The Analects of Confucius, Yan Yuan's Original Text, Translations and Notes

2026-08-03 16:44

The following is part of the original text, translation, and annotation analysis of Yan Yuan: ** 1. Yan Yuan asked about benevolence ** 1. ** Original text ** - Yan Yuan asked about benevolence. The Master said,"To restrain oneself and restore propriety is virtue. If you can restrain yourself and restore propriety, the world will return to benevolence. Is it because of oneself that benevolence is achieved, and because of others?" "May I ask what his eyes are?" asked Yan Yuan. The Master said,"Do not look at what is not right, do not hear what is not right, do not speak what is not right, do not move what is not right." "I may not be clever, but I will do as you say," said Yan Yuan. 2. ** Note ** - "Self-restraint and return to propriety": Self-restraint is to restrain oneself; return to propriety is to make one's words and deeds conform to the requirements of propriety. The word "return" in "return to benevolence" meant submission, and "benevolence" meant benevolence. "Item" referred to specific items, as opposed to the outline. "Doing" meant doing something. 3. ** Translated ** - Yan Yuan asked what was benevolence. Confucius said,"To restrain oneself and do everything according to the requirements of propriety is benevolence." Once this was done, everything in the world would return to benevolence. The implementation of benevolence and virtue is entirely up to oneself. Is it up to others?" "May I ask about the entry for practicing benevolence?" Yan Yuan asked. Confucius said,"Do not look at what is not in accordance with propriety, do not listen to what is not in accordance with propriety, do not speak what is not in accordance with propriety, and do not do what is not in accordance with propriety." "I may be stupid, but I'll do as you say," said Yan Yuan. ** 2. Zhong Gong asked about benevolence ** 1. ** Original text ** - Zhong Gong asked about benevolence. The Master said,"When you go out of the gate, you should regard it as if you were seeing a great guest of honor. You should make the people feel as if they were receiving a great sacrifice. What you do not desire, do not impose upon others. There is no resentment in the country, and no resentment at home." "Though I am not clever," said Zhong Gong,"I will do as you say." 2. ** Note ** - "When you go out to do things and enslave the people, you must be as respectful and serious as when you welcome distinguished guests and hold a great sacrifice." 3. ** Translated ** - Zhong Gong asked what was benevolence. Confucius said,"Going out to do things is like receiving distinguished guests; ordering people around is like taking on important sacrificial activities (all must be respectful and serious); if you don't want to, don't impose on others; if you are an official in a vassal state, don't blame heaven and others; if you are doing things in the house of a high official, don't blame heaven and others." "Although I'm not smart, please let me do as you say," Zhong Gong said. ** 3. Sima Niu asked about benevolence ** 1. ** Original text ** - Sima Niu asked about benevolence. The Master said,"The man of benevolence speaks with a certain degree of seriousness." Mencius said,"What he said is very strange. Is this what is called benevolence?" The Master said,"It is difficult to do it, but can it be said that there is nothing wrong with it?" 2. ** Note ** - []: Speak carefully. 3. ** Translated ** - Sima Niu asked what was benevolence. Confucius said,"A man of benevolence is careful in his words." Sima Niu said,"Speak carefully. Is this called benevolence?" Confucius said,"It is difficult to do. How can you not be careful with your words?" ** 4. Sima Niu asked about a gentleman ** 1. ** Original text ** - Sima Niu asked about the superior man. The Master said,"The superior man is neither worried nor afraid." Mencius said,"He is neither worried nor afraid. Is this what a superior man should be called?" The Master said,"If one reflect upon himself internally and not feel guilty, what is there to worry and fear?" 2. ** Translated ** - Sima Niu asked what was a gentleman. Confucius said,"The superior man does not grieve or fear." Sima Niu said,"No worries, no fear, can you be called a gentleman?" Confucius said,"If you reflect on yourself and have a clear conscience, then what worries and fears are there?" ** 5. Sima Niu is worried about having no brothers (Zi Xia answers)** 1. ** Original text ** - Sima Niu said sadly,"All men have brothers, but I am the only one who has perished." Tsze-hsia said,"Shang has heard that life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by Heaven. A gentleman is respectful and does not make mistakes. He is respectful and respectful to others. All the people in the four seas are brothers. Why should a gentleman worry about not having brothers?" 2. ** Translated ** - "Everyone else has brothers, but I don't," Sima Niu said sadly. Zi Xia said,"I've heard that life and death are decided by fate, and wealth and honor are arranged by Heaven. As long as a gentleman did things seriously and without fault, and treated others respectfully and politely, everyone in the world would be his brother. Why should a gentleman worry about not having brothers?" ** 6. Zi Zhang asked about the relevant information ** 1. ** Original text ** - Tsze-chang inquired of the wise. The Master said,"It may be said that it is wise not to do so with the calumny which has been gradually moistened, and the accusation which has been received on the skin. It may be said that it is far from being done with the calumny which has been gradually moistened and the accusation which has been received on the skin." 2. ** Note ** - "Immersed calumny": slanderous words that seeped in bit by bit like water. Sued on the skin: a false accusation that feels like pain on the skin. 3. ** Translated ** - Zi Zhang asked what was the wisest thing to do. Confucius said,"If you can't do anything with the slanderous words that are secretly instigated and the direct slander that is like the pain of the skin, then you can be considered wise. If you can't do anything with the slanderous words that are secretly instigated and the direct slander, then you can be considered far-sighted." ** VII. Zi Gong's Political Questions ** 1. ** Original text ** - Tsze-kung asked about the government. The Master said,"Enough food and enough troops, and the people will believe it." Tsze-kung said,"If you must leave when you have no other choice, which of these three should be the first?" "Get rid of the army," said the man. 2. ** Translated ** - Zi Gong asked how to govern the country. Confucius said,"Food is sufficient, armaments are sufficient, and the people trust their rulers." Zi Gong said,"If I have to get rid of one of the three, which one should I get rid of first?" Confucius said,"Get rid of armaments." Read more exciting novels for free