Book 12: Yan Yuan

Book 12: Yan Yuan

Commentary

Chapter Twelve, Section One

Yan Yuan asked about "humaneness." The Master said: "To subdue oneself and return to ritual propriety is humaneness. If for one day one could subdue oneself and return to ritual propriety, the whole world would recognize one's humaneness. The practice of humaneness comes from oneself—how could it come from others?" Yan Yuan said: "May I ask for the specific steps?" The Master said: "Do not look at what is contrary to ritual propriety; do not listen to what is contrary to ritual propriety; do not speak what is contrary to ritual propriety; do not act contrary to ritual propriety." Yan Yuan said: "Although I am dull, I will endeavor to follow these instructions!"

Chapter Twelve, Section Two

Zhong Gong asked about "humaneness." The Master said: "When going out, behave as if receiving an important guest; when employing the people, conduct yourself as if presiding at a great sacrifice. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. In the state, let there be no resentment toward you; in the family, let there be no resentment toward you." Zhong Gong said: "Although I am dull, I will endeavor to follow these instructions!"

Chapter Twelve, Section Three

Sima Niu asked about "humaneness." The Master said: "The humane person is reluctant to speak." Sima Niu said: "Being reluctant to speak—does that alone constitute 'humaneness'?" The Master said: "Since action is difficult, how can one speak without reluctance?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Four

Sima Niu asked about "the gentleman." The Master said: "The gentleman is free from anxiety and free from fear." Sima Niu said: "Free from anxiety and free from fear—does that alone constitute 'being a gentleman'?" The Master said: "When on introspection one finds nothing to reproach oneself with, what is there to be anxious about, what is there to fear?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Five

Sima Niu lamented, saying: "Everyone else has brothers; I alone have none!" Zi Xia said: "I have heard it said: 'Life and death are governed by fate; wealth and honor are determined by Heaven.' The gentleman is reverent and commits no errors; he is respectful and observes ritual propriety. Within the four seas, all men are brothers. Why should the gentleman worry about having no brothers?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Six

Zi Zhang asked about "discernment." The Master said: "When slander that seeps in gradually and accusations that strike directly cannot prevail against a person, that may be called discernment. When slander that seeps in gradually and accusations that strike directly cannot prevail against a person, that may be called being far-sighted."

Chapter Twelve, Section Seven

Zi Gong asked about "governing." The Master said: "Sufficient food, sufficient arms, and the trust of the people." Zi Gong said: "If one had to dispense with one of these three, which should go first?" The Master said: "Dispense with arms." Zi Gong said: "If one had to dispense with one of the remaining two, which should go first?" The Master said: "Dispense with food. Since ancient times, death has been the fate of all men; but a people without trust cannot stand."

Chapter Twelve, Section Eight

Jie Zi Cheng said: "For a gentleman, substance alone is enough—what need is there for refinement?" Zi Gong said: "What a pity, sir, is your account of the gentleman! A team of four horses cannot overtake the tongue! Refinement is substance, substance is refinement. Strip the hide from a tiger or a leopard, and it is the same as the hide of a dog or a sheep."

Chapter Twelve, Section Nine

Duke Ai asked You Ruo, saying: "In a year of famine, when there are insufficient resources, what should be done?" You Ruo replied: "Why not practice the che system of taxation?" Duke Ai said: "With a tax rate of two-tenths, I still find it insufficient—how could I possibly adopt the che system?" You Ruo replied: "If the people have enough, how could their lord be lacking? If the people are lacking, how could their lord have enough?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Ten

Zi Zhang asked about "promoting virtue and resolving confusion." The Master said: "Make loyalty and good faith your primary concern, and align yourself with what is right—this is promoting virtue. To love someone and wish them to live, then to hate them and wish them to die; to wish them to live and at the same time to wish them to die—this is confusion." (Indeed, it is not because of wealth; it is only because of being different.)

Chapter Twelve, Section Eleven

Duke Jing of Qi asked Confucius about "governing." Confucius replied: "Let the ruler be a ruler, the minister be a minister, the father be a father, and the son be a son." The Duke said: "Well said! Truly, if the ruler is not a ruler, the minister is not a minister, the father is not a father, and the son is not a son—although there might be grain, how could I obtain it to eat?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Twelve

The Master said: "There is one who can settle a dispute with only a single statement—is it not Zi Lu?" Zi Lu never postponed a promise overnight.

Chapter Twelve, Section Thirteen

The Master said: "In hearing litigation, I am like anyone else. What is necessary is to bring it about that there is no litigation."

Chapter Twelve, Section Fourteen

Zi Zhang asked about "governing." The Master said: "Be tireless in your duties, and carry out your tasks with loyalty."

Chapter Twelve, Section Fifteen

The Master said: "Broaden yourself with learning, and restrain yourself with ritual propriety—then you will not go astray!"

Chapter Twelve, Section Sixteen

The Master said: "The gentleman helps others to fulfill what is good; he does not help others to fulfill what is petty. The petty person is the opposite of this."

Chapter Twelve, Section Seventeen

Ji Kang Zi asked Confucius about "governing." Confucius replied: "'Governing' means 'correcting.' If you lead with correctness, who would dare not to be correct?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Eighteen

Ji Kang Zi, troubled by theft, consulted Confucius. Confucius replied: "If you yourself were not covetous, the people would not steal even if you rewarded them for it."

Chapter Twelve, Section Nineteen

Ji Kang Zi asked Confucius about governing, saying: "What if I put to death the unprincipled in order to advance the principled—how would that be?" Confucius replied: "Sir, in governing, what need is there for killing? If you desire goodness, the people will be good. The virtue of the gentleman is like the wind; the virtue of the petty person is like grass. When the wind blows over the grass, the grass must bend."

Chapter Twelve, Section Twenty

Zi Zhang asked: "What must a scholar-official be like to be called 'thoroughly successful'?" The Master said: "What do you mean by 'thoroughly successful'?" Zi Zhang replied: "To be renowned in the state and renowned in the family." The Master said: "That is being 'renowned,' not being 'thoroughly successful.' As for being thoroughly successful: one is upright and loves what is right, examines others' words and observes their expressions, and is considerate in putting oneself below others—such a person will be thoroughly successful in the state and thoroughly successful in the family. As for being renowned: one assumes the appearance of humaneness but acts contrary to it, and remains unshaken in this—such a person will be renowned in the state and renowned in the family."

Chapter Twelve, Section Twenty-One

Fan Chi, strolling with the Master beneath the Rain Altar, said: "May I ask how to promote virtue, reform hidden resentments, and resolve confusion?" The Master said: "A fine question! Give priority to the work and let the reward come later—is this not promoting virtue? Attack your own failings, not the failings of others—is this not reforming hidden resentments? To let a moment's anger make you forget yourself and even involve your parents—is this not confusion?"

Chapter Twelve, Section Twenty-Two

Fan Chi asked about "benevolence." The Master said, "To love others." He asked about "wisdom." The Master said, "To know others." Fan Chi did not understand. The Master said, "Raise up the upright and set them over the crooked, and you can make the crooked upright." Fan Chi withdrew and went to see Zi Xia, saying, "Just now I was with the Master and asked about 'wisdom.' He said, 'Raise up the upright and set them over the crooked, and you can make the crooked upright.' What did he mean?" Zi Xia said, "How rich is this saying! When Shun possessed the world, he selected from among the multitude and raised up Gao Yao, and those who were not benevolent kept their distance. When Tang possessed the world, he selected from among the multitude and raised up Yi Yin, and those who were not benevolent kept their distance."

12.23

Zi Gong asked about "friendship." The Master said, "Loyally admonish them and skillfully lead them on. If you cannot, then stop. Do not bring disgrace upon yourself."

12.24

The Master Zeng said, "The gentleman uses culture to gather friends and uses friends to support benevolence."