快捷通道
COMMENTARY OF THE PHILOSOPHER ZENG
2. In the Announcement to Kang, it is said, “He was able to make his virtue illustrious.” In the Tai Jia it is said, “He contemplated and studied the illustrious decrees of Heaven.” In the Canon of the Emperor Yao, it is said, “He was able to make illustrious his lofty virtue.” These passages all show how those sovereigns made themselves illustrious.
The above first chapter of commentary explains the illustration of illustrious virtue.
3. On the bathing tub of Tang, the following words were engraved: “If you can one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day. Yea, let there be daily renovation.” In the Announcement to Kang, it is said, “To stir up the new people.” In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “Although Zhou was an ancient state, the ordinance which lighted on it was new.” Therefore, the superior man in every thing uses his utmost endeavors.”
The above second chapter of commentary explains the renovating of people.
4. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “The imperial domain of a thousand li is where the people rest.” In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “The twittering yellow bird rests on a corner of the mound.” The Master said, “When it rests, it knows where to rest. Is it possible that a man should not be equal to this bird?” In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “Profound was King Wen. With how bright and unceasing a feeling of reverence did he regard his resting place!” As a sovereign, he rested in benevolence. As a minister, he rested in reverence. As a son, he rested in filial piety. As a father, he rested in kindness. In communication with his subjects, he rested in good faith. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “Look at that winding course of the Qi, with the green bamboos so luxuriant! Here is our elegant and accomplished prince! As we cut and then file; as we chisel and then grind: so has he cultivated himself. How grave is he and dignified! How majestic and distinguished! Our elegant and accomplished prince never can be forgotten.” That expression ---- “as we cut and then file,” indicates the work of learning. “As we chisel and then grind,” indicates that of self-culture. “How grave is he and dignified!” indicates the feeling of cautious reverence. “How majestic and distinguished!” indicates an awe-inspiring deportment. “Our elegant and accomplished prince never can be forgotten” indicates how, when virtue is complete and excellence extreme, the people cannot forget them. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “Ah! The former kings are not forgotten.” Future princes deem worthy what they deemed worthy, and love what they loved. The common people delight in what they delighted, and are benefited by their beneficial arrangements. It is on this account that the former kings, after they have quitted the world, are not forgotten.
The above third chapter of commentary explains resting in highest excellence.
5. The Master said, “In hearing litigations, I am like any other body. What is necessary is to cause the people to have no litigations?” So, those who are devoid of principle find it impossible to carry out their speeches, and a great awe would be struck into men’s minds; ---- this is called knowing the root.
The above fourth chapter of commentary explains the root and the issue.
6. This is called knowing the root. This is called the perfecting of knowledge.
The above fifth chapter of commentary explains the meaning of “investigating things and carrying knowledge to the utmost extent,” but it is now lost. I have ventured to take the views of the scholar Cheng to supple it as follows; ----- The meaning of the expression, “The perfecting of knowledge depends on the investigation of things” is this: ---- If we wish to carry our knowledge to the utmost, we must investigate the principles of all things we come into contact with, for the intelligent mind of man is certainly formed to know, and there is not a single thing in which its principles do not inhere. But so long as all principles are not investigated, man’s knowledge is incomplete. On this account, the Great Learning for adults, at the outset of its lessons, instructs the learner, in regard to all things in the world, to proceed from what knowledge he has of their principles, and pursue his investigation of them, till he reaches the extreme point. After exerting himself in this way for a long time, he will suddenly find himself possessed of a wide and far-reaching penetration. Then, the qualities of all things, whether external or internal, the subtle or the coarse, will all be apprehended, and the mind, in its entire substance and its relations to things, will be perfectly intelligent. This is called the investigation of things. This is called the perfection of knowledge.
7. What is meant by “making the thoughts sincere,” is the allowing no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when we love what is beautiful. This is called self-enjoyment. Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone. There is no evil to which the mean man, dwelling retired, will not proceed, but when he sees a superior man, he instantly tries to disguise himself, concealing his evil, and displaying what is good. The other beholds him, as if he saw his heart and veins; ---- of what use is his disguise? This is an instance of the saying ---- “What truly is within will be manifested without.” Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone. The disciple Zeng said, “What ten eyes behold, what ten hands point to, is to be regarded with reverence!” Riches adorn a house, and virtue adorns the person. The mind is expanded, and the body is at ease. Therefore, the superior man must make his thoughts sincere.
The above sixth chapter of commentary explains making the thoughts sincere.
8. What is meant by “The cultivation of the person depends on rectifying the mind,” may be thus illustrated: ---- If a man be under the influence of passion, he will be incorrect in his conduct. He will be the same, if he is under the influence of terror, or under the influence of fond regard, or under that of sorrow and distress. When the mind is not present, we look and do not see; we hear and do not understand; we eat and do not know the taste of what we eat. This is what is meant by saying that the cultivation of the person depends on the rectifying of the mind.
The above seventh chapter of commentary explains rectifying the mind and cultivating the person.
9. What is meant by “The regulation of one’s family depends on the cultivation of his person,” is this: ---- Men are partial where they feel affection and love; partial where they despise and dislike; partial where they stand in awe and reverence; partial where they feel sorrow and compassion; partial where they are arrogant and rude. Thus it is that there are few men in the world, who love, and at the same time know the bad qualities of the object of their love, or who hate, and yet know the excellences of the object of their hatred. Hence it is said, in the common adage, “A man does not know the wickedness of his son; he does not know the richness of his growing corn.” This is what is meant by saying that if the person be not cultivated, a man cannot regulate his family.
The above eighth chapter of commentary explains cultivating the person and regulationg the family.
10. What is meant by “In order rightly to govern his State, it is necessary first to regulate his family,” is this: ---- It is not possible for one to teach others, while he cannot teach his own family. Therefore, the ruler, without going beyond his family, completes the lessons for the State. There is filial piety: ---- there with the sovereign should be served. There is fraternal submission: ---- therewith elders and superiors should be served. There is kindness: ---- therewith the multitude should be treated. In the Announcement to Kang, it is said, “Act as if you were watching over an infant.” If a mother is really anxious about it, though she may not hit exactly the wants of her infant, she will not be far from doing so. There never has been a girl who learned to bring up a child, that she might afterwards marry. From the loving example of one family, a whole State becomes loving, and from its courtesies, the whole State becomes courteous, while, from the ambition and perverseness of the one man, the whole State may be led to rebellious disorder: ----- such is the nature of the influence. This verifies the saying, “Affairs may be ruined by a single sentence; a kingdom may be settled by its one man. “
The above ninth chapter of commentary explains regulating the family and governing the kingdom.
11. What is meant by “The making the whole empire peaceful and happy depends on the government of his State”, is this: ---- When the sovereign behaves to his aged, as the aged should be behaved to, the people become filial; when the sovereign behaves to his elders, as elders should be behaved to, the people learn brotherly submission; when the sovereign treats compassionately the young and helpless, the people do the same. Thus the ruler has a principle with which, as with a measuring square, may regulate his conduct. What a man dislikes in his superiors, let him not display in the treatment of his inferiors; what he dislikes in his inferiors, let him not display in the service of his superiors; what he hates in those who are before him, let him not therewith precede those who are behind him; what he hates in those who are behind him, let him not therewith follow those who are before him; what he hates to receive on the right, let him not bestow on the left; what he hates to receive on the left, let him not bestow on the right: ---- this is what is called “The principle, with which, as with a measuring square, to regulate one’s conduct. “In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “How much to be rejoiced in are these princes, the parents of the people!” When a prince loves what the people love, and hates what the people have, then is he what is called the parent of the people. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “Lofty is that southern hill, with its rugged masses of rocks!” Greatly distinguished are you, O grand-teacher Yin, the people all look up to you.” Rulers of kingdoms may not neglect to be careful. If they deviate to a mean selfishness they will be a disgrace in the empire. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “Before the sovereigns of the Yin dynasty had lost the hearts of the people, they could appear before heaven. Take warning from the house of Yin. The great decree is not easily preserved.” This shows that, by gaining the people, the kingdom is gained, and, by losing the people, the kingdom is lost. On the account, the ruler will first take pains about his own virtue. Possessing virtue will give him the people. Possessing the people will give him the territory. Possessing the territory will give him its wealth. Possessing the wealth, he will have resources for expenditure. Virtue is the root; wealth is the result. If he makes the root his secondary object, and the result his primary, he will only wrangle with his people, and teach them rapine. Hence, the accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people; and the letting it be scattered among them is the way to collect the people. And hence, the ruler’s words going forth contrary to right, will come back to him in the same way, and wealth, gotten by improper ways, will take its departure by the same. In the Announcement to Kang, it is said, “The decree indeed may not always rest on us;” that is, goodness obtains the decree, and the want of goodness loses it. In the Book of Chu, it is said, “The
The above tenth chapter of commentary explains the government of the State, and the making the empire peaceful and happy.
There are thus, in all, ten chapters of commentary, the first four of which discuss, in a general manner, the scope of the principal topic of the work; while the other six go particularly into an exhibition of the work required in its subordinate braches. The fifth chapter contains the important subject of comprehending true sincerity. Those two chapters demand the special attention of the learner. Let not the reader despise them because of their simplicity.