,,the ,,wisdom   ,,of ,,confucius       
,the ,wisdom   of ,confucius    with    
critical and biographical sketches by   
,,epiphanius ,,wilson1 ,a4,m4    ,art   
,type ,edition    ,,the ,,world',s      
,,popular ,,classics    ,books1 ,inc4   
,,new ,,york       ,,copyright1 #aijj   
,,by ,,the ,,colonial ,,press           
,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states  
,,of ,,america     ,,contents   ,,the   
,,wisdom ,,of ,,confucius               
,,page    ,introduction                 
#c    ,,book       ,i4 ,on              
,learning--,miscellaneous ,sayings      
#h      ,,ii4 ,good ,government--,filial
 ,piety--,the ,superior ,man            
#ab     ,,iii4 ,abuse of ,proprieties in
 ,ceremonial and ,music                 
#af      ,,iv4 ,social                  
,virtue--,superior and ,inferior ,man   
#bb       ,v4 ,a ,disciple and the      
,golden ,rule--,miscellaneous           
#be      ,,vi4 ,more                    
,characteristics--,wisdom--,philanthropy
                 #ca     ,,vii4         

,characteristics of ,confucius--,an     
,incident                  #cf          
,,viii4 ,sayings of ,tsang--,sentences  
of the ,master                  #db     
,,ix4 ,his ,favorite ,disciple's        
,opinion of ,him                     #df
       ,x4 ,confucius in ,private and   
,official ,life                     #ea 
,,xi4 ,comparative ,worth of ,his       
,disciples                         #ef  
,,xii4 ,the ,master's                   
,answers--,philanthropy--,friendships   
#fb    ,,xiii4 ,answers on the ,art of  
,governing--,consistency                
#fh     ,,xiv4 ,good and ,bad           
,government--,miscellaneous ,sayings    
#ge      ,,xv4 ,practical               
,wisdom--,reciprocity the ,rule of ,life
             #hc     ,,xvi4 ,against    
,intestine ,strife--,good and ,bad      
,friendships         #hh    ,,xvii4 ,the
 ,master ,induced to ,take              
,office--,nature and ,habit        #ic  
,,xviii4 ,good ,men in ,seclusion--,duke
 of ,chow to ,his ,son             #ii  

,,xix4 ,teachings of ,various ,chief    
,disciples                      #ajc    
,,xx4 ,extracts from the ,book of       
,history                         #ajh   
,,the ,,sayings ,,of ,,mencius          
,introduction                           
#aac    ,,book ,i4 ,king ,hwuy of       
,leang4       ,part ,i                  
#aae   ,books ,,ii1 ,,iii1 and ,,iv are 
omitted    ,,book ,v4 ,wan ,chang4      
,part ,i                                
#abh     ,,the ,,shi-,,king             
,introduction                           
#adc    ,part ,i4 ,lessons from the     
,states4    ,,book ,i4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of
 ,,chow ,,and ,,the ,,south4            
,celebrating the ,virtue of ,king ,wan's
 ,bride                   #ade          
,celebrating the ,industry of ,king     
,wan's ,queen                 #adf      
,in ,praise of a ,bride                 
#adf       ,celebrating ,t'ae-,sze's    
,freedom from ,jealousy                 
#adg       ,the ,fruitfulness of the    
,locust                                 

#adg       ,lamenting the ,absence of a 
,cherished ,friend                  #adh
       ,celebrating the ,goodness of the
 ,descendants of ,king ,wan      #adi   
,the ,virtuous ,manners of the ,young   
,women                      #adi        
,praise of a ,rabbit-,catcher           
#aej       ,the ,song of the            
,plantain-,gatherers                    
#aea       ,the ,affection of the ,wives
 on the ,joo                        #aea
    ,,book ,,ii4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of      
,,shaou ,,and ,,the ,,south4       ,the 
,marriage of a ,princess                
#aeb       ,the ,industry and ,reverence
 of a ,prince's ,wife                   
#aeb       ,the ,wife of ,some ,great   
,officer ,bewails his ,absence          
#aec       ,the ,diligence of the ,young
 ,wife of an ,officer                   
#aed       ,the ,love of the ,people for
 the ,duke of ,shaou                    
#aed       ,the ,easy ,dignity of the   
,officers at ,some ,court               
#aee       ,anxiety of a ,young ,lady to

 ,get ,married                          
#aee    ,,book ,,iii4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of 
,p',,ei4       ,an ,officer ,bewails the
 ,neglect with which ,he is ,treated    
#aeg       ,a ,wife ,deplores the       
,absence of ,her ,husband               
#aeh       ,the ,plaint of a ,rejected  
,wife                                   
#aei       ,soldiers of ,wei ,bewail    
,separation from their ,families        
#afa       ,an ,officer ,tells of ,his  
,mean ,employment                       
#afa       ,an ,officer ,sets ,forth    
,his ,hard ,lot                         
#afb       ,the ,complaint of a         
,neglected ,wife                        
#afc       ,in ,praise of a ,maiden     
#afd       ,discontent                  
#afd       ,chwang ,keang ,bemoans ,her 
,husband's ,cruelty                     
#afe    ,books ,,iv1 ,v1 and ,,vi are   
omitted    ,,book ,,vii4 ,,the ,,odes   
,,of ,,ch',,ing4       ,the ,people's   
,admiration for ,duke ,woo              
#afg       ,a ,wife ,consoled by ,her   

,husband's ,arrival                     
#afh       ,in ,praise of ,some ,lady   
#afh       ,a ,man's ,praise of ,his    
,wife                                   
#afi       ,an ,entreaty                
#afi       ,a ,woman ,scorning ,her     
,lover                                  
#afi       ,a ,lady ,mourns the ,absence
 of ,her ,student ,lover                
#agj    ,,book ,,viii4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of
 ,,ts',e4       ,a ,wife ,urging ,her   
,husband to ,action                     
#aga       ,the ,folly of ,useless      
,effort                                 
#agb       ,the ,prince of ,loo         
#agb    ,,book ,,ix4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of  
,,wei4       ,on the ,misgovernment of  
the ,state                              
#agd       ,the ,mean ,husband          
#age       ,a ,young ,soldier on        
,service                                
#age    ,,book ,x4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of    
,t',,ang4       ,the ,king ,goes to ,war
                                        
#agg       ,lament of a ,bereaved       

,person                                 
#agh       ,the ,drawbacks of ,poverty  
#agi       ,a ,wife ,mourns for ,her    
,husband                                
#agi    ,,book ,,xi4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of  
,,ts',,in4       ,celebrating the       
,opulence of the ,lords of ,ts'in       
#aha       ,a ,complaint                
#ahb       ,a ,wife's ,grief ,because of
 ,her ,husband's ,absence               
#ahb       ,lament for ,three ,brothers 
#ahc       ,in ,praise of a ,ruler of   
,ts'in                              #ahd
       ,the ,generous ,nephew           
#ahe    ,,book ,,xii4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of 
,,ch',,in4       ,the ,contentment of a 
,poor ,recluse                          
#ahf       ,the ,disappointed ,lover    
#ahf       ,a ,love-,song               
#ahg       ,the ,lament of a ,lover     
#ahg    ,,book ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of
 ,,kwei4       ,the ,wish of an ,unhappy
 ,man                                   
#ahi    ,,book ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of 
,,ts',,aou4       ,against ,frivolous   

,pursuits                               
#aij    ,,book ,,xv4 ,,the ,,odes ,,of  
,,pin4       ,the ,duke of ,chow ,tells 
of ,his ,soldiers                       
#aia       ,there is a ,proper ,way for 
,doing ,everything                      
#aib    ,part ,,ii4 ,minor ,odes of the 
,kingdom4    ,,book ,i4 ,,decade ,,of   
,,luh ,,ming4       ,a ,festal ,ode     
#aid       ,a ,festal ,ode              
,complimenting an ,officer              
#aie       ,the ,value of ,friendship   
#aif       ,the ,response to a ,festal  
,ode                                    
#aih       ,an ,ode of ,congratulation  
#aii       ,an ,ode on the ,return of   
the ,troops                             
#bjj    ,,book ,,ii4 ,,the ,,decade ,,of
 ,,pih ,,hwa4       ,an ,ode            
,appropriate to a ,festivity            
#bjc    ,,book ,,iii4 ,,the ,,decade    
,,of ,t',,ung ,,kung4       ,celebrating
 a ,hunting ,expedition                 
#bjd       ,the ,king's ,anxiety for    
,his ,morning ,levee                    

#bje       ,moral ,lessons from ,natural
 ,facts                             #bjf
    ,,book ,,iv4 ,,the ,,decade ,,of    
,k',e-,,foo4       ,on the ,completion  
of a ,royal ,palace                     
#bjg       ,the ,condition of ,king     
,seuen's ,flocks                        
#bjh    ,,book ,v4 ,,the ,,decade ,,of  
,,seaou ,,min4       ,a ,eunuch         
,complains of ,his ,fate                
#baj       ,an ,officer ,deplores the   
,misery of the ,time                    
#bab       ,on the ,alienation of a     
,friend                                 
#bac    ,,book ,,vi4 ,,the ,,decade ,,of
 ,,pih ,,shan4       ,a ,picture of     
,husbandry                              
#bae       ,the ,complaint of an        
,officer                                
#baf    ,,book ,,vii4 ,,decade ,,of     
,,sang ,,hoo4       ,the ,rejoicings of 
a ,bridegroom                           
#bai       ,against ,listening to       
,slanderers                             
#bbj   ,,book ,,viii4 ,,the ,,decade    

,,of ,,too ,,jin ,,sze4       ,in       
,praise of ,by-gone ,simplicity         
#bba       ,a ,wife ,bemoans ,her       
,husband's ,absence                     
#bbb       ,the ,earl of ,shaou's ,work 
#bbc       ,the ,plaint of ,king ,yew's 
,forsaken ,wife                         
#bbd       ,hospitality                 
#bbf       ,on the ,misery of ,soldiers 
#bbf    ,part ,,iii4 ,greater ,odes of  
the ,kingdom4    ,,book ,i4 ,,decade    
,,of ,,king ,,wan4       ,celebrating   
,king ,wan                              
#bbh    ,book ,,ii is omitted    ,,book 
,,iii4 ,,decade ,,of ,,tang4       ,king
 ,seuen on the ,occasion of a ,great    
,drought                #bca    ,part   
,,iv4 ,odes of the ,temple and ,altar4  
,,book ,i4 ,,sacrificial ,,odes ,,of    
,,chow4   ,appropriate to a ,sacrifice  
to ,king ,wan                           
#bce   ,on ,sacrificing to the ,kings   
,woo1 ,ching1 and ,k'ang                
#bcf       ,,the ,,wisdom   ,,of        
,,confucius    ,translated into ,english

 by ,william ,jennings                  
,,pronunciation ,,of ,,proper ,,names   
j1 as in ,french4       ng1 commencing a
 word1 like the same letters terminating
 one4       ai or ei1 as in aisle or    
eider4       au1 as in ,german1 or like 
ow in cow4       e1 as in fete4       i 
7not followed by a consonant71 as ee in 
see4       u 7followed by a consonant71 
as in bull4       iu1 as ew in new4     
ui1 as ooi in cooing4       h at the end
 of a name makes the preceding vowel    
short4       ' in the middle of a word  
denotes an aspirate 7h71 as ,k'ung      
,khung4     ,,introduction   ,the       
strangest figure that meets us in the   
annals of ,oriental thought is that of  
,confucius4 ,to the popular mind he is  
the founder of a religion1 and yet he   
has nothing in common with the great    
religious teachers of the ,east4 ,we    
think of ,siddartha1 the founder of     
,buddhism1 as the very impersonation of 
romantic asceticism1 enthusiastic       
self-sacrifice1 and faith in the things 

that are invisible4 ,zoroaster is the   
friend of ,god1 talking face to face    
with the ,almighty1 and drinking wisdom 
and knowledge from the lips of          
,omniscience4 ,mohammed is represented  
as snatched up into heaven1 where he    
receives the ,divine communication which
 he is bidden to propagate with fire and
 sword throughout the world4 ,these     
great teachers lived in an atmosphere of
 the supernatural4 ,they spoke with the 
authority of inspired prophets4 ,they   
brought the unseen world close to the   
minds of their disciples4 ,they spoke   
positively of immortality1 of reward or 
punishment beyond the grave4 ,the       
present life they despised1 the future  
was to them everything in its promised  
satisfaction4 ,the teachings of         
,confucius were of a very different     
sort4 ,throughout his whole writings he 
has not even mentioned the name of ,god4
 ,he declined to discuss the question of
 immortality4 ,when he was asked about  
spiritual beings1 he remarked1 ,if we   

cannot even know men1 how can we know   
spirits8  ,yet this was the man the     
impress of whose teaching has formed the
 national character of five hundred     
millions of people4 ,a temple to        
,confucius stands to this day in every  
town and village of ,china4 ,his        
precepts are committed to memory by     
every child from the tenderest age1 and 
each year at the royal university at    
,pekin the ,emperor holds a festival in 
honor of the illustrious teacher4  ,the 
influence of ,confucius springs1 first  
of all1 from the narrowness and         
definiteness of his doctrine4 ,he was no
 transcendentalist1 and never meddled   
with supramundane things4 ,his teaching 
was of the earth1 earthy2 it dealt      
entirely with the common relations of   
life1 and the ,golden ,rule he must     
necessarily have stumbled upon1 as the  
most obvious canon of his system4 ,he   
strikes us as being the great ,stoic of 
the ,east1 for he believed that virtue  
was based on knowledge1 knowledge of a  

man's own heart1 and knowledge of       
human-kind4 ,there is a pathetic        
resemblance between the accounts given  
of the death of ,confucius and the death
 of ,zeno4 ,both died almost without    
warning in dreary hopelessness1 without 
the ministrations of either love or     
religion4 ,this may be a mere           
coincidence1 but the lives and teachings
 of both men must have led them to look 
with indifference upon such an end4 ,for
 ,confucius in his teaching treated only
 of man's life on earth1 and seems to   
have had no ideas with regard to the    
human lot after death2 if he had any    
ideas he preserved an inscrutable       
silence about them4 ,as a moralist he   
prescribed the duties of the king and of
 the father1 and advocated the          
cultivation by the individual man of    
that rest or apathy of mind which       
resembles so much the disposition aimed 
at by the ,greek and ,roman ,stoic4     
,even as a moralist1 he seems to have   
sacrificed the ideal to the practical1  

and his loose notions about marriage1   
his tolerance of concubinage1 the slight
 emphasis which he lays on the virtue of
 veracity--of which indeed he does not  
seem himself to have been particularly  
studious in his historic writings--place
 him low down in the rank of moralists4 
,yet he taught what he felt the people  
could receive1 and the flat mediocrity  
of his character and his teachings has  
been stamped forever upon a people who1 
while they are kindly1 gentle1          
forbearing1 and full of family piety1   
are palpably lacking not only in the    
exaltation of ,mysticism1 but in any    
religious feeling1 generally so-called4 
,the second reason that made the        
teaching of ,confucius so influential is
 based on the circumstances of the time4
 ,when this thoughtful1 earnest youth   
awoke to the consciousness of life about
 him1 he saw that the abuses under which
 the people groaned sprang from the     
feudal system1 which cut up the country 
into separate territories1 over which   

the power of the king had no control4   
,china was in the position of ,france in
 the years preceding ,philippe-,auguste1
 excepting that there were no places of 
sanctuary and no ,truce of ,god4 ,the   
great doctrine of ,confucius was the    
unlimited despotism of the ,emperor1 and
 his moral precepts were intended to    
teach the ,emperor how to use his power 
aright4 ,but the ,emperor was only      
typical of all those in authority--the  
feudal duke1 the judge on the bench1 and
 the father of the family4 ,each could  
discharge his duties aright only by     
submitting to the moral discipline which
 ,confucius prescribed4 ,a vital element
 in this system is its conservatism1 its
 adherence to the imperial idea4 ,as    
,james ,i said1 ,no bishop1 no king1 so 
the imperialists of ,china have found in
 ,confucianism the strongest basis for  
the throne1 and have supported its      
dissemination accordingly4  ,the        
,analects of ,confucius contain the gist
 of his teachings1 and is worthy of     

study4 ,we find in this work most of the
 precepts which his disciples have      
preserved and recorded4 ,they form a    
code remarkable for simplicity1 even    
crudity1 and we are compelled to admire 
the force of character1 the practical   
sagacity1 the insight into the needs of 
the hour1 which enabled ,confucius1     
without claiming any ,divine sanction1  
to impose this system upon his          
countrymen4  ,the name ,confucius is    
only the ,latinized form of two words   
which mean ,master ,k'ung4 ,he was born 
#eea ,b4,c41 his father being governor  
of ,shantung4 ,he was married at        
nineteen1 and seems to have occupied    
some minor position under the           
government4 ,in his twenty-fourth year  
he entered upon the three years'        
mourning for the death of his mother4   
,his seclusion gave him time for deep   
thought and the study of history1 and he
 resolved upon the regeneration of his  
unhappy country4 ,by the time he was    
thirty he became known as a great       

teacher1 and disciples flocked to him4  
,but he was yet occupied in public      
duties1 and rose through successive     
stages to the office of ,chief ,judge in
 his own country of ,lu4 ,his tenure of 
office is said to have put an end to    
crime1 and he became the idol of the    
people in his district4 ,the jealousy of
 the feudal lords was roused by his fame
 as a moral teacher and a blameless     
judge4 ,confucius was driven from his   
home1 and wandered about1 with a few    
disciples1 until his sixty-ninth year1  
when he returned to ,lu1 after          
accomplishing a work which has borne    
fruit1 such as it is1 to the present    
day4 ,he spent the remaining five years 
of his life in editing the odes and     
historic monuments in which the glories 
of the ancient ,chinese dynasty are set 
forth4 ,he died in his seventy-third    
year1 #dgh ,b4,c4 ,there can be no doubt
 that the success of ,confucius has been
 singularly great1 owing especially to  
the narrow scope of his scheme1 which   

has become crystallized in the habits1  
usages1 and customs of the people4      
,especially has it been instrumental in 
consolidating the empire1 and in        
strengthening the power of the monarch1 
who1 as he every year burns incense in  
the red-walled temple at ,pekin1 utters 
sincerely the invocation3 ,great art    
thou1 ,o perfect ,sage6 ,thy virtue is  
full1 thy doctrine complete4 ,among     
mortal men there has not been thine     
equal4 ,all kings honor thee4 ,thy      
statutes and laws have come gloriously  
down4 ,thou art the pattern in this     
imperial school4 ,reverently have the   
sacrificial vessels been set out4 ,full 
of awe1 we sound our drums and bells4   
,e4 ,w4     ,,book ,i  ,on              
,learning--,miscellaneous ,sayings   ,to
 learn1 said the ,master1 and then to   
practise opportunely what one has       
learnt--does not this bring with it a   
sense of satisfaction8  ,to have        
associates in study coming to one from  
distant parts--does not this also mean  

pleasure in store8  ,and are not those  
who1 while not comprehending all that is
 said1 still remain not unpleased to    
hear1 men of the superior order8  ,a    
saying of the ,scholar ,yu3--  ,it is   
rarely the case that those who act the  
part of true men in regard to their duty
 to parents and elder brothers are at   
the same time willing to turn currishly 
upon their superiors3 it has never yet  
been the case that such as desire not to
 commit that offence have been men      
willing to promote anarchy or disorder4 
,men of superior mind busy themselves   
first in getting at the root of things2 
and when they have succeeded in this the
 right course is open to them4 ,well1   
are not filial piety and friendly       
subordination among brothers a root of  
that right feeling which is owing       
generally from man to man8  ,the ,master
 observed1 ,rarely do we meet with the  
right feeling due from one man to       
another where there is fine speech and  
studied mien4  ,the ,scholar ,tsang once

 said of himself3 ,on three points ,i   
examine myself daily1 viz41 whether1 in 
looking after other people's interests1 
,i have not been acting whole-heartedly2
 whether1 in my intercourse with        
friends1 ,i have not been true2 and     
whether1 after teaching1 ,i have not    
myself been practising what ,i have     
taught4  ,the ,master once observed that
 to rule well one of the larger ,states 
meant strict attention to its affairs   
and conscientiousness on the part of the
 ruler2 careful husbanding of its       
resources1 with at the same time a      
tender care for the interests of all    
classes2 and the employing of the masses
 in the public service at suitable      
seasons4  ,let young people1 said he1   
show filial piety at home1              
respectfulness towards their elders when
 away from home2 let them be            
circumspect1 be truthful2 their love    
going out freely towards all1           
cultivating good-will to men4 ,and if1  
in such a walk1 there be time or energy 

left for other things1 let them employ  
it in the acquisition of literary or    
artistic accomplishments4  ,the disciple
 ,tsz-hia said1 ,the appreciation of    
worth in men of worth1 thus diverting   
the mind from lascivious                
desires--ministering to parents while   
one is the most capable of so           
doing--serving one's ruler when one is  
able to devote himself entirely to that 
object--being sincere in one's language 
in intercourse with friends3 this ,i    
certainly must call evidence of         
learning1 though others may say there   
has been 'no learning4'  ,sayings of the
 ,master3--  ,if the great man be not   
grave1 he will not be revered1 neither  
can his learning be solid4  ,give       
prominent place to loyalty and          
sincerity4  ,have no associates in study
 who are not advanced somewhat like     
yourself4  ,when you have erred1 be not 
afraid to correct yourself4  ,a saying  
of the ,scholar ,tsang3--  ,the virtue  
of the people is renewed and enriched   

when attention is seen to be paid to the
 departed1 and the remembrance of       
distant ancestors kept and cherished4   
,tsz-k'in put this query to his fellow  
disciple ,tsz-kung3 said he1 ,when our  
,master comes to this or that ,state1 he
 learns without fail how it is being    
governed4 ,does he investigate matters8 
or are the facts given him8  ,tsz-kung  
answered1 ,our ,master is a man of      
pleasant manners1 and of probity1       
courteous1 moderate1 and unassuming3 it 
is by his being such that he arrives at 
the facts4 ,is not his way of arriving  
at things different from that of others8
  ,a saying of the ,master3--  ,he who1 
after three years' observation of the   
will of his father when alive1 or of his
 past conduct if dead1 does not deviate 
from that father's ways1 is entitled to 
be called 'a dutiful son4'  ,sayings of 
the ,scholar ,yu3--  ,for the practice  
of the ,rules of ,propriety1#a one      
excellent way is to be natural4 ,this   
naturalness became a great grace in the 

practice of kings of former times2 let  
everyone1 small or great1 follow their  
example4  ,it is not1 however1 always   
practicable2 and it is not so in the    
case of a person who does things        
naturally1 knowing that he should act   
so1 and yet who neglects to regulate his
 acts according to the ,rules4  ,when   
truth and right are hand in hand1 a     
statement will bear repetition4 ,when   
respectfulness and propriety go hand in 
hand1 disgrace and shame are kept       
afar-off4 ,remove all occasion for      
alienating those to whom you are bound  
by close ties1 and you have them still  
to resort to4  ,a saying of the         
,master3--  ,the man of greater mind    
who1 when he is eating1 craves not to   
eat to the full2 who has a home1 but    
craves not for comforts in it2 who is   
active and earnest in his work and      
careful in his words2 who makes towards 
men of high principle1 and so maintains 
his own rectitude--that man may be      
styled a devoted student4  ,tsz-kung    

asked1 ,what say you1 sir1 of the poor  
who do not cringe and fawn2 and what of 
the rich who are without pride and      
haughtiness8 ,they are passable1 the    
,master replied2 yet they are scarcely  
in the same category as the poor who are
 happy1 and the rich who love propriety4
  ,in the ',book of the ,odes1'         
,tsz-kung went on to say1 we read of one
      ,polished1 as by the knife and    
file1     ,the graving-tool1 the        
smoothing-stone4  ,does that coincide   
with your remark8  ,ah6 such as you1    
replied the ,master1 may well commence a
 discussion on the ,odes4 ,if one tell  
you how a thing goes1 you know what     
ought to come4  ,it does not greatly    
concern me1 said the ,master1 that men  
do not know me2 my great concern is1 my 
not knowing them4  ,footnote #a3 ,an    
important part of a ,chinaman's         
education still4 ,the text-book1 ,the   
,li ,ki1 contains rules for behavior and
 propriety for the whole life1 from the 
cradle to the grave4     ,,book ,,ii    

,good ,government--,filial ,piety--,the 
,superior ,man   ,sayings of the        
,master3--  ,let a ruler base his       
government upon virtuous principles1 and
 he will be like the pole-star1 which   
remains steadfast in its place1 while   
all the host of stars turn towards it4  
,the ',book of ,odes' contains three    
hundred pieces1 but one expression in it
 may be taken as covering the purport of
 all1 viz41 ,unswerving mindfulness4    
,to govern simply by statute1 and to    
reduce all to order by means of pains   
and penalties1 is to render the people  
evasive1 and devoid of any sense of     
shame4  ,to govern upon principles of   
virtue1 and to reduce them to order by  
the ,rules of ,propriety1 would not only
 create in them the sense of shame1 but 
would moreover reach them in all their  
errors4  ,when ,i attained the age of   
fifteen1 ,i became bent upon study4 ,at 
thirty1 ,i was a confirmed student4 ,at 
forty1 nought could move me from my     
course4 ,at fifty1 ,i comprehended the  

will and decrees of ,heaven4 ,at sixty1 
my ears were attuned to them4 ,at       
seventy1 ,i could follow my heart's     
desires1 without overstepping the lines 
of rectitude4  ,to a question of        
,mang-i1 as to what filial piety        
consisted in1 the ,master replied1 ,in  
not being perverse4 ,afterwards1 when   
,fan ,ch'i was driving him1 the ,master 
informed him of this question and       
answer1 and ,fan ,ch'i asked1 ,what was 
your meaning8 ,the ,master replied1 ,i  
meant that the ,rules of ,propriety     
should always be adhered to in regard to
 those who brought us into the world3 in
 ministering to them while living1 in   
burying them when dead1 and afterwards  
in the offering to them of sacrificial  
gifts4  ,to a query of ,mang ,wu        
respecting filial piety1 the ,master    
replied1 ,parents ought to bear but one 
trouble--that of their own sickness4    
,to a like question put by ,tsz-yu1 his 
reply was this3 ,the filial piety of the
 present day simply means the being able

 to support one's parents--which extends
 even to the case of dogs and horses1   
all of which may have something to give 
in the way of support4 ,if there be no  
reverential feeling in the matter1 what 
is there to distinguish between the     
cases8  ,to a like question of ,tsz-hia1
 he replied3 ,the manner is the         
difficulty4 ,if1 in the case of work to 
be done1 the younger folks simply take  
upon themselves the toil of it2 or if1  
in the matter of meat and drink1 they   
simply set these before their elders--is
 this to be taken as filial piety8      
,once the ,master remarked1 ,i have     
conversed with ,hwui the whole day long1
 and he has controverted nothing that ,i
 have said1 as if he were without wits4 
,but when his back was turned1 and ,i   
looked attentively at his conduct apart 
from me1 ,i found it satisfactory in all
 its issues4 ,no1 indeed6 ,hwui is not  
without his wits4  ,other observations  
of the ,master3--  ,if you observe what 
things people 7usually7 take in hand1   

watch their motives1 and note           
particularly what it is that gives them 
satisfaction1 shall they be able to     
conceal from you what they are8 ,conceal
 themselves1 indeed6  ,be versed in     
ancient lore1 and familiarize yourself  
with the modern2 then may you become    
teachers4  ,the great man is not a mere 
receptacle4  ,in reply to ,tsz-kung     
respecting the great man3---  ,what he  
first says1 as a result of his          
experience1 he afterwards follows up4   
,the great man is catholic-minded1 and  
not one-sided4 ,the common man is the   
reverse4  ,learning1 without thought1 is
 a snare2 thought1 without learning1 is 
a danger4  ,where the mind is set much  
upon heterodox principles--there truly  
and indeed is harm4  ,to the disciple of
 ,tsz-lu the ,master said1 ,shall ,i    
give you a lesson about knowledge8 ,when
 you know a thing1 maintain that you    
know it2 and when you do not1           
acknowledge your ignorance4 ,this is    
characteristic of knowledge4  ,tsz-chang

 was studying with an eye to official   
income4 ,the ,master addressed him thus3
 ,of the many things you hear hold aloof
 from those that are doubtful1 and speak
 guardedly with reference to the rest2  
your mistakes will then be few4 ,also1  
of the many courses you see adopted1    
hold aloof from those that are risky1   
and carefully follow the others2 you    
will then seldom have occasion for      
regret4 ,thus1 being seldom mistaken in 
your utterances1 and having few         
occasions for regret in the line you    
take1 you are on the high road to your  
preferment4  ,to a question put to him  
by ,duke ,ngai#b as to what should be   
done in order to render the people      
submissive to authority1 ,confucius     
replied1 ,promote the straightforward1  
and reject those whose courses are      
crooked1 and the thing will be effected4
 ,promote the crooked and reject the    
straightforward1 and the effect will be 
the reverse4  ,when ,ki ,k'ang#c asked  
of him how the people could be induced  

to show respect1 loyalty1 and           
willingness to be led1 the ,master      
answered1 ,let there be grave dignity in
 him who has the oversight of them1 and 
they will show him respect2 let him be  
seen to be good to his own parents1 and 
kindly in disposition1 and they will be 
loyal to him2 let him promote those who 
have ability1 and see to the instruction
 of those who have it not1 and they will
 be willing to be led4  ,some one1      
speaking to ,confucius1 inquired1 ,why1 
sir1 are you not an administrator of    
government8 ,the ,master rejoined1 ,what
 says the ',book of the ,annals1' with  
reference to filial duty8--',make it a  
point to be dutiful to your parents and 
amicable with your brethren2 the same   
duties extend to an administrator4' ,if 
these1 then1 also make an administrator1
 how am ,i to take your words about     
being an administrator8  ,on one        
occasion the ,master remarked1 ,i know  
not what men are good for1 on whose word
 no reliance can be placed4 ,how should 

your carriages1 large or little1 get    
along without your whipple-trees or     
swing-trees8  ,tsz-chang asked if it    
were possible to forecast the state of  
the country ten generations hence4 ,the 
,master replied in this manner3 ,the    
,yin dynasty adopted the rules and      
manners of the ,hia line of kings1 and  
it is possible to tell whether it       
retrograded or advanced4 ,the ,chow line
 has followed the ,yin1 adopting its    
ways1 and whether there has been        
deterioration or improvement may also be
 determined4 ,some other line may take  
up in turn those of ,chow2 and supposing
 even this process to go on for a       
hundred generations1 the result may be  
known4  ,other sayings of the ,master3--
  ,it is but flattery to make           
sacrificial offerings to departed       
spirits not belonging to one's own      
family4  ,it is moral cowardice to leave
 undone what one perceives to be right  
to do4  ,footnote #b3 ,of ,lu           
7,confucius's native ,state74  ,footnote

 #c3 ,head of one of the ,three         
,families of ,lu4     ,,book ,,iii      
,abuse of ,proprieties in ,ceremonial   
and ,music   ,alluding to the head of   
the ,ki family1#d and the eight lines of
 posturers#e before their ancestral     
hall1 ,confucius remarked1 ,if the ,ki  
can allow himself to go to this extent1 
to what extent will he not allow himself
 to go8  ,the ,three ,families#f were in
 the habit1 during the ,removal of the  
sacred vessels after sacrifice1 of using
 the hymn commencing      ,harmoniously 
the ,princes       ,draw near with      
reverent tread1     ,assisting in his   
worship       ,heaven's ,son1 the great 
and dread4  ,how1 exclaimed the ,master1
 can such words be appropriated in the  
ancestral hall of the ,three ,families8 
,where a man1 said he again1 has not the
 proper feelings due from one man to    
another1 how will he stand as regards   
the ,rules of ,propriety8 ,and in such a
 case1 what shall we say of his sense of
 harmony8  ,on a question being put to  

him by ,lin ,fang1 a disciple1 as to    
what was the radical idea upon which the
 ,rules of ,propriety were based1 the   
,master exclaimed1 ,ah6 that is a large 
question4 ,as to some rules1 where there
 is likelihood of extravagance1 they    
would rather demand economy2 in those   
which relate to mourning1 and where     
there is likelihood of being easily     
satisfied1 what is wanted is real       
sorrow4  ,speaking of the disorder of   
the times he remarked that while the    
barbarians on the ,north and ,east had  
their ,chieftains1 we here in this great
 country had nothing to compare with    
them in that respect3--we had lost these
 distinctions6  ,alluding to the matter 
of the ,chief of the ,ki family         
worshipping on ,t'ai-shan1#g the ,master
 said to ,yen ,yu1 ,cannot you save him 
from this8 ,he replied1 ,it is beyond my
 power4 ,alas1 alas6 exclaimed the      
,master1 are we to say that the spirits 
of ,t'ai-shan have not as much          
discernment as ,lin ,fang8  ,of the     

superior man1 the ,master observed1 ,in 
him there is no contentiousness4 ,say   
even that he does certainly contend with
 others1 as in archery competitions2 yet
 mark1 in that case1 how courteously he 
will bow and go up for the forfeit-cup1 
and come down again and give it to his  
competitor4 ,in his very contest he is  
still the superior man4  ,tsz-hia once  
inquired what inference might be drawn  
from the lines--      ,dimples playing  
in witching smile1       ,beautiful     
eyes1 so dark1 so bright6     ,oh1 and  
her face may be thought the while       
,colored by art1 red rose on white6     
,coloring1 replied the ,master1 requires
 a pure and clear background4 ,then1    
said the other1 rules of ceremony       
require to have a background6 ,ah6      
exclaimed the ,master1 you are the man  
to catch the drift of my thought4 ,such 
as you may well introduce a discussion  
on the ,odes4  ,said the ,master1 ,as   
regards the ceremonial adopted and      
enforced by the ,hia dynasty1 ,i am able

 to describe it1 although their own     
descendants in the ,state of ,ki can    
adduce no adequate testimony in favor of
 its use there4 ,so1 too1 ,i am able to 
describe the ceremonial of the ,yin     
dynasty1 although no more can the ,sung 
people show sufficient reason for its   
continuance amongst themselves4 ,and why
 cannot they do so8 ,because they have  
not documents enough1 nor men learned   
enough4 ,if only they had such1 ,i could
 refer them to them in support of their 
usages4  ,when ,i am present at the     
great quinquennial sacrifice to the     
manes of the royal ancestors1 the       
,master said1 from the pouring-out of   
the oblation onwards1 ,i have no heart  
to look on4  ,some one asked what was   
the purport of this great sacrifice1 and
 the ,master replied1 ,i cannot tell4   
,the position in the empire of him who  
could tell you is as evident as when you
 look at this--pointing to the palm of  
his hand4  ,when he offered sacrifices  
to his ancestors1 he used to act as if  

they were present before him4 ,in       
offering to other spirits it was the    
same4  ,he would say1 ,if ,i do not     
myself take part in my offerings1 it is 
all the same as if ,i did not offer     
them4  ,wang-sun ,kia asked him once1   
,what says the proverb1 ',better to     
court favor in the kitchen than in the  
drawing-room'8 ,the ,master replied1    
,nay1 better say1 ,he who has sinned    
against ,heaven has none other to whom  
prayer may be addressed4  ,of the ,chow 
dynasty the ,master remarked1 ,it looks 
back upon two other dynasties2 and what 
a rich possession it has in its records 
of those times6 ,i follow ,chow6  ,on   
his first entry into the grand temple1  
he inquired about every matter connected
 with its usages4 ,some one thereupon   
remarked1 ,who says that the son of the 
man of ,tsou#h understands about        
ceremonial8 ,on entering the grand      
temple he inquired about everything4    
,this remark coming to the ,master's    
ears1 he said1 ,what ,i did is part of  

the ceremonial6  ,in archery1 he said1  
the great point to be observed is not   
simply the perforation of the leather2  
for men have not all the same strength4 
,that was the fashion in the olden days4
  ,once1 seeing that his disciple       
,tsz-kung was desirous that the         
ceremonial observance of offering a     
sheep at the new moon might be dispensed
 with1 the ,master said1 ,ah6 you grudge
 the loss of the sheep2 ,i grudge the   
loss of the ceremony4  ,to serve one's  
ruler nowadays1 he remarked1 fully      
complying with the ,rules of ,propriety1
 is regarded by others as toadyism6     
,when ,duke ,ting questioned him as to  
how a prince should deal with his       
ministers1 and how they in turn should  
serve their prince1 ,confucius said in  
reply1 ,in dealing with his ministers a 
prince should observe the proprieties2  
in serving his prince a minister should 
observe the duty of loyalty4  ,referring
 to the ,first of the ,odes1 he remarked
 that it was mirthful without being     

lewd1 and sad also without being        
painful4  ,duke ,ngai asked the disciple
 ,tsai ,wo respecting the places for    
sacrificing to the ,earth4 ,the latter  
replied1 ,the ,family of the ,great ,yu1
 of the ,hia dynasty1 chose a place of  
pine trees2 the ,yin founders chose     
cypresses2 and the ,chow founders       
chestnut trees1 solemn and majestic1 to 
inspire1 'tis said1 the people with     
feelings of awe4  ,the ,master on       
hearing of this exclaimed1 ,never an    
allusion to things that have been       
enacted in the past6 ,never a           
remonstrance against what is now going  
on6 ,he has gone away without a word of 
censure4  ,the ,master once said of     
,kwan ,chung1#i ,a small-minded man     
indeed6  ,was he miserly8 some one      
asked4  ,miserly1 indeed6 said he2 not  
that3 he married three times1 and he was
 not a man who restricted his official  
business to too few hands--how could he 
be miserly8  ,he knew the ,rules of     
,propriety1 ,i suppose8                 

,judge3--,seeing that the feudal lords  
planted a screen at their gates1 he too 
would have one at his6 ,seeing that when
 any two of the feudal lords met in     
friendly conclave they had an           
earthenware stand on which to place     
their inverted cups after drinking1 he  
must have the same6 ,if he knew the     
,rules of ,propriety1 who is there that 
does not know them8  ,in a discourse to 
the ,chief ,preceptor of ,music at the  
court of ,lu1 the ,master said1 ,music  
is an intelligible thing4 ,when you     
begin a performance1 let all the various
 instruments produce as it were one     
sound 7inharmonious72 then1 as you go   
on1 bring out the harmony fully1        
distinctly1 and with uninterrupted flow1
 unto the end4  ,the warden of the      
border-town of ,i requested an interview
 with ,confucius1 and said1 ,when great 
men have come here1 ,i have never yet   
failed to obtain a sight of them4 ,the  
followers introduced him2 and1 on       
leaving1 he said to them1 ,sirs1 why    

grieve at his loss of office8 ,the      
empire has for long been without good   
government2 and ,heaven is about to use 
your master as its edict-announcer4     
,comparing the music of the emperor     
,shun with the music of ,king ,wu1 the  
,master said1 ,that of ,shun is         
beautiful throughout1 and also good     
throughout4 ,that of ,wu is all of it   
beautiful1 but scarcely all of it good4 
,high station1 said the ,master1        
occupied by men who have no large and   
generous heart2 ceremonial performed    
with no reverence2 duties of mourning   
engaging the attention1 where there is  
absence of sorrow2--how should ,i look  
on1 where this is the state of things8  
,footnote #d3 ,the ,chief of the ,ki    
clan was virtually the ,duke of ,lu1    
under whom ,confucius for a time held   
office4  ,footnote #e3 ,these posturers 
were mutes who took part in the ritual  
of the ancestral temple1 waving plumes1 
flags1 etc4 ,each line or rank of these 
contained eight men4 ,only in the       

sovereign's household should there have 
been eight lines of them2 a ducal family
 like the ,ki should have had but six   
lines2 a great official had four1 and   
one of lower grade two4 ,these were the 
gradations marking the status of        
families1 and ,confucius's sense of     
propriety was offended at the ,ki's     
usurping in this way the appearance of  
royalty4  ,footnote #f3 ,three great    
families related to each other1 in whose
 hands the government of the ,state of  
,lu then was1 and of which the ,ki was  
the chief4  ,footnote #g3 ,one of the   
five sacred mountains1 worshipped upon  
only by the sovereign4  ,footnote #h3   
,tsou was ,confucius's birthplace2 his  
father was governor of the town4        
,footnote #i3 ,a renowned statesman who 
flourished about two hundred years      
before ,confucius's time4 ,a            
philosophical work on law and           
government1 said to have been written by
 him1 is still extant4 ,he was regarded 
as a sage by the people1 but he lacked1 

in ,confucius's eyes1 the one thing     
needful--propriety4     ,,book ,,iv     
,social ,virtue--,superior and ,inferior
 ,man   ,sayings of the ,master3--  ,it 
is social good feeling that gives charm 
to a neighborhood4 ,and where is the    
wisdom of those who choose an abode     
where it does not abide8  ,those who are
 without it cannot abide long1 either in
 straitened or in happy circumstances4  
,those who possess it find contentment  
in it4 ,those who are wise go after it  
as men go after gain4  ,only they in    
whom it exists can have right likings   
and dislikings for others4  ,where the  
will is set upon it1 there will be no   
room for malpractices4  ,riches and     
honor are what men desire2 but if they  
arrive at them by improper ways1 they   
should not continue to hold them4       
,poverty and low estate are what men    
dislike2 but if they arrive at such a   
condition by improper ways1 they should 
not refuse it4  ,if the 'superior man'  
make nought of social good feeling1 how 

shall he fully bear that name8  ,not    
even whilst he eats his meal will the   
'superior man' forget what he owes to   
his fellow-men4 ,even in hurried        
leave-takings1 even in moments of       
frantic confusion1 he keeps true to this
 virtue4  ,i have not yet seen a lover  
of philanthropy1 nor a hater of         
misanthropy--such1 that the former did  
not take occasion to magnify that virtue
 in himself1 and that the latter1 in his
 positive practice of philanthropy1 did 
not1 at times1 allow in his presence    
something savoring of misanthropy4  ,say
 you1 is there any one who is able for  
one whole day to apply the energy of his
 mind to this virtue8 ,well1 ,i have not
 seen any one whose energy was not equal
 to it4 ,it may be there are such1 but  
,i have never met with them4  ,the      
faults of individuals are peculiar to   
their particular class and surroundings2
 and it is by observing their faults    
that one comes to understand the        
condition of their good feelings towards

 their fellows4  ,one may hear the right
 way in the morning1 and at evening die4
  ,the scholar who is intent upon       
learning the right way1 and who is yet  
ashamed of poor attire and poor food1 is
 not worthy of being discoursed with4   
,the masterly man's attitude to the     
world is not exclusively this or that3  
whatsoever is right1 to that he will be 
a party4  ,the masterly man has an eye  
to virtue1 the common man1 to earthly   
things2 the former has an eye to        
penalties for error--the latter1 to     
favor4  ,where there is habitual going  
after gain1 there is much ill-will4     
,when there is ability in a ruler to    
govern a country by adhering to the     
,rules of ,propriety1 and by kindly     
condescension1 what is wanted more8     
,where the ability to govern thus is    
wanting1 what has such a ruler to do    
with the ,rules of ,propriety8  ,one    
should not be greatly concerned at not  
being in office2 but rather about the   
requirements in one's self for such a   

standing4 ,neither should one be so much
 concerned at being unknown2 but rather 
with seeking to become worthy of being  
known4  ,addressing his disciple ,tsang 
,sin1 the ,master said1 ,tsang ,sin1 the
 principles which ,i inculcate have one 
main idea upon which they all hang4     
,aye1 surely1 he replied4  ,when the    
,master was gone out the other disciples
 asked what was the purport of this     
remark4 ,tsang's answer was1 ,the       
principles of our ,master's teaching are
 these---whole-heartedness and kindly   
forbearance2 these and nothing more4    
,other observations of the ,master3--   
,men of loftier mind manifest themselves
 in their equitable dealings2           
small-minded men in their going after   
gain4  ,when you meet with men of worth1
 think how you may attain to their      
level2 when you see others of an        
opposite character1 look within1 and    
examine yourself4  ,a son1 in           
ministering to his parents1 may 7on     
occasion7 offer gentle remonstrances2   

when he sees that their will is not to  
heed such1 he should nevertheless still 
continue to show them reverent respect1 
never obstinacy2 and if he have to      
suffer1 let him do so without murmuring4
  ,whilst the parents are still living1 
he should not wander far2 or1 if a      
wanderer1 he should at least have some  
fixed address4  ,if for three years he  
do not veer from the principles of his  
father1 he may be called a dutiful son4 
,a son should not ignore the years of   
his parents4 ,on the one hand1 they may 
be a matter for rejoicing 7that they    
have been so many71 and on the other1   
for apprehension 7that so few remain74  
,people in olden times were loth to     
speak out1 fearing the disgrace of not  
being themselves as good as their words4
  ,those who keep within restraints are 
seldom losers4  ,to be slow to speak1   
but prompt to act1 is the desire of the 
'superior man4'  ,virtue dwells not     
alone3 she must have neighbors4  ,an    
observation of ,tsz-yu3--               

,officiousness1 in the service of       
princes1 leads to disgrace2 among       
friends1 to estrangement4     ,,book ,v 
,a ,disciple and the ,golden            
,rule--,miscellaneous   ,the ,master    
pronounced ,kung-ye ,ch'ang1 a disciple1
 to be a marriageable person2 for       
although lying bound in criminal fetters
 he had committed no crime4 ,and he gave
 him his own daughter to wife4  ,of ,nan
 ,yung1 a disciple1 he observed1 that in
 a ,state where the government was well 
conducted he would not be passed over in
 its appointments1 and in one where the 
government was ill conducted he would   
evade punishment and disgrace4 ,and he  
caused his elder brother's daughter to  
be given in marriage to him4  ,of       
,tsz-tsien1 a disciple1 he remarked1 ,a 
superior man indeed is the like of him6 
,but had there been none of superior    
quality in ,lu1 how should this man have
 attained to this excellence8  ,tsz-kung
 asked1 ,what of me1 then8 ,you1 replied
 the ,master--,you are a receptacle4 ,of

 what sort8 said he4 ,one for high and  
sacred use1 was the answer4  ,some one  
having observed of ,yen ,yung that he   
was good-natured towards others1 but    
that he lacked the gift of ready speech1
 the ,master said1 ,what need of that   
gift8 ,to stand up before men and pour  
forth a stream of glib words is         
generally to make yourself obnoxious to 
them4 ,i know not about his             
good-naturedness2 but at any rate what  
need of that gift8  ,when the ,master   
proposed that ,tsi-tiau ,k'ai should    
enter the government service1 the latter
 replied1 ,i can scarcely credit it4    
,the ,master was gratified4  ,good      
principles are making no progress1 once 
exclaimed the ,master4 ,if ,i were to   
take a raft1 and drift about on the sea1
 would ,tsz-lu1 ,i wonder1 be my        
follower there8 ,that disciple was      
delighted at hearing the suggestion2    
whereupon the ,master continued1 ,he    
surpasses me in his love of deeds of    
daring4 ,but he does not in the least   

grasp the pith of my remark4  ,in reply 
to a question put to him by ,mang ,wu   
respecting ,tsz-lu--as to whether he    
might be called good-natured towards    
others1 the ,master said1 ,i cannot     
tell2 but1 on the question being put    
again1 he answered1 ,well1 in an        
important ,state#aj he might be         
intrusted with the management of the    
military levies2 but ,i cannot answer   
for his good nature4  ,what say you then
 of ,yen ,yu8  ,as for ,yen1 he replied1
 in a city of a thousand families1 or in
 a secondary fief1#aa he might be       
charged with the governorship2 but ,i   
cannot answer for his good-naturedness4 
,take ,tsz-hwa1 then2 what of him8      
,tsz-hwa1 said he1 with a cincture girt 
upon him1 standing as attendant at      
,court1 might be charged with the       
addressing of visitors and guests2 but  
as to his good-naturedness ,i cannot    
answer4  ,addressing ,tsz-kung1 the     
,master said1 ,which of the two is ahead
 of the other--yourself or ,hwui8 ,how  

shall ,i dare1 he replied1 even to look 
at ,hwui8 ,only let him hear one        
particular1 and from that he knows ten2 
whereas ,i1 if ,i hear one1 may from it 
know two4  ,you are not a match for him1
 ,i grant you1 said the ,master4 ,you   
are not his match4  ,tsai ,yu1 a        
disciple1 used to sleep in the daytime4 
,said the ,master1 ,one may hardly carve
 rotten wood1 or use a trowel to the    
wall of a manure-yard6 ,in his case1    
what is the use of reprimand8  ,my      
attitude towards a man in my first      
dealings with him1 he added1 was to     
listen to his professions and to trust  
to his conduct4 ,my attitude now is to  
listen to his professions1 and to watch 
his conduct4 ,my experience with ,tsai  
,yu has led to this change4  ,i have    
never seen1 said the ,master1 a man of  
inflexible firmness4 ,some one thereupon
 mentioned ,shin ,ch'ang1 a disciple4   
,ch'ang1 said he1 is wanton2 where do   
you get at his inflexibleness8          
,tsz-kung made the remark3 ,that which  

,i do not wish others to put upon me1 ,i
 also wish not to put upon others4 ,nay1
 said the ,master1 you have not got so  
far as that4  ,the same disciple once   
remarked1 ,there may be access so as to 
hear the ,master's literary discourses1 
but when he is treating of human nature 
and the way of ,heaven1 there may not be
 such success4  ,tsz-lu1 after once     
hearing him upon some subject1 and      
feeling himself as yet incompetent to   
carry into practice what he had heard1  
used to be apprehensive only lest he    
should hear the subject revived4        
,tsz-kung asked how it was that ,kung   
,wan had come to be so styled ,wan 7the 
talented74 ,the ,master's answer was1   
,because1 though a man of an active     
nature1 he was yet fond of study1 and he
 was not ashamed to stoop to put        
questions to his inferiors4  ,respecting
 ,tsz-ch'an1#ab the ,master said that he
 had four of the essential qualities of 
the 'superior man'3--in his own private 
walk he was humble-minded2 in serving   

his superiors he was deferential2 in his
 looking after the material welfare of  
the people he was generously kind2 and  
in his exaction of public service from  
the latter he was just4  ,speaking of   
,yen ,ping1 he said1 ,he was one who was
 happy in his mode of attaching men to  
him4 ,however long the intercourse1 he  
was always deferential to them4         
,referring to ,tsang ,wan1 he asked1    
,what is to be said of this man's       
discernment8--this man with his         
tortoise-house1 with the pillar-heads   
and posts bedizened with scenes of hill 
and mere6  ,tsz-chang put a question    
relative to the chief ,minister of ,tsu1
 ,tsz-wan4 ,he said1 ,three times he    
became chief ,minister1 and on none of  
these occasions did he betray any sign  
of exultation4 ,three times his ministry
 came to an end1 and he showed no sign  
of chagrin4 ,he used without fail to    
inform the new ,minister as to the old  
mode of administration4 ,what say you of
 him8  ,that he was a loyal man1 said   

the ,master4  ,but was he a man of      
fellow-feeling8 said the disciple4  ,of 
that ,i am not sure1 he answered2 how am
 ,i to get at that8  ,the disciple went 
on to say3--,after the assassination of 
the prince of ,ts'i by the officer      
,ts'ui1 the latter's fellow-official    
,ch'in ,wan1 who had half a score teams 
of horses1 gave up all1 and turned his  
back upon him4 ,on coming to another    
,state1 he observed1 ',there are here   
characters somewhat like that of our    
minister ,ts'ui1' and he turned his back
 upon them4 ,proceeding to a certain    
other ,state1 he had occasion to make   
the same remark1 and left4 ,what say you
 of him8  ,that he was a pure-minded    
man1 answered the ,master4  ,but was he 
a man of fellow-feeling8 urged the      
disciple4  ,of that ,i am not sure1 he  
replied2 how am ,i to get at that8  ,ki 
,wan was one who thought three times    
over a thing before he acted4 ,the      
,master hearing this of him1 observed1  
,twice would have been enough4  ,of     

,ning ,wu1 the ,master said that when   
matters went well in the ,state he used 
to have his wits about him3 but when    
they went wrong1 he lost them4 ,his     
intelligence might be equalled1 but not 
his witlessness6  ,once1 when the       
,master lived in the ,state of ,ch'in1  
he exclaimed1 ,let me get home again6   
,let me get home6 ,my school-children#ac
 are wild and impetuous6 ,though they   
are somewhat accomplished1 and perfect  
in one sense in their attainments1 yet  
they know not how to make nice          
discriminations4  ,of ,peh-,i and ,shuh 
,ts'i he said1 ,by the fact of their not
 remembering old grievances1 they       
gradually did away with resentment4  ,of
 ,wei-shang ,kau he said1 ,who calls him
 straightforward8 ,a person once begged 
some vinegar of him1 and he begged it   
from a neighbor1 and then presented him 
with it6  ,fine speech1 said he1 and    
studied mien1 and superfluous show of   
deference--of such things ,tso-k'iu     
,ming was ashamed4 ,i too am ashamed of 

such things4 ,also of hiding resentment 
felt towards an opponent and treating   
him as a friend--of this kind of thing  
he was ashamed1 and so too am ,i4       
,attended once by the two disciples ,yen
 ,yuen and ,tsz-lu1 he said1 ,come now1 
why not tell me1 each of you1 what in   
your hearts you are really after8  ,i   
should like1 said ,tsz-lu1 for myself   
and my friends and associates1 carriages
 and horses1 and to be clad in light    
furs6 nor would ,i mind much if they    
should become the worse for wear4  ,and 
,i should like1 said ,yen ,yuen1 to live
 without boasting of my abilities1 and  
without display of meritorious deeds4   
,tsz-lu then said1 ,i should like1 sir1 
to hear what your heart is set upon4    
,the ,master replied1 ,it is this3--in  
regard to old people1 to give them quiet
 and comfort2 in regard to friends and  
associates1 to be faithful to them2 in  
regard to the young1 to treat them with 
fostering affection and kindness4  ,on  
one occasion the ,master exclaimed1 ,ah1

 'tis hopeless6 ,i have not yet seen the
 man who can see his errors1 so as      
inwardly to accuse himself4  ,in a small
 cluster of houses there may well be1   
said he1 some whose integrity and       
sincerity may compare with mine2 but ,i 
yield to none in point of love of       
learning4  ,footnote #aj3 ,lit41 a      
,state of #a1jjj war chariots4          
,footnote #aa3 ,lit41 a ,house of #ajj  
war chariots4  ,footnote #ab3 ,a great  
statesman of ,confucius's time4         
,footnote #ac3 ,a familiar way of       
speaking of his disciples in their      
hearing4     ,,book ,,vi  ,more         
,characteristics--,wisdom--,philanthropy
   ,of ,yen ,yung1 a disciple1 the      
,master said1 ,yung might indeed do for 
a prince6  ,on being asked by this ,yen 
,yung his opinion of a certain          
individual1 the ,master replied1 ,he is 
passable4 ,impetuous1 though4  ,but1    
argued the disciple1 if a man habituate 
himself to a reverent regard for        
duty--even while in his way of doing    

things he is impetuous--in the oversight
 of the people committed to his charge1 
is he not passable8 ,if1 on the other   
hand1 he habituate himself to           
impetuosity of mind1 and show it also in
 his way of doing things1 is he not then
 over-impetuous8  ,you are right1 said  
the ,master4  ,when the ,duke ,ngai     
inquired which of the disciples were    
devoted to learning1 ,confucius answered
 him1 ,there was one ,yen ,hwui who     
loved it--a man whose angry feelings    
towards any particular person he did not
 suffer to visit upon another2 a man who
 would never fall into the same error   
twice4 ,unfortunately his allotted time 
was short1 and he died1 and now his like
 is not to be found2 ,i have never heard
 of one so devoted to learning4  ,while 
,tsz-hwa1 a disciple1 was away on a     
mission to ,ts'i1 the disciple ,yen ,yu1
 on behalf of his mother1 applied for   
some grain4 ,give her three pecks1 said 
the ,master4 ,he applied for more4 ,give
 her eight1 then4 ,yen gave her fifty   

times that amount4 ,the ,master said1   
,when ,tsz-hwa went on that journey to  
,ts'i1 he had well-fed steeds yoked to  
his carriage1 and was arrayed in light  
furs4 ,i have learnt that the 'superior 
man' should help those whose needs are  
urgent1 not help the rich to be more    
rich4  ,when ,yuen ,sz became prefect   
under him1 he gave him nine hundred     
measures of grain1 but the prefect      
declined to accept them4#ad ,you must   
not1 said the ,master4 ,may they not be 
of use to the villages and hamlets      
around you8  ,speaking of ,yen ,yung    
again1 the ,master said1 ,if the        
offspring of a speckled ox be red in    
color1 and horned1 even though men may  
not wish to take it for sacrifice1 would
 the spirits of the hills and streams   
reject it8  ,adverting to ,hwui again1  
he said1 ,for three months there would  
not be in his breast one thought        
recalcitrant against his feeling of     
good-will towards his fellow-men4 ,the  
others may attain to this for a day or  

for a month1 but there they end4  ,when 
asked by ,ki ,k'ang whether ,tsz-lu was 
fit to serve the government1 the ,master
 replied1 ,tsz-lu is a man of decision3 
what should prevent him from serving the
 government8  ,asked the same question  
respecting ,tsz-kung and ,yen ,yu he    
answered similarly1 pronouncing         
,tsz-kung to be a man of perspicacity1  
and ,yen ,yu to be one versed in the    
polite arts4  ,when the head of the ,ki 
family sent for ,min ,tsz-k'ien to make 
him governor of the town of ,pi1 that   
disciple said1 ,politely decline for me4
 ,if the offer is renewed1 then indeed  
,i shall feel myself obliged to go and  
live on the further bank of the ,wan4   
,peh-niu had fallen ill1 and the ,master
 was inquiring after him4 ,taking hold  
of his hand held out from the window1 he
 said1 ,it is taking him off6 ,alas1 his
 appointed time has come6 ,such a man1  
and to have such an illness6  ,of ,hwui1
 again3 ,a right worthy man indeed was  
he6 ,with his simple wooden dish of     

rice1 and his one gourd-basin of drink1 
away in his poor back lane1 in a        
condition too grievous for others to    
have endured1 he never allowed his      
cheery spirits to droop4 ,aye1 a right  
worthy soul was he6  ,it is not1 ,yen   
,yu once apologized1 that ,i do not take
 pleasure in your doctrines2 it is that 
,i am not strong enough4 ,the ,master   
rejoined1 ,it is when those who are not 
strong enough have made some moderate   
amount of progress that they fail and   
give up2 but you are now drawing your   
own line for yourself4  ,addressing     
,tsz-hia1 the ,master said1 ,let your   
scholarship be that of gentlemen1 and   
not like that of common men4  ,when     
,tsz-yu became governor of ,wu-shing1   
the ,master said to him1 ,do you find   
good men about you8 ,the reply was1     
,there is ,tan-t'ai ,mieh-ming1 who when
 walking eschews by-paths1 and who1     
unless there be some public function1   
never approaches my private residence4  
,mang ,chi-fan1 said the ,master1 is no 

sounder of his own praises4 ,during a   
stampede he was in the rear1 and as they
 were about to enter the city gate he   
whipped up his horses1 and said1 '',twas
 not my daring made me lag behind4 ,my  
horses would not go4'  ,obiter dicta of 
the ,master3--  ,whoever has not the    
glib utterance of the priest ,t'o1 as   
well as the handsomeness of ,prince     
,chau of ,sung1 will find it hard to    
keep out of harm's way in the present   
age4  ,who can go out but by that door8 
,why walks no one by these guiding      
principles8  ,where plain naturalness is
 more in evidence than polish1 we       
have--the man from the country4 ,where  
polish is more in evidence than         
naturalness1 we have--the town scribe4  
,it is when naturalness and polish are  
equally evident that we have the ideal  
man4  ,the life of a man is--his        
rectitude4 ,life without it--such may   
you have the good fortune to avoid6     
,they who know it are not as those who  
love it1 nor they who love it as those  

who rejoice in it--that is1 have the    
fruition of their love for it4  ,to the 
average man1 and those above the        
average1 it is possible to discourse on 
higher subjects2 to those from the      
average downwards1 it is not possible4  
,fan ,ch'i put a query about wisdom4    
,the ,master replied1 ,to labor for the 
promoting of righteous conduct among the
 people of the land2 to be serious in   
regard to spiritual beings1 and to hold 
aloof from them2--this may be called    
wisdom4  ,to a further query1 about     
philanthropy1 he replied1 ,those who    
possess that virtue find difficulty with
 it at first1 success later4  ,men of   
practical knowledge1 he said1 find their
 gratification among the rivers of the  
lowland1 men of sympathetic social      
feeling find theirs among the hills4    
,the former are active and bustling1 the
 latter calm and quiet4 ,the former take
 their day of pleasure1 the latter look 
to length of days4  ,alluding to the    
,states of ,ts'i and ,lu1 he observed1  

that ,ts'i1 by one change1 might attain 
to the condition of ,lu2 and that ,lu1  
by one change1 might attain to good     
government4  ,an exclamation of the     
,master 7satirizing the times1 when old 
terms relating to government were still 
used while bereft of their old          
meaning73--,a quart1 and not a quart6   
quart1 indeed6 quart1 indeed6  ,tsai    
,wo1 a disciple1 put a query4 ,said he1 
,suppose a philanthropic person were    
told1 ',there's a fellow-creature down  
in the well6' ,would he go down after   
him8  ,why should he really do so8      
answered the ,master4 ,the good man1 or 
a superior man might be induced to go1  
but not to go down4 ,he may be misled1  
but not befooled4  ,the superior man1   
said he1 with his wide study of books1  
and hedging himself round by the ,rules 
of ,propriety1 is not surely1 after all 
that1 capable of overstepping his       
bounds4  ,once when the ,master had had 
an interview with ,nan-tsz1 which had   
scandalized his disciple ,tsz-lu1 he    

uttered the solemn adjuration1 ,if ,i   
have done aught amiss1 may ,heaven      
reject me6 may ,heaven reject me6  ,how 
far-reaching1 said he1 is the moral     
excellence that flows from the ,constant
 ,mean6#ae ,it has for a long time been 
rare among the people4  ,tsz-kung said1 
,suppose the case of one who confers    
benefits far and wide upon the people1  
and who can1 in so doing1 make his      
bounty universally felt--how would you  
speak of him8 ,might he be called       
philanthropic8  ,the ,master exclaimed1 
,what a work for philanthropy6 ,he would
 require indeed to be a sage6 ,he would 
put into shade even ,yau and            
,shun6--,well1 a philanthropic person1  
desiring for himself a firm footing1 is 
led on to give one to others2 desiring  
for himself an enlightened perception of
 things1 he is led on to help others to 
be similarly enlightened4 ,if one could 
take an illustration coming closer home 
to us than yours1 that might be made the
 starting-point for speaking about      

philanthropy4  ,footnote #ad3 ,at this  
time ,confucius was ,criminal ,judge in 
his native ,state of ,lu4 ,yuen ,sz had 
been a disciple4 ,the commentators add  
that this was the officer's proper      
salary1 and that he did wrong to refuse 
it4  ,footnote #ae3 ,the doctrine       
afterwards known by that name1 and which
 gave its title to a ,confucian         
treatise4     ,,book ,,vii              
,characteristics of ,confucius--,an     
,incident   ,said the ,master3--  ,i1 as
 a transmitter#af and not an originator1
 and as one who believes in and loves   
the ancients1 venture to compare myself 
with our old ,p'ang4  ,what find you    
indeed in me8--a quiet brooder and      
memorizer2 a student never satiated with
 learning2 an unwearied monitor of      
others6  ,the things which weigh heavily
 upon my mind are these--failure to     
improve in the virtues1 failure in      
discussion of what is learnt1 inability 
to walk according to knowledge received 
as to what is right and just1 inability 

also to reform what has been amiss4  ,in
 his hours of recreation and refreshment
 the ,master's manner was easy and      
unconstrained1 affable and winning4     
,once he exclaimed1 ,alas6 ,i must be   
getting very feeble2 'tis long since ,i 
have had a repetition of the dreams in  
which ,i used to see the ,duke of       
,chow4#ag  ,concentrate the mind1 said  
he1 upon the ,good ,way4  ,maintain firm
 hold upon ,virtue4  ,rely upon         
,philanthropy4  ,find recreation in the 
,arts4#ah  ,i have never withheld       
instruction from any1 even from those   
who have come for it with the smallest  
offering4  ,no subject do ,i broach1    
however1 to those who have no eager     
desire to learn2 no encouraging hint do 
,i give to those who show no anxiety to 
speak out their ideas2 nor have ,i      
anything more to say to those who1 after
 ,i have made clear one corner of the   
subject1 cannot from that give me the   
other three4  ,if the ,master was taking
 a meal1 and there were any in mourning 

beside him1 he would not eat to the     
full4  ,on one day on which he had wept1
 on that day he would not sing4         
,addressing his favorite disciple1 he   
said1 ,to you only and myself it has    
been given to do this--to go when called
 to serve1 and to go back into quiet    
retirement when released from office4   
,tsz-lu1 hearing the remark said1 ,but  
if1 sir1 you had the handling of the    
army of one of the greater ,states1#ai  
whom would you have associated with you 
in that case8  ,the ,master answered3-- 
,not the one 'who'll rouse the tiger1'  
,not the one 'who'll wade the ,ho2'  not
 the man who can die with no regret4 ,he
 must be one who should watch over      
affairs with apprehensive caution1 a man
 fond of strategy1 and of perfect skill 
and effectiveness in it4  ,as to wealth1
 he remarked1 ,if wealth were an object 
that ,i could go in quest of1 ,i should 
do so even if ,i had to take a whip and 
do grooms' work4 ,but seeing that it is 
not1 ,i go after those objects for which

 ,i have a liking4  ,among matters over 
which he exercised great caution were   
times of fasting1 war1 and sickness4    
,when he was in the ,state of ,ts'i1 and
 had heard the ancient ,shau music1 he  
lost all perception of the taste of his 
meat4 ,i had no idea1 said he1 that     
music could have been brought to this   
pitch4  ,in the course of conversation  
,yen ,yu said1 ,does the ,master take   
the part of the ,prince of ,wei8 ,ah    
yes6 said ,tsz-kung1 ,i will go and ask 
him that4  ,on going in to him1 that    
disciple began1 ,what sort of men were  
,peh-,i and ,shuh ,ts'i8 ,worthies of   
the olden time1 the ,master replied4    
,had they any feelings of resentment8   
was the next question4 ,their aim and   
object1 he answered1 was that of doing  
the duty which every man owes to his    
fellows1 and they succeeded in doing    
it2--what room further for feelings of  
resentment8 ,the questioner on coming   
out said1 ,the ,master does not take his
 part4  ,with a meal of coarse rice1    

said the ,master1 and with water to     
drink1 and my bent arm for my           
pillow--even thus ,i can find happiness4
 ,riches and honors without             
righteousness are to me as fleeting     
clouds4  ,give me several years more to 
live1 said he1 and after fifty years'   
study of the ',book of ,changes' ,i     
might come to be free from serious      
error4  ,the ,master's regular subjects 
of discourse were the ,books of the     
,odes and ,history1 and the up-keeping  
of the ,rules of ,propriety4 ,on all of 
these he regularly discoursed4  ,the    
,duke of ,shih questioned ,tsz-lu about 
,confucius1 and the latter did not      
answer4  ,hearing of this1 the ,master  
said1 ,why did you not say1 ,he is a man
 with a mind so intent on his pursuits  
that he forgets his food1 and finds such
 pleasure in them that he forgets his   
troubles1 and does not know that old age
 is coming upon him8  ,as ,i came not   
into life with any knowledge of it1 he  
said1 and as my likings are for what is 

old1 ,i busy myself in seeking knowledge
 there4  ,strange occurrences1 exploits 
of strength1 deeds of lawlessness1      
references to spiritual                 
beings--such-like matters the ,master   
avoided in conversation4  ,let there1 he
 said1 be three men walking together3   
from that number ,i should be sure to   
find my instructors2 for what is good in
 them ,i should choose out and follow1  
and what is not good ,i should modify4  
,on one occasion he exclaimed1 ,heaven  
begat ,virtue in me2 what can man do    
unto me8  ,to his disciples he once     
said1 ,do you look upon me1 my sons1 as 
keeping anything secret from you8 ,i    
hide nothing from you4 ,i do nothing    
that is not manifest to your eyes1 my   
disciples4 ,that is so with me4  ,four  
things there were which he kept in view 
in his teaching--scholarliness1 conduct 
of life1 honesty1 faithfulness4  ,it is 
not given to me1 he said1 to meet with a
 sage2 let me but behold a man of       
superior mind1 and that will suffice4   

,neither is it given to me to meet with 
a good man2 let me but see a man of     
constancy1 and it will suffice4 ,it is  
difficult for persons to have constancy1
 when they pretend to have that which   
they are destitute of1 to be full when  
they are empty1 to do things on a grand 
scale when their means are contracted6  
,when the ,master fished with hook and  
line1 he did not also use a net4 ,when  
out with his bow1 he would never shoot  
at game in cover4  ,some there may be1  
said he1 who do things in ignorance of  
what they do4 ,i am not of these4 ,there
 is an alternative way of knowing       
things1 viz4--to sift out the good from 
the many things one hears1 and follow   
it2 and to keep in memory the many      
things one sees4  ,pupils from ,hu-hiang
 were difficult to speak with4 ,one     
youth came to interview the ,master1 and
 the disciples were in doubt whether he 
ought to have been seen4 ,why so much   
ado1 said the ,master1 at my merely     
permitting his approach1 and not rather 

at my allowing him to draw back8 ,if a  
man have cleansed himself in order to   
come and see me1 ,i receive him as such2
 but ,i do not undertake for what he    
will do when he goes away4  ,is the     
philanthropic spirit far to seek1       
indeed8 the ,master exclaimed2 ,i wish  
for it1 and it is with me6  ,the        
,minister of ,crime in the ,state of    
,ch'in asked ,confucius whether ,duke   
,ch'au1 of ,lu was acquainted with the  
,proprieties2 and he answered1 ,yes1 he 
knows them4  ,when ,confucius had       
withdrawn1 the minister bowed to ,wu-ma 
,k'i1 a disciple1 and motioned to him to
 come forward4 ,he said1 ,i have heard  
that superior men show no partiality2   
are they1 too1 then1 partial8 ,that     
prince took for his wife a lady of the  
,wu family1 having the same surname as  
himself1 and had her named ',lady ,tsz  
of ,wu1 the elder4' ,if he knows the    
,proprieties1 then who does not8  ,the  
disciple reported this to the ,master1  
who thereupon remarked1 ,well for me6   

,if ,i err in any way1 others are sure  
to know of it4  ,when the ,master was in
 company with any one who sang1 and who 
sang well1 he must needs have the song  
over again1 and after that would join in
 it4  ,although in letters1 he said1 ,i 
may have none to compare with me1 yet in
 my personification of the 'superior    
man' ,i have not as yet been successful4
  ',a ,sage and a ,philanthropist8' ,how
 should ,i have the ambition8 said he4  
,all that ,i can well be called is      
this--,an insatiable student1 an        
unwearied teacher2--this1 and no        
more4--,exactly what we1 your disciples1
 cannot by any learning manage to be1   
said ,kung-si ,hwa4  ,once when the     
,master was seriously ill1 ,tsz-lu      
requested to be allowed to say prayers  
for him4 ,are such available8 asked the 
,master4 ,yes1 said he2 and the ,manual 
of ,prayers says1 ',pray to the spirits 
above and to those here below4'  ,my    
praying has been going on a long while1 
said the ,master4  ,lavish living1 he   

said1 renders men disorderly2           
miserliness makes them hard4 ,better1   
however1 the hard than the disorderly4  
,again1 ,the man of superior mind is    
placidly composed2 the small-minded man 
is in a constant state of perturbation4 
,the ,master was gentle1 yet could be   
severe2 had an overawing presence1 yet  
was not violent2 was deferential1 yet   
easy4  ,footnote #af3 ,in reference to  
his editing the six ,classics of his    
time4  ,footnote #ag3 ,this was one of  
his beloved ancients1 famous for what he
 did in helping to found the dynasty of 
,chow1 a man of great political wisdom1 
a scholar also1 and poet4 ,it was the   
dream of ,confucius's life to restore   
the country to the condition in which   
the ,duke of ,chow left it4  ,footnote  
#ah3 ,these were six in number1 viz43   
,ceremonial1 ,music1 ,archery1          
,horsemanship1 ,language1 and           
,calculation4  ,footnote #ai3 ,lit41    
three forces4 ,each force consisted of  
#ab1ejj men1 and three of such forces   

were the equipment of a greater ,state4 
,,book ,,viii  ,sayings of              
,tsang--,sentences of the ,master       
,speaking of ,t'ai-pih the ,master said 
that he might be pronounced a man of the
 highest moral excellence2 for he       
allowed the empire to pass by him       
onwards to a third heir2 while the      
people1 in their ignorance of his       
motives1 were unable to admire him for  
so doing4  ,without the ,proprieties1   
said the ,master1 we have these results3
 for deferential demeanor1 a worried    
one2 for calm attentiveness1 awkward    
bashfulness2 for manly conduct1         
disorderliness2 for straightforwardness1
 perversity4  ,when men of rank show    
genuine care for those nearest to them  
in blood1 the people rise to the duty of
 neighborliness and sociability4 ,and   
when old friendships among them are not 
allowed to fall off1 there will be a    
cessation of underhand practices among  
the people4  ,the ,scholar ,tsang was   
once unwell1 and calling his pupils to  

him he said to them1 ,disclose to view  
my feet and my hands4 ,what says the    
,ode8--      ',act as from a sense of   
danger1       ,with precaution and with 
care1     ,as a yawning gulf            
o'erlooking1       ,as on ice that      
scarce will bear4'  ,at all times1 my   
children1 ,i know how to keep myself    
free from bodily harm4  ,again1 during  
an illness of his1 ,mang ,king1 an      
official1 went to ask after him4 ,the   
,scholar had some conversation with him1
 in the course of which he said--       
',doleful the cries of a dying bird1    
,good the last words of a dying man4'   
,there are three points which a man of  
rank in the management of his duties    
should set store upon3--,a lively manner
 and deportment1 banishing both severity
 and laxity2 a frank and open expression
 of countenance1 allied closely with    
sincerity2 and a tone in his utterances 
utterly free from any approach to       
vulgarity and impropriety4 ,as to       
matters of bowls and dishes1 leave such 

things to those who are charged with the
 care of them4  ,another saying of the  
,scholar ,tsang3 ,i once had a friend   
who1 though he possessed ability1 would 
go questioning men of none1 and though  
surrounded by numbers1 would go with his
 questions to isolated individuals2 who 
also1 whatever he might have1 appeared  
as if he were without it1 and1 with all 
his substantial acquirements1 made as   
though his mind were a mere blank2 and  
when insulted would not retaliate2--this
 was ever his way4  ,again he said3 ,the
 man that is capable of being intrusted 
with the charge of a minor on the       
throne1 and given authority over a large
 territory1 and who1 during the         
important term of his superintendence   
cannot be forced out of his position1 is
 not such a 'superior man'8 ,that he is1
 indeed4  ,again3--,the learned official
 must not be without breadth and power  
of endurance3 the burden is heavy1 and  
the way is long4  ,suppose that he take 
his duty to his fellow-men as his       

peculiar burden1 is that not indeed a   
heavy one8 ,and since only with death it
 is done with1 is not the way long8     
,sentences of the ,master3--  ,from the 
',book of ,odes' we receive impulses2   
from the ',book of the ,rules1'         
stability2 from the ',book on ,music1'  
refinement4#bj  ,the people may be put  
into the way they should go1 though they
 may not be put into the way of         
understanding it4  ,the man who likes   
bravery1 and yet groans under poverty1  
has mischief in him4 ,so1 too1 has the  
misanthrope1 groaning at any severity   
shown towards him4  ,even if a person   
were adorned with the gifts of the ,duke
 of ,chow1 yet if he were proud and     
avaricious1 all the rest of his         
qualities would not indeed be worth     
looking at4  ,not easily found is the   
man who1 after three years' study1 has  
failed to come upon some fruit of his   
toil4  ,the really faithful lover of    
learning holds fast to the ,good ,way   
till death4  ,he will not go into a     

,state in which a downfall is imminent1 
nor take up his abode in one where      
disorder reigns4 ,when the empire is    
well ordered he will show himself2 when 
not1 he will hide himself away4 ,under a
 good government it will be a disgrace  
to him if he remain in poverty and low  
estate2 under a bad one1 it would be    
equally disgraceful to him to hold      
riches and honors4  ,if not occupying   
the office1 devise not the policy4      
,when the professor ,chi began his      
duties1 how grand the finale of the     
,first of the ,odes used to be6 ,how it 
rang in one's ears6  ,i cannot          
understand persons who are enthusiastic 
and yet not straightforward2 nor those  
who are ignorant and yet not attentive2 
nor again those folks who are           
simple-minded and yet untrue4  ,learn1  
as if never overtaking your object1 and 
yet as if apprehensive of losing it4    
,how sublime was the handling of the    
empire by ,shun and ,yu6--it was as     
nothing to them6  ,how great was ,yau as

 a prince6 ,was he not sublime6 ,say    
that ,heaven only is great1 then was    
,yau alone after its pattern6 ,how      
profound was he6 ,the people could not  
find a name for him4 ,how sublime in his
 achievements6 ,how brilliant in his    
scholarly productions6  ,shun had for   
his ministers five men1 by whom he      
ordered the empire4  ,king ,wu 7in his  
day7 stated that he had ten men as      
assistants for the promotion of order4  
,with reference to these facts          
,confucius observed1 ,ability is hard to
 find4 ,is it not so indeed8 ,during the
 three years' interregnum between ,yau  
and ,shun there was more of it than in  
the interval before this present dynasty
 appeared4 ,there were1 at this latter  
period1 one woman1 and nine men only4   
,when two-thirds of the empire were held
 by ,king ,wan1 he served with that     
portion the ,house of ,yin4 ,we speak of
 the virtue of the ,house of ,chow2 we  
may say1 indeed1 that it reached the    
pinnacle of excellence4  ,as to ,yu1    

added the ,master1 ,i can find no flaw  
in him4 ,living on meagre food and      
drink2 yet providing to the utmost in   
his filial offerings to the spirits of  
the dead6 ,dressing in coarse garments2 
yet most elegant when vested in his     
sacrificial apron and coronet6 ,dwelling
 in a poor palace2 yet exhausting his   
energies over those boundary-ditches and
 watercourses6 ,i can find no flaw in   
,yu4  ,footnote #bj3 ,comparison of     
three of the ,classics3 the ,shi-,king1 
the ,li ,ki1 and the ,yoh4 ,the last is 
lost4     ,,book ,,ix  ,his ,favorite   
,disciple's ,opinion of ,him   ,topics  
on which the ,master rarely spoke       
were--,advantage1 and ,destiny1 and     
,duty of man to man4  ,a man of the     
village of ,tah-hiang exclaimed of him1 
,a great man is ,confucius6--a man of   
extensive learning1 and yet in nothing  
has he quite made himself a name6  ,the 
,master heard of this1 and mentioning it
 to his disciples he said1 ,what then   
shall ,i take in hand8 ,shall ,i become 

a carriage driver1 or an archer8 ,let me
 be a driver6  ,the sacrificial cap1 he 
once said1 should1 according to the     
,rules1 be of linen2 but in these days  
it is of pure silk4 ,however1 as it is  
economical1 ,i do as all do4  ,the ,rule
 says1 ',make your bow when at the lower
 end of the hall'2 but nowadays the     
bowing is done at the upper part4 ,this 
is great freedom2 and ,i1 though ,i go  
in opposition to the crowd1 bow when at 
the lower end4  ,the ,master barred four
 words3--he would have no shall's1 no   
must's1 no certainly's1 no ,i's4  ,once1
 in the town of ,k'wang fearing that his
 life was going to be taken1 the ,master
 exclaimed1 ,king ,wan is dead and gone2
 but is not 'wan'#ba with you here8 ,if 
,heaven be about to allow this 'wan' to 
perish1 then they who survive its       
decease will get no benefit from it4    
,but so long as ,heaven does not allow  
it to perish1 what can the men of       
,k'wang do to me8  ,a high ,state       
official1 after questioning ,tsz-kung1  

said1 ,your ,master is a sage1 then8    
,how many and what varied abilities must
 be his6  ,the disciple replied1        
,certainly ,heaven is allowing him full 
opportunities of becoming a sage1 in    
addition to the fact that his abilities 
are many and varied4  ,when the ,master 
heard of this he remarked1 ,does that   
high official know me8 ,in my early     
years my position in life was low1 and  
hence my ability in many ways1 though   
exercised in trifling matters4 ,in the  
gentleman is there indeed such variety  
of ability8 ,no4  ,from this1 the       
disciple ,lau used to say1 ',twas a     
saying of the ,master3 ',at a time when 
,i was not called upon to use them1 ,i  
acquired my proficiency in the polite   
arts4'  ,am ,i1 indeed1 said the        
,master1 possessed of knowledge8 ,i know
 nothing4 ,let a vulgar fellow come to  
me with a question--a man with an       
emptyish head--,i may thrash out with   
him the matter from end to end1 and     
exhaust myself in doing it6  ,ah6       

exclaimed he once1 the phoenix does not 
come6 and no symbols issue from the     
river6 ,may ,i not as well give up8     
,whenever the ,master met with a person 
in mourning1 or with one in full-dress  
cap and kirtle1 or with a blind person1 
although they might be young persons1 he
 would make a point of rising on their  
appearance1 or1 if crossing their path1 
would do so with quickened step6  ,once 
,yen ,yuen exclaimed with a sigh 7with  
reference to the ,master's doctrines71  
,if ,i look up to them1 they are ever   
the higher2 if ,i try to penetrate them1
 they are ever the harder2 if ,i gaze at
 them as if before my eyes1 lo1 they are
 behind me6--,gradually and gently the  
,master with skill lures men on4 ,by    
literary lore he gave me breadth2 by the
 ,rules of ,propriety he narrowed me    
down4 ,when ,i desire a respite1 ,i find
 it impossible2 and after ,i have       
exhausted my powers1 there seems to be  
something standing straight up in front 
of me1 and though ,i have the mind to   

make towards it ,i make no advance at   
all4  ,once when the ,master was        
seriously ill1 ,tsz-lu induced the other
 disciples to feign they were high      
officials acting in his service4 ,during
 a respite from his malady the ,master  
exclaimed1 ,ah6 how long has ,tsz-lu's  
conduct been false8 ,whom should ,i     
delude1 if ,i were to pretend to have   
officials under me1 having none8 ,should
 ,i deceive ,heaven8 ,besides1 were ,i  
to die1 ,i would rather die in the hands
 of yourselves1 my disciples1 than in   
the hands of officials4 ,and though ,i  
should fail to have a grand funeral over
 me1 ,i should hardly be left on my     
death on the public highway1 should ,i8 
,tsz-kung once said to him1 ,here is a  
fine gem4 ,would you guard it carefully 
in a casket and store it away1 or seek a
 good price for it and sell it8 ,sell   
it1 indeed1 said the ,master--that would
 ,i2 but ,i should wait for the bidder4 
,the ,master protested he would go and  
live among the nine wild tribes4  ,a    

rude life1 said some one2--how could you
 put up with it8  ,what rudeness would  
there be1 he replied1 if a 'superior    
man' was living in their midst8  ,once  
he remarked1 ,after ,i came back from   
,wei to ,lu the music was put right1 and
 each of the ,festal ,odes and ,hymns   
was given its appropriate place and use4
  ,ah6 which one of these following1 he 
asked on one occasion1 are to be found  
exemplified in me--proper service       
rendered to superiors when abroad2 duty 
to father and elder brother when at     
home2 duty that shrinks from no exertion
 when dear ones die2 and keeping free   
from the confusing effects of wine8     
,standing once on the bank of a mountain
 stream1 he said 7musingly71 ,like this 
are those that pass away--no cessation1 
day or night6  ,other sayings3--  ,take 
an illustration from the making of a    
hill4 ,a simple basketful is wanting to 
complete it1 and the work stops4 ,so ,i 
stop short4  ,take an illustration from 
the levelling of the ground4 ,suppose   

again just one basketful is left1 when  
the work has so progressed4 ,there ,i   
desist6  ,ah6 it was ,hwui1 was it not8 
who1 when ,i had given him his lesson1  
was the unflagging one6  ,alas for      
,hwui6 ,i saw him ever making progress4 
,i never saw him stopping short4        
,blade1 but no bloom--or else bloom1 but
 no produce2 aye1 that is the way with  
some6  ,reverent regard is due to youth4
 ,how know we what difference there may 
be in them in the future from what they 
are now8 ,yet when they have reached the
 age of forty or fifty1 and are still   
unknown in the world1 then indeed they  
are no more worthy of such regard4  ,can
 any do otherwise than assent to words  
said to them by way of correction8 ,only
 let them reform by such advice1 and it 
will then be reckoned valuable4 ,can any
 be other than pleased with words of    
gentle suasion8 ,only let them comply   
with them fully1 and such also will be  
accounted valuable4 ,with those who are 
pleased without so complying1 and those 

who assent but do not reform1 ,i can do 
nothing at all4  ,give prominent place  
to loyalty and sincerity4  ,have no     
associates in study who are not advanced
 somewhat like yourself4  ,when you have
 erred1 be not afraid to correct        
yourself4  ,it may be possible to seize 
and carry off the chief commander of a  
large army1 but not possible so to rob  
one poor fellow of his will4  ,one who  
stands--clad in hempen robe1 the worse  
for wear--among others clad in furs of  
fox and badger1 and yet unabashed--'tis 
,tsz-lu1 that1 is it not8  ,tsz-lu used 
always to be humming over the lines--   
,from envy and enmity free1     ,what   
deed doth he other than good8  ,how     
should such a rule of life1 asked the   
,master1 be sufficient to make any one  
good8  ,when the year grows chilly1 we  
know the pine and cypress are the last  
to fade4  ,the wise escape doubt2 the   
good-hearted1 trouble2 the bold1        
apprehension4  ,some may study side by  
side1 and yet be asunder when they come 

to the logic of things4 ,some may go on 
together in this latter course1 but be  
wide apart in the standards they reach  
in it4 ,some1 again1 may together reach 
the same standard1 and yet be diverse in
 weight of character4      ,the blossom 
is out on the cherry tree1       ,with a
 flutter on every spray4     ,dost think
 that my thoughts go not out to thee8   
,ah1 why art thou far away6  ,commenting
 on these lines the ,master said1 ,there
 can hardly have been much thought going
 out4 ,what does distance signify8      
,footnote #ba3 ,wan was the honorary    
appellation of the great sage and ruler1
 whose praise is in the ,shi-,king as   
one of the founders of the ,chow        
dynasty1 and the term represented civic 
talent and virtues1 as distinct from    
,wu1 the martial talent--the latter     
being the honorary title of his son and 
successor4 ,wan also often stands for   
literature1 and polite accomplishments4 
,here ,confucius simply means1 ,if you  
kill me1 you kill a sage4     ,,book ,x 

,confucius in ,private and ,official    
,life   ,in his own village1 ,confucius 
presented a somewhat plain and simple   
appearance1 and looked unlike a man who 
possessed ability of speech4  ,but in   
the ancestral temple1 and at ,court1 he 
spoke with the fluency and accuracy of a
 debater1 but ever guardedly4  ,at      
,court1 conversing with the lower order 
of great officials1 he spoke somewhat   
firmly and directly2 with those of the  
higher order his tone was somewhat more 
affable4  ,when the prince was present  
he was constrainedly reverent in his    
movements1 and showed a proper degree of
 grave dignity in demeanor4  ,whenever  
the prince summoned him to act as usher 
to the ,court1 his look would change    
somewhat1 and he would make as though he
 were turning round to do obeisance4    
,he would salute those among whom he    
took up his position1 using the right   
hand or the left1 and holding the skirts
 of his robe in proper position before  
and behind4 ,he would make his          

approaches with quick step1 and with    
elbows evenly bent outwards4  ,when the 
visitor withdrew1 he would not fail to  
report the execution of his commands1   
with the words1 ,the visitor no longer  
looks back4  ,when he entered the palace
 gate1 it was with the body somewhat    
bent forward1 almost as though he could 
not be admitted4 ,when he stood still1  
this would never happen in the middle of
 the gateway2 nor when moving about     
would he ever tread on the threshold4   
,when passing the throne1 his look would
 change somewhat1 he would turn aside   
and make a sort of obeisance1 and the   
words he spoke seemed as though he were 
deficient in utterance4  ,on going up   
the steps to the audience chamber1 he   
would gather up with both hands the ends
 of his robe1 and walk with his body    
bent somewhat forward1 holding back his 
breath like one in whom respiration has 
ceased4 ,on coming out1 after descending
 one step his countenance would relax   
and assume an appearance of             

satisfaction4 ,arrived at the bottom1 he
 would go forward with quick step1 his  
elbows evenly bent outwards1 back to his
 position1 constrainedly reverent in    
every movement4  ,when holding the      
sceptre in his hand1 his body would be  
somewhat bent forward1 as if he were not
 equal to carrying it2 wielding it now  
higher1 as in a salutation1 now lower1  
as in the presentation of a gift2 his   
look would also be changed and appear   
awestruck2 and his gait would seem      
retarded1 as if he were obeying some    
restraining hand behind4  ,when he      
presented the gifts of ceremony1 he     
would assume a placid expression of     
countenance4 ,at the private interview  
he would be cordial and affable4  ,the  
good man would use no purple or violet  
colors for the facings of his dress4#bb 
,nor would he have red or orange color  
for his undress4#bc ,for the hot season 
he wore a singlet1 of either coarse or  
fine texture1 but would also feel bound 
to have an outer garment covering it4   

,for his black robe he had lamb's wool2 
for his white one1 fawn's fur2 and for  
his yellow one1 fox fur4 ,his furred    
undress robe was longer1 but the right  
sleeve was shortened4 ,he would needs   
have his sleeping-dress one and a half  
times his own length4 ,for ordinary home
 wear he used thick substantial fox or  
badger furs4 ,when he left off mourning1
 he would wear all his girdle trinkets4 
,his kirtle in front1 when it was not   
needed for full cover1 he must needs    
have cut down4 ,he would never wear his 
7black7 lamb's-wool1 or a dark-colored  
cap1 when he went on visits of          
condolence to mourners4#bd ,on the first
 day of the new moon1 he must have on   
his ,court dress and to ,court4 ,when   
observing his fasts1 he made a point of 
having bright1 shiny garments1 made of  
linen4 ,he must also at such times vary 
his food1 and move his seat to another  
part of his dwelling-room4  ,as to his  
food1 he never tired of rice so long as 
it was clean and pure1 nor of hashed    

meats when finely minced4 ,rice spoiled 
by damp1 and sour1 he would not touch1  
nor tainted fish1 nor bad meat1 nor     
aught of a bad color or smell1 nor aught
 overdone in cooking1 nor aught out of  
season4 ,neither would he eat anything  
that was not properly cut1 or that      
lacked its proper seasonings4 ,although 
there might be an abundance of meat     
before him1 he would not allow a        
preponderance of it to rob the rice of  
its beneficial effect in nutrition4     
,only in the matter of wine did he set  
himself no limit1 yet he never drank so 
much as to confuse himself4 ,tradesmen's
 wines1 and dried meats from the market1
 he would not touch4 ,ginger he would   
never have removed from the table during
 a meal4 ,he was not a great eater4     
,meat from the sacrifices at the        
prince's temple he would never put aside
 till the following day4 ,the meat of   
his own offerings he would never give   
out after three days' keeping1 for after
 that time none were to eat it4  ,at his

 meals he would not enter into          
discussions2 and when reposing          
7afterwards7 he would not utter a word4 
,even should his meal consist only of   
coarse rice and vegetable broth or      
melons1 he would make an offering1 and  
never fail to do so religiously4  ,he   
would never sit on a mat that was not   
straight4  ,after a feast among his     
villagers1 he would wait before going   
away until the old men had left4  ,when 
the village people were exorcising the  
pests1 he would put on his ,court robes 
and stand on the steps of his hall to   
receive them4  ,when he was sending a   
message of inquiry to a person in       
another ,state1 he would bow twice on   
seeing the messenger off4  ,ki ,k'ang   
once sent him a present of some         
medicine4 ,he bowed1 and received it2   
but remarked1 ,until ,i am quite sure of
 its properties ,i must not venture to  
taste it4  ,once when the stabling was  
destroyed by fire1 he withdrew from the 
,court1 and asked1 ,is any person       

injured8--without inquiring as to the   
horses4  ,whenever the prince sent him a
 present of food1 he was particular to  
set his mat in proper order1 and would  
be the first one to taste it4 ,if the   
prince's present was one of raw meat1 he
 must needs have it cooked1 and make an 
oblation of it4 ,if the gift were a live
 animal1 he would be sure to keep it and
 care for it4  ,when he was in waiting1 
and at a meal with the prince1 the      
prince would make the offering1#be and  
he 7the ,master7 was the pregustator4   
,when unwell1 and the prince came to see
 him1 he would arrange his position so  
that his head inclined towards the east1
 would put over him his ,court robes1   
and draw his girdle across them4  ,when 
summoned by order of the prince1 he     
would start off without waiting for his 
horses to be put to4  ,on his entry into
 the ,grand ,temple1 he inquired about  
everything connected with its usages4   
,if a friend died1 and there were no    
near relatives to take him to1 he would 

say1 ,let him be buried from my house4  
,for a friend's gift--unless it         
consisted of meat that had been offered 
in sacrifice--he would not bow1 even if 
it were a carriage and horses4  ,in     
repose he did not lie like one dead4 ,in
 his home life he was not formal in his 
manner4  ,whenever he met with a person 
in mourning1 even though it were a      
familiar acquaintance1 he would be      
certain to change his manner2 and when  
he met with any one in full-dress cap1  
or with any blind person1 he would also 
unfailingly put on a different look1    
even though he were himself in undress  
at the time4  ,in saluting any person   
wearing mourning he would bow forwards  
towards the front bar of his carriage2  
in the same manner he would also salute 
the bearer of a census-register4  ,when 
a sumptuous banquet was spread before   
him1 a different expression would be    
sure to appear in his features1 and he  
would rise up from his seat4  ,at a     
sudden thunder-clap1 or when the wind   

grew furious1 his look would also       
invariably be changed4  ,on getting into
 his car1 he would never fail 7first7 to
 stand up erect1 holding on by the      
strap4 ,when in the car1 he would never 
look about1 nor speak hastily1 nor bring
 one hand to the other4      ,let one   
but make a movement in his face1        
,and the bird will rise and seek some   
safer place4  ,apropos of this1 he said1
 ,here is a hen-pheasant from ,shan     
,liang--and in season6 and in season6   
,after ,tsz-lu had got it prepared1 he  
smelt it thrice1 and then rose up from  
his seat4  ,footnote #bb3 ,because1 it  
is said1 such colors were adopted in    
fasting and mourning4  ,footnote #bc3   
,because they did not belong to the five
 correct colors 7viz4 green1 yellow1    
carnation1 white1 and black71 and were  
affected more by females4  ,footnote    
#bd3 ,since white was1 as it is still1  
the mourning color4  ,footnote #be3 ,the
 act of grace1 before eating4     ,,book
 ,,xi  ,comparative ,worth of ,his      

,disciples   ,the first to make progress
 in the ,proprieties and in ,music1 said
 the ,master1 are plain countrymen2     
after them1 the men of higher standing4 
,if ,i had to employ any of them1 ,i    
should stand by the former4  ,of those1 
said he1 who were about me when ,i was  
in the ,ch'in and ,ts'ai ,states1 not   
one now is left to approach my door4    
,as for ,hwui1#bf said the ,master1 he  
is not one to help me on3 there is      
nothing ,i say but he is not well       
satisfied with4  ,what a dutiful son was
 ,min ,tsz-k'ien6 he exclaimed4 ,no one 
finds occasion to differ from what his  
parents and brothers have said of him4  
,nan ,yung used to repeat three times   
over the lines in the ,odes about the   
white sceptre4 ,confucius caused his own
 elder brother's daughter to be given in
 marriage to him4  ,when ,ki ,k'ang     
inquired which of the disciples were    
fond of learning1 ,confucius answered   
him1 ,there was one ,yen ,hwui who was  
fond of it2 but unfortunately his       

allotted time was short1 and he died2   
and now his like is not to be found4    
,when ,yen ,yuen died1 his father1 ,yen 
,lu1 begged for the ,master's carriage  
in order to get a shell for his coffin4 
,ability or no ability1 said the        
,master1 every father still speaks of   
'my son4' ,when my own son ,li died1 and
 the coffin for him had no shell to it1 
,i know ,i did not go on foot to get him
 one2 but that was because ,i was1      
though retired1 in the wake of the      
ministers1 and could not therefore well 
do so4  ,on the death of ,yen ,yuen the 
,master exclaimed1 ,ah me6 ,heaven is   
ruining me1 ,heaven is ruining me6  ,on 
the same occasion1 his wailing for that 
disciple becoming excessive1 those who  
were about him said1 ,sir1 this is too  
much6--,too much8 said he2 if ,i am not 
to do so for him1 then--for whom else8  
,the disciples then wished for the      
deceased a grand funeral4 ,the ,master  
could not on his part consent to this4  
,they nevertheless gave him one4 ,upon  

this he remarked1 ,he used to look upon 
me as if ,i were his father4 ,i could   
never1 however1 look on him as a son4   
',twas not my mistake1 but yours1 my    
children4  ,tsz-lu propounded a question
 about ministering to the spirits of the
 departed4 ,the ,master replied1 ,where 
there is scarcely the ability to        
minister to living men1 how shall there 
be ability to minister to the spirits8  
,on his venturing to put a question     
concerning death1 he answered1 ,where   
there is scarcely any knowledge about   
life1 how shall there be any about      
death8  ,the disciple ,min was by his   
side1 looking affable and bland2 ,tsz-lu
 also1 looking careless and intrepid2   
and ,yen ,yu and ,tsz-kung1 firm and    
precise4 ,the ,master was cheery4 ,one  
like ,tsz-lu there1 said he1 does not   
come to a natural end4  ,some persons in
 ,lu were taking measures in regard to  
the ,long ,treasury ,house4 ,min        
,tsz-k'ien observed1 ,how if it were    
repaired on the old lines8 ,the ,master 

upon this remarked1 ,this fellow is not 
a talker1 but when he does speak he is  
bound to hit the mark6  ,there is ,yu's 
harpsichord1 exclaimed the ,master--what
 is it doing at my door8 ,on seeing1    
however1 some disrespect shown to him by
 the other disciples1 he added1 ,yu has 
got as far as the top of the hall2 only 
he has not yet entered the house4       
,tsz-kung asked which was the worthier  
of the two--,tsz-chang or ,tsz-hia4 ,the
 former1 answered the ,master1 goes     
beyond the mark2 the latter falls short 
of it4  ,so then ,tsz-chang is the      
better of the two1 is he8 said he4  ,to 
go too far1 he replied1 is about the    
same as to fall short4  ,the ,chief of  
the ,ki family was a wealthier man than 
the ,duke of ,chow had been1 and yet    
,yen ,yu gathered and hoarded for him1  
increasing his wealth more and more4    
,he is no follower of mine1 said the    
,master4 ,it would serve him right1 my  
children1 to sound the drum1 and set    
upon him4  ,characteristics of four     

disciples3--,tsz-kau was simple-minded2 
,tsang ,si1 a dullard2 ,tsz-chang1 full 
of airs2 ,tsz-lu1 rough4  ,as to ,hwui1 
said the ,master1 he comes near to      
perfection1 while frequently in great   
want4 ,tsz-kung does not submit to the  
appointments of ,heaven2 and yet his    
goods are increased2--he is often       
successful in his calculations4         
,tsz-chang wanted to know some marks of 
the naturally ,good ,man4  ,he does not 
walk in others' footprints1 said the    
,master2 yet he does not get beyond the 
hall into the house4  ,once the ,master 
said1 ,because we allow that a man's    
words have something genuine in them1   
are they necessarily those of a superior
 man8 or words carrying only an outward 
semblance and show of gravity8  ,tsz-lu 
put a question about the practice of    
precepts one has heard4 ,the ,master's  
reply was1 ,in a case where there is a  
father or elder brother still left with 
you1 how should you practise all you    
hear8  ,when1 however1 the same question

 was put to him by ,yen ,yu1 his reply  
was1 ,yes2 do so4  ,kung-si ,hwa        
animadverted upon this to the ,master4  
,tsz-lu asked you1 sir1 said he1 about  
the practice of what one has learnt1 and
 you said1 ',there may be a father or   
elder brother still alive'2 but when    
,yen ,yu asked the same question1 you   
answered1 ',yes1 do so4' ,i am at a loss
 to understand you1 and venture to ask  
what you meant4  ,the ,master replied1  
,yen ,yu backs out of his duties2       
therefore ,i push him on4 ,tsz-lu has   
forwardness enough for them both2       
therefore ,i hold him back4  ,on the    
occasion of that time of fear in        
,k'wang1 ,yen ,yuen having fallen       
behind1 the ,master said to him         
7afterwards71 ,i took it for granted you
 were a dead man4 ,how should ,i dare to
 die1 said he1 while you1 sir1 still    
lived8  ,on ,ki ,tsz-jen putting to him 
a question anent ,tsz-lu and ,yen ,yu1  
as to whether they might be called great
 ministers1 the ,master answered1 ,i had

 expected your question1 sir1 to be     
about something extraordinary1 and lo6  
it is only about these two4 ,those whom 
we call 'great ministers' are such as   
serve their prince conscientiously1 and 
who1 when they cannot do so1 retire4 ,at
 present1 as regards the two you ask    
about1 they may be called 'qualified    
ministers4'  ,well1 are they then1 he   
asked1 such as will follow their leader8
  ,they would not follow him who should 
slay his father and his prince6 was the 
reply4  ,through the intervention of    
,tsz-lu1 ,tsz-kau was being appointed   
governor of ,pi4  ,you are spoiling a   
good man's son1 said the ,master4       
,tsz-lu rejoined1 ,but he will have the 
people and their superiors to gain      
experience from1 and there will be the  
altars2 what need to read books8 ,he can
 become a student afterwards4  ,here is 
the reason for my hatred of glib-tongued
 people1 said the ,master4  ,on one     
occasion ,tsz-lu1 ,tsang ,sin1 ,yen ,yu1
 and ,kung-si ,hwa were sitting near    

him4 ,he said to them1 ,though ,i may be
 a day older than you1 do not 7for the  
moment7 regard me as such4 ,while you   
are living this unoccupied life you are 
saying1 ',we do not become known4' ,now 
suppose some one got to know you1 what  
then8  ,tsz-lu--first to speak--at once 
answered1 ,give me a ,state of large    
size and armament1 hemmed in and        
hampered by other larger ,states1 the   
population augmented by armies and      
regiments1 causing a dearth in it of    
food of all kinds2 give me charge of    
that ,state1 and in three years' time ,i
 should make a brave country of it1 and 
let it know its place4  ,the ,master    
smiled at him4 ,yen1 said he1 how would 
it be with you8  ,give me1 said ,yen1 a 
territory of sixty or seventy li square1
 or of fifty or sixty square2 put me in 
charge of that1 and in three years ,i   
should make the people sufficiently     
prosperous4 ,as regards their knowledge 
of ceremonial or music1 ,i should wait  
for superior men to teach them that4    

,and with you1 ,kung-si1 how would it   
be8  ,this disciple's reply was1 ,i have
 nothing to say about my capabilities   
for such matters2 my wish is to learn4  
,i should like to be a junior assistant1
 in dark rob and cap1 at the services of
 the ancestral temple1 and at the ,grand
 ,receptions of the ,princes by the     
,sovereign4  ,and with you1 ,tsang ,sin8
  ,this disciple was strumming on his   
harpsichord1 but now the twanging       
ceased1 he turned from the instrument1  
rose to his feet1 and answered thus3    
,something different from the choice of 
these three4 ,what harm8 said the       
,master2 ,i want each one of you to tell
 me what his heart is set upon4 ,well1  
then1 said he1 give me--in the latter   
part of spring--dressed in full         
spring-tide attire--in company with five
 or six young fellows of twenty1#bg or  
six or seven lads under that age1 to do 
the ablutions in the ,i stream1 enjoy a 
breeze in the rain-dance1#bh and finish 
up with songs on the road home4  ,the   

,master drew in his breath1 sighed1 and 
exclaimed1 ,ah1 ,i take with you6  ,the 
three other disciples having gone out1  
leaving ,tsang ,sin behind1 the latter  
said1 ,what think you of the answers of 
those three8--,well1 each told me what  
was uppermost in his mind1 said the     
,master2--simply that4  ,why did you    
smile at ,tsz-lu1 sir8  ,i smiled at him
 because to have the charge of a ,state 
requires due regard to the ,rules of    
,propriety1 and his words betrayed a    
lack of modesty4  ,but ,yen1 then--he   
had a ,state in view1 had he not8  ,i   
should like to be shown a territory such
 as he described which does not amount  
to a ,state4  ,but had not ,kung-si also
 a ,state in view8  ,what are ancestral 
temples and ,grand ,receptions1 but for 
the feudal lords to take part in8 ,if   
,kung-si were to become an unimportant  
assistant at these functions1 who could 
become an important one8  ,footnote #bf3
 ,the men of virtuous life were ,yen    
,yuen 7,hwui71 ,min ,tsz-k'ien1 ,yen    

,pih-niu1 and ,chung-kung 7,yen ,yung72 
the speakers and debaters were ,tsai ,wo
 and ,tsz-kung2 the 7capable7 government
 servants were ,yen ,yu and ,tsz-lu2 the
 literary students1 ,tsz-yu and         
,tsz-hia4  ,footnote #bg3 ,lit41 capped 
ones4 ,at twenty they underwent the     
ceremony of capping1 and were considered
 men4  ,footnote #bh3 ,i4e41 before the 
altars1 where offerings were placed with
 prayer for rain4 ,a religious dance4   
,,book ,,xii  ,the ,master's            
,answers--,philanthropy--,friendships   
,yen yuen was asking about man's proper 
regard for his fellow-man4 ,the ,master 
said to him1 ,self-control1 and a habit 
of falling back upon propriety1         
virtually effect it4 ,let these         
conditions be fulfilled for one day1 and
 every one round will betake himself to 
the duty4 ,is it to begin in one's self1
 or think you1 indeed6 it is to begin in
 others8  ,i wanted you to be good      
enough1 said ,yen ,yuen1 to give me a   
brief synopsis of it4  ,then said the   

,master1 ,without ,propriety use not    
your eyes2 without it use not your ears1
 nor your tongue1 nor a limb of your    
body4  ,i may be lacking in diligence1  
said ,yen ,yuen1 but with your favor ,i 
will endeavor to carry out this advice4 
,chung-kung asked about man's proper    
regard for his fellows4  ,to him the    
,master replied thus3 ,when you go forth
 from your door1 be as if you were      
meeting some guest of importance4 ,when 
you are making use of the common people 
7for ,state purposes71 be as if you were
 taking part in a great religious       
function4 ,do not set before others what
 you do not desire yourself4 ,let there 
be no resentful feelings against you    
when you are away in the country1 and   
none when at home4  ,i may lack         
diligence1 said ,chung-kung1 but with   
your favor ,i will endeavor to carry out
 this advice4  ,sz-ma ,niu asked the    
like question4 ,the answer he received  
was this3 ,the words of the man who has 
a proper regard for his fellows are     

uttered with difficulty4  ',his         
words--uttered with difficulty8' he     
echoed1 in surprise4 ,is that what is   
meant by proper regard for one's        
fellow-creatures8  ,where there is      
difficulty in doing1 the ,master        
replied1 will there not be some         
difficulty in utterance8  ,the same     
disciple put a question about the       
superior man4 ,superior men1 he replied1
 are free from trouble and apprehension4
  ',free from trouble and apprehension6'
 said he4 ,does that make them 'superior
 men'8  ,the ,master added1 ,where there
 is found1 upon introspection1 to be no 
chronic disease1 how shall there be any 
trouble8 how shall there be any         
apprehension8  ,the same disciple1 being
 in trouble1 remarked1 ,i am alone in   
having no brother1 while all else have  
theirs--younger or elder4  ,tsz-hia said
 to him1 ,i have heard this3 ',death and
 life have destined times2 wealth and   
honors rest with ,heaven4 ,let the      
superior man keep watch over himself    

without ceasing1 showing deference to   
others1 with propriety of manners--and  
all within the four seas will be his    
brethren4 ,how should he be distressed  
for lack of brothers6'#bi  ,tsz-chang   
asked what sort of man might be termed  
enlightened4  ,the ,master replied1     
,that man with whom drenching slander   
and cutting calumny gain no currency may
 well be called enlightened4 ,ay1 he    
with whom such things make no way may   
well be called enlightened in the       
extreme4  ,tsz-kung put a question      
relative to government4 ,in reply the   
,master mentioned three                 
essentials3--sufficient food1 sufficient
 armament1 and the people's confidence4 
,but1 said the disciple1 if you cannot  
really have all three1 and one has to be
 given up1 which would you give up      
first8  ,the armament1 he replied4  ,and
 if you are obliged to give up one of   
the remaining two1 which would it be8   
,the food1 said he4 ,death has been the 
portion of all men from of old4 ,without

 the people's trust nothing can stand4  
,kih ,tsz-shing once said1 ,give me the 
inborn qualities of a gentleman1 and ,i 
want no more4 ,how are such to come from
 book-learning8  ,tsz-kung exclaimed1   
,ah6 sir1 ,i regret to hear such words  
from you4 ,a gentleman6--,but 'a team of
 four can ne'er o'ertake the tongue6'   
,literary accomplishments are much the  
same as inborn qualities1 and inborn    
qualities as literary accomplishments4  
,a tiger's or leopard's skin without the
 hair might be a dog's or sheep's when  
so made bare4  ,duke ,ngai was          
consulting ,yu ,joh4 ,said he1 ,it is a 
year of dearth1 and there is an         
insufficiency for ,ways and ,means--what
 am ,i to do8  ,why not apply the       
,tithing ,statute8 said the minister4   
,but two tithings would not be enough   
for my purposes1 said the duke2 what    
would be the good of applying the       
,statute8  ,the minister replied1 ,so   
long as the people have enough left for 
themselves1 who of them will allow their

 prince to be without enough8 ,but--when
 the people have not enough1 who will   
allow their prince all that he wants8   
,tsz-chang was asking how the standard  
of virtue was to be raised1 and how to  
discern what was illusory or misleading4
 ,the ,master's answer was1 ,give a     
foremost place to honesty and           
faithfulness1 and tread the path of     
righteousness1 and you will raise the   
standard of virtue4 ,as to discerning   
what is illusory1 here is an example of 
an illusion3--,whom you love you wish to
 live2 whom you hate you wish to die4   
,to have wished the same person to live 
and also to be dead--there is an        
illusion for you4  ,duke ,king of ,ts'i 
consulted ,confucius about government4  
,his answer was1 ,let a prince be a     
prince1 and ministers be ministers2 let 
fathers be fathers1 and sons be sons4   
,good6 exclaimed the duke2 truly if a   
prince fail to be a prince1 and         
ministers to be ministers1 and if       
fathers be not fathers1 and sons not    

sons1 then1 even though ,i may have my  
allowance of grain1 should ,i ever be   
able to relish it8  ,the man to decide a
 cause with half a word1 exclaimed the  
,master1 is ,tsz-lu6  ,tsz-lu never let 
a night pass between promise and        
performance4  ,in hearing causes1 ,i am 
like other men1 said the ,master4 ,the  
great point is--to prevent litigation4  
,tsz-chang having raised some question  
about government1 the ,master said to   
him1 ,in the settlement of its          
principles be unwearied2 in its         
administration--see to that loyally4    
,the man of wide research1 said he1 who 
also restrains himself by the ,rules of 
,propriety1 is not likely to transgress4
  ,again1 ,the noble-minded man makes   
the most of others' good qualities1 not 
the worst of their bad ones4 ,men of    
small mind do the reverse of this4  ,ki 
,k'ang was consulting him about the     
direction of public affairs4 ,confucius 
answered him1 ,a director should be     
himself correct4 ,if you1 sir1 as a     

leader show correctness1 who will dare  
not to be correct8  ,ki ,k'ang1 being   
much troubled on account of robbers     
abroad1 consulted ,confucius on the     
matter4 ,he received this reply3 ,if    
you1 sir1 were not covetous1 neither    
would they steal1 even were you to bribe
 them to do so4  ,ki ,k'ang1 when       
consulting ,confucius about the         
government1 said1 ,suppose ,i were to   
put to death the disorderly for the     
better encouragement of the             
orderly--what say you to that8  ,sir1   
replied ,confucius1 in the              
administration of government why resort 
to capital punishment8 ,covet what is   
good1 and the people will be good4 ,the 
virtue of the noble-minded man is as the
 wind1 and that of inferior men as      
grass2 the grass must bend1 when the    
wind blows upon it4  ,tsz-chang asked   
how otherwise he would describe the     
learned official who might be termed    
influential4  ,what1 ,i wonder1 do you  
mean by one who is influential8 said the

 ,master4  ,i mean1 replied the         
disciple1 one who is sure to have a     
reputation throughout the country1 as   
well as at home4  ,that1 said the       
,master1 is reputation1 not influence4  
,the influential man1 then1 if he be one
 who is genuinely straightforward and   
loves what is just and right1 a         
discriminator of men's words1 and an    
observer of their looks1 and in honor   
careful to prefer others to             
himself--will certainly have influence1 
both throughout the country and at home4
 ,the man of mere reputation1 on the    
other hand1 who speciously affects      
philanthropy1 though in his way of      
procedure he acts contrary to it1 while 
yet quite evidently engrossed with that 
virtue--will certainly have reputation1 
both in the country and at home4  ,fan  
,ch'i1 strolling with him over the      
ground below the place of the           
rain-dance1 said to him1 ,i venture to  
ask how to raise the standard of virtue1
 how to reform dissolute habits1 and how

 to discern what is illusory8  ,ah6 a   
good question indeed6 he exclaimed4     
,well1 is not putting duty first1 and   
success second1 a way of raising the    
standard of virtue8 ,and is not         
attacking the evil in one's self1 and   
not the evil which is in others1 a way  
of reforming dissolute habits8 ,and as  
to illusions1 is not one morning's fit  
of anger1 causing a man to forget       
himself1 and even involving in the      
consequences those who are near and dear
 to him--is not that an illusion8  ,the 
same disciple asked him what was meant  
by a right regard for one's             
fellow-creatures4 ,he replied1 ,it is   
love to man4  ,asked by him again what  
was meant by wisdom1 he replied1 ,it is 
knowledge of man4  ,fan ,ch'i did not   
quite grasp his meaning4  ,the ,master  
went on to say1 ,lift up the straight1  
set aside the crooked1 so can you make  
the crooked straight4  ,fan ,ch'i left  
him1 and meeting with ,tsz-hia he said1 
,i had an interview just now with the   

,master1 and ,i asked him what wisdom   
was4 ,in his answer he said1 ',lift up  
the straight1 set aside the crooked1 and
 so can you make the crooked straight4' 
,what was his meaning8  ,ah6 words rich 
in meaning1 those1 said the other4 ,when
 ,shun was emperor1 and was selecting   
his men from among the multitude1 he    
'lifted up' ,kau-yau2 and men devoid of 
right feelings towards their kind went  
far away4 ,and when ,t'ang was emperor1 
and chose out his men from the crowd1 he
 'lifted up' ,i-yin--with the same      
result4  ,tsz-kung was consulting him   
about a friend4 ,speak to him frankly1  
and respectfully1 said the ,master1 and 
gently lead him on4 ,if you do not      
succeed1 then stop2 do not submit       
yourself to indignity4  ,the learned    
,tsang observed1 ,in the society of     
books the 'superior man' collects his   
friends2 in the society of his friends  
he is furthering good-will among men4   
,footnote #bi3 ,from ,confucius1 it is  
generally thought4     ,,book ,,xiii    

,answers on the ,art of                 
,governing--,consistency   ,tsz-lu was  
asking about government4 ,lead the way  
in it1 said the ,master1 and work hard  
at it4  ,requested to say more1 he      
added1 ,and do not tire of it4          
,chung-kung1 on being made first        
minister to the ,chief of the ,ki       
family1 consulted the ,master about     
government1 and to him he said1 ,let the
 heads of offices be heads4 ,excuse     
small faults4 ,promote men of sagacity  
and talent4  ,but1 he asked1 how am ,i  
to know the sagacious and talented1     
before promoting them8  ,promote those  
whom you do know1 said the ,master4  ,as
 to those of whom you are uncertain1    
will others omit to notice them8        
,tsz-lu said to the ,master1 ,as the    
prince of ,wei1 sir1 has been waiting   
for you to act for him in his           
government1 what is it your intention to
 take in hand first8  ,one thing of     
necessity1 he answered--the             
rectification of terms4  ,that6         

exclaimed ,tsz-lu4 ,how far away you    
are1 sir6 ,why such rectification8      
,what a rustic you are1 ,tsz-lu6        
rejoined the ,master4 ,a gentleman would
 be a little reserved and reticent in   
matters which he does not understand4   
,if terms be incorrect1 language will be
 incongruous2 and if language be        
incongruous1 deeds will be imperfect4   
,so1 again1 when deeds are imperfect1   
propriety and harmony cannot prevail1   
and when this is the case laws relating 
to crime will fail in their aim2 and if 
these last so fail1 the people will not 
know where to set hand or foot4 ,hence1 
a man of superior mind1 certain first of
 his terms1 is fitted to speak2 and     
being certain of what he says can       
proceed upon it4 ,in the language of    
such a person there is nothing          
heedlessly irregular--and that is the   
sum of the matter4  ,fan ,ch'i requested
 that he might learn something of       
husbandry4 ,for that1 said the ,master1 
,i am not equal to an old husbandman4   

,might he then learn something of       
gardening8 he asked4 ,i am not equal to 
an old gardener1 was the reply4  ,a man 
of little mind1 that6 said the ,master1 
when ,fan ,ch'i had gone out4 ,let a man
 who is set over the people love        
propriety1 and they will not presume to 
be disrespectful4 ,let him be a lover of
 righteousness1 and they will not       
presume to be aught but submissive4 ,let
 him love faithfulness and truth1 and   
they will not presume not to lend him   
their hearty assistance4 ,ah1 if all    
this only were so1 the people from all  
sides would come to such a one1 carrying
 their children on their backs4 ,what   
need to turn his hand to husbandry8     
,though a man1 said he1 could hum       
through the ,odes--the three            
hundred--yet should show himself        
unskilled when given some administrative
 work to do for his country2 though he  
might know much of that other lore1 yet 
if1 when sent on a mission to any       
quarter1 he could answer no question    

personally and unaided1 what after all  
is he good for8  ,let a leader1 said he1
 show rectitude in his own personal     
character1 and even without directions  
from him things will go well4 ,if he be 
not personally upright1 his directions  
will not be complied with4  ,once he    
made the remark1 ,the governments of ,lu
 and of ,wei are in brotherhood4  ,of   
,king1 a son of the ,duke of ,wei1 he   
observed that he managed his household  
matters well4 ,on his coming into       
possession1 he thought1 ',what a strange
 conglomeration6'--,coming to possess a 
little more1 it was1 ',strange1 such a  
result6' ,and when he became wealthy1   
',strange1 such elegance6'  ,the ,master
 was on a journey to ,wei1 and ,yen ,yu 
was driving him4 ,what multitudes of    
people6 he exclaimed4 ,yen ,yu asked    
him1 ,seeing they are so numerous1 what 
more would you do for them8  ,enrich    
them1 replied the ,master4  ,and after  
enriching them1 what more would you do  
for them8  ,instruct them4  ,were any   

one of our princes to employ me1 he     
said1 after a twelvemonth ,i might have 
made some tolerable progress2 but give  
me three years1 and my work should be   
done4  ,again1 ,how true is that saying1
 ',let good men have the management of a
 country for a century1 and they would  
be adequate to cope with evil-doers1 and
 thus do away with capital punishments4'
  ,again1 ,suppose the ruler to possess 
true kingly qualities1 then surely after
 one generation there would be good-will
 among men4  ,again1 ,let a ruler but   
see to his own rectitude1 and what      
trouble will he then have in the work   
before him8 ,if he be unable to rectify 
himself1 how is he to rectify others8   
,once when ,yen ,yu was leaving the     
,court1 the ,master accosted him4 ,why  
so late8 he asked4 ,busy with           
legislation1 ,yen replied4 ,the details 
of it1 suggested the ,master2 had it    
been legislation1 ,i should have been   
there to hear it1 even though ,i am not 
in office4  ,duke ,ting asked if there  

were one sentence which1 if acted upon1 
might have the effect of making a       
country prosperous4  ,confucius         
answered1 ,a sentence could hardly be   
supposed to do so much as that4 ,but    
there is a proverb people use which     
says1 ',to play the prince is hard1 to  
play the minister not easy4' ,assuming  
that it is understood that 'to play the 
prince is hard1' would it not be        
probable that with that one sentence the
 country should be made to prosper8  ,is
 there1 then1 he asked1 one sentence    
which1 if acted upon1 would have the    
effect of ruining a country8  ,confucius
 again replied1 ,a sentence could hardly
 be supposed to do so much as that4 ,but
 there is a proverb men have which says1
 ',not gladly would ,i play the prince1 
unless my words were ne'er withstood4'  
,assuming that the words were good1 and 
that none withstood them1 would not that
 also be good8 ,but assuming that they  
were not good1 and yet none withstood   
them1 would it not be probable that with

 that one saying he would work his      
country's ruin8  ,when the ,duke of     
,sheh consulted him about government1 he
 replied1 ,where the near are gratified1
 the war will follow4  ,when ,tsz-hia   
became governor of ,kue-fu1 and         
consulted him about government1 he      
answered1 ,do not wish for speedy       
results4 ,do not look at trivial        
advantages4 ,if you wish for speedy     
results1 they will not be far-reaching2 
and if you regard trivial advantages you
 will not successfully deal with        
important affairs4  ,the ,duke of ,sheh 
in a conversation with ,confucius said1 
,there are some straightforward persons 
in my neighborhood4 ,if a father has    
stolen a sheep1 the son will give       
evidence against him4  ,straightforward 
people in my neighborhood are different 
from those1 said ,confucius4 ,the father
 will hold a thing secret on his son's  
behalf1 and the son does the same for   
his father4 ,they are on their way to   
becoming straightforward4  ,fan ,ch'i   

was asking him about duty to one's      
fellow-men4 ,be courteous1 he replied1  
in your private sphere2 be serious in   
any duty you take in hand to do2 be     
leal-hearted in your intercourse with   
others4 ,even though you were to go     
amongst the wild tribes1 it would not be
 right for you to neglect these duties4 
,in answer to ,tsz-kung1 who asked1 how 
he would characterize one who could     
fitly be called 'learned official1' the 
,master said1 ,he may be so-called who  
in his private life is affected with a  
sense of his own unworthiness1 and who1 
when sent on a mission to any quarter of
 the empire1 would not disgrace his     
prince's commands4  ,may ,i presume1    
said his questioner1 to ask what sort   
you would put next to such8  ,him who is
 spoken of by his kinsmen as a dutiful  
son1 and whom the folks of his          
neighborhood call 'good brother4'  ,may 
,i still venture to ask whom you would  
place next in order8  ,such as are sure 
to be true to their word1 and effective 

in their work--who are given to         
hammering1 as it were1 upon one note--of
 inferior calibre indeed1 but fit       
enough1 ,i think1 to be ranked next4    
,how would you describe those who are at
 present in the government service8     
,ugh6 mere peck and panier men6--not    
worth taking into the reckoning4  ,once 
he remarked1 ,if ,i cannot get via media
 men to impart instruction to1 then ,i  
must of course take the impetuous and   
undisciplined6 ,the impetuous ones will 
at least go forward and lay hold on     
things2 and the undisciplined have at   
least something in them which needs to  
be brought out4  ,the ,southerners1 said
 he1 have the proverb1 ',the man who    
sticks not to rule will never make a    
charm-worker or a medical man4'         
,good6--',whoever is intermittent in his
 practise of virtue will live to be     
ashamed of it4' ,without                
prognostication1 he added1 that will    
indeed be so4  ,the nobler-minded man1  
he remarked1 will be agreeable even when

 he disagrees2 the small-minded man will
 agree and be disagreeable4  ,tsz-kung  
was consulting him1 and asked1 ,what say
 you of a person who was liked by all in
 his village8  ,that will scarcely do1  
he answered4  ,what1 then1 if they all  
disliked him8  ,that1 too1 said he1 is  
scarcely enough4 ,better if he were     
liked by the good folk in the village1  
and disliked by the bad4  ,the superior 
man1 he once observed1 is easy to serve1
 but difficult to please4 ,try to please
 him by the adoption of wrong           
principles1 and you will fail4 ,also1   
when such a one employs others1 he uses 
them according to their capacity4 ,the  
inferior man is1 on the other hand1     
difficult to serve1 but easy to please4 
,try to please him by the adoption of   
wrong principles1 and you will succeed4 
,and when he employs others he requires 
them to be fully prepared for           
everything4  ,again1 ,the superior man  
can be high without being haughty4 ,the 
inferior man can be haughty if not high4

  ,the firm1 the unflinching1 the plain 
and simple1 the slow to speak1 said he  
once1 are approximating towards their   
duty to their fellow-men4  ,tsz-lu asked
 how he would characterize one who might
 fitly be called an educated gentleman4 
,the master replied1 ,he who can        
properly be so-called will have in him a
 seriousness of purpose1 a habit of     
controlling himself1 and an             
agreeableness of manner3 among his      
friends and associates the seriousness  
and the self-control1 and among his     
brethren the agreeableness of manner4   
,let good and able men discipline the   
people for seven years1 said the        
,master1 and after that they may do to  
go to war4  ,but1 said he1 ,to lead an  
undisciplined people to war--that ,i    
call throwing them away4     ,,book     
,,xiv  ,good and ,bad                   
,government--,miscellaneous ,sayings    
,yuen ,sz asked what might be considered
 to bring shame on one4  ,pay1 said the 
,master2 pay--ever looking to that1     

whether the country be well or badly    
governed4  ,when imperiousness1         
boastfulness1 resentments1 and          
covetousness cease to prevail among the 
people1 may it be considered that mutual
 good-will has been effected8 ,to this  
question the ,master replied1 ,a hard   
thing overcome1 it may be considered4   
,but as to the mutual good-will--,i     
cannot tell4  ,learned officials1 said  
he1 who hanker after a home life1 are   
not worthy of being esteemed as such4   
,again1 ,in a country under good        
government1 speak boldly1 act boldly4   
,when the land is ill-governed1 though  
you act boldly1 let your words be       
moderate4  ,again1 ,men of virtue will  
needs be men of words--will speak       
out--but men of words are not           
necessarily men of virtue4 ,they who    
care for their fellow-men will needs be 
bold1 but the bold may not necessarily  
be such as care for their fellow-men4   
,nan-kung ,kwoh1 who was consulting     
,confucius1 observed respecting ,i1 the 

skilful archer1 and ,ngau1 who could    
propel a boat on dry land1 that neither 
of them died a natural death2 while ,yu 
and ,tsih1 who with their own hands had 
labored at husbandry1 came to wield     
imperial sway4  ,the ,master gave him no
 reply4 ,but when the speaker had gone  
out he exclaimed1 ,a superior man1 that6
 ,a man who values virtue1 that6  ,there
 have been noble-minded men1 said he1   
who yet were wanting in philanthropy2   
but never has there been a small-minded 
man who had philanthropy in him4  ,he   
asked1 ,can any one refuse to toil for  
those he loves8 ,can any one refuse to  
exhort1 who is true-hearted8  ,speaking 
of the preparation of ,government       
,notifications in his day he said1 ,p'i 
would draw up a rough sketch of what was
 to be said2 the ,shishuh then looked it
 carefully through and put it into      
proper shape2 ,tsz-yu next1 who was     
master of the ceremonial of ,state      
intercourse1 improved and adorned its   
phrases2 and ,tsz-ch'an of ,tung-li     

added his scholarly embellishments      
thereto4  ,to some one who asked his    
opinion of the last-named1 he said1 ,he 
was a kind-hearted man4 ,asked what he  
thought of ,tsz-si1 he exclaimed1 ,alas 
for him6 alas for him6--,asked again    
about ,kwan ,chung1 his answer was1 ,as 
to him1 he once seized the town of ,p'in
 with its three hundred families from   
the ,chief of the ,pih clan1 who1       
afterwards reduced to living upon coarse
 rice1 with all his teeth gone1 never   
uttered a word of complaint4  ,it is no 
light thing1 said he1 to endure poverty 
uncomplainingly2 and a difficult thing  
to bear wealth without becoming         
arrogant4  ,respecting ,mang            
,kung-ch'oh1 he said that1 while he was 
fitted for something better than the    
post of chief officer in the ,chau or   
,wei families1 he was not competent to  
act as minister in small ,states like   
those of ,t'ang or ,sieh4  ,tsz-lu asked
 how he would describe a perfect man4   
,he replied1 ,let a man have the        

sagacity of ,tsang ,wu-chung1 the       
freedom from covetousness of            
,kung-ch'oh1 the boldness of ,chwang of 
,p'in1 and the attainments in polite    
arts of ,yen ,yu2 and gift him further  
with the graces taught by the ',books of
 ,rites' and ',music'--then he may be   
considered a perfect man4 ,but1 said he1
 what need of such in these days8 ,the  
man that may be regarded as perfect now 
is the one who1 seeing some advantage to
 himself1 is mindful of righteousness2  
who1 seeing danger1 risks his life2 and 
who1 if bound by some covenant of long  
standing1 never forgets its conditions  
as life goes on4  ,respecting ,kung-shuh
 ,wan1 the ,master inquired of          
,kung-ming ,kia1 saying1 ,is it true    
that your master never speaks1 never    
laughs1 never takes aught from others8  
,those who told you that of him1 said   
he1 have gone too far4 ,my master speaks
 when there is occasion to do so1 and   
men are not surfeited with his speaking4
 ,when there is occasion to be merry    

too1 he will laugh1 but men have never  
over much of his laughing4 ,and whenever
 it is just and right to take things    
from others1 he will take them1 but     
never so as to allow men to think him   
burdensome4 ,is that the case with him8 
said the ,master4 ,can it be so8        
,respecting ,tsang ,wu-chung the ,master
 said1 ,when he sought from ,lu the     
appointment of a successor to him1 and  
for this object held on to his          
possession of the fortified city of     
,fang--if you say he was not then using 
constraint towards his prince1 ,i must  
refuse to believe it4  ,duke ,wan of    
,tsin he characterized as artful but not
 upright2 and ,duke ,hwan of ,ts'i as   
upright but not artful4  ,tsz-lu        
remarked1 ,when ,duke ,hwan caused his  
brother ,kiu to be put to death1 ,shau  
,hwuh committed suicide1 but ,kwan      
,chung did not4 ,i should say he was not
 a man who had much good-will in        
him--eh8  ,the ,master replied1 ,when   
,duke ,hwan held a great gathering of   

the feudal lords1 dispensing with       
military equipage1 it was owing to ,kwan
 ,chung's energy that such an event was 
brought about4 ,match such good-will as 
that--match it if you can4  ,tsz-kung   
then spoke up4 ,but was not ,kwan ,chung
 wanting in good-will8 ,he could not    
give up his life when ,duke ,hwan caused
 his brother to be put to death4        
,besides1 he became the duke's          
counsellor4  ,and in acting as his      
counsellor put him at the head of all   
the feudal lords1 said the ,master1 and 
unified and reformed the whole empire2  
and the people1 even to this day1 reap  
benefit from what he did4 ,had it not   
been for him we should have been going  
about with locks unkempt and buttoning  
our jackets 7like barbarians7 on the    
left4 ,would you suppose that he should 
show the same sort of attachment as     
exists between a poor yokel and his one 
wife--that he would asphyxiate himself  
in some sewer1 leaving no one the wiser8
  ,kung-shuh ,wan's steward1 who became 

the high officer ,sien1 went up         
accompanied by ,wan to the prince's hall
 of audience4  ,when ,confucius heard of
 this he remarked1 ,he may well be      
esteemed a ',wan4'  ,the ,master having 
made some reference to the lawless ways 
of ,duke ,ling of ,wei1 ,ki ,k'ang said 
to him1 ,if he be like that1 how is it  
he does not ruin his position8          
,confucius answered1 ,the ,chung-shuh1  
,yu1 is charged with the entertainment  
of visitors and strangers2 the priest   
,t'o has charge of the ancestral temple2
 and ,wang-sun ,kia has the control of  
the army and its divisions3--with men   
such as those1 how should he come to    
ruin8  ,he once remarked1 ,he who is    
unblushing in his words will with       
difficulty substantiate them4  ,ch'in   
,shing had slain ,duke ,kien4 ,hearing  
of this1 ,confucius1 after performing   
his ablutions1 went to ,court and       
announced the news to ,duke ,ngai1      
saying1 ,ch'in ,shing has slain his     
prince4 ,may ,i request that you proceed

 against him8  ,inform the ,chiefs of   
the ,three ,families1 said the duke4    
,soliloquizing upon this1 ,confucius    
said1 ,since he uses me to back his     
ministers1#cj ,i did not dare not to    
announce the matter to him2 and now he  
says1 ',inform the ,three ,chiefs4'  ,he
 went to the ,three ,chiefs and informed
 them1 but nothing could be done4       
,whereupon again he said1 ,since he uses
 me to back his ministers1 ,i did not   
dare not to announce the matter4        
,tsz-lu was questioning him as to how he
 should serve his prince4 ,deceive him  
not1 but reprove him1 he answered4  ,the
 minds of superior men1 he observed1    
trend upwards2 those of inferior men    
trend downwards4  ,again1 ,students of  
old fixed their eyes upon themselves3   
now they learn with their eyes upon     
others4  ,kue ,pih-yuh despatched a man 
with a message to ,confucius4 ,confucius
 gave him a seat1 and among other       
inquiries he asked1 ,how is your master 
managing8 ,my master1 he replied1 has a 

great wish to be seldom at fault1 and as
 yet he cannot manage it4  ,what a      
messenger6 exclaimed he1 admiringly1    
when the man went out4 ,what a          
messenger6  ,when not occupying the     
office1 was a remark of his1 devise not 
the policy4  ,the ,learned ,tsang used  
to say1 ,the thoughts of the 'superior  
man' do not wander from his own office4 
,superior men1 said the ,master1 are    
modest in their words1 profuse in their 
deeds4  ,again1 ,there are three        
attainments of the superior man which   
are beyond me--the being sympathetic    
without anxiety1 wise without           
scepticism1 brave without fear4  ,sir1  
said ,tsz-kung1 that is what you say of 
yourself4  ,whenever ,tsz-kung drew     
comparisons from others1 the ,master    
would say1 ,ah1 how wise and great you  
must have become6 ,now ,i have no time  
to do that4  ,again1 ,my great concern  
is1 not that men do not know me1 but    
that they cannot4  ,again1 ,if a man    
refrain from making preparations against

 his being imposed upon1 and from       
counting upon others' want of good faith
 towards him1 while he is foremost to   
perceive what is passing--surely that is
 a wise and good man4  ,wi-shang ,mau   
accosted ,confucius1 saying1 ,kiu1 how  
comes it that you manage to go perching 
and roosting in this way8 ,is it not    
because you show yourself so smart a    
speaker1 now8  ,i should not dare do    
that1 said ,confucius4 ',tis that ,i am 
sick of men's immovableness and deafness
 to reason4  ,in a well-bred horse1 said
 he1 what one admires is not its speed1 
but its good points4  ,some one asked1  
,what say you of the remark1 ',requite  
enmity with kindness'8  ,how then1 he   
answered1 would you requite kindness8   
,requite enmity with                    
straightforwardness1 and kindness with  
kindness4  ,ah6 no one knows me6 he once
 exclaimed4  ,sir1 said ,tsz-kung1 how  
comes it to pass that no one knows you8 
,while ,i murmur not against ,heaven1   
continued the ,master1 nor cavil at men2

 while ,i stoop to learn and aspire to  
penetrate into things that are high2 yet
 'tis ,heaven alone knows what ,i am4   
,liau1 a kinsman of the duke1 having    
laid a complaint against ,tsz-lu before 
,ki ,k'ang1 an officer came to          
,confucius to inform him of the fact1   
and he added1 ,my lord is certainly     
having his mind poisoned by his kinsman 
,liau1 but through my influence perhaps 
we may yet manage to see him exposed in 
the market-place or the ,court4  ,if    
right principles are to have their      
course1 it is so destined1 said the     
,master2 if they are not to have their  
course1 it is so destined4 ,what can    
,liau do against ,destiny8  ,there are  
worthy men1 said the ,master1 fleeing   
from the world2 some from their         
district2 some from the sight of men's  
looks2 some from the language they hear4
  ,the men who have risen from their    
posts and withdrawn in this manner are  
seven in number4  ,tsz-lu1 having lodged
 overnight in ,shih-mun1 was accosted by

 the gate-keeper in the morning4 ,where 
from8 he asked4 ,from ,confucius1       
,tsz-lu responded4 ,that is the man1    
said he1 who knows things are not up to 
the mark1 and is making some ado about  
them1 is it not8  ,when the ,master was 
in ,wei1 he was once pounding on the    
musical stone1 when a man with a basket 
of straw crossed his threshold1 and     
exclaimed1 ,ah1 there is a heart that   
feels6 ,aye1 drub the stone6 ,after     
which he added1 ,how vulgar6 how he     
hammers away on one note6--and no one   
knows him1 and he gives up1 and all is  
over6      ',be it deep1 our skirts     
we'll raise to the waist1     --,or     
shallow1 then up to the knee4'  ,what   
determination6 said the ,master4 ,yet it
 was not hard to do4  ,tsz-chang once   
said to him1 ,in the ',book of the      
,annals' it is stated that while        
,kau-tsung was in the ,mourning ,shed he
 spent the three years without speaking4
 ,what is meant by that8  ,why must you 
name ,kau-tsung8 said the ,master4 ,it  

was so with all other ancient           
sovereigns3 when one of them died1 the  
heads of every department agreed between
 themselves that they should give ear   
for three years to the ,prime ,minister4
  ,when their betters love the ,rules1  
then the folk are easy tools1 was a     
saying of the ,master4  ,tsz-lu having  
asked what made a superior man1 he      
answered1 ,self-culture1 with a view to 
becoming seriously-minded4  ,nothing    
more than that8 said he4  ,self-culture 
with a view to the greater satisfaction 
of others1 added the ,master4  ,that1   
and yet no more8  ,self-culture with a  
view to the greater satisfaction of all 
the clans and classes1 he again added4  
,self-culture for the sake of all--a    
result that1 that would almost put ,yau 
and ,shun into the shade6  ,to ,yuen    
,jang1#ca who was sitting waiting for   
him in a squatting 7disrespectful7      
posture1 the ,master delivered himself  
as follows3 ,the man who in his youth   
could show no humility or subordination1

 who in his prime misses his            
opportunity1 and who when old age comes 
upon him will not die--that man is a    
miscreant4 ,and he tapped him on the    
shin with his staff4  ,some one asked   
about his attendant--a youth from the   
village of ,kiueh--whether he was one   
who improved4 ,he replied1 ,i note that 
he seats himself in the places reserved 
for his betters1 and that when he is    
walking he keeps abreast with his       
seniors4 ,he is not one of those who    
care for improvement3 he wants to be a  
man all at once4  ,footnote #cj3        
,confucius had now retired from office1 
and this incident occurred only two     
years before his death4  ,footnote #ca3 
,it is a habit with the ,chinese1 when a
 number are out walking together1 for   
the eldest to go first1 the others      
pairing off according to their age4 ,it 
is a custom much older than the time of 
,confucius4     ,,book ,,xv  ,practical 
,wisdom--,reciprocity the ,rule of ,life
   ,duke ,ling of ,wei was consulting   

,confucius about army arrangements4 ,his
 answer was1 ,had you asked me about    
such things as temple requisites1 ,i    
have learnt that business1 but ,i have  
not yet studied military matters4 ,and  
he followed up this reply by leaving on 
the following day4  ,after this1 during 
his residence in the ,state of ,ch'in1  
his followers1 owing to a stoppage of   
food supply1 became so weak and ill that
 not one of them could stand4 ,tsz-lu1  
with indignation pictured on his        
countenance1 exclaimed1 ,and is a       
gentleman to suffer starvation8  ,a     
gentleman1 replied the ,master1 will    
endure it unmoved1 but a common person  
breaks out into excesses under it4      
,addressing ,tsz-kung1 the ,master said1
 ,you regard me as one who studies and  
stores up in his mind a multiplicity of 
things--do you not8--,i do1 he replied2 
is it not so8--,not at all4 ,i have one 
idea--one cord on which to string all4  
,to ,tsz-lu he remarked1 ,they who know 
,virtue are rare4  ,if you would know   

one who without effort ruled well1 was  
not ,shun such a one8 ,what did he      
indeed do8 ,he bore himself with        
reverent dignity and undeviatingly      
'faced the south1' and that was all4    
,tsz-chang was consulting him about     
making way in life4 ,he answered1 ,be   
true and honest in all you say1 and     
seriously earnest in all you do1 and    
then1 even if your country be one       
inhabited by barbarians1 ,south or      
,north1 you will make your way4 ,if you 
do not show yourself thus in word and   
deed how should you succeed1 even in    
your own district or                    
neighborhood8--,when you are afoot1 let 
these two counsels be two companions    
preceding you1 yourself viewing them    
from behind2 when you drive1 have them  
in view as on the yoke of your carriage4
 ,then may you make your way4           
,tsz-chang wrote them on the two ends of
 his cincture4  ,straight was the course
 of the ,annalist ,yu1 said the         
,master--aye1 straight as an arrow      

flies2 were the country well governed or
 ill governed1 his was an arrow-like    
course4  ,a man of masterly mind1 too1  
is ,kue ,pih-yuh6 ,when the land is     
being rightly governed he will serve2   
when it is under bad government he is   
apt to recoil1 and brood4  ,not to speak
 to a man1 said he1 to whom you ought to
 speak1 is to lose your man2 to speak to
 one to whom you ought not to speak is  
to lose your words4 ,those who are wise 
will not lose their man1 nor yet their  
words4  ,again1 ,the scholar whose heart
 is in his work1 and who is             
philanthropic1 seeks not to gain a      
livelihood by any means that will do    
harm to his philanthropy4 ,there have   
been men who have destroyed their own   
lives in the endeavor to bring that     
virtue in them to perfection4  ,tsz-kung
 asked how to become philanthropic4 ,the
 ,master answered him thus3 ,a workman  
who wants to do his work well must first
 sharpen his tools4 ,in whatever land   
you live1 serve under some wise and good

 man among those in high office1 and    
make friends with the more humane of its
 men of education4  ,yen ,yuen consulted
 him on the management of a country4 ,he
 answered3--  ,go by the ,hia ,calendar4
 ,have the ,state carriages like those  
of the ,yin princes4 ,wear the ,chow    
cap4 ,for your music let that of ,shun  
be used for the posturers4 ,put away the
 songs of ,ch'ing1 and remove far from  
you men of artful speech3 the ,ch'ing   
songs are immodest1 and artful talkers  
are dangerous4  ,other sayings of the   
,master3--  ,they who care not for the  
morrow will the sooner have their       
sorrow4  ,ah1 'tis hopeless6 ,i have not
 yet met with the man who loves ,virtue 
as he loves ,beauty4  ,was not ,tsang   
,wan like one who surreptitiously came  
by the post he held8 ,he knew the worth 
of ,hwui of ,liu-hia1 and could not     
stand in his presence4  ,be generous    
yourself1 and exact little from others2 
then you banish complaints4  ,with one  
who does not come to me inquiring ',what

 of this8' and ',what of that8' ,i never
 can ask ',what of this8' and give him  
up4  ,if a number of students are all   
day together1 and in their conversation 
never approach the subject of           
righteousness1 but are fond merely of   
giving currency to smart little sayings1
 they are difficult indeed to manage4   
,when the 'superior man' regards        
righteousness as the thing material1    
gives operation to it according to the  
,rules of ,propriety1 lets it issue in  
humility1 and become complete in        
sincerity--there indeed is your superior
 man6  ,the trouble of the superior man 
will be his own want of ability3 it will
 be no trouble to him that others do not
 know him4  ,such a man thinks it hard  
to end his days and leave a name to be  
no longer named4  ,the superior man is  
exacting of himself2 the common man is  
exacting of others4  ,a superior man has
 self-respect1 and does not strive2 is  
sociable1 yet no party man4  ,he does   
not promote a man because of his words1 

or pass over the words because of the   
man4  ,tsz-kung put to him the question1
 ,is there one word upon which the whole
 life may proceed8  ,the ,master        
replied1 ,is not ,reciprocity such a    
word8--what you do not yourself desire1 
do not put before others4  ,so far as ,i
 have to do with others1 whom do ,i     
over-censure8 whom do ,i over-praise8   
,if there be something in them that     
looks very praiseworthy1 that something 
,i put to the test4 ,i would have the   
men of the present day to walk in the   
straight path whereby those of the      
,three ,dynasties have walked4  ,i have 
arrived as it were at the annalist's    
blank page4--,once he who had a horse   
would lend it to another to mount2 now1 
alas6 it is not so4  ,artful speech is  
the confusion of ,virtue4 ,impatience   
over little things introduces confusion 
into great schemes4  ,what is disliked  
by the masses needs inquiring into2 so  
also does that which they have a        
preference for4  ,a man may give breadth

 to his principles3 it is not principles
 7in themselves7 that give breadth to   
the man4  ,not to retract after         
committing an error may itself be called
 error4  ,if ,i have passed the whole   
day without food and the whole night    
without sleep1 occupied with my         
thoughts1 it profits me nothing3 ,i were
 better engaged in learning4  ,the      
superior man deliberates upon how he may
 walk in truth1 not upon what he may    
eat4 ,the farmer may plough1 and be on  
the way to want3 the student learns1 and
 is on his way to emolument4 ,to live a 
right life is the concern of men of     
nobler minds3 poverty gives them none4  
,whatsoever the intellect may attain to1
 unless the humanity within is powerful 
enough to keep guard over it1 is        
assuredly lost1 even though it be       
gained4  ,if there be intellectual      
attainments1 and the humanity within is 
powerful enough to keep guard over them1
 yet1 unless 7in a ruler7 there be      
dignity in his rule1 the people will    

fail to show him respect4  ,again1 given
 the intellectual attainments1 and      
humanity sufficient to keep watch over  
them1 and also dignity in ruling1 yet if
 his movements be not in accordance with
 the ,rules of ,propriety1 he is not yet
 fully qualified4  ,the superior man may
 not be conversant with petty details1  
and yet may have important matters put  
into his hands4 ,the inferior man may   
not be charged with important matters1  
yet may be conversant with the petty    
details4  ,good-fellowship is more to   
men than fire and water4 ,i have seen   
men stepping into fire and into water1  
and meeting with death thereby2 ,i have 
not yet seen a man die from planting his
 steps in the path of good-fellowship4  
,rely upon good nature4 ',twill not     
allow precedence even to a teacher4     
,the superior man is inflexibly upright1
 and takes not things upon trust4  ,in  
serving your prince1 make your service  
the serious concern1 and let salary be a
 secondary matter4  ,where instruction  

is to be given1 there must be no        
distinction of persons4  ,where men's   
methods are not identical1 there can be 
no planning by one on behalf of another4
  ,in speaking1 perspicuity is all that 
is needed4  ,when the blind music-master
 ,mien paid him a visit1 on his         
approaching the steps the ,master called
 out ,steps1 and on his coming to the   
mat1 said ,mat4 ,when all in the room   
were seated1 the ,master told him       
,so-and-so is here1 so-and-so is here4  
,when the music-master had left1        
,tsz-chang said to him1 ,is that the way
 to speak to the music-master8 ,well1 he
 replied1 it is certainly the way to    
assist him4     ,,book ,,xvi  ,against  
,intestine ,strife--,good and ,bad      
,friendships   ,the ,chief of the ,ki   
family was about to make an onslaught   
upon the ,chuen-yu domain4  ,yen ,yu and
 ,tsz-lu in an interview with ,confucius
 told him1 ,the ,ki is about to have an 
affair with ,chuen-yu4  ,yen1 said      
,confucius1 does not the fault lie with 

you8 ,the ,chief of ,chuen-yu in times  
past was appointed lord of the ,east    
,mung 7mountain72 besides1 he dwells    
within the confines of your own ,state1 
and is an official of the               
,state-worship2 how can you think of    
making an onslaught upon him8  ,it is   
the wish of our ,chief1 said ,yen ,yu1  
not the wish of either of us ministers4 
,confucius said1 ,yen1 there is a       
sentence of ,chau ,jin which runs thus3 
',having made manifest their powers and 
taken their place in the official list1 
when they find themselves incompetent   
they resign2 if they cannot be firm when
 danger threatens the government1 nor   
lend support when it is reeling1 of what
 use then shall they be as              
,assistants8'--,besides1 you are wrong  
in what you said4 ,when a rhinoceros or 
tiger breaks out of its cage--when a    
jewel or tortoise-shell ornament is     
damaged in its casket--whose fault is   
it8  ,but1 said ,yen ,yu1 so far as     
,chuen-yu is concerned1 it is now       

fortified1 and it is close to ,pi2 and  
if he does not now take it1 in another  
generation it will certainly be a       
trouble to his descendants4  ,yen6      
exclaimed ,confucius1 it is a painful   
thing to a superior man to have to      
desist from saying1 ',my wish is        
so-and-so1' and to be obliged to make   
apologies4 ,for my part1 ,i have learnt 
this--that rulers of ,states and heads  
of ,houses are not greatly concerned    
about their small following1 but about  
the want of equilibrium in it--that they
 do not concern themselves about their  
becoming poor1 but about the best means 
of living quietly and contentedly2 for  
where equilibrium is preserved there    
will be no poverty1 where there is      
harmony their following will not be     
small1 and where there is quiet         
contentment there will be no decline nor
 fall4 ,now if that be the case1 it     
follows that if men in outlying         
districts are not submissive1 then a    
reform in education and morals will     

bring them to2 and when they have been  
so won1 then will you render them quiet 
and contented4 ,at the present time you 
two are ,assistants of your ,chief2 the 
people in the outlying districts are not
 submissive1 and cannot be brought      
round4 ,your dominion is divided1       
prostrate1 dispersed1 cleft in pieces1  
and you as its guardians are powerless4 
,and plans are being made for taking up 
arms against those who dwell within your
 own ,state4 ,i am apprehensive that the
 sorrow of the ,ki family is not to lie 
in ,chuen-yu1 but in those within their 
own screen4  ,when the empire is        
well-ordered1 said ,confucius1 it is    
from the emperor that edicts regarding  
ceremonial1 music1 and expeditions to   
quell rebellion go forth4 ,when it is   
being ill governed1 such edicts emanate 
from the feudal lords2 and when the     
latter is the case1 it will be strange  
if in ten generations there is not a    
collapse4 ,if they emanate merely from  
the high officials1 it will be strange  

if the collapse do not come in five     
generations4 ,when the ,state-edicts are
 in the hands of the subsidiary         
ministers1 it will be strange if in     
three generations there is no collapse4 
,when the empire is well-ordered1       
government is not left in the hands of  
high officials4  ,when the empire is    
well-ordered1 the common people will    
cease to discuss public matters4  ,for  
five generations1 he said1 the revenue  
has departed from the ducal household4  
,four generations ago the government    
fell into the hands of the high         
officials4 ,hence1 alas6 the straitened 
means of the descendants of the three   
,hwan families4  ,there are1 said he1   
three kinds of friendships which are    
profitable1 and three which are         
detrimental4 ,to make friends with the  
upright1 with the trustworthy1 with the 
experienced1 is to gain benefit2 to make
 friends with the subtly perverse1 with 
the artfully pliant1 with the subtle in 
speech1 is detrimental4  ,again1 ,there 

are three kinds of pleasure which are   
profitable1 and three which are         
detrimental4 ,to take pleasure in going 
regularly through the various branches  
of ,ceremonial and ,music1 in speaking  
of others' goodness1 in having many     
worthy wise friends1 is profitable4 ,to 
take pleasure in wild bold pleasures1 in
 idling carelessly about1 in the too    
jovial accompaniments of feasting1 is   
detrimental4  ,again1 ,three errors     
there be1 into which they who wait upon 
their superior may fall3--7#a7 to speak 
before the opportunity comes to them to 
speak1 which ,i call heedless haste2    
7#b7 refraining from speaking when the  
opportunity has come1 which ,i call     
concealment2 and 7#c7 speaking1         
regardless of the mood he is in1 which  
,i call blindness4  ,again1 ,three      
things a superior should guard          
against3--7#a7 against the lusts of the 
flesh in his earlier years while the    
vital powers are not fully developed and
 fixed2 7#b7 against the spirit of      

combativeness when he has come to the   
age of robust manhood and when the vital
 powers are matured and strong1 and 7#c7
 against ambitiousness when old age has 
come on and the vital powers have become
 weak and decayed4  ,three things also  
such a man greatly reveres3--7#a7 the   
ordinances of ,heaven1 7#b7 great men1  
7#c7 words of sages4 ,the inferior man  
knows not the ordinances of ,heaven and 
therefore reveres them not1 is unduly   
familiar in the presence of great men1  
and scoffs at the words of sages4  ,they
 whose knowledge comes by birth are of  
all men the first in understanding2 they
 to whom it comes by study are next2 men
 of poor intelectual capacity1 who yet  
study1 may be added as a yet inferior   
class2 and lowest of all are they who   
are poor in intellect and never learn4  
,nine things there are of which the     
superior man should be mindful3--to be  
clear in vision1 quick in hearing1      
genial in expression1 respectful in     
demeanor1 true in word1 serious in duty1

 inquiring in doubt1 firmly             
self-controlled in anger1 just and fair 
when the way to success opens out before
 him4  ,some have spoken of 'looking    
upon goodness as upon something beyond  
their reach1' and of 'looking upon evil 
as like plunging one's hands into       
scalding liquid'2--,i have seen the men1
 ,i have heard the sayings4  ,some1     
again1 have talked of 'living in        
seclusion to work out their designs1'   
and of 'exercising themselves in        
righteous living in order to render     
their principles the more               
effective'2--,i have heard the sayings1 
,i have not seen the men4  ,duke ,king  
of ,ts'i had his thousand teams of four1
 yet on the day of his death the people 
had nothing to say of his goodness4     
,peh-,i and ,shuh-,ts'i starved at the  
foot of ,shau-yang1 and the people make 
mention of them to this day4      ',e'en
 if not wealth thine object be1         
',tis all the same1 thou'rt changed to  
me4'  ,is not this apropos in such      

cases8  ,tsz-k'in asked of ,pih-yu1     
,have you heard anything else peculiar  
from your father8  ,not yet1 said he4   
,once1 though1 he was standing alone    
when ,i was hurrying past him over the  
vestibule1 and he said1 ',are you       
studying the ,odes8' ',not yet1' ,i     
replied4 ',if you do not learn the      
,odes1' said he1 'you will not have the 
wherewithal for conversing4' ,i turned  
away and studied the ,odes4 ,another    
day1 when he was again standing alone   
and ,i was hurrying past across the     
vestibule1 he said to me1 ',are you     
learning the ,rules of ,propriety8'     
',not yet1' ,i replied4 ',if you have   
not studied the ,rules1 you have nothing
 to stand upon1' said he4 ,i turned away
 and studied the ,rules4--,these two    
things ,i have heard from him4          
,tsz-k'in turned away1 and in great glee
 exclaimed1 ,i asked one thing1 and have
 got three4 ,i have learnt something    
about the ,odes1 and about the ,rules1  
and moreover ,i have learnt how the     

superior man will turn away his own son4
  ,the wife of the ruler of a ,state is 
called by her husband ,my helpmeet4 ,she
 speaks of herself as ,your little      
handmaiden4 ,the people of that ,state  
call her ,the prince's helpmeet1 but    
addressing persons of another ,state    
they speak of her as ,our little        
princess4 ,when persons of another      
,state name her they say also ,your     
prince's helpmeet4     ,,book ,,xvii    
,the ,master ,induced to ,take          
,office--,nature and ,habit   ,yang ,ho 
was desirous of having an interview with
 ,confucius1 but on the latter's failing
 to go and see him1 he sent a present of
 a pig to his house4 ,confucius went to 
return his acknowledgments for it at a  
time when he was not at home4 ,they met1
 however1 on the way4  ,he said to      
,confucius1 ,come1 ,i want a word with  
you4 ,can that man be said to have      
good-will towards his fellow-men who    
hugs and hides his own precious gifts   
and allows his country to go on in blind

 error8  ,he cannot1 was the reply4     
,and can he be said to be wise who1 with
 a liking for taking part in the public 
service1 is constantly letting slip his 
opportunities8  ,he cannot1 was the     
reply again4  ,and the days and months  
are passing2 and the years do not wait  
for us4  ,true1 said ,confucius2 ,i will
 take office4  ,it was a remark of the  
,master that while by nature we         
approximate towards each other1 by      
experience we go far asunder4  ,again1  
,only the supremely wise and the most   
deeply ignorant do not alter4  ,the     
,master once1 on his arrival at         
,wu-shing1 heard the sound of stringed  
instruments and singing4 ,his face      
beamed with pleasure1 and he said       
laughingly1 ,to kill a cock--why use an 
ox-knife8  ,tsz-yu1 the governor1       
replied1 ,in former days1 sir1 ,i heard 
you say1 ',let the superior man learn   
right principles1 and he will be loving 
to other men2 let the ordinary person   
learn right principles1 and he will be  

easily managed4'  ,the ,master 7turning 
to his disciples7 said1 ,sirs1 what he  
says is right3 what ,i said just now was
 only in play4  ,having received an     
invitation from ,kung-shan ,fuh-jau1 who
 was in revolt against the government   
and was holding to his district of ,pi1 
the ,master showed an inclination to go4
  ,tsz-lu was averse to this1 and said1 
,you can never go1 that is certain2 how 
should you feel you must go to that     
person8  ,well1 said the ,master1 he who
 has invited me must surely not have    
done so without a sufficient reason6    
,and if it should happen that my        
services were enlisted1 ,i might create 
for him another ,east ,chow--don't you  
think so8  ,tsz-chang asked ,confucius  
about the virtue of philanthropy4 ,his  
answer was1 ,it is the being able to put
 in practice five qualities1 in any     
place under the sun4  ,may ,i ask1      
please1 what these are8 said the        
disciple4  ,they are1 he said1 dignity1 
indulgence1 faithfulness1 earnestness1  

kindness4 ,if you show dignity you will 
not be mocked2 if you are indulgent you 
will win the multitude2 if faithful1 men
 will place their trust in you2 if      
earnest1 you will do something          
meritorious2 and if kind1 you will be   
enabled to avail yourself amply of men's
 services4  ,pih ,hih sent the ,master  
an invitation1 and he showed an         
inclination to go4  ,tsz-lu 7seeing     
this7 said to him1 ,in former days1 sir1
 ,i have heard you say1 ',a superior man
 will not enter the society of one who  
does not that which is good in matters  
concerning himself2 and this man is in  
revolt1 with ,chung-mau in his          
possession2 if you go to him1 how will  
the case stand8  ,yes1 said the ,master1
 those are indeed my words2 but is it   
not said1 ',what is hard may be rubbed  
without being made thin1' and ',white   
may be stained without being made       
black'8--,i am surely not a gourd6 ,how 
am ,i to be strung up like that kind of 
thing--and live without means8  ,tsz-lu1

 said the ,master1 you have heard of the
 six words with their six obfuscations8 
,no1 said he1 not so far4  ,sit down1   
and ,i will tell you them4 ,they are    
these six virtues1 cared for without    
care for any study about                
them3--philanthropy1 wisdom1            
faithfulness1 straightforwardness1      
courage1 firmness4 ,and the six         
obfuscations resulting from not liking  
to learn about them are1 respectively1  
these3--fatuity1 mental dissipation1    
mischievousness1 perversity1            
insubordination1 impetuosity4  ,my      
children1 said he once1 why does no one 
of you study the ,odes8--,they are      
adapted to rouse the mind1 to assist    
observation1 to make people sociable1 to
 arouse virtuous indignation4 ,they     
speak of duties near and far--the duty  
of ministering to a parent1 the duty of 
serving one's prince2 and it is from    
them that one becomes conversant with   
the names of many birds1 and beasts1 and
 plants1 and trees4  ,to his son ,pih-yu

 he said1 ,study you the ,odes of ,chow 
and the ,south1 and those of ,shau and  
the ,south4 ,the man who studies not    
these is1 ,i should say1 somewhat in the
 position of one who stands facing a    
wall6  ',etiquette demands it4'         
',etiquette demands it1' so people      
plead1 said he2 but do not these        
hankerings after jewels and silks indeed
 demand it8 ,or it is1 ',the study of   
,music requires it'--',music requires   
it'2 but do not these predilections for 
bells and drums require it8  ,again1    
,they who assume an outward appearance  
of severity1 being inwardly weak1 may be
 likened to low common men2 nay1 are    
they not somewhat like thieves that     
break through walls and steal8  ,again1 
,the plebeian kind of respect for piety 
is the very pest of virtue4  ,again1    
,listening on the road1 and repeating in
 the lane--this is abandonment of       
virtue4  ,ah1 the low-minded creatures6 
he exclaimed4 ,how is it possible indeed
 to serve one's prince in their company8

 ,before they have got what they wanted 
they are all anxiety to get it1 and     
after they have got it they are all     
anxiety lest they should lose it2 and   
while they are thus full of concern lest
 they should lose it1 there is no length
 to which they will not go4  ,again1 ,in
 olden times people had three moral     
infirmities2 which1 it may be1 are now  
unknown4 ,ambitiousness in those olden  
days showed itself in momentary         
outburst2 the ambitiousness of to-day   
runs riot4 ,austerity in those days had 
its sharp angles2 in these it is        
irritable and perverse4 ,feebleness of  
intellect then was at least             
straightforward2 in our day it is never 
aught but deceitful4  ,again1 ,rarely do
 we find mutual good feeling where there
 is fine speech and studied mien4       
,again1 ,to me it is abhorrent that     
purple color should be made to detract  
from that of vermilion4 ,also that the  
,odes of ,ch'ing should be allowed to   
introduce discord in connection with the

 music of the ,festal ,songs and ,hymns4
 ,also that sharp-whetted tongues should
 be permitted to subvert governments4   
,once said he1 ,would that ,i could     
dispense with speech6  ,sir1 said       
,tsz-kung1 if you were never to speak1  
what should your pupils have to hand    
down from you8  ,does ,heaven ever      
speak8 said the ,master4 ,the four      
seasons come and go1 and all creatures  
live and grow4 ,does ,heaven indeed     
speak8  ,once ,ju ,pi desired an        
interview with ,confucius1 from which   
the latter excused himself on the score 
of ill-health2 but while the attendant  
was passing out through the doorway with
 the message he took his lute and sang1 
in such a way as to let him hear him4   
,tsai ,wo questioned him respecting the 
three years' mourning1 saying that one  
full twelve-month was a long time--that1
 if gentlemen were for three years to   
cease from observing rules of propriety1
 propriety must certainly suffer1 and   
that if for three years they neglected  

music1 music must certainly die out--and
 that seeing nature has taught us that  
when the old year's grain is finished   
the new has sprung up for us--seeing    
also that all the changes#cb in         
procuring fire by friction have been    
gone through in the four seasons--surely
 a twelve-month might suffice4  ,the    
,master asked him1 ,would it be a       
satisfaction to you--that returning to  
better food1 that putting on of fine    
clothes8  ,it would1 said he4  ,then if 
you can be satisfied in so doing1 do so4
 ,but to a gentleman1 who is in mourning
 for a parent1 the choicest food will   
not be palatable1 nor will the listening
 to music be pleasant1 nor will comforts
 of home make him happy in mind4 ,hence 
he does not do as you suggest4 ,but if  
you are now happy in your mind1 then do 
so4  ,tsai ,wo went out4 ,and the       
,master went on to say1 ,it is want of  
human feeling in this man4 ,after a     
child has lived three years it then     
breaks away from the tender nursing of  

its parents4 ,and this three years'     
mourning is the customary mourning      
prevalent all over the empire4 ,can this
 man have enjoyed the three years of    
loving care from his parents8  ,ah1 it  
is difficult1 said he1 to know what to  
make of those who are all day long      
cramming themselves with food and are   
without anything to apply their minds   
to6 ,are there no dice and chess        
players8 ,better1 perhaps1 join in that 
pursuit than do nothing at all6  ,does a
 gentleman1 asked ,tsz-lu1 make much    
account of bravery8  ,righteousness he  
counts higher1 said the ,master4 ,a     
gentleman who is brave without being    
just may become turbulent2 while a      
common person who is brave and not just 
may end in becoming a highwayman4       
,tsz-kung asked1 ,i suppose a gentleman 
will have his aversions as well as his  
likings8  ,yes1 replied the ,master1 he 
will dislike those who talk much about  
other people's ill-deeds4 ,he will      
dislike those who1 when occupying       

inferior places1 utter defamatory words 
against their superiors4 ,he will       
dislike those who1 though they may be   
brave1 have no regard for propriety4    
,and he will dislike those hastily      
decisive and venturesome spirits who are
 nevertheless so hampered by limited    
intellect4  ,and you1 too1 ,tsz-kung1 he
 continued1 have your aversions1 have   
you not8  ,i dislike1 said he1 those    
plagiarists who wish to pass for wise   
persons4 ,i dislike those people who    
wish their lack of humility to be taken 
for bravery4 ,i dislike also those      
divulgers of secrets who think to be    
accounted straightforward4  ,of all     
others1 said the ,master1 women-servants
 and men-servants are the most difficult
 people to have the care of4 ,approach  
them in a familiar manner1 and they take
 liberties2 keep them at a distance1 and
 they grumble4  ,again1 ,when a man     
meets with odium at forty1 he will do so
 to the end4  ,footnote #cb3 ,different 
woods were adopted for this purpose at  

the various seasons4     ,,book ,,xviii 
,good ,men in ,seclusion--,duke of ,chow
 to ,his ,son   ,in the reign of the    
last king of the ,yin dynasty1          
,confucius said1 there were three men of
 philanthropic spirit3--the viscount of 
,wei1 who withdrew from him2 the        
viscount of ,ki1 who became his         
bondsman2 and ,pi-kan1 who reproved him 
and suffered death4  ,hwui of ,liu-hia1 
who filled the office of ,chief         
,criminal ,judge1 was thrice dismissed4 
,a person remarked to him1 ,can you not 
yet bear to withdraw8 ,he replied1 ,if  
,i act in a straightforward way in      
serving men1 whither in these days      
should ,i go1 where ,i should not be    
thrice dismissed8 ,were ,i to adopt     
crooked ways in their service1 why need 
,i leave the land where my parents      
dwell8  ,duke ,king of ,ts'i remarked   
respecting his attitude towards         
,confucius1 ,if he is to be treated like
 the ,chief of the ,ki family1 ,i cannot
 do it4 ,i should treat him as somewhere

 between the ,ki and ,mang ,chiefs4--,i 
am old1 he added1 and not competent to  
avail myself of him4  ,confucius1       
hearing of this1 went away4  ,the ,ts'i 
officials presented to the ,court of ,lu
 a number of female musicians4 ,ki ,hwan
 accepted them1 and for three days no   
,court was held4  ,confucius went away4 
,tsieh-yu1 the madman#cc of ,ts'u1 was  
once passing ,confucius1 singing as he  
went along4 ,he sang--      ,ha1 the    
phoenix6 ,ha1 the phoenix6     ,how is  
,virtue lying prone6     ,vain to chide 
for what is o'er1     ,plan to meet     
what's yet in store4     ,let alone6    
,let alone6     ,risky now to serve a   
throne4  ,confucius alighted1 wishing to
 enter into conversation with him2 but  
the man hurried along and left him1 and 
he was therefore unable to get a word   
with him4  ,ch'ang-tsue and ,kieh-nih#cd
 were working together on some ploughed 
land4 ,confucius was passing by them1   
and sent ,tsz-lu to ask where the ford  
was4  ,ch'ang-tsue said1 ,who is the    

person driving the carriage8            
,confucius1 answered ,tsz-lu4  ,he of   
,lu8 he asked4  ,the same1 said ,tsz-lu4
  ,he knows then where the ford is1 said
 he4  ,tsz-lu then put his question to  
,kieh-nih2 and the latter asked1 ,who   
are you8  ,tsz-lu gave his name4  ,you  
are a follower of ,confucius of ,lu1 are
 you not8  ,you are right1 he answered4 
,ah1 as these waters rise and overflow  
their bounds1 said he1 'tis so with all 
throughout the empire2 and who is he    
that can alter the state of things8 ,and
 you are a follower of a learned man who
 withdraws from his chief2 had you not  
better be a follower of such as have    
forsaken the world8 ,and he went on with
 his harrowing1 without stopping4       
,tsz-lu went and informed his ,master of
 all this4 ,he was deeply touched1 and  
said1 ,one cannot herd on equal terms   
with beasts and birds3 if ,i am not to  
live among these human folk1 then with  
whom else should ,i live8 ,only when the
 empire is well ordered shall ,i cease  

to take part in the work of reformation4
  ,tsz-lu was following the ,master1 but
 had dropped behind on the way1 when he 
encountered an old man with a           
weed-basket slung on a staff over his   
shoulder4 ,tsz-lu inquired of him1 ,have
 you seen my ,master1 sir8 ,said the old
 man1 ,who is your master8--you who     
never employ your four limbs in         
laborious work2 you who do not know one 
from another of the five sorts of grain6
 ,and he stuck his staff in the ground1 
and began his weeding4  ,tsz-lu brought 
his hands together on his breast and    
stood still4  ,the old man kept ,tsz-lu 
and lodged him for the night1 killed a  
fowl and prepared some millet1          
entertained him1 and brought his two    
sons out to see him4  ,on the morrow    
,tsz-lu went on his way1 and told all   
this to the ,master1 who said1 ,he is a 
recluse1 and sent ,tsz-lu back to see   
him again4 ,but by the time he got there
 he was gone4  ,tsz-lu remarked upon    
this1 ,it is not right he should evade  

official duties4 ,if he cannot allow any
 neglect of the terms on which elders   
and juniors should live together1 how is
 it that he neglects to conform to what 
is proper as between prince and public  
servant8 ,he wishes for himself         
personally a pure life1 yet creates     
disorder in that more important         
relationship4 ,when a gentleman         
undertakes public work1 he will carry   
out the duties proper to it2 and he     
knows beforehand that right principles  
may not win their way4  ,among those who
 have retired from public life have been
 ,peh-,i and ,shuh-,ts'i1 ,yu-chung1    
,i-yih1 ,chu-chang1 ,hwui of ,liu-hia1  
and ,shau-lien4  ,of these1 said the    
,master1 ,peh-,i and ,shuh-,ts'i may be 
characterized1 ,i should say1 as men who
 never declined from their high resolve 
nor soiled themselves by aught of       
disgrace4  ,of ,hwui of ,liu-hia and    
,shau-lien1 if one may say that they did
 decline from high resolve1 and that    
they did bring disgrace upon themselves1

 yet their words were consonant with    
established principles1 and their action
 consonant with men's thoughts and      
wishes2 and this is all that may be said
 of them4  ,of ,yu-chung and ,i-yih1 if 
it be said that when they retired into  
privacy they let loose their tongues1   
yet in their aim at personal purity of  
life they succeeded1 and their defection
 was also successful in its influence4  
,my own rule is different from any      
adopted by these3 ,i will take no       
liberties1 ,i will have no curtailing of
 my liberty4  ,the chief music-master   
went off to ,ts'i4 ,kan1 the conductor  
of the music at the second repast1 went 
over to ,ts'u4 ,liau1 conductor at the  
third repast1 went over to ,ts'ai4 ,and 
,kiueh1 who conducted at the fourth1    
went to ,ts'in4  ,fang-shuh1 the        
drummer1 withdrew into the neighborhood 
of the ,ho4 ,wu the tambourer went to   
the ,han4 ,and ,yang the junior         
music-master1 and ,siang who played on  
the musical stone1 went to the          

sea-coast4  ,anciently the ,duke of     
,chow1 addressing his son the ,duke of  
,lu1 said1 ,a good man in high place is 
not indifferent about the members of his
 own family1 and does not give occasion 
to the chief ministers to complain that 
they are not employed2 nor without great
 cause will he set aside old            
friendships2 nor does he seek for full  
equipment for every kind of service in  
any single man4  ,there were once eight 
officials during this ,chow dynasty1 who
 were four pairs of twins1 all          
brothers--the eldest pair ,tah and      
,kwoh1 the next ,tuh and ,hwuh1 the     
third ,ye and ,hia1 the youngest ,sui   
and ,kwa4  ,footnote #cc3 ,he only      
pretended to be mad1 in order to escape 
being employed in the public service4   
,footnote #cd3 ,two worthies who had    
abandoned public life1 owing to the     
state of the times4     ,,book ,,xix    
,teachings of ,various ,chief ,disciples
   ,the learned official1 said          
,tsz-chang1 who when he sees danger     

ahead will risk his very life1 who when 
he sees a chance of success is mindful  
of what is just and proper1 who in his  
religious acts is mindful of the duty of
 reverence1 and when in mourning thinks 
of his loss1 is indeed a fit and proper 
person for his place4  ,again he said1  
,if a person hold to virtue but never   
advance in it1 and if he have faith in  
right principles and do not build       
himself up in them1 how can he be       
regarded either as having such1 or as   
being without them8  ,tsz-hia's         
disciples asked ,tsz-chang his views    
about intercourse with others4 ,what    
says your ,master8 he rejoined4 ,he     
says1 they replied1 ',associate with    
those who are qualified1 and repel from 
you such as are not4' ,tsz-chang then   
said1 ,that is different from what ,i   
have learnt4 ,a superior man esteems the
 worthy and wise1 and bears with all4   
,he makes much of the good and capable1 
and pities the incapable4 ,am ,i        
eminently worthy and wise8--who is there

 then among men whom ,i will not bear   
with8 ,am ,i not worthy and             
wise8--others will be minded to repel   
me3 ,i have nothing to do with repelling
 them4  ,sayings of ,tsz-hia3--  ,even  
in inferior pursuits there must be      
something worthy of contemplation1 but  
if carried to an extreme there is danger
 of fanaticism2 hence the superior man  
does not engage in them4  ,the student  
who daily recognizes how much he yet    
lacks1 and as the months pass forgets   
not what he has succeeded in learning1  
may undoubtedly be called a lover of    
learning4  ,wide research and steadfast 
purpose1 eager questioning and close    
reflection--all this tends to humanize a
 man4  ,as workmen spend their time in  
their workshops for the perfecting of   
their work1 so superior men apply their 
minds to study in order to make         
themselves thoroughly conversant with   
their subjects4  ,when an inferior man  
does a wrong thing1 he is sure to gloss 
it over4  ,the superior man is seen in  

three different aspects3--look at him   
from a distance1 he is imposing in      
appearance2 approach him1 he is gentle  
and warm-hearted2 hear him speak1 he is 
acute and strict4  ,let such a man have 
the people's confidence1 and he will get
 much work out of them2 so long1        
however1 as he does not possess their   
confidence they will regard him as      
grinding them down4  ,when confidence is
 reposed in him1 he may then with       
impunity administer reproof2 so long as 
it is not1 he will be regarded as a     
detractor4  ,where there is no          
over-stepping of barriers in the        
practice of the higher virtues1 there   
may be freedom to pass in and out in the
 practice of the lower ones4  ,tsz-yu   
had said1 ,the pupils in the school of  
,tsz-hia are good enough at such things 
as sprinkling and scrubbing floors1     
answering calls and replying to         
questions from superiors1 and advancing 
and retiring to and from such2 but these
 things are only offshoots--as to the   

root of things they are nowhere4 ,what  
is the use of all that8  ,when this came
 to the ears of ,tsz-hia1 he said1 ,ah6 
there he is mistaken4 ,what does a      
master1 in his methods of teaching1     
consider first in his precepts8 ,and    
what does he account next1 as that about
 which he may be indifferent8 ,it is    
like as in the study of                 
plants--classification by differentiae4 
,how may a master play fast and loose in
 his methods of instruction8 ,would they
 not indeed be sages1 who could take in 
at once the first principles and the    
final developments of things8  ,further 
observations of ,tsz-hia3--  ,in the    
public service devote what energy and   
time remain to study4 ,after study      
devote what energy and time remain to   
the public service4  ,as to the duties  
of mourning1 let them cease when the    
grief is past4  ,my friend ,tsz-chang1  
although he has the ability to tackle   
hard things1 has not yet the virtue of  
philanthropy4  ,the learned ,tsang      

observed1 ,how loftily ,tsz-chang bears 
himself6 ,difficult indeed along with   
him to practise philanthropy6  ,again he
 said1 ,i have heard this said by the   
,master1 that 'though men may not exert 
themselves to the utmost in other       
duties1 yet surely in the duty of       
mourning for their parents they will do 
so6'  ,again1 ,this also ,i have heard  
said by the ,master3 ',the filial piety 
of ,mang ,chwang in other respects might
 be equalled1 but as manifested in his  
making no changes among his father's    
ministers1 nor in his father's mode of  
government--that aspect of it could not 
easily be equalled4'  ,yang ,fu1 having 
been made senior ,criminal ,judge by the
 ,chief of the ,mang clan1 consulted    
with the learned ,tsang4 ,the latter    
advised him as follows3 ,for a long time
 the ,chiefs have failed in their       
government1 and the people have become  
unsettled4 ,when you arrive at the facts
 of their cases1 do not rejoice at your 
success in that1 but rather be sorry for

 them1 and have pity upon them4         
,tsz-kung once observed1 ,we speak of   
'the iniquity of ,chau'--but 'twas not  
so great as this4 ,and so it is that the
 superior man is averse from settling in
 this sink1 into which everything runs  
that is foul in the empire4  ,again he  
said1 ,faults in a superior man are like
 eclipses of the sun or moon3 when he is
 guilty of a trespass men all see it2   
and when he is himself again1 all look  
up to him4  ,kung-sun ,ch'au of ,wei    
inquired of ,tsz-kung how ,confucius    
acquired his learning4  ,tsz-kung       
replied1 ,the teachings of ,wan and ,wu 
have not yet fallen to the ground4 ,they
 exist in men4 ,worthy and wise men have
 the more important of these stored up  
in their minds2 and others1 who are not 
such1 store up the less important of    
them2 and as no one is thus without the 
teachings of ,wan and ,wu1 how should   
our ,master not have learned8 ,and      
moreover what permanent preceptor could 
he have8  ,shuh-sun ,wu-shuh1 addressing

 the high officials at the ,court1      
remarked that ,tsz-kung was a greater   
worthy than ,confucius4  ,tsz-fuh       
,king-pih went and informed ,tsz-kung of
 this remark4  ,tsz-kung said1 ,take by 
way of comparison the walls outside our 
houses4 ,my wall is shoulder-high1 and  
you may look over it and see what the   
house and its contents are worth4 ,my   
,master's wall is tens of feet high1 and
 unless you should effect an entrance by
 the door1 you would fail to behold the 
beauty of the ancestral hall and the    
rich array of all its officers4 ,and    
they who effect an entrance by the door1
 methinks1 are few6 ,was it not1        
however1 just like him--that remark of  
the ,chief8  ,shuh-sun ,wu-shuh had been
 casting a slur on the character of     
,confucius4  ,no use doing that1 said   
,tsz-kung2 he is irreproachable4 ,the   
wisdom and worth of other men are little
 hills and mounds of earth3 traversible4
 ,he is the sun1 or the moon1 impossible
 to reach and pass4 ,and what harm1 ,i  

ask1 can a man do to the sun or the     
moon1 by wishing to intercept himself   
from either8 ,it all shows that he knows
 not how to gauge capacity4  ,tsz-k'in1 
addressing ,tsz-kung1 said1 ,you        
depreciate yourself4 ,confucius is      
surely not a greater worthy than        
yourself4  ,tsz-kung replied1 ,in the   
use of words one ought never to be      
incautious2 because a gentleman for one 
single utterance of his is apt to be    
considered a wise man1 and for a single 
utterance may be accounted unwise4 ,no  
more might one think of attaining to the
 ,master's perfections than think of    
going upstairs to ,heaven6 ,were it ever
 his fortune to be at the head of the   
government of a country1 then that which
 is spoken of as 'establishing the      
country' would be establishment indeed2 
he would be its guide and it would      
follow him1 he would tranquillize it and
 it would render its willing homage3 he 
would give forward impulses to it to    
which it would harmoniously respond4 ,in

 his life he would be its glory1 at his 
death there would be great lamentation4 
,how indeed could such as he be         
equalled8     ,,book ,,xx  ,extracts    
from the ,book of ,history   ,the       
,emperor ,yau said to ,shun1 ,ah1 upon  
you1 upon your person1 lies the         
,heaven-appointed order of succession6  
,faithfully hold to it1 without any     
deflection2 for if within the four seas 
necessity and want befall the people1   
your own revenue will forever come to an
 end4  ,shun also used the same language
 in handing down the appointment to ,yu4
  ,the ,emperor ,t'ang in his prayer1   
said1 ,i1 the child ,li1 presume to     
avail me of an ox of dusky hue1 and     
presume to manifestly announce to ,thee1
 ,o ,god1 the most high and ,sovereign  
,potentate1 that to the transgressor ,i 
dare not grant forgiveness1 nor yet keep
 in abeyance ,thy ministers4 ,judgment  
rests in ,thine heart1 ,o ,god4 ,should 
we ourself transgress1 may the guilt not
 be visited everywhere upon all4 ,should

 the people all transgress1 be the guilt
 upon ourself6  ,chow possessed great   
gifts1 by which the able and good were  
richly endowed4  ,although1 said ,king  
,wu1 he is surrounded by his near       
relatives1 they are not to be compared  
with men of humane spirit4 ,the people  
are suffering wrongs1 and the remedy    
rests with me--the one man4  ,after ,wu 
had given diligent attention to the     
various weights and measures1 examined  
the laws and regulations1 and restored  
the degraded officials1 good government 
everywhere ensued4  ,he caused ruined   
,states to flourish again1 reinstated   
intercepted heirs1 and promoted to      
office men who had gone into retirement2
 and the hearts of the people throughout
 the empire drew towards him4  ,among   
matters of prime consideration with him 
were these--food for the people1 the    
duty of mourning1 and sacrificial       
offerings to the departed4  ,he was     
liberal and large-hearted1 and so won   
all hearts2 true1 and so was trusted by 

the people2 energetic1 and thus became a
 man of great achievements2 just in his 
rule1 and all were well content4        
,tsz-chang in a conversation with       
,confucius asked1 ,what say you is      
essential for the proper conduct of     
government8  ,the ,master replied1 ,let 
the ruler hold in high estimation the   
five excellences1 and eschew the four   
evils2 then may he conduct his          
government properly4  ,and what call you
 the five excellences8 he was asked4    
,they are1 he said1 bounty without      
extravagance2 burdening without exciting
 discontent2 desire without             
covetousness2 dignity without           
haughtiness2 show of majesty without    
fierceness4  ,what mean you1 asked      
,tsz-chang1 by bounty without           
extravagance8  ,is it not this1 he      
replied--to make that which is of       
benefit to the people still more        
beneficial8 ,when he selects for them   
such labors as it is possible for them  
to do1 and exacts them1 who will then   

complain8 ,so when his desire is the    
virtue of humaneness1 and he attains it1
 how shall he then be covetous8 ,and    
if--whether he have to do with few or   
with many1 with small or with great--he 
do not venture ever to be careless1 is  
not this also to have dignity without   
haughtiness8 ,and if--when properly     
vested in robe and cap1 and showing     
dignity in his every look--his          
appearance be so imposing that the      
people look up to and stand in awe of   
him1 is not this moreover to show       
majesty without fierceness8  ,what1     
then1 do you call the four evils8 said  
,tsz-chang4  ,the answer here was1      
,omitting to instruct the people and    
then inflicting capital punishment on   
them--which means cruel tyranny4        
,omitting to give them warning and yet  
looking for perfection in them--which   
means oppression4 ,being slow and late  
in issuing requisitions1 and exacting   
strict punctuality in the returns--which
 means robbery4 ,and likewise1 in       

intercourse with men1 to expend and to  
receive in a stingy manner--which is to 
act the part of a mere commissioner4    
,none can be a superior man1 said the   
,master1 who does not recognize the     
decrees of ,heaven4  ,none can have     
stability in him without a knowledge of 
the proprieties4  ,none can know a man  
without knowing his utterances4         
,,the ,,sayings ,,of ,,mencius          
,translated into ,english by ,james     
,legge     ,,introduction   ,a hundred  
years after the time of ,confucius the  
,chinese nation seemed to have fallen   
back into their original condition of   
lawlessness and oppression4 ,the ,king's
 power and authority was laughed to     
scorn1 the people were pillaged by the  
feudal nobility1 and famine reigned in  
many districts4 ,the foundations of     
truth and social order seemed to be     
overthrown4 ,there were teachers of     
immorality abroad1 who published the old
 ,epicurean doctrine1 ,let us eat and   
drink1 for to-morrow we die4 ,this      

teaching was accompanied by a spirit of 
cold-blooded egotism which extinguished 
every spark of ,confucian altruism4     
,even the pretended disciples of        
,confucius confused the precepts of the 
,master1 and by stripping them of their 
narrow significance rendered them       
nugatory4 ,it was at this point that    
,mang-tsze1 ,mang the philosopher1      
arose4 ,he was sturdy in bodily frame1  
vigorous in mind1 profound in political 
sagacity and utterly fearless in        
denouncing the errors of his countrymen4
 ,he had been brought up among the      
disciples of ,confucius1 in whose       
province he was born ,b4,c4 #cgb1 but he
 was much more active and aggressive1   
less a ,mystic than a fanatic1 in       
comparison with his ,master4 ,he        
resolved on active measures in stemming 
the tendency of his day4 ,he did indeed 
surround himself with a school of       
disciples1 but instead of making a      
series of desultory travels1 teaching in
 remote places and along the high-road1 

he went to the heart of the evil4 ,he   
presented himself like a second ,john   
the ,baptist at the courts of kings and 
princes1 and there boldly denounced vice
 and misrule4 ,it was not difficult for 
a ,chinese scholar and teacher to find  
access to the highest of the land4 ,the 
,chinese believed in the divine right of
 learning1 just as they believed in the 
divine right of kings4 ,mang employed   
every weapon of persuasion in trying to 
combat heresy and oppression2           
alternately ridiculing and reproving3   
now appealing in a burst of moral       
enthusiasm1 and now denouncing in terms 
of cutting sarcasm the abuses which     
after all he failed to check4 ,the last 
prince whom he successfully confronted  
was the ,marquis of ,lu1 who turned him 
carelessly away4 ,he accepted this as   
the ,divine sentence of his failure1    
,that ,i have not found in this marquis1
 a ruler who would hearken to me is an  
intimation of heaven4 ,henceforth he    
lived in retirement until his           

ninety-seventh year2 but from his       
apparent failure sprang a practical     
success4 ,his written teachings are     
amongst the most lively and epigrammatic
 works of ,chinese literature1 have done
 much to keep alive amongst his         
countrymen the spirit of ,confucianism1 
and even ,western readers may drink     
wisdom from this spring of ,oriental    
lore4 ,the following selections from his
 sayings well exhibit the spirit of his 
system of philosophy and morality3      
,e4 ,w4     ,,book ,i  ,king ,hwuy of   
,leang   ,,part ,i  ,mencius went to see
 ,king ,hwuy of ,leang4#ce ,the king    
said1 ,venerable ,sir1 since you have   
not counted it far to come here a       
distance of a thousand li1 may ,i       
presume that you are likewise provided  
with counsels to profit my kingdom8     
,mencius replied1 ,why must your        
,majesty use that word 'profit'8 ,what  
,i am likewise provided with are        
counsels to benevolence and             
righteousness2 and these are my only    

topics4  ,if your ,majesty say1 ',what  
is to be done to profit my kingdom8' the
 great officers will say1 ',what is to  
be done to profit our families8' and the
 inferior officers and the common people
 will say1 ',what is to be done to      
profit our persons8' ,superiors and     
inferiors will try to take the profit   
the one from the other1 and the kingdom 
will be endangered4 ,in the kingdom of  
ten thousand chariots1 the murderer of  
his ruler will be the chief of a family 
of a thousand chariots4 ,in the ,state  
of a thousand chariots1 the murderer of 
his ruler will be the chief of a family 
of a hundred chariots4 ,to have a       
thousand in ten thousand1 and a hundred 
in a thousand1 cannot be regarded as not
 a large allowance2 but if righteousness
 be put last and profit first1 they will
 not be satisfied without snatching all4
  ,there never was a man trained to     
benevolence who neglected his parents4  
,there never was a man trained to       
righteousness who made his ruler an     

after consideration4 ,let your ,majesty 
likewise make benevolence and           
righteousness your only themes--,why    
must you speak of profit8  ,when        
,mencius1 another day1 was seeing ,king 
,hwuy of ,leang1 the ,king went and     
stood with him by a pond1 and1 looking  
round on the wild geese and deer1 large 
and small1 said1 ,do wise and good      
princes also take pleasure in these     
things8 ,mencius replied1 ,being wise   
and good1 they then have pleasure in    
these things4 ,if they are not wise and 
good1 though they have these things1    
they do not find pleasure4 ,it is said  
in the ',book of ,poetry'3--      ',when
 he planned the commencement of the     
,marvellous tower1     ,he planned it1  
and defined it1     ,and the people in  
crowds undertook the work1     ,and in  
no time completed it4     ,when he      
planned the commencement1 he said1 ,be  
not in a hurry4     ,but the people came
 as if they were his children4     ,the 
king was in the ,marvellous park1       

,where the does were lying down--       
,the does so sleek and fat2     ,with   
the white birds glistening4     ,the    
king was by the ,marvellous pond2--     
,how full was it of fishes leaping      
about6'  ,king ,wan used the strength of
 the people to make his tower and pond1 
and the people rejoiced to do the work1 
calling the tower 'the ,marvellous      
,tower1' and the pond 'the ,marvellous  
,pond1' and being glad that he had his  
deer1 his fishes and turtles4 ,the      
ancients caused their people to have    
pleasure as well as themselves1 and     
therefore they could enjoy it4  ,in the 
,declaration of ,t'ang it is said1 ',o  
,sun1 when wilt thou expire8 ,we will   
die together with thee4' ,the people    
wished for ,keeh's death1 though they   
should die with him4 ,although he had   
his tower1 his pond1 birds and animals1 
how could he have pleasure alone8  ,king
 ,hwuy of ,leang said1 ,small as my     
virtue is1 in the government of my      
kingdom1 ,i do indeed exert my mind to  

the utmost4 ,if the year be bad inside  
the ,ho1 ,i remove as many of the people
 as ,i can to the east of it1 and convey
 grain to the country inside4 ,if the   
year be bad on the east of the river1 ,i
 act on the same plan4 ,on examining the
 governmental methods of the neighboring
 kingdoms1 ,i do not find there is any  
ruler who exerts his mind as ,i do4 ,and
 yet the people of the neighboring kings
 do not decrease1 nor do my people      
increase--how is this8  ,mencius        
replied1 ,your ,majesty loves war2 allow
 me to take an illustration from war4   
,the soldiers move forward at the sound 
of the drum2 and when the edges of their
 weapons have been crossed1 on one side1
 they throw away their buff coats1 trail
 their weapons behind them1 and run4    
,some run a hundred paces and then stop2
 some run fifty paces and stop4 ,what   
would you think if these1 because they  
had run but fifty paces1 should laugh at
 those who ran a hundred paces8 ,the    
king said1 ,they cannot do so4 ,they    

only did not run a hundred paces2 but   
they also ran4 ,mencius said1 ,since    
your ,majesty knows this you have no    
ground to expect that your people will  
become more numerous than those of the  
neighboring kingdoms4  ,if the seasons  
of husbandry be not interfered with1 the
 grain will be more than can be eaten4  
,if close nets are not allowed to enter 
the pools and ponds1 the fish and       
turtles will be more than can be        
consumed4 ,if the axes and bills enter  
the hill-forests only at the proper     
times1 the wood will be more than can be
 used4 ,when the grain and fish and     
turtles are more than can be eaten1 and 
there is more wood than can be used1    
this enables the people to nourish their
 living and do all offices for their    
dead1 without any feeling against any4  
,but this condition1 in which the people
 nourish their living1 and do all       
offices to their dead without having any
 feeling against any1 is the first step 
in the ,royal way4  ,let mulberry trees 

be planted about the homesteads with    
their five acres1 and persons of fifty  
years will be able to wear silk4 ,in    
keeping fowls1 pigs1 dogs1 and swine1   
let not their time of breeding be       
neglected1 and persons of seventy years 
will be able to eat flesh4 ,let there   
not be taken away the time that is      
proper for the cultivation of the field 
allotment of a hundred acres1 and the   
family of several mouths will not suffer
 from hunger4 ,let careful attention be 
paid to the teaching in the various     
schools1 with repeated inculcation of   
the filial and fraternal duties1 and    
gray-haired men will not be seen upon   
the roads1 carrying burdens on their    
backs or on their heads4 ,it has never  
been that the ruler of a ,state where   
these results were seen1 persons of     
seventy wearing silk and eating flesh1  
and the black-haired people suffering   
neither from hunger nor cold1 did not   
attain to the ,royal dignity4  ,your    
dogs and swine eat the food of men1 and 

you do not know to store up of the      
abundance4 ,there are people dying from 
famine on the roads1 and you do not know
 to issue your stores for their relief4 
,when men die1 you say1 ',it is not     
owing to me2 it is owing to the year4'  
,in what does this differ from stabbing 
a man and killing him1 and then saying1 
',it was not ,i2 it was the weapon'8    
,let your ,majesty cease to lay the     
blame on the year and instantly the     
people1 all under the sky1 will come to 
you4  ,king ,hwuy of ,leang said1 ,i    
wish quietly to receive your            
instructions4 ,mencius replied1 ,is     
there any difference between killing a  
man with a stick and with a sword8      
,there is no difference1 was the answer4
  ,mencius continued1 ,is there any     
difference between doing it with a sword
 and with governmental measures8 ,there 
is not1 was the answer again4  ,mencius 
then said1 ,in your stalls there are fat
 beasts2 in your stables there are fat  
horses4 ,but your people have the look  

of hunger1 and in the fields there are  
those who have died of famine4 ,this is 
leading on beasts to devour men4 ,beasts
 devour one another1 and men hate them  
for doing so4 ,when he who is called the
 parent of the people conducts his      
government so as to be chargeable with  
leading on beasts to devour men1 where  
is that parental relation to the people8
 ,chung-ne said1 ',was he not without   
posterity who first made wooden images  
to bury with the dead8' ,so he said1    
because that man made the semblances of 
men and used them for that purpose2 what
 shall be thought of him who causes his 
people to die of hunger8  ,king ,hwuy of
 ,leang said1 ,there was not in the     
kingdom a stronger ,state than ,ts'in1  
as you1 venerable ,sir1 know4 ,but since
 it descended to me1 on the east we were
 defeated by ,ts'e1 and then my eldest  
son perished2 on the west we lost seven 
hundred li of territory to ,ts'in2 and  
on the south we have sustained disgrace 
at the hands of ,ts'oo4 ,i have brought 

shame on my departed predecessors1 and  
wish on their account to wipe it away   
once for all4 ,what course is to be     
pursued to accomplish this8  ,mencius   
replied1 ,with a territory only a       
hundred li square it has been possible  
to obtain the ,royal dignity4 ,if your  
,majesty will indeed dispense a         
benevolent government to the people1    
being sparing in the use of punishments 
and fines1 and making the taxes and     
levies of produce light1 so causing that
 the fields shall be ploughed deep1 and 
the weeding well attended to1 and that  
the able-bodied1 during their days of   
leisure1 shall cultivate their filial   
piety1 fraternal duty1 faithfulness1 and
 truth1 serving thereby1 at home1 their 
fathers and elder brothers1 and1 abroad1
 their elders and superiors1 you will   
then have a people who can be employed  
with sticks which they have prepared to 
oppose the strong buff-coats and sharp  
weapons of the troops of ,ts'in and     
,ts'oo4  ,the rulers of those ,states   

rob their people of their time1 so that 
they cannot plough and weed their fields
 in order to support their parents4     
,parents suffer from cold and hunger2   
elder and younger brothers1 wives and   
children1 are separated and scattered   
abroad4 ,those rulers drive their people
 into pitfalls or into the water2 and   
your ,majesty will go to punish them4   
,in such a case1 who will oppose your   
,majesty8 ,in accordance with this is   
the saying1 ',the benevolent has no     
enemy6' ,i beg your ,majesty not to     
doubt what ,i said4  ,mencius had an    
interview with ,king ,seang#cf of       
,leang4 ,when he came out he said to    
some persons1 ,when ,i looked at him    
from a distance1 he did not appear like 
a ruler2 when ,i drew near to him1 ,i   
saw nothing venerable about him4        
,abruptly he asked me1 ',how can the    
kingdom1 all under the sky1 be settled8'
 ,i replied1 ',it will be settled by    
being united under one sway4'  ',who can
 so unite it8' he asked4  ,i replied1   

',he who has no pleasure in killing men 
can so unite it4'  ',who can give it to 
him8' he asked4  ,i replied1 ',all under
 heaven will give it to him4 ,does your 
,majesty know the way of the growing    
grain8 ,during the seventh and eighth   
months1 when drought prevails1 the      
plants become dry4 ,then the clouds     
collect densely in the heavens1 and send
 down torrents of rain1 so that the     
grain erects itself as if by a shoot4   
,when it does so1 who can keep it back8 
,now among those who are shepherds of   
men throughout the kingdom1 there is not
 one who does not find pleasure in      
killing men4 ,if there were one who did 
not find pleasure in killing men1 all   
the people under the sky would be       
looking towards him with outstretched   
necks4 ,such being indeed the case1 the 
people would go to him as water flows   
downwards with a rush1 which no one can 
repress4  ,king ,seuen of ,ts'e asked1  
saying1 ,may ,i be informed by you of   
the transactions of ,hwan of ,ts'e and  

,wan of ,ts'in8  ,mencius replied1      
,there were none of the disciples of    
,chung-ne who spoke about the affairs of
 ,hwan and ,wan1 and therefore they have
 not been transmitted to these          
after-ages2 your servant has not heard  
of them4 ,if you will have me speak1 let
 it be about the principles of attaining
 to the ,royal sway4  ,the king said1   
,of what kind must his virtue be who can
 attain to the ,royal sway8 ,mencius    
said1 ,if he loves and protects the     
people1 it is impossible to prevent him 
from attaining it4  ,the king said1 ,is 
such an one as poor ,i competent to love
 and protect the people8 ,yes1 was the  
reply4 ,from what do you know that ,i am
 competent to that8 ,i have heard1 said 
,mencius1 from ,hoo ,heih the following 
incident3--',the king1' said he1 'was   
sitting aloft in the hall1 when some    
people appeared leading a bull past     
below it4 ,the king saw it1 and asked   
where the bull was going1 and being     
answered that they were going to        

consecrate a bell with its blood1 he    
said1 ,let it go1 ,i cannot bear its    
frightened appearance--as if it were an 
innocent person going to the place of   
death4 ,they asked in reply whether1 if 
they did so1 they should omit the       
consecration of the bell1 but the king  
said1 ,how can that be omitted8 ,change 
it for a sheep4 ,i do not know whether  
this incident occurred4  ,it did1 said  
the king1 and ,mencius replied1 ,the    
heart seen in this is sufficient to     
carry you to the ,royal sway4 ,the      
people all supposed that your ,majesty  
grudged the animal1 but your servant    
knows surely that it was your ,majesty's
 not being able to bear the sight of the
 creature's distress which made you do  
as you did4  ,the king said1 ,you are   
right2 and yet there really was an      
appearance of what the people imagined4 
,but though ,ts'e be narrow and small1  
how should ,i grudge a bull8 ,indeed it 
was because ,i could not bear its       
frightened appearance1 as if it were an 

innocent person going to the place of   
death1 that therefore ,i changed it for 
a sheep4  ,mencius said1 ,let not your  
,majesty deem it strange that the people
 should think you grudged the animal4   
,when you changed a large one for a     
small1 how should they know the true    
reason8 ,if you felt pained by its being
 led without any guilt to the place of  
death1 what was there to choose between 
a bull and a sheep8 ,the king laughed   
and said1 ,what really was my mind in   
the matter8 ,i did not grudge the value 
of the bull1 and yet ,i changed it for a
 sheep6 ,there was reason in the        
people's saying that ,i grudged the     
creature4  ,mencius said1 ,there is no  
harm in their saying so4 ,it was an     
artifice of benevolence4 ,you saw the   
bull1 and had not seen the sheep4 ,so is
 the superior man affected towards      
animals1 that1 having seen them alive1  
he cannot bear to see them die1 and1    
having heard their dying cries1 he      
cannot bear to eat their flesh4 ,on this

 account he keeps away from his stalls  
and kitchen4  ,the king was pleased and 
said1 ,the ,ode says1      ',what other 
men have in their minds1     ,i can     
measure by reflection4'  ,this might be 
spoken of you1 my ,master4 ,i indeed did
 the thing1 but when ,i turned my       
thoughts inward and sought for it1 ,i   
could not discover my own mind4 ,when   
you1 ,master1 spoke those words1 the    
movements of compassion began to work in
 my mind4 ,but how is it that this heart
 has in it what is equal to the         
attainment of the ,royal sway8  ,mencius
 said1 ,suppose a man were to make this 
statement to your ,majesty1 ',my        
strength is sufficient to lift three    
thousand catties1 but is not sufficient 
to lift one feather2 my eyesight is     
sharp enough to examine the point of an 
autumn hair1 but ,i do not see a        
wagon-load of fagots1' would your       
,majesty allow what he said8 ,no1 was   
the king's remark1 and ,mencius         
proceeded1 ,now here is kindness        

sufficient to reach to animals1 and yet 
no benefits are extended from it to the 
people--how is this8 is an exception to 
be made here8 ,the truth is1 the        
feather's not being lifted is because   
the strength was not used2 the          
wagon-load of firewood's not being seen 
is because the eyesight was not used2   
and the people's not being loved and    
protected is because the kindness is not
 used4 ,therefore your ,majesty's not   
attaining to the ,royal sway is because 
you do not do it1 and not because you   
are not able to do it4  ,the king asked1
 ,how may the difference between him who
 does not do a thing and him who is not 
able to do it be graphically set forth8 
,mencius replied1 ,in such a thing as   
taking the ,t'ae mountain under your    
arm1 and leaping with it over the ,north
 ,sea1 if you say to people1 ',i am not 
able to do it1' that is a real case of  
not being able4 ,in such a matter as    
breaking off a branch from a tree at the
 order of a superior1 if you say to     

people1 ',i am not able to do it1' it is
 not a case of not being able to do it4 
,and so your ,majesty's not attaining to
 the ,royal sway is not such a case as  
that of taking the ,t'ae mountain under 
your arm and leaping over the ,north    
,sea with it2 but it is a case like that
 of breaking off a branch from a tree4  
,treat with reverence due to age the    
elders in your own family1 so that those
 in the families of others shall be     
similarly treated2 treat with the       
kindness due to youth the young in your 
own family1 so that those in the        
families of others shall be similarly   
treated--do this and the kingdom may be 
made to go round in your palm4 ,it is   
said in the ',book of ,poetry1'         
',his example acted on his wife1        
,extended to his brethren1     ,and was 
felt by all the clans and ,states2'     
telling us how ,king ,wan simply took   
this kindly heart1 and exercised it     
towards those parties4 ,therefore the   
carrying out of the feeling of kindness 

by a ruler will suffice for the love and
 protection of all within the four seas2
 and if he do not carry it out1 he will 
not be able to protect his wife and     
children4 ,the way in which the ancients
 came greatly to surpass other men was  
no other than this1 that they carried   
out well what they did1 so as to affect 
others4 ,now your kindness is sufficient
 to reach to animals1 and yet no        
benefits are extended from it to the    
people4 ,how is this8 ,is an exception  
to be made here8  ,by weighing we know  
what things are light1 and what heavy4  
,by measuring we know what things are   
long1 and what short4 ,all things are so
 dealt with1 and the mind requires      
specially to be so4 ,i beg your ,majesty
 to measure it4  ,your ,majesty collects
 your equipments of war1 endangers your 
soldiers and officers and excites the   
resentment of the various princes--do   
these things cause you pleasure in your 
mind8  ,the king said1 ,no4 ,how should 
,i derive pleasure from these things8   

,my object in them is to seek for what  
,i greatly desire4  ,mencius said1 ,may 
,i hear from you what it is that your   
,majesty greatly desires8  ,the king    
laughed1 and did not speak4 ,mencius    
resumed1 ,are you led to desire it      
because you have not enough of rice and 
sweet food for your mouth8 or because   
you have not enough of light and warm   
clothing for your body8 or because you  
have not enough of beautifully colored  
objects to satisfy your eyes8 or because
 there are not voices and sounds enough 
to fill your ears8 or because you have  
not enough of attendants and favorites  
to stand before you and receive your    
orders8 ,your ,majesty's various        
officers are sufficient to supply you   
with all these things4 ,how can your    
,majesty have such a desire on account  
of them8 ,no1 said the king1 my desire  
is not on account of them4 ,mencius     
observed1 ,then what your ,majesty      
greatly desires can be known4 ,you      
desire to enlarge your territories1 to  

have ,ts'in and ,ts'oo coming to your   
court1 to rule the ,middle ,states1 and 
to attract to you the barbarous tribes  
that surround them4 ,but to do what you 
do in order to seek for what you desire 
is like climbing a tree to seek for     
fish4  ,is it so bad as that8 said the  
king4 ,i apprehend it is worse1 was the 
reply4 ,if you climb a tree to seek for 
fish1 although you do not get the fish1 
you have no subsequent calamity4 ,but if
 you do what you do in order to seek for
 what you desire1 doing it even with all
 your heart1 you will assuredly         
afterwards meet with calamities4 ,the   
king said1 ,may ,i hear what they will  
be8 ,mencius replied1 ,if the people of 
,tsow were fighting with the people of  
,ts'oo1 which of them does your ,majesty
 think would conquer8 ,the people of    
,ts'oo would conquer1 was the answer1   
and ,mencius pursued1 ,so then1 a small 
,state cannot contend with a great1 few 
cannot contend with many1 nor can the   
weak contend with the strong4 ,the      

territory within the seas would embrace 
nine divisions1 each of a thousand li   
square4 ,all ,ts'e together is one of   
them4 ,if with one part you try to      
subdue the other eight1 what is the     
difference between that and ,tsow's     
contending with ,ts'oo8 ,with the desire
 which you have1 you must turn back to  
the proper course for its attainment4   
,now1 if your ,majesty will institute a 
government whose action shall all be    
benevolent1 this will cause all the     
officers in the kingdom to wish to stand
 in your ,majesty's court1 the farmers  
all to wish to plough in your ,majesty's
 fields1 the merchants1 both travelling 
and stationary1 all to wish to store    
their goods in your ,majesty's          
market-places1 travellers and visitors  
all to wish to travel on your ,majesty's
 roads1 and all under heaven who feel   
aggrieved by their rulers to wish to    
come and complain to your ,majesty4     
,when they are so bent1 who will be able
 to keep them back8  ,the king said1 ,i 

am stupid and cannot advance to this4   
,but ,i wish you1 my ,master1 to assist 
my intentions4 ,teach me clearly1 and   
although ,i am deficient in intelligence
 and vigor1 ,i should like to try at    
least to institute such a government4   
,mencius replied1 ,they are only men of 
education1 who1 without a certain       
livelihood1 are able to maintain a fixed
 heart4 ,as to the people1 if they have 
not a certain livelihood1 they will be  
found not to have a fixed heart4 ,and if
 they have not a fixed heart1 there is  
nothing which they will not do in the   
way of self-abandonment1 of moral       
deflection1 of depravity1 and of wild   
license4 ,when they have thus been      
involved in crime1 to follow them up and
 punish them1 is to entrap the people4  
,how can such a thing as entrapping the 
people be done under the rule of a      
benevolent man8  ,therefore1 an         
intelligent ruler will regulate the     
livelihood of the people1 so as to make 
sure that1 above1 they shall have       

sufficient wherewith to serve their     
parents1 and below1 sufficient wherewith
 to support their wives and children2   
that in good years they shall always be 
abundantly satisfied1 and that in bad   
years they shall not be in danger of    
perishing4 ,after this he may urge them1
 and they will proceed to what is good1 
for in this case the people will follow 
after that with readiness4  ,but now the
 livelihood of the people is so         
regulated1 that1 above1 they have not   
sufficient wherewith to serve their     
parents1 and1 below1 they have not      
sufficient wherewith to support their   
wives and children2 even in good years  
their lives are always embittered1 and  
in bad years they are in danger of      
perishing4 ,in such circumstances their 
only object is to escape from death1 and
 they are afraid they will not succeed  
in doing so--what leisure have they to  
cultivate propriety and righteousness8  
,if your ,majesty wishes to carry out a 
benevolent government1 why not turn back

 to what is the essential step to its   
attainment8  ,let mulberry trees be     
planted about the homesteads with their 
five acres1 and persons of fifty years  
will be able to wear silk4 ,in keeping  
fowls1 pigs1 dogs1 and swine1 let not   
their times of breeding be neglected1   
and persons of seventy years will be    
able to eat flesh4 ,let there not be    
taken away the time that is proper for  
the cultivation of the field-allotment  
of a hundred acres1 and the family of   
eight mouths will not suffer from       
hunger4 ,let careful attention be paid  
to the teaching in the various schools1 
with repeated inculcation of the filial 
and fraternal duties1 and gray-haired   
men will not be seen upon the roads1    
carrying burdens on their backs or on   
their heads4 ,it has never been that the
 ruler of a ,state1 where these results 
were seen1 the old wearing silk and     
eating flesh1 and the black-haired      
people suffering neither from hunger nor
 cold1 did not attain to the ,royal     

dignity4  ,footnote #ce3 ,the title of  
this book in ,chinese is--,king ,hwuy of
 ,leang2 in chapters and sentences4     
,like the ,books of the ,confucian      
,analects1 those of this work are headed
 by two or three words at or near the   
commencement of them4 ,each ,book is    
divided into two parts4 ,this           
arrangement was made by ,chaou ,k'e1 and
 to him are due also the divisions into 
chapters1 and sentences1 or paragraphs1 
containing1 it may be1 many sentences4  
,footnote #cf3 ,seang was the son of    
,king ,hwuy4 ,the first year of his     
reign is supposed to be ,b4,c4 #cag4    
,seang's name was ,hih4 ,as a posthumous
 epithet1 ,seang has various meanings3  
,land-enlarger and ,virtuous2           
,successful in ,arms4 ,the interview    
here recorded seems to have taken place 
immediately after ,hih's accession1 and 
,mencius1 it is said1 was so            
disappointed by it that he soon after   
left the country4     ,books ,,ii1      
,,iii1 and ,,iv are omitted     ,,book  

,v  ,wan ,chang#cg   ,,part ,i  ,wan    
,chang asked ,mencius1 saying1 ,when    
,shun went into the fields1 he cried out
 and wept towards the pitying heavens4  
,why did he cry out and weep8 ,mencius  
replied1 ,he was dissatisfied and full  
of earnest desire4  ,wan ,chang said1   
,when his parents love him1 a son       
rejoices and forgets them not2 and when 
they hate him1 though they punish him1  
he does not allow himself to be         
dissatisfied4 ,was ,shun then           
dissatisfied with his parents8 ,mencius 
said1 ,ch'ang ,seih asked ,kung-ming    
,kaou1 saying1 ',as to ,shun's going    
into the fields1 ,i have received your  
instructions2 but ,i do not understand  
about his weeping and crying out to the 
pitying heavens1 and to his parents4'   
,kung-ming ,kaou answered him1 ',you do 
not understand that matter4' ,now       
,kung-ming ,kaou thought that the heart 
of a filial son like ,shun could not be 
so free from sorrow as ,seih seemed to  
imagine he might have been4 ,shun would 

be saying1 ',i exert my strength to     
cultivate the fields1 but ,i am thereby 
only discharging my duty as a son4 ,what
 is there wrong in me that my parents do
 not love me8'  ,the emperor caused his 
own children--nine sons and two         
daughters--the various officers1 oxen   
and sheep1 store-houses and granaries1  
all to be prepared for the service of   
,shun amid the channeled fields4 ,most  
of the officers in the empire repaired  
to him4 ,the emperor designed that he   
should superintend the empire along with
 himself1 and then to transfer it to    
him4 ,but because his parents were not  
in accord with him1 he felt like a poor 
man who has nowhere to turn to4  ,to be 
an object of complacency to the officers
 of the empire is what men desire2 but  
it was not sufficient to remove the     
sorrow of ,shun4 ,the possession of     
beauty is what men desire3 but though   
,shun had for his wives the two         
daughters of the emperor1 it was not    
sufficient to remove his sorrow4 ,riches

 are what men desire1 but though the    
empire was the rich property of ,shun1  
it was not enough to remove his sorrow4 
,honors are what men desire1 but though 
,shun had the dignity of being the son  
of ,heaven1 it was not sufficient to    
remove his sorrow4 ,the reason why his  
being the object of men's complacency1  
the possession of beauty1 riches1 and   
honors1 could not remove his sorrow was 
because it could be removed only by his 
being in entire accord with his parents4
  ,the desire of a child is towards his 
father and mother4 ,when he becomes     
conscious of the attractions of beauty1 
his desire is towards young and         
beautiful women4 ,when he comes to have 
a wife and children1 his desire is      
towards them4 ,when he obtains office1  
his desire is towards his ruler2 and if 
he cannot get the regard of his ruler1  
he burns within4 ,but the man of great  
filial piety1 all his life1 has his     
desire towards his parents4 ,in the     
great ,shun ,i see the case of one whose

 desire was towards them when he was    
fifty years old4  ,wan ,chang asked     
,mencius1 saying1 ,it is said in the    
',book of ,poetry1'      ',how do we    
proceed in taking a wife8               
,announcement must first be made to our 
parents4'  ,if the rule be indeed as    
thus expressed1 no one ought to have    
illustrated it so well as ,shun--how was
 it that ,shun's marriage took place    
without his informing his parents8      
,mencius replied1 ,if he had informed   
them1 he would not have been able to    
marry4 ,that male and female dwell      
together is the greatest of human       
relations4 ,if ,shun had informed his   
parents1 he must have made void this    
greatest of human relations1 and        
incurred thereby their resentment4 ,it  
was on this account that he did not     
inform them4  ,wan ,chang said1 ,as to  
,shun's marrying without making         
announcement to his parents1 ,i have    
heard your instructions4 ,but how was it
 that the emperor gave him his daughters

 as wives without informing his parents8
 ,mencius said1 ,the emperor also knew  
that1 if he informed his parents1 he    
could not have given him his daughters  
as wives4  ,wan ,chang said1 ,his       
parents set ,shun to repair a granary1  
and then removed the ladder by which he 
had ascended2 after which ,koo-sow set  
fire to it4 ,they sent him to dig a     
well1 from which he managed to get out2 
but they1 not knowing this1 proceeded to
 cover it up4 ,his brother1 ,seang1     
said1 ',of this scheme to cover up the  
city-farming gentleman the merit is all 
mine4 ,let my parents have his oxen and 
sheep2 let them have his granaries and  
store-houses4 ,his shield and spear     
shall be mine2 his lute shall be mine2  
his carved bow shall be mine2 and ,i    
will make his two wives attend for me to
 my bed4' ,seang then went away and     
entered ,shun's house1 and there was    
,shun upon a couch with his lute4 ,seang
 said1 ',i am come simply because ,i was
 thinking anxiously about you1' and at  

the same time he looked ashamed4 ,shun  
said to him1 ',there are all my         
officers2 do you take the management of 
them for me4' ,i do not know whether    
,shun was ignorant of ,seang's wishing  
to kill him4 ,mencius replied1 ,how     
could he be ignorant of it8 ,but when   
,seang was sorrowful1 he was also       
sorrowful1 and when ,seang was joyful1  
he was also joyful4  ,wan ,chang        
continued1 ,then was ,shun one who      
rejoiced hypocritically8 ,no1 was the   
reply4 ,formerly some one sent a present
 of a live fish to ,tsze-ch'an of       
,ch'ing4 ,tsze-ch'an ordered his        
pond-keeper to feed it in the pond2 but 
the man cooked it and reported the      
execution of his commission1 saying1    
',when ,i first let it go1 it looked    
embarrassed4 ,in a little while it      
seemed to be somewhat at ease1 and then 
it swam away as if delighted4' ',it had 
got into its element6' said ,tsze-ch'an4
 ,the pond-keeper went out and said1    
',who calls ,tsze-ch'an wise8 ,when ,i  

had cooked and eaten the fish1 he said1 
,it has got into its element6 ,it has   
got into its element6' ,thus a superior 
man may be imposed on by what seems to  
be as it ought to be1 but it is         
difficult to entrap him by what is      
contrary to right principle4 ,seang came
 in the way in which the love of his    
elder brother would have made him come1 
and therefore ,shun truly believed him1 
and rejoiced at it4 ,what hypocrisy was 
there8  ,wan ,chang said1 ,seang made it
 his daily business to kill ,shun2 why  
was it that1 when the latter was raised 
to be the son of ,heaven1 he only       
banished him8 ,mencius replied1 ,he     
invested him with a ,state1 and some    
have said that it was banishing him4    
,when ,chang said1 ,shun banished the   
,superintendent of ,works to ,yew-chow1 
sent away ,hwan-tow to ,mount ,ts'ung1  
slew the ,prince of ,san ,meaou in      
,san-wei1 and imprisoned ,k'wan on      
,mount ,yu4 ,when those four criminals  
were thus dealt with1 all under heaven  

submitted to him2 it was a cutting off  
of men who were destitute of            
benevolence4 ,but ,seang was of all men 
the most destitute of benevolence1 and  
,shun invested him with the ,state of   
,pe2 of what crime had the people of ,pe
 been guilty8 ,does a benevolent man    
really act thus8 ,in the case of other  
men1 he cut them off2 in the case of his
 brother1 he invested him with a ,state4
 ,mencius replied1 ,a benevolent man    
does not lay up anger1 nor cherish      
resentment against his brother1 but only
 regards him with affection and love4   
,regarding him with affection1 he wishes
 him to enjoy honor2 loving him1 he     
wishes him to be rich4 ,the investing   
him with ,pe was to enrich and ennoble  
him4 ,if while ,shun himself was        
emperor1 his brother had been a common  
man1 could he have been said to regard  
him with affection and love8  ,wan      
,chang said1 ,i venture to ask what is  
meant by some saying that it was a      
banishing of ,seang4 ,mencius replied1  

,seang could do nothing of himself in   
his ,state4 ,the emperor appointed an   
officer to manage its government1 and to
 pay over its revenues to him2 and      
therefore it was said that it was a     
banishing of him8 ,how indeed could he  
be allowed the means of oppressing the  
people there8 ,nevertheless1 ,shun      
wished to be continually seeing him1 and
 therefore he came unceasingly to court1
 as is signified in that expression1    
',he did not wait for the rendering of  
tribute1 or affairs of government1 to   
receive the prince of ,pe4'  ,heen-k'ew 
,mung asked ,mencius1 saying1 ,there is 
the old saying1 ',an officer of complete
 virtue cannot be employed as a minister
 by his ruler1 nor treated as a son by  
his father4' ,shun stood with his face  
to the south1 and ,yaou1 at the head of 
all the feudal princes1 appeared in his 
court with his face to the north4       
,koo-sow also appeared at ,shun's court 
with his face to the north2 and when    
,shun saw him1 his countenance assumed a

 look of distress4 ,confucius said1 ',at
 this time the empire was in a perilous 
condition indeed6 ,how unsettled was its
 state6' ,i do not know whether what is 
thus said really took place4 ,mencius   
said1 ,no4 ,these are not the words of a
 superior man1 but the sayings of an    
uncultivated person of the east of      
,ts'e4 ,when ,yaou was old1 ,shun took  
the management of affairs for him4 ,it  
is said in the ,canon of ,yaou1 ',after 
twenty-eight years1 ,fang-heun demised1 
and the people mourned for him as for a 
parent three years4 ,all within the four
 seas1 the eight instruments of music   
were stopped and hushed4 ,confucius     
said1 ',there are not two suns in the   
sky1 nor two sovereigns over the people4
 ,if ,shun had already been in the      
position of the son of ,heaven1 and had 
moreover led on all the feudal princes  
of the empire to observe the three      
years' mourning for ,yaou1 there must in
 that case have been two sons of        
,heaven4'  ,heen-k'ew ,mung said1 ,on   

the point of ,shun's not employing ,yaou
 as a minister1 ,i have received your   
instructions4 ,but it is said in the    
',book of ,poetry1'      ',under the    
wide heaven1     ,all is the king's     
land2     ,within the sea-boundaries of 
the land1     ,all are the king's       
servants4'  ,when ,shun became emperor1 
,i venture to ask how it was that       
,koo-sow was not one of his servants4   
,mencius replied1 ,that ,ode is not to  
be understood in that way2 it speaks of 
being laboriously engaged in the king's 
business1 and not being able to nourish 
one's parents1 as if the subject of it  
said1 ',this is all the king's business1
 but ,i alone am supposed to have       
ability1 and made to toil in it4'       
,therefore those who explain the ,odes  
must not insist on one term so as to do 
violence to a sentence1 nor on a        
sentence so as to do violence to the    
general scope4 ,they must try with their
 thoughts to meet that scope1 and then  
they will apprehend it4 ,if we simply   

take single sentences1 there is that in 
the ,ode called the ',yun ,han1'        
',of the remnant of ,chow1 among the    
black-haired people1     ,there will not
 be half a man left4'  ,if it had really
 been as thus expressed1 then not an    
individual of the people of ,chow would 
have been left4  ,of all that a filial  
son can attain to1 there is nothing     
greater than his honoring his parents4  
,of what can be attained to in honoring 
one's parents1 there is nothing greater 
than the nourishing them with the       
empire4 ,to be the father of the son of 
,heaven is the height of honor4 ,to be  
nourished with the empire is the height 
of nourishment4 ,in this was verified   
the sentiment in the ',book of ,poetry1'
      ',ever thinking how to be filial1 
,his filial mind was the model which he 
supplied4'  ,in the ',book of ,history' 
it is said1 ',with respectful service he
 appeared before ,koo-sow1 looking grave
 and awestruck1 till ,koo-sow also was  
transformed by his example4' ,this is   

the true case of the scholar of complete
 virtue not being treated as a son by   
his father4  ,wan ,chang said1 ,it is   
said that ,yaou gave the empire to      
,shun2 was it so8 ,mencius replied1 ,no2
 the emperor cannot give the empire to  
another4 ,yes2 but ,shun possessed the  
empire4 ,who gave it to him8 ,heaven    
gave it to him1 was the reply4  ,heaven 
gave it to him8 ,did ,heaven confer the 
appointment on him with specific        
injunctions8 ,mencius said1 ,no4 ,heaven
 does not speak4 ,it simply showed its  
will by his personal conduct1 and by his
 conduct of affairs4  ',it showed its   
will by his personal conduct1 and by his
 conduct of affairs1' returned the      
other2 how was this8 ,mencius said1 ,the
 emperor can present a man to ,heaven1  
but he cannot make ,heaven give that man
 the empire4 ,a feudal prince can       
present a man to the emperor to take his
 place1 but he cannot make the emperor  
give the princedom to that man4 ,a great
 officer can present a man to his       

prince1 but he cannot cause the prince  
to make that man a great officer in his 
own room4 ,anciently ,yaou presented    
,shun to ,heaven1 and ,heaven accepted  
him2 he displayed him to the people1 and
 the people accepted him4 ,therefore ,i 
say1 ',heaven does not speak4 ,it simply
 indicated its will by his personal     
conduct1 and by his conduct of affairs4'
  ,chang said1 ,i presume to ask how it 
was that ,yaou presented ,shun to       
,heaven1 and ,heaven accepted him1 and  
displayed him to the people1 and the    
people accepted him4 ,the reply was1 ,he
 caused him to preside over the         
sacrifices1 and all the ,spirits were   
well pleased with them2 thus it was that
 ,heaven accepted him4 ,he caused him to
 preside over the conduct of affairs1   
and affairs were well administered1 so  
that all the people reposed under him2  
thus it was that the people accepted    
him4 ,heaven gave the empire to him1 and
 the people gave it to him4 ,therefore  
,i said1 ',the emperor cannot give the  

empire to another4'  ,shun assisted     
,yaou in the government for twenty and  
eight years2 this was more than man     
could have done1 and was from ,heaven4  
,when the three years' mourning         
consequent on the death of ,yaou were   
accomplished1 ,shun withdrew from the   
son of ,yaou to the south of the        
southern ,ho4 ,the princes of the       
empire1 however1 repairing to court1    
went not to the son of ,yaou1 but to    
,shun4 ,litigants went not to the son of
 ,yaou1 but to ,shun4 ,singers sang not 
the son of ,yaou1 but ,shun4 ,therefore 
,i said that it was ,heaven that gave   
him the empire4 ,it was after this that 
he went to the ,middle ,state1 and      
occupied the seat of the son of ,heaven4
 ,if he had before these things taken up
 his residence in the palace of ,yaou1  
and applied pressure to his son1 it     
would have been an act of usurpation1   
and not the gift of ,heaven4  ,this view
 of ,shun's obtaining the empire is in  
accordance with what is said in ,the    

,great ,declaration--',heaven sees as my
 people see1 ,heaven hears as my people 
hear4'  ,wan ,chang said1 ,people say1  
',when the disposal of the empire came  
to ,yu1 his virtue was inferior to that 
of ,yaou and ,shun1 and he did not      
transmit it to the worthiest1 but to his
 son4' ,was it so8 ,mencius replied1    
,no2 it was not so4 ,when ,heaven gave  
the empire to the worthiest1 it was     
given to the worthiest2 when ,heaven    
gave it to the son of the preceding     
emperor1 it was given to that son4      
,formerly ,shun presented ,yu to ,heaven
 for a period of seventeen years2 and   
when the three years' mourning1         
consequent on the death of ,shun1 were  
accomplished1 ,yu withdrew from the son 
of ,yu to ,yang-shing4 ,the people of   
the empire followed him as1 after the   
death of ,yaou1 they had not followed   
his son1 but followed ,shun4 ,yu        
presented ,yih to ,heaven for a period  
of seven years2 and when the three      
years' mourning consequent on the death 

of ,yu were accomplished1 ,yih withdrew 
from the son of ,yu to the north of     
,mount ,ke4 ,the princes repairing to   
court1 and litigants1 went not to ,yih1 
but to ,k'e1 saying1 ',he is the son of 
our ruler4' ,singers did not sing ,yih1 
but they sang ,k'e1 saying1 ',he is the 
son of our ruler4'  ,that ,tan-choo was 
not equal to his father1 and ,shun's son
 also not equal to his2 that ,shun      
assisted ,yaou1 and ,yu assisted ,shun1 
for a period of many years1 conferring  
benefits on the people for a long time2 
that ,k'e was virtuous and able1 and    
could reverently enter into and continue
 the ways of ,yu2 that ,yih assisted ,yu
 for a period of a few years1 conferring
 benefits on the people not for a long  
time2 that the length of time that      
,shun1 ,yu1 and ,yih1 assisted in the   
government was so different2 and that   
the sons of the emperors were one a man 
of talents and virtue1 and the other two
 inferior to their fathers3--all these  
things were from ,heaven1 and what could

 not be produced by man4 ,that which is 
done without any one's seeming to do it 
is from ,heaven4 ,that which comes to   
pass without any one's seeming to bring 
it about is from ,heaven4  ,in the case 
of a private man's obtaining the empire1
 there must be in him virtue equal to   
that of ,shun and ,yu1 and moreover     
there must be the presenting him to     
,heaven by the preceding emperor4 ,it   
was on this latter account that         
,chung-ne did not obtain the kingdom4   
,when the throne descends by natural    
succession1 he who is displaced by      
,heaven must be like ,keeh or ,chow4 ,it
 was on this account that ,yih1 ,e ,yin1
 and the duke of ,chow did not obtain   
the kingdom4  ,e ,yin assisted ,t'ang so
 that he became sovereign of the        
kingdom4 ,after the demise of ,t'ang1   
,t'ae-ting having died without being    
appointed in his place1 ,wae-ping       
reigned two years1 and ,chung-jin four4 
,t'ae-,keah then was turning upside down
 the canons and examples of ,t'ang1 and 

,e ,yin placed him in ,t'ung for three  
years4 ,there he repented of his errors1
 was contrite1 and reformed himself4 ,in
 ,t'ung he came to dwell in benevolence 
and moved towards righteousness1 during 
those three years listening to the      
lessons given to him by ,e ,yin1 after  
which that minister again returned with 
him to ,poh4  ,the duke of ,chow's not  
getting the kingdom was like that of    
,yih's not getting the throne of ,hea1  
or ,e ,yin's that of ,yin4  ,confucius  
said1 ',t'ang and ,yu resigned the      
throne to the worthiest2 the founders of
 the ,hea1 ,yin1 and ,chow dynasties    
transmitted it to their sons4 ,the      
principle of righteousness was the same 
in all the cases4'  ,wan ,chang asked   
,mencius1 saying1 ,people say that ,e   
,yin sought an introduction to ,t'ang by
 his knowledge of cookery2 was it so8   
,mencius replied1 ,no1 it was not so4 ,e
 ,yin was farming in the lands of the   
,state of ,sin1 delighting in the       
principles of ,yaou and ,shun4 ,in any  

matter contrary to the righteousness    
which they prescribed1 or to the course 
which they enjoined1 though he had been 
salaried with the empire1 he would not  
have regarded it2 though there had been 
yoked for him a thousand teams1 he would
 not have looked at them4 ,in any matter
 contrary to the righteousness which    
they prescribed1 or to the course which 
they enjoined1 he would not have given  
nor taken even a single straw4  ,t'ang  
sent persons with presents of silk to   
ask him to enter his service4 ,with an  
air of indifference and                 
self-satisfaction1 he said1 ',what can  
,i do with these silks with which ,t'ang
 invites me8 ,is it not best for me to  
abide in these channeled fields1 and    
therein delight myself with the         
principles of ,yaou and ,shun8'  ,t'ang 
thrice sent persons thus to invite him4 
,after this1 with the change of purpose 
displayed in his countenance1 he spoke  
in a different style1 saying1 ',instead 
of abiding in the channeled fields1 and 

therein delighting myself with the      
principles of ,yaou and ,shun1 had ,i   
not better make this ruler one after the
 style of ,yaou and ,shun8 had ,i not   
better make this people like the people 
of ,yaou and ,shun8 had ,i not better in
 my own person see these things for     
myself8 ,heaven's plan in the production
 of this people is this3--,that they who
 are first informed1 should instruct    
those who are later in being informed1  
and those who first apprehend principles
 should instruct those who are slower to
 do so4 ,i am the one of ,heaven's      
people who have first apprehended2 ,i   
will take these principles and instruct 
this people in them4 ,if ,i do not      
instruct them1 who will do so8'  ,he    
thought that among all the people of the
 kingdom1 even the private men and      
women1 if there were any that did not   
enjoy such benefits as ,yaou and ,shun  
conferred1 it was as if he himself      
pushed them into a ditch4 ,he took upon 
himself the heavy charge of all under   

,heaven in this way1 and therefore he   
went to ,t'ang1 and pressed upon him the
 duty of attacking ,hea1 and saving the 
people4  ,i have not heard of one who   
bent himself and at the same time made  
others straight2 how much less could one
 disgrace himself1 and thereby rectify  
the whole kingdom8 ,the actions of the  
sages have been different4 ,some have   
kept far away from office1 and others   
have drawn near to it2 some have left   
their offices1 and others have not done 
so2 that in which these different       
courses all meet1 is simply the keeping 
of their persons pure4  ,i have heard   
that ,e ,yin sought an introduction to  
,t'ang by the principles of ,yaou and   
,shun2 ,i have not heard he did so by   
his knowledge of cookery4  ,in the      
',instructions of ,e1' it is said1      
',heaven1 destroying ,keeh1 commenced   
attacking him in the palace of ,muh2 we 
commenced in ,poh4'  ,wan ,chang asked  
,mencius1 saying1 ,some say that        
,confucius in ,wei lived with an        

ulcer-doctor1 and in ,ts'e with ,tseih  
,hwan1 the chief of the eunuchs2 was it 
so8 ,mencius said1 ,no1 it was not so4  
,those are the inventions of men fond of
 strange things4  ,in ,wei he lived in  
the house of ,yen ,ch'ow-yew4 ,the wife 
of the officer ,mei and the wife of     
,tsze-lu were sisters4 ,mei-tsze spoke  
to ,tsze-lu1 saying1 ',if ,confucius    
will lodge with me1 he may get to be a  
high noble of ,wei4' ,tsze-lu reported  
this to ,confucius1 who said1 ',that is 
as ordered by ,heaven4' ,confucius      
advanced according to propriety1 and    
retired according to righteousness4 ,in 
regard to his obtaining office and honor
 or not obtaining them1 he said1 ',that 
is as ordered4' ,but if he had lodged   
with an ulcer-doctor and with ,tseih    
,hwan1 the chief of the eunuchs1 that   
would neither have been according to    
righteousness nor any ordering of       
,heaven4  ,when ,confucius1 being       
dissatisfied in ,lu and ,wei1 had left  
those ,states1 he met with the attempt  

of ,hwan1 the master of the ,horse1 in  
,sung1 to intercept and kill him1 so    
that he had to pass through ,sung in the
 dress of a private man4 ,at that time1 
though he was in circumstances of       
distress1 he lodged in the house of     
,ching-tsze1 the minister of works1 who 
was then a minister of ,chow1 the       
marquis of ,ch'in4  ,i have heard that  
ministers in the service of a court may 
be known from those to whom they are    
hosts1 and that ministers coming from a 
distance may be known from those with   
whom they lodge4 ,if ,confucius had     
lodged with an ulcer-doctor and with    
,tseih ,hwan1 the chief of the eunuchs1 
how could he have been ,confucius8  ,wan
 ,chang asked ,mencius1 saying1 ,some   
say that ,pih-le ,he sold himself to a  
cattle-keeper of ,ts'in for five        
sheepskins1 and fed his cattle for him1 
to seek an introduction to ,duke ,muh of
 ,ts'in2 is this true8 ,mencius said1   
,no1 it was not so4 ,this is the        
invention of some one fond of strange   

things4  ,pih-le ,he was a man of ,yu4  
,the people of ,ts'in by the inducement 
of a peih of ,ch'uy-,keih and a team of 
,keuh-ch'an horses were asking liberty  
to march through ,yu to attack ,kwoh4   
,kung ,che-k'e remonstrated with the    
duke of ,yu1 asking him not to grant    
their request1 but ,pih-le ,he did not  
remonstrate4  ,when he knew that the    
duke of ,yu was not to be remonstrated  
with1 and went in consequence from that 
,state to ,ts'in1 he had reached the age
 of seventy4 ,if by that time he did not
 know that it would be a disgraceful    
thing to seek for an introduction to    
,duke ,muh of ,ts'in by feeding cattle1 
could he be called wise8 ,but not       
remonstrating where it was of no use to 
remonstrate1 could he be said not to be 
wise8 ,knowing that the duke of ,yu     
would be ruined1 and leaving his ,state 
before that event1 he could not be said 
to be not wise4 ,as soon as he was      
advanced in ,ts'in1 he knew that ,duke  
,muh was one with whom he could have a  

field for action1 and became chief      
minister to him2 could he be said to be 
not wise8 ,acting as chief minister in  
,ts'in1 he made his ruler distinguished 
throughout the kingdom1 and worthy to be
 handed down to future ages2 if he had  
not been a man of talents and virtue1   
could he have done this8 ,as to selling 
himself in order to bring about the     
destruction of his ruler1 even a        
villager who had a regard for himself1  
would not do such a thing2 and shall we 
say that a man of talents and virtue did
 it8  ,footnote #cg3 ,the ,book is named
 from ,wan ,chang1 who is almost the    
only interlocutor with ,mencius in it4  
,the tradition is that it was in company
 with ,wan's disciples that ,mencius1   
baffled in all his hopes of doing public
 service1 and having retired into       
privacy1 composed the ,seven ,books     
which constitute his works4 ,the part   
which follows is all occupied with      
discussions in vindication of ,shun and 
other ancient worthies4     ,,the       

,,shi-,,king  ,metrical translation by  
,james ,legge     ,,introduction   ,the 
wisdom of ,confucius as a social        
reformer1 as a teacher and guide of the 
,chinese people1 is shown in many ways4 
,he not only gave them a code of        
personal deportment1 providing them with
 rules for the etiquette and ceremony of
 life1 but he instilled into them that  
profound spirit of domestic piety which 
is one of the strongest features in the 
,chinese character4 ,he took measures to
 secure also the intellectual           
cultivation of his followers1 and his   
,five ,canons contain all the most      
ancient works of ,chinese literature1 in
 the departments of poetry1 history1    
philosophy1 and legislation4 ,the       
,shi-,king is a collection of ,chinese  
poetry made by ,confucius himself4 ,this
 great anthology consists of more than  
three hundred pieces1 covering the whole
 range of ,chinese lyric poetry1 the    
oldest of which dates some eighteen     
centuries before ,christ1 while the     

latest of the selections must have been 
written at the beginning of the sixth   
century before ,christ4 ,these poems are
 of the highest interest1 and even      
nowadays may be read with delight by    
,europeans4 ,the ballad and the hymn are
 among the earliest forms of national   
poetry1 and the contents of the         
,shi-,king naturally show specimens of  
lyric poetry of this sort4 ,we find     
there not only hymns1 but also ballads  
of a really fine and spirited character4
 ,sometimes the poems celebrate the     
common pursuits1 occupations1 and       
incidents of life4 ,they rise to the    
exaltation of the epithalamium1 or of   
the vintage song2 at other times they   
deal with sentiment and human conduct1  
being in the highest degree sententious 
and epigrammatic4 ,we must give the     
credit to ,confucius of having saved for
 us the literature of ,china1 and of    
having set his people an example in     
preserving the monuments of a remote    
antiquity4 ,while the literatures of    

ancient ,greece and ,rome have largely  
perished in the convulsions that        
followed the breaking up of the ,roman  
empire in ,europe1 when the kingdom of  
,china fell into disorder and           
decrepitude this one great teacher      
stepped forward to save the precious    
record of historic fact1 philosophical  
thought1 and of legislation as well as  
poetry1 from being swept away by the    
deluge of revolution4 ,confucius showed 
his wisdom by the high value he set upon
 the poetry of his native land1 and his 
name must be set side by side with that 
of the astute tyrant of ,athens who     
collected the poems of ,homer and       
preserved them as a precious heritage to
 the ,greek world4 ,confucius has given 
us his opinion with regard to the poems 
of the ,shi-,king4 ,no man1 he says1 is 
worth speaking to who has not mastered  
the poems of an anthology1 the perusal  
of which elevates the mind and purifies 
it from all corrupt thoughts4 ,thanks to
 the work of modern scholarship1        

,english readers can now verify this    
dictum for themselves4                  
,e4 ,w4     ,,part ,i4--,,lessons ,,from
 ,,the ,,states     ,,book ,i  ,the     
,odes of ,chow and the ,south           
,,celebrating ,,the ,,virtue ,,of ,,king
 ,,wan',s ,,bride      ,hark6 from the  
islet in the stream the voice     ,of   
the fish-hawks that o'er their nests    
rejoice6     ,from them our thoughts to 
that young lady go1     ,modest and     
virtuous1 loth herself to show4         
,where could be found to share our      
prince's state1     ,so fair1 so        
virtuous1 and so fit a mate8      ,see  
how the duckweed's stalks1 or short or  
long1     ,sway left and right1 as moves
 the current strong6     ,so hard it was
 for him the maid to find6     ,by day1 
by night1 our prince with constant mind 
,sought for her long1 but all his search
 was vain4     ,awake1 asleep1 he ever  
felt the pain     ,of longing thought1  
as when on restless bed1     ,tossing   
about1 one turns his fevered head4      

,here long1 there short1 afloat the     
duckweed lies2     ,but caught at last1 
we seize the longed-for prize4     ,the 
maiden modest1 virtuous1 coy1 is found2 
,strike every lute1 and joyous welcome  
sound4     ,ours now1 the duckweed from 
the stream we bear1     ,and cook to use
 with other viands rare4     ,he has the
 maiden1 modest1 virtuous1 bright2      
,let bells and drums proclaim our great 
delight4   ,,celebrating ,,the          
,,industry ,,of ,,king ,,wan',s ,,queen 
,sweet was the scene4 ,the spreading    
dolichos     ,extended far1 down to the 
valley's depths1     ,with leaves       
luxuriant4 ,the orioles     ,fluttered  
around1 and on the bushy trees     ,in  
throngs collected--whence their pleasant
 notes     ,resounded far in richest    
melody4      ,the spreading dolichos    
extended far1     ,covering the valley's
 sides1 down to its depths1     ,with   
leaves luxuriant and dense4 ,i cut      
,it down1 then boiled1 and from the     
fibres spun     ,of cloth1 both fine and

 coarse1 large store1     ,to wear1     
unwearied of such simple dress4         
,now back to my old home1 my parents    
dear     ,to see1 ,i go4 ,the matron ,i 
have told1     ,who will announcement   
make4 ,meanwhile my clothes1     ,my    
private clothes ,i wash1 and rinse my   
robes4     ,which of them need be       
rinsed8 and which need not8     ,my     
parents dear to visit1 back ,i go4      
,,in ,,praise ,,of ,a ,,bride           
,graceful and young the peach-tree      
stands2       ,how rich its flowers1 all
 gleaming bright6     ,this bride to her
 new home repairs2       ,chamber and   
house she'll order right4      ,graceful
 and young the peach-tree stands2       
,large crops of fruit it soon will show4
     ,this bride to her new home        
repairs2       ,chamber and house her   
sway shall know4      ,graceful and     
young the peach-tree stands1       ,its 
foliage clustering green and full4      
,this bride to her new home repairs2    
,her household will attest her rule4    

,,celebrating ,t',,ae-,,sze's ,,freedom 
,,from ,,jealousy      ,in the ,south   
are the trees whose branches are bent1  
,and droop in such fashion that o'er    
their extent       ,all the dolichos'   
creepers fast cling4     ,see our       
princely lady1 from whom we have got    
,rejoicing that's endless6 ,may her     
happy lot       ,and her honors repose  
ever bring6      ,in the ,south are the 
trees whose branches are bent1     ,and 
droop in such fashion that o'er their   
extent       ,all the dolichos' creepers
 are spread4     ,see our princely lady1
 from whom we have got     ,rejoicing   
that's endless6 ,of her happy lot       
,and her honors the greatness ne'er     
fade6      ,in the ,south are the trees 
whose branches are bent1     ,and droop 
in such fashion that o'er their extent  
,all the dolichos' creepers entwine4    
,see our princely lady1 from whom we    
have got     ,rejoicing that's endless6 
,may her happy lot       ,and her honors
 complete ever shine6   ,,the           

,,fruitfulness ,,of ,,the ,,locust      
,ye locusts1 winged tribes1             
,gather in concord fine2     ,well your 
descendants may       ,in numerous      
bright hosts shine6      ,ye locusts1   
winged tribes1       ,your wings in     
flight resound2     ,well your          
descendants may       ,in endless lines 
be found6      ,ye locusts1 winged      
tribes1       ,together cluster strong2 
,well your descendants may       ,in    
swarms forever throng6   ,,lamenting    
,,the ,,absence ,,of ,a ,,cherished     
,,friend      ,though small my basket1  
all my toil       ,filled it with       
mouse-ears but in part4     ,i set it on
 the path1 and sighed       ,for the    
dear master of my heart4      ,my       
steeds1 o'er-tasked1 their progress     
stayed1       ,when midway up that rocky
 height4     ,give me a cup from that   
gilt vase--       ,when shall this      
longing end in sight8      ,to mount    
that lofty ridge ,i drove1       ,until 
my steeds all changed their hue4     ,a 

cup from that rhinoceros's horn         
,may help my longing to subdue4         
,striving to reach that flat-topped     
hill1       ,my steeds1 worn out1       
relaxed their strain2     ,my driver    
also sank oppressed3--       ,i'll never
 see my lord again6   ,,celebrating     
,,the ,,goodness ,,of ,,the             
,,descendants ,,of ,,king ,,wan      ,as
 the feet of the lin1 which avoid each  
living thing1     ,so our prince's noble
 sons no harm to men will bring4        
,they are the lin6      ,as the front of
 the lin1 never forward thrust in wrath1
     ,so our prince's noble grandsons of
 love tread the path4                   
,they are the lin6      ,as the horn of 
the lin1 flesh-tipped1 no wound to give1
     ,so our prince's noble kindred     
kindly with all live4                   
,they are the lin6       ,,note4--,the  
lin is the female of ,k'e--a fabulous   
animal--the      symbol of all goodness 
and benevolence2 having the body of a   
deer1      the tail of an ox1 the hoofs 

of a horse1 one horn1 the scales of a   
fish1 etc4 ,its feet do not tread on any
 living thing--not even on      live    
grass2 it does not butt with its        
forehead2 and the end of its      horn  
is covered with flesh--to show that1    
while able for war1 it      wills to    
have peace4 ,the lin was supposed to    
appear inaugurating      a golden age1  
but the poet finds a better auspice of  
that in the      character of ,wan's    
family and kindred4   ,,the ,,virtuous  
,,manners ,,of ,,the ,,young ,,women    
,high and compressed1 the ,southern     
trees       ,no shelter from the sun    
afford4     ,the girls free ramble by   
the ,han1       ,but will not hear      
enticing word4     ,like the broad ,han 
are they1       ,through which one      
cannot dive2     ,and like the ,keang's 
long stream1       ,wherewith no raft   
can strive4      ,many the fagots bound 
and piled2       ,the thorns ,i'd hew   
still more to make4     ,as brides1     
those girls their new homes seek2       

,their colts to feed ,i'd undertake4    
,like the broad ,han are they1          
,through which one cannot dive2     ,and
 like the ,keang's long stream1         
,wherewith no raft can strive4          
,many the fagots bound and piled2       
,the ,southern-wood ,i'd cut for more4  
,as brides1 those girls their new homes 
seek2       ,food for their colts ,i'd  
bring large store4     ,like the broad  
,han are they1       ,through which one 
cannot dive2     ,and like the ,keang's 
long stream1       ,wherewith no raft   
can strive4   ,,praise ,,of ,a          
,,rabbit-,,catcher      ,careful he sets
 his rabbit-nets all round2             
,chang-chang his blows upon the pegs    
resound4     ,stalwart the man and bold6
 his bearing all     ,shows he might be 
his prince's shield and wall4           
,careful he is his rabbit-nets to place 
,where many paths of rabbits' feet bear 
trace4     ,stalwart the man and bold6  
'tis plain to see     ,he to his prince 
companion good would be4      ,careful  

he is his rabbit-nets to spread1        
,where in the forest's depth the trees  
give shade4     ,stalwart the man and   
bold6 fit his the part     ,guide to his
 prince to be1 and faithful heart4      
,,the ,,song ,,of ,,the                 
,,plantain-,,gatherers      ,we gather  
and gather the plantains2       ,come   
gather them anyhow4     ,yes1 gather and
 gather the plantains1       ,and here  
we have got them now4      ,we gather   
and gather the plantains2       ,now off
 the ears we must tear4     ,yes1 gather
 and gather the plantains1       ,and   
now the seeds are laid bare4      ,we   
gather and gather the plantains1        
,the seeds in our skirts are placed4    
,yes1 gather and gather the plantains4  
,ho6 safe in the girdled waist6   ,,the 
,,affection ,,of ,,the ,,wives ,,on     
,,the ,,joo      ,along the raised banks
 of the ,joo1       ,to hew slim stem   
and branch ,i wrought1     ,my lord     
away1 my husband true1       ,like      
hunger-pang my troubled thought6        

,along the raised banks of the ,joo1    
,branch and fresh shoot confessed my    
art4     ,i've seen my lord1 my husband 
true1       ,and still he folds me in   
his heart4      ,as the toiled bream    
makes red its tail1       ,toil you1    
,sir1 for the ,royal ,house2     ,amidst
 its blazing fires1 nor quail3--        
,your parents see you pay your vows4    
,,book ,,ii  ,the ,odes of ,shaou and   
the ,south   ,,the ,,marriage ,,of ,a   
,,princess              ,in the magpie's
 nest             ,dwells the dove at   
rest4     ,this young bride goes to her 
future home2     ,to meet her a hundred 
chariots come4              ,of the     
magpie's nest             ,is the dove  
possessed4     ,this bride goes to her  
new home to live2     ,and escort a     
hundred chariots give4              ,the
 nest magpie wove             ,now      
filled by the dove4     ,this bride now 
takes to her home her way2     ,and     
these numerous cars her state display4  
,,the ,,industry ,,and ,,reverence ,,of 

,a ,,prince',s ,,wife      ,around the  
pools1 the islets o'er1       ,fast she 
plucks white ,southern-wood1     ,to    
help the sacrificial store2       ,and  
for our prince does service good4       
,where streams among the valleys shine1 
,of ,southern-woods she plucks the      
white2     ,and brings it to the sacred 
shrine1       ,to aid our prince in     
solemn rite4      ,in head-dress high1  
most reverent1 she       ,the temple    
seeks at early dawn4     ,the service   
o'er1 the head-dress see       ,to her  
own chamber slow withdrawn4   ,,the     
,,wife ,,of ,,some ,,great ,,officer    
,,bewails ,,his ,,absence      ,shrill  
chirp the insects in the grass2         
,all about the hoppers spring4          
,while ,i my husband do not see1        
,sorrow must my bosom wring4            
,o to meet him6               ,o to     
greet him6       ,then my heart would   
rest and sing4      ,ascending high that
 ,southern hill1       ,turtle ferns ,i 
strove to get4     ,while ,i my husband 

do not see1       ,sorrow must my heart 
beset4               ,o to meet him6    
,o to greet him6       ,then my heart   
would cease to fret4      ,ascending    
high that ,southern hill1       ,spinous
 ferns ,i sought to find4     ,while ,i 
my husband do not see1       ,rankles   
sorrow in my mind4               ,o to  
meet him6               ,o to greet him6
       ,in my heart would peace be      
shrined4   ,,the ,,diligence ,,of ,,the 
,,young ,,wife ,,of ,,an ,,officer      
,she gathers fast the large duckweed1   
,from valley stream that southward      
flows2     ,and for the pondweed to the 
pools       ,left on the plains by      
floods she goes4      ,the plants1 when 
closed her toil1 she puts       ,in     
baskets round and baskets square4       
,then home she hies to cook her spoil1  
,in pans and tripods ready there4       
,in sacred chamber this she sets1       
,where the light falls down through the 
wall4     ',tis she1 our lord's young   
reverent wife1       ,who manages this  

service all4   ,,the ,,love ,,of ,,the  
,,people ,,for ,,the ,,duke ,,of ,,shaou
      ,o fell not that sweet pear-tree6 
,see how its branches spread4           
,spoil not its shade1           ,for    
,shaou's chief laid       ,beneath it   
his weary head4      ,o clip not that   
sweet pear-tree6       ,each twig and   
leaflet spare4           ',tis sacred   
now1           ,since the lord of       
,shaou1       ,when weary1 rested him   
there4      ,o touch not that sweet     
pear-tree6       ,bend not a twig of it 
now4           ,there long ago1         
,as the stories show1       ,oft halted 
the chief of ,shaou4   ,,the ,,easy     
,,dignity ,,of ,,the ,,officers ,,at    
,,some ,,court      ,arrayed in skins of
 lamb or sheep1       ,with five silk   
braidings all of white1     ,from court 
they go1 to take their meal1       ,all 
self-possessed1 with spirits light4     
,how on their skins of lamb or sheep    
,the five seams wrought with white silk 
show6     ,with easy steps1 and         

self-possessed1       ,from court to    
take their meal1 they go4      ,upon    
their skins of lamb or sheep            
,shines the white silk the seams to     
link4     ,with easy steps and          
self-possessed1       ,they go from     
court to eat and drink4   ,,anxiety ,,of
 ,a ,,young ,,lady ,,to ,,get ,,married 
,ripe1 the plums fall from the bough2   
,only seven-tenths left there now6      
,ye whose hearts on me are set1     ,now
 the time is fortunate6      ,ripe1 the 
plums fall from the bough2     ,only    
three-tenths left there now6     ,ye who
 wish my love to gain1     ,will not now
 apply in vain6      ,no more plums upon
 the bough6     ,all are in my basket   
now6     ,ye who me with ardor seek1    
,need the word but freely speak6        
,,book ,,iii  ,the ,odes of ,p'ei   ,,an
 ,,officer ,,bewails ,,the ,,neglect    
,,with ,,which ,,he ,,is ,,treated      
,it floats about1 that boat of cypress  
wood1       ,now here1 now there1 as by 
the current borne4     ,nor rest nor    

sleep comes in my troubled mood2        
,i suffer as when painful wound has torn
       ,the shrinking body4 ,thus ,i    
dwell forlorn1     ,and aimless muse1 my
 thoughts of sorrow full4       ,i might
 with wine refresh my spirit worn2      
,i might go forth1 and1 sauntering try  
to cool     ,the fever of my heart2 but 
grief holds sullen rule4      ,my mind  
resembles not a mirror plate1           
,reflecting all the impressions it      
receives4     ,the good ,i love1 the bad
 regard with hate2       ,i only cherish
 whom my heart believes4                
,colleagues ,i have1 but yet my spirit  
grieves1     ,that on their honor ,i    
cannot depend4       ,i speak1 but my   
complaint no influence leaves     ,upon 
their hearts2 with mine no feelings     
blend2     ,with me in anger they1 and  
fierce disdain contend4      ,my mind is
 fixed1 and cannot1 like a stone1       
,be turned at will indifferently about2 
,and what ,i think1 to that1 and that   
alone1       ,i utterance give1 alike   

within1 without2       ,nor can like mat
 be rolled and carried out4     ,with   
dignity in presence of them all1        
,my conduct marked1 my goodness who     
shall scout8     ,my foes ,i boldly     
challenge1 great and small1     ,if     
there be aught in me they can in        
question call4      ,how full of trouble
 is my anxious heart6       ,with hate  
the blatant herd of creatures mean      
,ceaseless pursue4 ,of their attacks the
 smart       ,keeps my mind in distress4
 ,their venomed spleen       ,aye vents 
itself2 and with insulting mien         
,they vex my soul2 and no one on my side
       ,a word will speak4 ,silent1     
alone1 unseen1     ,i think of my sad   
case2 then opening wide     ,my eyes1 as
 if from sleep1 ,i beat my breast1      
sore-tried4      ,thy disc1 ,o sun1     
should ever be complete1       ,while   
thine1 ,o changing moon1 doth wax and   
wane4     ,but now our sun hath waned1  
weak and effete1       ,and moons are   
ever full4 ,my heart with pain       ,is

 firmly bound1 and held in sorrow's     
chain1     ,as to the body cleaves an   
unwashed dress4       ,silent ,i think  
of my sad case2 in vain     ,i try to   
find relief from my distress4     ,would
 ,i had wings to fly where ills no      
longer press6   ,a ,,wife ,,deplores    
,,the ,,absence ,,of ,,her ,,husband    
,away the startled pheasant flies1      
,with lazy movement of his wings4       
,borne was my heart's lord from my      
eyes2--       ,what pain the separation 
brings6      ,the pheasant1 though no   
more in view1       ,his cry1 below1    
above1 forth sends4     ,alas6 my       
princely lord1 'tis you--       ,your   
absence1 that my bosom rends4      ,at  
sun and moon ,i sit and gaze1       ,in 
converse with my troubled heart4        
,far1 far from me my husband stays6     
,when will he come to heal its smart8   
,ye princely men who with him mate1     
,say1 mark ye not his virtuous way4     
,his rule is--covet nought1 none hate2--
       ,how can his steps from goodness 

stray8   ,,the ,,plaint ,,of ,a         
,,rejected ,,wife      ,the east wind   
gently blows1       ,with cloudy skies  
and rain4     ',twixt man and wife      
should ne'er be strife1       ,but      
harmony obtain4     ,radish and mustard 
plants       ,are used1 though some be  
poor2     ,while my good name is free   
from blame1       ,don't thrust me from 
your door4      ,i go along the road1   
,slow1 with reluctant heart4     ,your  
escort lame to door but came1           
,there glad from me to part4            
,sow-thistle1 bitter called1       ,as  
shepherd's purse is sweet2     ,with    
your new mate you feast elate1       ,as
 joyous brothers meet4      ,part clear1
 the stream of ,king       ,is foul     
beside the ,wei4     ,you feast elate   
with your new mate1       ,and take no  
heed of me4     ,loose mate1 avoid my   
dam1       ,nor dare my basket move6    
,person slighted1 life all blighted1    
,what can the future prove8      ,the   
water deep1 in boat1       ,or          

raft-sustained1 ,i'd go2     ,and where 
the stream did narrow seem1       ,i    
dived or breasted through4     ,i       
labored to increase       ,our means1 or
 great or small2     ,when 'mong friends
 near death did appear1       ,on knees 
to help ,i'd crawl4      ,no cherishing 
you give1       ,i'm hostile in your    
eyes4     ,as pedler's wares for which  
none cares1       ,my virtues you       
despise4     ,when poverty was nigh1    
,i strove our means to spare2     ,you1 
now rich grown1 me scorn to own2        
,to poison me compare4      ,the stores 
for winter piled       ,are all unprized
 in spring4     ,so now1 elate with your
 new mate1       ,myself away you fling4
     ,your cool disdain for me       ,a 
bitter anguish hath4     ,the early     
time1 our love's sweet prime1       ,in 
you wakes only wrath4   ,,soldiers ,,of 
,,wei ,,bewail ,,separation ,,from      
,,their ,,families      ,list to the    
thunder and roll of the drum6       ,see
 how we spring and brandish the dart6   

,some raise ,ts'aou's walls2 some do    
field work at home2       ,but we to the
 southward lonely depart4      ,our     
chief1 ,sun ,tsze-chung1 agreement has  
made1       ,our forces to join with    
,ch'in and with ,sung4     ,when shall  
we back from this service be led8       
,our hearts are all sad1 our courage    
unstrung4      ,here we are halting1 and
 there we delay2       ,anon we soon    
lose our high-mettled steeds4     ,the  
forest's gloom makes our steps go       
astray2       ,each thicket of trees our
 searching misleads4      ,for death as 
for life1 at home or abroad1       ,we  
pledged to our wives our faithfulest    
word4     ,their hands clasped in ours1 
together we vowed1       ,we'd live to  
old age in sweetest accord4      ,this  
march to the ,south can end but in ill2 
,oh6 never shall we our wives again     
meet4     ,the word that we pledged we  
cannot fulfil2       ,us home returning 
they never will greet4   ,,an ,,officer 
,,tells ,,of ,,his ,,mean ,,employment  

,with mind indifferent1 things ,i easy  
take2     ,in every dance ,i prompt     
appearance make3--     ,then1 when the  
sun is at his topmost height1           
,there1 in the place that courts the    
public sight4      ,with figure large ,i
 in the courtyard dance1     ,and the   
duke smiles1 when he beholds me prance4 
,a tiger's strength ,i have2 the steeds 
swift bound2     ,the reins as ribbons  
in my hands are found4      ,see how ,i 
hold the flute in my left hand2     ,in 
right the pheasant's plume1 waved like a
 wand2     ,with visage red1 where rouge
 you think to trace1     ,while the duke
 pleased1 sends down the cup of grace6  
,hazel on hills2 the ling in meadow     
damp2--     ,each has its place1 while  
,i'm a slighted scamp4     ,my thoughts 
go back to th' early days of ,chow1     
,and muse upon its chiefs1 not equalled 
now4       ,o noble chiefs1 who then the
 ,west adorned1       ,would ye have    
thus neglected me and scorned8   ,,an   
,,officer ,,sets ,,forth ,,his ,,hard   

,,lot      ,my way leads forth by the   
gate on the north2       ,my heart is   
full of woe4     ,i hav'n't a cent1     
begged1 stolen1 or lent1       ,and     
friends forget me so4         ,so let it
 be6 'tis ,heaven's decree4             
,what can ,i say--a poor fellow like me8
      ,the ,king has his throne1 sans   
sorrow or moan2       ,on me fall all   
his cares1     ,and when ,i come home1  
resolved not to roam1       ,each one   
indignant stares4         ,so let it be6
 'tis ,heaven's decree4         ,what   
can ,i say--a poor fellow like me8      
,each thing of the ,king1 and the fate  
of the ,state1       ,on me come more   
and more4     ,and when1 sad and worn1  
,i come back forlorn1       ,they thrust
 me from the door4         ,so let it   
be6 'tis ,heaven's decree4         ,what
 can ,i say--a poor fellow like me8     
,,the ,,complaint ,,of ,a ,,neglected   
,,wife      ,when the upper robe is     
green1     ,with a yellow lining seen1  
,there we have a certain token1         

,right is wronged and order broken4     
,how can sorrow from my heart     ,in a 
case like this depart8      ,color green
 the robe displays2     ,lower garment  
yellow's blaze4     ,thus it is that    
favorite mean     ,in the place of wife 
is seen4     ,vain the conflict with my 
grief2     ,memory denies relief4       
,yes1 'twas you the green who dyed1     
,you who fed the favorite's pride4      
,anger rises in my heart1     ,pierces  
it as with a dart4     ,but on ancient  
rules lean ,i1     ,lest to wrong my    
thoughts should fly4      ,fine or      
coarse1 if thin the dress1     ,cold    
winds always cause distress4     ,hard  
my lot1 my sorrow deep1     ,but my     
thoughts in check ,i keep4     ,ancient 
story brings to mind     ,sufferers who 
were resigned4       ,,note4--,yellow is
 one of the five correct colors of the  
,chinese1      while green is one of the
 intermediate colors that are less      
esteemed4 ,here we have the yellow used 
merely as a lining to the      green1 or

 employed in the lower1 or less         
honorable1 part of the      dress2--an  
inversion of propriety1 and intimating  
how a favorite      had usurped the     
place of the rightful wife and thrust   
her down4   ,,in ,,praise ,,of ,a       
,,maiden      ,o sweet maiden1 so fair  
and retiring1       ,at the corner ,i'm 
waiting for you2     ,and ,i'm          
scratching my head1 and inquiring       
,what on earth it were best ,i should   
do4      ,oh6 the maiden1 so handsome   
and coy1       ,for a pledge gave a slim
 rosy reed4     ,than the reed is she   
brighter1 my joy2       ,on her         
loveliness how my thoughts feed6        
,in the pastures a t'e blade she sought1
       ,and she gave it1 so elegant1    
rare4     ,oh6 the grass does not dwell 
in my thought1       ,but the donor1    
more elegant1 fair4   ,,discontent      
,as when the north winds keenly blow1   
,and all around fast falls the snow1    
,the source of pain and suffering great1
     ,so now it is in ,wei's poor state4

     ,let us join hands and haste away1 
,my friends and lovers all4     ',tis   
not a time will brook delay2            
,things for prompt action call4      ,as
 when the north winds whistle shrill1   
,and drifting snows each hollow fill1   
,the source of pain and suffering great1
     ,so now it is in ,wei's poor state4
     ,let us join hands1 and leave for  
aye1       ,my friends and lovers all1  
',tis not a time will brook delay2      
,things for prompt action call4      ,we
 look for red1 and foxes meet2     ,for 
black1 and crows our vision greet4      
,the creatures1 both of omen bad1       
,well suit the state of ,wei so sad4    
,let us join hands and mount our cars1  
,my friends and lovers all4     ,no time
 remains for wordy jars2       ,things  
for prompt action call4   ,,chwang      
,,keang ,,bemoans ,,her ,,husband',s    
,,cruelty      ,fierce is the wind and  
cold2       ,and such is he4            
,smiling he looks1 and bold             
,speaks mockingly4     ,scornful and    

lewd his words1       ,haughty his      
smile4     ,bound is my heart with cords
       ,in sorrow's coil4      ,as cloud
 of dust wind-blown1       ,just such is
 he4     ,ready he seems to own1        
,and come to me4     ,but he comes not  
nor goes1       ,stands in his pride4   
,long1 long1 with painful throes1       
,grieved ,i abide4      ,strong blew the
 wind2 the cloud       ,hastened away4  
,soon dark again1 the shroud            
,covers the day4     ,i wake1 and sleep 
no more       ,visits my eyes4     ,his 
course ,i sad deplore1       ,with heavy
 sighs4      ,cloudy the sky1 and dark2 
,the thunders roll4     ,such outward   
signs well mark       ,my troubled soul4
     ,i wake1 and sleep no more         
,comes to give rest4     ,his course ,i 
sad deplore1       ,in anguished breast4
     ,selections from ,books ,,iv1 ,v1  
and ,,vi have been omitted4     ,,book  
,,vii  ,the ,odes of ,ch'ing   ,,the    
,,people',s ,,admiration ,,for ,,duke   
,,woo      ,the black robes well your   

form befit2       ,when they are worn   
we'll make you new4     ,now for your   
court6 oh6 there we'll sit1       ,and  
watch how you your duties do4           
,and when we to our homes repair1       
,we'll send to you our richest fare1    
,such is the love to you we bear6       
,those robes well with your virtue      
match2       ,when they are worn we'll  
make you new4     ,now for your court6  
,there will we watch1       ,well       
pleased1 how you your duties do4        
,and when we to our homes repair1       
,we'll send to you our richest fare1    
,such is the love to you we bear6       
,those robes your character beseem2     
,when they are worn we'll make you new4 
,now for your court6 oh6 there we deem  
,it pleasure great your form to view4   
,and when we to our homes repair1       
,we'll send to you our richest fare1    
,such is the love to you we bear6   ,a  
,,wife ,,consoled ,,by ,,her            
,,husband',s ,,arrival      ,cold is the
 wind1 fast falls the rain1       ,the  

cock aye shrilly crows4     ,but ,i have
 seen my lord again2--       ,now must  
my heart repose4      ,whistles the     
wind1 patters the rain1       ,the      
cock's crow far resounds4     ,but ,i   
have seen my lord again1       ,and     
healed are my heart's wounds4           
,all's dark amid the wind and rain1     
,ceaseless the cock's clear voice6      
,but ,i have seen my lord again2--      
,should not my heart rejoice8   ,,in    
,,praise ,,of ,,some ,,lady      ,there 
by his side in chariot rideth she1      
,as lovely flower of the hibiscus tree1 
,so fair her face2 and when about they  
wheel1     ,her girdle gems of ,ken     
themselves reveal4     ,for beauty all  
the ,house of ,keang have fame2     ,its
 eldest daughter--she beseems her name4 
,there on the path1 close by him1       
walketh she1     ,bright as the blossom 
of hibiscus tree1     ,and fair her     
face2 and when around they flit1        
,her girdle gems a tinkling sound emit4 
,among the ,keang she has distinguished 

place1     ,for virtuous fame renowned1 
and peerless grace4   ,a ,,man',s       
,,praise ,,of ,,his ,,wife      ,my path
 forth from the east gate lay1          
,where cloud-like moved the girls at    
play4     ,numerous are they1 as clouds 
so bright1     ,but not on them my      
heart's thoughts light4     ,dressed in 
a thin white silk1 with coiffure gray1  
,is she1 my wife1 my joy in life's low  
way4      ,forth by the covering wall's 
high tower1     ,i went1 and saw1 like  
rush in flower1     ,each flaunting     
girl4 ,brilliant are they1     ,but not 
with them my heart's thoughts stay4     
,in thin white silk1 with head-dress    
madder-dyed1     ,is she1 my sole       
delight1 'foretime my bride4   ,,an     
,,entreaty      ,along the great        
highway1       ,i hold you by the cuff4 
,o spurn me not1 ,i pray1       ,nor    
break old friendship off4      ,along   
the highway worn1       ,i hold your    
hand in mine4     ,do not as vile me    
scorn2       ,your love ,i can't resign4

   ,a ,,woman ,,scorning ,,her ,,lover  
,o dear6 that artful boy       ,refuses 
me a word6     ,but1 ,sir1 ,i shall     
enjoy       ,my food1 though you're     
absurd6      ,o dear6 that artful boy   
,my table will not share6     ,but1     
,sir1 ,i shall enjoy       ,my rest1    
though you're not there6   ,a ,,lady    
,,mourns ,,the ,,absence ,,of ,,her     
,,student ,,lover      ,you student1    
with the collar blue1       ,long pines 
my heart with anxious pain4             
,although ,i do not go to you1          
,why from all word do you refrain8      
,o you1 with girdle strings of blue1    
,my thoughts to you forever roam6       
,although ,i do not go to you1          
,yet why to me should you not come8     
,how reckless you1 how light and wild1  
,there by the tower upon the wall6      
,one day1 from sight of you exiled1     
,as long as three long months ,i call4  
,,book ,,viii  ,the ,odes of ,ts'e   ,a 
,,wife ,,urging ,,her ,,husband ,,to    
,,action      ,his lady to the marquis  

says1       ,the cock has crowed2 'tis  
late4     ,get up1 my lord1 and haste to
 court4       ',tis full2 for you they  
wait4     ,she did not hear the cock's  
shrill sound1     ,only the blueflies   
buzzing round4      ,again she wakes him
 with the words1       ,the east1 my    
lord1 is bright4     ,a crowded court   
your presence seeks2       ,get up and  
hail the light4     ',twas not the      
dawning light which shone1     ,but that
 which by the moon was thrown4      ,he 
sleeping still1 once more she says1     
,the flies are buzzing loud4     ,to lie
 and dream here by your side       ,were
 pleasant1 but the crowd     ,of        
officers will soon retire2     ,draw not
 on you and me their ire6   ,,the       
,,folly ,,of ,,useless ,,effort         
,the weeds will but the ranker grow1    
,if fields too large you seek to till4  
,to try to gain men far away       ,with
 grief your toiling heart will fill4    
,if fields too large you seek to till1  
,the weeds will only rise more strong4  

,to try to gain men far away       ,will
 but your heart's distress prolong4     
,things grow the best when to themselves
       ,left1 and to nature's vigor     
rare4     ,how young and tender is the  
child1       ,with his twin tufts of    
falling hair6     ,but when you him ere 
long behold1       ,that child shall cap
 of manhood wear6   ,,the ,,prince ,,of 
,,loo      ,a grand man is the prince of
 ,loo1       ,with person large and     
high4     ,lofty his front and suited to
       ,the fine glance of his eye6     
,swift are his feet4 ,in archery        
,what man with him can vie8     ,with   
all these goodly qualities1       ,we   
see him and we sigh6      ,renowned     
through all the land is he1       ,the  
nephew of our lord4     ,with clear and 
lovely eyes1 his grace       ,may not be
 told by word4     ,all day at target   
practice1       ,he'll never miss the   
bird4     ,such is the prince of ,loo1  
and yet       ,with grief for him we're 
stirred6      ,all grace and beauty he  

displays1       ,high forehead and eyes 
bright4     ,and dancing choice6 ,his   
arrows all       ,the target hit aright4
     ,straight through they go1 and     
every one       ,lights on the self-same
 spot4     ,rebellion he could well     
withstand1       ,and yet we mourn his  
lot6     ,,book ,,ix  ,the ,odes of ,wei
   ,,on ,,the ,,misgovernment ,,of ,,the
 ,,state      ,a fruit1 small as the    
garden peach1       ,may still be used  
for food4     ,a ,state1 though poor as 
ours1 might thrive1       ,if but its   
rule were good4     ,our rule is bad1   
our ,state is sad1       ,with mournful 
heart ,i grieve4     ,all can from      
instrument and voice       ,my mood of  
mind perceive4     ,who know me not1    
with scornful thought1       ,deem me a 
scholar proud4     ,those men are right1
 they fiercely say1       ,what mean    
your words so loud8     ,deep in my     
heart my sorrows lie1       ,and none   
the cause may know4     ,how should they
 know who never try       ,to learn     

whence comes our woe8      ,the garden  
jujube1 although small1       ,may still
 be used for food4     ,a ,state1 though
 poor as ours1 might thrive1       ,if  
but its rule were good4     ,our rule is
 bad1 our ,state is sad1       ,with    
mournful heart ,i grieve4     ,methinks 
,i'll wander through the land1       ,my
 misery to relieve4     ,who know me    
not1 with scornful thought1       ,deem 
that wild views ,i hold4     ,those men 
are right1 they fiercely say1           
,what mean your words so bold8     ,deep
 in my heart my sorrows lie1       ,and 
none the cause may know4     ,how can   
they know1 who never try       ,to learn
 whence comes our woe8   ,,the ,,mean   
,,husband      ,thin cloth of dolichos  
supplies the shoes1       ,in which some
 have to brave the frost and cold4      
,a bride1 when poor1 her tender hands   
must use1       ,her dress to make1 and 
the sharp needle hold4     ,this man is 
wealthy1 yet he makes his bride         
,collars and waistbands for his robes   

provide4      ,conscious of wealth1 he  
moves with easy mien2       ,politely on
 the left he takes his place2     ,the  
ivory pin is at his girdle seen3--      
,his dress and gait show gentlemanly    
grace4     ,why do we brand him in our  
satire here8       ',tis this--his      
niggard soul provokes the sneer4   ,a   
,,young ,,soldier ,,on ,,service        
,to the top of that tree-clad hill ,i   
go1       ,and towards my father ,i     
gaze1     ,till with my mind's eye his  
form ,i espy1       ,and my mind's ear  
hears how he says3--     ,alas for my   
son on service abroad6       ,he rests  
not from morning till eve4     ,may he  
careful be and come back to me6         
,while he is away1 how ,i grieve6       
,to the top of that barren hill ,i      
climb1       ,and towards my mother ,i  
gaze1     ,till with my mind's eye her  
form ,i espy1       ,and my mind's ear  
hears how she says3--     ,alas for my  
child on service abroad6       ,he never
 in sleep shuts an eye4     ,may he     

careful be1 and come back to me6        
,in the wild may his body not lie6      
,up the lofty ridge ,i1 toiling1 ascend1
       ,and towards my brother ,i gaze1 
,till with my mind's eye his form ,i    
espy1       ,and my mind's ear hears how
 he says3--     ,alas6 my young brother1
 serving abroad1       ,all day with his
 comrades must roam4     ,may he careful
 be1 and come back to me1       ,and die
 not away from his home4     ,,book ,x  
,the ,odes of ,t'ang   ,,the ,,king     
,,goes ,,to ,,war      ,the wild geese  
fly the bushy oaks around1     ,with    
clamor loud4 ,suh-suh their wings       
resound1     ,as for their feet poor    
resting-place is found4     ,the ,king's
 affairs admit of no delay4     ,our    
millet still unsown1 we haste away4     
,no food is left our parents to supply2 
,when we are gone1 on whom can they     
rely8     ,o azure ,heaven1 that shinest
 there afar1     ,when shall our homes  
receive us from the war8      ,the wild 
geese on the bushy jujube-trees         

,attempt to settle and are ill at       
ease2--     ,suh-suh their wings go     
flapping in the breeze4     ,the ,king's
 affairs admit of no delay2     ,our    
millet still unsown1 we haste away4     
,how shall our parents their            
requirements get8     ,how in our       
absence shall their wants be met8     ,o
 azure ,heaven1 that shinest there afar1
     ,when shall our homes receive us   
from the war8      ,the bushy           
mulberry-trees the geese in rows        
,seek eager and to rest around them     
close--     ,with rustling loud1 as     
disappointment grows4     ,the ,king's  
affairs admit of no delay2     ,to plant
 our rice and maize we cannot stay4     
,how shall our parents find their wonted
 food8     ,when we are gone1 who will  
to them be good8     ,o azure ,heaven1  
that shinest there afar1     ,when shall
 our homes receive us from the war8     
,,lament ,,of ,a ,,bereaved ,,person    
,a russet pear-tree rises all alone1    
,but rich the growth of leaves upon it  

shown6     ,i walk alone1 without one   
brother left1     ,and thus of natural  
aid am ,i bereft4     ,plenty of people 
there are all around1     ,but none like
 my own father's sons are found4     ,ye
 travellers1 who forever hurry by1      
,why on me turn the unsympathizing eye8 
,no brother lives with whom my cause to 
plead2--     ,why not perform for me the
 helping deed8      ,a russet pear-tree 
rises all alone1     ,but rich with     
verdant foliage o'ergrown4     ,i walk  
alone1 without one brother's care1      
,to whom ,i might1 amid my straits      
repair4     ,plenty of people there are 
all around1     ,but none like those of 
my own name are found4     ,ye          
travellers1 who forever hurry by1       
,why on me turn the unsympathizing eye8 
,no brother lives with whom my cause to 
plead2--     ,why not perform for me the
 helping deed8   ,,the ,,drawbacks ,,of 
,,poverty      ,on the left of the way1 
a russet pear-tree     ,stands there all
 alone--a fit image of me4     ,there is

 that princely man6 ,o that he would    
come1     ,and in my poor dwelling with 
me be at home6     ,in the core of my   
heart do ,i love him1 but say1          
,whence shall ,i procure him the wants  
of the day8      ,at the bend in the way
 a russet pear-tree     ,stands there   
all alone--a fit image of me4     ,there
 is that princely man6 ,o that he would 
come1     ,and rambling with me be      
himself here at home6     ,in the core  
of my heart ,i love him1 but say1       
,whence shall ,i procure him the wants  
of the day8   ,a ,,wife ,,mourns ,,for  
,,her ,,husband      ,the dolichos grows
 and covers the thorn1       ,o'er the  
waste is the dragon-plant creeping4     
,the man of my heart is away and ,i     
mourn--       ,what home have ,i1 lonely
 and weeping8      ,covering the jujubes
 the dolichos grows1       ,the graves  
many dragon-plants cover2     ,but where
 is the man on whose breast ,i'd repose8
       ,no home have ,i1 having no      
lover6      ,fair to see was the pillow 

of horn1       ,and fair the            
bed-chamber's adorning2     ,but the man
 of my heart is not here1 and ,i mourn  
,all alone1 and wait for the morning4   
,while the long days of summer pass over
 my head1       ,and long winter nights 
leave their traces1     ,i'm alone6     
,till a hundred of years shall have     
fled1       ,and then ,i shall meet his 
embraces4      ,through the long winter 
nights ,i am burdened with fears1       
,through the long summer days ,i am     
lonely2     ,but when time shall have   
counted its hundreds of years       ,i  
then shall be his--and his only6        
,,book ,,xi  ,the ,odes of ,ts'in       
,,celebrating ,,the ,,opulence ,,of     
,,the ,,lords ,,of ,,ts',,in      ,our  
ruler to the hunt proceeds2     ,and    
black as iron are his steeds     ,that  
heed the charioteer's command1     ,who 
holds the six reins in his hand4        
,his favorites follow to the chase1     
,rejoicing in his special grace4        
,the season's males1 alarmed1 arise--   

,the season's males1 of wondrous size4  
,driven by the beaters1 forth they      
spring1     ,soon caught within the     
hunters' ring4     ,drive on their left1
 the ruler cries2     ,and to its mark  
his arrow flies4      ,the hunting done1
 northward he goes2     ,and in the park
 the driver shows     ,the horses'      
points1 and his own skill     ,that     
rules and guides them at his will4      
,light cars whose teams small bells     
display1     ,the long- and             
short-mouthed dogs convey4   ,a         
,,complaint      ,he lodged us in a     
spacious house1       ,and plenteous was
 our fare4     ,but now at every frugal 
meal       ,there's not a scrap to      
spare4     ,alas6 alas that this good   
man     ,could not go on as he began6   
,a ,,wife',s ,,grief ,,because ,,of     
,,her ,,husband',s ,,absence      ,the  
falcon swiftly seeks the north1     ,and
 forest gloom that sent it forth4       
,since ,i no more my husband see1       
,my heart from grief is never free4     

,o how is it1 ,i long to know1     ,that
 he1 my lord1 forgets me so8      ,bushy
 oaks on the mountain grow1     ,and six
 elms where the ground is low4     ,but 
,i1 my husband seen no more1     ,my sad
 and joyless fate deplore4     ,o how is
 it1 ,i long to know1     ,that he1 my  
lord1 forgets me so8      ,the hills the
 bushy wild plums show1     ,and        
pear-trees grace the ground below4      
,but1 with my husband from me gone1     
,as drunk with grief1 ,i dwell alone4   
,oh how is it1 ,i long to know1         
,that he1 my lord1 forgets me so8       
,,lament ,,for ,,three ,,brothers       
,they flit about1 the yellow birds1     
,and rest upon the jujubes find4        
,who buried were in duke ,muh's grave1  
,alive to awful death consigned8        
',mong brothers three1 who met that     
fate1       ',twas sad the first1       
,yen-seih to see4     ,he stood alone2 a
 hundred men       ,could show no other 
such as he4     ,when to the yawning    
grave he came1     ,terror unnerved and 

shook his frame4      ,why thus destroy 
our noblest men1       ,to thee we cry1 
,o azure ,heaven6     ,to save ,yen-seih
 from death1 we would       ,a hundred  
lives have freely given4      ,they flit
 about1 the yellow birds1       ,and on 
the mulberry-trees rest find4     ,who  
buried were in duke ,muh's grave1       
,alive to awful death consigned8        
',mong brothers three1 who met that     
fate1       ',twas sad the next1        
,chung-hang to see4     ,when on him    
pressed a hundred men1       ,a match   
for all of them was he4     ,when to the
 yawning grave he came1     ,terror     
unnerved and shook his frame4      ,why 
thus destroy our noblest men1       ,to 
thee we cry1 ,o azure ,heaven6     ,to  
save ,chung-hang from death1 we would   
,a hundred lives have freely given4     
,they flit about1 the yellow birds1     
,and rest upon the thorn-trees find4    
,who buried were in duke ,muh's grave1  
,alive to awful death consigned8        
',mong brothers three1 who met that     

fate1       ',twas sad the third1       
,k'een-foo1 to see4     ,a hundred men  
in desperate fight       ,successfully  
withstand could he4     ,when to the    
yawning grave he came1     ,terror      
unnerved and shook his frame4      ,why 
thus destroy our noblest men1       ,to 
thee we cry1 ,o azure ,heaven6     ,to  
save ,k'een-foo from death1 we would    
,a hundred lives have freely given4     
,,note4--,the incident related in this  
poem occurred in the year      ,b4,c4   
#fbj1 when the duke of ,muh died after  
playing an important      part in the   
affairs of ,northwest ,china4 ,muh      
required the three      officers here   
celebrated1 to be buried with him1 and  
according to      the ,historical       
,records this barbarous practice began  
with duke      ,ching1 ,muh's           
predecessor4 ,in all1 #agj individuals  
were buried      with ,muh4 ,the death  
of the last distinguished man of the    
,ts'in      dynasty1 the ,emperor ,i1   
was subsequently celebrated by the      

entombment with him of all the inmates  
of his harem4   ,,in ,,praise ,,of ,a   
,,ruler ,,of ,,ts',,in      ,what trees 
grow on the ,chung-nan hill8       ,the 
white fir and the plum4     ,in fur of  
fox1 'neath 'broidered robe1            
,thither our prince is come4     ,his   
face glows with vermilion hue4     ,o   
may he prove a ruler true6      ,what   
find we on the ,chung-nan hill8         
,deep nook and open glade4     ,our     
prince shows there the double ,ke       
,on lower robe displayed4     ,his      
pendant holds each tinkling gem1        
,long life be his1 and deathless fame6  
,,the ,,generous ,,nephew      ,i       
escorted my uncle to ,tsin1       ,till 
the ,wei we crossed on the way4         
,then ,i gave as ,i left         ,for   
his carriage a gift       ,four steeds1 
and each steed was a bay4      ,i       
escorted my uncle to ,tsin1       ,and  
,i thought of him much in my heart4     
,pendant stones1 and with them          
,of fine jasper a gem1       ,i gave1   

and then saw him depart4     ,,book     
,,xii  ,the ,odes of ,ch'in   ,,the     
,,contentment ,,of ,a ,,poor ,,recluse  
,my only door some pieces of crossed    
wood1       ,within it ,i can rest      
enjoy4     ,i drink the water wimpling  
from the spring2       ,nor hunger can  
my peace destroy4      ,purged from     
ambition's aims ,i say1 ,for fish1      
,we need not bream caught in the ,ho2   
,nor1 to possess the sweets of love1    
require       ,to ,ts'e1 to find a      
,keang1 to go4      ,the man contented  
with his lot1 a meal       ,of fish     
without ,ho carp can make2     ,nor     
needs1 to rest in his domestic joy1     
,a ,tsze of ,sung as wife to take4      
,,the ,,disappointed ,,lover      ,where
 grow the willows near the eastern gate1
       ,and 'neath their leafy shade we 
could recline1     ,she said at evening 
she would me await1       ,and brightly 
now ,i see the day-star shine6          
,here where the willows near the eastern
 gate       ,grow1 and their dense      

leaves make a shady gloom1     ,she said
 at evening she would me await4         
,see now the morning star the sky       
illume6   ,a ,,love-,,song      ,the    
moon comes forth1 bright in the sky2    
,a lovelier sight to draw my eye        
,is she1 that lady fair4     ,she round 
my heart has fixed love's chain1        
,but all my longings are in vain4       
',tis hard the grief to bear4      ,the 
moon comes forth1 a splendid sight2     
,more winning far that lady bright1     
,object of my desire6     ,deep-seated  
is my anxious grief2     ,in vain ,i    
seek to find relief1       ,while glows 
the secret fire4      ,the rising moon  
shines mild and fair2     ,more bright  
is she1 whose beauty rare       ,my     
heart with longing fills4     ,with     
eager wish ,i pine in vain2     ,o for  
relief from constant pain1       ,which 
through my bosom thrills6   ,,the       
,,lament ,,of ,a ,,lover      ,there    
where its shores the marsh surround1    
,rushes and lotus plants abound4        

,their loveliness brings to my mind     
,the lovelier one that ,i would find4   
,in vain ,i try to ease the smart       
,of wounded love that wrings my heart4  
,in waking thought and nightly dreams1  
,from every pore the water streams4     
,all round the marsh's shores are seen  
,valerian flowers and rushes green4     
,but lovelier is that ,beauty rare1     
,handsome and large1 and tall and fair4 
,i wish and long to call her mine1      
,doomed with the longing still to pine4 
,nor day nor night e'er brings relief2  
,my inmost heart is full of grief4      
,around the marsh1 in rich display1     
,grow rush and lotus flowers1 all gay4  
,but not with her do they compare1      
,so tall and large1 majestic1 fair4     
,both day and night1 ,i nothing speed2  
,still clings to me the aching need4    
,on side1 on back1 on face1 ,i lie1     
,but vain each change of posture try4   
,,book ,,xiii  ,the ,odes of ,kwei      
,,the ,,wish ,,of ,,an ,,unhappy ,,man  
,where the grounds are wet and low1     

,there the trees of goat-peach grow1    
,with their branches small and smooth1  
,glossy in their tender youth4     ,joy 
it were to me1 ,o tree1                 
,consciousness to want like thee4       
,where the grounds are wet and low1     
,there the trees of goat-peach grow4    
,soft and fragrant are their flowers1   
,glossy from the vernal showers4        
,joy it were to me1 ,o tree1     ,ties  
of home to want like thee4      ,where  
the grounds are wet and low1     ,there 
the trees of goat-peach grow1     ,what 
delicious fruits they bear1     ,glossy1
 soft1 of beauty rare6     ,joy it were 
to me1 ,o tree1     ,household cares to 
want like thee4     ,,book ,,xiv  ,the  
,odes of ,ts'aou   ,,against ,,frivolous
 ,,pursuits      ,like splendid robes   
appear the wings       ,of the ephemeral
 fly2     ,and such the pomp of those   
great men1       ,which soon in death   
shall lie6     ,i grieve6 ,would they   
but come to me6       ,to teach them ,i 
should try4      ,the wings of the      

ephemeral fly       ,are robes of colors
 gay2     ,and such the glory of those  
men1       ,soon crumbling to decay6    
,i grieve6 ,would they but rest with me1
       ,they'd learn a better way6      
,the ephemeral fly bursts from its hole1
       ,with gauzy wings like snow2     
,so quick the rise1 so quick the fall1  
,of those great men we know6     ,i     
grieve6 ,would they but lodge with me1  
,forth they would wiser go4     ,,book  
,,xv  ,the ,odes of ,pin   ,,the ,,duke 
,,of ,,chow ,,tells ,,of ,,his          
,,soldiers      ,to the hills of the    
,east we went1       ,and long had we   
there to remain4     ,when the word of  
recall was sent1       ,thick and fast  
came the drizzling rain4     ,when told 
our return we should take1       ,our   
hearts in the ,west were and sore2      
,but there did they clothes for us      
make3--       ,they knew our hard       
service was o'er4     ,on the mulberry  
grounds in our sight       ,the large   
caterpillars were creeping2     ,lonely 

and still we passed the night1          
,all under our carriages sleeping4      
,to the hills of the ,east we went1     
,and long had we there to remain4       
,when the word of recall was sent1      
,thick and fast came the drizzling rain4
     ,the heavenly gourds rise to the   
eye1       ,with their fruit hanging    
under the eave4     ,in our chambers the
 sow-bug we spy2       ,their webs on   
our doors spiders weave4     ,our       
paddocks seem crowded with deer1        
,with the glow-worm's light all about4  
,such thoughts1 while they filled us    
with fear1       ,we tried1 but in vain1
 to keep out4      ,to the hills of the 
,east we went1       ,and long had we   
there to remain4     ,when the word of  
recall was sent1       ,thick and fast  
came the drizzling rain4     ,on        
ant-hills screamed cranes with delight2 
,in their rooms were our wives sighing  
sore4     ,our homes they had swept and 
made tight3--       ,all at once we     
arrived at the door4     ,the bitter    

gourds hanging are seen1       ,from    
branches of chestnut-trees high4        
,three years of toil away we had been1  
,since such a sight greeted the eye4    
,to the hills of the ,east we went1     
,and long had we there to remain4       
,when the word of recall was sent1      
,thick and fast came the drizzling rain4
     ,with its wings now here1 and now  
there1       ,is the oriole sporting in 
flight4     ,those brides to their      
husbands repair1       ,their steeds red
 and bay1 flecked with white4     ,each 
mother has fitted each sash2            
,their equipments are full and complete2
     ,but fresh unions1 whatever their  
dash1       ,can ne'er with reunions    
compete4   ,,there ,,is ,a ,,proper     
,,way ,,for ,,doing ,,everything        
,in hewing an axe-shaft1 how must you   
act8       ,another axe take1 or you'll 
never succeed4     ,in taking a wife1 be
 sure 'tis a fact1       ,that with no  
go-between you never can speed4      ,in
 hewing an axe-shaft1 hewing a shaft1   

,for a copy you have the axe in your    
hand4     ,in choosing a wife1 you      
follow the craft1       ,and forthwith  
on the mats the feast-vessels stand4    
,,part ,,ii4--,,minor ,,odes ,,of ,,the 
,,kingdom     ,,book ,i  ,decade of ,luh
 ,ming   ,a ,,festal ,,ode      ,with   
sounds of happiness the deer            
,browse on the celery of the meads4     
,a nobler feast is furnished here1      
,with guests renowned for noble deeds4  
,the lutes are struck2 the organ blows1 
,till all its tongues in movement heave4
     ,each basket loaded stands1 and    
shows       ,the precious gifts the     
guests receive4     ,they love me and my
 mind will teach1     ,how duty's       
highest aim to reach4      ,with sounds 
of happiness the deer       ,the        
southern-wood crop in the meads1        
,what noble guests surround me here1    
,distinguished for their worthy deeds6  
,from them my people learn to fly       
,whate'er is mean2 to chiefs they give  
,a model and a pattern high2--          

,they show the life they ought to live4 
,then fill their cups with spirits rare1
     ,till each the banquet's joy shall 
share4      ,with sounds of happiness   
the deer       ,the salsola crop in the 
fields4     ,what noble guests surround 
me here6       ,each lute for them its  
music yields4     ,sound1 sound the     
lutes1 or great or small1       ,the joy
 harmonious to prolong2--     ,and with 
my spirits rich crown all       ,the    
cups to cheer the festive throng4       
,let each retire with gladdened heart1  
,in his own sphere to play his part4    
,a ,,festal ,,ode ,,complimenting ,,an  
,,officer      ,on dashed my four       
steeds1 without halt1 without stay1     
,though toilsome and winding from ,chow 
was the way4     ,i wished to           
return--but the monarch's command       
,forbade that his business be done with 
slack hand2         ,and my heart was   
with sadness oppressed4      ,on dashed 
my four steeds2 ,i ne'er slackened the  
reins4     ,they snorted and panted--all

 white1 with black manes4     ,i wished 
to return1 but our sovereign's command  
,forbade that his business be done with 
slack hand2--         ,and ,i dared not 
to pause or to rest4      ,unresting the
 ,filial doves speed in their flight1   
,ascending1 then sweeping swift down    
from the height1     ,now grouped on the
 oaks4 ,the king's high command         
,forbade that his business be done with 
slack hand2--         ,and my father ,i 
left1 sore distressed4      ,unresting  
the ,filial doves speed in their flight1
     ,now fanning the air and anon they 
alight     ,on the medlars thick        
grouped4 ,but our monarch's command     
,forbade that his business be done with 
slack hand2--         ,of my mother ,i  
thought with sad breast4      ,my four  
steeds ,i harnessed1 all white and      
black-maned1     ,which straight on     
their way1 fleet and emulous strained4  
,i wished to return2 and now venture in 
song     ,the wish to express1 and      
announce how ,i long         ,for my    

mother my care to attest4               
,,note4--,both ,maou and ,choo agree    
that this ode was composed in      honor
 of the officer who narrates the story  
in it1 although they      say it was not
 written by the officer himself1 but was
 put into      his mouth1 as it were1 to
 express the sympathy of his entertainer
      with him1 and the appreciation of 
his devotion to duty4   ,,the ,,value   
,,of ,,friendship      ,the woodmen's   
blows responsive ring1       ,as on the 
trees they fall2     ,and when the birds
 their sweet notes sing1       ,they to 
each other call4     ,from the dark     
valley comes a bird1       ,and seeks   
the lofty tree4     ,ying goes its      
voice1 and thus it cries1               
,companion1 come to me4     ,the bird1  
although a creature small1       ,upon  
its mate depends2     ,and shall we men1
 who rank o'er all1       ,not seek to  
have our friends8     ,all spirits love 
the friendly man1       ,and hearken to 
his prayer4     ,what harmony and peace 

they can       ,bestow1 his lot shall   
share4      ,hoo-hoo the woodmen all    
unite       ,to shout1 as trees they    
fell4     ,they do their work with all  
their might2--       ,what ,i have done 
,i'll tell4     ,i've strained and made 
my spirits clear1       ,the fatted     
lambs ,i've killed4     ,with friends   
who my own surname bear1       ,my hall 
,i've largely filled4     ,some may be  
absent1 casually1       ,and leave a    
broken line2     ,but better this than  
absence by       ,an oversight of mine4 
,my court ,i've sprinkled and swept     
clean1       ,viands in order set1      
,eight dishes loaded stand with grain2  
,there's store of fatted meat4     ,my  
mother's kith and kin ,i'm sure         
,i've widely called by name4     ,that  
some be hindered better is       ,than  
,i give cause for blame4      ,on the   
hill-side the trees they fell1          
,all working with good-will4     ,i     
labor too1 with equal zeal1       ,and  
the host's part fulfil4     ,spirits    

,i've set in order meet1       ,the     
dishes stand in rows4     ,the guests   
are here2 no vacant seat       ,a       
brother absent shows4     ,the loss of  
kindly feeling oft       ,from slightest
 things shall grow1     ,where all the  
fare is dry and spare1                  
,resentments fierce may glow4     ,my   
store of spirits is well strained1      
,if short prove the supply1     ,my     
messengers ,i straightway send1         
,and what is needed buy4     ,i beat the
 drums1 and in the dance       ,lead    
joyously the train4     ,oh6 good it is1
 when falls the chance       ,the       
sparkling cup to drain4   ,,the         
,,response ,,to ,a ,,festal ,,ode       
,heaven shields and sets thee fast4     
,it round thee fair has cast       ,thy 
virtue pure4     ,thus richest joy is   
thine2--     ,increase of corn and wine1
     ,and every gift divine1            
,abundant1 sure4      ,heaven shields   
and sets thee fast4     ,from it thou   
goodness hast2       ,right are thy     

ways4     ,its choicest gifts 'twill    
pour1     ,that last for evermore1      
,nor time exhaust the store             
,through endless days4      ,heaven     
shields and sets thee fast1     ,makes  
thine endeavor last       ,and prosper  
well4     ,like hills and mountains     
high1     ,whose masses touch the sky2  
,like streams aye surging by2           
,thine increase swell6      ,with rite  
and auspice fair1     ,thine offerings  
thou dost bear1       ,and son-like     
give1     ,the season's round from      
spring1     ,to olden duke and king1    
,whose words to thee we bring3--        
,forever live4      ,the spirits of thy 
dead     ,pour blessings on thy head1   
,unnumbered sweet4     ,thy subjects1   
simple1 good1     ,enjoy their drink and
 food4     ,our tribes of every blood   
,follow thy feet4      ,like moons that 
wax in light2     ,or suns that scale   
the height2       ,or ageless hill2     
,nor change1 nor autumn know2     ,as   
pine and cypress grow2     ,the sons    

that from thee flow       ,be lasting   
still6   ,,an ,,ode ,,of                
,,congratulation      ,the russet       
pear-tree stands there all alone2       
,how bright the growth of fruit upon it 
shown6     ,the ,king's affairs no      
stinting hands require1     ,and days   
prolonged still mock our fond desire4   
,but time has brought the tenth month of
 the year2     ,my woman's heart is torn
 with wound severe4     ,surely my      
warrior lord might now appear6      ,the
 russet pear-tree stands there all      
alone2     ,how dense the leafy shade   
all o'er it thrown6     ,the ,king's    
affairs require no slackening hand1     
,and our sad hearts their feelings can't
 command4     ,the plants and trees in  
beauty shine2 'tis spring4     ,from off
 my heart its gloom ,i fain would fling4
     ,this season well my warrior home  
may bring6      ,i climbed that northern
 hill1 and medlars sought2     ,the     
spring nigh o'er1 to ripeness they were 
brought4     ,the ,king's affairs cannot

 be slackly done2--     ',tis thus our  
parents mourn their absent son4     ,but
 now his sandal car must broken be2     
,i seem his powerful steeds worn out to 
see4     ,relief has gone6 ,he can't be 
far from me6      ,alas6 they can't have
 marched2 they don't arrive6     ,more  
hard it grows with my distress to       
strive4     ,the time is passed1 and    
still he is not here6     ,my sorrows   
multiply2 great is my fear4     ,but lo6
 by reeds and shell ,i have divined1    
,that he is near1 they both assure my   
mind2--     ,soon at my side my warrior 
,i shall find6   ,,an ,,ode ,,on ,,the  
,,return ,,of ,,the ,,troops      ,forth
 from the city in our cars we drove1    
,until we halted at the pasture ground4 
,the general came1 and there with ardor 
strove       ,a note of zeal throughout 
the host to sound4       ,direct from   
court ,i come1 by orders bound     ,the 
march to hasten2--it was thus he spake4 
,then with the carriage-officers around1
     ,he strictly charged them quick    

despatch to make3--     ,urgent the     
,king's affairs1 forthwith the field we 
take4      ,while there we stopped1 the 
second corps appeared1       ,and 'twixt
 us and the city took its place4        
,the guiding standard was on high       
upreared1       ,where twining snakes   
the tortoises embrace1       ,while     
oxtails1 crest-like1 did the staff's top
 grace4     ,we watched the sheet       
unfolding grandly wave2       ,each flag
 around showed falcons on its face4     
,with anxious care looked on our leader 
brave2     ,watchful the                
carriage-officers appeared and grave4   
,nan ,chung1 our chief1 had heard the   
royal call       ,to go where inroad by 
,heen-yuns was made1     ,and 'cross the
 frontier build a barrier wall4         
,numerous his chariots1 splendidly      
arrayed6       ,the standards--this     
where dragons were displayed1     ,and  
that where snakes round tortoises were  
coiled--       ,terrific flew4          
,northward our host1 he said1           

,heaven's son sends forth to tame the   
,heen-yun wild4     ,soon by this awful 
chief would all their tribes be foiled4 
,when first we took the field1 and      
northward went1       ,the millet was in
 flower2--a prospect sweet4     ,now    
when our weary steps are homeward bent1 
,the snow falls fast1 the mire impedes  
our feet4       ,many the hardships we  
were called to meet1     ,ere the       
,king's orders we had all fulfilled4    
,no rest we had2 often our friends to   
greet     ,the longing came2 but vain   
regrets we stilled2     ,by tablets     
stern our hearts with fresh resolve were
 thrilled4      ,incessant chirp the    
insects in the grass2       ,all round  
about the nimble hoppers spring4        
,from them our thoughts quick to our    
husbands pass1       ,although those    
thoughts our hearts with anguish wring4 
,oh6 could we see them1 what relief     
'twould bring6     ,our hearts1         
rejoiced1 at once would feel at rest4   
,thus did our wives1 their case         

deploring1 sing2     ,the while our     
leader farther on had pressed1     ,and 
smitten with his power the wild ,jung of
 the west4      ,the spring days now are
 lengthening out their light2       ,the
 plants and trees are dressed in living 
green2     ,the orioles resting sing1 or
 wing their flight2       ,our wives    
amid the southern-wood are seen1        
,which white they bring1 to feed their  
silkworms keen4     ,our host1 returned1
 sweeps onwards to the hall1            
,where chiefs are questioned1 shown the 
captives mean     ,nan ,chung1 majestic1
 draws the gaze of all1     ,proud o'er 
the barbarous foe his victories to      
recall4     ,,book ,,ii  ,the ,decade of
 ,pih ,h'wa   ,,an ,,ode ,,appropriate  
,,to ,a ,,festivity      ,the dew lies  
heavy all around1     ,nor1 till the sun
 shines1 leaves the ground4     ,far    
into night we feasting sit2     ,we     
drink1 and none his place may quit4     
,the dew lies heavy1 and its gems       
,stud the luxuriant1 grassy stems4      

,the happy night with wassail rings2    
,so feasted here the former kings4      
,the jujube and the willow-tree     ,all
 fretted with the dew we see4     ,each 
guest's a prince of noble line1     ,in 
whom the virtues all combine4      ,the 
t'ung and e their fruits display1       
,pendant from every graceful spray4     
,my guests are joyous and serene1       
,no haggard eye1 no ruffled mien4       
,,book ,,iii  ,the ,decade of ,t'ung    
,kung   ,,celebrating ,a ,,hunting      
,,expedition      ,our chariots were    
well-built and firm1       ,well-matched
 our steeds1 and fleet and strong4      
,four1 sleek and large1 each chariot    
drew1       ,and eastward thus we drove 
along4      ,our hunting cars were light
 and good1       ,each with its team of 
noble steeds4     ,still further east we
 took the way       ,to ,foo-mere's     
grassy plains that leads4               
,loud-voiced1 the masters of the chase  
,arranged the huntsmen1 high and low4   
,while banners streamed1 and ox-tails   

flew1       ,we sought the prey on      
distant ,gaou4      ,each with full     
team1 the princes came1       ,a        
lengthened train in bright array4       
,in gold-wrought slippers1 knee-caps    
red1       ,they looked as on an        
audience day4      ,each right thumb    
wore the metal guard2       ,on the left
 arm its shield was bound4     ,in      
unison the arrows flew2       ,the game 
lay piled upon the ground4      ,the    
leaders of the tawny teams       ,sped  
on their course1 direct and true4       
,the drivers perfect skill displayed2   
,like blow well aimed each arrow flew4  
,neighing and pleased1 the steeds       
returned2       ,the bannered lines back
 slowly came4     ,no jostling rude     
disgraced the crowd2       ,the king    
declined large share of game4      ,so  
did this famous hunt proceed6       ,so 
free it was from clamorous sound6       
,well does our ,king become his place1  
,and high the deeds his reign have      
crowned6   ,,the ,,king',s ,,anxiety    

,,for ,,his ,,morning ,,levee      ,how 
goes the night8 ,for heavy morning sleep
     ,ill suits the king who men would  
loyal keep4     ,the courtyard1 ruddy   
with the torch's light1     ,proclaims  
unspent the deepest hour of night4      
,already near the gate my lords appear2 
,their tinkling bells salute my wakeful 
ear4      ,how goes the night8 ,i may   
not slumber on4     ,although not yet   
the night is wholly gone1     ,the      
paling torch-light in the court below   
,gives token that the hours swift-footed
 go4     ,already at the gate my lords  
appear2     ,their tinkling bells with  
measured sound draw near4      ,how goes
 the night8 ,i may not slumber now4     
,the darkness smiles with morning on its
 brow4     ,the courtyard torch no more 
gives forth its ray1     ,but heralds   
with its smoke the coming day4     ,my  
princes pass the gate1 and gather there2
     ,i see their banners floating in   
the air4   ,,moral ,,lessons ,,from     
,,natural ,,facts      ,all true words  

fly1 as from yon reedy marsh     ,the   
crane rings o'er the wild its screaming 
harsh4     ,vainly you try reason in    
chains to keep2--     ,freely it moves  
as fish sweeps through the deep4        
,hate follows love1 as 'neath those     
sandal-trees     ,the withered leaves   
the eager searcher sees4     ,the       
hurtful ne'er without some good was     
born2--     ,the stones that mar the    
hill will grind the corn4      ,all true
 words spread1 as from the marsh's eye  
,the crane's sonorous note ascends the  
sky4     ,goodness throughout the widest
 sphere abides1     ,as fish round isle 
and through the ocean glides4     ,and  
lesser good near greater you shall see1 
,as grows the paper shrub 'neath        
sandal-tree4     ,and good emerges from 
what man condemns2--     ,those stones  
that mar the hill will polish gems4     
,,book ,,iv  ,the ,decade of ,k'e-foo   
,,on ,,the ,,completion ,,of ,a ,,royal 
,,palace      ,on yonder banks a palace1
 lo6 upshoots1       ,the tender blue of

 southern hill behind2                  
,firm-founded1 like the bamboo's        
clamping roots2       ,its roof made    
pine-like1 to a point defined4          
,fraternal love here bears its precious 
fruits1       ,and unfraternal schemes  
be ne'er designed6      ,ancestral sway 
is his4 ,the walls they rear1           
,five thousand cubits long2 and south   
and west     ,the doors are placed4     
,here will the king appear1       ,here 
laugh1 here talk1 here sit him down and 
rest4      ,to mould the walls1 the     
frames they firmly tie2       ,the      
toiling builders beat the earth and     
lime4     ,the walls shall vermin1      
storm1 and bird defy2--       ,fit      
dwelling is it for his lordly prime4    
,grand is the hall the noble lord       
ascends2--       ,in height1 like human 
form most reverent1 grand2     ,and     
straight1 as flies the shaft when bow   
unbends2       ,its tints1 like hues    
when pheasant's wings expand4      ,high
 pillars rise the level court around2   

,the pleasant light the open chamber    
steeps2     ,and deep recesses1 wide    
alcoves1 are found1       ,where our    
good king in perfect quiet sleeps4      
,laid is the bamboo mat on rush mat     
square2--       ,here shall he sleep1   
and1 waking1 say1 ,divine     ,what     
dreams are good8 ,for bear and grizzly  
bear1       ,and snakes and cobras1     
haunt this couch of mine4      ,then    
shall the chief diviner glad reply1     
,the bears foreshow that ,heaven will   
send you sons4     ,the snakes and      
cobras daughters prophesy4       ,these 
auguries are all auspicious ones4       
,sons shall be his--on couches lulled to
 rest4       ,the little ones1 enrobed1 
with sceptres play2     ,their infant   
cries are loud as stern behest2         
,their knees the vermeil covers shall   
display4     ,as king hereafter one     
shall be addressed2       ,the rest1 our
 princes1 all the ,states shall sway4   
,and daughters also to him shall be     
born4       ,they shall be placed upon  

the ground to sleep2     ,their         
playthings tiles1 their dress the       
simplest worn2       ,their part alike  
from good and ill to keep1     ,and     
ne'er their parents' hearts to cause to 
mourn2       ,to cook the food1 and     
spirit-malt to steep4   ,,the           
,,condition ,,of ,,king ,,seuen',s      
,,flocks      ,who dares to say your    
sheep are few8       ,the flocks are all
 three hundred strong4     ,who dares   
despise your cattle too8       ,there   
ninety1 black-lipped1 press along4      
,though horned the sheep1 yet peaceful  
each appears2     ,the cattle come with 
moist and flapping ears4      ,these    
climb the heights1 those drink the pool2
       ,some lie at rest1 while others  
roam4     ,with rain-coats1 and thin    
splint hats cool1       ,and bearing    
food1 your herdsmen come4     ,in       
thirties1 ranged by hues1 the creatures 
stand2     ,fit victims they will yield 
at your command4      ,your herdsmen    
twigs and fagots bring1       ,with prey

 of birds and beasts for food4     ,your
 sheep1 untouched by evil thing1        
,approach1 their health and vigor good4 
,the herdsman's waving hand they all    
behold1     ,and docile come1 and pass  
into the fold4      ,your herdsmen      
dream2--fish take the place       ,of   
men2 on banners falcons fly1            
,displacing snakes and tortoises4       
,the augur tells his prophecy3--        
,the first betoken plenteous years2 the 
change     ,of banners shows of homes a 
widening range4     ,,book ,v  ,the     
,decade of ,seaou ,min   ,a ,,eunuch    
,,complains ,,of ,,his ,,fate      ,a   
few fine lines1 at random drawn1        
,like the shell-pattern wrought in lawn 
,to hasty glance will seem4     ,my     
trivial faults base slander's slime     
,distorted into foulest crime1          
,and men me worthless deem4      ,a few 
small points1 pricked down on wood1     
,may be made out a picture good         
,of the bright ,southern ,sieve4        
,who planned1 and helped those          

slanderers vile1     ,my name with base 
lies to defile8       ,unpitied1 here ,i
 grieve4      ,with babbling tongues you
 go about1     ,and only scheme how to  
make out       ,the lies you scatter    
round4     ,here me--,be careful what   
you say2     ,people ere long your words
 will weigh1       ,and liars you'll be 
found4      ,clever you are with        
changeful schemes6     ,how else could  
all your evil dreams       ,and slanders
 work their way8     ,men now believe   
you2 by and by1     ,the truth found    
out1 each vicious lie       ,will ill   
for ill repay4      ,the proud rejoice2 
the sufferer weeps4     ,o azure        
,heaven1 from out thy deeps       ,why  
look in silence down8     ,behold those 
proud men and rebuke2     ,with pity on 
the sufferers look1       ,and on the   
evil frown4      ,those slanderers ,i   
would gladly take1     ,with all who    
help their schemes to make1       ,and  
to the tigers throw4     ,if wolves and 
tigers such should spare1     ,i'd hurl 

them 'midst the freezing air1           
,where the keen north winds blow4       
,and should the ,north compassion feel  
,i'd fling them to great ,heaven1 to    
deal       ,on them its direst woe4     
,as on the sacred heights you dwell1    
,my place is in the willow dell1        
,one is the other near4     ,before you1
 officers1 ,i spread     ,these lines by
 me1 poor eunuch1 made4       ,think not
 ,mang-tsze severe4   ,,an ,,officer    
,,deplores ,,the ,,misery ,,of ,,the    
,,time      ,in the fourth month summer 
shines2     ,in the sixth the heat      
declines4     ,nature thus grants men   
relief2     ,tyranny gives only grief4  
,were not my forefathers men8     ,can  
my suffering 'scape their ken8      ,in 
the cold of autumn days     ,each plant 
shrivels and decays4     ,nature then is
 hard and stern2     ,living things sad 
lessons learn4     ,friends dispersed1  
all order gone1     ,place of refuge    
have ,i none4      ,winter days are wild
 and fierce2     ,rapid gusts each      

crevice pierce4     ,such is my unhappy 
lot1     ,unbefriended and forgot6      
,others all can happy be2     ,i from   
misery ne'er am free4      ,on the      
mountains are fine trees2               
,chestnuts1 plum-trees1 there one sees4 
,all the year their forms they show2    
,stately more and more they grow4       
,noble turned to ravening thief6        
,what the cause8 ,this stirs my grief4  
,waters from that spring appear         
,sometimes foul1 and sometimes clear1   
,changing oft as falls the rain1     ,or
 the sky grows bright again4     ,new   
misfortunes every day     ,still befall 
me1 misery's prey4      ,aid from mighty
 streams obtained1     ,southern ,states
 are shaped and drained4     ,thus the  
,keang and ,han are thanked1     ,and as
 benefactors ranked4     ,weary toil my 
vigor drains2     ,all unnoticed it     
remains6      ,hawks and eagles mount   
the sky2     ,sturgeons in deep waters  
lie4     ,out of reach1 they safely get1
     ,arrow fear not1 nor the net4      

,hiding-place for me there's none2      
,here ,i stay1 and make my moan4        
,ferns upon the hills abound2     ,ke   
and e in marshy ground4     ,each can   
boast its proper place1     ,where it   
grows for use or grace4     ,i can only 
sing the woe1     ,which1 ill-starred1  
,i undergo4   ,,on ,,the ,,alienation   
,,of ,a ,,friend      ,gently and soft  
the east wind blows1       ,and then    
there falls the pelting rain4     ,when 
anxious fears pressed round you close1  
,then linked together were we twain4    
,now happy1 and your mind at rest1      
,you turn and cast me from your breast4 
,gently and soft the east wind blows1   
,and then there comes the whirlwind     
wild4     ,when anxious fears pressed   
round you close1       ,your bosom held 
me as a child4     ,now happy1 and in   
peaceful state1     ,you throw me off   
and quite forget4      ,gently and soft 
the east wind blows1       ,then round  
the rocky height it storms4     ,each   
plant its leaves all dying shows2       

,the trees display their withered forms4
     ,my virtues great forgotten all1   
,you keep in mind my faults1 though     
small4     ,,book ,,vi  ,the ,decade of 
,pih ,shan   ,a ,,picture ,,of          
,,husbandry      ,various the toils     
which fields so large demand6     ,we   
choose the seed2 we take our tools in   
hand4     ,in winter for our work we    
thus prepare2     ,then in the spring1  
bearing the sharpened 'share1     ,we to
 the acres go that south incline1       
,and to the earth the different seeds   
consign4     ,soon1 straight and large1 
upward each plant aspires2--     ,all   
happens as our noble lord desires4      
,the plants will ear2 within their      
sheath confined1     ,the grains will   
harden1 and be good in kind4     ,nor   
darnel these1 nor wolf's-tail grass     
infests2     ,from core and leaf we pick
 the insect pests1     ,and pick we     
those that eat the joints and roots3--  
,so do we guard from harm the growing   
fruits4     ,may the great ,spirit1 whom

 each farmer names1     ,those insects  
take1 and cast them to the flames6      
,the clouds o'erspread the sky in masses
 dense1     ,and gentle rain down to the
 earth dispense4     ,first may the     
public fields the blessing get1     ,and
 then with it our private fields we wet6
     ,patches of unripe grain the reaper
 leaves2     ,and here and there        
ungathered are the sheaves4             
,handfuls besides we drop upon the      
ground1     ,and ears untouched in      
numbers lie around2--     ,these by the 
poor and widows shall be found4         
,when wives and children to the toilers 
come1     ,bringing provisions from each
 separate home1     ,our lord of long   
descent shall oft appear2     ,the      
,inspector also1 glad the men to cheer4 
,they too shall thank the ,spirits of   
the air1     ,with sacrifices pure for  
all their care2     ,now red1 now black1
 the victims that they slay1     ,as    
,north or ,south the sacrifice they pay2
     ,while millet bright the altars    

always show2--     ,and we shall thus   
still greater blessings know4   ,,the   
,,complaint ,,of ,,an ,,officer      ,o 
,heaven above1 before whose light       
,revealed is every deed and thought1    
,to thee ,i cry4     ,hither on toilsome
 service brought1     ,in this wild     
,k'ew ,i watch time's flight1           
,and sadly sigh4     ,the second month  
had just begun1     ,when from the east 
we took our way4             ,through   
summer hot     ,we passed1 and many a   
wintry day4     ,summer again its course
 has run4             ,o bitter lot6    
,there are my compeers1 gay at court1   
,while here the tears my face begrime4  
,i'd fain return--     ,but there is    
that dread net for crime6     ,the fear 
of it the wish cuts short4              
,in vain ,i burn6      ,ere we the royal
 city left1     ,the sun and moon       
renewed the year4             ,we       
marched in hope4     ,now to its close  
this year is near4     ,return deferred1
 of hope bereft1             ,all mourn 

and mope4     ,my lonesome state haunts 
aye my breast1     ,while duties grow1  
and cares increase1             ,too    
hard to bear4     ,toils that oppress me
 never cease2     ,not for a moment dare
 ,i rest1             ,nigh to despair4 
,i think with fond regard of those1     
,who in their posts at court remain1    
,my friends of old4     ,fain would ,i  
be with them again1     ,but fierce     
reproof return would cause4             
,this post ,i hold4      ,when for the  
,west ,i left my home1     ,the sun and 
moon both mildly shone1             ,our
 hearts to cheer4     ,we'd soon be     
back1 our service done6     ,alas6      
affairs more urgent come1               
,and fix us here4     ,the year is      
hastening to expire4     ,we gather now 
the southern-wood1             ,the     
beans we reap2--     ,that for its      
fragrance1 these for food4     ,such    
things that constant care require       
,me anxious keep4     ,thinking of      
friends still at their posts1     ,i    

rise and pass the night outside1        
,so vexed my mind4     ,but soon what   
changes may betide8     ,i here will    
stay1 whate'er it costs1                
,and be resigned4      ,my honored      
friends1 ,o do not deem     ,your rest  
which seems secure from ill             
,will ever last6     ,your duties       
quietly fulfil1     ,and hold the       
upright in esteem1             ,with    
friendship fast4     ,so shall the      
,spirits hear your cry1     ,you        
virtuous make1 and good supply1         
,in measure vast4      ,my honored      
friends1 ,o do not deem     ,repose that
 seems secure from ill             ,will
 lasting prove4     ,your duties quietly
 fulfil1     ,and hold the upright in   
esteem1             ,with earnest love4 
,so shall the ,spirits hear your prayer1
     ,and on you happiness confer1      
,your hopes above4     ,,book ,,vii     
,decade of ,sang ,hoo   ,,the           
,,rejoicings ,,of ,a ,,bridegroom       
,with axle creaking1 all on fire ,i     

went1       ,to fetch my young and      
lovely bride4     ,no thirst or hunger  
pangs my bosom rent--       ,i only     
longed to have her by my side4     ,i   
feast with her1 whose virtue fame had   
told1     ,nor need we friends our      
rapture to behold4      ,the long-tailed
 pheasants surest covert find1          
,amid the forest on the plain4     ,here
 from my virtuous bride1 of noble mind1 
,and person tall1 ,i wisdom gain4     ,i
 praise her while we feast1 and to her  
say1     ,the love ,i bear you ne'er    
will know decay4      ,poor we may be2  
spirits and viands fine       ,my humble
 means will not afford4     ,but what we
 have1 we'll taste and not repine2      
,from us will come no grumbling word4   
,and though to you no virtue ,i can add1
     ,yet we will sing and dance1 in    
spirit glad4      ,i oft ascend that    
lofty ridge with toil1       ,and hew   
large branches from the oaks2     ,then 
of their leafy glory them ,i spoil1     
,and fagots form with vigorous strokes4 

,returning tired1 your matchless grace  
,i see1     ,and my whole soul dissolves
 in ecstasy4      ,to the high hills ,i 
looked1 and urged each steed2       ,the
 great road next was smooth and plain4  
,up hill1 o'er dale1 ,i never slackened 
speed2       ,like lute-string sounded  
every rein4     ,i knew1 my journey     
ended1 ,i should come     ,to you1 sweet
 bride1 the comfort of my home4         
,,against ,,listening ,,to ,,slanderers 
,like the blueflies buzzing round1      
,and on the fences lighting1     ,are   
the sons of slander found1       ,who   
never cease their biting4     ,o thou   
happy1 courteous king1     ,to the winds
 their slanders fling4      ,buzzing    
round the blueflies hear1       ,about  
the jujubes flocking6     ,so the       
slanderers appear1       ,whose         
calumnies are shocking4     ,by no law  
or order bound1     ,all the kingdom    
they confound4      ,how they buzz1     
those odious flies1       ,upon the     
hazels clust'ring6     ,and as odious   

are the lies       ,of those slanderers 
blust'ring4     ,hatred stirred between 
us two     ,shows the evil they can do4 
,,book ,,viii  ,the ,decade of ,too ,jin
 ,sze   ,,in ,,praise ,,of ,,by-,,gone  
,,simplicity      ,in the old capital   
they stood1       ,with yellow fox-furs 
plain1     ,their manners all correct   
and good1       ,speech free from vulgar
 stain4     ,could we go back to ,chow's
 old days1     ,all would look up to    
them with praise4      ,in the old      
capital they wore       ,t'ae hats and  
black caps small2     ,and ladies1 who  
famed surnames bore1       ,their own   
thick hair let fall4     ,such simple   
ways are seen no more1     ,and the     
changed manners ,i deplore4             
,ear-rings1 made of plainest gold1      
,in the old days were worn4     ,each   
lady of a noble line       ,a ,yin or   
,keih seemed born4     ,such officers   
and ladies now     ,i see not and my    
sorrows grow4      ,with graceful sweep 
their girdles fell1       ,then in the  

days of old4     ,the ladies' side-hair1
 with a swell1       ,like scorpion's   
tail1 rose bold4     ,such1 if ,i saw   
them in these days1     ,i'd follow with
 admiring gaze4      ,so hung their     
girdles1 not for show2--       ,to their
 own length 'twas due4     ',twas not by
 art their hair curled so2--       ,by  
nature so it grew4     ,i seek such     
manners now in vain1     ,and pine for  
them with longing pain4                 
,,note4--,yin and ,keih were clan names 
of great families1 the      ladies of   
which would be leaders of fashion in the
 capital4   ,a ,,wife ,,bemoans ,,her   
,,husband',s ,,absence      ,so full am 
,i of anxious thought1     ,though all  
the morn king-grass ,i've sought1       
,to fill my arms ,i fail4     ,like wisp
 all-tangled is my hair6     ,to wash it
 let me home repair4         ,my lord   
soon may ,i hail6      ,though 'mong the
 indigo ,i've wrought     ,the morning  
long2 through anxious thought1          
,my skirt's filled but in part4         

,within five days he was to appear2     
,the sixth has come and he's not here4  
,oh6 how this racks my heart6      ,when
 here we dwelt in union sweet1     ,if  
the hunt called his eager feet1         
,his bow ,i cased for him4     ,or if to
 fish he went away1     ,and would be   
absent all the day1         ,his line ,i
 put in trim4      ,what in his angling 
did he catch8     ,well worth the time  
it was to watch         ,how bream and  
tench he took4     ,men thronged upon   
the banks and gazed2     ,at bream and  
tench they looked amazed1         ,the  
triumphs of his hook4   ,,the ,,earl    
,,of ,,shaou',s ,,work      ,as the     
young millet1 by the genial rain        
,enriched1 shoots up luxuriant and tall1
     ,so1 when we southward marched with
 toil and pain1       ,the ,earl of     
,shaou cheered and inspired us all4     
,we pushed our barrows1 and our burdens 
bore2       ,we drove our wagons1 and   
our oxen led4     ,the work once done1  
our labor there is o'er1       ,and home

 we travel1 to ourselves we said4       
,close kept our footmen round the       
chariot track2       ,our eager host in 
close battalions sped4     ,when once   
our work is done1 then we go back1      
,our labor over1 to themselves they     
said4      ,hard was the work we had at 
,seay to do1       ,but ,shaou's great  
earl the city soon upreared4     ,the   
host its service gave with ardor true2--
       ,such power in all the earl's    
commands appeared6      ,we did on      
plains and low lands what was meet2     
,we cleared the springs and streams1 the
 land to drain4     ,the ,earl of ,shaou
 announced his work complete1       ,and
 the ,king's heart reposed1 at rest     
again4   ,,the ,,plaint ,,of ,,king     
,,yew',s ,,forsaken ,,wife      ,the    
fibres of the white-flowered rush       
,are with the white grass bound4     ,so
 do the two together go1       ,in      
closest union found4     ,and thus      
should man and wife abide1       ,the   
twain combined in one2     ,but this bad

 man sends me away1       ,and bids me  
dwell alone4      ,both rush and grass  
from the bright clouds       ,the genial
 dew partake4     ,kind and impartial1  
nature's laws       ,no odious          
difference make4     ,but providence    
appears unkind2       ,events are often 
hard4     ,this man1 to principle       
untrue1       ,denies me his regard4    
,northward the pools their waters send1 
,to flood each paddy field2     ,so get 
the fields the sap they need1           
,their store of rice to yield4     ,but 
that great man no deed of grace         
,deigns to bestow on me4     ,my songs  
are sighs4 ,at thought of him       ,my 
heart aches wearily4      ,the mulberry 
branches they collect1       ,and use   
their food to cook2     ,but ,i must use
 a furnace small1       ,that pot nor   
pan will brook4     ,so me that great   
man badly treats1       ,nor uses as his
 wife1     ,degrades me from my proper  
place1       ,and fills with grief my   
life4      ,the bells and drums inside  

the court       ,men stand without and  
hear2     ,so should the feelings in my 
breast1       ,to him distinct appear4  
,all-sorrowful1 ,i think of him1        
,longing to move his love2     ,but he  
vouchsafes no kind response2       ,his 
thoughts far from me rove4      ,the    
marabow stands on the dam1       ,and to
 repletion feeds2     ,the crane deep in
 the forest cries1       ,nor finds the 
food it needs4     ,so in my room the   
concubine       ,by the great man is    
placed2     ,while ,i with cruel        
banishment       ,am cast out and       
disgraced4      ,the yellow ducks sit on
 the dam4       ,with left wing gathered
 low2     ,so on each other do they     
lean1       ,and their attachment show4 
,and love should thus the man and wife  
,in closest concord bind2     ,but that 
man turns away from me1       ,and shows
 a fickle mind4      ,when one stands on
 a slab of stone1       ,no higher than 
the ground1     ,nothing is added to his
 height2--       ,low with the stone    

he's found4     ,so does the favorite's 
mean estate       ,render that great man
 mean1     ,while ,i by him1 to distance
 sent1       ,am pierced with sorrow    
keen4   ,,hospitality      ,a few gourd 
leaves that waved about       ,cut down 
and boiled2--the feast how spare6       
,but the good host his spirits takes1   
,pours out a cup1 and proves them rare4 
,a single rabbit on the mat1       ,or  
baked1 or roast3--how small the feast6  
,but the good host his spirits takes1   
,and fills the cup of every guest4      
,a single rabbit on the mat1            
,roasted or broiled3--how poor the meal6
     ,but the guests from the spirit    
vase       ,fill their host's cup1 and  
drink his weal4      ,a single rabbit on
 the mat1       ,roasted or baked3--no  
feast we think6     ,but from the spirit
 vase they take1       ,both host and   
guests1 and joyous drink4   ,,on ,,the  
,,misery ,,of ,,soldiers      ,yellow   
now is all the grass2     ,all the days 
in marching pass4     ,on the move is   

every man2     ,hard work1 far and near1
 they plan4      ,black is every plant  
become2     ,every man is torn from     
home4     ,kept on foot1 our state is   
sad2--     ,as if we no feelings had6   
,not rhinoceroses we6     ,tigers do we 
care to be8     ,fields like these so   
desolate     ,are to us a hateful fate4 
,long-tailed foxes pleased may hide     
',mong the grass1 where they abide4     
,we1 in box carts slowly borne1     ,on 
the great roads plod and mourn4         
,,part ,,iii4--,,greater ,,odes ,,of    
,,the ,,kingdom     ,,book ,i  ,decade  
of ,king ,wan   ,,celebrating ,,king    
,,wan      ,the royal ,wan now rests on 
high1     ,enshrined in brightness of   
the sky4     ,chow as a state had long  
been known1     ,and ,heaven's decree at
 last was shown4     ,its lords had     
borne a glorious name2     ,god kinged  
them when the season came4     ,king    
,wan ruled well when earth he trod2     
,now moves his spirit near to ,god4     
,a strong-willed1 earnest king was ,wan1

     ,and still his fame rolls widening 
on4     ,the gifts that ,god bestowed on
 ,chow     ,belong to ,wan's descendants
 now4     ,heaven blesses still with    
gifts divine     ,the hundred scions of 
his line2     ,and all the officers of  
,chow     ,from age to age more lustrous
 grow4      ,more lustrous still from   
age to age1     ,all reverent plans     
their zeal engage2     ,and brilliant   
statesmen owe their birth     ,to this  
much-favored spot of earth4     ,they   
spring like products of the land--      
,the men by whom the realm doth stand4  
,such aid their numerous bands supply1  
,that ,wan rests tranquilly on high4    
,deep were ,wan's thoughts1 sustained   
his ways2     ,his reverence lit its    
trembling rays4     ,resistless came    
great ,heaven's decree2     ,the sons of
 ,shang must bend the knee2--     ,the  
sons of ,shang1 each one a king1     ,in
 numbers beyond numbering4     ,yet as  
,god spoke1 so must it be3--     ,the   
sons of ,shang all bent the knee4       

,now each to ,chow his homage pays--    
,so dark and changing are ,heaven's     
ways4     ,when we pour our libations   
here1     ,the officers of ,shang       
appear1     ,quick and alert to give    
their aid3--     ,such is the service by
 them paid1     ,while still they do not
 cast aside     ,the cap and broidered  
axe--their pride4     ,ye servants of   
our line of kings1     ,remember him    
from whom it springs4      ,remember him
 from whom it springs2--     ,let this  
give to your virtue wings4     ,seek    
harmony with ,heaven's great mind2--    
,so shall you surest blessing find4     
,ere ,shang had lost the nation's heart1
     ,its monarchs all with ,god had    
part     ,in sacrifice4 ,from them you  
see     ',tis hard to keep high         
,heaven's decree4      ',tis hard to    
keep high ,heaven's decree6     ,o sin  
not1 or you cease to be4     ,to add    
true lustre to your name1     ,see      
,shang expire in ,heaven's dread flame4 
,for ,heaven's high dealings are        

profound1     ,and far transcend all    
sense and sound4     ,from ,wan your    
pattern you must draw1     ,and all the 
,states will own your law4              
,selections from ,book ,,ii are omitted4
     ,,book ,,iii  ,decade of ,tang     
,,king ,,seuen ,,on ,,the ,,occasion    
,,of ,a ,,great ,,drought      ,grand   
shone the ,milky ,way on high1     ,with
 brilliant span athwart the sky1        
,nor promise gave of rain4     ,king    
,seuen long gazed2 then from him broke1 
,in anguished tones the words he spoke4 
,well might he thus complain6     ,o    
,heaven1 what crimes have we to own1    
,that death and ruin still come down8   
,relentless famine fills our graves4    
,pity the king who humbly craves6       
,our miseries never cease4     ,to every
 ,spirit ,i have vowed2     ,the        
choicest victim's blood has flowed4     
,as offerings ,i have freely paid       
,my store of gems and purest jade4      
,hear me1 and give release6      ,the   
drought consumes us4 ,as on wing        

,its fervors fly1 and torment bring4    
,with purest mind and ceaseless care    
,my sacrifices ,i prepare4     ,at thine
 own border altars1 ,heaven1     ,and in
 my father's fane1 ,i've given          
,what might relief have found4     ,what
 ,powers above1 below1 have sway1       
,to all my precious gifts ,i pay1       
,then bury in the ground4     ,yes1     
every ,spirit has received     ,due     
honor1 and1 still unrelieved1       ,our
 sufferings greater grow4     ,how-tseih
 can't give the needed aid1     ,and    
help from ,god is still delayed6        
,the country lies a ruined waste4     ,o
 would that ,i alone might taste        
,this bitter cup of woe6      ,the      
drought consumes us4 ,nor do ,i     ,to 
fix the blame on others try4     ,i     
quake with dread2 the risk ,i feel1     
,as when ,i hear the thunders peal1     
,or fear its sudden crash4     ,our     
black-haired race1 a remnant now1       
,will every one be swept from ,chow1    
,as by the lightning's flash4     ,nor  

,i myself will live alone4     ,god from
 his great and heavenly throne          
,will not spare even me4     ,o friends 
and officers1 come1 blend     ,your     
prayers with mine2 come1 lowly bend4    
,chow's dynasty will pass away2     ,its
 altars at no distant day       ,in     
ruins all shall be6      ,the drought   
consumes us4 ,it keeps on     ,its fatal
 course4 ,all hope is gone4     ,the air
 more fierce and fiery glows4     ,where
 can ,i fly8 ,where seek repose8        
,death marks me for its prey4           
,above1 no saving hand6 ,around1     ,no
 hope1 no comfort1 can be found4        
,the dukes and ministers of old         
,give us no help4 ,can ye withhold      
,your sympathy1 who lately reigned8     
,and parents1 how are you restrained1   
,in this so dreadful day8      ,the     
drought consumes us4 ,there on high     
,the hills are parched4 ,the streams are
 dry4     ,drought's demon stalks abroad
 in ire1     ,and scatters wide his     
flames and fire4       ,alas1 my woful  

heart6     ,the fires within its        
strength consume2     ,the heat without 
creates a gloom       ,that from it will
 not part4     ,the dukes and ministers 
by-gone     ,respond not to my prayer   
and moan4     ,god in great ,heaven1    
permission give     ,that ,i may in     
retirement live1       ,and try to heal 
my smart6      ,the drought consumes us4
 ,still ,i strive1     ,and will not    
leave while ,i survive4       ,duty to  
shun ,i fear4     ,why upon me has come 
this drought8     ,vainly ,i try to     
search it out1       ,vainly1 with quest
 severe4     ,for a good harvest soon ,i
 prayed1     ,nor late the rites ,i duly
 paid1     ,to ,spirits of the air and  
land4     ,there wanted nought they     
could demand1       ,their favor to     
secure4     ,god in great ,heaven1 be   
just1 be kind6     ,thou dost not bear  
me in ,thy mind4     ,my cry1 ye wisest 
,spirits1 hear6     ,ye whom ,i         
constantly revere1       ,why do ,i this
 endure8      ,the drought consumes us4 

,people fly1     ,and leave their homes4
 ,each social tie       ,and bond of    
rule is snapt4     ,the ,heads of       
,boards are all perplexed2     ,my      
premier's mind is sorely vexed2         
,in trouble all are wrapt4     ,the     
,masters of my ,horse and ,guards2      
,my cook1 and men of different wards3-- 
,not one has from the struggle shrunk4  
,though feeling weak1 they have not     
sunk1       ,but done their best to aid4
     ,to the great sky ,i look with     
pain2--     ,why do these grievous      
sorrows rain       ,on my devoted head8 
,yes1 at the mighty sky ,i gaze1        
,and lo6 the stars pursue their maze1   
,and sparkle clear and bright4     ,ah6 
,heaven nor helps1 nor seems to ken4    
,great officers and noble men1     ,with
 all your powers ye well have striven1  
,and reverently have sought from ,heaven
       ,its aid in our great fight4     
,my death is near2 but oh6 keep on1     
,and do as thus far you have done4      
,regard you only me8     ,no1 for       

yourselves and all your friends1     ,on
 whom for rule the land depends1        
,you seek security4     ,i turn my gaze 
to the great sky2--     ,when shall this
 drought be done1 and ,i       ,quiet   
and restful be8     ,,part ,,iv4--,,odes
 ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,and ,,altar      
,,book ,i  ,sacrificial ,odes of ,chow  
,,appropriate ,,to ,a ,,sacrifice ,,to  
,,king ,,wan      ,my offerings here are
 given1       ,a ram1 a bull4           
,accept them1 mighty ,heaven1           
,all-bountiful4      ,thy statutes1 ,o  
great king1       ,i keep1 ,i love2     
,so on the realm to bring       ,peace  
from above4      ,from ,wan comes       
blessing rich2       ,now on the right  
,he owns those gifts to which       ,him
 ,i invite4      ,do ,i not night and   
day1       ,revere great ,heaven1       
,that thus its favor may       ,to ,chow
 be given8   ,,on ,,sacrificing ,,to    
,,the ,,kings ,,woo1 ,,ching1 ,,and     
,k',,ang      ,the arm of ,woo was full 
of might2       ,none could his fire    

withstand2     ,and ,ching and ,k'ang   
stood forth to sight1       ,as kinged  
by ,god's own hand4      ,we err not    
when we call them sage4       ,how      
grandly they maintained     ,their hold 
of all the heritage       ,that ,wan and
 ,woo had gained6      ,as here we      
worship1 they descend1       ,while     
bells and drums resound1     ,and stones
 and lutes their music blend4           
,with blessings we are crowned4         
,the rites correctly we discharge2      
,the feast we freely share4     ,those  
,sires ,chow's glory will enlarge1      
,and ever for it care4   ,,the ,,end    
,transcriber's ,note   99 ,the footnotes
 have been moved to the end of the      
respective chapters4  99 ,hyphenation of
 words left as printed4  99 ,punctuation
 errors have been corrected4  99 '      
denotes an aspirate 7h7 7,ki ,k'ang or  
,ki ,khung7  99 ,pg x ,corrected        
spelling of word ,cnodition to          
,condition located in ,the ,cnodition of
 ,king 444  99 ,pg #af ,corrected       

spelling of words i nthe to in the      
located in 444 appropriated i nthe      
ancestral 444  99 ,pg #af ,corrected    
spelling of word ,thre to ,three located
 in 444 ,hall of the ,thre ,families8   
99 ,pg #dh ,corrected spelling of word  
one to once located in ,tsz-kung one    
said to 444  99 ,pg #aid ,corrected     
spelling of word ,,festel to ,,festal   
located in ,a ,,festal ,,ode