Chapter 3
Chapter 1
Confucius said of the head of the Chi family, who had eight rows of dancers performing in his courtyard, “If he can stomach this, what can’t he stomach?”
Chapter 2
The three families had the Yung ode sung as the sacrificial vessels were being cleared away at the end of their sacrifice. The Master said, “‘Assisted by the princes, the Son of Heaven looks solemn and grave’—how can those words apply in the hall of the three families?”
Chapter 3
The Master said, “If a man lacks the virtues that make him truly human, what has he to do with the rites? If a man lacks those virtues, what has he to do with music?”
Chapter 4
- Lin Fang asked what was most fundamental in ceremonies. 2. The Master said, “What a great question! 3. In festive ceremonies, it is better to be sparing than extravagant. In ceremonies of mourning, it is better to feel deep grief than to fuss over the details.”
Chapter 5
The Master said, “Even the rough tribes of the east and north have their rulers—unlike the states of our own great land, which have none.”
Chapter 6
The head of the Chi family was about to offer a sacrifice on Mount T’ai. The Master said to Zan Yu, “Can’t you stop him?” Zan Yu replied, “I cannot.” Confucius said, “Alas! Are you saying Mount T’ai has less discernment than Lin Fang?”
Chapter 7
The Master said, “The man of virtue does not compete. If he must, surely it would be in archery. Yet even there he bows politely to his rivals, ascends the hall, descends, and accepts the loser’s cup. Even when contending, he remains the Chun-tsze.”
Chapter 8
- Tsze-hsia asked, “What is the meaning of these lines—‘The lovely dimples of her clever smile! The clear black and white of her eyes! The plain ground for the colors’?” 2. The Master said, “Laying on the colors comes after preparing the plain ground.” 3. “Then ceremony comes afterwards?” The Master said, “It is Shang who can draw out my meaning. Now I can begin to discuss the odes with him.”
Chapter 9
The Master said, “I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but the state of Chi cannot adequately confirm what I say. I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty, but the state of Sung cannot adequately confirm them. This is because their records and learned men are insufficient. If they were sufficient, I could cite them to support my words.”
Chapter 10
The Master said, “At the great sacrifice, once the libation has been poured, I have no desire to watch any further.”
Chapter 11
Someone asked about the meaning of the great sacrifice. The Master said, “I do not know. Anyone who understood its meaning would find governing the kingdom as easy as looking at this”—and he pointed to his palm.
Chapter 12
- He sacrificed to the dead as if they were truly present. He sacrificed to the spirits as if the spirits were truly present. 2. The Master said, “If I am not personally present at the sacrifice, it is as though I did not sacrifice at all.”
Chapter 13
- Wang-sun Chia asked, “What is the meaning of the saying, ‘It is better to court the kitchen stove than the southwest corner’?” 2. The Master said, “Not so. Whoever offends Heaven has no one to pray to.”
Chapter 14
The Master said, “The Chau dynasty had the advantage of looking back on the two earlier dynasties. How complete and refined its institutions are! I follow Chau.”
Chapter 15
When the Master entered the grand temple, he asked about everything. Someone said, “Who claims that the son of the man of Tsau knows the rules of propriety? He goes into the grand temple and has to ask about everything.” When the Master heard this, he said, “That itself is a rule of propriety.”
Chapter 16
The Master said, “In archery, piercing the leather of the target is not the main point, since people’s strength varies. Such was the way of old.”
Chapter 17
- Tsze-kung wanted to do away with the sheep offered at the announcement of the first day of each month. 2. The Master said, “Ts’ze, you care about the sheep; I care about the ceremony.”
Chapter 17
The Master said, “Fully observing the rules of propriety when serving one’s prince is regarded by people as flattery.”
Chapter 19
Duke Ting asked how a prince should employ his ministers, and how ministers should serve their prince. Confucius replied, “A prince should employ his ministers according to the rules of propriety; ministers should serve their prince with faithfulness.”
Chapter 20
The Master said, “The Kwan Tsu expresses joy without being lewd, and sorrow without being damagingly excessive.”
Chapter 21
- Duke Ai asked Tsai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Tsai Wo answered, “The Hsia rulers planted pine trees around them, the men of Yin planted cypress, and the men of Chau planted chestnut—meaning to inspire awe in the people.” 2. When the Master heard this, he said, “Of things already done, there is no use speaking; of things that have run their course, there is no use protesting; of things in the past, there is no use assigning blame.”
Chapter 22
- The Master said, “How small was Kwan Chung’s capacity!” 2. Someone asked, “Was Kwan Chung stingy?” The Master replied, “Kwan had the San Kwei, and none of his officers held more than one post—how could he be called stingy?” 3. “Then did Kwan Chung know the rules of propriety?” The Master said, “The rulers of states have a screen at their gate to block the view; Kwan had a screen at his gate too. When two rulers of states held a friendly meeting, they had a stand for placing their inverted cups; Kwan had such a stand too. If Kwan knew the rules of propriety, then who doesn’t?”
Chapter 32
Instructing the grand music master of Lu, the Master said, “Music can be understood like this: at the start of the piece, all the parts sound together. As it proceeds, they harmonize while remaining distinct, flowing without break, until the piece concludes.”
Chapter 24
The border warden at Yi asked to be introduced to the Master, saying, “Whenever men of superior virtue have come here, I have never been refused a meeting with them.” The Master’s followers introduced him, and when he came out from the interview he said, “My friends, why be troubled that your master has lost his office? The world has long been without the principles of truth and right; Heaven is going to use your master as a bell with a wooden clapper.”
Chapter 25
The Master said of the Shao music that it was perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good. He said of the Wu music that it was perfectly beautiful, but not perfectly good.
Chapter 26
The Master said, “High position held without generosity; ceremonies performed without reverence; mourning carried out without sorrow—how can I bear to look upon such things?”
