Classical Readings of the Analects

Author: Hu Wenzheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-06-01
Features:
19.20 Zigong said, "A gentleman's faults are like the eclipses of the sun and moon: when he makes a mistake, everyone sees it; when he corrects it, everyone looks up to him." (320)
19.21 Wei Gongzhuo asked Zigong, "Where did Zhongni learn?" Zigong replied, "The way of Wen and Wu has not perished on the earth; it is in the people. The worthy recognize its greater aspects, while the unworthy recognize its smaller aspects—there is Wen and Wu's way in everything. How could the Master not learn? And why should he have a constant teacher?" (157)
19.22 Shun Junwushu spoke to the ministers in the court, "Zigong is more virtuous than Zhongni!" Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong, who said, "Compare it to a wall: Zigong's wall is up to the shoulder, allowing one to glimpse the beauty of the house; but the Master's wall is many feet high, and without finding the entrance, one cannot see the beauty of the ancestral hall or the richness of the officials. Those who find the entrance are few. Is it not fitting that the Master is spoken of like this?" (054)
19.23 Shun Junwushu slandered Zhongni. Zigong said, "Do not do so! The Master cannot be slandered! The virtue of others is like hills, which can still be climbed over; but the Master is like the sun and moon—there is nothing to surpass. Even if people wish to cut themselves off from the sun and moon, what harm does it do? They only show their own lack of self-awareness."
19.24 Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, "You are respectful, but is Zhongni more virtuous than you?" Zigong replied, "A gentleman judges by a single word whether he knows or does not know—words must be spoken with caution. The Master's reach is like the sky, which cannot be climbed by steps! When the Master governs a state or a family, he establishes and they are established; he guides and they follow; he pacifies and they come; he moves and they harmonize. His life is glorious, his death is mourned, how can he be surpassed?" (053)
The Twenty-first Chapter: Yao
20.1 Yao said, "Ah, Shun! The order of heaven is upon you. Be sure to uphold the central principle. If the four seas are in dire straits, your heavenly grace will forever end." Shun also passed this on to Yu. He said, "I, who am lesser than Li, dare to use black oxen for sacrifice and dare to openly declare to the great and ancient emperors: I dare not forgive crimes. The emperor's ministers do not conceal, for it is in the emperor's heart. If I have faults, may the myriad states not bear them; if the myriad states have faults, the blame lies on me."
In Zhou, great rewards were given to the good. "Even though they are close relatives, the virtuous are preferred. The faults of the people lie on me alone." He carefully weighed measures, reviewed laws, restored abandoned officials, and the governance of the four sides was carried out. He revived destroyed states, continued interrupted lineages, and raised the worthy, and the people of the world turned their hearts to him. What he valued most: the people, food, funerals, and sacrifices. Leniency wins the people, trustworthiness makes the people rely on you, diligence achieves results, and fairness brings joy. (434)
20.2 Zizhang asked Confucius, "What must one do to govern?" Confucius replied, "Respect the five virtues and eliminate the four vices, and then one can govern."
The Eight Exiled People: Bo Yi, Shu Qi, Yu Zhong, Yi Yi, Zhu Zhang, Liu Xiaohui, and Shao Lian.
Confucius said, "Not lowering their aspirations, not disgracing themselves—Bo Yi and Shu Qi are like this. As for Liu Xiaohui and Shao Lian, they lowered their aspirations and disgraced themselves. Their words conform to norms, and their actions are thoughtful—this is enough. As for Yu Zhong and Yi Yi, they retired and spoke freely, keeping themselves pure and exercising prudence in their retirement." "I am different—I have no fixed principles." (342)
20.3 The great master Zhi moved to Qi, the second-in-command Gan moved to Chu, the third-in-command Liao moved to Cai, the fourth-in-command Que moved to Qin, Gu Fangshu entered the river, Botaowu entered the Han, and Yang Shengqing and Xingqing entered the sea. (014)
20.4 The Duke of Zhou said to the Duke of Lu, "A gentleman does not abandon his relatives, nor does he make his ministers resentful. He does not abandon the old without a great reason, nor does he demand perfection of one person." (437)
20.5 In Zhou, there were eight distinguished men: Bo Da, Bo Shi, Zhong Tu, Zhong Hu, Shu Ye, Shu Xia, Ji sui, and Ji ruo.
The Nineteenth Chapter: Zizhang
19.1 Zizhang said, "A gentleman faces danger and dedicates himself, sees gain and thinks of righteousness, thinks of reverence in sacrifice, and thinks of sorrow in mourning—this is enough." (339)
19.2 Zizhang said, "To hold virtue without breadth, to believe in the Way without firmness—how can one be certain of existence? How can one be certain of non-existence?" (143)
19.3 A disciple of Zixia asked Zizhang about how to make friends. Zizhang asked, "What does Zixia say?" The disciple replied, "Zixia said, 'Give to those who are worthy and reject those who are not.' Zizhang said, 'This is different from what I have heard. A gentleman respects the virtuous and accepts the many, praises the good and shows mercy to the incapable. If I am the greatest among the virtuous, what can I not accept? If I am not the greatest among the virtuous, people will reject me—how can I reject others?'" (324)
19.4 Zixia said, "Even small paths have something worth observing. But pursuing them too far may lead to entanglement, so the gentleman does not do so." (131)
19.5 Zixia said, "To know what you do not know each day, and not to forget what you have learned each month, can be called a lover of learning." (150)
19.6 Zixia said, "To learn broadly and be steadfast in purpose, to ask earnestly and think deeply— is within this." (164)
19.7 Zixia said, "Craftsmen work in their workshops to complete their tasks, and gentlemen learn to achieve the Way." (130)
19.8 Zixia said, "The petty person always tries to cover their faults." (322)
19.9 Zixia said, "A gentleman has three transformations—when seen, they appear majestic; when approached, they are warm; when their words are heard, they are stern." (300)
19.10 Zixia said, "A gentleman believes before burdening the people; without belief, they think it is harsh. They believe before advising; without belief, they think it is slander." (436)
19.11 Zixia said, "Great virtue does not cross boundaries, but small virtue may vary." (334)
19.12 Ziyou asked Zixia's disciple, "When it comes to cleaning, responding, and advancing and retreating, that is enough. But this is the minor part. If the major part is lacking, how can it be?" Zixia heard this and said, "Ah! Ziyou has gone too far. The Way of the gentleman—what should be transmitted first? What should be left behind? Compare it to plants, which are distinguished by categories. How can the Way of the gentleman be slandered? Those who have both beginning and end—can they be but the sages?" (192)
19.13 Zixia said, "To govern well, then learn; to learn well, then govern." (459)
19.14 Zixia said, "Funerals should reach the point of sorrow and stop there." (228)
19.15 Ziyou said, "My friend Zhang is difficult to achieve, yet he is not." Zengzi said, "Zhang is grand, but it is hard to be a companion in with him." (415)
19.16 Zengzi said, "I heard from the Master: 'No one achieves selflessness on their own; they must do so through mourning for their parents.'" (252)
19.17 Zengzi said, "I heard from the Master: 'Meng Zhuang's filial piety is something others can do; but not changing his father's officials and policies—that is difficult.'" (250)
19.18 The Meng family appointed Yang Fu as a judge and asked Zengzi. Zengzi said, "When the superiors lose the Way, the people have scattered for a long time. If you understand the truth, then pity and do not rejoice!" (488)
19.19 Zigong said, "The faults of Zhou were not as severe as this. Therefore, a gentleman dislikes being in the lower stream—when all the faults of the world gather there." (264)
[Materials]
Preface
I. Origin
Once, when discussing quality education, I said, "We should learn from Confucius's teaching philosophy." A teacher immediatelyed, "Are we supposed to learn from Confucius's rote memorization and blind study?" I was speechless. We cannot deny that most people lack understanding of Confucius, so I felt the urge to introduce him, but never took action. Later, reading Youth Reference, I noticed many external influences entering, and I realized how far behind we had fallen. Here are some highlights:
- Swiss Love Family, Not Officials (January 13, 2000)
A country with only 7 million people, Switzerland, has 25 Nobel laureates. When asked about these names, the Swiss would proudly recite them; but when asked about their highest leaders, many did not know.
- Three Cultural Shocks in Japan (March 9, 2000)
Workaholics: Even after working hours, the office is still bustling with people looking for more work.
Hunger and Cold: Japan's GDP ranks second in the world, but "carrying three parts of hunger and cold" is a cultural trait.
Civility and Order: On Sundays, the 100-plus kilometers of highway to Tokyo are completely congested, yet the order remains. Most traffic moves in the same direction, with few opposing vehicles and no traffic police. In hours, no car went against traffic or honked impatiently.
- Paying "Burial Fees" for a Dead Tree (July 27, 2000)
After World War II, defeated Germany lacked fuel. When winter came, Germans shivered in the cold but did not cut down a single tree in the forest.
- A Smart Society Is Too Foolish (September 14, 2000)
Many Chinese are successful in business in Bulgaria. Taxes are based on self-declaration, and few Chinese report accurately. With this "tax advantage," they have accumulated wealth over the years. Moreover, they teach this "experience" to newcomers and mock tax officials as "foolish Laskov."
- In the UK, No Ticket Checks at Train Stations, No Escape Tickets
Platforms are fully open, yet no ones. Rowing boats in the lakes require no deposit or document withholding—just buy a ticket and take the boat. On the way back, no one checks tickets or boats—just tie them up as before.
- A Chinese Student Sent a Watch Back Home, but Only Received an Empty Box
When he reported this to the British postal service, they compensated him quickly without requiring any proof.
These facts, though not shocking, highlight our and demand reflection from every Chinese person. It is not the faults themselves that are, but the inability to see them or cover them up, even taking pride in them. That is the true and true sorrow.
Here, I mention the strengths of others not to deny their weaknesses, nor do I deny my own strengths or belittle myself. Instead, I take the strengths of others to my weaknesses—“Choose the good and follow it, and correct the bad.”
Many attribute China's backwardness to economic or related factors, such as a large population, scarce resources, and low national quality, rarely linking it to moral or spiritual issues. For a great nation that prides itself on being a "civilized ancient land," this is a great shame and a terrible irony.
In my view, this condition of the people is closely related to their lack of understanding or disregard for Confucian thought. To change this, popularizing Confucian thought among the people is an effective means. Thus, I began to classify and organize the origins of Confucianism, starting with the Analects.
The outside world is dazzling, but the inside is helpless. The advancement of developed countries lies in the moral and spiritual quality of their people: kindness, adherence to morality, dedication to work, and concern for the people. All of this—can it not be a strong driving force for economic development?
Therefore, when we admire their achievements, we must not forget the all-around efforts they made to attain them; when we praise their social atmosphere, we must not forget the role each individual plays in shaping it. Just like watching a sports competition: if you only admire the champion without considering their hard work, or if you only see the exciting performances without learning anything, then you have wasted your time watching the game.