The Analects论语

Book 5, Passage 5.19

Tsze-chang asked, saying, 'The minister Tsze- wan thrice took office, and manifested no joy in his countenance. Thrice he retired from office, and manifested no…

子张问曰:“令尹子文三仕为令尹,无喜色;三已之,无愠色。旧令尹之政,”…
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2 sentences · 4 notes
子zǐ张zhāng问wèn曰yuē:“令lìng尹yǐn子zǐ文wén三sān仕shì为wéi令lìng尹yǐn,无wú喜xǐ色sè;三sān已yǐ之zhī,无wú愠yùn色sè。旧jiù令lìng尹yǐn之zhī政zhèng,必bì以yǐ告gào新xīn令lìng尹yǐn。何hé如rú?”子zǐ曰yuē:“忠zhōng矣yǐ。”曰yuē:“仁rén矣yǐ乎hū?”曰yuē:“未wèi知zhī,焉yān得dé仁rén?”“崔cuī子zǐ弑shì齐qí君jūn。陈chén文wén子zǐ有yǒu马mǎ十shí乘chéng,弃qì而ér违wéi之zhī至zhì于yú他tā邦bāng,则zé曰yuē:‘犹yóu吾wú大dà夫fú崔cuī子zǐ也yě。’违wéi之zhī之zhī一yī邦bāng,则zé又yòu曰yuē:‘犹yóu吾wú大dà夫fú崔cuī子zǐ也yě。’违wéi之zhī何hé如rú?”子zǐ曰yuē:“清qīng矣yǐ。”曰yuē:“仁rén矣yǐ乎hū?”曰yuē“未wèi知zhī,焉yān得dé仁rén?”

1Tsze-chang asked, saying, 'The minister Tsze- wan thrice took office, and manifested no joy in his countenance. Thrice he retired from office, and manifested no displeasure. He made it a point to inform the new minister of the way in which he had conducted the government;-- what do you say of him?' The Master replied. 'He was loyal.' 'Was he perfectly virtuous?' 'I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?'

2Tsze-chang proceeded, 'When the officer Ch'ui killed the prince of Ch'i, Ch'an Wan, though he was the owner of forty horses, abandoned them and left the country. Coming to another State, he said, "They are here like our great officer, Ch'ui," and left it. He came to a second State, and with the same observation left it also;-- what do you say of him?' The Master replied, 'He was pure.' 'Was he perfectly virtuous?' 'I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?'

Chinese commentary · 4 notes

The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

令尹:楚国的官名,相当于宰相。子文:姓斗,名彀於菟,字子文,楚国贤相。三仕三已的“三”不是实指,而是概数,可译为“几”。

崔子:崔杼,齐国的大夫,曾杀掉他的国君齐庄公。弑古代在下的人杀掉在上的人叫“弑”。

陈文子:齐国大夫,名须无。

违:离开。

All 28 passages in Book 5