Wang-sun Chia asked, saying, 'What is the meaning of the saying, "It is better to pay court to the furnace than to the south-west corner?"'
1Wang-sun Chia asked, saying, 'What is the meaning of the saying, "It is better to pay court to the furnace than to the south-west corner?"'
2The Master said, 'Not so. He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray.'
The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.
王孙贾：卫国权臣。据说他是周王之后，因得罪周王，出仕于卫。他的问话，用的是比喻，带有挑衅意味。
奥：后室的西南角，被视为尊者所居的位置。
灶：古人认为灶里有神，因此在灶边祭之。这里王孙贾以奥比喻卫灵公或其宠姬南子，以灶自喻，暗示孔子与其巴结卫灵公及南子，不如巴结自己更实惠。