol d frien dships amon

.
g
them are not all owed to fall off there will be a cessati on of ,
”
underhan d prac tices amon g th e people .
Th e S chol ar Tsan g was on c e un well and callin g his pu ,

“
pils to him he said to them D isclose to view my feet and ,
my han ds What says the Ode?

.
from a sense of d anger,

‘
Act as
With precaution and with c are ,
As a y awn in g gul f o erl ook ing

’
As on ice th at scarce will b ear

’
.
At all times my children I know how to keep mys elf free

, ,
”
from bodily harm .
Again during an ill n ess of his Man g Kin g an official

, , , ,
went to ask after him Th e S cholar had some conversation

.
with him in th e cours e of whi ch he sai d

,
42
W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I US
TH E 43
Doleful th e cries of a dying bird
‘
Go od the l ast words of a dying man

’
.
Th ere are three poin ts whi ch a man of ran k in th e m anage

ment of his duties should set store upon z— A lively mann er
and d ep ortm en t banishin g both severi ty and laxity ; a
,
frank an d Op en expression of coun tenan ce allied closely ,
wi th s in ceri ty ; and a ton e in his utteran ces utterly free

from any approach to vulgari ty and im propri ety As to .
matters of bowls an d dishe s leave such thin gs to tho se ,
wh o are charge d wi th th e care of them .
“
Anoth er sayin g of th e S cholar Tsan g : I once had a
friend wh o th ough h e poss ess ed ability would go ques
, ,
tionin g men of n one an d though surroun d ed by n umb ers

, ,
would go wi th his question s to isolated in dividuals ; who

also whatever he might have appeared as if he were wi th ,
out I t and with all his substan tial acquirements made as

, , ,
though his min d were a m ere blank; an d when insulted "

would n ot re tali ate ; thi s was ever his way - .
“
Again he said : Th e man that i s capable of b eing in
trusted with th e charg e of a min or on th e thron e and ,
given auth ority Over a large territory and who durin g the , ,
imp ortan t term of his sup erin ten d ence cannot b e forced
’
out of h is positi on is n ot such a superi or m an ? Th at h e is
,
‘
,
”
ind eed .
Again — Th e learn ed Official must not b e wi thout

“
breadth and power of en duran ce : th e burd en is h eavy ,
an d th e way is lon g .
“
S uppos e that he take his duty to his fellow m en as his -
p eculi ar burden is that not i ndeed a heavy one? An d sin ce

,
only with d eath i t is don e wi th is n ot th e way lon g? ,
S“ en ten ces of the Master

From th e Book of O des we receive impul ses ; from th e
‘ ’
Book of th e Rules stabili ty ; from th e Book on Music

‘ ’ ‘ ’
, ,
fi
re n e ment .
1
“ ” “ ”
Comparison of three of the Cl assics : the Shi King-
, the Li Ki, and
“ ”
the Yoh Th e l ast is lost
. .
pe ople may b e put in to th e way they should go
“
Th e ,
though they may n ot b e put into th e way of un derstanding

it .
“
Th e m anwho like s bravery and yet groan s un der pov ,
erl has m i sch i ef in him S o too h as th e mi santhrop e

y ,
.
, , ,
roan in g at an s everity shown towar ds him

g “ y .
Even if a p erson were adorn ed with th e gif ts of the

Duke of Chow yet if h e were proud an d avari cious all the
, ,
rest of his qu ali ti e s would n ot in d ee d b e wo rth looking at .
“ ’
Not eas il y foun d is th e m an wh o after three years ,
study has failed to come upon som e fruit of his toil

, .
“
Th e really fai thful lover of learni n g holds fast to the
Good Way till de ath
He will not go in to a S tate in whi ch a downf all is im~
.
min ent n or tak e up his abode in one where disorder

rei gns Wh en th e emp ir e i s well ord ere d h e will show him~
,
self ; wh en n ot h e will hid e hi ms el f away U n d er a good

,
.
govern men t it will b e a disgrace to him if h e remain in

poverty an d l ow e state; un der a bad one it would be ,
equal ly di sgrac eful to him to hold ri ch es an d honors .
“
If n ot occupyin g the office d evi s e not th e poli cy ,
.
“
When the professor Chi be gan his duti es how grand ,
th e fin al e of th e Fir st of th e O d e s us e d to b e ! How i t rang

in one s e ars !
’
“
I cann ot un derstand person s who are enthusiastic and
et n o t str ai ghtforward ; n or tho s e wh o are i gn orant and
y
et n o t atten tive ; n or agai n th os e folk s who are s im pl e
y
min ded and yet un true .
“
L earn as if n ever overtaking your obj ect and yet as if
, ,
apprehen sive of losing it .
How subli me was the handlin g of th e empire by Shun

“
an d Yul— i t was as n othi n g to them !

“
How grea t was Yau as a prince ! Was h e not sublime!
‘
S ay that H eaven only is great th en was Yau al one after its

,
pattern ! How profoun d was h e ! Th e pe ople could not find

a name for him H ow sublim e in his achievemen ts ! H ow

.
brillian t in his scholarly producti on s !

Shun had for his ministers five m en by whom he or ,
dered th e empire .
Kin g Wu ( in hi s day ) stated that he had ten m en as as

sistan ts f or th e p r omoti on Of o rd er .
Wi th referen ce to these facts Confuciu s observed Abil “

,
ity is hard to find Is it not so in d ee d ? Durin g th e thre e

.
years in terre gnum be tween Yau and Shun there was m ore
’
of it than in th e in terval before this pres en t dyn asty ap

peared Th ere were at thi s latt er p eri od one woman an d
.
, , ,
nin e m en on ly .
“
When two th irds of the empir e were held by King
-
Wan he s erved wi th that porti on the House of Yin We

, .
speak of th e vi rtue of the House of Chow ; we may say in ,

”
deed that it re ach ed the pinn acle of excellen ce
, .
“ ” “
As to Yu added the Master I can find n o flaw in him
, , .
Livin g on m eagre food an d drink ; yet provi din g to th e ut

most in hi s filial offerin gs to th e spirits of th e d ead ! Dress
ing in coa rs e garm en ts ; yet most el egan t wh en vested in
his sacrificial apron and coronet ! Dwellin g in a poor pal
ace; et exhaustin g h is en ergies Over thos e boun dary
y ”
di tches and watercours es ! I can find no flaw in Yu .
B OO K IX
H im
’
His Favorite Disciple s Opinion o f
T O PIC S on whi ch th e Mast er ra r ely spok e w ere — Advan

tage and Destiny and Duty of m an to m an
, ,
“
.
A man of th e village of Tah hian g exclaim ed of him A -

,
great man is Confuciusl— a m an of extensive learnin g and ”

,
et in n othin g has b e qu ite made hims elf a n am e !

y
Th e Master heard of thi s and m en tionin g it to his dis ,
ci l es h e said
p
“
W hat th en shall I tak e in han d ? Shall I
.
becom e a carriage driver or an arch er? Let me be a ,

”
driver! “ ”
“
Th e sacrifi cial cap h e on ce said should according to
, , ,
th e Rules b e of linen ; but in thes e days it is of pure silk

,
.
However as it is economical I do as all do

, ,
.
“
The Rul e says Make y our bow wh en at the lower end
‘
of th e hall but nowadays th e bowin g is done at th e upper

’
par t This 18 great freed om ; and I though I go in opposi

.
,
tion to th e crowd how when at th e lower end

,
.
Th e Mas ter barred four words z— h e would have no

” ” “ “ ’
sh all s
’ ’ ’
n o must s n o certainl s no I s
, y , ,
.
On ce in th e town of K wan g fearin g that

, his lif e was
‘
goin g to b e taken the Master exclaimed Kin g Wan is

,
“
,
dead and gone; but is not wan with you here? If H eaven ‘ ’
1
b e about to allow this wan to p erish then th ey who sur

‘ ’
Wan
“
1 “ "
was the h onorell ati on of the re at se e and rul er, whose
g
a
pp
praise i s in th e S hi—
“
King as on e of th e foun ers of h e Chow dynasty,
’
and the term re esented c i ic tal ent and v

irtues as di stinct from Wu the v
pr
, ,
m arti al tal ent e l atter b ein the honor titl e o f h is son and successor .
“
Wan also often stand s for ter ature, an poli te accom lishments Here
" '
’p
.
“
Confucius simply means, If you kill me you kill a sage , .
4a
TH E W I SDO M or C ON FUCIU S 47
vi e
v its d ecease will get no benefit fr om it But so long as .
H eaven does not all ow it to perish what can th e men of ,
K wan g d o to me? ”
‘
A high S tate omcial after questionin g Tsz kung said

,
-
, ,
“
Your Master is a sage th en ? How many and what vari ed
,
”
abili ties must b e his!
“
The d isciple repli ed Certainl y H e aven is al lowing him
,
full opportuni ti es of becomin g a sage in addi tion to th e ,
fact that his abiliti es are many and varied ”

.
Wh en th e Master he ard of this he remarked D oes that

“
,
high official know me? In my early years my positi on in

lif e was low an d h en c e my ab ili ty in many ways though
, ,
exer cised in triflin g matt ers In th e gen tleman is there

.
”
ind ee d such varie ty o f ability ? No .
From this the disciple Lau us ed to say T wa s a say

, ,
ing of the Master : At a tim e wh en I was not cal led upon

‘
to use th em I acquired my proficiency in the p olite arts

,
.
’
“
Am I in deed said th e Master po ssessed of kn owl
,
”
,
“
,
edge? I kn ow n o thin g Le t a vulgar fellow c ome t o m e

.
wi th a questi on— a man wi th an emptyish head— I may

thrash out with him th e matter from end to end and ex ,
haust myself in doin g it!

“
Ah ! exclaimed he on ce th e phmnix does not come!
” “
,
and n o symb ols is su e from the river! May I n o t as well

”
give up ?
When ever th e Master met with a p erson in mournm g ,
or wi th one in full dre ss cap an d kir tl e or wi th a blin d

-
,
person although they might b e youn g p erson s h e would

, ,
make a poin t of ri sin g on their appearan ce or if crossing , ,
their path would do so with quickened step !

,
Once Yen Yuen exclaime“d with a sigh wi th referen ce

to the Master s doctrin es ) If I look up to them they are
’
, ,
ever the hi gh er; if I tr to p en e trat e th em th ey are ev er

y ,
th e ha rder; if I gaze at them as if before my eyes 10 th ey , ,
are b ehin d m e ! Gradually and g en tly th e Master with

48 TH E W I SDO M O F CON FU C I US
ski ll lures men on By li terary lore he gave m e breadth .
by th e Rules Of Proprie ty b e n arrowed m e down When I .
desire a respite I find it impossible ; and after I have ex

,
h austed my powers th ere s eems to b e som ethin g stand ,
in g straight up in front of me an d thou gh I have th e mind ,

”
to make towards it I make n o advan ce at all .
Once when th e Master was s eri ously ill Tsz lu in duced ,

-
th e other disciples to fei gn th ey were hi gh officials actin g

in h is s ervi ce During a re spi te from h is malady th e Mas
.
“ ’
ter exclaim ed Ah ! h ow lon g has Tsz lu s conduct been

,
-
false? Whom should I d elude if I were to preten d to have ,
offici als un der m e havin g n on e ? S houl d I d e ceive H eaven?

,
B esides were I to di e I would rather die in the han ds of

'
, ,
yours elves my discipl es than in th e han ds of officials

, , .
An d thou gh I should fail to have a gran d fun eral over me ,
I should har dly b e left on m y death on th e publi c high

”
way should I ?
,
Tsz krmg one said to him Here is a fin e gem Would

“
-
, .
you guard it carefull y in a casket an d store it away or ,
seek a good p ri c e for i t and s ell it?

”
S ell it indeed said
” “
, ,
th e Master— th at woul d I ; but I sh oul d wait for the

“
bidder .
“
Th e Master protested he would go an d live am on g the
”
nine wild tri b e s .
A rude li fe said some on e;— how could you put up

“ “
,
”
wi th it?
“
What rudeness would there b e h e replied if a su “
, ,
‘
”
p eri or m an was living in their mi dst?
’
On ce h e remarked After I cam e back from Wei to Lu ,

“
th e mu si c was put ri ght an d e ach of th e F estal O des an d ,
Hym“
n s was giv en i ts appropri ate place an d use .
”
Ah ! wh“i ch on e of these followin g h e asked on one ,
occasion are to be foun d exemplified in m e—proper

,
servi c e rend ered to sup eri ors when abroad ; duty to father
and el der brother wh en at hom e ; duty that shr inks from

50 TH E W I SDO M or C O N F UC I U S
“
It may be possible to s ei ze and carry off the chi ef com
man der of a lar ge army but not possible so to rob one poor
,
fellow of his will

One who stan ds—c lad in hemp en robe th e worse for
.
“
,
wear— among others clad in furs of fox and badger and ,
et un abash ed— ti s Tsz lu that is it n ot?

’ ”
-
y , ,
Tsz ln us ed always to b e hummin g over th e lines

-
F om envy nd nmi ty free

“
r a e ,
What deed doth he oth er th n good? a

”
“
How should such a rule of life asked the Master be , ,
”
sufficien t to make any on e good ?
“
When the year grows chil ly we kn ow the pine and ,
cypress are th e last to fade .
“
Th e wi s e escap e doubt ; the good he arted trouble; the -
,
bold apprehen si on
, .
“
S ome may study side by side and yet b e asunder when ,
they come to th e logic of thin gs S ome may go on together .
in thi s latter cours e but b e wi d e apart in th e standards

,
th ey reach in it S ome again may together reach the same

.
, ,
et b e divers e in w ei ght of character

”
stan dard an d
y , .
“
Th e b lossom is o ut on the cherry tree,
With a flutter on e ery spray v .
D ost think that my thoughts o not out to thee?

Ah why art thou far away !
g ’
Commentin g
“
on thes e lines th e Master s aid Th ere can ,
hardly have b een much thought going out What does

‘
.
’
”
di stance si gni fy?
B OO K X
Confucius in Private d Oflicial Life

an
IN his own villag e, Confucius pres ented a somewhat plain

and s imple app e aran c e an d look ed unli ke a man who
,
p ossessed ability of sp eech .
But in th e ancestral temple and at Court h e spoke wi th

, ,
th e fluen cy an d accuracy of a d ebater, but ever uardedly .
At Cour t conversin g wi th th e lower order 0 great of

,
ficials, h e spoke som ewhat firmly an d directly ; wi th those

of the hi gher order hi s ton e was somewhat more aff able .
Wh en th e prin ce was pres en t he was con strain edl y

reveren t in h is mov emen ts an d sh owed a p rop er degree
,
of g ave di gni ty in demean o

r r .
Whenever th e prince summoned him to act as usher to

th e Cour t, his look would chan ge som ewhat an d he would ,
make as though h e were turnin g roun d to do obeisan ce .
He woul d salute thos e amon g whom he took up his posi

ti on usin g th e ri ght han d or th e left an d holdin th e
skir ts of h is rob e in p rop er pos i tion b efore an d b eg
, ,
1ind .
He would make his approaches wi th qui ck step and wi th ,
elbows evenly b en t ou twar ds .
When th e visitor withdr ew he woul d not fail“to report

,
the executi on of his comm an ds wi th the words The vi si

, ,
”
tor no lon g er looks back .
When he entered th e palace gate it was wi th the body

,
som ewhat b en t forwa rd alm ost as though h e could n ot

,
be admitted When he stood still th is would n ever hap

. ,
en in th e mi ddl e of th e gat eway ; n or when movin g about

p
would h e ever tread on th e threshold When passin g th e .
51
o
thr ne, hi s look would chan ge somewhat he would turn ,
aside and make a sor t of ob ei san ce an d th e words he ,
S poke s eem ed as though h e were d efici en t in utterance .
On goin g up th e steps to th e au dien ce chamber he ,
would gather up wi th both han ds th e en ds of his robe,

and walk wi th h is body b en t somewhat forward holdi ng ,
back his breath like one in whom respira tion has ceased .
On comin g out, after d escen din g one step his counte

nanc e woul d relax an d assum e an app earanc e of sati sfac
t ion Arri ved at th e bottom h e would go forward with
.
,
ui ck step h is elbows evenl y b en t outwards back to his

q , ,
positi on constraine dly reveren t in every movement

, .
Wh en holding th e sceptre in his hand his body would ,
b e somewhat b en t forward as if he were n ot equal to

,
ca rrying it; wi eldin g it now hi gh er as in a salutation , ,
now lower as in th e p res en ta tion of a ift ; his look would

, g
al so b e chan g ed and appe ar awe struck ; an d his gai t would
seem retard ed as if h e were ob eyin g som e res training
,
han d b ehin d .
When he presented th e gifts of ceremony h e would ,
assume a placi d expressi on of coun ten an ce At th e private .
intervi ew h e would b e cordi al and affabl e .
Th e good man would use n o purple or vi olet co lors for

the faci n s of hi s dre ss Nor woul d h e have red or orange
1
.
co lor for s undress For th e hot s eason he wore a singlet

‘
2
.
,
of ei ther coars e or fin e texture but w oul d also fee l bound

,
to have an outer garm en t cov erin g it For his black robe .
h e had lam b s wool ; for his whi te on e fawn s fur; an d for

’ ’
his yell ow on e fox fur His furred un dr ess robe was

, .
lon ger but the ri ght sleeve was sh ortened He would

, .
needs h ave his sl eepin g dr ess one and a hal f tim es his own
-
Because, i t is said, such c olors were adopted in fasti ng and mournin

g
.
’
Because th ey di d not belon to th e five c orr ect co lors green, y
b w, carnati on, whi te, and bl ac and were affected more b
y females .
length . For o din ary h ome w a

r us ed thick substantial e r he
fox or badg er furs Wh en h e left off mournin g h e would
.
,
we ar all his girdle trinke ts His kirtle in fron t when it was .

,
n ot n ee d e d for f ull cover h e must n eeds hav e cut d own , .
He woul d n ever wear h is ( black ) lamb s wool or a dark

’
-
,
colored cap when h e wen t on vi sits of con dolence to

,
3
mourn ers On the first day of th e n ew moon he must
.
,
have on his Court dress an d to Court When observing .
his fasts h e mad e a poin t of havin g b right shiny gar

, ,
ments made of lin en H e must also at such times vary his

, .
food an d move his seat to an other part of his dwellin g

,
room .
AS to his food h e n ever tire d of ri ce so lon g as it was

,
clean and pure nor of hashe d m eats when fin ely mince d

, .
Rice spoile d by damp and sour h e would n ot tou ch nor , , ,
tain ted fish n or bad m eat n or au ght of a bad color or

, ,
smell n or aught overdon e in cooking n or aught out of

, ,
season N either would he eat anythin g that was n ot prop

.
erly cut or that lack e d its p r op er s e ason in gs Although

,
.
there mi ght b e an abundance of me at before him he ,
would n ot allow a prepon deran c e of it to r ob th e rice of

i ts b enefici al eff e ct in nutri ti on O nly in th e matter of .
wine did h e set himself no limi t yet he n ever drank so ,

’
much as to conf use hims elf Tradesm en s win es an d drie d .
,
meats from th e market he would not touch Ginger he .
would n ever have removed fromth e table during a m eal

,
He was not a gre at e ater M eat from th e sacrifices at th e .
prince s temple he would n ever put aside till th e followin g

’
day The m eat of his own Offerin gs h e would never give

.
out after thr ee days keepin g for after that time non e were
’
to eat it .
At his meals he would not en ter in to discussions ; and

when rep o sin g ( afterwards ) he would not utter a word .
S ince white was, as it is still , the mourning color.

54 TH E W I SD O M OF CON FU C I US
E ven should h is meal con sist only of coars e ri ce and
vegeta ble broth or melon s h e would make an off ering , ,
an d n ev er fa il to do so reli
giously .
H e would n ever sit on a mat that was not s trai ght .
After a feast amon g his villagers he would wai t before ,
goin g away un til th e ol d m en had left .
When the villag e people were exorcisin g th e p ests he ,
woul d put on his Court rob es an d stand on th e steps of his

hall to re ceive them .
When h e was s en din g a message of in quiry to a person

in an other S tate h e woul d bow twi ce on s eein g the mes
,
s en ger off .
Ki K an g on ce s en t him a pres en t of some medicin e He

‘
bowe d an d received it; but remarked Un til I am quite

,
“
,
”
sure of its prop erti es I must not ven tu re to taste it .
On ce when th e stabling was destroyed by fire h e with “

,
”
drew from th e Court and asked Is any person inj ured?
, ,
— wi thout in quir in g as to th e hors es .
Whenever th e prin ce sent him a present of food he was ,
particular to set his mat in prop er order and woul d be the ,
first on e to taste it If th e prin ce s pres en t was on e of raw

’
.
meat h e must needs have it cooked an d make an oblation

, ,
of it If th e gift were a li ve anim al he would be sure to

.
,
keep it an d care for it .
When he was in waitin g and at a meal wi th th e prince , ,
th e prin ce would make th e offerin g an d h e ( th e Master )

4
,
was th e pre gustator .
When unwell an d th e prin ce came to see him he would

, ,
arran ge his position so that his head in clin ed towards the

east would
,
put over him his Cour t robes and draw his ,
girdle across them .
Wh en summon ed by order of th e prin ce h e woul d start ,
off wi th out waitin g for his h ors es to be pu t to .
Th e act of grace , bef ore eatin

g .
TH E W I S DO M OF C O N FU C I US 55
On his t y in to th e Gran d Temple he inquired about
en r ,
everyth in g conn ecte d w i th i ts usag e s .
If a frien d die d and th ere were n o near relatives to take

,
him to h e would say L et him b e buri ed from my hou s e

, , .
For a frien d s gift— un le ss it con s iste d of meat that had

’
b een off ere d in sacrifice —h e would n ot bow even if it ,
were a carriage an d hors es .
In repos e h e did n ot l i e like on e dead In h is hom e life .
he was not formal in his manner .
Whenever h e m et wi th a p erson in mournin g even ,
though it were a fami liar acquain tan ce he would be cer ,
tain to chan g e his manner ; and when he m et wi th any

one in full dre ss cap or with any blin d p e rson h e would
-
, ,
also un failin gly put on a diff erent look even though he ,
were hims elf in un dre ss at th e tim e .
I n salutin g any p erson we arin g mournin g h e would

,
bow forwards towards th e front bar of his carri ag e ; in

th e sam e m ann er h e would also salute th e b earer of a
cen sus regi ster
-
.
When a sumptuous banquet was spre ad before him a ,
differen t expre ssion would b e sure to appear in his fea

tures an d h e would ris e up from his s eat
,
.
At a sudden thunder clap or when th e win d grew -

,
furious his look would also in variably b e chan ged

,
.
On gettin g in to his c ar he wou ld n eve r fail ( first ) to

,
stand up ere ct holdin g on b y th e strap Wh en in th e car

,
.
,
he would n ever look about nor sp eak hastil y n or brin g , ,
on e han d to th e oth er .
L et on e b ut m k a m o v em nt in his f ce
“
a e e a ,
”
And th e b ir d wil l rise and se ek som e safer
pl ace .
“
Apropos of thi s h e said H ere is a hen pheasan t from
, ,
-
Shan Lian g— and in season ! and in s eason ! After Tsz—ln ”
had got it prepared he sm elt it thrice an d then ros e up

, ,
from his s eat .

B OOK XI
Comparative Worth f
o His Disciples
“
THE fir st to make progress in th e Proprieties and in
Musi c said th e Master are plain countrym en; after
, ,
them th e m en of high er stan din g If I had to employ

, .
”
an
y of them I should stan d by the former .
“
Of thos e said h e who were about m e when I was
“
,
in th e Ch in an d Ts ar S ta tes n ot one now is l eft to a

‘ ‘
”
p ,
proach my door .
“ “
As for k i said th e Master h e is not one to help
, ,
m e on : th ere is n othin g I say but he is n ot well satisfied

with .
What a du tifu l son was M in Tsz k i en l h e exclaimed

“
-
.
N0 one finds occasion to differ f rom what his parents

”
an d broth ers hav e said of h im .
Nan Yun g us ed to rep eat three tim es over th e lin es in

th e O des about th e wh ite sc eptre Conf ucius caus ed his .
o wn elder brother s dau ghter to b e given in ma rriage to

’
When Ki K ang inquired which of th e disciples were

‘
“
fond of learnin g Confuciu s answered him There was one
, ,
Yen e ri who was fond of it ; but unfortunately his al

'
lotte d tim e was short an d he died ; and now his like is not
,
to b e found .
When Yen Yuen di ed his fath er Yen Lu begged for the , , ,

’
Master s carriage in order to get a shell for hi s coffin .
Th e men o v
f irtuous lif e were Yen Yuen Min Tsz k ien, Yen -
'
Pih -niu, and Chun g-k un ( Yen Yun th e sp eak ers and deb aters were
g
Tsai W0 and Tsz-k ung ; the ( ca able go ernm ent ser ants were Yen Yu
p v v
and Tsz-ln ; the li terar students Tsz- u and Tsz-hi a
y y , .
56
58 TH E W I SD O M OF C O N FU C I US
“
There is
Yu s harpsichord exclaime d th e Master
’
,
“ ”
what is it doin g at my door? On s eein g however some , ,
disrespect shown to him by th e other disciple s h e added , ,

“
Yu h as got as f ar as th e top of the h all ; only h e has not
”
y et en tered th e house .
Tsz kun g asked which was th e wo rthier of th e two

-
“
Tsz chan g or Tsz hi a Th e form er an swered th e Master
- -
.
, ,
“
goe s beyond th e mark ; th e latter falls short of it .
“
S O th en Tsz Chan g is th e b etter of th e two i s he ? said
-
,
“
To go too far , he repli ed ,
is about th e same as to fall
”
short .
Th e Chief of th e Ki fam ily was a wealthier m an than

th e Duke of Chow had be en an d yet Yen Yu gathered ,
an d b oar ded for h im increas in g hi s w eal th mo re an d more

, .
“ “
He is n o follower of min e said th e Master It would , .
s erve him ri ght my children to soun d th e dmm and set

, , ,
Cha racteri sti cs of four discipl esz— Tsz kau was simple -
min d ed; Tsan g S i ,

a dullard ; Tsz chan g ful l of airs ; Tsz ln
-
,
-
,
rough .
“
“
As to HWII i said th e Master h e comes near to perf ec
'
, ,
tion while frequen tly in great wan t Tsz k un g does not

,
.
-
submi t to the appoin tm ents of H eaven ; and yet his goods”

are in creas e d ;— h e i s oft en successful in hi s calculations .
Tsz Chan g wante d to know some marks of th e naturally

-
Good M an .
“
H e do es n ot walk in o th ers footprin ts said the Mas
’
”
te r; ! yet h e do es n ot get b eyon d th e h all In to th e hous e
“
.
On c e th e Master said B ecaus e we allow that a man s ,

“ ’
word s h ave someth in g genuine in them are they neces ,
sari l
y th os e of a su erior m an ? or words ca rryin g only an
p .
”
Ou twar d s embl an c e an d show of gravi ty?
Tsz lu put a ques ti on about th e practic e of precepts one

-
“
has heard Th e Master s reply was In a case where there
.
’
,
TH E W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I US 59
is a father or elder brother still left with you how should ,

”
you practi s e all you h ear?
When however the sam e question was put to him by
, ,
“
Yen Yu his reply was Yes; do so
, , .
Kung si Hwa an imadverted upon this to the Master

-
.
“ “
Tsz lu aske d you sir sai d h e abou t th e practice of
“
-
, , ,
what one has learn t and you sai d There may be a father
, ,
‘
or eld er broth er s til l aliv e ; but wh en Ye n Yu aske d th e

’
same question you an swered Yes do so I am at a loss

, ,
‘
,
.
’
”
to un derstan d you and ven ture to ask what you m ean t
,
.
“
Th e Master replied Yen Yu backs out of his duties ; ,
th erefore I push him on Tsz lu has forwardness en ough .

-
”
for th em both ; therefore I hol d h im back .
On th e occas ion of that tim e of fe ar in K wan g Yen ,
Yuen having fallen behin d th e Master said to him ( after ,

“ ”
wards ) I took it for gran ted you were a dead m an
,
.
“ ”
How should I dare to die sai d h e while you sir s till , , , ,
lived ?
On Ki Tsz j en puttin g to him a questi on anen t Tsz lu
- -
“
an d Yen Yu as to wh e th er th ey m i ght b e calle d
,
gre at
“
ministers th e Master an swered I had expected your
, ,
question sir to be about som ethin g extraordi n ary and

, , ,
lo ! it is only about thes e two Those whom we call gre at .

‘
min isters are such as serve their prince cOn scientiously ,
and who when th ey cann ot do so retir e At p re s en t as

, , .
,
‘
regards th e two you ask about th ey may b e called quali ,
fied ministers
’
Well are they then h e asked su ch as will follow

“
, , ,
their leader?
“
”
The y would n ot follow him wh o shoul d slay his father

”
and his prin ce ! was th e reply .
.
Through th e interv en tion of Tsz l n Tsz kau was b ein g -

,
-
appoin te d govern or of Pi
“ ’
You are spoilin g a good man s son said th e Master , .
“
Tsz ln rejoin ed But he wi ll have th e p e opl e and their
-
,
superi ors to gain experi ence from and there will be the ,
altars ; what need to read books? He can becom e a student

afterwar ds .
“
H ere is the reason for m y hatred of glib ton gued peo -
p l e
,
sai d th e Master .
On one occas ion Tsz ll) Tsan g S in Yen Yu and Kung S i -

, , ,
-
“
Hwa were sittin g near him H e said to them Though I .
,
may be a day Ol der th an you do n ot ( for th e moment ) ,
regard m e as s u ch Whil e
you are livin g this unoccupied
.
life you are saying W e do n ot become kn own Now sup

,
.
’
”
pos e som e one got to kn ow you what then ? ,
Tsz lu— first to speak— at on c e an swered Give m e a

-
,
S tate of large size an d armament hemmed in and ham ,
pered by other larger S tates th e popul ation augm ,
by armies an d regim en ts cau sing a dearth in it of food of ,
all kin ds ; give m e ch arg e of that S tate and in three years ,

’
tim e I shoul d make a brave coun try of it and let it kn ow ,

”
i ts place .
“ “
Th e Master smil ed at him Yen sai d he how would .
, ,
”
it b e with you?
“
Give me said Yen a terri tory of sixty or seventy li
, ,
square or of fifty or six ty square; put m e in charge of

,
that an d in three years I should make th e people suf

,
ficiently prosp erou s As regards their kn owledge of cere

.
monial or music I shoul d Wait for superior men to teach

,
”
them that .
An d wi th you; Kun g si how would it b e?

“ ”
-
,
“
This disciple s reply was I have n othin g to say about
’
my capabiliti es for such matters ; my wi sh is to learn I .
should like to b e a jun ior assistant in dark rob and cap , ,
at the service s Of th e ancestral temple and at the Grand ,
Reception s of th e Prin ces by th e S overeign

”
.
“
An d wi th you Tsang S in? ,
This dis ciple was strumming on his harps ichord but ,
n ow th e twan gin g c eas ed h e turn ed from th e in strument , ,

TH E W I SDO M O F C ON FUCI US 61
“
o to his feet and an swe ed thu“s Something
r se , r :
f om the ch oice of thes three What harm ? said th e

r e
”
.
”
“
Master; I wan t each on of you to tell m e what his heart e
is set up on
“
Well th n sai d h give me—in the latter
”
e e,
part of spring— dressed in full spring ti de atti e—in com

.
, ,
-
r
”
pany with five o six young fellows of twenty or six or
r ,
s even lads under that ge to do th e ablutions in th e I a ,

-
str eam enj oy a breez in th ain dan ce and finish up

, e e r -
,
8
wi th s on gs on th e road hom e
”
.
The Master drew in hi s breath si ghed and exclaim ed , , ,

“ ”
Ah I take with you!
,
The three other di sciples havin g gone out leaving ,
Tsan g S in behin d th e latter s ai d What

“
,
th e answers o f those three ? — We ll each told me what

“
m
,
sai d th e Master ;— simply

“
as upp ermost in his m in d ,
”
at .
“
W hy did yo u smil e at Tsz lu sir? -
,
I smiled at him b ecau s e to have th e charge of a S tate

requires due reg ard to th e Rule s of Propriety and his ,
words betrayed a lack of modesty .
“
But Yen then—he had a S tate in view had he not?
, ,
“
I should lik e t o b e shown a t erritory such as he de
”
scribe d whi ch d oe s n ot amoun t to a S tate .
”
“
But had not Kun g si also a S tate in Vi ew ? -
“
What are ancestral temples and Grand Recep tions but ,
for the feudal lor ds to take part in ? If Kun g si were to -
become an unimp ortan t assistant at these functi ons who

,
”
, !
could become an importan t one?

Lit , capped ones At twenty th ey underwent the ceremony of capping,
. .
and were considered men .
I e , before the al tars, where off erings were placed with prayer for
. .
rain A rel igious dance

. .
B OO K XII
The Mas ter s Answers— Philanthropy— Friendships
’
YEN YUEN was askin g about man s p ope ga d fo his ’
r r re r r
fellow m n The Maste sai d to him S elf control nd a

-
a . r ,
“
-
, a !
habi t of fallin g back upon propriety virtually eff ect it , .
L et thes e con di ti on s b e fulfille d for on e day and every ,
on e roun d will b e take hims elf to th e duty Is it to begin .
’ ”
in on e s s elf or think you in d eed !i t is to b e gin in others?
, ,
“ “
I wan te d you to be goo d en ough said Yen Yuen to , ,
”
give m e a brief syn opsis of it .
Th en said th e Master Wi thou t Propriety use n ot your

“
,
e es ; wi thou t i t use n o t your e ars n or your tongue n or a

y , ,
lim b of your body .
“ “
I may b e lackin g in dili gence said Yen Yuen but , ,
”
wi th your favor I will endeavor to carry out this advice .
Chun g k ung asked about m an s prop er regard for his

’
-
fell ows .
To him th e Master replied thus : Wh en you go forth

“
from your door be as if you were m eetin g som e guest of

,
impor tan ce When you are makin g use of th e common

.
pe ople ( for S tate purposes ) b e as if you were takin g part

,
in a great reli gi ous fun cti on Do n ot set b efore others

.
what you do not desire yourself Let there b e no res entful .
feelin gs again st you when you are away in the country ,
an d n o ne wh en at home .
“ “
I may lac k diligen ce sai d Chung kung but with
,
-
,
your favor I wil l en deavor to carry out this advice .
S z ma Niu asked th e lik e question Th e an swer he re

-
.
62
“
ceived was this : Th e words of th e m an who has a proper
”
rega r d for hi s fellows are utt ered wi th diffi cul ty .
His words— uttere d wi th diflicul ty?

‘
h e e choed in
’
,
“
surpri s e Is that what is m ean t by prop er regard for one s
.
’
fellow cre atures ?

-
“
Where there is diffi culty in doing th e Master repli ed , ,
”
will th ere not b e some difficulty in u tterance ?
The sam e d isciple put a qu estion about th e superi o r
” “
m an . S uperi or m en h e replied are free from trouble
, ,
and a preh en s i on
p .
Free from trouble an d apprehen sion ! sai d h e D ’
that make them superi or ‘
Th e Master add e d Wh ere th ere is foun d upon in tro

“
, ,
s ection to b e n o chroni c di s eas e how shall th ere b e an

p , y ,
trouble ? how shall th ere be any apprehen sion ?

The sam e disciple bein g in trou ble remarked I am
, , ,
alone in havin g n o br other whil e all els e have th eir s ,

”
younger or elder .
Tsz hia sa id to h im I have heard this : De ath an d lif e

‘
-
,
have destin ed time s ; wealth an d hon ors rest with H eaven .
Let the sup erior m an keep watch over hims elf wi thout
ceasin g showin g d eferen ce to others wi th propriety of
, ,
manners— and all wi thin th e four s eas will b e h is brethren .
’
How Should h e b e distresse d for lack of b roth ersl 1
Tsz Chan g aske d what sort of m an m i ght b e t erme d en

-
”
lightened .
Th e Master repli e d That m an wi th whom dren chin g

,
sland er an d cutting calum ny gain n o curren cy may wel l

be call ed enl ightene d Ay h e w ith whom such thin gs make
.
,
no way may w ell b e calle d en li ghten ed in th e extrem e .
Tsz kun g put a question relative to gov ernmen t In

-
.
reply th e Master m en ti on e d three ess en ti als suifi cient -
food sufficient armam ent and th e p eople s confiden ce

, ,
.
From Confucius, it is genera

lly though t .
But, sai d disciple If you cann ot really have all
th e ,
three an d , on e has to b e given up which would you give ,

”
up first?
“
Th e armamen t ,
he plied re .
“
An d if you are obliged to give up one of th e remaining
two which would it b e?
,
“ ” “
Th e food said h e Death has b een th e porti on of all
, .
m en from of old Wi thout th e pe ople s tr ust n othin g can

’
”
stan d .
“
Kih Tsz shin g on c e said Give m e th e in born quali ti es
-
,
of a gen tleman and I want no more How are such to ,

.
”
com e from book leam in g ? -
“
Tsz kun g exclaim ed
-
Ah ! sir I regret to hear such , ,
words from you A gentl eman l— But a team of four c an .

‘
n e er o ertak e th e ton gu e ! Li terary accompli sh m en ts are

’ ’ ’
,
much the sam e as inborn qualities and inborn quali ties as ,

’ ’
literary accomplishm ents A tiger s or leopard s skin wi th .
’
ut th e ha ir mi ght b e a dog s or sh eep s when so made
’
q
l are .
Duke Ngai was con sultin g Yu Joh S aid he It is a year .

,
of dearth and there is an in sufficien cy for Ways and

,
M ean s— what am I to do ?
”
Why n ot apply the Tithin g S tatute? said th e min ister

“ ”
.
“
But two tithin gs would n ot b e enough for my pur
” “
pos es said th e duke; what woul d b e th e good Of apply
,
in g th e S tatute?
The minister repli ed S o lon g as th e p eople have , _
en ou gh l eft for th ems elves who of them wil l allow their ,
prin ce to b e wi thout enou gh? But— when th e people have

”
n ot en ough who wi ll allow th eir prin c e all that h e wan ts ?
,
Tsz Chan g was asking how th e stan dard of virtue was to

-
be rais ed and how to discern what was il lusory or mi s

,
“
leadin g The Master s an swer was Give a foremost place
.
’
to honesty and fai thfulness and tread th e path of ri ght ,
eousness an d you will rai s e th e stan dard of vir tu e As to

,
.
66 TH E WI SDO M O F C O N FU C I US
“
thi s reply : If you sir were n ot covetous neither would , , ,
they steal even were you to bribe th em to do so

,
.
Ki K an g when consultin g C onf ucius abou t th e govem

‘
m en t said S uppose I were to put to death th e disorderly

,
“
,
for th e better en couragemen t of th e ord erly— wha t say

”
you to that?
“ “
S ir repl ied Con fuciu s in th e admin istrati on of gov
, ,
emm en t why re sort to cap i tal pun ishm en t ? C ove t what is
good and the people will b e good The virtu e of the

, .
n oble m in d ed m an i s as th e win d an d that of infe ri or m en

-
,
as grass ; th e grass mu st bend wh en th e win d blows upon ,
it .
han g asked how o therwi s e he would describ e the

Tsz -
C
learn ed official who might b e termed influential .
“
What I won der do you m ean by one who is influen
, ,
”
ti al? said th e Master .
”
I m ean replied the di s ciple one who is sure to have
, ,
a reputa tion thr oughou t th e country as wel l as at home , .
“
That sai d th e Master i s repu tation n ot influence
, , , .
The influential m an th en if he b e one who is genuin ely , ,
straightforwa rd an d love s what is ju st and righ t a dis ,
crimin ator of m en s words and an Observer of their looks

’
, ,
an d in hon o r c aref ul to p refer oth ers to hims elf — will cer
tainly have influen ce both th rou ghou t th e coun try an d at ,
hom e The m an of mere reputation on th e other hand

.
, ,
who sp eciously affec ts philan thropy thou gh in his way of ,
proce dure h e acts con trary to it while yet quite evi dently ,
engross ed w i th that vi rtue—will c erta inl have repu tation

y ,
both in th e coun try and at home .
Fan Ch i str ol lin g wi th him over th e groun d below th e

‘
,
“
place of th e rain dance sai d to him I ven ture to ask how
-
, ,
to rais e th e standard of virtu e how to reform dissolute ,

”
habits an d how to discern what is illusory?
,
Ah ! a good que stion indeed ! h e exclaim ed Well is

“ ”
.
“
,
not pu ttin g duty first an d su cce ss s ec on d a way Of ra i sin g , ,

the stan dard Of virtu e? And is n ot attacking th e evil in
one s s elf an d not th e evil which is in others a way of
’
, ,
reformin
g ssolute habi ts ? An d as to ill usi on s is n ot one
di
’
,
mornin g s fit of anger causin g a m an to forget hi mse lf , ,
an d even in volvin g in th e con s equ en c e s thos e who are
ne ar an d d e ar to him— is n ot th at an illus ion ?

”
“
The same disciple asked h im what was meant by a
“
l
”
right reg ar d f or on e s fel lo w cre atures
’
He replied It is -
.
,
love to m an .
Aske“d by h im again what was m ean t by wi sdom he re ,
plie d I t is kn owledge of m an
, .
Fan Ch 1 did n ot qui te grasp h is meanin g .
“
The Master wen t on to say L ift up the s trai ght set , ,
”
asi de th e crooked so can you make th e crooke d s traight
, .
“
Fan Ch i left hi m an d m ee tin g wi th Tsz hi d h e said I
‘
-
, ,
had an in terview just n ow wi th th e Master and I asked ,
h im what wisdom was I n his an swer h e sa i d Lif t up the

‘
.
,
strai ght set aside th e crooke d and so can you make the
, ,
crooke d str ai ght What was h is m eanin g ? .

” ’
“
Ah ! words ri ch in m ean in g those said the other , ,
.
“
When S hun was emp eror and was s electing his m en ,
from amon g th e multi tude h e li fted up Kan yau; and ,

‘ ’
-
men devoi d of ri ght feelin gs towards their kin d wen t far

away And when T an g was emperor and chose out his
.
‘
m en from th e crowd h e lifted up I yin— with th e same

‘ ’
-
,
”
result .
“
Tsz kun g was con sul tin g him abou t a fri en d
-
S p“ eak .
to him frankl y an d respectfully sai d the Master and

, , ,
gently lead h im on If you do not su ccee d th en stop ; do .

,
not s bmi t yours elf to in d i gni ty

u .
The l earn e d Tsan g Obs erve d In th e society of books ,
the sup eri or m an colle cts hi s fri en ds ; in th e society of

‘ ’
hi s frien ds h e is fur th erin g good will among m en - .

B OO K X III
Answers on the Art of Governing— Consistency
Tsz was aski ng about governmen t L ead th e way in

-
LU .
“ ”
it sai d th e Master an d work hard at it
, ,
.
“
Reque sted to say more h e adde d An d do n ot tir e of it , , .
Chun g kun g on bein g mad e fir st min i ster to th e Chief

-
,
of th e Ki famil y con sulted th e Master abou t government

, ,
“
an d to h im h e sai d L et th e heads of ofli ces b e heads
, .
Excu s e small faults Promote m en of sagaci ty an d talent

. .
“ “
B ut he asked how am I to kn ow th e sagaci ous and
'
, ,
”
talen ted before promotin g th em ?
,
“
Promote th os e wh om you do know sai d the Master , .
“
As to thos e of wh om ‘ you are un certain will others ,
”
omit to n otice them ?
Tsz ln sai d to th e Master As the prin ce of Wei sir
“
-
, , ,
has been waitin g for you to act for h im in his g ovem

”
men t wh at is it your in tenti on to take in hand first?
,
One thin g of n ecessity h e an swered— th e rectifica

“ “
,
”
ti on of terms .
“ ”
That ! exclaimed Tsz lu How far away you are sir! -
.
,
Wh y such rectifi cati on ?

”
“
What a rustic you are Tsz lu ! rejoin ed th e Master ,
-
.
“
A gen tl eman would be a little res erved and reti cent in
matters whi ch he does n ot understan d If terms b e in cor .
rect lan gu ag e will b e in c on gruous ; an d if lan guage he

,
incongruous d eeds wi ll b e imp erfe ct S o again when

,
.
, ,
deeds are imperfect proprie ty and harmony cann ot pre ,
vail and when this is the case laws relatin g to crime will
,
fail in their aim; and if thes e l ast so fail th e p eople will not ,
68
know wh ere to set han d or foot H en ce a m an of superi or .

,
mind certain first of his terms is fitte d to sp eak ; and bein g

, ,
certain of what h e says can procee d upon it In the l an .
guage of su ch a person there is n othi ng heedlessly irr egu

lar— and that is th e sum of th e matter
”
.
Fan Ch i requ este d that h e might learn somethin g of

“” “
husban dry For that sai d the Master I am n ot equal
.
, ,
to an Old husban dman M ight h e then learn som ethin g

.
“
of gardenin g ? he asked I am not equal to an Ol d gar .
dener was th e reply

, .
“
A m an of li ttle m in d that ! said th e Master when Fan
, ,
“
Ch i had gon e out L et a m an who is set over th e p eople
‘
.
love propriety and th ey will n ot pre sum e to b e di srespect

,
ful Let h im b e a lover of ri ghteou sness an d they will n ot

.
,
resum e t o b e aught but subm iss iv e Let h im lov e fa i th
ful ness and truth an d they will not presume not to len d
.
him th eir h earty assi stan ce Ah if all this onl y were so .

, ,
the p e ople from all s i d e s woul d com e to su ch a on e carry ,
ing their chil dren on th eir backs What n eed to turn his .
han d to husbandry?
Th ough a m an said he could burn through th e O de s
“ ” “
, ,
-
th e three hun dred— yet should show hi ms elf un ski ll e d
when given som e adm ini strative work to do for his coun
try; th ough h e m ight know much of that oth er lore yet ,
if when s en t on a mi ssi on to any qu arter h e could a n swer

, ,
no qu esti on p erson ally an d un a id ed what aft er all is h e ,
good for?
“
L et a leader sai d h e show rec ti tud e in h is own p er
, ,
sonal character and even withou t dire cti ons fr om him

,
things will go well If h e b e n ot p erson ally upri ght his

.
,
”
directi on s will n ot b e compli ed with .
On ce he mad e th e remark Th e governm ents of Lu and ,

“
of Wei are in brotherhood

”
.
O f Kin g a son of the Duke of Wei he obs erve d that

, ,
“
he man age d h is hous ehold matters well On his comin g .
70 T H E W I SD O M OF CON FU C I US
in to poss ession h e thought What a stran ge conglomera
, ,
‘
t ion !— Com in g to poss e ss a littl e more i t was S tr an ge

’ ‘
, , ,
such a resul t ! An d when he became we althy S trange

’
,
‘
such ele gan c e!
Th e Master was on a journ ey to Wei an d Yen Yu was ,
drivin g him What multi tudes of p eople ! he exclaim ed

.
“ ”
.
Yen Yu aske d him S eein g they are so num erou s what

“
, ,
”
more would you do for them?
“ ”
E nric h them replied the Master , .
“
An d after enri chin g them wh at more would you do ,
for th em ?
In struct them .
“
Were any on e of our prin ces to employ me he sai d , ,
“
after a twelvemon th I might have made some tolerable
progress but give m e three years an d my work shoul d ,
b e don e .
“ ‘
Again How true is that sayin g Let good m en have the

, ,
man agem en t of a coun try for a cen tury an d they would ,
b e adequ ate to cop e with evil do ers an d thus do away -

,
’
with c apital punishmen ts .
Again S uppos e th e ruler to poss ess true kingly qual

“
,
i ti e s then surely after on e gen eration th ere woul d be

,
”
good will among m en
-
.
“
Again L et a rul er but see to his own recti tude and
, ,
what trouble will h e then have in th e work before him ? If

h e b e un able to re ctify hims elf how is h e to rectify ,
”
oth ers ?
Once when Yen Yu was leavin g th e C“ourt th e Master ,
accosted him Why so late ? he asked Busy with l egis

.
“ ”
.
lati on Yen replied Th e detail s of it suggeste d the

, .
,
“
Master; had it been legi slation I sh oul d have been there ,
”
to hear it even though I am not in office
, .
Duke Tin g asked if th ere were one s enten ce whi ch if ,
acte d upon might have th e effect of making a country

,
prosperous .
T H E W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I US 71
“
C onfucius answered A s en ten ce could hardly b e su
p
,
o
p sed to do so much as that But there is a proverb pe0 p e
‘
.
use which says To play th e prin ce is hard to play th e

, ,
’ ‘
ster n ot easy Assum in g that it is un derstood that to

.
play th e prin ce is hard would it not b e probable that wi th

,
’
”
that on e senten ce th e c oun try should b e made to prosp er?
“ ”
Is there then h e aske d one s en ten c e which if acted
, , , ,
”
upon would have th e eff ect of ruinin g a country?
,
“
Confuci us again repli e d, A s en ten ce could hardly b e
suppos ed to do so much as that But there i s a proverb .
men have which says N ot gladly would I play th e prin c e

‘
, ,
unl ess my words were n e er wi th stood Assumin g that the ’
.
’
words were good an d that n on e wi thstood them woul d

, ,
n ot that also b e good ? But assum in g th at they w ere n ot
good and yet n one with stood them would i t n ot b e prob

, ,
’
able that wi th that on e sayin g he woul d work hi s coun try s
”
ruin?
When th e Duk e of S heh con sulted h im abou t govem

ment he repli ed Where th e n ear are gratified th e war
, , ,
will follow .
When Tsz hi abecame govern or Of Kii fu and con sulted

- -
“
,
him abou t governm en t h e an swere d Do n ot wi sh for , ,
sp eedy r e sults D o n ot look at tri vi al advan tage s If you

. .
wi sh for speedy re sults they will n ot b e far reachin g ; an d

,
-
if you regard trivial advan tages you will n o t su cce ssfully

deal with importan t affairs .
Th e Duke of S heh in a conversation wi th Confucius

“
said , There are some straightforward p erson s in my
neighborhood If a fath er has stol en a sh eep th e son will
. ,
give evidence again st him .
“
S tr aightforward people in my neighborhood are differ
ent from thos e said Confucius The father wil l hold a
”
,
.
thin g s ecret on his son s b ehalf an d the son does the same
’
for his father Th ey are on their way to b ecomin g s trai ght

.
”
forward .
72 T H E W I SD O M OF C O N FU C I US
’
Fan Ch 1 was askin g him abou t duty to one s fellow

" ” “
m en B e courteou s h e replied , in y our private sph ere;
.
,
b e s eriou s in any du ty you take in han d to do ; b e leal

hearte d in your intercours e with others Even though you .
were to go amon gst th e wil d trib es , it would n ot b e ri ght

for you to ne gl ect th es e du ties .
“
I n a n swer to Tsz kun g, who asked , how h e would
-
‘
characteri ze one who could fitly b e called learned of
“
ficial , th e Master sai d , H e may b e so called who in his
’
-
private lif e is affecte d with a s ens e of his own unworthi

ne ss , an d wh o
when s en t on a mi ssion to any quarter of
,
’
the empire would no t di sgrace his prin ce s commands
, .
“ “
May I pre sume sai d his que stion er to ask what sort
, ,
you would put next to such ?

“
Him who is spoken of by hi s ki n smen as a dutiful
son an d whom th e folks of h is n ei ghborhood call good
‘
brother
’
.
May I still ven ture to ask whom you would place next
”
in ord er?
“
Su ch as are sure to be true to their word and effective ,
in th eir work— who are g iven to hamm erin g as it were , ,
u pon on e n ote —of inferi or calib re in d eed but fit enough

‘
, ,
”
I think to b e rank ed n ext
,
.
“
How would you describe those who are at present in
”
th e governm en t s ervi ce ?
U gh ! mere peck and panier m en I— not wor th taking
into the re ckonin g .
Onc e he remarked If I cannot get via media m en to

,
impar t in structi on to then I must of cours e take th e im

,
petuous and un disciplin ed ! Th e imp etuou s on es will at

least go forward and lay hold on thin gs ; and th e undi sci
plin ed have at least som ethin g in them which n eeds to be
brought out .
Th e S outherners said h e have th e proverb The

“ ” “ ‘
, , ,
m an who sti cks n ot to rul e will n ever make a cha rm

74 T H E W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I US
“
Letgood and able m en disciplin e th e people for seven
” “
years said the Master and after that they may do to go
, ,
to war .
“
But said he To le ad an un disciplin ed p eopl e to war
, ,
that I call throwing them away ”

.
B OO K XIV
Good and Bad Govern me nt— M iscellaneous S ayings
YUEN Sz asked what mi ght be considered to bring sham e

on on e .
Pay sai d th e Master; pay—ever looking to that

“ ” “
, ,
Whether th e co un try be well or badl y governed .
“
When irnp eriousness boastfulness res entments and , , ,
covetousness ceas e to pre vail among the pe ople may it ,

”
be cons id ered that mutual good wi ll has been effec ted ? -
To thi s qu e sti on th e Master replie d A hard thi n g

“
,
come it may be consi dered But as to the mutual good

, .
will— I cann ot tell .
“ “
Learned officials sai d h e who b ank er after a hom e
, ,
life are n ot wor thy of bein g e steem ed as such

, .
“
Again In a coun try un der goo d govermnent speak
, ,
boldl y act boldly When th e lan d is ill g ovem ed though

, .
-
,
”
ou act b oldly l et your words b e m o d erat e
y “
, .
Again M en Of virtue will needs b e m en of words

,
will speak out— but men of words are n ot necessaril

m en of virtue They who care for their fellow men wil l
.
-
needs b e bold bu t th e bold may n ot ne cessarily b e such

,
as care for their fellow men -

.
Nan kun g Kwoh who was c on sultin g Conf ucius ob

-
, ,
s erved resp ectin g I the skilf ul archer an d Ngau who

, ,
could prop el a boat on dry lan d that nei ther of them die d ,
a natural dea th ; whil e Yu an d Tsih who wi th their own ,
han ds had labore d at husban dry cam e to Wi eld imp erial ,
swa
T h Mast
e er gave him n o re ply But when
. th e speaker
75
had gone out he exclaimed A superior m an that ! A man ,
“
,
”
who values virtue that ! ,
“
There have b een n oble min ded m en sai d h e who -
, ,
et w ere wan tin g in philan thropy ; b u t n ever has there

y
been a small min ded m an who had philan thr opy in him
-
.
“
He asked C an an y on e refus e to toil for thos e he loves ?
,
Can an y one re fus e to exhort who is tru e he arted ? ,

-
S peaking of th e preparation of Government Notifi ca

“
tion s in his day h e said P i would draw up a r ough sketch
,
‘
of what was to b e said th e Shishuh th en looked it care

ful ly through and put I t into prop er shape ; Tsz yu next -
,
wh o was master Of the c eremoni al of S tate in tercourse ,

‘
improved an d adorn e d its phras es ; an d Tsz ch an of Tun g -
li add ed his scholarl y embelli sh m en ts th ereto '

.
To some on e who asked his opin ion of th e last n amed -

,
“
he said H e was a kin d hearte d m an Asked what he
,
-
.
“
thou ght of Tsz S i he excl aim ed -
Al as for him ! alas for
, ,
him ! — Asked again about Kwan Chun g his an swer was , ,

“
As to him h e on ce seized th e town of P in wi th its three
,
‘
hun dred families from th e Chief of th e Pih cl an who , ,
afterwards reduced to living upon coars e rice wi th all his ,

”
teeth gon e never u ttered a word of complain t
, .
“ “
It is no li ght thin g said h e to endure poverty un
, ,
complainingly; and a difli cul t th in g to bear we alth wi th

”
out becomin g arrogan t .
Respectin g Man g Kun g ch oh he sai d that while he

‘
-
, ,
was fitted for somethin g b etter th an th e post of chief

officer in the Chan or Wei families h e was not competent ,
to act as mini ster in small S tate s l ike thos e of T an g or ‘
S ieh .
Tsz ln asked how h e would d escrib e a p erfec t m an He

-
.
repli ed Let a m an have th e sagacity of Tsan g Wu chun g

,
-
,
th e fre edom fr om covetousn ess of Kun g ch oh th e bold

‘
-
,
n ess of Chwan g of P in and th e attainm en ts in poli te arts

‘
,
TH E W I SDO M OF C O N F U C I US 77
Of Yen Yu ; an d
gift him further wi th th e graces taught by
th e Books of Rite s an d Musi c — th en h e may b e c on
‘ ’ ‘ ’
” “
sidere d a p erfe ct m an But said he what n eed of such
.
, ,
in th e s e days ? Th e m an that may b e re garde d as p erfect

n ow i s th e on e who s eein g som e advan tag e to hims elf is
, ,
mindful Of righteou sne ss ; who seein g danger ri sks hi s life ; , ,
an d who if boun d by som e cov en a n t of lon g stan din g

, ,
nev er forg e ts i ts con di ti on s as l ife go e s on .
Re sp ecti n g Kun g shuh Wan th e Master in quired of

-
,
“
Kun g min g Kia sayin g Is it true that your master never
-
, ,
speaks never laughs n ever takes au ght from o thers ?

, ,
” “
Thos e who told you that of him sai d h e have gon e , ,
too far My master sp eaks when th ere is occasi on to do so

.
,
an d m en are n ot surfei te d with h is sp eaki n g Wh en th ere .
is occas ion to b e m erry too h e will laugh but m en have , ,
never over much of h is laugh in g An d wh en ever it is ju st .
an d ri ght t o take thin gs from oth ers h e wil l tak e th em ,
but n ever so as to allow m en to thin k him burden some .
“ ” “
Is that th e cas e wi th him ? said th e Master Can it b e .
so?
Resp ectin g Tsan g Wu chun g th e Master said When
“
-
,
he sought from Lu th e appoin tm en t of a su ccessor to him ,
and for this Obj ect h eld on to h i s p oss e ss ion of th e fort ified
city of Fan g— if you say he was not then usin g con straint
towards his prin ce I must refus e to beli eve it
,
.
Duke Wan of Ts in h e cha racteri ze d as artful but not

” “
upri ght an d Duke Hwan of Ts i as upri ght but not art
,
‘
”
ful .
Tsz ln remarked Wh en Duk e Hwan cau s ed hi s broth er

“
-
,
Kiu to b e pu t to death S hau k h committed suicid e

, ,
but Kwan Chun g did n ot I should say he was not a m an .
who had much good will in him— eh ?

”
-
The Master replied When Duke Hwan held a great

“
,
gatherin g o f th e feudal lords dispen sin g wi th mili tary ,

e
q u i pag e it was owin g to Kwan Ch un g s en er gy that such
,
’
an even t was brou ght abou t Match such good will as that .
-
— match it if you c an .
Tsz kun g then spoke up

-
But was not Kwan Chun g .
wantin g in good will ? H e could n ot give up his life when

-
D uke Hwan cau s ed h i s broth er to b e put to d eath B es ides .

,
’
h e b e cam e th e duke s coun s ellor .
“
An d in a c tin g as his coun s ellor put him at th e head of
all th e feu dal lords said th e Master an d uni fied and
, ,
reform e d th e whol e empire ; an d th e p e opl e even to this ,
day reap benefit from what h e did Had it not been for
, .
him w e should hav e b een goin g abou t wi th locks unkempt

an d button in g ou r jacke ts ( lik e barbarian s ) on th e left .
Would you suppos e that h e should show th e same sort of

attachm en t as exi sts between a poor yoke] an d his one wife
— that h e would asph xi ate him s elf in som e s ewer leav
in g n o on e th e wi s er?
y ”
,
Kun g shuh Wan s steward who became th e high officer

-
’
S ien wen t up accompan ied by Wan to th e prin ce s hall of

,
’
a u d i en c e .
When Confucius heard of this h e remarked He may ,
well b e esteemed a Wan ‘

.
’
The Master havin g made som e reference to th e lawless

ways of Duk e Lin g of Wei Ki K an g sai d to him If he ‘ “
, ,
b e li ke that how I s i t h e do es not ruin his position?

'
,
“
C onfucius an swere d The Chun g shuh Yu i s charged ,
-
, ,
wi th th e en tertainm en t of visitors and strangers ; the priest

T o has charge of th e an ce stral temple ; an d Wang sun
‘
Kia h as th e con trol Of th e army and its division s — wi th

”
m en such as thos e how shoul d h e com e to ruin ?
,
H e once remarked H e who is unblushin g in his words

“
,
”
will wi th diffi culty substantiate th em .
Ch In S hin g had sl ain Duke Kien H earin g of this Con

‘
.
,
fucius after p erformin g his ablution s wen t to Court and

, ,
Ch In Shing
“
an n oun c e d th e n ews to Duke N aI sa in g
g y ,
TH E W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I US 79
has slain his prin ce May I request that you proceed .
”
again st him?
“
Inf orm the Chiefs of th e Th ree F amili es said th e ,
duke .
S olil oquizin g upon this C onf ucius said Sin ce h e us es , ,
me to back h is m in isters I did not dare n ot to ann oun ce ,

1
th e matter to him ; an d n ow h e says Inform th e Thr ee

‘
,
’
Chiefs .
He wen t to th e Three Chiefs an d inf ormed th em but ,
no th in g could b e don e Wh ereupon again h e sa id S ince “

.
,
he us es m e to back his m inis ters I did n ot dare n ot to ,
ann oun ce th e matter .
Tsz lu was qu estionin g him as to how h e should s erve

-
“ ”
his prin c e D eceive h im n ot but reprove him h e an
.
, ,
swere d .
“ “
Th e m inds of superi or m en he obs erved tren d up , ,
”
Wards ; thos e of in feri or m en tren d downwards .
Again S tudents of Old fixed th eir eyes upon th

,
“
selves : n ow they learn with their eyes upon o thers .
Kii Pih yuh de spatche d a m an wi th a m essag e to Con

-
fucius C onf ucius gave h im a s eat and amon g other ia

.
,
“ ” “
quiries h e asked How is your master managin g?
, My
“
master he r eplied has a great wi sh to b e seldom at
, ,
fault and as yet he cann ot man age it

, .
Wh at a m essen ger! exclaime d he adm irin gly when

“ ”
, ,
the m an w en t ou t What a m e ss en g er!

“
.
“
When n ot occupying th e Office was a remark of his
“
, ,
devise n ot th e poli cy .
“
Th e L earn e d Tsan g u s e d to say The thoughts of th e ,
‘
sup eri or m an do n ot wan der from h is own Offi ce
’
.
Superior men said the Mast

“
”
er are modest in th eir
, ,
words profus e in their deeds

,
.
Again There are three attainm ents of th e superi or man

,
“
Confucius h ad now retired from mce

O , and this incident occ urred onl y
two years before his death .
which are beyon d m e —th e b ein g sympatheti c
anx ie ty wise with out scepti cism brave wi thout fear
, ,
.
“ ” ”
S ir sa i d Tsz ku n g that i s what you say of yours elf
,
-
, .
Whenever Tsz k un g drew compari son s from others the

-
,
“
Master would say Ah how wis e an d great you mu st have , ,
becom e ! Now I have no tim e to do that .
“
Again My gre at con cern i s n ot that m en do n ot know
, ,
”
m e but that they cann ot
, .
“
Again If a m an refrain from makin g preparations
,
again st his being imposed upon and from countin g upon ,

’
others wan t of goo d faith towards him while he is fore ,
most to perceive what is passin g— surely that is a wis e and

”
good m an .
Wi shan g Mau accosted Confucius saying Kiu how

-
, ,
“
,
comes it that you manage to go perching and roostin g in

this way? Is it not because you S h ow yours elf so smart a
”
speaker n ow? ,
’
I shoul d not dare do that said Confucius Tis that I , .
’
am sick of m en s immovableness and deafn ess to reason .
In a well bre d hors e sai d h e what on e admire s i s not

-
, ,
i ts speed but i ts good poin ts

, .
S ome on e asked Wh at say you of the remark Requite ,

“
,
‘
enm i ty wi th
“ ”
How then h e answered would you requi te kindn ess ?
, ,
Requi te enmi ty wi th stra ightforwardness an d kin dness ,

”
with kin dne ss .
“
Ah ! n o on e kn ows m e ! he on ce exclaim ed .
“ “
S ir sai d Tsz kung how come s i t to pass th at no one
,
-
,
”
kn ows you ?
While I murmur n ot again st H eaven con tin ued the
“
,
“
Master n or cavil at m en ; while I stoop to learn an d aspire
,
to p ene trate into things that are high ; yet ti s H eaven ’
alon e knows wh at I am .
Liau a kinsman of th e duke havin g lai d a complaint

, ,
again st Tsz lu before Ki K ang an Officer cam e to Con

-
‘
,
th em died th e heads of every deparunent agreed between
,
thems elves that they should give ear for three years to the
Prim e M in ister .
“
When th eir be tters love th e Rules then th e folk are ,
”
s
y tools was a say
, in g of th e Master .
“
Tsz lu havin g asked what mad e a s uperi or m an he
-
,
an swere d S elf culture with a view to becomin g seri

,
“
-
,
o usl y m in d ed
-
.
“
Nothin g more than that? sai d h e .
“
S elf” cul ture with a vi ew to th e greater sati sfaction of
-
o th ers added th e Master

’
.
,
“
That an d y et no more?
,
“
S elf culture with a vi e”w to th e greater sati sfaction of
-
he again added S elf cul ture

“
all th e clan s an d class e s ,
.
-
for th e sake of all — a re sult that th at would almost put ,
Yau and S hun in to th e shade ! ”
TO Yuen Jan g who was s ittin g waiti n g for him in a

2
,
squatti n g ( di sre sp ectful ) posture th e Mast er del ivered ,

“
hims elf as follows : The m an who in hi s youth could Show.
no hum ili ty o r subordin ati on who in his pri me m iss es his ,
Opportuni ty an d who when old age com es upon him will

n ot die—
,
”
that m an is a miscrean t An d h e tapped him on .
th e Shin wi th his staff .
S ome on e asked about his attendant— a youth from the

village of Kiueh— whe ther he was one who im proved .
He replie d “ I n ote that he s eats hims elf in th e places re

,
serve d f or h is b e tt ers an d that wh en h e is walkin g he ,
keeps abreast wi th his s eniors He is not on e Of those who” .
care for improvemen t : h e wan ts to be a m an all at once .
I t i s a h ab it wi th th e Chin ese , wh en a num b er are out walking to

’
geth er, for the eldest to go fir st, th e oth ers pairin g off according to their
a e It i s a custom m uch o lder than the time of Conf ucius
g . .
B OO K XV
Prac tical Wisdom —Reciprocity the Rule of Li fe

DUKE LIN G of W/ei was con sultin g Confucius about army
“
arrang em en ts His an swer was Had you aske d m e about
.
,
such th in gs as temple requi si tes I have learn t that busi ,

”
n ess but I have n o t et studie d m ili ta ry matters An d h e
, y .
followed up this reply by leavin g on th e following day .
After thi s durin g his re siden ce in th e S tate of Ch m

, ,
his followers owin g to a stoppage of food supply b ec ame

, ,
so weak an d ill that n ot one Of them could stand Tsz ln .

-
,
wi th in dignation picture d on his counten an ce exclaimed , ,

“ ”
An d is a g en tleman to suffer starvati on ?
“
A g entl eman replie d th e Master will en dure it uh
, ,
moved but a common person breaks out in to excesses

,
under i t .
“
Addressing Tsz kun g th e Master sai d You regard me
-
, ,
as one who studi es and stores up in his min d a multi plicity

of thin gs— do you not? ”
I do he replied ; is it not so? ”
,
— Not at all I have one idea— o n e cord on whi ch to

“
.
strin g all .
To Tsz ln h e remarke d -
They who kn ow Virtue are ,
rare .
“
If you would lm ow one who wi thout eff ort ruled well ,
was n ot S hun such a one ? What did he in deed do? He

bore himself wi th reveren t digni ty an d un devia tin gly
”
‘
faced th e sou th and that was all ,
’
.
Tsz Chan g was con sultin g h im about maki n g way in

-
“
lif e He an swere d Be true an d hon est in all you say and
.
, ,
serious ly e arn est in all you do an d th en even if your coun , ,
83
try be on e barbarian s S outh or North you
inhabi ted b y , ,
will make your way If you do not show yours elf thus in
.
word and de ed how should you succeed even in your ,
own di stri ct or n eighborhood ?— Wh en you are afo ot l et ,
thes e two coun s els b e two companion s precedin g you ,
yours elf vi ewin g th em from b ehin d ; when you drive have ,
them in view as on th e yoke of your carriage Then may .
you make your way .
Tsz Ch an g wr ote th em on th e two ends of his cin cture

-
.
“
S tr ht was th e cours e of th e An n ali st Yu said the
Maste “
fi
a e str a ight as an arr ow fli es ; were th e coun try
y ,
,
well governe d or ill governed his was an arrow like ,

-
cours e .
A m an of masterly mind too is Ku Pih yuh !When the

“
-
, ,
lan d is bein g rightly governed h e will s erve ; when it is

under bad governm en t h e is apt to recoil and brood , .
“
Not to speak to a m an said h e to whom you ought, ,
“
to speak is to los e your man ; to sp eak to on e to whom you

,
ought not to speak is to lose your words Thos e who are .
”
Wise will not los e th eir m an nor yet th eir words
.
.
,
“
Again Th e scholar whose heart is in his work and who
, ,
is philan thropi c s eeks n ot to gain a li veli hood by any

,
mean s that wil l do harm to his philan thr opy There have .
been m en who have destroyed their own li ves in th e en

”
deavor to brin g that virtue in th em to p erfecti on .
Tsz kun g aske d how to become philan th ropic Th e Mas

-
.
“
ter an swered h im thu s : A workman who wants to do his
work well must first sharp en his tools In whatever land .
you live s erve un d er som e wi s e an d go od man among

,
thos e in h igh offi ce and make frien ds wi th th e more

,
humane of its m en of e ducation .
Yen Yu en con sul te d h im on th e man ag em en t of a coun

try He a nswered
.
“
Go by the HiaCalen dar Have the S tate carriages like.
th ose of th e Yin prin ces Wear th e Ch ow cap For your

. .
musi c l et that of S hun b e used for th e p osturers Put away .
th e son gs of Ch in g an d remove far fr om you m en of art

‘
ful sp eech : th e Ch In g songs are im modest an d artful ,
talk ers are dan gerous .
O
“
ther s ayin gs Of th e M aster
Th ey wh o ca re n ot for th e morrow wi l l th e soon er hav e
the“ir sorr ow ’
.
Ah tis hopeless ! I have n ot yet m et wi th the m an who

,
loves Virtu e as h e loves B eauty .
“
Was n ot Tsan g Wan like on e wh o surrepti ti ousl y cam e
by th e post h e held ? H e kn ew th e worth of m of L iu
hi a and could not stan d in his pre s en ce
, .
“
B e g en erous yours elf and exact li ttle from oth ers ; th en
,
you bani sh complain ts

. .
“
W i th one wh o doe s not come to m e in quirin g What of ‘
this ? and Wh at Of that ? I n ever can ask Wh at of this ?

’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’
an d give him up .
“
If a numb er of students are all day togeth er an d in ,
their conversati on n ever approach th e subj ect of right

eousness bu t are fon d m erely of givin g curren cy to smar t
,
little sayin gs they are difficult indee d to manage

,
.
“
When th e Sup erior m an re gards ri ghteousn ess as th e
‘ ’
thing material gives Operation to it accordin g to th e Rules

,
of Propriety lets it issu e in humility an d b ecome com

, ,
l ete in s in cerity— th ere in d e ed is you r sup eri or m an !

p “
Th e tr ouble of the sup eri or m an wil l be his own wa n t
of ability : it wil l be n o trouble to him that o th ers do not
know him .
“
S uch a man thinks it hard to end his days an d leave a
nam e to b e n o lon g er n am e d .
“
Th e sup eri or m an is exactin g of hi ms elf ; th e common
man is exactin g of oth ers .
“
A superior man has s elf resp ect and doe s not strive; is -
,
s ociable yet n o p arty man

,
.
He does n ot promote a m an b ecau se of his words or ,
”
pass over th e words be caus e of th e m an .
“
Tsz kun g put to him th e qu esti on Is there one word
-
,
”
upon which the whole life may proc eed?
“
Th e Master replie d Is n ot Reciprocity such a word?
,
— what you do not yourself desire do n ot put before ,
o th ers
.
S o far as I have to do with oth ers whom do I over ,
c en s ur e ? whom do I over prai s e ? If th ere b e somethin

g
-
in th em that looks very prais eworthy that something I ,
put to th e test I woul d hav e th e m en of th e pres ent day

.
to wal k in th e straigh t path whereby thos e of the Three

D yn asti es have walked .
“ ’
I have arrived as it were at th e ann ali st s blank page
— On ce h e who had a hors e would len d it to an other to
.
moun t ; n ow alas ! it is not so

, .
“
Artful Speech is the conf usion of Virtue Impatience .
o v er l i ttl e th in gs in trodu c es conf usi on in to g re at schemes .
“
What is disliked by th e mass es n eeds in quiri n g into; so
a lso do e s that whi ch th ey hav e a preferen ce for .
“
A m an may give breadth to h is prin ciples : it is not
prin ciples ( in th emsel ve s ) that give breadth to the man .
“
Not to retrac t after c ommi ttin g an error may itself be
c all e d error .
“
If I have passed th e whole day withou t food and the
whole night without sleep occupie d wi th my thoughts it
, ,
profits m e n othin g : I were better en gaged in learning

“
Th e superi or m an delib erates upon how h e may walk
in truth n ot upon wh at h e may eat Th e farm er may
,
.
pl ou gh and be on the way to wan t : th e studen t learns

, ,
an d is on h is way to emolum e n t To li ve a ri ght lif e is the

.
concern of m en of n obl er minds : poverty gives them none .
Whatsoe ver th e in tell ect may attain to unless the hu

“
,
mani ty wi th in is powerful enough to keep guard over it ,
i s assuredly l ost even though it b e gained

,
If th ere be in tellectu al attain ments and th e humanity ,
within is powerful en ough to keep guard over them yet , ,
unl ess ( in a ruler ) there b e di gni ty in his rul e the p eople ,
will fail to show him respect .
“
Again given th e in tellectual atta inm ents and hu
, ,
manity sufficien t to keep watch over and also di

g
nity in rulin g ye t if hi s mov em en ts b e not in accordan ce
,
wi th th e Rul e s of Propri ety he is not yet fully qual ified ,

.
“
Th e sup erior m an may n ot b e con versan t wi th p etty
details an d y et may have importan t matters put in to his
,
hands The inf eri or m an may n ot b e ch arge d wi th impor

.
tant matters yet may b e conversan t with th e p etty d etails

,
.
“
Goo d fellowship is more to m en than fire an d water I
-
.
have seen m en steppin g into fire an d into water and m eet ,
ing wi th d e ath th ereby ; I have not yet s een a m an di e

from plan tin g h is steps in th e path of good fel lowship -
.
“
Rely upon good n ature Twil l n ot all ow pre ced en ce
’
.
even to a teacher .
“
Th e sup eri or m an is inflexibly up ri ght and takes not ,
thi“ngs upon trust .
In s ervin g your prin c e make your s ervi ce th e s eri ous

,
concern and let salary b e a secondary matter

,
.
“
Where in str uction is to be given there must b e n o dis ,
tin“ction of p ers on s .
Where m en s methods are not iden tical there c an b e

’
no plann in g by on e o n b ehalf of an o th er .
“ ”
In speakin g p erspi cuity is all that is neede d
,
.
When th e blin d music master M ien paid him a vi si t on

“
-
,
his approachin g th e steps th e Master call ed out S teps ,
and on h is com in g to th e mat sa id Mat

”
When all in th e .
—
,
room w ere es at e d th e Mast er told h im S o an d S O is here -

,
,
”
so an d so is h ere
- -
.
When th e music master had left Tsz Chang ”sa“id to him

-
,
-
,
Is that th e way to speak to the music master? Well h e

”
“ -
,
”
it is c ertainl y th e way to assi st him
“
replied ,
.
B OO K XVI
Agains t I nt estine S trife— G ood and B ad Friendships
THE Chi ef of th e Ki family was abou t to make an ou

sl au h t u pon th e Chu en u doma in
g y
-
.
Yen Yu and Tsz lu in an intervi ew wi th Confucius told

-
him Th e Ki is about to have an affa ir wi th Chuen yu

,
-
.
“ ” “
Y en , sai d Confuciu s do es n ot th e fault lie with you?
,
Th e Chief of Chuen yu in tim es past was appoin ted lord

-
of th e E ast Mun g ( moun tain ); b es id es h e dwells within ,
th e confin e s of your own S

tate and is an official of the ,
S tate-worship ; how can you think of mak ing an onslaught

”
upon him ?
“ ”
It is th e wi sh of our Chi ef, said Yen Yu not the wish ,
of i th of us min ist s
e er
“
er .
Confucius said Yen th ere is a s en ten ce of Chain Jin

, ,
which run s thus : Havin g made man ife st th eir powers and
‘
taken their pl ace in the official li st when th ey fin d them ,
s elves in compe ten t they resign ; if they cann ot be firm

when danger threaten s th e govermnent nor lend support ,
when it is reelin g of what use then shall they b e as As

,
si stan ts? — B e s i des you are wron g in what ou said When

’ '
, y .
a rhin oceros or ti ger breaks out of its cage when a j ewel b
or tortoi s e shell orn amen t i s damaged in its casket— whose

-
fault is it?
“
But sa id Yen Yu so far as Chu en yu is c on cerned it
, ,
-
,
is now for tified an d it i s clos e to Pi ; an d if he do es not

,
now take it in an oth er g en erati on i t will c ertainly be a

,
”
troubl e to his des cen dan ts .
“
Yen ! excl aim e d Conf u ciu s i t is a painf ul thing to a ,
88
90 TH E W I SDO M OF CO N FU C I US
When
“
mpire is well ordere d the comm on people
the e -
,
will cease to discuss public matters .
“ “
For five generati ons he sai d th e rev enue has de
, ,
parted from the ducal hous ehold F our generations ago .
th e governm en t fell in to th e han ds of th e hi gh officials .
H ence al as !the straiten ed mean s of th e descen dants of the

,
three Hwan families .
“ ”
There are said h e three kin ds of fri en dships which
, ,
are profitable an d three whi ch are d etrim en tal To make

,
.
friends wi th th e upright wi th th e trustworthy wi th the , ,
exp erien ced is to gain b en efit ; to mak e frien ds with the

,
subtly pervers e with th e artft plian t wi th th e subtle in

, ,
”
speech is de trim en tal
,
.
“
Again There are three kin ds of pleasure which are
,
profitable an d three which are de trim en tal To take pleas

,
.
ure in goin g regul arly through th e various bran ches of

’
Ceremoni al an d Music in sp eakin g Of oth ers goodn ess in

, ,
havin g man y worthy wi s e friends is profitabl e To take ,

.
pleasure in wil d bold pleasure s in idlin g carelessly about , ,
in th e too jovi al accompanim en ts of feastin g i s detri ,
men tal .
“
Again Three errors th ere b e in to which they who wait
, ,
upon their superi or m ay fall : 1 ) to sp eak b efore th e op

ortrm it com e s to th em to sp eak whi ch I call heedl ess
p y ,
haste ; ( 2 )refrain in g from speakin g when th e opportunity

has com e which I call con c ealm en t ; and ( 8 ) sp eaking
, ,
”
regardle ss of th e mood h e is in whi ch I call bli n dn ess ,
.
“
Again Three things a superior S hould guard against
,
( 1 ) against the lu sts of th e flesh in his e arli er years while

th e vi tal power s are n ot fully d evelop ed an d fixed ; ( 2 )
agai n st th e spiri t of combativen ess when h e has come to
th e age of robust manhood an d when th e vital powers are
matured an d s trong and ( 3 ) again st ambitiou sness when
,
Ol d a e has com e on and th e vi tal powers have b ecome

g ”
weak and decayed .
Th ree thin gs als o such a m n greatly reveres 1) a
th e o d in an ces o f H av en ( 2 ) re at m en ( 3 ) words o f
r
g e , ,
sages The inferi or m n kn ows not th e ordinances of

. a
H eaven and the fo ve s them not is un duly familiar

re re re re ,
in th presence of g eat m en an d scoffs at th e w o ds Of

e r r
”
,
’
sa es .
Th y wh os eknowledge come s by birth are of all men

e
the first in un d erstan din g ; the y t o wh om i t com es by study

are n ext ; m en of poor in telectual capaci ty who
yet study , ,
may b e added as a yet in feri or class ; and lowest of all are

the“y who are p oor in in tellect and n ever learn ”
.
Nine thi ngs there are of wh ich th e sup eri or man should
be mindful z— to b e clear in vi si on qui ck in hearing genial , ,
in expression resp e ctful in d em ean o r true in word s eri ou s

, , ,
in du ty inqu irin g in doubt firmly s elf con tr olled in an er

, ,
-
,
just and fair when the way to succe ss op ens out be ore
him .
“
Some have spok n of looki ng upon goodness as upon e
‘
somethin g beyon d th i ach nd of looking upon evil as e r re

’
,
a
‘
like plunging on s hands in to scaldin g liqui d ; —I have

e
’ ’
seen th e m en I have heard th e sayin gs

,
.
“
Some again have talk ed of l iving in seclusion to
, ,
‘
work o ut their design s and of exercising th emselves in ,

’ ‘
ri ghteous li ving in ord er to ren d er th eir principles th e more

eflective ;— I h ave h e ar d th e sayin gs I have n ot seen th e
’
men .
D uke Kin of Ts I had his thousan d teams of four, yet

“
on th e day 0 his death th e pe ople had nothin to say of

his g oodness Peh I an d S huh Ts i starved at he foo t of
.
- -
‘
g
Shau yang, and the people make mention of them to this
-
day .
E en if not weal th thine object be ,

‘ ’
Tis all the same, thou rt chan ged to me

’ ’ ’
.
”
Is not this apropos in su ch cas es ?
92 TH E W I SD O M OF C O N FU C I US
Tsz k in asked of Pih yu Have you heard anything else
-
‘
-
,
peculiar from your father ? ”
Not yet said he Once thou gh he was standi ng alone

“
,
”
.
“
, ,
when I was hurryin g past h im over th e vestibul e and he ,
sai d Are you studyin g th e O des ? Not yet I r lied If

‘ ’ ‘ ’ ‘
.
, ,
ou do n o t l earn th e O d e s
‘
sa d h ou will n ot ave the

’
y i e
y , ,
wherewi thal for conversin g I turn ed away an d s tudi ed the .

’
O des An other day when h e was again stan din g alone and
.
,
I was hurryin g past acr oss th e vestibule h e said to me , ,

‘ ‘
Ar e you learnin g th e Rule s of Propri e ty? Not yet I re
’ ’
,
‘
pli ed If you have not studi e d the Rules
.
,
to stan d upon sai d he I turne d away and studied

,
’
.
Rul es — The se two thin gs I h ave h eard from him

”
.
“
Tsz k in turn ed awa y an d in great glee exclaimed I
‘
-
, ,
asked one thin g and have got thr ee I have learnt some
,
.
thin g about th e O des an d abou t th e Rule s and moreover , ,
I have learnt how th e sup erior m an will turn away his own
son .
of th e ruler of a S tate is called by her husband

Th e wife
” “
My helpmeet She speaks of hers elf as Your littl e hand
.
mai den The people of th at S tate cal l her The prince s

“ ’
.
helpmeet but addressing p erson s of an other S tate they

”
,
speak of h er as Our li ttle prin cess When persons of an

“ ”
.
“
other S tate n am e h er they say also Your prince s help
’
m eet .
94 TH E W I SD O M OF C O N FU C I U S
heard you say L et th e superi or man learn right prin ciples
,
‘
an d h e will b e lovin g to oth er m en ; l et th e o rdin ary p erson

’
learn ri ght prin ciples and he will b e easily man aged ,

.
“
Th e Master ( tu rnin g to hi s di sciple s ) sai d S irs what , ,
he says is right : what I said j ust n ow was only in play .
Havin g received an invi tation from Kun g shan Fuh jau - -

,
who was in revolt again st th e governmen t and was holding

to his di stri ct of Pi th e Master Showe d an inclin ation to go
, .
“
Tsz ln was avers e to this and said You can n ever go
-
, , ,
that is c ertain ; h ow Shoul d you feel you must go to that

”
erson ?
“
Well said th e Master h e who has invi ted m e must
”
, ,
‘
surely not have done so wi thout a suffi cient reason !And if

it shoul d happ en that my s ervi ce s were en liste d I might ,
create for him an other E ast Chow— don t you think so? ” ’
Tsz Chan g asked C onfucius abou t th e virtu e of philan

-
“
thropy His an sw er was It i s th e bein g able to put in prac
.
,
tice five qualities in any place under th e sun

,
.
“ ”
May I ask ple as e what th es e are? said the disciple
, ,
.
“ ” “
Th ey are h e said dig ri ty in dulgen ce fai thfulness
, , , , ,
e a rn e stn e ss kin dn ess If you Show di gnity you will n ot be

, .
mocked ; if you are in dulgent you will win the multitude;

if fai thful m en will place th eir trust in you ; if e arnest you
, ,
will do som e thin g m eri tori ous ; and if kin d you will be en ,
’
abl ed to avail yourself amply of m en s s ervi ces .
Pih Hih s en t the Master an in vi tati on an d he showed an ,
in clin ati on to go .
Tsz lu ( s e eing thi s ) said to him I n form er days sir I

-
, , ,
have he ard you say A superi or m an will not enter the ,

‘
society of one who does not that which is good in matters

’
con cerning himself ; and this m an is in revolt wi th Chung ,
mau in his possession ; if you go to him how will th e case ,

”
stan d ?
“ “
Yes sai d th e Master thos e are in dee d my words ; but
, ,
i s it n ot sa id What is hard may b e rubb ed wi th out being

‘
,
made thin and White may be stained wi thout bein g

’ ‘
made black ? —I am surely n ot a gourd ! How am I to b e

’
strun g up like that kind of thin g— and live without

mean s ?
“
Tsz lu sai d th e Master you hav e heard of th e six
-
, ,
words wi th their six Obfuscations ?

“
N 0 sai d he no t so far
, , .
S it down an d I will tel l you them They are the s e six

, .
vrtues care d for without care for any study about them
i—philan thropy wisdom faithfulness straightforwardness
,
, , , ,
courage firmness An d th e six Obfuscation s resultin g from

, .
n ot likin g to l ea rn about th em are resp ectiv ely th es e , ,
fatuity m en tal dissipati on mischievousness perversity

, , , ,
subordin ation impe tuosity , .
“
My chil dren said h e once why does no one of you
, ,
study the O de s ?— They are adapted to rous e th e mind to ,
assist obs ervation to make p eople sociable to a rou se vir, ,
tuous in dignati on Th ey spe ak Of duti e s n ea r and f ar— th e

.
duty of ministerin g to a paren t th e du ty of servin g one s ,
prin ce; and it is from them that one b ecom e s conversant

with th e n am es of man y birds and b easts and plan ts and , , ,
trees .
To his son Pih yu h e said S tudy you th e O des of Chow

-
,
and th e S ou th an d thos e of S h au and the S outh The m an

,
.
who s tudie s not these is I should say som ewhat in the , ,

”
position Of one who stan ds facin g a wall !
’ ‘ ’
E ti qu e tte dem an ds it E ti que tte d eman ds it SO
‘
.
,
” “
people plead sai d h e ; but do not thes e hankerings after
,
‘
j ewels and s ilks in deed deman d it? Or it is The study of ,
Music req uire s it —Music require s it ; but d o n ot the se

’ ‘ ’
”
predilecti on s for bells an d drums require it?
“
Again Th ey who assum e an outward appe arance of
,
severi ty bein g inwardly we ak may b e likened to low com

, ,
mon m en ; nay are th ey not somewhat like thieve s that

,
”
break through wall s an d steal?
96 W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I U S
TH E
“
Agai n Th e plebei an kind of respe ct for piety is the
,
very p est of vi rtue .
—
“
Again Listenin g on th e road an d repeatin g in the
, ,
”
lan e thi s is aban donmen t of virtue .
“ ”
Ah th e low min ded creatures ! he exclaim ed How is
,
-
.
it poss ibl e in d ee d to s erve on e s prin ce in their company?

’
B efore th ey h ave got what they wan ted they are all
anxi ety to get it an d after they have got it they are all
,
amn et l e st th e shoul d lose it ; an d while th ey are thus full

'
y y
of con cern lest th ey shoul d los e it there is no length to ,
”
whi ch they will not go .
Again In ol den tim es p eople had three moral in

,
firmi ties; wh ich it m ay be are n ow un kn own Am bitious

, , .
n e ss in thos e ol d en days showe d its elf in mom en tary out
burst ; the ambiti ousn ess of to day run s ri ot Austerity in -

.
thos e day s had its Sharp an gles ; in the se it is irri table and
p ervers e Feeblen ess of intell ect th en was at least straight
.
forward ; in our day it is n ever au ght but deceitful .
“
Again Rarely do we fin d mutual good feelin g where
,
there is fin e sp eech and stu di ed mien

“
.
Again To m e it is abhorrent that purple color should

,
be mad e to d e tract from that of vermilion Also that the .
O des of Ch in g should be allowed to introduce discord in

‘
conn ection wi th th e mus ic of th e Festal S ongs an d Hymns .
Also that sharp whetted tongues should b e permi tted to

-
”
subvert govern men ts .
On ce” sai d h e Would that I coul d dispen se with

“
,
speech !
S ir sai d Tsz kun g if you were n ever to sp eak what
” “
-
, , ,
”
shoul d your pupils have to hand down from you?
“ ” “
Do e s H eaven ever sp eak ? sai d th e Master The four .
s eason s come and go an d all creatures live an d grow Does

,
.
”
H eaven in dee d sp eak?
Once Ju Pi desired an interview wi th Conf ucius from ,
an d are without anything to apply their min ds to ! Are
th ere no dice an d chess players? Be tter perhaps join in , ,
that pursui t than do n othin g at all !

“
D o es a g en tleman asked Tsz ln make much account
,
-
,
of “bravery? ”
“
Righteousne ss h e coun ts hi gher sai d th e Master A , .
gentleman who is brave without b ein g just m ay become

turbulen t ; while a common person who is brave and not
”
just may end in becoming a highwayman .
“
Tsz kun g asked I suppose a gen tleman will have his
-
,
”
aversion s as well as his likin gs ?
“ ” “
Yes repli ed th e Master h e will dislike th os e who talk
, ,
much about other p eople s ill deeds He will dislike those ’

-
.
who when occupying inf eri or places utter defamatory

, ,
words again st their sup eriors He will di sli ke those who .

,
though they may be brave have no regard for propriety , .
An d h e will dislik e thos e hastily d ecisive an d venturesome

spirits who are n evertheless so hampered by limited in
tell ect .
“
And you too Tsz ku ng he con tinued have your
, ,
-
, ,
“
”
aversion s have you not? ,
“ ”
I di slike said he thos e plagiarists who wish to pass
, ,
for wis e p erson s I dislike thos e p eople wh o wi sh their lack

.
of humility to be taken for bravery I dislike also those .
divulgers of s ecrets who think to b e accoun ted straight

forward .
“
Of all others said the Master women s ervants and
, ,
-
men s ervan ts are the most di fficult p eople to have th e care

-
of App roach them in a fam iliar m

. anner an d they ”take ,
liberties ; keep them at a distan ce an d they grumble ,

.
Again When a man mee ts with o dium at forty he will

“
, ,
do s o to the end ”
.
B OO K XVIII
Good Men in S eclusiom —
Duke of Chow to His S on
“
I N th e rei
g“n of the
last kin g of the Yin dynasty ,
”
fucius said th ere were three m en of philan thrOpic spiri t

,
—th e Vi sc ount of Wei who wi thd rew from him ; th e vis

,
coun t Of Ki who b ecam e hi s bon dsman ; and Pi—kan who

, ,
re rove d h im and suffere d de a th

p“ .
k i of Lin hia who fille d th e office of Chi ef Crimin al

-
,
Judge was thrice di smi sse d A p ers on rem arked to him

, .
,
“
Can y ou n ot yet b ear to wi thdraw? He repl ied If I act
” “
,
in a straigh tforward way in s ervin g men whi th er in th e s e ,
days should I go where I should n ot be thrice dismissed?

,
Were I to adopt crooke d ways in their s ervice why n eed ,

”
I leave th e lan d where my parents dwell ?
Duk e Kin g of Ts i rem arked respectin his atti tud e to
‘
“
wards C onfucius If he is to be treated ike th e Chief of
,
th e Ki fam il y I cann o t d o it I should treat him as some

, .
where betwe en the Ki and Man g Chiefs —I am old he ”

,
”
adde d an d n ot competen t to avail mys elf of him
,
“
.
Conf uciu s h earin g of this wen t away

, , .
Th e Ts i offi ci als p resen te d to th e Court of Lu a number

‘
of female musicians Ki Hwan accepted them and for .

,
three days no Court was held .
madman of Ts u was on ce passing Con

‘
Tsieh yu, th e
-
1
,
in cius sin gin g as he wen t alon g He sang

,
.
‘
He only pr tended
e m be mad in ord er to escape being employed
th e p ub lic serm e . 1
100 TH E W I SDO M O F C O N FU C I US
“
Ha the phcenix ! Ha, the ph oenix!
,
How is Virtue lyin prone !

Vain to chide for w at is o er ’
Pl an to m eet wh at s yet in store

’
.
L et al one ! L et al on e !
Risky n ow to ser e a throne v .
Conf ucius alighted wi shin g to en ter in to c nversati n

,
o o
wi th h im ; b ut th e m an h urri ed alon g an d left him and ,
he was therefore un able to get a word with him .
Ch an g tsu an d Kieh n ih were workin g together on

‘
- 2 -
som e plou he d l an d Confucius was pass in g by th em and

g .
,
sent Tsz lu to ask wh ere th e ford was

-
.
Ch an g tsir said , Wh o is th e p erson dr iving the car

‘ “ '
”
t inge?
“
C onfucius an swered Tsz lu ,
-
.
“ ”
H e of Lu ? h e asked .
Th e s am e sa id Tsz lu
‘
-
.
,
“
H e knows th en where th e ford is said h e , .
-
q
Tsz lu th en put his uestion to Kieh nih ; and the latter -
asked Who are you?

“
,
Tsz lu gave his n am e

-
.
“ ”
You are a follower of Conf ucius of Lu are you not? ,
“ ”
You are ri ght h e an swered ,
.
“
Ah , as thes e waters ris e an d overflow their bounds,
sai d h e, ti s so wi th all throu ghout th e emp ire; and wh
’
o
is h e th at can alter th e state of thin gs ? An d you are a fol
lower of a learn ed m an who wi thdraws from his chief;
had you n ot b etter be a follower of su ch as hav e forsaken
”
th e world ? An d h e wen t on wi th his harrowing wi thout ,
stoppin g .
Tsz ln wen t and in form ed his Master f all this He was

-
o .
“
deepl y touched , and said , One cannot herd on e ual terms q
wi th beasts an d birds : if I am n ot to live among thes e hu
m an folk then wi th whom els e Shoul d I live? Only when
,
’
Two worthi es wh o had ab andoned
p ublic life, wing
o to the f
state o
th e ti mes .
from their high re solve n or soiled th emselves by aught of
fk of Liu—hiaand Shau lien if one may say that

i -
,
did d eclin e from high resolve an d that they did bring ,
d isgrace upon thems elves yet their words were consonant ,
wi th e stabli she d principles and their acti on consonant ,
with m en s thoughts and wishes ; and this is al l that may

’
b e said of th em .
“
Of Yu chun g an d I yih if it be said that when they re
- -
,
ti red into privacy they l et loos e their tongues yet in their ,
aim at p ers onal purity of lif e they succ eeded and their ,
defe tion was also successful in its influence

c
.
“
My own rul e is diff eren t from any adopted by these
I will take no liberties I will have no curtai lin g of my
,
”
liberty .
Th e chief m us ic master wen t off to Ts I Kan the con

-
.
,
ductor of th e music at th e second repast went over to ,

‘
Ts u L iau con ductor at the th ird repas t went over to
.
, ,
Ts ai And Kiueh who conducted at the fourth went to

‘
.
, ,
Ts in
‘
Fan g shuh the drummer withdrew in to th e neighbor

-
, ,
hood of th e Ho Wu th e tambourer went to th e Han And

. .
Yan g th e junior music master and S iang who played on

-
,
the musi cal stone wen t to th e sea coast ,

-
.
An cien tly th e Duke of Chow addressin g his son the ,

“
Duke of Lu said A go od m an in high place is not in
, ,
differen t about th e m embers of his own family and does ,
n ot giv e occa sion to th e chief m ini sters to complain that

they are n ot employe d ; n or wi thout great caus e will he set
aside old friendships ; n or does he s eek for full equipment
for every kin d of s ervi ce in any s in gl e m an .
There were onc e eight Officials during this Chow dy

n asty who were fou r pa irs of twin s all broth ers— the eld
, ,
est pair Tah an d Kw oh th e n ext Tuh and k h the third

, ,
Yé and Hia th e young est S ui and Kwa

, .
B OO K XIX
Teac hings o f Various Chief Disciples
“ ” “
TH E learned official sai d Tsz Chan g who when h e ,
-
,
sees dan g er ahead will ri sk his very l if e who when h e s ee s ,
a chance of success is min dful of what is ju st and prop er ,
who in his religious acts is mindf ul of th e duty of rever

ence an d wh en in mourn in g thinks of his loss is in d eed a
, ,
fit and prop er p er son for his place .
Again h e said If a person hold to virtue but n ever ad

,
“
vance in it an d if he have fai th in right prin ciples an d d o

,
not build hims elf up in th em how can h e b e re gard ed ,
either as havin g such o r as b ein g wi thout th em ?

’
Tsz hi as di sciple s asked Tsz Chan g h is vi ews about in

’
- -
tercour se wi th o th ers What says your Master? h e re

.
“ ”
joined H e says they repl ied Associate with those wh o

.
“
,
”
,
‘
’
are
q ual ified an d rep el from you such as are n ot
, Tsz .
“
ehan th en sa i d That is di ff eren t from what I hav e learn t
g , .
A superi or m an esteems the worthy an d wis e and bears ,
with all He makes much of the good and capable and

.
,
pities the in capable Am I eminen tly worthy an d wi s e?

.
who is there th en amon g men whom I will not bear with?

Am I n ot worthy and wiseP— others wi ll b e min ded to
”
rep el m e : I hav e n oth in g to do wi th rep ellin g th em .
S“ayings of Tsz hi a: -
Even in inf erior pur sui ts there must b e som ethin g

worthy of con templati on but if carried to an extreme th ere ,
is dan ger of fan ati cism ; hen c e the sup erior man do e s not
engage in th em .
“
Th e stu d en t who da ily re co gni ze s how much he y et
103
104 W I SDO M OF C O N FU C I U S
TH E
lacks and as th e mon ths pass forgets n ot what h e has suc

,
c ee ded in learnin g may un doubte dly b e call ed a lover of

,
learning .
“
Wide res earch and ste adf ast purpos e eager question ,
ing an d clos e reflection— all thi s ten ds to humani ze a man .
“
As workmen sp end their tim e in their workshops for
th e p erfe ctin g of their work so superi or m en apply their ,
min ds to study in order to make themselves thoroughly

conversan t with their subj ects .
“
When an inferior m an doe s a wrong thin g he is sure to ,
gloss it over .
“
Th e sup erior m an is s een in three different aspects
look at him from a distance h e is im posing in appearance; ,
approach him h e is gentle and war m hearted ; hear him

,
-
speak he is acute an d strict

,
.
“
L et such a m an have th e p eople s confidence and he
’
wi ll get much work out of th em ; so lon g however as he , ,
does n ot possess their confidence they will regard him as

gri“n din g them down .
When confidence is reposed in him he may then with ,
impuni ty administer reproof; so lon g as i t is not he will be ,
re gard ed as a d e tr actor .
“
Where there is n o over steppin g of barriers in the prac -
ti c e of th e higher virtue s there may b e freedom to pass in

,
”
an d out in th e p racti ce of th e lower on es .
“
Tsz yu had said Th e pupil s in th e school of Tsz hiaare
-
,
-
good en ough at such thin gs as sprinlding and scrubbing

floors answering calls an d replying to que stions from su
,
eriors an d advan cin g an d re tirin g to an d from such ; but

p ,
these thin gs are only offshoots— as to the root of things

they are n owhere What is th e use of all that?
.
”
Wh en thi s cam e to th e ears of Tsz hia h e said Ah!

“
-
, ,
there h e i s mi staken What doe s a master in his methods

.
,
of teaching consider first in his precepts ? And what does

,
he accoun t next as that about whi ch h e may b e indiffer

,
su perior man is averse from s ettlin g in thi s sin k in to which ,
e very thin g run s that i s foul in th e emp ire .
Again h e sai d F aults in a sup erior m an are li ke eclipses

“
,
o f th e sun or moon : wh en h e i s gu il ty of a trespass m en all

”
see it ; an d when h e is hims elf aga in all look u
p to him , .
Kun g sun Ch au of Wei inquired of Tsz k ung how Con

-
‘
-
fucius acquire d h is lea rn in g .
Tsz kun g repli ed The teachin gs of Wan and Wu have

“
-
,
n ot et fall en to th e groun d Th ey exi st in m en Worth

y y . .
a n d wi s e m en hav e th e more importan t of th es e stored u

p
in their min ds ; and oth ers wh o are n ot such store up the , ,
less importan t of them ; and as n o one is thus Wi thout the

te achin gs of Wan and Wu how should our Master not ,
have learned? And moreover what perman ent preceptor

”
c ould h e have?
S huh sun Wu shuh addr essin g th e hi gh officials at the

- -
,
Court remar ke d that Tsz kun g was a greater worthy than

,
-
Confucius .
Tsz f ub Kin g pih wen t an d informed Tsz ki mg of this

- - -
remark .
“
Tsz kun g said Tak e by way of comparison th e walls
-
,
o u ts ide our hous es My wall is shoulder high an d you may

.
-
,
look over it and see what the h ous e an d its contents are
worth My Master s wall is tens of feet hi gh and unl ess you
.
’
should effe ct an en tran c e by th e door

you would fail to be ,
hold th e beauty of the an cestral hall and th e ri ch array of

all its officers And they who eff ect an en tran ce by the
.
d oor methin ks are few !Was it n ot however just lik e him

, , , ,
— that remark of th e Chief? ”
Shuh sun Wu shuh had been castin g a slur on the char

- -
acter of Confuciu s .
“ ” “
No use doin g that said Tsz ki mg ; h e is irreproach ,
-
able The Wi sdom an d worth of oth er m en are little hills

.
an d moun ds of earth : traversib l e H e is th e sun or the .

,
m o on im poss ible to reach and pass A n d wha t harm I ask

, .
, ,
can a man do to th e sun or the m oon by wi shing to inter ,
cept him s elf fr om ei th er? It all shows that he kn ows not
how to gaug e capacity .
“
Tsz k in add re ss in g Tsz k un g sai d
‘
-
,
-
You depreciate
, ,
yours elf Confucius is surely not a greater worthy than

.
yours elf .
Tsz kun g replie d In th e use of m rds on e ought never

-
,
.
to b e in cauti ous ; b ecaus e a g en tlem an f or one s in gle utt er

an c e of h is i s apt to b e con s id ere d a wis e m an an d for a ,
.
single u tteranc e may b e accoun ted unwise NO more might .
on e th in k of atta in in g to th e Mast er s p erfec tion s than
think of goin g u pstairs to H eaven ! Were it ever his for

tun e to b e at th e he ad of th e governm en t of a coun try ,
then that which is sp oken of as establishin g the coun try

‘ ’
would b e establishmen t in d eed ; he would b e its guide and

it would follow h im h e would tran quillize it an d it would
,
ren der its wi ll in g homage : h e would g ive forward impuls e s

to it to which it would harmoni ously respon d In his li fe h e .
would be its glory at his d eath there would b e gre at” lam
,
cntati on H ow in deed could such as h e b e equall ed ?

.
B OO K XX
Extracts from the Book f History
o
THE Emperor Yau sai d t oS

hun , Ah, upon y u, up n your “
o o
person, lies the H eaven appointed order of succession!
-
F aith full
y hol d to i t wi thout an
y
, d eflecti on ; for if within
th e four s e as n ec essity an d want bef all th e p eople your ,

”
own r even u e wil l fo rever com e to an en d .
S
hunal so us ed th e same lan guage in handing down the
appoin tmen t to Yu .
“
Th e Emp eror T an g in his prayer, said , I , the chil d Li,
‘
presum e to avail me of an ox of du sky hue and presume to ,
manif estly ann ounce to Thee God th e most high and

, O ,
S overei gn Poten tate that to th e tran sgressor I dare not

,
gran t forgiveness, n or yet keep in abeyan ce Thy ministers .
Judgmen t rests in Th ine heart God hould we ourself , O . S '
tran sgre ss may th e guilt n ot b e visited cv

,
all . S
hould th e p eople all tran sgress b e th e
”
upon our ,
s elf !
Chow poss ess e d great gifts b y which th e able an d good
,
were richly endowed .
“
Although said Kin g Wu h e is surroun ded by his near
”
,
“
,
re lati ve s th e are n o t to b e comp ared wi th m en of humane

,y
sp iri t Th e p e opl e are sufferin g wr on gs an d th e remedy
.
,
rests wi th m e — th e on e m an .
After Wu had given dilig ent attenti on to the various

wei ghts an d measures examin ed th e laws and regulations
, ,
an d restore d th e d egrad ed official s good government ,
ev erywhere en sued .
look— his appearan ce be so imposin g that the p eople look
up to an d stand in awe of hi m I s n ot thi s moreover to Show
,
”
maj esty wi thout fierceness?
‘
W hat then do you call th e four evil s ? said Tsz Chan

, ,
-
“
The an swer here was Omittin g to instruct th e pe0 p e
an d th en infli ctin g cap i tal pun i shm en t on them— whi ch
mean s cruel tyrann y Omi tti ng to give them warning and

.
et lookin g for p erfecti on in th em— whi ch m ean s O

y ppres
s ion B eing slow an d late in issuin g requi sition s an d exact
.
,
in g strict pun ctuali ty in th e re turn s— which m ean s rob

b ery An d likewi s e in in tercourse wi th m en to exp end
.
, ,
an d to rec eive in a stin gy manner— whi ch is to act the
par t of a m ere commission er .
None can b e a superior m an said th e Master

, ,
does n ot recogni ze th e decrees of H eaven .
“
None can h ave stabili ty in him wi th out a knowledge of
the propri e tie s .
“
None can know a man wi thout knowin g hi s utterance s .
114 TH E S A YI N G S OF M E N C I US
access to th e highest of the land Th e Chinese believed In
.
th e divin e right of learning just as th ey b elieved in the

,
divine ight of kin gs Mang employed every weapon of

r
.
persuasi on in tryin g to combat heresy and oppression;

alternately ridiculing and reproving : now appealing in a
bur st of moral enthusiasm and now denoun cing in terms
,
of cuttin g sarcasm th e abus es whi ch after all he failed to

check Th e last prin ce whom he successfully confronted
.
was th e Marqui s of Lu who turn ed him carelessly away

, .
He accepte d thi s as th e Divine s en ten ce of his failure ,

“
That I have not foun d In thi s marquis a ruler who would
,
”
hearken to m e is an intim ation of heaven H enceforth he
.
live d in retiremen t un ti l his nin ety s eventh y ear; but from

-
his apparen t fa ilure spran g a practical success His written

.
teachin gs are amongst th e most lively and epigrammatic

works of Chinese literature have done much to keep alive
,
amon gst his countrym en the spiri t of Confucianism and ,
even Western read ers m a drink wi sdom from th is spring

y
of Oriental l ore The followin g selecti ons from his sayings
.
well exhibit the spirit of his system of philos ophy and

morality . E W . .
B OO K I
King k y f
o L eang
PART I
M
“
EN CI US w en t to see Kin g k
y o f L ea n g
1
Th e kin g sai d .
,
Venerable S ir s in c e you have not coun ted it far to co me

,
here a di stance of a thousand li may I presum e th at you ,
are likewi s e p rovi d e d wi th coun s els t o p ro fit my kin g
dom ? M en cius replied Why must your Maj esty use

” “
,
that word profit ? What I am likewis e provided wi th are

‘ ’
coun s els to benevolen ce and righteousness ; an d these are

my only topi cs .
If your Maj esty say What is to b e done to profit my

“ ‘
kin gdom ? the gre at Officers will say W hat is to b e don e to

’
profit our familie s ? and th e inferi or officers an d th e com

’
mon people will say What is to b e done to profit our per

‘
son s ? S up eri ors an d inf eri o rs will tr to take th e profit th e

’
y
on e from th e oth er an d th e kin gdom will b e en dan gere d
,
.
In the kingdom of ten thousan d cha riots th e murderer ,
of his ruler will b e the chief of a family of a thousand

chario ts In th e S tate of a thousan d cha ri ots th e mur d erer
.
,
of h is ruler w ill b e th e ch ief of a family o f a hun dred
chari ots To hav e a thousan d in ten thou san d an d a hun

. ,
dred in a thousan d cann ot b e re garded as not a large al

,
The ti tle of th is book in —“

of L e an ; in ch a
Chin ese is Kin
k y g
”
and sentences L ik e the Book s of th e Co uci an An al ects, those 0 this
.
work are h eaded by two or three words at or near the commencem ent of
v
them E ach Book is d i ided into two p arts Th is arrangement w as m ade by
v
. .
Ch aou K e, and to h im are due also the di ision s into ch apters and sen
‘ '
tenoes, or paragraph s containi ng , it m ay b e, many sentences

, .
1 15
116 TH E S A YI N G S O F M E N C I US
Iowa nce ; but if righteousn ess b e put last an d profit first,
th will not be satisfied wi thout sn atchin g all
Z
.
h ere n ever was a m an train ed to b en evol ence who

parents Th ere n ever was a m an trained to
.
n e ss who mad e h is ruler an aft er con s id erati on .
Let your Maj es ty lik ewis e make b enevolen ce an d ri ght

eou sn ess your only th em es —Why must you sp eak of
”
pr ofit ?
Wh en M en cius an other day was s eein g Kin g k
, y of ,
Lean g th e Kin g wen t an d stood wi th him by a pond and

, , ,
lo oki n g roun d on th e wild gee s e and d eer large an d small , ,

“
sai d , DO wis e and good prin ces also tak e pl easure in these
” “
things ? M en cius repli ed B ein g wi s e and good th ey then
, ,
have pleasure in th es e thin gs If th ey are n ot wise and .
goo d thou gh th ey have th es e thin gs they do not find

, ,
ph asure It I s sai d In th e Book of Po e try :

‘ ’
.
‘
Wh en he pl anned the commencement of the M arvell ous tower ,
He pl ann ed it and defin ed it

, ,
And th e people In crowds undertook th e work ,

And In no ti m e compl eted it .
When he pl ann ed the comm encement he said Be , ,

n ot in a hurry .
But th e pe0 ple c am e as if th ey were his children .
km was in th e M ar ell ous park v

sfi i
n ,
W e t e does were lyin g down

The does so sleek and fat ;
With th e whi te b irds gli stenin g .
The king was b y the M ar ell ous pond ; v

l ow full was it of fish es l eapin g ab out!
’
King Wan us ed th e stren gth of th e people to make his

tower an d pon d and th e p eopl e rejoi c ed to do th e work
, ,
call in g th e tower th e Marv ellous Tower

‘ ’
an d th e pond ,
‘
th e M ar vell ous Pon d and bein g glad that h e had his deer
, ,
his fish es an d turtl es Th e an cien ts caus ed th eir p eopl e to

.
have pleasure as well as th ems elves an d therefore they ,
c oul d en oy i t
“
j .
In th e De clarati on of T ang it is s ai d 0 Sun when wil t

‘ ‘
, ,
118 TH E S A YI N G S or M E N C I US
wood than can be used this enables th e people to nourish
,
their li vin g and do all offi ces for their d e ad wi thout any ,
feeling against any But this condition in which the p eopl e

.
,
n ourish th eir livin g an d do all offic e s to th eir d ead wi thout

,
havin g any feelin g again st any is th e first step in the Royal ,
wa
I
“
st mulberry trees b e plante d about th e hom esteads
e
wi th their five acres and person s of fifty years will be able

,
to wear silk In ke eping fowl s pigs dogs and swine let

.
, , , ,
no t th eir tim e of b reedin g b e n egl ecte d an d p erson s of ,
seven ty year s will b e able to eat fle sh Let there not be .
tak en away th e tim e that is proper for th e cultivati on of

-
th e field a ll otm en t of a hun dred acre s an d th e family of ,
several mou ths will n o t s uff e r from hun g er L et c ar eful at .
tention b e paid to th e teachin g in th e vari ous school s with ,
rep e at ed in cul cation of th e filial an d frat ern al duties an d ,
gray haired m en will not b e s een upon th e r oads carrying

-
,
burden s on th eir backs or on their heads It has n ever been .
that th e ruler of a S tate wh ere th e s e results were s een ,
persons of s even ty wearin g sil k an d e atin g flesh an d th e ,
black haired p eople sufferin g n ei ther from hunger nor

-
co ld di d n ot attain to th e R oyal di gnity

, .
“
Your dogs and swm e eat th e food of men and you do ,
not kn ow to store up of th e abun dan ce There are p e opl e .
dying fr om famin e on th e roads an d you do not know to ,
is su e y our store s for their relI ef Wh en m en die you say .

, ,
"
It I s n ot owin g to m e ; it I s owin g to th e year In what does ’
'
this differ from stabbing a m an an d killin g him an d then ,

‘ ”
saying It was n o t I ; i t was th e weapo n ? Let your Maj esty
,
ceas e to l a th e blam e on th e yea r and in stantly the p eople

y ,
all under th e sky will come to you

, .
“
Kin g k y of Leang said I wish ie to receive
qu
your instructi ons M encius replied Is th ere any dif
.
tly ,
“
‘
ference b e tween killing a m an with a stick and wi th a

“ ” ”
sword ? Th ere I s no diff eren ce was th e an swer ,
.
TH E S A YI N G S or M E N C I US 119
“
M en cius con tinued Is there any diff erence b etween ,
d oin g it wi th a sword an d with governmental m easures? ”
“
Th ere is n ot was th e an swer again
, .
M en cius then sai d In your stalls there are fat b easts ; ,
in your stables there are fat hors es But your pe ople have .
th e look of hun g er an d in th e fields th ere are thos e wh o

,
have died of famin e Thi s is leadin g on b easts to d evour .
m en B easts d evour on e an other and m en hate th em for

.
,
doin g so When he who is calle d th e paren t of th e people

.
conducts his governm en t so as to b e chargeable with lead

ing on b easts to d evour m en where i s that pa ren tal rela ,
ti on to th e p eople? Chun g ne sai d Was he n ot wi thout -

,
‘
posteri ty who first made wooden images to bury with th e

dead ? S o h e said becaus e that m an made th e s emblan ces
’
of m en an d us ed th em for that purpose ; what shall b”e

thought of him who caus es his people to die of hun g er?
Kin g k y o f L ean g sai d
“
Th ere was n o t in th e kin g ,
dom a stron ger S tate than Ts in as you venerable S ir ‘
, , ,
know But s in c e it d e scen d ed to m e on th e e ast we were

.
,
,
defeated by Ts e and then my elde st son peri shed ; on th e

‘
,
‘
west we lost s even hun dred li of territory to Ts in ; and on
the s outh we have sustain ed d isgrac e at th e han ds of Ts o o
‘
.
I have brought sham e on my departed predecessors and ,
wish on their accoun t to wipe i t away once for all What ”

.
cours e is to b e pursue d to accomplish this ?

M en cius replie d With a terri tory only a hun dred li
“
,
square it has b een possible to obtain th e Royal di gni ty If .
your Maj esty will in deed dispen se a benevolen t govem

ment to th e p eo ple bein g sparin g in th e use of punish ,
men ts and fin es an d making th e taxes an d levi es of prod

,
uce li ght so caus in g that th e fields shall b e ploughed

,
deep and th e weedin g well attend ed to and that the able

, ,
bodied during their days of leisure shall cultivate th eir

, ,
fili al piety fratern al duty faithfulness and truth s ervin g

, , , ,
thereby at home their fathers and elder broth ers an d

, , , ,
abroad their elders and sup eriors you will then have a
, ,
people who can be employed wi th sti cks which th ey have

prepared to oppose th e stron g buff coats and sharp weap -
ons of th e troops of Ts in an d Ts oo
‘ ‘
The rulers of thos e S tates rob th eir p eople of their time

“
,
so that they cannot plough and weed their fields in order

to support their parents Parents suffer from cold and hun .
er; elder an d y oun g er br oth ers wi v es an d children are

g , ,
se arated an d scattered abr oad Th os e rul ers drive th eir

p .
people into pitfalls or in to th e wat er; an d your Maj esty will

go to puni sh them In such a case who will oppose your.
,
Maj esty? In accordan ce wi th this is th e saying The be ,

‘
nevolent has n o en emy l I b eg y our Maj esty n ot to doubt

’
what I said .
M enci us had an intervi ew wi th King S eang of Leang

2
.
When h e came out he said to some pers ons When I “

,
looked at him from a distan ce h e did not appear like a ,
rul er; wh en I drew n ear to him I saw nothing ven erable ,
about him Abruptly he asked m e How can th e kingdom ‘

'
.
, ,
all under the sky b e s ettled ? I replied It will be settled

,
’
,
‘
’
by being united under one sway .
Wh o can so unite it? h e asked

‘ ’
“
I replied H e who h as n o pleasure in killin g men can
,
‘
’
so unit e i t .
W ho can give it to him ? h e asked ’

.
“
I repli ed All un der heaven wil l give i t to him Does
‘
.
,
your Maj esty know th e way of th e growing grain? During

the s eventh an d ei ghth mon ths when drought prevails , ,
the plan ts becom e dry Then th e clouds collect densely in

”
Seang was th e son of Ki ng k y The first year of his reign is sup .
osed to b e n o 3 17 S é an s n am e was Hih As a

posthu"mo“us epithet,
’
p v g “ . . .
eang has arious mean in s : L and enl ar ger and Virtuous ; S uccessful -
v
in Arms Th e inter iew ere recorded seems to ha e tak en place im
. v
mediat
e
af ter Hih s accession, and M encius, it is sai d. was so disa
’
p
pointed y it that he soon af ter l eft th e country .
122 THE S A YI N G S or M E N C I US
“
but th e king said How can that b e omitted ? Change it
,
”
for a sheep I do n ot kn ow whether this incident oc
.
”
curred .
“
“
It did sai d th e kin g and M en cius replied The heart
, , ,
seen in this is sufficien t to carry you to the Royal sway The .
p eopl e all supposed that your Maj e sty grudged the animal ,
but y our s ervan t lm ows surely that it was your Maj esty s
’
not b ein g able to b ear th e s ight of th e creature s distress

”
which made you do as you did .
“
The kin g sai d You are right ; and yet th ere really was
,
app earan ce of wh at the p eople imagin ed But though .
‘
Ts e b e na rrow an d small how should I grudge a bull ? In ,
dee d i t was b ecause I coul d n ot b ear its frigh ten ed appear

an ce as if it were an inn ocen t p erson goin g to th e pl ace of
,
d eath that therefore I chan ged it for a sheep

, .
“
M en cius said Let not your Maj esty d eem it strange
,
that th e p e ople should th ink you grudg ed th e an imal .
When you chan ged a large on e for a small how should ,
they know the true reason? If you fel t pained by its being
l ed wi thou t any guilt to th e place of d eath what was there ,
to ch oos e between a bull and a sheep ? The kin g laughed

and sai d
“
What re ally was my min d in th e matter? I did
,
n ot gru dg e th e valu e of th e bull an d et I chang ed it for

y ,
a she ep ! There was reason in th e p eople s sayin g that I ’
”
g rudged the c reature .
“
M en cius said There is no har m in their saying so It
,
.
was an arti fice of b enevolence You saw the bull and had .
,
n ot s een th e sh eep S o i s th e s up eri or m an aflected to

.
wards anirnal s that having seen th em alive he cannot

, , ,
bear to see them die and havin g heard their dying cries
, , ,
he cann ot bea r to eat their flesh On th is account he keeps .
away from his stalls an d ki tchen .
Th e king was pleas ed an d said Th e Ode says , ,
Wh t other m n h av in thei m inds

‘
a e e r ,
m easure by
’
I can re flec tion .
This mi ght b e spoken of you my Master I indeed di d the , .
thing but when I turn ed my thoughts in ward and s ought

,
for it I could n ot di scover my own m ind When you

, .
,
Master spoke thos e words th e movem en ts of compassion

, ,
began to work in my min d But how is it that this heart has .
”
in it what is equal to th e atta in m en t of th e Royal sway?
“
M en ciu s said Suppos e a m an were to make this state
,
‘
men t to your Maj esty My stren gth is sufficien t to lift three

,
thousan d catties but is n ot Sufficien t to lift on e feather;

,
my eyesi ght is sharp en ough to examin e th e poin t of an

autumn hair but I do n ot see a wagon load of fagots
,
-
,
’
would your Maj es ty allow what h e said ? No was th e

” “
,
’ “
king s remark and M en cius proceeded Now here is kin d
, ,
ness sufi cient to re ach to a nimals an d e t n o b en efits are

y ,
extend ed from it to th e p e opl e—how i s th i s ? is an exce

p
tion to b e mad e here? Th e truth is th e feather s not bein g ,
’
lifted is becaus e th e stren gth was n ot use d ; th e wagon load -
’
of firewood s n ot bein g s een is b ecaus e th e eyesi ght was
not us ed ; an d the p e ople s n ot b ein g lov ed an d prote cte d
’
is b ecaus e th e kin dne ss is n ot us ed Therefore your Maj .
est s n ot attain in g t o th e R oyal sway i s b ecaus e ou d o

’
y y
not d o it an d n ot b e caus e you are n ot abl e to do it
,
.
“
The kin g asked How may th e differen ce b etween him
,
who does n ot do a thin g an d h im who is not able to do it b e

” “
graphically set for th? M encius replie d In such a thin g ,
as takin g th e T ae moun tain un der your arm an d leapin g

‘
wi th it o ver th e North S ea if you say to people I am not

‘
, ,
able to do it that is a re al cas e of n ot b ein g able In such

,
’
.
a matter as break in g off a bran ch from a tree at th e order

of a sup erior if you say to people I am not able to d o it
, ,
‘
,
’
it is n ot a cas e of not b ein g able to do it An d s o your .
Maj esty s not attainin g to th e R oyal sway is not such a cas e

’
as that of taki ng th e T ae moun tain un der your arm and ‘
leapin g over the North S ea wi th it; but it is a case like that

of breaking off a bran ch from a tree .
”
with reveren ce due to age th e elders in your own
Treat
family so that thos e in th e families of others shall be sim
,
il arly treated ; treat wi th th e kindn ess due to youth the

youn g in your own family so that thos e in th e families of ,
o thers shall b e s im ilarly tre at e d— do thi s and th e kin gdom
may b e made to go round in your palm It is said in the .
‘ ’
Book of Poetry ,
His pl e acted on his wif e

‘
exam ,
E xtended to hi s brethren ,
And was felt by all the cl an s tates; ’

and S
telling us how Kin g W n simply took this kindly hearta , d

an
exer cis ed it towards those partie s Th erefore th e carrying .
out of the Reelin g of ki ndn ess by a rul er will suffice for the
love an d protecti on of all wi thin th e four s eas ; and if he
d o not ca rry it out he will n ot be able to protect his wi fe
,
an d children Th e way in whi ch th e an cien ts cam e greatly

.
to surpass other m en was n o other than this that they car ,
ried out wel l what they di d so as to affe ct oth ers Now , .
your ki ndn ess is sufficien t to reach to animals an d yet no ,
benefits are exten ded fr om it to the people How is this ? .
Is an excepti on to b e made here?

“
By weighi ng we k now what things are light and what ,
heavy By m easurin g we know what things are long and

.
,
what short All thin gs are so dealt wi th and the min d re

.
,
quires specially to be so I beg your Maj es ty to m easure it

. .
“
Your Maj esty collects your equipments of war en ,
dan gers your soldiers and officers and excites th e resent

ment of the vari ous prin ces— do thes e things cause you
”
pleasure in your min d?
.
“
Th e kin g sa id No How should I d eri ve pleasure from
, .
thes e thin gs ? My obj ect in th em is to seek for what I

greatly des ire .
M en cius said May I he ar from you what it is that your

,
”
Maj esty greatly desires ?
desire which you have you must turn back to th e proper ,
cours e for its attainment .
“
Now if your Maj esty wi ll in sti tute a governm ent whose
,
action shall all b e b enevolen t this will caus e all th e officers ,

’
in th e kin gdom to wi sh to stan d in your Maj esty s court ,

’
th e fa rm er s all to wish to pl ough in your Maj e sty s fiel ds ,
th e m erchan ts both travellin g an d stati on ary al l to wish to

, ,
’
store their goods in your Maj esty s market places travel -
,
lers and vi sitors all to wish to travel on your Maj esty s ’
roads an d all un der heaven wh o feel aggrieve d by th eir

,
rul ers to wish to com e an d c omplain to your Maj esty .
Wh en they are so ben t who wi ll b e abl e to keep th em ,

”
back?
“
Th e kin g said I am stupid an d cann ot advan ce to this
, .
But I wi sh you my Master to assist my in ten tion s Teach

, , .
me clearly an d al th ough I am deficien t in in tel li gen ce and

,
vigor I should lik e to try at least to insti tute such a govern

,
men t .
“
M encius replied They are only m en of e ducation who
, , ,
wi thou t a certain li velihood are able to maintain a fixed ,
heart As to th e people if they have not a certain liveli

.
,
hood they wil l be foun d n ot to have a fixed heart And if

, .
th ey have n ot a fixed heart there is n othing which they ,
will not do in the way of s elf aban donm ent of moral de -

,
flection of depravi ty and of wild licen se When th ey

, , .
have thus been in vol ved in crim e to follow them up and ,
punish them is to en trap th e people How can such a

, .
thin g as entrappin g th e people b e done un der th e rule of

”
a ben evolent m an ?
“
Therefore an in tell igen t rul er will re gulate th e liveli
,
hood of th e people so as to make sure th at above they

, , ,
shal l have suffi cient wherewi th to serve th eir parents and ,
below sufficien t wherewith to supp ort their wives and

,
children ; that in good years they shall always b e abun

dantly sati sfied and that in bad y ears th ey shall not b e in
,
dan ger of perishin g Af ter this h e may urge them and they
.
,
procee d to what is go d for in this cas e the pe ople

,
wi“ll foll ow after that wi th eadin ess .
But n ow th e livelihood of the people is so regulated ,
that above th ey have n ot sufficien t wherewith to s erve

, ,
their paren ts an d below they have not sufficien t wh ere

, , ,
with to support their wive s an d children ; even in good

years th eir live s are always embittered an d in bad years ,
they are in dan ger of p eri shin g In such ci rcumstan ces .
their only obj e ct is to escap e from death an d th ey are

afrai d they wil l n ot succeed in doin g so—what leisure have
,
they to cult ivate propriety an d righte ousn ess ?

“
If your Maj e sty wishes to carry out a b en evolent gov
ernm ent why n ot tu rn back to what i s th e e
, ss en tial step
to its attain m en t?
“
Let mulb erry tree s b e plan ted about th e home stead s
wi th their five acres an d person s of fifty years will b e able
,
to wear silk In keepin g fowls pigs dogs an d swine l et

.
, , , ,
not th eir tim es of bree din g b e ne gl ect ed an d p erson s of ,
seventy years will be able to eat flesh L et there not b e .
taken away th e tim e that is prop er for th e cul tivati on of

the fiel d al lotmen t of a hun dre d acre s an d th e fam ily of
-
,
eight mou ths w il l n ot suffer fr om hun g er Let careful at .
tenti on be paid to th e teachin g in th e vari ous schools wi th ,
rep eat ed in cul cati on of th e filial an d fratern al dut ies an d ,
gray haired m en will not b e s een upon th e roads carrying

-
,
burd en s on th eir backs or on their heads It has never bee n .
that the ruler of a S tate where these results were s een th e

, ,
old wearin g silk an d eatin g flesh an d the black haired ,

-
people suffering n ei th er from hun g er n or cold did not at ,
tain to the Royal dignity .

”
!B ooks 11, I I I , and IV are o mitted ]

B OO K V
Wan Chang 1
PAR T I
WAN CHAN G asked M encius saying When Shun Went

“
, ,
in to the fields he crie d out an d wept towards th e pityin g

,
heavens Why di d he cry out and weep ? M encius replied

.
”
,
“
H e was di ssati sfied an d full of ea rn est d esire .
Wan Chan g sai d Wh en his parents love him a son re

“
, ,
joices an d forgets them n ot ; and when they hate him ,
th ough they punish him h e do es not allow him self to be ,
dissatisfied Was Shun then dissatisfied wi th his parents?

.
”
Menciu s sai d Ch an g S eih asked Kung min g Kaou say

“
,
‘
-
,
in g As to S hun s goin g in to th e fiel ds I have rec eived your

‘ ’
, ,
in structi on s ; b u t I do n ot un derstan d about his weeping

an d cr in g ou t to th e pi tyin g h eaven s an d to his paren ts
’
y ,
.
Kun g min g Kaou answered him You do n ot understand

-
,
‘
that matter Now Kun g min g Kaou thought that the heart
.
’
-
of a fili al son like Shun could n ot b e so free from sorrow

as S eih s eem ed to im agin e h e might have be en Shun .
would be sayin g I exert my stren gth to cultivate the ,

‘
fields b ut I am thereby only di schargin g my du ty as a

,
son What is th ere wron g in m e that my parents do not

.
love m e? ’
Th e em p eror caus e d his own children— n in e sons and

“
two daughters th e variou s officers oxen an d sheep store

-
, ,
Th e Book is named from Wan Ch an g wh o is alm ost the only inter

locutor with M en cius in it The tr adi ti on is th at it w as in com
,
pany with
v
.
Wan s di sciples th at M enc ius b afll ed in all his h opes of doin g publi c ser
’
v v v
,
ice and h a in g retire d into pri acy c om osed th e S e en Books which

, ,
consti tute h is work s Th e art whi ch f o ows is all occu ied

p
v
.
eussions in i ndic ati o n of S un and oth er ancien t worthi es .
128
If th e rul e b e in deed as thu s expressed no one ought to ,
have ill ustrated it so well as Shun — how was it that Shun s ’
”
marriage took place withou t his informing his parents?
“
M en cius replied If h e had inform e d them he would not
, ,
have b een able to marry That male and female dwell to .
geth er is th e greatest of human relati on s If Shun had in .
form ed his paren ts h e must have mad e voi d this greatest

,
of human relation s an d in curred th ereby their res entment

, .
”
It was on thi s accoun t th at h e did not in form them .
Wan Chan g said As to Shun s marryin g without mak ,

“ ’
in g ann oun c em en t to h is paren ts I have heard your in ,
st ructi ons But how was it th at th e emp eror gave him his
.
”
daughters as wives wi thou t inform in g his paren ts ? Men
“
ciu s said Th e emp eror also kn ew that if h e informed his
, ,
paren ts h e could not have given h im his daughters as

,
WI ves .
Wan Chan g said His paren ts set Shun to repair a ,

“
granary and then removed th e ladder by which he had

,
ascende d ; after whi ch Koo sow set fire to it They s ent him -
.
to dig a well from which h e man aged to get out; but they
, ,
n ot k nowin g th is pro cee d e d to cov er it u

, p His brother .
,
S ean g said Of this scheme to c over up th e city farming

, ,
‘
-
g en tleman th e m eri t is all min e Let my paren ts have his .
oxen and sheep ; l et th em have h is granaries and store

hous es His shiel d and spear shall be mine; his lute shall be
.
mine ; h is carved bow shall b e m in e ; an d I will make his

two wives atten d for m e to my bed S ean g then went away .
’
an d en te re d S hun s hous e and th ere was S hun upon a

’
c ou ch wi th hi s lu te S ean g sa id I am com e s imply b ecause

‘
.
,
I was thi nkin g anxi ously abou t you an d at th e same time ,

’
he looked asham ed S hun said to him Th ere are all my

‘
.
,
officers ; do you take th e man agemen t of them for me I do .

’
n ot kn ow whe th er S hun was ign orant of S ean s wi shin

’
” “
g g
to kil l him M enciu s replied How could he b e i gnorant
.
,
of it? But when S ean g was sorrowf ul he was also sorrow ,

TH E S A YI N G S or M E N C I US 13 1
ful , anwhen S e an g was joyful he was also joyful

d ,
”
.
Wan Chan g con tin ued Then was Shun on e who re

“
,
joiced hypocriti cally ? N was th e re ply

“
F
”
o “
rm erly .
some one s en t a present of a live fish to Tsze ch an of -
‘ ‘
Ch in g Tsze ch an o rd ere d his pon d keep er to feed it in
.
- -
the pon d but th e m an cooke d i t an d reporte d th e execu

tion of 11 18 commission saying When I fir st l et it go it , ,
‘
looked embarrass e d In a little while it s eeme d to b e some

.
’ ‘
what at eas e and then it swam away as if delighted It

, .
had got in to its el em en tl said Tsze ch an The pond keeper ’

-
‘
.
-
went out an d said Who calls Tsze ch an wis e ? When I

,
‘
-
‘
“
had coo ke d an d e aten th e fish he said It has got in to its , ,
”
elem en t !It has got in to its el em en t l Thu s a superior m an
may b e impos ed on by what s eems to b e as it ou ght to be ,
but it is difli cul t to en trap h im by what is con trary to right

principle S ean g cam e in th e way in whi ch th e love of his
.
elder broth er would hav e made h im com e an d th erefore ,
Shun truly beli”eved him and rejoiced at it What hypoc ,

.
ris was th ere ?

y
Wan Chan g said S eang made it his daily bu sine ss to
,
kill Shun ; why was it that when the latter was rais ed to b e ,
”
the son of H eaven h e on ly banish ed h im ? M en cius re
,
pli ed He in ve sted him wi th a S tate an d som e“ have sai d

,
“
,
that it was banishin g him When Chan g said Shun b an .

,
ished the S up erin ten d en t of Works to Yew chow s en t -

,
away Hwan tow to Moun t Ts un g slew th e Prin ce of S an

-
‘
,
‘
Mé aou in S an w ei an d impri son ed K wan on Moun t Yu

-
,
.
When those four crim in als were thu s d ealt with all under ,
heaven submi tte d to him ; it was a cu ttin g off of m en who

were desti tute of ben evolen ce But S ean g was of all men .
the most d esti tute of b enevol en ce an d Shun in vested him ,
wi th the S tate of Pe ; of what crim e had th e people of Pe

been gui lty? Does a benevolen t m an really act thus ? In the
case of other men he cut th em off ; in th e case of his
,
B other he invested him with a S tate M en cius replied

,
. ,
“
A benevolen t m an does n ot lay up an g er nor cherish re ,
sentm en t again st h i s b roth er but on ly r e gards him with ,
aff ecti on an d love Re ga rdin g h im wi th a ff e cti on h e wishes

.
,
him to enjoy hon or ; lovin g him h e wi shes him to be rich , .
Th e in ve stin g h im with Pe was to enri ch and enn oble him .
If while Shun hims elf was emp eror his brother had been ,
a common m an could he have b een sai d to regard him

,
”
wi th aff ecti on an d love ?
Wan Chan g said I ven ture to ask what is meant by
“
,
some sayin g that i t was a banishin g of S eang M encius .

”
rep lied S ean g could do n othin g of him s elf in his S tate

,
“
.
The emperor appoin te d an officer to man age its govem

men t and to pay over its revenue s to him ; and therefore it
'
was said th at i t was a banishin g of h im ? How in deed coul d

he b e allowed the mean s of oppress in g th e p eople there?
N evertheless S hun wi sh ed to b e con tin u ally s eeing him
, ,
an d therefore h e cam e un c eas in gly to cour t as i s s i nified

g ,
in that expression He did n o t wai t for th e ren derin g of

‘
tribu te or affairs of government to receive the prince of

, ,
’
Pe .
“
H een—k ew Mun g asked M en cius sayin g There is the
‘
, ,
ol d sa yin g An offi cer of compl e te virtue cann ot b e em

‘
pl oyed as a minister by his rul er n or treated as a son by ,
his fa th er Sh un stood wi th his fac e to th e sou th and Yaou

’
.
, ,
at th e head of all th e feudal prin ces appe ared in his court ,
wi th his fac e to th e n or th Koo sow also app eared at Shun s

’
-
.
court with his fac e to th e n orth ; an d when Shun saw him ,
his coun ten an c e assumed a l oo k of distress Confucius said .

,
‘
At thi s time th e empire was in a p eril ou s con diti on indeed!
How un s ettl ed was its state l I do n ot know wh ether what ’
” “
is thu s sai d re ally took place M en ciu s sai d No These .
, .
are n o t th e words of a su p erior m an b u t th e sayin gs of an ,
un cultivate d person of th e east of Ts e When Yaou was ‘

.
old Shun took th e managemen t of affairs for him It is said

, .
in th e Canon of Yaou After twen ty ei ght y ears Fan g

‘
-
, ,
184 M E N C I US
TH E S A YI N G S or
greater than his hon oring his pa ents Of what can be at r .
tai n ed to in hon orin g one s parents there is nothing greater ,
than th e nourishin g them wi th the empire To b e the father .
of th e son of H eaven is the height of honor To b e n our .
ish e d with th e empire is th e heigh t of n ouri shmen t I n this .
‘ ’
was verified th e s en tim ent in the Book of Poetry ,
‘
E v er h ow to b e filial
th ink in g ,
filial m ind was the model which he

’
His su
ppli ed .
“
In th e Book of H istory I t is said With respectful s erv
‘
,
‘
ice h e app eare d before Koo sow l o okin g grave an d awe -

,
struck till Koo sow also was transformed b y h is example

,
-
.
’
Thi s is th e true cas e of th e schola r of complete vir tue not

bein g treated as a son by his father .
Wan Chang said It is said that Yaou gave th e empire

“
,
to S hun ; was it so ? M en cius replied N o; the emperor ,
Yes; but S hun pos

“ ”
cann ot give th e emp ire to an oth er .
sessed th e empire Who gave it to him ? H eaven gave it

.
” “
”
to him was th e reply
,
.
‘ ’
H eaven gave it to him ; did H eaven confer the ap
poin tment on him wi th sp ecific injun cti on s ? M encius said ,
“
No ; H eaven do es n ot sp eak It simpl y showed its will by .
his p erson al con duc t and by his con du ct of aff airs , .
It showed its will by his p erson al con duct an d by his ,

’ “ ”
con duct of affair s r eturn e d th e oth er ; h ow was this ?
,
“
M enciu s said Th e emperor can present a m an to H eaven
, ,
but he cann ot make H eaven give th at m an th e empire A .
feudal prince can pres ent a m an to th e emp eror to take his

place but he cannot make th e emp eror give th e princedom
,
to that man A great offi cer can pres en t a m an to his prince

.
,
but he cann ot c au s e th e prin ce to make that m an a great

offi c er in h is own room An c ien tl Yaou p res en ted S hun to
y .
Heaven an d H eaven accepted him ; h e displayed him to

,
the p eople and the p eople acc epted him Th erefore I say
, .
,
‘
H eaven does n ot speak It simpl y in dicated its will by hi s .
erson al con duct and b h i s con duct of affa ir s

p y , .
M E N C I US
TH E S A YI N G S
135 or
“
Chan g sai d I p esume to ask how it was that Yaou p e
, r r
sen t ed S hun to H eaven an d H av n acc pt d him an d , e e e e ,
displayed him
to th e p eople and th e p eople accepted ,
him Th e reply was He caus ed him to preside over th e

.
,
sacrifices an d all th e S pirits were well pl eas ed with them ;

,
thus it was that H eaven accepted him He caused him to .
presid e over th e con duct of affairs an d affair s were well ,
admin istere d so that all th e p eople repos e d under hi m;

,
thus it was that th e people ac cepted him H eaven gave th e .
empire to him an d th e p e ople gave i t to h im Th erefore I

, .
sai d The emp eror cann ot give th e empire to an oth er

,
‘
.
’
“
Shun assisted Yaou in th e governm ent for twenty and
ei ght years ; th i s was more than man could hav e do ne and ,
was from H eaven Wh en the three years mourning con se

’
.
quen t on th e death of Yaou were accompli shed Shun ,
wi thdrew from the son of Yaou to the sou th of the south

ern H 0 The prin ces of th e empire however repa irin g to
.
, ,
court wen t n ot to th e son of Yaou but to Shun Litigan ts

, , .
wen t n ot to th e son of Yaou b ut to Shun S in gers san g not , .
th e son of Yaou bu t Shun Therefore I sai d that i t was

, .
H eaven that gave him the empire It was af ter this that he .
wen t to the Mi ddle S tate and occupied the s eat of the son ,
of H eaven If he had b efore th es e things taken up his resi

.
den ce in th e palace of Yaou and applied pressure to his ,
son it wou ld have b een an act of us urpati on and not the

, ,
gif t of H eaven .
“
Th i s view of S hun s obtain in g the empire is in accord
’
an ce with what is said in Th e Great De clarati on— H eaven ‘
sees as my p eople see H eaven h ears as my pe ople hear,

.
’
Wan Chan g said People say When th e disposal of th e

“ ‘
, ,
empire cam e to Yu hi s vir tu e was inf eri or to that of Yaou

,
an d S hun an d h e di d n ot tran smit it to th e wor thiest bu t ,
to his son Was it so? M en cius repli ed No ; it was not so

.
“ ”
, .
When H eaven gave th e empire to th e worthiest it was ,
given to the worthiest ; when H eaven gave it to the son of

136 TH EM E N C I US S A YI N G S or
th e precedin g emperor it was gi ven to that son Formerly , .
Shun presented Yu to Heaven for a period of s event en e
years ; and when the thr years mournin g consequent on

’
ee ,
th e death of S hun we e acc ompli shed Yu wi th drew fr om

,
r ,
th e on of Yu to Yang Shin g Th p eople of th e empire fol

s -
. e
low d him as after th e death of Yaou they had not fol

e , ,
low d his son but followed Shun Yu p es en ted Yih to

e ,
. r
H eaven for a p e iod of s v n y a s ; and when th e th

‘
r e e e r ree
yea s m ourning consequ n t on th death of Yu we e a

r
’
e e r o
compl ished Yih wi thdr w from th son of Yu to th e north

,
e e
of Moun t Ke Th e p in c s .pairin g to c ou t and li tig nts

r e re r , a ,
W n t n ot to Yih but to K sayin g He is th e son of u

e ,
‘
e, ,
‘
o r
ruler S in g ers di d not sin g Yih bu t they san g X c sayin g

’ ‘
.
, , ,
He is th e son of our ruler

‘ ’
.
“
That Tan cho c was n ot equal to hi s father and Shun s
’
-
,
son also n ot equal to hi s ; that Sh un ass ist ed

Yaou and Yu ,
assisted Shun for a p eriod of many years conf errin g bene

, ,
fits on the people for a lon g time; that K e was virtuous

‘
and able and could reveren tly en t er in t o an d c onti nue th e

,
ways of Yu ; that Yih assisted Yu for a p eriod of a few

year s conferring b enefits on th e p eople not for a long
,
that th e l ength o f ti me th at S hun Yu and Yih as , , ,
sisted in th e governm en t was so different; and that th e sons

of the emperors were on e a man of talen ts and virtue an d ,
th e other two inferi or to their f ath ers z—all thes e things

were from H eaven and what could not b e produced by ,
man That which is don e wi th out any one s s eemin g to do

’
.
it is from H eaven That whi ch comes to pass with out any

.
on“e s s eemin g to brin g it about is from H eaven

’
In th e cas e of a p ivat man s obtain in g th e

’
r e
there must b e in him virtu equal to that of Shun e
and mo over there mu st b e th p es enting him to H aven

re e r e
by the p ecedin g emp o It was on this latter accoun t

r er r .
th at Chung De di d not obtain th kingdom

-
e .
“
When the throne descen ds by na tur al success ion he ,
t
en er s ervi ce With an air of indifference an d s elf
his .
sa ti sfaction h e said What can I do wi th these silk s with

, ,
‘
whi ch T an g invites m e? Is it no t best for m e to abide in

‘
thes e ch ann eled fields an d therein delight mys elf with the
,
prin ciples of Yaou and S hun ? ’
“ "
T an g thri ce s en t p erson s thu s to invi te him After this .
,
wi th th e change of purpos e displayed in his c ountenan ce ,
he spoke in a different s tyle sayin g In stead of abiding in

‘
, ,
th e chan neled fields an d therein d elightin g my s elf wi th

,
th e prin ciples of Yaou and S hun had I n ot b e tter m ake thi s ,
rul er on e after th e styl e of Yaou an d S hun ? had I n ot b et
ter make thi s pe opl e li ke th e p eopl e of Yaou an d Shun ?

had I not better in my own p erson see th es e things for
mys elf ? H eaven s plan in th e produ cti on of this p eople is
’
th is z— That they who are first in form e d should in struct ,
thos e who are later in b ein g inform ed an d thos e who ,
first apprehen d prin ciples shoul d in struct th os e who are

’
slower to do so I am th e one of H eaven s p eopl e who have

.
first apprehen d ed ; I will take thes e prin cipl es an d in s truct

this people in them If I do n ot in struct th em who will do
.
,
’
so?
“
He thou ght that amon g all th e p eople of th e kin gdom ,
even th e p ri vat e m en an d wom en i f th ere w ere an

y that ,
did n ot enjoy such ben efits as Yaou an d S hun conf erred ,
it was as if h e hims elf push e d them in to a di tch He took .
upon hims elf th e heavy charge of all un der H eaven in this

way an d th erefore h e wen t to T an g an d press ed upon
‘
, ,
him th e duty of attacking Hea an d savin g th e peopl e ,

.
“
I have n ot heard of on e who ben t him self and at the
s am e ti me made o thers straight; how much l e ss could one
disgrace himself and thereby rectify th e whole king
,
dom ? The acti on s of th e sages have b een different .
S ome have kept far away from offi ce and others have ,
dr awn n ear to it; som e have left th eir cfli ces and o th ers ,
have not done so ; that in which thes e differen t courses all

m eet is simply th e keeping of their p erson s pure

“
, .
I have heard that E Yin sought an in troduction to

T an g by th e prin ciples of Yaou an d S hun ; I hav e not
‘
he ard he did so by his kn owledge of cookery

“
.
I n th e In struction s of E i t i s sai d H eaven destroyin g

‘ ’ ‘
, , ,
Kech comm enced attackin g him in th e palace of Muh ; we

,
comm en c ed in Poh .
’
Wan Chan g aske d M en ciu s sayin g S om e say that Con , ,
fucius in Wei live d with an ulc er doctor an d in Ts e with

‘
-
,
”
Tseih Hwan th e chief of th e eunuchs ; was it so? M en cius
,
“
said No it was n ot so Thos e are th e in vention s of m en
, , .
fon d of stran g e things .
I n Wei h e lived in th e hous e of Yen Ch ow yew Th e

“ ‘
-
.
wife of th e c fli cer M ei an d the wife of Tsze ln were sisters -

.
Mei tsze spoke to Tsze ln sayin g If C onfucius will lodg e

‘
- -
with me he m ay get to b e a high n oble of Wei Tsze ln re

, ,
-
.
,
ported this to Con fucius who sai d That is as ordered by , ,

‘
H eaven Confuciu s advance d according to propriety an d

.
’
re tir e d acc ordin g to righte ous n e ss In re gard to his obtain .
‘
ing offi ce and hon or or no t obta inin g them h e sai d That , ,
’
is as ordere d But if h e had lodged wi th an ulcer doctor
.
-
an d wi th Tseih Hwan th e chief of th e eun uchs that would , ,
nei th er hav e b e en accordin g to right eous n ess n or an

y or
derin g of H eaven .
“
When C on fuciu s bein g dissatisfied in Lu and Wei had , ,
left thos e S tates he m et with th e attempt of Hwan th e

, ,
master of th e Hors e in S un g to in tercept an d kill him so , , ,
that h e had to pass through S un g in th e dress of a private

man At that time though h e was in circumstan ces of dis
.
,
tress he lodged in th e hous e of Chin g tsze th e minister of

,
‘
-
,
works who was then a minister of Chow th e marquis of

, ,
I have heard that ministers in th e s ervi ce of a court may

be lm own fr om thos e to wh om th ey are hosts an d that ,
mini st ers comin g from a distance may be kn own from

140 TH E S A YI N G S OF M E N C I US
t hose with whom they lodg e If Confucius had lodged with .
an ulc er doctor an d wi th Tseih Hwan

- th e chief of th e ,
”
eunu chs how cou ld h e have b een C on fucius ?
,
Wan Chang asked M encius sayin g S ome say that Pih

“
, ,
l e He sold hims elf to a cattl e keep er of Ts in for five sheep

‘
-
ski n s an d fed his cattle for him to s eek an in troduction to

, ,
” “
Duk e Muh of Ts in ; is this true? M encius sai d No it
‘
, ,
was n ot so This is th e invention of some on e fond of

.
stran g e th in gs .
“
Pih l e H e was a m an of Yu The p e ople of Ts in by the
‘
-
.
in ducemen t of a p eih of Ch uy Keih an d a team of Kéuh

‘
-
ch an h orses were askin g lib erty to march through Yu to

‘
attack Kwoh Kun g Che k e remon strated with th e duke of

.
-
‘
Yu askin g him n ot to grant th eir request but Pihi le He

, ,
did not remon strate .
W hen h e kn ew that th e duke of Yu was n ot to b e re

‘
m on strated Wi th an d wen t in con s equ en c e from that S tate

,
‘
to Ts in h e had reached th e age of seven ty If by that time

,
.
he did n ot know that it woul d b e a di sgrace ful thin g to

s eek for an in trodu ction to D uke Muh of Ts in by feeding
cattl e could he b e call ed wi se? But n ot remon stratin g
,
where it was of n o use to remon strate could h e b e sai d not ,
to b e Wi se ? Knowin g that th e duke of Yu would b e m ined ,
an d l eavin g h is S tate b efore that e ven t h e could n ot b e ,

‘
said to b e n ot wi s e As soon as h e was advan ced in Ts in
.
,
he kn ew that Duke Muh was one wi th whom he could

have a fiel d for action and became chief min ister to him ; ,
could h e b e sai d to b e not Wi se? Actin g as chief minister in

‘
Ts in he mad e his rul er di s tin guished throu ghout th e king
,
dom an d worthy to be h an ded down to future ages ; if he

,
had not been a m an of talen ts and vi rtue could h e have ,

'
done this ? As to sellin g hims elf in order to brin g about th e
destructi on of hi s ruler even a villag er who had a regard ,
for him s elf would not do such a thin g ; an d shall we say

,
”
that a m an of tal ents and virtu e did it?
INTRO DU CTI O N
o o
TH E wisd m f Conf ucius as a social reform er as a teacher ,
an d gu id e of th e Chin es e p eopl e, is shown in ma n y ways .
He n ot onl y gave them a cod e of p erson al deportm en t ,
q
provi din g th em wi th m l es for th e eti uette and ceremony
of lif e but he in stilled in to them that profoun d spiri t of
,
dom estic piety whi ch is one of th e str on gest features in th e

Chin e s e cha racter H e took m easures to s e cure also th e in
.
F
tell ec tual cultivati on of h i s fol low ers an d his ive Can on s
,
con tain all th e most an cien t works of Chine s e li terature ,
in th e d epar tm en ts of po etry h istory phi losophy an d l eg

, , ,
islation The S hi—

. Kin g is a collection of Chines e po etry
made by Confuciu s hims elf Th is great anthology consists
.
of more than three hun dred pieces coverin g the whole ,
ran ge of Chin e s e lyr i c po etr y th e oldest of whi ch date s

,
som e ei ghteen cen turies before Chri st While the latest of

,
th e s ele cti on s must hav e been written at the b e gin n in g of

th e s ixth c en tury before Chri st Th es e poems are of the
.
high est interest, and even n owadays may b e read wi th de

light by E urope an s Th e ballad an d th e hymn are amon g
.
th e earliest forms of n ati on al po e try, an d th e con tents of

th e Shi Kin g n a turally show sp ecim en s of lyri c po etry of
-
this sort We find there not only hymn s , but also ballads of
.
S
a re ally fine and Spiri te d character ometim e s th e po em
.
celebrate the common pursuits occupati on s an d in ci dents

, ,
of life They ri se to th e exaltation of th e epithalamium or

.
,
of th e vin tage son g ; at other times they deal wi th s en ti

men t and human conduct, bein g in th e hi ghest degree sen
tenti ous and ep i gr ammati c We must g ive th e credi t to
.
143
144 TH E SKI - K N I G
C onf ucius of havin g save d for us th e li tera ture of China ,
an d of havin g se t h is p eopl e an ex ample in p res ervin g th e
monuments of a remote an tiquity While th e li teratures of

.
ancien t Gree ce an d Rom e have larg ely p erished in the

convul si on s that foll owed th e breaki ng up of th e Roman
emp ire in E urop e wh en th e kin gdom of Chin a fel l in to
,
disorder an d decrepitude this on e great teacher stepped

forward to save th e precious record of histori c fact philo ,
sophical thought and of legislati on as well as poe try from

, ,
bein g swept away by the deluge of revolution Confucius .
showed his wisdom by th e hi gh valu e h e set upon the

p o e try of hi s n ative lan d an d h is n am e must b e set s i de by
,
si de with that of th e as tute tyr an t of Ath en s who collected

th e poems of Homer an d pre s erve d th em as a precious
heri tage to the Gre ek world C onfucius has given us his
.
opini on wi th regard to th e poems of th e S hi Kin g No m an

-
.
,
he say s , is worth speakin g to who has n ot mastered th e

poems of an anthology the perusal of which elevates th e
,
min d an d purifies it from all corrupt thoughts Thanks to .
th e work of mod ern s chol arship En glish readers can n ow

,
verify this di ctum for themselves .

146 TH E S H r- x mc
CELE BRA T N I G THE I ND USTRY OF K N I G WAN S ’

! U EEN
Sw t was th scene
ee e Th e spre adi n g dolichos
.
Exten de d far down to the vall ey s d epths

’
, ,
With leaves luxurian t Th e orioles .
Fl uttered aroun d an d on th e bushy trees

,
In thr ongs c ollected— when c e th eir pleasan t n otes

Re sound e d far in ri che st m elody .
The spreadin g dolichos extende d far ,

’
C overin g th e valley s s i de s down to i ts d epths

, ,
Wi th leaves luxurian t an d d ens e I out .
It down then boil ed and from th e fibres spun

, ,
Of cloth both fine an d coarse large store

, ,
To Wea r unwearie d of su ch srmpl e dress

,
.
Now back to my old home my paren ts dear ,
To see I go Th e matr on I have told

, .
,
Who will announ cemen t make M eanwhil e my cloth es .

,
M y private cl oth es I wash and rin s e m y r obes

,
.
Which of them need b e rinsed ? and whi ch n eed not?

My parents dear to vis it back I go , .
IN PRAISE O F A BR ID E
Graceful and young th e peach tree stands ; -
How rich its flowers all gleam in g brigh t!

,
Th is brid e to h er n ew h om e repairs ;
’
Chamb er and hous e she ll order right .
Graceful an d young th e peach tree stands ; -
Large crops of fruit it soon wi ll show .
This bride to her n ew hom e repairs ;

Chamber and ho u se h er sway shall kn ow .
TH E SKI -
I G
K N 147
Graceful an d youn g the peach tree stands -

,
Its foliage clusterin g green and ful l .
Thi s bri de to h er new home repairs ;

Her hou s ehold will attest h er rule .
I G T AE
CEL E BR A T N
‘
-
’
S Z E s FR EEDO M FR OM J EA L ousx
S
In the ou th are th e trees whos e bran ches are ben t,
An d droop in su ch fashion that o er th eir exten t
’
All the dolichos creepers fast cling .
S ee our p ri n cely lady, fr om whom w e have got

Rejoicin g that s en dless ! May h er happy lot
’
An d her hon or s repos e e ver brin g !
S
In th e outh are th e trees whos e bran ches are ben t,
’
An d droop in such fashion that o er their exten t

’
All th e doli chos creepers are spread .
S ee our prin cely lady, from whom w e have got

O
Rejoicin g that s en dless ! f her happy lot
’
An d h er honors th e greatness n e er fade !

’
S
In th e outh are th e trees whos e bran ches are bent,
’
And droo p in such fashion that o er their exten t

’
Al l th e doli chos creep er s en twin e .
S ee our prin cely lady, from whom we have got

Rejoicin g th at s en dle ss ! May h er happy lot
’
And her hon ors c omplete ever shine !
U F
THE FR I T UL NE SS O F TH E I D CUST
Z
Yelocusts win ged tribes

, ,
Gather in con cord fine;

Well your d escendants may
In num erous bri ght hosts shine!
148 TH E SKI -
K N I G
Yelocusts win ged tri bes
,
Your win gs in flight res oun d

Well your desc endan ts may
In endl ess lin es he foun d !
o
Ye l custs, win ged
tribes ,
Toge ther clu ster

strong ;
Well your descen dan ts may
In swarms forever throng !
LAM E NTI N G TH E AB S E N CE OF A CI—

E RIS H ED FRIE ND
Though small my baske t all my toil ,
Fill ed it with mou se-ears but in p art .
I set it on th e path an d sighed

,
For th e dear master of my heart .
My stee ds o er tasked their pro gress stayed

,
’
-
, ,
When mi dway up that rocky hei ght .
a cup from that gilt vase

shall this lon gin g end in si ght?
To mount that lofty ridge I drove ,
Un til my steeds all changed their hue .
A cup from that rhin oceros s horn ’
May help my longin g to subdue .
to reach that flat topped hill

S tri vin g -
,
My steed s worn out rel axed their strai n;

, ,
My driver als o s ank oppre ss ed :

I ll never see my lord again !
’
150 TH E S K I -K N I G
Many th e fagots boun d and pil ed ;
Th e thorn s I d h ew still more to make
’
.
As brides those girls their new homes s eek

,
’
Their colts to fee d I d un d ertake .
Like th e broad Han are they ,
w
Throu gh hich on e cannot di ve ;
An d li ke th e Kean g s lon g stream
’
Wh erewith n o raf t can strive .
Many th efagots boun d an d piled

The S outh em wood I d cut for more
’
- .
As brides th os e girl s th eir new homes seek;

,
Food for th eir colts I d brin g large store ’

.
Like th e broad Han are th ey ,
Through which on e cann ot di ve ;

’
An d l ike th e Kean g s lon g stream ,
Wherewi th no raft can stri ve .
PRAI S E O F A RA B B T -C A TCH I “
Carefu l he s ets his r abbit n ets all roun d ; -
Chang Chang h is bl ows u pon th e pegs re sound

-
.
Stalwart th e man and bold ! his bearin g all

Sh ows h e mi gh t b e hi s prin ce s shi eld an d wal l
’
.
Careful h e i s his abbit n ets to place

r -
Where many path s of rabbits feet bear trace ’

.
S talwart th e m an and bol d ! ti s plain to see ’
H e to h is prin ce compani on goo d woul d b e .
Careful h e i s his r abbi tt to spread -

ne s ,
Wh ere in th e forest s depth th e trees give shade

’
.
S talwart th e man and bold !fit his th e part

Guide to his prin ce to b e and fai thfu l heart , .
TH E I
S K I -K N G 151
THE S ON G O F TH E PLANTAIN GA THE RER S

-
We gather an d gather th e plan tains ;

Come gather th em anyhow .
Yes gather an d ga ther th e plan tains

, ,
An d h ere we have got them n ow .
We gather an d gather th e plantain s ;

Now off th e ears we mu st tear .
Yes gather and gather th e plan tain s

, ,
And n ow th e s eeds are laid bare .
We gath er and gath er th e plan tain s ,
Th e s eeds in our skir ts are placed .
Yes gath er and gath er th e plan tain s

,
.
Ho ! safe in th e girdl ed waist !
TI DZ AF E CT
-
F IO N OF TH E WIVES O N TH E J OO
Al on g aise d banks of th e 10 0
th e r ,
To h ew sli m stem and bran ch I wr ought ,
My lord away my husban d true

, ,
L ike hunger pa g my troubled th u h t l ~

n o
g
-
Alon g th e raise d banks of th e Joo ,
Bran ch and fresh shoot confe ss ed m y art .
I ve s een my lord my husban d tru e

’
, ,
An d sti l l h e folds m e in his heart .
As toiled bream make s red its tail

th e ,
Toil you S ir for th e Royal Hous e ;

, ,
Amidst its blazin g fire s nor quail ,
Your paren ts see you pay your vows .

BOO K II
The Odes f S hocu and
o the S outh
THE MARR IA G E OF A PRIN CESS

’
In the ma gpie s n est

Dwel ls th e dove at st re .
young bride goe s to h er future home;

To mee t her a hun dre d chariots come .
Of the magpi s n st e
’
e
Is th e
dove poss essed .
This bride go es to her new home to live;

'
And escort a hun dred ch ariots give .
Th e st ma gpie wove
ne
Now filled by the dove .
This bri de n ow tak es to her hom e h er way;

And thes e num erous cars h er state display .
TH E mnvsr ar A ND RE V
ERE N CE o r A p are
’
s W IFE
’
Around th e pools th e islets o er
, ,
Fast she plucks Whi te S outh ern wood -

,
To help th e sacrificial store;

And for our prince do es s ervice goo d .
152
154 TH E SHI -
K N I G
THE DIL IGE N CE O F TH E YOUN WIFE O G F AN ICER

O FF
She gathers fast the large du ckweed ,
From valley stream that southward flows ;

An d for th e pon dwee d to th e pools
Left on th e plains by floods she goe s .
when closed her toil sh e puts

Th e pl an ts , ,
I n baskets roun d an d baske ts squa re .
Then hom e sh e hi es to cook h er spoil ,
In pan s an d tripods re ady there .
Insacre d chamber this sh e s ets ,
Where th e ligh t falls down through the wall .
Tis sh e our lord s youn g reverent wife

’ ’
, ,
Wh o man ages this servi ce all .
V
THE L O E OF TH E P OP
E LE FO R THE DUK E OF SHAOU
O f ll n ot that swee t pear tr

e -
ee !
S ee how i ts bran ches spread .
S poil not its shade ’

,
For S h aou s chief lai d

B en eath it hi s weary head .
0 clip not that sweet pear tree ! -
E ach twi g an d leafle t spare .
’
Ti s sacred n ow ,
S in ce th e lord of Sh aou ,
When weary re ste d him th ere

,
.
TH E S K I -K N G I 155
O touch n t that sw et p a
o e e r- tree !
B en d a twi g of i t now
n ot .
Th ere long ago ,
As the stori es show ,
Oft halted the chief of Shaou .
TH E E A SY DIGN ITY OF TH E O FFICER S A T SOME COURT
Arr aye d in skins of lamb or sheep ,
Wi th five s ilk braidin gs all of whi te ,
From court they go to take their meal , ,
All s elf poss esse d wi th spirits l ight

-
, .
How ontheir skins of lamb or sheep

Th e five s e ams wr ought wi th white s ilk sh ow l
Wi th easy steps and s elf posse ss ed
,
-
,
From c ourt to take their meal they go ,

.
Upon their skin s of lamb o sheep r
S hin es th e whit silk th s ams to link

e e e .
With easy steps and self poss ess ed -

,
They go from cour t to eat an d drink .
A N XIE T Y OF A YOUN G LA DY TO GE T MA RRIE D

R ipe , th e
plums fall from th e bough ;
On ly s even ten ths left there now !
-
Ye whos e h earts on m e are set ,
Now th e tim e is fortunate !
Rip e, th eplums fall from th e bough ;

Only three tenths left there n ow !
-
Ye who wish my love to gain ,
Wi ll not now apply in vain l

1 56 TH E I G
S H I -K N
No more plum s upon th e b ou gh l

All are in my basket n owl
Ye wh o m e wi th ar dor s eek ,
Need the word b ut freely speakl

158 TH E S HI -K N I G
I u tteranc e give alike wi th in without ;
, ,
Nor c an like mat b e rol le d an d carrie d out .
Wi th di gnity in pres en ce of them all ,
M y con du ct marke d my goodn ess who sh al l scout?

,
My fo es I bol dly ch all en ge gre at an d small , ,
If there b e aught in m e they can in question call .
How ful l of trouble is my anxious heart !

With hateth e blatan t herd of creatures m ean
Ce as eless pu rsue Of th eir attacks th e smart
.
Keeps m y mind in distress Their ven omed spleen .
Ay e vents i ts elf ; an d wi th in sultin g mien

‘
They vex m y soul ; an d n o on e on my s ide

A word wil l spe ak S il en t alone un s een
.
, , ,
I th in k of my sad cas e ; then openin g wid e

My eye s as if from sleep I b eat my breast sore tried
, , ,
-
.
Thy di sc 0 sun should ever b e complete

, , ,
Whil e thin e O chan gin g moon doth wax and wane

, ,
.
But n ow our sun hath wan ed weak and eflete , ,
And moon s are ever full My he art wi th pain .
Is firmly bound and held in sorrow s ch ain

,
’
As to th e body cleaves an unwashed dress .
S ilen t I think of my sad cas e ; in vain

I try to fin d relief from my distress .
Woul d I had wings to fly where ills no lon ger press!
A W IFE D PL ORE S THE

E S
AB E N CE OF H ER H USBAN D
Away the startled pheasan t flies

With l azy movem en t of his Wi n gs .
Born e was my h eart s lord from m y eyes ;’
Wh at pain th e s eparation brings !

TH E S H I -K N I G 159
Th e pheasant though no more in Vi ew,

,
His cry bel ow above forth s en ds

, , , .
Alas ! my pri nce lord tis you ,

’
Your absence that my bosom ren ds , .
At sun an d moon I sit an d gaze ,
In converse wi th my tr oubl ed h eart .
Far far from me my husban d stays !

,
When will he come to heal its smart?

Ye princely men who wi th him mate ,
S ay mark ye not his virtuous way

,
.
His rul e is—c ovet n ought n one hate ; ,
How can his steps from goodness stray?
TH E P L AI N T OF A RE IE CTE D WIFE .
The wind gently blows

cast ,
With cloudy skies and rain .
I wixt man an d wife shoul d ne er be strife

" ' ’
But harmony obtain .
Radish and mustard plan ts

Are us ed though some b e poor;
,
While my go od name is free from blame ,
Don t thrust me from your d oor

’
.
I g o al ong the road ,
S low wi th reluctant heart

,
.
Your escort lam e to door but came ,
Th ere glad fr om ine to par t .
Sow thi stl e bitter called

-
, ,
As shepherd s purs e is sweet ; ’
With your new mate you fea st elate ,
As j oyous brother s m ee t .
160 TH E SKI -
K N I G
Part clear th e stream of Kin g
,
Is foul beside th e Wei .
You feast elate with y our new mate ,
An d take no h ee d of m e .
Loo se mate avoid m y dam

, ,
Nor d are my bask et move !

Person slighted lif e all bli ghted, ,
What can th e future pr ove?

The wa ter deep in boat , ,
’
Or raft susta in ed I d go;

-
,
An d wh ere th e s t e am did n arrow s eem ,
I di ve d or breasted through .
I lab ored to in creas e

Our m ean s or great or small ;
,
Wh en mon g friends near death did appear

’
On lm ees to help I d crawl

’
.
N o cherishin g you give ,
I m hos ti le in your eye s

'
.
’
As p edl er s ware s for which n on e cares ,
My virtues you despis e .
When poverty was nigh ,
I s tr ove our m eans to spare

You n ow ri ch grown m e scorn to own ;
, ,
To p oison m e compare .
Th e stores for win ter piled

Are all unpriz ed in spring .
So now elate wi th your n ew mate

, ,
Myself awa you flin g .
Your cool dis ai n for m e

A bitter an guish b ath .
The early tim e our love s sweet prim e

’
, ,
In you wake s only wrath .

162 TH E SHI -
K N I G
Wi th figure large I in th e c ourtyard dan ce ,
An d th e duke smil es when h e b eholds m e prance

,
.
A tiger s str en gth I have ; th e steeds swif t boun d;

’
Th e rein s as ribbon s in m y hands are found .
S ee h ow I hold th e flute in my left han d ;

I n ri ght th e ph easan t s plum e wave d like
a wand ;
’
Wi th vi sage red where rouge you think to trace

, ,
Whi le th e duk e pleas ed s ends down th e cup of grace!

,
Hazel on hills ; th eling in m eadow dam p ;

’
E ach has its place while I m a sli ghted scamp
,
.
My thoughts go back to th e arly days of Chow ’
And mu s e upon its chiefs not equall ed now ,

.
0 noble ch iefs who th en th e West adorned

, ,
Would ye have thu s neglected me and scorned?
AN OFFICER SETS FORTH HI S H AR D LOT
My way leads forth by the gate on th e north ;

My heart is full of woe .
’ ’
I hav n t a cent begged stolen or len t

, , , ,
An d friends forge t m e so .
S o l et it be ! tis Heaven s decree

’ ’
What can I say— a poor fellow like me?
Th e Kin g has his throne san s sorrow or moan; ,
On m e fa ll all hi s cares ,
An d when I come home resolve d not to roam , ,
E ach on e indignan t sta res .
S o l et it be! tis H eaven s decree

’ ’
.
What can I say— a poor fell ow li ke me?

TH E S KI -K N I G 1&
Each thin g of the Kin g an d th e fate f the tate,

, o S
o
On m e c me more an d more .
An d when, sad an d worn I come back f rl rn,

, o o
t
Th ey h rust me from th e door .
So let it b e ! ti s H eaven s decree

’ ’
.
Wh a can I say—a p r fell ow like me?

t oo
When th e upper robe is green ,
With a yellow lin in g s een ,
There we have a certain token ,
Right i s wron ge d an d ord er broken .
How can sorrow from my hear t

In a cas e li ke this d epart?
C olor green th e robe displays;

L ower ga m en t y llow s blaz
r e
’
e .
Thus it is that favori te me an

In the place of wif e is s een .
Va in theconflict wi th my gri ef;

M em ory deni es relief .
Yes, twas you th e green who dyed

’
,
’
You who fed the favori te s
Anger ri ses in my heart ,
Pierces it as wi th a dart .
But on an cien t rule s lean I ,
Lest to wron g my thoughts shoul d
Fine or co arse if th in th e dress

, ,
Cold winds always caus di str ss e e .
Hard my lot my sorrow deep

, ,
But my th oughts in check I keep .

164 TH E S HI -
I
K NG
'
Ancient story brin gs to min d

S ufferers who were resigned .
— “ ”
!Nor m Yellow is one of th e five correct colors of the Chinese , w]
“
med Here
"
is one of the intermediate colors th at are less estee .
ve th e w
ell o used merely l inin g or em ployed in
to the green,
y
as a
lower ess honorable, p art o f the dr ess;
-
an in ersion of opu at ’ a v
flf
or
v f
,
how a fa orite h ad usurped th e pl ace of the rig ful wi e

thrust down ]
IN P IS
RA E OF A MAIDEN
0 sweet mai den so fair an d retirin g
, ,
At the corn er I m wai tin g for you ;

’
And I m scratchin g my head and inquiring

’
What on earth it were be st I should do .
Oh ! th e mai den so hands ome and coy

, ,
For a pledg e gav a slim osy eed e r r .
Than the reed i s sh e brighter my joy ; ,
On h er loveliness how my thoughts feed !
In th e pastures a t e blad e she s ught,

’
o
And she gave it so elegan t rare , .
O h ! th e grass doe s n ot dwell in my h t ought ,
o
But the d nor more ele gan t, fair
, .
DISCO NTENT
As when th e n orth winds keenly blow ,
And all aroun d fast fall s the s now ,
Th e sour ce of pain and suff erin g great ,
S o now it is in Wei s poor state ’
Let us join han ds an d haste away ,
My frien ds an d lovers all .

166 TH E S K I -K N I G
As cloud of du st wind blown -

,
Just such is h e .
R eady h e s eem s to own ,
And com e to m e .
Bu t h e com e s not n or goes ,
S tands in his pri de .
Lon g lon g with painful throes

, , ,
rieved
I abide .
S t ong bl w th win d ; th cloud

r e e e
Hastened away .
S oon dark again th e shroud ,
Covers th e day .
I wake an d sleep n o more

,
H i s cours e I sad d eplore ,
VJ ith heavy s ighs .
Clou dy th e sky and dark ; ,
Th e th un d ers roll .
Such outward sign s well mark

Mytr oubled soul .
I wake and sleep n o more

,
Comes to give rest .
His cours e I sad d eplore ,
In an gui shed breast .
ESeIeetions from Books IV , V, and VI have been omitted I .

B OO K VII
The Odes f Ch ing

‘
o
THE PEO PLE S A DMI R ATION FOB DUKE woo

’
Theblack robes well your form befit

When they are worn we ll mak e you new:
’
Now for your court ! oh ! there we ll sit ’
And watch ho w you your duti es d o .
An d when we to our h om es repair ,
We ll sen d to you our ri chest fare

’
S uch is the love to you we bear !

Thos e ob es well with your virtue match ;
r
Wh en they are worn we ll make you new

’
.
Now for your cour t! There will we watch ,
Well pleased how you your du ties d o

,
And when we to our homes repair ,
We ll s en d to you our ri chest fare

’
S uch is the love to you we bear!

Tho s e obes your character bes eem ;
r
Wh en they are worn we ll mak e you new

’
.
New for your court ! oh ! there we d eem

It pleasure grea t your form to view .
And when we to our h om es rep air ,
We ll s end to you our ri chest fare

’
S uch is the love to you we bear!

167
168 TH E SHI -
K N I G
WIFE I
’
A C ON S OL E D B Y H ER H USB AN D S ARR VAL
C old is th e win d , fast fall s th e r ain ,
Th e cock aye shrilly crows .
Bu t I have s een my lord again ,
Now must my heart repose .
Whistl es wind patters the rain

th e , ,
Th e cook s crow far resounds

’
But I have see n m

.
y lo rd again ,
An d he aled are my h ear t s woun ds

’
.
All s dark amid th e wind and rain

’
Ceas eless th e cook s clear voice!

’
But I have s een my lord again ;

Should not my heart rejoice?
IN P A IS
R E OF SO ME LA DY
Th ere by his s ide in chari ot ri deth she ,
As lovely flower of th e hibiscus tree ,
S o fair h er face ; and when abou t they wheel ,
H er gir dle gems of Ken th ems elves reveal .
For b eauty all th e Hous e of Kean g have fame ;

I ts eld e st daughter— she b es eems her nam e .
Th ere on path close by him walketh she

th e , , ,
Bri ght as the bl ossom of hibiscus tree ,
An d fair h er face ; and when aroun d th ey flit ,
Her girdle gems a tinldin g soun d emit .
Amon g th e Keang she has distin guished place ,
For virtuous fam e ren own ed an d peerl ess grace ,

.
170 TH E I G
S KI -K N
O d a ! that a tful b oy
e r r
Mytable wil l n ot share!

But S ir I shall enjoy
, ,
My rest though you re not there!

,
’
MOU N SR S
TH E AB E N CE O F H ER STUDENT L OVER
You stu dent wi th th e collar blue
, ,
Lon g pin es my heart wi th anxious

Althou gh I do not go to you ,
Why from all word do you refrain ?

0 you with girdle stri n gs of blue
, ,
My thoughts to you forever roam !

Al though I do n ot go to you ,
Ye t why to m e should you n ot come?
How reckless you how light an d wild

, ,
Th ere by th e tower upon th e wall !

One day from s ight of you exiled
, ,
As lon g as thr ee lon g mon ths I call

‘
.
B OO K VIII
The Odes
‘
o f Ts e
A WIFE URGIN G HE R H USB A ND TO A C TI ON
His lady to the marquis says ,

“ ’
The cock has crowed tis late , .
Get up my lord an d haste to cour t

, , .
Tis full ; fo r you th ey wai t

’
’
Sh e did not h ear th e cock s shrill soun d ,
Only th e blueflies buzzin g roun d .
Again sh e wakes him wi th th e words ,

“
Th e cast my lord is bri ght
, , .
A crowded court your presence s eeks;

Get up an d hail th e light .
’
Twas n ot th e dawn in g light
But that whi ch by th e moon was thrown .
He sleepin g still on ce more she says

, ,
Th e flies are buzzin g loud .
b
To lie an d dream h ere y your side
Were pleasan t but the crowd
,
Of officers will soon retire ”

Draw n ot on you and me th eir ire !
17 1
172 TH E SHI - K N I G
THE FO LL Y OF USELE SS E FFORT
The weeds will but the ranker grow ,
If fields too l arge you seek to ti ll .
To try to ga in m en far away

Wi th grief your toilin g heart will fill .
If fiel ds too l arg e you s eek to till ,
Th e wee ds will only ris e more stron g .
To try to gain m en far away

Will but your heart s dis tress prolon g
’
.
Thin gs grow the b est when to th emselves

L eft and to n atu re s vigor rare
,
’
.
How youn g an d ten der I S th e chil d

'
With his twin tu fts of falling hair !

But when you him ere l on g behol d ,
Th at chil d shall cap of manhood wear !
TI I E P IN CE
R O F LO O
A grand m an is th e prin ce of Loo ,
Wi th p erson large and high .
Lofty his front an d suited to

The fin e glan ce of his eye !
S wift are h is feet In archery
.
What m an wi th him can vi e ?

With all thes e goodly qualities ,
We see him and we sigh !
Ren own ed throu gh all th e land is h e,

The neph ew of our lord .
With clear an d l ovely eye s , his grace

B OO K IX
The Odes f Wei
o
O N THE MI SCOVERNM ENT

- OF THE STA TE
A fruit small as th e garden peach

, ,
May stil l b e u s ed for food .
A S tate though poor as ours mi ght thrive

, , ,
If but its rule were good .
Our rul e i s bad our S tate is sad

, ,
With m oum ful heart I grieve .
All can from in strumen t an d voi ce

My mood of min d p erceive .
Wh o kn ow m e not with scom ful thought

, ,
D eem m e a sch ol ar proud .
“
Thos e m en are ri ght they fiercel y say
, ,
“
What mean your words so lou d?
Deep in my h eart my sorrows li e ,
An d n on e th e cau s e may kn
How should they know who never try
To learn when ce com es our woe?
Th e garden jujube although small

, ,
M ay stil l b e u s ed for food !

A S tate though poor as ours might thrive
, , ,
If but its rule were geod .
Our rul e is bad our S tate is sad

, ,
With m oum ful heart I grieve .
M ethin ks I ll wan der through th e land

’
174
TH E S H I -K N G I 175
My misery to reli eve .
Who kn ow m e not wi th scomful thought

, ,
Deem that wild vi ews I hold .
“
Tho s e m en are right th ey fiercely say
”
, ,
“
What mean your words s o bold ? ”
Deep in my heart my sorrows li e ,
An d n one th e cau s e may kn ow .
How can they kn ow who n ever try ,
To learn when ce com es our woe?
THE IME A N H U SB A ND
Thin cloth of doli chos supplies th e sho es ,
In whi ch some have to brave th e frost an d cold .
A bri de when p o or h er ten der hands mu st use

, , ,
Her dress to make an d th e sharp needle hold

,
.
Th i s m an is w ealthy yet he makes his bri de

,
Collars and wai stban ds for his rob es provide .
o
Conscious f wealth he moves wi th e asy mien ;
,
Politely on th e left he takes his place;

Th e ivory pin is at his girdl e s een
His dress an d gai t show g entlemanly grace .
w
Why do e brand h im in our satire here?
Tis this —h is ni ggard soul p rovokes th e sn eer
’
.
A YOUN G SO DI L ER O N SER VICE
To the top of that tree clad b ill I g o,

-
And towa rds my fa th er I g aze,

Til l wi th my mind s eye h is form I e spy,
’
And my min d s ear hear s how h e says :

’
“
Al as for my son on s ervi ce abroad !
176 TH E SKI -K N I G
He sts not from mornin g til l eve
re .
May he careful b e and come back to me !

While he is away how I grieve!
”
,
To th e top of that ba rren hill I climb ,
And towards my mother I gaze ,

’
Till with my min d s eye h er form I espy,

’
An d my min d s ear hears how sh e says :

“
Alas for my chil d on service abroad !
He n ever in sleep shuts an eye .
May b e careful b e and com e back to me!

,
”
In th e wild may his body n ot lie !
Up the lofty idg

r etoilin g ascend
1, , ,
An d towards my broth er I gaz e ,
Till wi th my mind s eye his form I espy

’
And my min d s ear hears how h e says

’
“
Alas ! my young brother s ervin g abroad
, ,
All day wi th his comrades must roam .
May he careful b e an d come back to me

, ,
”
An d die n ot away from hi s home .
178 TH E I G
SHI-K N
The King s affairs admi t of no d elay

’
To plan t our ri ce and maize w e cann ot stay .
How shall our parents fin d their won ted food?

Wh en we are gone who will to them b e good?
,
0 azure H eaven that shinest th ere afar

, ,
When shall our homes receive us from the war?
LA M E NT OF A BEREA E V D PE RSON
A russet pear tree ri ses all al one

-
,
But rich the growth of leaves upon it shown !

I walk al one wi thout on e brother left
, ,
An d thu s of n atural aid am I b ereft .
Pl en ty of p eople there are all around ,
But n on e like m y own fath er s son s are found

’
.
Ye trav ellers who forever hurry by

, ,
Wh y on m e turn th e unsym pathizin g eye?

No brother lives with whom m y c aus e to plead ;
Wh y not p erform for m e th e helpin g deed?
A russ et p ear t ree ris es all alone

-
,
But rich with verdant foliage o ergrown ’
I walk alone wi thou t on e brother s care

,
’
To whom I might ami d my straits rep ai r

, .
Plen ty of p eople there are all aroun d ,
But n on e like thos e of my own n ame are found .
Ye travell ers who forever hurry by

, ,
Why on m e turn th e un sympathi zin g eye?

No brother lives with whom m y cau s e to plead;
Why n ot perform for me th e helpin g deed?
TH E SKI-K N I G 179
On th e left of the way a russ et pear tree

S tands there all alone—
-
,
a fi t imag e of me .
Th ere is that prin cely m an ! 0 that h e woul d come ,
An d in my poor dwellin g wi th m e b e at home !

In th e core of my hea rt do I love h im but say , ,
Whence shall I procure him th e wan ts of th e day?

At the ben d in th e way a russ e t p ear—tre e
S tan ds there all alone—a fit im age of m e .
Th ere is that pri n cely m an ! 0 that h e would come ,
An d ramblin g with m e b e hi ms elf here at hom e !

In the core of my heart I lov e him b ut say , ,
Whence shall I procure him th e wan ts of the day?
A WIFE MOURN S FOR HE R H U SB A N D
o o
Th e d li ch s grows an d covers th e thorn
’
,
O er th e waste is th e dragon plan t creepin g -

.
The man of my he art is away an d I moum

What home have I , lonely an d weepin g?
Coverin g th ejujube s the doli chos grows ,
The graves many dragon plan ts cover; -
But where is the m an on whos e breast I d repose?

’
No home have I havin g n o lover!

,
Fair to s e was th e pil low of ho n

e
’
r ,
And fair hamber s adornin g ;

th e b ed -
C
But th e m an of my he art is not here and I mourn ,
All alone an d wai t for the morni ng

,
.
180 TH E I
S H I -K N G
the long days of summer pass over my head ,
And lon g win ter nights leave their tr aces ,
I m alon e! Til l a hun dr ed of years shall have fled

’
An d then I shall m eet his embraces .
Th rough th e lon g wi nter ni ghts I am burd en ed with fe

Th r ough th e lon g summer days I am lonely ;
But when tim e shall have counted its hun dreds
I then shall be his—and his only !
182 TH E SKI -
I G
K N
A C OMPLA INT
He lodged us in a spacious house ,
And plen teous was our fare .
But n ow at every frugal meal

Th ere s n ot a scrap to spare
’
.
Alas ! alas that this good

Could n ot go on as h e b egan !
GIF R E BE CA USE or HE R H USB A ND S ’
Th e falcon swiftly s eeks the n orth ,
An d forest gl oom that s ent it forth .
S in ce I no more my husban d see ,
My hea rt from gri ef is n ever free .
0 how i s i t I lon g to kn ow, ,
That h e my lord forgets m e so?

, ,
Bushy oaks mountain grow on the ,
And six ebn s where th e ground is l ow .
But I my h usband s een no more

, ,
My sad and joyless fate deplore

‘
0 how is it I to know , ,
That he my 1 forgets m e so?

,
The hills th e bushy wil d p lums show ,
And p ear trees grac e th e groun d b elow

-
.
But wi th my husband from m e gone

, ,
As drunk with grief I dwell alone ,

.
Oh how i s I long to know

it,
“
That h e, my lord forgets m e so?

,
TH E S H I -K N G I 183
“
LA MENT F OR THREE O
B R THE RS
They fli t ab out th e yellow bir ds

, ,
An d rest upon th e jujub es find .
Wh o buri ed were in duke Muh s ’

grave ,
Alive to awful de ath con signed?

’
Mon g brothers th ree who m et that fate
, ,
’
Twas sad the first Yen s eih to see
,
-
.
He stood alon e ; a hun dre d m en

Could show n o other such as b e .
When to the yawn in g grave he cam e ,
Terror unnerved an d shook hi s frame .
Why thu s destr oy our n oblest m en ,
To th ee we cry 0 azure H eaven !

,
To save Yen s eih from d eath we would

-
,
A hundred lives have freely given .
Th ey flit about, th e yellow birds ,
An d on th e mulberry trees rest find -

.
Who bur ied were in duke Muh s grave

’
Alive to awful d ea th con signed?

Mong broth ers three who met that fate
’
, ,
Twas sad th e n ext Chun g han g t o see

’
-
.
,
When on him pressed a hundred m en ,
A match for all of them was h e .
When to th e yawning grave h e cam e ,
Terror un nerve d and shook his frame .
Why thus d estroy our n oblest men ,
To th ee we cry 0 a zure H eav en !

,
_
To save Chun g han g from d eath w e would
-
A hundred li ves have freely gIven

PAR T 11.
-
M INOR ODE S OF THE Kl NGD O!
B OOK I
D ecade of L uh M ing
A PESTEL O DE
With s oun ds of happin ess the deer

Brows e on th e celery of th e meads .
A nobler feast is furni shed here ,
With guests ren own e d for n obl e deeds .
Th e lutes are struck ; th e organ bl ows ,
Ti ll all its ton gu es in movemen t h eave .
E a ch baske t loaded stan ds an d shows ,
Th e precious gifts th e guests receive .
Th ey love m e an d my min d will t each ,
How duty s highest aim to reach

’
With sounds of happin ess th e deer

The sou th ern wood crop in th e meads
-
,
What n oble guests surround me here ,
Distin gui shed for their worthy d eeds!

From them m y people learn to fly
Whate er is mean ; to chi efs they give
’
A mo del and a pattern hi gh ;

Th ey show th e lif e th ey ought to l ive .
Then fill their cups wi th spiri ts rare ,
Till each th e b anqu et s joy shall share

’
194
196 TH E I
S HI -K N G
Forbad that hi busin ss b done w

e s i th sla ck han d
e e
Of my moth I thought wi th sad b ast

er re .
My four stee ds I harnesse d all whi te and bl ack manned

,
-
,
Which s tr aight on the ir way fleet and e mulous strai ned, .
I wi shed to return ; and n ow ventu re in song

'
Th e wi sh to express an d announ ce how I lo ng

,
For my mo ther my care to a ttest .
!NOTE —Both M aou and Choc a ree

g was compomd in
th at th is ode
honor of th e officer who n arrates the sto ry in i t, a lth ough they say it was
n ot wri tten by th e o fficer h imself b ut was p ut in to hi s mouth , as it were
, ,
to express th e ath
y of his entertainer wi th him and the appreciation
v
,
of his d e o tion to uty ] .
The woodmen s blows responsive ri ng ,

’
As on the tr ee s they fa ll;

An d when th e birds their swee t n otes s in g,
Th ey to each other call .
From th e dark vall ey comes a bird,

An d s eeks the lofty tree .
Ting goe s i ts voi ce , and thus it c ri es,

“
Compani on come to m e , .
Th e bird although a creature small,

,
Upon i ts mat de p n ds;

,
e e
And hall we m en who rank o er al l ’

s , ,
Not seek to have our friends?

,
All spiri ts love the fri en dly man ,
An d hearken to h is pr ayer .
What harmony and peace they can

B estow his l ot shal l share
,
.
Hoo —
hoo the woodm en all uni te
To shout as trees they fell
, .
TH E S HI -K N G I 197
Th ey d o th eir work wi th all their mi ght ,
Wh at I have d one I ll tell ’

.
I ve straine d and mad e my spiri ts

’
clear ,
Th e fatt ed lambs I ve kil l ed

’
.
Wi th fri ends who my own surn ame bear ,

’
My hall I ve largely fille d .
S ome may b e abs en t casuall y, ,
An d leave a broken lin e ;

But bett er this than absen ce by
An overs i ght of min e .
My court I ve sprinkled and swept clean

’
Vi an ds in order set .
Ei ght di she s load ed stan d wi th grain;

’
Th ere s store of fatte d me at .
My moth er s ki th an d ki n I m sure
’ ’
I ve wi dely called by n ame

,
.
Th at some he hin dered be tter is

Than I give cause for blame .
On th e hill side th e
-
trees they fell ,
All workin g wi th good will -

.
I labor too wi th equal zeal

, ,
And th e host s pa rt fulfil

’
.
Spiri ts I ve set in order mee t

’
Th e dish es stan d in r ows .
Th e guests are here ; n o vacan t seat

A brother abs ent shows .
Th e loss of kindl y feelin g oft

From slightest thin gs shall
Where all the fare is dry and spare ,
Res en tm en ts fierc e may glow .
My store of spiri ts is well strained ,
If short prove th e supply ,
My messen gers I strai ghtway sen d ,
And what is n eeded buy .

198 TH E S H r-e c
Ib eat th e drums and in the dance

,
Lead j oyously the train .
Oh ! good it is when falls the chance

,
The spa rkling cup to drain .
THE RE S PON SE TO A FESTAL ODE
Heaven shields an d s ets thee fas t .
I t round th ee fair has cast

Th y vi rtu e pure .
Th us rich est j oy is thine;

Increase of corn and wine ,
H eaven shields an d s ets thee

From it thou goodness hast;
Ri ht are thy ways .
oicest g ifts twi ll

’
Its pOur ,
That last for everm ore ,
Nor tim e exhaust the store

Th rough en dless days .
Heaven shields and sets thee

Makes thine en deavor last
And pro sp er well .
Like hills and mountains

Whose mass es touch the
Like streams aye surging by;
Thin e increas e swel1!
With ri te and auspice fair ,
Thine offerin gs th ou d ost bear ,
And son like give

-
,
B OO K XIV
‘
The Odes f
o Ts oan
AGAI N TS FRIVOLO US PU R SUITS
Lik e splendid robes app ear the wings

Of th e ephemeral fly;
And such th e pomp of thos e gre at men ,
Which soon in death shall li e!

I gri eve ! Would they but c ome to m e !
To teach them I shoul d t ry .
Th e wings of th e ephemeral fly
Are rob es of colors gay ;
An d s uch the glory of thos e m en,
S oon crumblin g to decayl
I grieve ! W uld they but rest wi th me
o ,
They d learn a b etter way !

’
Th e e hemeral fly bursts from its hole ,
Wi gauzy win gslike sn ow ;

S o quick th e ri s e so qui ck the fall
, ,
Of those great m en we kn ow !
I gri eve ! Would they but lodge with me,
Forth they woul d wiser go .
B OO K XV
The Odes f
o Pin
THE DUKE O F CH OW TELL S OF H IS SOL DIERS
To th e hill s of th e E ast we went,

And lon g had we th ere t remain o .
When th e word of recall was s ent ,
Thick and fas t cam e th e drizzlin g

Wh en told our return we should take ,
Our hearts in th e West were an d sore ;

But there did they clo thes for us make
’
They knew our hard s ervice was o er .
On th e mulberry groun ds in our s ight

Th e large caterpillars were creepin g
o
L nely and still we pass ed th e night ,
All un der our carriages sleepin g?

To th e hills of th e E ast w e wen t,
And lon g had we there to remain .
When th e word of recall was s ent ,
Th ick an d fast cam e th e drizzlin g rain .
o
Th e heavenly g urds ris e to the eye ,
Wi th their frui t han gin g un der th e cave .
In our chamb ers th e sow bug we spy ; -
Th eir webs on our doors spi d ers weave .
Our paddocks s eem crowd ed wi th d eer,

Wi h the gl w worm s li ght all about
t o “ ’
- .
Such thou hts, while th ey filled us wi th fear,

We tri edbut in vain to keep out
, ,
.
19 1
192 TH E S H I -K N I G
To th e hill s of th e E ast we wen t ,
An d lon g had we there to remain .
Wh en the word of recall was s en t ,
Thi ck an d fast cam e th e drizzlin g rain .
On an t hi lls scre am ed cran e s wi th del ight ;

-
In their r ooms w ere our wive s s i ghin g sore .
Our hom es they had swe pt and made ti ght

All at once we arri ve d at th e door .
Th e bitter gour ds han gin g are s een ,
From branche s of chestn ut trees hi gh -

.
Three years of toil away we had been ,
Sin ce su ch a sight greete d the eye .
To th e hi lls of the East we went,

An d lon g had we th ere to remai n .
When th e word of re call was s ent,

Thick an d fast cam e th e drizz lin g rain .
Wi th its wings now here and n ow there, ,
Is the oriol e sportin g in fli ght .
Thos e bri des to their husban ds repair ,
Th eir stee ds re d and bay flecked wi th white

,
.
t
E ach mo h er has fitted each sash ;
Th eir equipments are full and comple te ;
But fre sh union s whatever their dash
, ,
Can ne er wi th reuni ons c omp ete

’
.
THE RE IS A PR OPER W AY FOR DOIN G E VERYTHIN G
In hewing an axe shaft how must you act?

,
An oth er axe tak e or you ll never succeed

,
’
.
In takin g a wife b e sur e tis a fa ct

’
, ,
That wi th no go between you never can sp eed

- .
PAR T I L—M I NOR O DE S OF THE KINGDOM
B OOK I
Decade f
o Luh Ming
With sounds of happin ess th e deer

Brows e on th e cel ery of the meads .
A nobler feast is furni sh ed here ,
Wi th guests ren own ed for noble d eeds .
The lutes are struck ; th e organ blows ,
Till all its ton gue s in mov ement heave .
E ach basket load ed stan ds an d shows ,
Th e precious gifts the gu ests receiv e .
They love me and my min d will teach ,
How duty s hi ghest aim to reach

’
.
Wi th s oun ds of happiness the deer

The southem wood crop in th e m eads
-
,
What noble guests surroun d me here ,
Distingui shed for th eir worthy deeds !

From th em my people learn to fly
Whate er is mean ; to chiefs th ey give
’
A mo del and a patt ern hi gh ;

They sh ow th e life they ough t to li ve .
Th en fill thei r cups wi th spiri ts rare ,
Till each th e banque t s joy sh all share

’
194
TH E S H r-e c 195
With s ounds of happin ess th e d eer

Th e salsola cr0 p in the fields .
What n oble guests surr oun d me here!

E ach lute for th em its mus ic yields .
S ound soun d th e lutes or great or smal l

, , ,
Th e joy harmonious to prolon g ;

An d wi th my spiri ts ri ch crown all
The cups to cheer th e festive thron g .
Let each re ti re wi th gladd ened hea rt ,
I n his own sph ere to play h is part .
S
A FE TAL O DE C OMPLIMEN TING AN OFFICER
On dashed my four steeds wi thout halt wi thout stay

, , ,
Though toilsome and win din g from Chow was th e way .
I wi shed to return— but th e m on arch s comman d

’
Forbade that his busin ess be done with sl ack han d ;

And my heart was with sadness oppress ed .
On dashed my four steeds ; I n e er slackened th e reins

’
.
They s norted and pan ted— all whi te wi th black manes .
I wished to return but our sovereign s command

,
Forbade that his business b e done wi th slack hand ;

And I dared not to paus e or to rest .
Unrestin g th Fil i al d ov s speed in th

e e flight eir ,
Ascendin g then sweepin g swif t down from th e hei ght

, ,
Now grouped on the oaks The kin g s hi gh comman d

’
Forbade that his busin ess b e done with slack hand ;

And my father I left sore di stress ed
,
.
t F
Unres ing th e ilial dove s sp eed in their fli ght ,
Now farmin g th e air and an on they ali ght

medlars thick grouped com
'
On the . But our monarch s

mand
196 TH E I
S H I -K N G
Fo bad that hi business b done w

r e s i th slack han d e
Of my moth I th ought wi th d br ast

er sa e .
My four stee ds I harnesse d all whi te an d black maned

,
-
,
Which str aight on their way fleet an d e mulous s trained

, .
I wi shed to return ; and n ow venture in song

Th e wi sh to expr ess and announ ce how I long
,
For my moth er my car e to a ttest .
!NOTE —Both M aou d Choo

an a ree
g was compoM in
th at th is ode
honor of th e officer who n arrates the sto ry in i t, al th ough they say it was
not wri tten by the o fficer h im self b ut was ut into hi s mouth , as it were ,
p
,
to exp ress th e sym ath y of his entertainer with h im, and the a reciatb l
p
of his devo tion to uty ] .
pp
THE V U AL E OF FR IE NDS HIP
As on the tr ee s the y fall ;

And wh en the birds their s wee t no tes
Th ey to e ach other c all .
Fr om th e d a rk vall ey com es a bird ,
An d seeks th e lofty tree .
Ying goe s i ts voic e , and thus it cries ,

“
Compani on com e to m e , .
Th e bir d , although a creature sm all ,
Upon its mate de p n ds;

,
e
An d hall we m en who ran k o er all ’

s , ,
Not see k to ha ve our frien ds ?

All spiri ts love the friendl y man ,
An d hear ken to h is pr ayer .
What harmony and peace they can

B estow his l ot shall share
, .
Hao—
h oo the woodmen all unite
To sh out as tree s they fell
, .
198 TH E S H r- e c
I beat the drums and in the dan ce

,
Lead joyously the train .
Oh! good it is when falls th e chance

,
Th e spa rkling cup to drain .
TH E RE SPON SE TO A FE STAL ODE
H eaven shields and s ets th ee

It roun d th ee fair has cast
Th y vi rtu e pure .
Thus ri ch est joy is thin e ;

Increas e of corn an d wine ,
An d every gift di vine ,
Abun dant sure, .
H eaven shields and s ets thee

From it thou goodness hast;
Ri ght are thy ways .
I ts ch oi cest gifts twi ll p our

’
That last f or everm ore ,
Nor tim e exhaust the store

Through endless days .
Heaven shields and s ets thee fast ,
Make s th in e endeavor las t

An d prosper well .
Like hills an d mountains high ,
Whos e mass es touch the sky;

Like streams aye surgin g by;
Thin e in creas e swell !
Wi th ri te and auspi ce fair ,
Thin e offerin gs thou dost bear ,
An d son like g ive

-
,
TH E S K I -K I N G 199
The o
seas n s r
’
oun d from spring ,
To olden duk e and king ,
Whose wo ds to the we bring

r e
“ ”
Forever li ve .
The irits f thy

dead o
Pour g
s
thy head
l essings on ,
Unnumbered sweet .
Thy subj ec ts simple good , , ,
Enj oy their drin k an d food

Our tri bes of every blood
Follow thy feet .
Like moon s that wax in li ght,

Or suns that scal e th e hei ght;
Or ageless hi ll ;
Nor ch ange nor autumn know ;
,
As pin e and cypress grow;

The s on s that from th ee flow
Be lastin g Still !
AN ODE OF C N RAT L AT O G U ION

The russet p ear tree stan ds there all al one;
-
How bri ght the growth of fruit upon it sh own

The King s aff airs n o stin tin g h an ds re
'
e ,
And days prolon ged stil l mock our fon d esire .
But time has brought th e ten th month of the year;

My woman s hear t is torn wi th woun d severe
’
Surel y my warrior lord mi ght now appear!

The s t pear tree stands there all al one;
rus e -
How dense the leafy shad e all o er it thrown!

’
The King s affairs requir e no sla ckenin g hand

’
And our sad hearts their feelin gs c an t c ommand

’
200 TH E sm - e G
Th e plan ts and trees in beauty shine; tis sprin g ’
From off my hear t its gloo m I fain would flin g .
Thi s s eason well my warri or home may bring !
I clim bed that northern hill and medl ars sought; ,
The sprin g ni gh o er to rip eness they were brought

’
, .
“
Th e Kin g s affairs cann ot be slackly done
’
Tis thus our parents mourn th eir abs en t son

’
.
But now hi s sandal car must broken b e ;

I s ee m his powerful steeds worn out to see .
Reli ef has gone ! He can t b e far from me !

’
’
Alas ! they can t have marched ; they don t arrive ! ’
More hard i t: ws wi th my di s tress to stri ve

c
.
Th e tim e is passed and s till h e is not here !

,
My sorrows multiply ; great is my fear .
But 10 ! by reeds and shell I have divined ,
Th at he is ne ar they both assure my min d

, ,
S oon at my side my warrior I shall find!
AN ODE O N THE U
RE T R N O F THE TR OO PS
Fo th f om the city in ur ca s w drove
r r o r e ,
Un til we halted at th e pastur g ound e r .
Th egeneral cam e and there wi th ardor strove

,
A n ote of zeal thr oughout th e host to sound .
“
Dir ect from court I come by orders bound ,
The march to hasten — it was thus h e spake

”
.
Then with the cam a ge oflicers aroun d

'
-
,
He stri ctly charged them quick despatch to make

“
Urgen t th e King s affairs forthwi th the field we
’
While there we stopped the second corps appeared

, ,
An d twixt us and the ci ty took its place

’
.
202 TH E SHI -
K N I G
Th e while our leader farther on had pressed ,
An d smitten wi th his power th e wild Jun g of th e west .
Th e spri n g days now are leng thenin g out th eir li ght ;

The plan ts an d trees are dress ed in li vin g green ;
Th e ori oles resting s in g or win g their fli ght;
,
Our wives ami d th e southem woo d are s een

-
,
Which whi te th ey bring to feed their silkworms keen

, .
Our host, return ed sweeps onwar ds to th e hall

, ,
Where chiefs are questi oned shown the captives mean

,
Nan Chun g maj esti c draws th e gaze of all

, , ,
Proud o er the barbarous foe his victories to recall

’
.
B OO K II
The D ecade Pih H wa
'
f
o
AN ODE A PPR O PR IA TE TO A FES TIVITY
The dew lies h eavy all aroun d ,
Nor till the sun shi nes leave s th e

, , groun d .
Far in to night we feastin g sit ;

We drink, and n ne his place may
o qui t .
Th e dew lies h eavy and its gems

,
S tud the luxurian t grassy stems

, .
Th e happy nigh t wi th wassail rin gs ;

S o feasted here th e former kings .
The jujub e an d th e will ow tr ee -
All fr etted wi th th e dew w e see .
Ea ch guest s a prince of n obl e lin e

’
In whom th e virtu es all c ombine .
The t ung their fruits display

‘
an d e ,
Pendan t from every graceful spray .
My guests are j oyous an d s erene ,
N o haggard eye no ruffled mien

,
.
BOO K III
The Decad e o f Ta ng Kung
Our chari ots were well built and firm

-
,
Well matched our steeds and fleet and strong

-
, .
Four sleek and large each chari ot drew

, , ,
An d ea stward thus we drove along .
Our hun tin g cars were light and g od, o

E ach with i ts team of n oble steeds .
Still further e ast we took th e way

To Fo ’
o-m ere s grassy plain s that leads .
Loud voiced th e masters of th e ch ase

-
,
Arran ged th e hun tsmen high an d low ,

.
While banners stream ed and cx tail s flew

,
-
,
We sought the prey on di stant Gaou .
E achwi th full team the prin ce s came

, ,
A lengthened train in bright array .
In gold wr ought slippers kn ee caps red

-
,
-
,
They looked as on an audien ce day .
Each ri ght thumb wore th e m etal guard ;

O n th e left arm its shield was bound .
I n uni son th e a rrows flew ;

The game lay piled upon th e groun d .
20 4
206 TH E I
S K I -K N G
But heralds wi th its smoke th e coming day .
My prin ces pass th e gate an d gather there;

,
I see their banners flo a tin g in th e air .
MORA L LE SSON S FR OM U
N A T RA L FA C TS
All true words fly, as from yon reedy marsh

The cran e rings o er the wild its screamin g harsh
’
Vainl y you try reason in chain s to keep ;

Freely it move s as fish sweeps thr ough th e d eep
’
.
Hate follows love as neath thos e sandal trees

,
-
Th e wi thered leaves th e eag er s earcher s ees .
Th e hur tful n e er wi thou t som e good was born ;

’
The stones that m ar th e b ill will grin d th e com .
’
All true words spread as from th e mar sh s eye
,
The crane s son orous n ote ascen ds th e sky

’
.
o
Goodness through ut th e wi dest sphere abides ,
As fish roun d isle and throu gh th e ocean glides .
An d less er good n ear great er you shall see ,
As r th e pap er shrub neath san dal tree

’
g
-
.
ows emerges from what m an c ndemns ;

An ( good o
o
Those st nes th at mar the hi ll will p li sh gems o .
B OO K IV
The Decade Ke
‘
f
o 00
ON TH E CO NIP LETION O F A R OYAL PALA CE
On yonder banks a palace lo ! upshoots , ,
The tender blue of southern hill behin d ;

Firm founded lik e th e bamboo s clampin g r o ots ;
-
,
’
Its roof made pin e lik e to a point d efine d

-
, .
Frat al love here b ears its preciou s frui ts

ern ,
And unfratern al schem es b e ne er d es i gned !

’
Ancestr al sway is his The walls they re ar

.
,
Five thousan d cubits lon g ; and south and west

The doors are laced H ere wi ll th e kin g app ear
.
,
Here laugh ere talk here sit him down an d re st

, , .
To mould the walls th e frame s they firmly ti e;

,
The toiling builders b eat the earth and lim e .
The wall s shall vermin storm and b ird d efy;

, ,
Fit dwellin g is it for his lor dly prime .
Grand is th e hall th e n oble lord ascends ;

In height lik e human form most r everen t gran d ;
, ,
And straight as fli es th e shaft when bow unb en ds ;

,
’
Its tints like hue s when pheasant s wings expand

,
.
High pillars ri s e th e level court aroun d ;

The pleasan t li ght th e op en chamb er steeps ;
And deep recess es wi de alcov es are foun d
, , ,
Where our go od kin g in p erfect quiet sleeps .
207
208 TH E S HI -K N G I
Lai d is th e bamboo mat on rush mat square;
“
H ere shall he sleep and wakin g say Divine
, , , ,
What dreams are goo d? For bear and grizzly bear ,

”
An d snake s and cobras haun t thi s couch of mine
, .
Then shall th e chief di viner glad reply ,
Th e b ears foreshow that H eaven will s end

“
you sons
Th e snakes and cobras daughter s prophesy .
Th ese auguries are all auspicious ones .
“
Sons shal l b e—on couches lulled to re st
his .
Th e little on e s enrobed wi th sceptre s play ;

, ,
Their in fan t cries are lou d as stern b ehest;

Their lm ees the vermeil cover s shal l display .
As kin g hereafter on e shal l b e address ed ;

Th e rest our princes all th e S tate s shall sway
, ,
.
“
An d daughters also to him shall be b orn .
They shall b e placed upon th e ground to sleep ;

Their play thin gs ti les their dress th e simplest worn;
,
Their part alike fr om good and ill to keep ,

'
And ne er their paren ts hearts to caus e to m ourn ;
’
To cook th e food and spiri t malt to steep

,
-
.
r m: m m on m
’
co or e S EUE N s FLocxs
Wh o dares to say your sheep are few?

The flocks are all three hun dred strong .
Wh o dares despise your cattl e too?

There ninety black lipped press al ong
,
-
, .
Though horned the sheep yet peaceful e ach appears; ,
Th e cattle come with moist and flapping ear s .

B OOK V
The D ecad e o f S eaou M in
A E UN UCH CO M PL A IN S OF H IS FA TE
A few fine lin es at ran dom drawn

, ,
Like th e shell pattem wrought in lawn

-
To hasty gl an ce wi ll s eem .
My tr ivial faults base slan der s slim e ’
Distorted in to foul est cri me ,
And m en me worthless deem .
A few smal l poin ts pri cked down on wood

, ,
May b e made out a picture good

Of the bright S outhern Sieve .
Who planned and helped those slan derers vile

, ,
My name with base li es to defil e?

Unpi tied here I grieve
, .
Wi th babblin g tongues you go about ,
An d only scheme how to mak e out

Th e li es you scatter roun d .
H ere m e Be careful what you say

h
People ere long your words will wei gh ,
And liars you ll b e found

'
.
210
TH E S K I -K N G I 211
Clever you wi th changeful schemes!
ar e
H ow else could all your evil dreams
And slan ders work their wa P
Men now beli eve y ou ; by andyby ,
The tr u th foun d out each vicious li e,
The proud rej oice; th e suflerer weeps .
O azure Heaven from out thy deeps

,
Wh y look in sil ence d own?

Behol d tho se proud men and rebuke;
With pity on th e snflerers look ,
And on the evil fr own .
Thos e slanderers I woul d ladly take ,
With all who help their s emes to make ,
And to th e tig ers throw .
If wolves and ti gers such should sp are ,
I d hurl them mi dst th e freezing air

’ ’
Where the keen north winds blow .
And should the N orth c ompass ion feel

I d fling them to great H eaven to deal
’
On them its di rest wo e .
As on th e acred hei
s ts you
My place is in th e ow dell ,
One is the other near .
Before you officers I spread

, ,
These lines by me p oor eunuch made

, ,
.
Think not Mang tsze s ev ere - .

212 TH E srrr- e c
AN OFFICER DEP L ORES TH E MISER Y OF
In the four th mon th summer shinw

t
In the six h th e he at declin es .
Nature thus gran ts m en relief;
Were not my forefathers m en?

Can my sufferin g scap e their ken?
’
In th e cold of au tumn days

E ach plan t shri vels an d d ecays
Nature then is hard and stem ;
Livin thin gs sad lessons learn .
P rien disp ers ed all order gone

, ,
Place of refuge have I n one .
Winter days are wild and fierce;

Rapid gusts ea ch crevi ce pierce .
S uch is my unhappy lot ,
Unbefriended and forgot!

Others all can happy be;
I from misery ne er am free
’
On the m oun tains are fine trees

Chestnuts plum tr ees th ere one
,
-
,
All the ye ar their forms th ey show;

Stately more an d more they grow .
Noble turned to ravenin g thief!

What the cause? This stirs my grief .
Waters from that 3 rin g appear

Sometim es foul an sometimes clear
, ,
Changin oft as falls th e rain

Or the slg
,
y grows bri ght again

New misfor tun es ev ery day
S ti ll befall me mi sery s prey
,
’
.
2 14 TH E I G
S HI -K N
Now happy and in peaceful state

, ,
You throw me off and qui te forget .
Gently and soft the east win d blows ,
Then roun d th e rocky height it storms .
E ach plan t its leaves all dyi n g sho ws ;

Th e trees di splay th eir wi thered forms .
My virtues great forgotten all ,
You keep in mind my faults th ough small

, .
B OO K VI
The D ecad e o f Pih Shan
A PIC TURE OF HU B A NS DR Y
Vari ous the toils whi ch fields so la ge deman d ! r
We choose th e seed ; we take our tools in hand .
In win ter for our work we thus prepare;

Then in th e sprin g b e arin g th e sharp en ed share
’
, ,
We to th e acres go that south in clin e ,
And to th e e ar th th e differen t s eeds con s ign .
S oon straight an d large upward each plan t aspires;

, ,
All happ en s as our n oble lord des ire s .
The plan ts will ear; wi thin their sheath confined ,
The grain s will harden and b e go od in kin d

,
.
Nor
’
dam el thes e n or wolf s tail grass infests ;
,
-
From core and leaf we pick th e in sect pests '
And pick we thos e that eat th e join ts an d roots

S o do we guard from harm the growin g fruits .
May th e great S piri t whom each farmer n am es

, ,
Th os e in s ects take an d cast them to th e flam es !

,
Th e clouds o ers read th e

mass sk
e s dens e
’
p y in ,
An d gen tler a in down to th e e ar th di sp ens e .
First may th e pu blic fields th e blessin g get ,
An d th en with it our private fields we w et!

Patches of unripe grain th e reaper le aves ;
And here and there ungath ered are the sheaves
. .
2 15
216 TH E S H r- e c
Handfuls besides we drop up on th e ground ,
And ears un touched in n umbers li e aroun d ;

Thes e by th e p oor an d wi dows shall b e foun d .
When wives and chil dren to th e toilers come ,
Bringin g provi sions from each s eparate home ,
Our lord of long d escent shall oft app ear;

The In sp ector also glad the m en to cheer
, .
Th ey too shall thank th e S pirits of th e air ,
With sacrifices pure for all their care;

Now red n ow black th e victims that they sl ay
, , ,
As North or S ou th th e sacri fice they pay ;

While millet bright the altars always show;
An d we shall thus still gre ater blessin gs know .
THE C OMPL A INT OF AN OFFICER

0 H eaven above b efore whose li ght
,
Reveal ed i s every dee d and thought ,
To thee I cry .
Hi ther on toil some servi ce brought ,
I n thi s wil d K ew I watch ime s flight

‘
t ’
An d sadly si gh .
Th e s econd mon th had just b egun ,

When from th e e ast we took our way .
Thr ough summer hot

We pass ed and many a win try day
, .
S umm e again its cou s has run

r r e .
bi tter lot !
0
There are my compeers gay at court , ,
While here th e te ars my face b egrirne .
’
I d fain return
But there is that dread net for cri m e!
Th e fear of it the wish cuts short .
In vain I burn !
218 THE SH I -K N I G
But soon what changes may beti de?
I here will stay whate er it costs
,
’
And b e r e si gned .
My hon ored friends 0 do n ot deem

,
Your rest which seems secure from ill

Will e ver last !
Your duties quietly fulfil ,
An d hold th e upri ght in e steem ,
Wi th fri en dship fast .
S o shall th e S pirits hear your cry ,
You virtuous make and good supply

, ,
I n measure vast .
My hon ored frien ds 0 do not deem

,
Repos e that s eems s ec ur e from ill

Will lasti ng prove .
Your duties quietly fulfil ,
An d hold th e upright in e steem ,
Wi th e arnest love .
S o shal l th e S pirits hear your prayer ,
And on you happin ess confer ,
Your hopes above .

B OO K VII
Decad e o f Sang Hoo
TIE RE J OICIN GS OF A BR D EGR I OOM

Wi th axle creakin g all on fire I wen t
, ,
To fetch my youn g and lov ely bri d e .
No thirst or hunger pan gs my bosom rent

I only longe d to have h er by m y s id e .
I fe ast wi th her whos e virtue fame had told

, ,
Nor n eed we friends our rapture to b ehold .
Th e lon g taile d pheasants surest covert find

-
,
Amid th e forest on th e plain .
Here from my virtu ous bri de of n oble mind , ,
And p erson tall I wi sdom gai n

,
.
I prai se her while we feast and to her say , ,

’
Th e love I hear you n e er wi ll kn ow de cay .
“
Poor w e may b e ; spiri ts an d viands fine
M y humble me an s wi ll n ot aff ord .
But what we have we ll taste an d not repine;

,
’
From us will com e no grumblin g word .
And th ough to you no vir tu e I can add ,
Yet we will sin g and d ance in sp iri t gla d ,

.
“
I oft ascend that lofty ridge with toil ,
An d h ew large branch es from th e oaks;

Th en of th eir l eafy gl ory them I spoil ,
219
TH E SHI -K NG I
fag ots form wi th vigorous strokes
An d .
Returnin g tired your matchle ss grac e I see

, ,
And my whole soul dissolves in e cstasy .
“
To th e high hills I lo oked and urged each steed ;
,
Th e great road n ext was smooth and plain .
Up hill o er dale I n ever slackened speed ;

,
’
Lik e lute s tr in g sounded every rein

- .
I knew my journey ended I sh ould come

, ,
”
To you swee t bride th e comfort of my home
, ,
.
A GAI N ST ST
LI E N IN G TO SL AN ERER D S
Like th e blueflies buzzing roun d ,
An d on th e fen ces li ghtin g ,
Are th e son s of s lan der found ,
Who n ever cease their biti n g .
O thou happy courteous king

, ,
To th e win ds their slan ders flin g .
Buzzin g round th e blueflies hear ,
About the jujubes flocking !

S o th e slanderers appear ,
Wh os e calumni es are sh ocking .
By n o law or ord er boun d ,
All the kingdom they confoun d .
How they buzz those odious flies

, ,
Upon th e hazels clust ring ! ’
An d as od ious are th e lie s

Of those slan derers blust ring ’
.
Hatred stirred between us two

S hows th e evil they can do .
222 TH E SHI -
K IN G
Like scorpion s tail rose b old

-
’
, .
S uch if I saw them in these days

, ,
I d follow with admiri n g gaze

’
.
So hun g their girdl s for show

e ,
n ot ,
To their own len gth twas due

’
”
Twas n ot b y art th eir h air curled so;
Byature so it grew
n .
I s eek such mann ers now in vain ,
And pin e for th em wi th lon gin g pain .
!Norm- Yin an dKeih were cl an n am es of t f amil ies the ladies of,
be l eaders of fashion in the capi
A WIFE BE MOAN S H ER HU SBAND S AB SE NCE ’
So full am I of anxious
Th ough all th e mom k in g grass I ve
’
-
To fill my arm s I fail .
Like wi sp all tangled is my hair !

-
To wash it l et me home repair .
My l ord s oon may I hail !

Th ough mong th e in di go I ve wrought
’ ’
Th e morning l on th rough anxious

’
My skirt s ed but in part .
Within five days he was t o appear;

Th e s ix th has com e an d h e s n ot here
’ ‘
Oh ! how this racks my heart!

When here we dwel t in uni on sweet ,
If th e hunt called his eager feet ,
His h ow I cas ed for him .
Or if to fish he w en t away ,
And would b e absen t all the day ,
His li ne I put in tri m .

TH E SKI-K N I G 223
What in his an glin g did h e catch?
Well wor th th e time it was to watch
How bream an d tench h e took .
M en thr ong ed upon th e bank s and gazed

At bream and ten ch they looked amazed ,
Th e tri um phs of hi s hook .
worn:
’
TH E EARL o r S H Aou s
As the youn g mi lle t by the g eni al rain

,
Enriche d shoo ts up luxuri an t an d tall

, ,
S o when we southward marche d with toil and pain

, ,
Th e Earl of Sh aou cheered and in spired us all .
We pushed our barrows an d our burdens bore;

,
We drove our wagon s an d our oxen l ed ,

.
“ ’
Th e work on ce don e our labor there is o er

, ,
”
An d hom e we tr avel to ours elves we sai d
,
.
Clos e
kept our footrn en roun d th e chari ot tr ack;
Our eager host in clo s e battali on s sp ed .
“
When on ce our work is don e then we go back , ,
”
Our labor over to thems elves they sai d
,
.
Hard was the work we had at S eay to do ,
But S haou s great earl th e city soon upreare d

’
.
The host its s ervi ce gave wi th ardor true;

Such power in all the earl s comm ands appeared !
’
We di d on plain s and low lan ds what was m eet ;

We cleared th e sprin gs an d streams the lan d to drain ,
.
The Earl of S haou ann oun ced his work complete ,
And th e Kin g s heart repos ed at re st agai n

’
.
,
TH E S H I -K N I G
TH E PL AIN T '
I G YE W S F R SA KE N WIFE
OF K N
’
O
Th e fibres of th e whi te -flowered rush

Are wi th th e white grass bound .
So do the two together go ,
o
In cl s est uni on found .
An d thu s should m an an d wi fe abide ,
Th e tw ain combin ed in on e ;
But thi s bad m an s ends m e away ,
And bids me dwell alone .
Both sh and grass from th e bri ght clouds

ru
Th e genial dew partake .
Kin d an d imparti al n a ture s laws

’
No odious diff erence make .
But provi dence app ears unkind ;

E ven ts are often hard .
Th is m an to pri n ciple un true

, ,
Deni es me his rega rd .
Northward th e pools their waters send ,
To flood e ach paddy field ;

So get the fields th e sap they need ,
Th eir stor e of ri ce to yield .
B ut that gre at m an no d eed of grace

Deigns to b estow on m e .
My son gs are sighs At thou ght of him

.
My heart aches wearily .
Th emul berry bran ches they collec t ,
And use their food to cook;

But I must use a furn ace small ,
That pot nor pan wi ll brook .

226 TH E SKI -
K NGI
S o does th e favori te s mean estate
’
Ren der that great m an m ean ,
While I by him to distan ce s ent

, ,
Am pierced wi th sorrow keen .
HO SPITAL ITY
A few gourd leave s that waved about

Cut down and boiled — th e feast how sp are !
But the good host his spiri ts takes ,
Pours out a cup and prove s them rare

, .
A single rabbi t on th e mat ,
Or baked or roast z— how small th e feast !

,
But the good host his spiri ts takes ,
An d fills th e cup of every g uest .
A single rabbi t on th e mat ,
Roasted or b roil ed z— how poor the m eal !

But th e guests from th e spirit vase
Fill their host s cup an d drink h is weal
’
, .
A sin gle rabbi t on th e mat ,
Roasted or b ak ed z— no feast we thin k !

But from the spiri t vase they tak e ,
B o th host and guests and joyous drink

, .
ON TH E NIIS ERY O F SOLDIERS
Yellow now is all th e grass

All th e days in mar chin g pass .
On th e move is every m an ;
Hard work far and n ear they plan
, , .
TH E SKI K N
-
I G
Black is every plan t be come ;
E very m an is torn fr om home .
Kept on foot our state is sad ;

,
As if we n o feelin gs had !
Not rhin oceros es w e!

Ti gers do w e care to b e?
Fields like these so desolate
Are to us a hateful fate .
Lon g tailed foxes pleased may hide

-
’
Mon g th e grass where they abide
,
.
We in b ox carts slowly borne

, ,
On the great roads plod an d mourn .

PART III .
- G REATER ODE S OF THE KINGDOM
B OO K I
D ecad e of King Wan
CELEB RA T N I G KIN G W AN
Th e royal Wan now re sts on h
En shrin ed in bri ghtness of th e
Chow as a state had long b een kn own ,
An d H e aven s d ecree at l ast was shown

’
Its lords had h om e a glorious n ame ;

God kin ge d th em when th e s eason came
Kin g Wan rul ed well when earth he trod
Now move s his spiri t n e ar to God .
A s tron g willed earnest kin g was Wan

-
, ,
And stil l his fame rolls widen in g on .
'
The gif ts th at G od bestowed on Chow

B elon g to Wan s d escen dan ts n ow
’
H eaven blesses s til l with gifts di vin e

Th e hundred scion s of his line ;
And all th e ofli cers of Chow
From age to age more lustrou s grow .
More lustrous still from age to age ,
All reveren t plan s their zeal engag

An d brillian t statesmen owe their birth
To this much favored spot of e arth
-
.
228
230 TH E S H r- e c
’
Tis hard to keep hi gh H eaven s de cree !
’
0 sin n ot or y ou ceas e to b e
, .
To add tru e lustr e to your n am e ,
S ’
S ee h an g expire in H eaven s dre ad flame

’
.
For H eaven s high d ealin gs are profoun d ,
And far tran scen d all s en s e an d soun d .
F om W
r your pattern you mu st draw
an ,
And all the S tates will own y our law .
!S el ecti ons from Book II are omitted .

B OO K III
D ecad e o f Tang
KIN G S EUE N ON THE OCCA SION OF A GREAT DROUGHT

Grand shon e th e M il ky Way on hi gh ,
With brillian t span athwart th e sky ,
Nor promi s e gave of rain .
Kin g S eu en lon g gazed ; then fr om him broke ,
In an guished tones th e words h e spoke .
Well might h e thus complain !

“
0 H eaven what crim e s have we to own
, ,
That death and ruin still c om e down ?

Relen tless famine fills our grave s .
Pity th e kin g who humbly craves !

Our mis eries n ever c eas e .
To every S piri t I have vowe d ;

Th e choicest victim s bloo d has flowed
’
.
As offerin gs I have freely paid

My store of g ems and purest jade .
H ear m e and give release!

,
“
The drought con sume s us As on wing .
Its fervors fly and tormen t brin g

,
.
With purest mind and ceaseless care

My sacrifices I prepare .
At thin e own border altars H eaven ’

, ,
’
An d in my father s fane I ve given ,
What mi ght relief have found .
23 1
TH E SHI-K N I G
What Powers above below have sway , , ,
To all my precious gifts I pay ,
Then bury in th e ground .
Yes every S piri t has received

,
Due hon or an d still unr elieved

, , ,
Our suff erin gs greater grow ,

.
How tseih can t give th e needed aid

-
’
And help from God is still delayed !

The coun try li es a ruine d waste .
0 would that I alon e mi ght taste

Thi s bitter cup of woe !
“
The drought con sum es us Nor d o I .
To fix th e blame on oth ers try .
I quake with dread ; th e ri sk I feel ,
As when I hear th e thun ders peal ,
Or fear its sudden crash .
Our black haire d race a remn an t now

-
, ,
Will every one b e swept from Chow ,

’
As by th e lightnin g s flash
Nor I mys elf will live alone .
God from his great an d heavenly throne

Will n ot spare even me .
0 frien ds an d ofi cers come blen d , ,
Your prayers wi th mine; come lowly bend , .
’
Chow s dyn as ty will pass away ;
Its altars at n o distant day
In ruin s all shall b e !
“
Th e drought c on sume s us It keeps on .
Its fatal cours e All hope is gone

. .
Th e air more fierce an d fiery glows .
Where can I fly? Wh ere s eek repos e?

D eath marks m e for its prey .
Above no saving hand ! Around

, ,
234 TH E SHI-K N I G
My cry ye wi sest S piri ts hear !
, ,
Ye whom I con stan tly revere ,
Why do I this endure?

“
T he drought consumes us Peopl e fly .
,
And leave their home s E ach social tie

.
And bond of rule is sn apt .
Th e H eads of Boards are all p erplexed ;

My premier s mind is sorely vexed ;
’
In trouble all are wrapt .
The Masters of my Hors e and Guards

My cook an d m en of differen t wards
,
Not one has from th e struggle shrunk .
Th ough feelin g weak th ey have not sunk

, ,
But done their b est to aid .
To th e great sky I look with pain ;

Why do these grievou s sorrows rain
On my d evoted head?
Y es at th e mighty sky I gaze

“
, ,
And 10 ! th e stars pur sue th eir maze ,
An d sparkle cl e ar an d bri ght .
Ah ! H eaven n or helps n or seems to ken

,
.
Great ofli c ers and n oble m en ,
With all your powers ye well have stri ven,

An d reveren tl y have s ought from H eaven
Its aid in our great figh t .
M y death is n ear ; but oh ! keep on ,
An d do as thu s far you have don e .
Re gard you on ly m e?
No for yours elves and all y ur friends,
, o
On wh om for rule th e lan d d ep en ds ,
You s eek s ecuri ty .
I turn my gaze to th e great sky ;

When shall this drought b e done , an d I
”
! uiet and restful b e?
PART
Thy statutes , 0 gr eat Icing,
So on
F om Wan comes blessin g rich;

r
Now on the ri ght

He own s those g ifts to whi ch
Him I in vi te .
236 TH E SKI -
I G
K N
SA CRIFICIN G I ‘
ON To THE x nvc s wo o , CH N G, A ND x A N G
The arm of Woo was full of mi ght;

None coul d his fire wi thstand ;
An d Chin g an d K an g stood forth t o s ight
‘
,
’
As kin ged by Go d s own han d .
We err not when we call them sage .
How grandly th ey main tain ed

Their hold of all th e heri tage
That Wan and Woo had gained !
Ashere we worship they d escen d

, ,
While bells an d drums resoun d ,
And stones an d l ute s th eir mu s i c blend .
With ble ssings we are crown ed .
The rites correctly w e discharge

Th e feast we freely sh are .
Th o s e S ires Ch ow s gl ory wi ll enlarge

’
And ever for it c are .

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CO NTE NTS

On Learnin g—Miscell an eous ayin gs S

BOOK V Wan . Ch ang .

Cel ebrati ng th e Virtue of Kin g Wan s Bride

Cel eb rati ng th e Industry of Kin g Wan s ! ueen

Lamenting the Ab sence of a Ch erish ed rien F

Th e S ong of th e Pl antain Cath et ers -

Th e Wife of Som e Great Officer B ewail s hi s Ab s ence

An Ofﬁcer Bewail s th e Negl ect with which He i s

The Pl aint of a R ejected Wife

An Ofﬁcer S ets Forth His Hard Lot .

Th e Complaint of a Negl ected Wife

Chwang Keang Bemoan s Her Cruel ty

!Books IV, V, and VI are om itt e d]

Th e Peopl e s Admiration for D uk e Woo

A Wife Con soled by Her Husb and s Ar n val ’

I n Praise of Som e Lady

A Wife Urging H er Husb and to Action

On th e Mi sgovernm ent of th e State

Th e King G oes to War

Celeb rating th e Opul en ce of th e Lord s of Ts m

Lament for Three Broth ers

The Contentment of a Poor Recluse

Th e Wish of an Unh appy M an

Again st Friv ol ous Pursui ts

Th e D uk e of Chow Tell s of His S ol diers

Part II Mino r Ode s of the Kingdom

An Ode Appropri ate to a Festivity

Cel eb rati n g a Hunti ng E xpedition

Moral Lessons from Natural Facts

O n th e Comple tion of a R oyal Pal ace

BOOK V THE DE CADE OF SEA OU Mm

A Eunuch Compl ain s of His Fate

A Picture of Husb andry

Th e Rejoicin gs of a Brid egroom

BOOK VIII THE DECA DE OF TOO In: S Z E

I n Praise of By gon e S irnpli city

Th e Pl ain t of King Yew s Fors a k en Wife

C el eb ratin g King Wan

King Seuen on the Occasion of a Great D rought

BOOK I S A CRI FICIAL ODEs OF CH OW

Appropriate to a Sacriﬁ ce to Kin g Wan

ng , co mm en cin g a word l ik e th e same l etters terminating one

au, as in G erman, or lik e a w in cow .

i ( not foll o wed b

0 ( fo ll owed b y a c onson ant ), as in bull

di, as ooi in cooing

h at the end of a n am e m ak es th e prece ding owel short .

in the middl e of a word denotes an aspirate ( h ) as K ung

THE str anges t ﬁgure that meets u s in th e annals of O rienta l

foun der of a reli gion and yet he has nothin g in comm on

with the grea t religious te ach ers of th e E ast We think of .

S iddarth a th e foun d er of Bu ddhism as th e very imper

son a tion of roman ti c a scetici sm en thus iasti c self sacri ﬁce

an d fa i th in th e thin gs that are in vi s ibl e Z oroaster is th e

frien d of God talki ng fac e to face wi th th e Almighty and

drin king wisd om an d kn owledge from th e lips of Cm

heaven where h e receives th e Divin e communication

which h e is hidden to propagate wi th ﬁre and sword

m osphere of th e sup ern atural They spoke wi th the au.

th ority of in spir ed proph ets They brought the unsee n

world close to the min ds of th eir disciples They spoke .

posi tively of imm ortality of reward or puni shment be