An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1856 words)
OOK XI. HSIEN TSIN.
CHAP. I. 1. The Master said, 'The men of former times, in the
matters of ceremonies and music were rustics, it is said, while the
men of these latter times, in ceremonies and music, are
accomplished gentlemen.
2. 'If I have occasion to use those things, I follow the men of
former times.'
CHAP. II. 1. The Master said, 'Of those who were with me in
Ch'an and Ts'ai, there are none to be found to enter my door.'
2. Distinguished for their virtuous principles and practice,
there were Yen Yuan, Min Tsze-ch'ien, Zan Po-niu, and Chung-kung;
for their ability in speech, Tsai Wo and Tsze-kung; for their
adminis-
trative talents, Zan Yu and Chi Lu; for their literary acquirements,
Tsze-yu and Tsze-hsia.
CHAP. III. The Master said, 'Hui gives me no assistance. There
is nothing that I say in which he does not delight.'
CHAP. IV. The Master said, 'Filial indeed is Min Tsze-ch'ien!
Other people say nothing of him different from the report of his
parents and brothers.'
CHAP. V. Nan Yung was frequently repeating the lines about a
white scepter stone. Confucius gave him the daughter of his elder
brother to wife.
CHAP. VI. Chi K'ang asked which of the disciples loved to
learn. Confucius replied to him, 'There was Yen Hui; he loved to
learn. Unfortunately his appointed time was short, and he died.
Now there is no one who loves to learn, as he did.'
CHAP. VII. 1. When Yen Yuan died, Yen Lu begged the
carriage of the Master to sell and get an outer shell for his son's
coffin.
2. The Master said, 'Every one calls his son his son, whether
he has talents or has not talents. There was Li; when he died, he
had a coffin but no outer shell. I would not walk on foot to get a
shell for him, because, having followed in the rear of the great
officers, it was not proper that I should walk on foot.'
CHAP. VIII. When Yen Yuan died, the Master said, 'Alas!
Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!'
CHAP. IX. 1. When Yen Yuan died, the Master bewailed him
exceedingly, and the disciples who were with him said, 'Master,
your grief is excessive?'
2. 'Is it excessive?' said he.
3. 'If I am not to mourn bitterly for this man, for whom
should I mourn?'
CHAP. X. 1. When Yen Yuan died, the disciples wished to give
him a great funeral, and the Master said, 'You may not do so.'
2. The disciples did bury him in great style.
3. The Master said, 'Hui behaved towards me as his father. I
have not been able to treat him as my son. The fault is not mine; it
belongs to you, O disciples.'
CHAP. XI. Chi Lu asked about serving the spirits of the dead.
The Master said, 'While you are not able to serve men, how can you
serve their spirits?' Chi Lu added, 'I venture to ask about
death?' He was answered, 'While you do not know life, how can you
know about death?'
CHAP. XII. 1. The disciple Min was standing by his side,
looking bland and precise; Tsze-lu, looking bold and soldierly; Zan
Yu and Tsze-kung, with a free and straightforward manner. The
Master was pleased.
2. He said, 'Yu, there!-- he will not die a natural death.'
CHAP. XIII. 1. Some parties in Lu were going to take down
and rebuild the Long Treasury.
2. Min Tsze-ch'ien said, 'Suppose it were to be repaired after
its old style;-- why must it be altered and made anew?'
3. The Master said, 'This man seldom speaks; when he does,
he is sure to hit the point.'
CHAP. XIV. 1. The Master said, 'What has the lute of Yu to do
in my door?'
2. The other disciples began not to respect Tsze-lu. The
Master said, 'Yu has ascended to the hall, though he has not yet
passed into the inner apartments.'
CHAP. XV. 1. Tsze-kung asked which of the two, Shih or
Shang, was the superior. The Master said, 'Shih goes beyond the due
mean, and Shang does not come up to it.'
2. 'Then,' said Tsze-kung, 'the superiority is with Shih, I
suppose.'
3. The Master said, 'To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.'
CHAP. XVI. 1. The head of the Chi family was richer than the
duke of Chau had been, and yet Ch'iu collected his imposts for him,
and increased his wealth.
2. The Master said, 'He is no disciple of mine. My little
children, beat the drum and assail him.'
CHAP. XVII. 1. Ch'ai is simple.
2. Shan is dull.
3. Shih is specious.
4. Yu is coarse.
CHAP. XVIII. 1. The Master said, 'There is Hui! He has nearly
attained to perfect virtue. He is often in want.
2. 'Ts'ze does not acquiesce in the appointments of Heaven,
and his goods are increased by him. Yet his judgments are often
correct.'
CHAP. XIX. Tsze-chang asked what were the characteristics of
the GOOD man. The Master said, 'He does not tread in the footsteps
of others, but moreover, he does not enter the chamber of the sage.'
CHAP. XX. The Master said, 'If, because a man's discourse
appears solid and sincere, we allow him to be a good man, is he
really a superior man? or is his gravity only in appearance?'
CHAP. XXI. Tsze-lu asked whether he should immediately
carry into practice what he heard. The Master said, 'There are your
father and elder brothers to be consulted;-- why should you act on
that principle of immediately carrying into practice what you hear?'
Zan Yu asked the same, whether he should immediately carry into
practice what he heard, and the Master answered, 'Immediately
carry into practice what you hear.' Kung-hsi Hwa said, 'Yu asked
whether he should carry immediately into practice what he heard,
and you said, "There are your father and elder brothers to be
consulted." Ch'iu asked whether he should immediately carry into
practice what he heard, and you said, "Carry it immediately into
practice." I, Ch'ih, am perplexed, and venture to ask you for an
explanation.' The Master said, 'Ch'iu is retiring and slow; therefore,
I urged him forward. Yu has more than his own share of energy;
therefore I kept him back.'
CHAP. XXII. The Master was put in fear in K'wang and Yen
Yuan fell behind. The Master, on his rejoining him, said, 'I thought
you had died.' Hui replied, 'While you were alive, how should I
presume to die?'
CHAP. XXIII. 1. Chi Tsze-zan asked whether Chung Yu and Zan
Ch'iu could be called great ministers.
2. The Master said, 'I thought you would ask about some
extraordinary individuals, and you only ask about Yu and Ch'iu!
3. 'What is called a great minister, is one who serves his
prince according to what is right, and when he finds he cannot do
so, retires.
4. 'Now, as to Yu and Ch'iu, they may be called ordinary
ministers.'
5. Tsze-zan said, 'Then they will always follow their chief;--
will they?'
6. The Master said, 'In an act of parricide or regicide, they
would not follow him.'
CHAP. XXIV. 1. Tsze-lu got Tsze-kao appointed governor of Pi.
2. The Master said, 'You are injuring a man's son.'
3. Tsze-lu said, 'There are (there) common people and officers;
there are the altars of the spirits of the land and grain. Why must
one read books before he can be considered to have learned?'
4. The Master said, 'It is on this account that I hate your
glib-tongued people.'
CHAP. XXV. 1. Tsze-lu, Tsang Hsi, Zan Yu, and Kung-hsi Hwa
were sitting by the Master.
2. He said to them, 'Though I am a day or so older than you,
do not think of that.
3. 'From day to day you are saying, "We are not known." If
some ruler were to know you, what would you like to do?'
4. Tsze-lu hastily and lightly replied, 'Suppose the case of a
State of ten thousand chariots; let it be straitened between other
large States; let it be suffering from invading armies; and to this let
there be added a famine in corn and in all vegetables:-- if I were
intrusted with the government of it, in three years' time I could
make the people to be bold, and to recognise the rules of righteous
conduct.' The Master smiled at him.
5. Turning to Yen Yu, he said, 'Ch'iu, what are your wishes?'
Ch'iu replied, 'Suppose a state of sixty or seventy li square, or one
of fifty or sixty, and let me have the government of it;-- in three
years' time, I could make plenty to abound among the people. As to
teaching them the principles of propriety, and music, I must wait
for the rise of a superior man to do that.'
6. 'What are your wishes, Ch'ih,' said the Master next to Kung-
hsi Hwa. Ch'ih replied, 'I do not say that my ability extends to these
things, but I should wish to learn them. At the services of the
ancestral temple, and at the audiences of the princes with the
sovereign, I should like, dressed in the dark square-made robe and
the black linen cap, to act as a small assistant.'
7. Last of all, the Master asked Tsang Hsi, 'Tien, what are your
wishes?' Tien, pausing as he was playing on his lute, while it was
yet twanging, laid the instrument aside, and rose. 'My wishes,' he
said, 'are different from the cherished purposes of these three
gentlemen.' 'What harm is there in that?' said the Master; 'do you
also, as well as they, speak out your wishes.' Tien then said, 'In this,
the last month of spring, with the dress of the season all complete,
along with five or six young men who have assumed the cap, and
six or seven boys, I would wash in the I, enjoy the breeze among
the rain altars, and return home singing.' The Master heaved a sigh
and said, 'I give my approval to Tien.'
8. The three others having gone out, Tsang Hsi remained
behind, and said, 'What do you think of the words of these three
friends?' The Master replied, 'They simply told each one his wishes.'
9. Hsi pursued, 'Master, why did you smile at Yu?'
10. He was answered, 'The management of a State demands
the rules of propriety. His words were not humble; therefore I
smiled at him.'
11. Hsi again said, 'But was it not a State which Ch'iu proposed
for himself?' The reply was, 'Yes; did you ever see a territory of
sixty or seventy li or one of fifty or sixty, which was not a State?'
12. Once more, Hsi inquired, 'And was it not a State which
Ch'ih proposed for himself?' The Master again replied, 'Yes; who but
princes have to do with ancestral temples, and with audiences but
the sovereign? If Ch'ih were to be a small assistant in these
services, who could be a great one?
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Let's Analyse the Pattern
Effective guidance requires giving different people different advice for the same situation based on their individual temperaments and needs.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to observe people's natural patterns and adapt your communication style to what they actually need rather than what feels comfortable to you.
Practice This Today
This week, notice whether people in your life tend to be impulsive or hesitant, then try giving them opposite types of advice—restraint for the impulsive, encouragement for the hesitant.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"If I have occasion to use those things, I follow the men of former times."
Context: Discussing whether to follow traditional ceremonies or modern innovations
Confucius values the wisdom of the past over contemporary trends. He believes older traditions contain tested wisdom that shouldn't be abandoned for the sake of appearing sophisticated.
In Today's Words:
When in doubt, I stick with what worked for previous generations rather than chasing the latest trends.
"Hui gives me no assistance. There is nothing that I say in which he does not delight."
Context: Describing his relationship with his favorite student Yen Yuan
This reveals both affection and slight frustration. Yen Yuan agrees with everything, which shows respect but doesn't challenge Confucius to think deeper. Good students sometimes need to push back.
In Today's Words:
He never argues with me or makes me think harder - he just agrees with everything I say.
"There was Yen Hui; he loved to learn. Unfortunately his appointed time was short, and he died. Now there is no one who loves to learn, as he did."
Context: Answering a question about which student most loved learning
The raw grief in this statement shows how deeply Confucius cared for his students. It also reveals his belief that true love of learning is rare and precious.
In Today's Words:
I had one student who genuinely loved learning for its own sake, but he died young. I've never found another one like him.
"In the late spring, when the spring clothes have been completed, I should like to go with five or six adults and six or seven boys to bathe in the river, enjoy the breeze, and return home singing."
Context: Sharing his simple dream when other students talk about political ambitions
This beautiful vision of contentment stands in stark contrast to others' desires for power and influence. It represents finding joy in community, nature, and simple pleasures.
In Today's Words:
I'd just like to spend a nice day by the water with friends and family, enjoying the weather and each other's company.
Thematic Threads
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Students develop differently under individualized guidance rather than uniform treatment
Development
Evolved from earlier emphasis on self-cultivation to show how growth requires personalized approaches
In Your Life:
Your development accelerates when mentors understand your specific learning style and personality
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Confucius shows genuine grief over Yen Yuan's death while maintaining social boundaries
Development
Deepened from earlier discussions of proper relationships to show the emotional complexity of meaningful bonds
In Your Life:
You can love someone deeply while still maintaining appropriate professional or social boundaries
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Funeral arrangements reveal tension between personal feelings and social propriety
Development
Continued exploration of how social roles sometimes conflict with personal desires
In Your Life:
You regularly navigate situations where what you want to do conflicts with what's socially expected
Class
In This Chapter
Tien's simple dream of enjoying nature is valued over political ambitions
Development
Challenges earlier assumptions about status by elevating humble pleasures over power
In Your Life:
Sometimes the most fulfilling path involves appreciating simple moments rather than chasing status
Identity
In This Chapter
Each student expresses different life visions, showing individual paths to fulfillment
Development
Expanded from personal virtue to show how identity emerges through individual choices and dreams
In Your Life:
Your sense of who you are develops through pursuing what genuinely matters to you, not what others expect
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Confucius give opposite advice to Tsze-lu and Zan Yu when they ask the same question about taking action?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Confucius's grief over Yen Yuan's death reveal about the relationship between teachers and students?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about your workplace or family - where do you see people needing different approaches to the same problem based on their personalities?
application • medium - 4
When Tien chooses simple pleasures over political ambition, why does Confucius approve? What does this suggest about how we measure success?
reflection • deep - 5
How would you adapt your communication style if you were managing both an impulsive person and a hesitant person on the same team?
application • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Leadership Adaptations
Think of three people you regularly interact with at work, home, or in your community. Write their names and describe their typical response patterns - are they impulsive or cautious? Do they need encouragement or restraint? Then write how you would adapt your approach to each person for the same hypothetical situation, like asking them to take on a new responsibility.
Consider:
- •Notice if you tend to use the same approach with everyone regardless of their personality
- •Consider whether your natural style matches what each person actually needs
- •Think about times when your usual approach backfired with someone
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you gave someone advice that worked perfectly for you but failed completely for them. What would you do differently now that you understand adaptive leadership?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 12: The Art of Perfect Virtue
The next book focuses on Yen Yuan, the beloved student whose death so deeply affected Confucius. We'll explore the qualities that made him special and the lessons his life teaches about virtue and learning.
