Chapter 16: 季氏第十六 — Lunyu — Taiyi Pavilion Chapter 16: 季氏第十六
📖 en
📂 太乙閣📄 第 1 页
The Ji family was about to attack Zhuanyu. Ran You and Ji Lu came to see Confucius and said, "The Ji family is going to take military action against Zhuanyu."
Confucius said, "Qiu, isn't this your fault? Zhuanyu was once appointed by the former kings to preside over the sacrifices at Mount Dongmeng. Moreover, it lies within our own borders—it is a vassal of the state. Why should it be attacked?" Ran You replied, "Our master desires it; neither of us wishes to do so."
Confucius said, "Qiu, Zhou Ren once said: 'Display your abilities and take your place; if you cannot, step down.' If a blind person is in danger and you do not support them, if they stumble and you do not help them, then what use is the guide? And your words are wrong. When a tiger or rhinoceros escapes from its cage, or a tortoise shell or jade is destroyed in its box—whose fault is that?" Ran You said, "Now Zhuanyu is well-fortified and close to Fei. If we do not take it now, it will surely become a source of trouble for our descendants."
Confucius said, "Qiu, a gentleman despises those who, instead of saying they want something, invent excuses for it. I have heard that rulers of states and heads of families do not worry about scarcity but about inequality, and do not worry about poverty but about instability. For when there is equality, there is no poverty; when there is harmony, there is no scarcity; when there is security, there is no downfall. If this is so, and distant people still do not submit, then cultivate civil virtue to attract them. Once they come, make them feel at ease. Now you two, You and Qiu, assist your master. Distant people do not submit, and you cannot attract them. The state is falling apart, and you cannot preserve it. Yet you plot to wage war within the state itself. I fear that the Ji family's worry lies not in Zhuanyu, but within their own walls."
Confucius said, "When the Way prevails in the world, rites, music, and military campaigns are decided by the Son of Heaven. When the Way does not prevail, they are decided by the feudal lords. When decided by the feudal lords, it is rare that ten generations pass without loss. When decided by the high ministers, it is rare that five generations pass without loss. When the retainers hold the state's command, it is rare that three generations pass without loss. When the Way prevails in the world, government is not in the hands of the ministers. When the Way prevails in the world, the common people do not debate."
Confucius said, "The power to grant salaries has been lost from the ducal house for five generations, and government has been in the hands of the ministers for four generations. Therefore, the descendants of the Three Huan families are now in decline."
Confucius said, "There are three kinds of beneficial friends and three kinds of harmful friends. Friends who are upright, friends who are trustworthy, and friends who are well-informed—these are beneficial. Friends who are ingratiating, friends who are glib but insincere, and friends who are smooth-tongued—these are harmful."
Confucius said, "There are three kinds of beneficial pleasures and three kinds of harmful pleasures. Taking pleasure in the regulation of rites and music, taking pleasure in speaking of others' goodness, and taking pleasure in having many worthy friends—these are beneficial. Taking pleasure in arrogant indulgence, taking pleasure in idle wandering, and taking pleasure in feasting and revelry—these are harmful."
Confucius said, "When serving a gentleman, there are three errors: speaking before being spoken to—this is called rashness; not speaking when spoken to—this is called concealment; and speaking without observing his expression—this is called blindness."
Confucius said, "A gentleman has three cautions: In youth, when the blood and energy are not yet settled, he cautions against lust. In maturity, when the blood and energy are strong, he cautions against conflict. In old age, when the blood and energy have declined, he cautions against greed."
Confucius said, "A gentleman has three fears: fear of the Mandate of Heaven, fear of great men, and fear of the words of the sages. The petty person does not know the Mandate of Heaven and does not fear it; he treats great men with familiarity and scorns the words of the sages."
Confucius said, "Those who are born knowing are the highest. Those who learn and then know are next. Those who learn only when distressed are next. Those who are distressed and do not learn—these are the lowest of the people."
Confucius said, "A gentleman has nine considerations: In seeing, he considers clarity. In hearing, he considers acuity. In his expression, he considers warmth. In his demeanor, he considers respect. In his speech, he considers loyalty. In his work, he considers reverence. In doubt, he considers inquiry. In anger, he considers consequences. In seeing gain, he considers righteousness."
Confucius said, "Seeing goodness, one should strive to reach it; seeing evil, one should shrink as if touching boiling water. I have seen such people. I have heard such words. Living in seclusion to pursue one's ideals, and acting righteously to realize the Way—I have heard these words, but I have yet to see such a person."
Duke Jing of Qi had a thousand teams of horses, but on the day of his death, the people found no virtue in him to praise. Bo Yi and Shu Qi starved at the foot of Mount Shouyang, yet the people still praise them to this day. Is this not the meaning of that saying? Chen Kang asked Bo Yu, "Have you heard anything different from your father?" Bo Yu replied, "No. Once, when my father was standing alone, I hurried across the courtyard. He said, 'Have you studied the Odes?' I replied, 'Not yet.' He said, 'If you do not study the Odes, you will have nothing to say.' I withdrew and studied the Odes. Another day, he was again standing alone, and I hurried across the courtyard. He said, 'Have you studied the Rites?' I replied, 'Not yet.' He said, 'If you do not study the Rites, you will have no foundation.' I withdrew and studied the Rites. I have heard these two things." Chen Kang withdrew and said joyfully, "I asked one thing and gained three: I heard about the Odes, I heard about the Rites, and I learned that a gentleman keeps a distance from his own son."
The wife of the ruler of a state is called "Lady" by the ruler. She calls herself "Little Child." The people of the state call her "Lady of the Ruler." When speaking to other states, they call her "Our Little Ruler's Lady." People of other states also call her "Lady of the Ruler."