Analects Translation

Author: Liu Qi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
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[Translation] Confucius went to see Nanzi, and Zilu was displeased. Confucius swore, "If I have done anything wrong, may Heaven curse me! May Heaven curse me!"
[Annotation] ① Nanzi: The wife of Duke Ling of Wei, known for her licentious nature. "" (yue) here means "happy." ② (pi): Actions that violate propriety.
29. Confucius said, "The virtue of the mean is the highest! The people have lacked it for a long time."
[Translation] Confucius said, "The mean, as a standard of virtue, is the highest! The people have lacked this virtue for a long time."
[Annotation] ① (zhongyong): Refers to mediocre talent or the ordinary. (yong) means ordinary. Confucius advocated the "mean," which means handling things impartially, conservatively, and in a moderate manner.
30. Zigong said, "If one can widely bestow love on the people and help them, how would that be? Can it be called benevolence?" Confucius said, "Is that even benevolence? It must be the virtue of the sage! Yao and Shun might still struggle with it! A benevolent person, wishing to stand firm, helps others to stand firm; wishing to reach, helps others to reach. Taking examples from oneself is the way to practice benevolence."
[Translation] Zigong said, "If one can widely bestow love on the people and help them, how would that be? Can it be called benevolence?" Confucius said, "Is that even benevolence? It must be the virtue of the sage! Yao and Shun might still struggle with it! A benevolent person, wishing to stand firm, helps others to stand firm; wishing to reach, helps others to reach. Taking examples from oneself is the way to practice benevolence."
[Annotation] ① Yao and Shun: Both are legendary wise emperors of ancient times. Yao: Known as Tang Yao in history, ruled during a prosperous era and later abdicated to Shun. ② (fang): Means method or way.
[Commentary] The chapter "Yong Ye" consists of 28 chapters. According to Yang Bojun's "Translation and Annotation of the Analects," the original text had 30 chapters. During Zhu Xi's compilation of annotations in the Song Dynasty, chapters , 2, and 4-5 were merged, resulting in the current 28 chapters. The central theme of this chapter is the elaboration of the path and methods for a gentleman to cultivate himself. Confucius believed that to be a benevolent and virtuous gentleman, one must work hard in both virtue and learning. On one hand, one must refine one's character and cultivate one's temperament to become a morally upright and upright person. On the other hand, one must study knowledge and develop talents to acquire the skills for governing the state. Cultivating oneself requires studying knowledge, and studying knowledge serves to cultivate oneself—these two are mutually reinforcing and cannot be neglected. In this chapter, Confucius also frequently discusses the realm of the wise, the most famous of which is the saying, "The wise love water, the benevolent love mountains. The wise are active, the benevolent are calm. The wise rejoice, the benevolent live long." This is an allegorical elaboration with profound meaning, apt metaphors, and thought-provoking depth.
Chapter 7 (38th Chapter) of "Yu Er"
Confucius said, "To expound the way of the former kings without creating anew, to trust and love ancient classics, I consider myself comparable to Lao Peng of the Yin Dynasty."
[Translation] Confucius said, "To expound the way of the former kings without creating anew, to trust and love ancient classics, I consider myself comparable to Lao Peng of the Yin Dynasty."
[Annotation] ① (qie): A self-deprecating term, meaning "privately." Lao Peng: A virtuous minister of the Shang Dynasty, a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu, surnamed Qian, named Keng, and enfeoffed in Pengcheng. He was said to have lived to 700 years old, hence the nickname "Lao Peng." He lived a life of self-cultivation, studying ancient books, and was a model for recluses.
Confucius said, "To remember silently, to learn without satiety