Dialogues Of Confucius The Complete Text – Confucius

When I spoke with the Qi sovereign today, he refused my advice but offered to grant me a city. He really doesn’t understand me.” Thereupon, he departed. 15.4 孔子在齊，舍於外館，景公造焉。賓主之辭既接，而左右白曰：“周使適至，言先王廟災。”景公復問：“災何王之廟也？”孔子曰：“此必釐王之廟。”公曰：“何以知之？”孔子曰：“《詩》云：‘皇皇上天，其命不忒。天之以善，必 報其德。’ 禍亦如之。夫釐王變文武之制，而作玄黄華麗之飾，宫室崇峻，輿馬奢侈，而弗可振也，故天殃所宜加其廟焉。以是占之爲然。”公曰“天何不殃其身而加罰其廟也？”孔子曰：“蓋以文武故也。若殃其身，則文武之嗣無乃殄乎？故當 殃其廟，以彰其過。”俄頃，左右報曰：“所災者，釐王廟也。”景公驚起，再拜曰：“善哉！聖人之智，過人遠矣。” When Confucius was in Qi, he stayed at a government guesthouse. Duke Jing came to visit. After the greeting, someone entered and said, “The Zhou has sent an emissary who says that a Zhou memorial temple has suffered a natural disaster.” Duke Jing asked in response, “The temple to which king of Zhou?”

Confucius said, “It has to be the temple to King Xi.” “How do you know that?” asked the duke. Confucius replied, “A poem says: Majestic, regal, lofty heaven, Its ordinations never untoward. When it deigns to grant a boon, Ever merit-based reward.1 The same goes for disasters. King Xi changed the system begun by Kings Wen and Wu so that clothing insignia became colorful and ostentatious, palace halls became high-ceilinged, and horse carriages became ornate.

These changes were irrevocable, and now heaven is inflicting this calamity on the king’s memorial temple. This is my perspective.” The duke asked, “Why would heaven do this to his temple instead of to his person?” Confucius said, “It probably has something to do with Wen and Wu. If it had happened to his person, it could have been the end of the line of succession for Wen and Wu.

That’s why the calamity struck the temple—to put Xi’s errors on full display.” After a time, there was another report, which said, “The temple that was destroyed was the temple to King Xi.” Duke Jing was stunned and saluted Confucius, saying, “Outstanding! The wisdom of a sage, far surpassing others.”2 15.5 子夏三年之喪畢，見於孔子。子曰：“與之琴，使之弦。” 侃侃而樂，作而曰：“先王制禮，不敢不及。”子曰：“君子也！”閔子三年之喪畢，見於孔子。子曰：“與之琴，使之弦。”切切而悲，作而曰：“先王制禮3，弗敢過 也。”子曰：“君子也！”子貢曰：“閔子哀未盡，夫子曰‘君子也’；子夏哀已盡，又曰‘君子也’。二者殊情而俱曰君子，賜也惑，敢問之。”孔子曰：“閔子哀未忘，能斷之以禮；子夏哀已盡，能引之及禮。雖均之君子，不亦可乎？” After completing a three-year period of mourning, Zixia went to see Confucius.

Confucius said, “Give him a zither and have him play a tune.” After strumming a joyful song, Zixia looked up and said, “I would never dare to not live up to the system of li arranged by the Ancient Kings.”4 Confucius said, “You are a junzi indeed.” After completing a three-year period of mourning, Minzi went to see Confucius. Confucius said, “Give him a zither and have him play a tune.” After strumming a sad song, Minzi looked up and said, “I would never dare to violate the system of li arranged by the Ancient Kings.”5 Confucius said, “You are a junzi indeed.”

Zigong said, “Minzi’s sorrow was not yet worked through, and you called him a junzi. Zixia’s sorrow was entirely worked through, and you called him a junzi also. I’m confused that, although their emotional experiences were different, you labeled them both junzi. Could you explain?”

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