Chapter 16

Chapter 1

1. The head of the Chi family was preparing to attack Chwan-yu. 2. Zan Yu and Chi-lu went to see Confucius and said, “Our lord Chi is about to begin a campaign against Chwan-yu.”

2. Confucius said, “Ch’iu, isn’t this your fault? 4. As for Chwan-yu, long ago a former king appointed its ruler to oversee the sacrifices to Mount Mang in the east. Besides, it lies within the borders of our own state, and its ruler is a minister directly under the sovereign. What business does your chief have attacking it?” 5. Zan Yu said, “Our master wants this; neither of us two ministers does.” 6. Confucius said, “Ch’iu, there is a saying by Chau Zan: ‘When a man can use his ability, he takes a position in office; when he finds he cannot, he steps down. What use is a guide to a blind man if he doesn’t steady him when he stumbles or help him up when he falls?’ 7. Besides, what you said is wrong. If a tiger or rhinoceros breaks out of its cage, or if a tortoiseshell or piece of jade is damaged in its case—whose fault is that?”

3. Zan Yu said, “But right now Chwan-yu is strong and close to Pi. If our chief doesn’t take it now, it will become a source of grief for his descendants later.” 9. Confucius said, “Ch’iu, the superior man hates people who refuse to say outright, ‘I want such-and-such,’ and instead invent excuses to justify their conduct. 10. I have heard that the rulers of states and heads of families are not worried about having too few people, but about whether people keep their proper places; not about poverty, but about whether there is contented peace among the people in their places. For when people keep their proper places, there will be no poverty; when there is harmony, there will be no shortage of people; and when there is contented peace, there will be no uprisings. 11. That being so, if people far away are not submitting, you cultivate the influences of civil refinement and virtue to draw them in; and once they have come, you make them contented and tranquil. 12. Now here you are, Yu and Ch’iu, assisting your chief. People far off are not submitting, and with your help he cannot draw them in. Within his own territory there are divisions and collapses, defections and breakaways, and with your help he cannot hold things together. 13. And yet he is planning military action within the state itself. I’m afraid the trouble for the Chi-sun family will not come from Chwan-yu but from inside the screen of their own courtyard.”

Chapter 2

1. Confucius said, “When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions come from the Son of Heaven. When bad government prevails, they come from the feudal princes. When they come from the princes, it is rare that they do not lose their power within ten generations. When they come from the great officers of the princes, it is rare that they do not lose their power within five generations. When the subordinate ministers of the great officers control the orders of the state, it is rare that they do not lose their power within three generations. 2. When right principles prevail in the kingdom, government will not be in the hands of the great officers. 3. When right principles prevail in the kingdom, the common people will not engage in debates about it.”

Chapter 3

Confucius said, “The revenue of the state has been out of the duke’s hands for five generations now. The government has been in the hands of the great officers for four generations. That is why the descendants of the three Hwan are so weakened.”

Chapter 4

Confucius said, “There are three kinds of friendship that are beneficial and three that are harmful. Friendship with the upright, friendship with the sincere, and friendship with someone of wide knowledge—these are beneficial. Friendship with someone full of show, friendship with someone smoothly flattering, and friendship with someone glib of tongue—these are harmful.”

Chapter 5

Confucius said, “There are three kinds of enjoyment that are beneficial and three that are harmful. Enjoying the careful study of ceremonies and music; enjoying speaking about the goodness of others; enjoying having many worthy friends—these are beneficial. Enjoying extravagant pleasures; enjoying idle wandering; enjoying lavish feasting—these are harmful.”

Chapter 6

Confucius said, “There are three mistakes commonly made by those in the presence of a person of virtue and high position. To speak before it is one’s turn to speak—this is called rashness. To fail to speak when it is one’s turn—this is called holding back. To speak without watching the expression on the superior’s face—this is called blindness.”

Chapter 7

Confucius said, “There are three things the superior man guards against. In youth, when his physical energies are not yet settled, he guards against lust. When he is in his prime and his energies are at their height, he guards against quarrelsomeness. When he is old and his vital powers have declined, he guards against greed.”

Chapter 8

1. Confucius said, “There are three things the superior man holds in awe. He holds in awe the decrees of Heaven. He holds in awe great men. He holds in awe the words of sages. 2. The petty man does not know the decrees of Heaven and so does not hold them in awe. He is disrespectful toward great men. He makes fun of the words of sages.”

Chapter 9

Confucius said, “Those born already possessing knowledge are the highest class. Those who learn and so readily acquire knowledge are the next. Those who are slow-witted yet still work at learning come after these. As for those who are slow-witted and refuse to learn—they are the lowest of the people.”

Chapter 10

Confucius said, “The superior man has nine things he keeps in thoughtful consideration. In using his eyes, he aims to see clearly. In using his ears, he aims to hear distinctly. In his expression, he aims to be kindly. In his bearing, he aims to be respectful. In his speech, he aims to be sincere. In handling business, he aims to be carefully attentive. When in doubt, he aims to ask others. When angry, he thinks of the trouble his anger might bring. When he sees a chance for gain, he thinks of what is right.”

Chapter 11

1. Confucius said, “Looking on goodness and pursuing it as if afraid not to reach it; looking on evil and recoiling from it as one would from putting a hand into boiling water—I have seen such men, and I have heard such words. 2. Living in retirement to develop their aims, and practicing righteousness to carry out their principles—I have heard these words, but I have not seen such men.”

Chapter 12

1. Duke Ching of Ch’i had a thousand teams of four horses each, but on the day he died, the people did not praise him for a single virtue. Po-i and Shu-ch’i starved to death at the foot of Mount Shau-yang, and the people praise them to this day. 2. Isn’t this what that saying refers to?

Chapter 13

1. Ch’an K’ang asked Po-yu, “Have you heard any teachings from your father that differ from what the rest of us have heard?” 2. Po-yu replied, “No. Once he was standing by himself, and as I hurried across the courtyard below the hall, he said to me, ‘Have you studied the Odes?’ I answered, ‘Not yet.’ He said, ‘If you do not study the Odes, you will not be fit to converse.’ So I went off and studied the Odes.

2. Another day, he was again standing alone, and as I hurried across the courtyard below the hall, he said to me, ‘Have you studied the rules of Propriety?’ I answered, ‘Not yet.’ He said, ‘If you do not study the rules of Propriety, your character cannot be firmly established.’ So I went off and studied the rules of Propriety. 4. These are the only two things I have heard from him.” 5. Ch’an K’ang went away delighted and said, “I asked one question and got three answers. I learned about the Odes. I learned about the rules of Propriety. And I learned that the superior man keeps a certain distance from his own son.”

Chapter 14

The wife of the ruler of a state is called by him FU ZAN. She refers to herself as HSIAO T’UNG. The people of the state call her CHUN FU ZAN, and when speaking to people of other states, they call her K’WA HSIAO CHUN. The people of other states also call her CHUN FU ZAN.