Classic Chinese translation of "Zi Lu, Zeng Xi, Ran You, and Gong Xihua Sitting"

[Original text]

Zilu, Zeng Xi, Ran You and Gong Xihua were sitting there. Confucius said: "If ① I am as long as ② in one day, I would not use ③. If I live in ④, I would say: 'I don't know ⑥!' If ⑦ knows you, then how can ⑧ be ⑨?"

Zilu led you to 10 and said to him: "A country with a thousand chariots (11) is located between (12) big countries, plus troops and troops (13), so there is famine (14), and the reason is (15) ), compared to (16 three) years, you can be brave and know the way (17)."

The master said (18).

"Qiu, what are you doing?"

He said: "Fang (19 sixty or seventy), such as (20 five or sixty), Qiu also did it, and it took three years. , can satisfy the people (21). Such as (22) its rituals and music, in order to wait for the gentleman (23). "Chi, what are you doing?"

He said: " If you can't do it, you are willing to learn it. (24) The affairs of the ancestral temple, such as (25) Huitong (26), Duan (27) Zhangfu, I would like to be the Xiaoxiang (28) Yan."

" Point, what are you like?"

Drum (29) Sexi (30), Keng Er (31), She (32) Se and Zuo (33), and said to him: "It is different from (34 three) Zi Zhe Zhizhi (35) "Confucius said: "What's wrong with (36)? Everyone has his own ambition!" He said: "Mo (37) Chun, the spring clothes are ready, the crown (38 56) is a boy. (39 Sixty-Seven) People, bathing in the river (40), dancing in the wind (43), chanting and returning. "The master sighed (44) and said: "I am with (45) Dian! ”

The third son came out, Zeng Xihou (46). Zeng Xi said: "Master (473), what are you talking about?"

He said: "Also (48) everyone has stated his ambition (49)." He said: "Master, what are you talking about?" "Ye?" He said: "Being courteous to the country (50) does not give in to his words (51), so he is embarrassed. Only asking for (52) is not a country (53). This is also consistent with (54)? An (55). See Fang Liu. Seventy, like fifty or sixty, is not a state? But if Chi is not a state, it is also the same as the ancestral temple. What is it if it is not a prince? Chi is also small, who (56) can make it big (57)?"

[Note]

①With: Because. (21) Ri Changhuer: A little older than you. Hu, Yu, Bi. Hey, you guys. ③无(wú)我要也: That is, "Don't Yiye", don't refuse to say it just because I am like this. So, think. ④Ju: usually said. Home, usually. ⑤ Then, just. ⑥BuIzhi: That is, "I don't know". No one understands me. ⑦or: Someone. ⑧: Then. ⑨Why: What to do. 10. Shuài: Recklessly. Er, adjective ending. (11 thousand) Cheng (shèng) country: a vassal state with a thousand chariots. In ancient times, a chariot was composed of four horses, accompanied by three armored men and seventy-two infantry. (12) Take Hu: Clamp in. Hu, Yu. (13) Add with divisions and brigades: that is, "add with divisions and brigades", adding war to it. Division, brigade, army, here refers to war. (14) Cause of famine (jǐn): that is, "cause of famine", cause, continue, continue. Famine, years of famine. Hungry, lack of food. Lack of food, lack of food. (15) You also do it: I will manage it. Also, pause in the sentence. For, to govern. (16) Ratio (bì) and: wait until. (17) Fang: Rules, referring to etiquette and justice. (18)哂(shěn): sneer. (19) Square: square and round vertically and horizontally. (20) Such as: or. (21) Enough: Make... rich. (22) Such as: As for. (23) Yiyi (sì) gentleman: The omission of "yiyijunzi". Wait. A gentleman here refers to a person who is wiser than oneself. (24) Ancestral temple matters: refers to matters related to ancestral temple sacrifices. (25) Such as: or. (26) Jointly: Alliance with other countries. (27) Duan Zhangfu: Nouns are used like verbs. Put on your gown and hat. Duan, the name of ancient dress. Zhang Fu, the name of the ancient hat. (28) Xiang (xiàng): The person who praises the ceremony, the master of ceremonies. (29) Drum: play. (30) Xi: Same as "rare", the finger playing is slowed down and the sound is sparse. (31) 铿(kēng) Er: a clang sound. Er, onomatopoeia at the end of the word.

(32) Give up: let go. (33): Get up, here it means to stand up straight. (34) Different: different from..., Hu, Yu, with. (35) Author: writing, here refers to what is said. (36) He Shang: What is the obstacle, what is the relationship. Injure, hinder. (37) Mo (mù): Same as "twilight". (38) Crown (guàn) person: adult. In ancient times, men over twenty received a crown ceremony to signify their adulthood. (39) Tongzi: young man, refers to the boy before being crowned. (40) Hu: In. (41) The name of Yi (yí) water is located in the southeast of Shandong and flows into the Yellow Sea through northern Jiangsu. (42) Wind: The noun is used like a verb, blowing the wind, enjoying the cool air. (43) Wuyu (yú) place name, in today’s Qufu, Shandong Province, it was originally a place to worship the sky and pray for rain. (44)域(kuì)Ran: a long sigh. Of course, the end of the adjective. (45)With: Agree, praise. (46) After: The noun is used like a verb, going after. (47) Husband (fú): This, that. (48)Also: adverb. Just, just. (49) Already: That’s all. (50) Serving the country with propriety: that is, "serving the country with propriety", with the adverbial postposition. It means to govern the country with etiquette. (51) Let: Humility. (52) Wei: Could it be? (53) State: country. (54) and (yú): the same as "椤", right? (55) An: What? (56) Which: Who. (57) Big: refers to the big phase.

[Translation]

Zilu, Zeng Xi, Ran You, and Gong Xihua were sitting with Confucius. Confucius said: "Because I am older than you, (but) don't dare to speak just because I am older. You often say: 'No one understands me. If someone understands you, then (you) must How about it?"

Zilu replied rashly: "(A) vassal state with a thousand chariots is sandwiched between big countries, invaded by armies (externally), and famine (internally) Then, let me, Zhong Yu, govern it. After three years, I can make the people brave and good at fighting, and understand the principles of life." Confucius (heard) smiled slightly.

(Confucius asked) "Ran Qiu, how are you?"

(Ran Qiu) replied: "A country with a length and breadth of sixty or seventy miles, or fifty or sixty miles. . Let me Ranqiu govern it, and after three years, the people can have enough food and clothing. As for the improvement of rituals and music in this country, I have to wait for the gentleman to do it."

(Confucius asked again: ) "Gong Xichi, how are you?"

(Gongxicchi) replied: "I dare not say that I can do it (governing the country), but I am willing to learn. When offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple, or In alliance meetings with other countries, I would like to put on a formal dress and a top hat and be a small ceremony singer."

(Confucius then asked:) "Zeng Dian, how are you doing? ?"

(Zeng Dian was playing the harp.) The sound of playing the harp became thinner and the clang (stopped). (He) put down the harp and stood up and said: "I and the three of them The opinions are different."

Confucius said: "What does it matter? It's just that everyone talks about his own ambitions!"

Zeng Dian said: "In late spring, The spring clothes were ready (put on), and together with five or six adults and six or seven teenagers, we took a bath in Yishui, went to the dance platform to enjoy the cool breeze, and sang songs all the way back."

Confucius sighed: "I agree with Zeng Dian's idea!"

The three of them (Zi Lu, Ran You, Gong Xihua) went out, Zeng Xi walking behind. Zeng Xi asked: "What do these three people say?"

Confucius said: "They are just talking about their own ambitions."

Zeng Xi said: "Teacher, why Where is the joke on Zhong You?"

"Confucius said: "Ruling a country depends on etiquette and justice. His words are not modest, so I laugh at him."

Isn’t Ran Qiu (what he said) a national matter? How can it be that sixty or seventy miles in length and breadth, or fifty or sixty miles, is not a country? Isn’t Gongxi Chi (what he said) a national matter? There are sacrifices in the ancestral temple, Having alliances with other countries is nothing but a vassal state! (If) Gong Xichi can only be a small person of praise, then who can be a big person of praise?"

[Appreciation]

This is an outstanding prose narrative with dialogue. It is a chapter with rich literary flavor in "The Analects". It begins with Confucius inspiring everyone to express their aspirations, and ends with the disciples expressing their own aspirations. expands, and finally ends with Confucius’s evaluation.

The article first explains the characters in the conversation and how Confucius inspired the disciples here to express their own aspirations. "The short number not only expresses the humility of Confucius as a teacher and his equal relationship with the students, but also plays a role in dispelling worries and creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Then it describes the four disciples sitting down and talking about their aspirations. . Although the conversation is brief, his personality is very clear. Writing about Zilu: A "quick talk" reflects Zilu's frank and straightforward character. However, "his words are uncompromising", which shows that he has high ambitions and is confident but not humble enough. Therefore, Confucius "disapproved" of his answers and attitudes, which contained both good-natured understanding and moderate criticism.

Ran You and Gong Xihua naturally viewed all of this. In his eyes, each of them was more cautious in their answers and spoke tactfully, especially Gong Xihua: "I don't think I can do it, but I am willing to learn. "His self-confidence is deep and hidden, which is exactly the opposite of Zilu's character. Although the two of them have different ambitions, they can both meet Confucius' requirements of "serving the country with propriety."

Among the four disciples Among them, Zeng Xi performed the best. While listening to their conversation, he played the harp freely. When the teacher asked him, he "played the harp without playing the harp". He was very calm and confident. He does not state his ambitions directly, but first emphasizes that his thoughts are "different from the writings of the three sons." "The word "different" not only shows that his insights must be outstanding, but also worries that others will think that he is deliberately unconventional. Therefore, his ambition was only expressed after another encouragement from the teacher. His answer was neither Zilu's self-consciousness" To show off, Ran You and Gong Xihua were deliberately modest, and did not express their future status and political achievements. Instead, they vividly outlined a peaceful and happy scene, where people lived leisurely and free from all kinds of troubles. Mental pressure, enjoying the blessings of nature. Isn't this poetic ideal blueprint the embodiment of Confucius's view of advocating virtue and education with "benevolence" as the core and the Confucian ideal of governing the country with etiquette and justice? No wonder Confucius "sighed." He sighed and said: 'I and Dian Ye!'"

The third part of the article is about Confucius's evaluation of his first few disciples. Zilu's answer was "No". If you want to govern a country, you are not humble. How can we be cautious and achieve the "propriety for the country" required by Confucius? Although Ran You and Gong Xihua spoke tactfully and implicitly, it can be seen that they had a deep understanding of the size and position of the vassal states. It's hard to let go of high and low, so how can you concentrate on governing the country?

The whole text has a complete structure, the dialogue is concise and vivid, and the characters are distinctive. It is the first prose in pre-Qin Dynasty to use dialogue narrative.