Ancient Chinese 2nd Edition (Revised and Reprinted Edition)

Author: Chief Editor: Wang Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-01-01
Features:
Fragment: [1] "On Non-Aggression" consists of three parts: the upper, middle, and lower. Here, the upper part is selected. [2] The place where trees are grown is called a garden, and the place where vegetables are grown is called a plot. In this context, "garden" and "plot" form a compound word with a biased meaning, where "plot" carries no independent meaning. [3] "Non" means to question or blame. [4] "Those in charge of governance" refers to rulers. "Get" here means to capture. [5] "Because" indicates a reason. [6] "Up to" means "as for." "Rang" is explained in the notes to "Mencius·On the Rooster." "Tun" refers to a young pig. [7] "Zi" is synonymous with "zi," meaning "more." [8] "Thick" here means "heavy." [9] "Lan" refers to the ancient term for a pen for cattle and horses. "Chi" is a stable for horses. Here, "lan" and "chi" broadly refer to pens for cattle and horses. [10] "If" indicates a hypothetical condition. [11] "Gu" means "sin." "Ye" is an interjection that introduces the following context. [12] "Tu" is synonymous with "drag," meaning to pull down. [13] "Dang ci" means "in this regard." [14] "To" is a verb. "Attacking a country" is used as a in this context. "Killing one person" is called injustice, and it must be considered a capital crime. [1] If one applies this reasoning to kill ten people, it would be ten times more unjust, and it would definitely constitute ten capital crimes. If one kills a hundred people, it would be a hundred times more unjust, and it would definitely constitute a hundred capital crimes. In such cases, all the gentlemen in the world would recognize and condemn it as unjust. However, when it comes to the greatest injustice—attacking a country—they do not recognize it as unjust but instead praise it, calling it just. People genuinely do not realize its injustice [4], so they record their words to pass them down to future generations [5]. If they knew it was unjust, how could they possibly explain recording such unjust words to future generations [6]?
[1] "One" means "once." [2] If one follows this reasoning. "If" means "if." "This explanation" refers to the principle that "killing one person is a capital crime." "Wang" here does not carry the meaning of "going" but only indicates analogy. [3] "Ten times" means ten times as much. [4] "Qing cheng" means "truly." [5] Therefore, they record the praise for attacking a country and pass it down to future generations. [6] "Xi she" means "how to explain." If there is someone here who has rarely seen black days as black and often sees black days as white, then one would conclude that this person does not distinguish between black and white [1]. If someone has rarely tasted bitterness as bitter and often tastes bitterness as sweet, then one must conclude that this person does not distinguish between bitterness and sweetness. Now, if one commits a small injustice, they recognize and condemn it; but when it comes to committing great injustices—attacking a country—they do not recognize it as unjust but instead praise it, calling it just. Can this be considered an understanding of the distinction between justice and injustice? Thus, it is clear that the gentlemen in the world are confused about the distinction between justice and injustice [2].
[1] "Bian" is synonymous with "bian," and the same applies here. [2] "Luan" means "confused," referring to confusing the two as one.