呉智英 『現代人の論語』 <英訳>

呉智英 『現代人の論語』
Confucius for the Modern Man by Professor Tomofusa Kure (2006)

Professor Kure of Kyoto University opens this book by complaining that nobody really reads Confucius, pointing out obvious errors that anyone could discover in the standard Japanese translations of him. He picked out his favorite verses, some of which he thinks are overlooked or make scholars uncomfortable. I noticed when trying to find English translations of the verses cited that his verses are missing from some translations. 19th century translations also have many errors, which is weird because there are plenty of centuries-old commentaries on these texts. I hunted down various online translations and the reader may guess what makes these specific chapters so interesting. I am working on securing permission for Kure-sensei’s commentaries.

1: Confucius Assists a Rebel Army (17.5)

Kung-shan Fu-jao held Pi in rebellion. He summoned the Master, who fain would have gone. Tzu-lu said in displeasure: “This cannot be. Why must ye go to Kung-shan?” The Master said: “This lord summons me, and would that be all? Could I not make a Chou dynasty in the East for whomever should employ me?”

2: Confucius Treats a Blind Man as Blind (15.42)

When the [blind] master of music Mien was presented, the Master, on coming to the steps, said: “Here are the steps.” On reaching the mat, the Master said: “Here is the mat.” When all were seated, the Master told him: “He is here, and he is here.”

After the music-master had left, Tzu-chang said: “Is this the way to speak to a master of music?”

The Master said: “Surely it is the way to help a master of music.”

3: Confucius, the Lifelong Learner (1.1)

The Master said, “To learn something new, and to review what you have learned, is it not a pleasure? To see a friend from afar, is it not a joy? To carry no grudge if you are unappreciated, is it not the mark of a gentleman?”

4: How to Govern (2.1)

The Master said: “In governing, cleave to good; as the north star holds his place, and the multitude of stars revolve upon him.”

5: Poetry (2.2)

The Master said: “To sum up the three hundred [classical] songs in a word, they are free from evil thought.”

6: Culture (8.8)

The Master said: “You must be inspired by poems, realize your duty by rites, and complete yourself by music.”

7: The Exigencies of Love (9.32)

“Petals are fluttering in the garden. I miss you so much. But your house is too far to go.” Confucius talked about this poem: “The man does not miss her much. If he missed her that much, he would go anywhere.”

8: The Trials of Modern Man (9.31)

Confucius said,”A fellow student does not always have the same aspiration as you. A friend who has the same aspiration does not always have the same values as you. A friend who has the same values does not always cast in his lot with you.”

9: Realpolitik (14.18)

Zi Gong asked, “How good a lord was Guan Zhong, really? When Marquis Huan killed young lord Jiu, he did not follow his master to the grave. Moreover, he assisted Marquis Huan.” Confucius replied, “Guan Zhong made Marquis Huan become a supreme ruler and reformed the world. We are still reaping the benefits of that. If he had not existed, we would have been under the control of barbarians who have untidy hairs and queer clothes. Why can we compare him and foolish lovers who committed a double suicide in the ditch without being noticed?”

10: A Glamorous Audience (6.28)

Confucius had met [a disgraced woman] Nanzi. Zilu objected. Confucius swore, “If I make an error, Heaven will forsake me. Heaven will forsake me.”

11: Logic and Love (9.18)

The Master said: “I have never seen a man who loves virtue more than women.”

12: Human Society as a Sacred Place (5.4)

Student Zǐgòng asked Confucius, “Who am I?” Confucius replied, “Thou art a vessel.” Zǐgòng asked, “What kind of vessel?” Confucius replied, “A precious vessel which is used in the temple.”

13. Gentleman and Generalists (13.4)

Fan Chi asked how to cultivate grain. Confucius replied, “An old farmer knows it better than me.” Fan Chi asked how to cultivate vegetables. Confucius replied, “An old farmer knows it better than me.” Fan Chi left the room. Confucius said, “He does not understand anything. If gentlemen value courtesy, the people respect them. If gentlemen value justice, the people obey them. If gentlemen value faithfulness, the people behave sincerely. If gentlemen are like these, many people come from all over the place with their children. We do not need to know about agriculture.”

14. Rising from Low Places (9.6)

A minister asked Zǐgòng, “Is the Master truly a holy man? He can do so many things.” Zǐgòng replied, “Heaven has endowed him with both holiness and worldly gifts.” Confucius heard this and said, “Does the minister know me? Being lowly born, I learned many an humble trade in my youth. But has a gentleman skill in many things? No, in few things.”

15. One’s Hometown Customs (3.15)

On entering the Great Temple to perform a rite, the Master asked how each thing was done.
Someone said: “How can anyone claim that this carpenter’s son has a knowledge of ceremony? On entering the Great Temple, he asked how each thing was done!”
On hearing this, the Master said: “But that is how you perform a rite.”

16. A Hatred of Snobbery (17.3)

The Master said, “A village snob is a thief of virtue.”

17. Madmen and Gentlemen (13.21)

Confucius said, “If you cannot make friends with men of moderation, make friends with obsessives and compulsives. Those who obsess over ideals will adopt good deeds readily. Compulsive men avoid evildoing.”

18. Ambition Corrupts (5.22)

Confucius said in Chen, “Let’s go home, let’s go home. The young in our hometown have great ambitions as if they were gorgeous fabrics. But they know not how to fashion them into finery.”

19. A Wild Man’s Invitation (17.1)

Yang Huo wanted to meet Confucius. Confucius didn’t meet him. So Yang Huo sent Confucius a pig.

Confucius went to Yang Huo’s house to express his gratitude when Yang Huo was not at his home. But Confucius ran across Yang Huo on the way.

Yang Huo said, “Say, I want to talk with you. You don’t try to save this country even though you know how to save it. Is this benevolent?” Confucius replied, “No, it isn’t.”

Yang Huo said, “You are losing your opportunity even though you want to engage in politics. Is this wisdom?” Confucius replied, “No, it isn’t.”

Yang Huo said, “Time flies like an arrow.” Confucius said, “I see. I will serve you before long.”

20. Mortal Life and Purpose (9.5)

Confucius was thrown into prison in Kwang. He said, “Even though King Wen has died, I have succeeded to the tradition he made. If heaven had wanted to ruin this tradition, I would not have been able to succeed to it. But heaven has not ruined this tradition yet. What on earth can people of Kuang do to me?”

21. Idealism and Healthy Living (15.2)

There was a famine at Chen. There was starvation and Confucius’ followers were too weak to stand. Zi Lu, who was angry, met Confucius and asked, “Can such a miserable lot be called ‘gentlemen’?” Confucius replied, “Of course, one can be a gentleman in miserable times. But to be upset about your misery is the mark of a worthless man.”

22. Hopes and Dreams (5.26)

As Yen Yüan and Chi-lu were sitting with him, the Master said: “Why not each of you tell me his wishes?”
Tzu-lu said: “Carriages and horses I would have, and robes of fine fur to share with my friends, and would wear them out all free from care.”
Yen Yüan said: “To make no boast of talent nor show of merit, were my wish.”
Tzu-lu said: “We should like to hear your wishes, Sir.”
The Master said: “To make the old folk happy, to be true to friends, to have a heart for the young.”

23. The Courage for Humor (5.7)

The Master said: “This country is too disordered. I will build a raft and sail the sea! and Tzu-lu shall follow me.”
When Tzu-lu heard this he was glad.
The Master said: “Tzu-lu is a courageous fellow, but where will he find the wood to make the raft?”

24. Zi Lu: The Courage to Reply (7.18)

Magistrate of She asked Zi Lu about Confucius, but Zi Lu didn’t reply.

Confucius said, “Why didn’t you reply? You could reply like so: ‘He forgets to eat when he is absorbed in his study, forgets his hardships when he solves a problem, and he forgets his age because he likes studying.'”

25. Tzu-kung: A Question of Values (3.17)

Tzu-kung proposed to quit offering sheep as a sacrifice to the ancestors at the ceremony on the first day of every month. Confucius said, “You value sheep. But I value the tradition.”

26. Tzu-kung: Mr. President (19.20)

Tzu-kung said: “The wickedness of Chou was not so great; [it wasn’t his fault that he lived in Chou]. Thus let gentlemen beware of living in a sink, where the filth of the world all streams together!”

27. Tzu-kung: Why Was Confucius Great? (19.25)

Chen Zi Qin said to Tzu-kung, “I think you are just modest. Confucius cannot be superior to you.” Tzu-kung replied, “A gentleman is regarded as a wise person or a fool by his words. Watch what you say. You cannot reach the level of Confucius as if you cannot climb to heaven with a ladder. If Confucius ruled a country, so to speak, ‘People stand as he says, people follow as he leads, people gather as he comforts, people respond as he encourages.’ The country flourishes while he lives. People mourn when he dies. No one can match Confucius.”

28. Yan Hui: the Ascetic (6.11)

Confucius said, “Yan Hui is virtuous. He eats only a bowl of rice and soup and lives in a miserable shack. Ordinary people cannot stand it. On the contrary, he enjoys his life. How virtuous Yan Hui is!”

29. Yan Hui: His Death (11.9)

When Yan Hui passed away, Confucius cried, “Alas! Heaven has forsaken me! Heaven has forsaken me!”

30. Yan Hui: His Funeral (11.8)

When Yan Hui passed away, his father Yan Lu begged to dismantle Confucius’ carriage and make an outer shell for his son’s coffin. Confucius said, “Every father loves his child. When my son Li died, I also could not make an outer shell of coffin for him. I could not sell my carriage for an outer shell of a coffin. I am one of the ministers. So I must not walk to the palace.”

31. (6.26)

Zai Wo asked, “If a benevolent man was told that there is a benevolent person in a well, should he follow the person?” Confucius replied, “Why should he do that? A benevolent man is not caught in a snare even if he approached a well. A benevolent man is not deceived even if he listened to wicked person’s words.”

32. (17.21)

Zai Wo asked, “I think three years mourning is too long a bit and one year is long enough. If gentlemen do not manage courtesy for three years, it will be spoiled. If gentlemen do not play music for three years, etiquette will suffer. In one year, old rice run out and new rice bear fruit. We fetch the firestarter wood once a year. One year is long enough, isn’t it?”

Confucius replied, “After one year from your parents death, can you eat foods tastily and wear clothes comfortably?” Zai Wo said, “Yes, I can.”

Confucius replied, “So, you can do it. A gentleman in mourning cannot eat foods tastily, cannot enjoy music and cannot live in comfort. So, he does not do it. You say you can do it, so go ahead and do it.”

After Zai Wo left the room, Confucius said, “He has no benevolence. A child grows in parents’ bosom for three years. So three years mourning took root in the world. He also received love from his parents for three years, didn’t he?”

33. Wealth in Excess (11.17)

The Ji family was richer than the king of Lu. But Ran Qiu collected taxes for Ji family.

The Master said: “Ran Qiu is no disciple of mine. Sound your drums to the attack, my boys!”

34. (6.4)

Zi Hua had gone on a mission to Qi. Ran Zi requested a pension for Zi Hua’s mother. Confucius replied, “Give her $100.” Ran Zi demanded an increase. Confucius replied, “Then, give her $1,000.” Ran Zi gave her $10,000.

Confucius said, “At the time of departure, Zi Hua rode on a good horse and wore luxurious clothes. They say – ‘Gentlemen support the poor not the rich.'”

35. (6.6)

Confucius talked about Zhong Gong, “If a crossbred bull have a red body and good horns, it will never be forsaken by the mountains and rivers, even if people never desire it.”

36. (11.16)

Zi Gong asked, “Which is better, Zi Zhang or Zi Xia?” Confucius replied, “Zi Zhang goes too far. Zi Xia falls short.” Zi Gong asked, “So, Zi Zhang is better?” Confucius replied, “Too much spoils, too little is nothing.”

37. (19.3)

The disciples of Tzu-hsia asked Tzu-chang about friendship.
Tzu-chang said: “What does Tzu-hsia say?”
They answered: “Tzu-hsia says: ‘Cling to worthy friends; push the unworthy away.’”
Tzu-chang said: “I was taught otherwise. A gentleman honours worth, and bears with the many. He applauds goodness, and pities weakness. Am I a man of great worth, what could I not bear with in men? Am I a man without worth, men will push me away. Why should I push others away?”

38. (17.4)

Confucius and his disciples went to Wu Cheng. They heard a singing voice and sounds of the strings. Confucius smiled and said, “It is not necessary to use a butcher knife to cut chicken.” Zi You said, “Master, you said before, ‘With learning (courtesy and music), a gentleman will love the world, and even a worthless man becomes easy to deal.” Confucius said, “Everyone, he is right. I’m just kidding.”

39. (14.27-28)

Confucius said, “Do not meddle in other people’s affairs.”

Zeng Zi said, “Gentlemen do not think of matters that are not their duty.”

40. (11.1)

Confucius said, “Courtesy and music were unrefined in ancient times. Now, they are elegant. But I prefer the ancient to the fashionable.”

41. (17.22)

Confucius said, “A person who eats to the full and idles his time away is a good-for-nothing. There are games of chance. You had better do them than doing nothing.”

42. (6.13)

Confucius said to Zi Xia, “To be ‘Confucian’ means to be a gentleman. Do not be a Confucian as a mere scholar.”

43. (7.34)

Confucius had got a illness. Zi Lu asked to go to the temple and pray. Confucius asked, “On what basis?”

Zi Lu replied, “It is written, ‘I pray to gods above and below for you.'” Confucius said, “Then there is no need. I have long been praying such.”

44. (2.4)

Confucius said, “At 15, I desired to study. At 30, I stood by myself. At 40, I threw away my hesitation. At 50, I understood the duties of life. At 60, I became able to listen to other people’s words without prejudice. At 70, I became able to do as I desired without ever swaying from the path.”

45. (13.18)

The Magistrate of She said to Confucius, “There is a very honest person in our village. When his father stole sheep, he prosecuted his own father.” Confucius said, “In our village, honesty is different from yours. A father defends his children and children defend their father. I think this is honesty.”

46. (12.5)

Si Ma Niu sighed, “Everyone has their good brothers. But I am all alone.” Zi Xia said, “I heard that death, life, riches and nobility are ordained by Heaven’s will. If a gentleman respects others without mistakes and behaves humbly and politely, all the people are his brothers. Why do you have a reason to sigh about your brothers?”

47. (4.25)

Confucius said,”A person of virtue is not isolated. He must have some companions.”

48. (16.2)

Confucius said, “If the world is in order, the emperor ordains courtesy and music, and their armies punish the wicked. If the world is in disorder, feudal lords provide courtesy and music, and their armies punish the wicked. The culture and peace which are provided by feudal lords, cannot last ten generations. Those which are provided by ministers, cannot last five generations. A country which is governed by vassals, cannot last three generations. If the world is in order, ministers don’t have power to govern countries, and the people don’t criticize government.

49. (5.24)

Confucius said, “Some people call Wei Sheng Gao an excessively honest person. But I don’t think so. When some person asked him for vinegar, he got it from a neighbor and gave it.”

50. (14.36)

Someone asked, “Why not return ill will with goodwill?” Confucius replied, “Then how will you reward goodwill? I respond to ill will with honesty, and goodwill with goodwill.”

Posted: March 9th, 2013 | Confucius 1 Comment »


One Comment on “呉智英 『現代人の論語』 <英訳>”

  1. 1 Avery Morrow's Internet Fancy » Kure Tomofusa on nepotism and filiality said at 10:30 am on May 3rd, 2013:

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