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Scope: Zhuangzi Request type: Paragraph
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莊子 - Zhuangzi

[Warring States] 350 BC-250 BC
Books referencing 《莊子》 Library Resources
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[Also known as: 《南華真經》]

外篇 - Outer Chapters

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources

在宥 - Letting Be, and Exercising Forbearance

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《在宥》 Library Resources
3 在宥:
黃帝立為天子十九年,令行天下,聞廣成子在於空同之上,故往見之,曰:「我聞吾子達於至道,敢問至道之精。吾欲取天地之精,以佐五穀,以養民人;吾又欲官陰陽,以遂群生。為之奈何?」廣成子曰:「而所欲問者,物之質也;而所欲官者,物之殘也。自而治天下,雲氣不待族而雨,草木不待黃而落,日月之光益以荒矣。而佞人之心翦翦者,又奚足以語至道!」黃帝退,捐天下,築特室,席白茅,閒居三月,復往邀之。廣成子南首而臥,黃帝順下風膝行而進,再拜稽首而問曰:「聞吾子達於至道,敢問治身奈何而可以長久?」廣成子蹶然而起,曰:「善哉問乎!來!吾語女至道。至道之精,窈窈冥冥;至道之極,昏昏默默。無視無聽,抱神以靜,形將自正。必靜必清,無勞女形,無搖女精,乃可以長生。目無所見,耳無所聞,心無所知,女神將守形,形乃長生。慎女內,閉女外,多知為敗。我為女遂於大明之上矣,至彼至陽之原也;為女入於窈冥之門矣,至彼至陰之原也。天地有官,陰陽有藏,慎守女身,物將自壯。我守其一,以處其和,故我修身千二百歲矣,吾形未嘗衰。」黃帝再拜稽首曰:「廣成子之謂天矣!」廣成子曰:「來!吾語女。彼其物無窮,而人皆以為有終;彼其物無測,而人皆以為有極。得吾道者,上為皇而下為王;失吾道者,上見光而下為土。今夫百昌,皆生於土而反於土,故余將去女,入無窮之門,以遊無極之野。吾與日月參光,吾與天地為常。當我,緡乎!遠我,昏乎!人其盡死,而我獨存乎!」
Letting Be, and Exercising...:
Huang-Di had been on the throne for nineteen years, and his ordinances were in operation all through the kingdom, when he heard that Guang Cheng-zi was living on the summit of Kong-tong, and went to see him. 'I have heard,' he said, 'that you, Sir, are well acquainted with the perfect Dao. I venture to ask you what is the essential thing in it. I wish to take the subtlest influences of heaven and earth, and assist with them the (growth of the) five cereals for the (better) nourishment of the people. I also wish to direct the (operation of the) Yin and Yang, so as to secure the comfort of all living beings. How shall I proceed to accomplish those objects?' Kong Tong-zi replied, 'What you wish to ask about is the original substance of all things; what you wish to have the direction of is that substance as it was shattered and divided. According to your government of the world, the vapours of the clouds, before they were collected, would descend in rain; the herbs and trees would shed their leaves before they became yellow; and the light of the sun and moon would hasten to extinction. Your mind is that of a flatterer with his plausible words - it is not fit that I should tell you the perfect Dao.'
Huang-Di withdrew, gave up (his government of) the kingdom, built himself a solitary apartment, spread in it a mat of the white m?o grass, dwelt in it unoccupied for three months, and then went again to seek an interview with (the recluse). Kong Tong-zi was then lying down with his head to the south. Huang-Di, with an air of deferential submission, went forward on his knees, twice bowed low with his face to the ground, and asked him, saying, 'I have heard that you, Sir, are well acquainted with the perfect Dao - I venture to ask how I should rule my body, in order that it may continue for a long time.' Kong Tong-zi hastily rose, and said, 'A good question! Come and I will tell you the perfect Dao. Its essence is (surrounded with) the deepest obscurity; its highest reach is in darkness and silence. There is nothing to be seen; nothing to be heard. When it holds the spirit in its arms in stillness, then the bodily form of itself will become correct. You must be still; you must be pure; not subjecting your body to toil, not agitating your vital force - then you may live for long. When your eyes see nothing, your ears hear nothing, and your mind knows nothing, your spirit will keep your body, and the body will live long. Watch over what is within you, shut up the avenues that connect you with what is external - much knowledge is pernicious. I (will) proceed with you to the summit of the Grand Brilliance, where we come to the source of the bright and expanding (element); I will enter with you the gate of the Deepest Obscurity, where we come to the source of the dark and repressing (element). There heaven and earth have their controllers; there the Yin and Yang have their Repositories. Watch over and keep your body, and all things will of themselves give it vigour. I maintain the (original) unity (of these elements), and dwell in the harmony of them. In this way I have cultivated myself for one thousand and two hundred years, and my bodily form has undergone no decay.'
Huang-Di twice bowed low with his head to the ground, and said, 'In Kong Tong-zi we have an example of what is called Heaven.' The other said, 'Come, and I will tell you: (The perfect Dao) is something inexhaustible, and yet men all think it has an end; it is something unfathomable, and yet men all think its extreme limit can be reached. He who attains to my Dao, if he be in a high position, will be one of the August ones, and in a low position, will be a king. He who fails in attaining it, in his highest attainment will see the light, but will descend and be of the Earth. At present all things are produced from the Earth and return to the Earth. Therefore I will leave you, and enter the gate of the Unending, to enjoy myself in the fields of the Illimitable. I will blend my light with that of the sun and moon, and will endure while heaven and earth endure. If men agree with my views, I will be unconscious of it; if they keep far apart from them, I will be unconscious of it; they may all die, and I will abide alone!'

天地 - Heaven and Earth

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《天地》 Library Resources
6 天地:
堯觀乎華。華封人曰:「嘻!聖人!請祝聖人:使聖人壽。」堯曰:「辭。」「使聖人富」。堯曰:「辭。」「使聖人多男子」。堯曰:「辭。」封人曰:「壽、富、多男子,人之所欲也。女獨不欲,何邪?」堯曰:「多男子則多懼,富則多事,壽則多辱。是三者,非所以養德也,故辭。」封人曰:「始也我以女為聖人邪,今然君子也。天生萬民,必授之職,多男子而授之職,則何懼之有!富而使人分之,則何事之有!夫聖人鶉居而鷇食,鳥行而無彰;天下有道則與物皆昌,天下無道則修德就閒;千歲厭世,去而上僊,乘彼白雲,至於帝鄉。三患莫至,身常無殃,則何辱之有!」封人去之,堯隨之,曰:「請問。」封人曰:「退已!」
Heaven and Earth:
Yao was looking about him at Hua, the border-warden of which said, 'Ha! the sage! Let me ask blessings on the sage! May he live long!' Yao said, 'Hush!' but the other went on, 'May the sage become rich!' Yao (again) said, 'Hush!' but (the warden) continued, 'May the sage have many sons!' When Yao repeated his 'Hush,' the warden said, 'Long life, riches, and many sons are what men wish for - how is it that you alone do not wish for them?' Yao replied, 'Many sons bring many fears; riches bring many troubles; and long life gives rise to many obloquies. These three things do not help to nourish virtue; and therefore I wish to decline them.' The warden rejoined, 'At first I considered you to be a sage; now I see in you only a Superior man. Heaven, in producing the myriads of the people, is sure to have appointed for them their several offices. If you had many sons, and gave them (all their) offices, what would you have to fear? If you had riches, and made other men share them with you, what trouble would you have? The sage finds his dwelling like the quail (without any choice of its own), and is fed like the fledgling; he is like the bird which passes on (through the air), and leaves no trace (of its flight). When good order prevails in the world, he shares in the general prosperity. When there is no such order, he cultivates his virtue, and seeks to be unoccupied. After a thousand years, tired of the world, he leaves it, and ascends among the immortals. He mounts on the white clouds, and arrives at the place of God. The three forms of evil do not reach him, his person is always free from misfortune - what obloquy has he to incur?'
With this the border-warden left him. Yao followed him, saying, 'I beg to ask-- ;' but the other said, 'Begone!'

天道 - The Way of Heaven

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《天道》 Library Resources
1 天道:
天道運而無所積,故萬物成;帝道運而無所積,故天下歸;聖道運而無所積,故海內服。明於天,通於聖,六通四辟於帝王之德者,其自為也,昧然無不靜者矣。聖人之靜也,非曰靜也善,故靜也,萬物無足以鐃心者,故靜也。水靜則明燭鬚眉,平中準,大匠取法焉。水靜猶明,而況精神!聖人之心靜乎,天地之鑑也,萬物之鏡也。夫虛靜恬淡,寂漠無為者,天地之平而道德之至,故帝王聖人休焉。休則虛,虛則實,實者倫矣。虛則靜,靜則動,動則得矣。靜則無為,無為也,則任事者責矣。無為則俞俞,俞俞者憂患不能處,年壽長矣。夫虛靜恬淡,寂寞無為者,萬物之本也。明此以南鄉,堯之為君也;明此以北面,舜之為臣也。以此處上,帝王天子之德也;以此處下,玄聖素王之道也。以此退居而閒游,江海山林之士服;以此進為而撫世,則功大名顯而天下一也。靜而聖,動而王,無為也而尊,樸素而天下莫能與之爭美。夫明白於天地之德者,此之謂大本大宗,與天和者也;所以均調天下,與人和者也。與人和者,謂之人樂;與天和者,謂之天樂。
The Way of Heaven:
The Way of Heaven operates (unceasingly), and leaves no accumulation (of its influence) in any particular place, so that all things are brought to perfection by it; so does the Way of the Dis operate, and all under the sky turn to them (as their directors); so also does the Way of the Sages operate, and all within the seas submit to them. Those who clearly understand (the Way of) Heaven, who are in sympathy with (that of) the sages, and familiar through the universe and in the four quarters (of the earth) with the work of the Dis and the kings, yet act spontaneously from themselves: with the appearance of being ignorant they are yet entirely still. The stillness of the sages does not belong to them as a consequence of their skilful ability; all things are not able to disturb their minds - it is on this account that they are still. When water is still, its clearness shows the beard and eyebrows (of him who looks into it). It is a perfect Level, and the greatest artificer takes his rule from it. Such is the clearness of still water, and how much greater is that of the human Spirit! The still mind of the sage is the mirror of heaven and earth, the glass of all things.
Vacancy, stillness, placidity, tastelessness, quietude, silence, and non-action - this is the Level of heaven and earth, and the perfection of the Dao and its characteristics. Therefore the Dis, Kings, and Sages found in this their resting-place. Resting here, they were vacant; from their vacancy came fullness; from their fullness came the nice distinctions (of things). From their vacancy came stillness; that stillness was followed by movement; their movemerts were successful. From their stillness came their non-action. Doing-nothing, they devolved the cares of office on their employes, Doing-nothing was accompanied by the feeling of satisfaction. Where there is that feeling of satisfaction, anxieties and troubles find no place; and the years of life are many.
Vacancy, stillness, placidity, tastelessness, quietude, silence, and doing-nothing are the root of all things. When this is understood, we find such a ruler on the throne as Yao, and such a minister as Shun. When with this a high position is occupied, we find the attributes of the Dis and kings,-- the sons of Heaven; with this in a low position, we find the mysterious sages, the uncrowned kings, with their ways. With this retiring (from public life), and enjoying themselves at leisure, we find the scholars who dwell by the rivers and seas, among the hills and forests, all submissive to it; with this coming forward to active life and comforting their age, their merit is great, and their fame is distinguished - and all the world becomes united in one. (Such men) by their stillness become sages; and by their movement, kings. Doing-nothing, they are honoured; in their plain simplicity, no one in the world can strive with them (for the palm of) excellence. The clear understanding of the virtue of Heaven and Earth is what is called 'The Great Root,' and 'The Great Origin;' - they who have it are in harmony with Heaven, and so they produce all equable arrangements in the world - they are those who are in harmony with men. Being in harmony with men is called the joy of men; being in harmony with Heaven is called the joy of Heaven.
莊子曰:「吾師乎!吾師乎!虀萬物而不為戾,澤及萬世而不為仁,長於上古而不為壽,覆載天地、刻雕眾形而不為朽,此之謂天樂。故曰:知天樂者,其生也天行,其死也物化;靜而與陰同德,動而與陽同波。故知天樂者,無天怨,無人非,無物累,無鬼責。故曰:其動也天,其靜也地,一心定而王天下;其鬼不祟,其魂不疲,一心定而萬物服。言以虛靜推於天地,通於萬物,此之謂天樂。天樂者,聖人之心,以蓄天下也。」
Zhuangzi said, 'My Master! my Master! He shall hash and blend all things in mass without being cruel; he shall dispense his favours to all ages without being benevolent. He is older than the highest antiquity, and yet is not old. He overspreads the heavens and sustains the earth; from him is the carving of all forms without any artful skill! This is what is called the Joy of Heaven. Hence it is said, "Those who know the joy of Heaven during their life, act like Heaven, and at death undergo transformation like (other) things; in their stillness they possess the quality of the Yin, and in their movement they flow abroad as the Yang. Therefore he who knows the Joy of Heaven has no murmuring against Heaven, nor any fault-finding with men; and suffers no embarrassment from things, nor any reproof from ghosts. Hence it is said, 'His movements are those of Heaven; his stillness is that of Earth; his whole mind is fixed, and he rules over the world. The spirits of his dead do not come to scare him; he is not worn out by their souls. His words proceeding from his vacancy and stillness, yet reach to heaven and earth, and show a communication with all things: this is what is called the Joy of Heaven. This Joy of Heaven forms the mind of the sage whereby he nurtures all under the sky.'"'

8 天道:
夫子曰:「夫道,於大不終,於小不遺,故萬物備。廣廣乎其無不容也,淵乎其不可測也。形德仁義,神之末也,非至人孰能定之!夫至人有世,不亦大乎!而不足以為之累。天下奮柄而不與之偕,審乎無假而不與利遷,極物之真,能守其本,故外天地,遺萬物,而神未嘗有所困也。通乎道,合乎德,退仁義,賓禮樂,至人之心有所定矣。」
The Way of Heaven:
The Master said, 'The Dao does not exhaust itself in what is greatest, nor is it ever absent from what is least; and therefore it is to be found complete and diffused in all things. How wide is its universal comprehension! How deep is its unfathomableness! The embodiment of its attributes in benevolence and righteousness is but a small result of its spirit-like (working); but it is only the perfect man who can determine this. The perfect man has (the charge of) the world - is not the charge great? and yet it is not sufficient to embarrass him. He wields the handle of power over the whole world, and yet it is nothing to him. His discrimination detects everything false, and no consideration of gain moves him. He penetrates to the truth of things, and can guard that which is fundamental. So it is that heaven and earth are external to him, and he views all things with indifference, and his spirit is never straitened by them. He has comprehended the Dao, and is in harmony with its characteristics; he pushes back benevolence and righteousness (into their proper place), and deals with ceremonies and music as (simply) guests: yes, the mind of the perfect man determines all things aright.'

秋水 - The Floods of Autumn

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《秋水》 Library Resources
9 秋水:
孔子遊於匡,宋人圍之數匝,而絃歌不惙。子路入見,曰:「何夫子之娛也?」孔子曰:「來!吾語女。我諱窮久矣,而不免,命也;求通久矣,而不得,時也。當堯、舜而天下無窮人,非知得也,當桀,紂而天下無通人,非知失也,時勢適然。夫水行不避蛟龍者,漁父之勇也;陸行不避兕虎者,獵夫之勇也;白刃交於前,視死若生者,烈士之勇也;知窮之有命,知通之有時,臨大難而不懼者,聖人之勇也。由處矣!吾命有所制矣。」無幾何,將甲者進,辭曰:「以為陽虎也,故圍之;今非也,請辭而退。」
The Floods of Autumn:...:
When Confucius was travelling in Kuang, some people of Song (once) surrounded him (with a hostile intention) several ranks deep; but he kept singing to his lute without stopping. Zi-lu came in, and saw him, and said, 'How is it, Master, that you are so pleased?' Confucius said, 'Come here, and I will tell you. I have tried to avoid being reduced to such a strait for a long time; and that I have not escaped shows that it was so appointed for me. I have sought to find a ruler that would employ me for a long time, and that I have not found one, shows the character of the time. Under Yao and Shun there was no one in the kingdom reduced to straits like mine; and it was not by their sagacity that men succeeded as they did. Under Jie and Zhou no (good and able man) in the kingdom found his way to employment; and it was not for (want of) sagacity that they failed to do so. It was simply owing to the times and their character. People that do business on the water do not shrink from meeting iguanodons and dragons - that is the courage of fishermen. Those who do business on land do not shrink from meeting rhinoceroses and tigers - that is the courage of hunters. When men see the sharp weapons crossed before them, and look on death as going home - that is the courage of the determined soldier. When he knows that his strait is determined for him, and that the employment of him by a ruler depends on the character of the time, and then meeting with great distress is yet not afraid - that is the courage of the sagely man. Wait, my good You, and you will see what there is determined for me in my lot.' A little afterwards, the leader of the armed men approached and took his leave, saying, 'We thought you were Yang Hu, and therefore surrounded you. Now we see our mistake.' (With this) he begged to take his leave, and withdrew.

10 秋水:
公孫龍問於魏牟曰:「龍少學先生之道,長而明仁義之行,合同異,雜堅白,然不然,可不可,困百家之知,窮眾口之辯,吾自以為至達已。今吾聞莊子之言,汒焉異之,不知論之不及與,知之弗若與?今吾無所開吾喙,敢問其方。」
The Floods of Autumn:...:
Gong-sun Long asked Mou of Wei, saying, 'When I was young, I learned the teachings of the former kings; and when I was grown up, I became proficient in the practice of benevolence and righteousness. I brought together the views that agreed and disagreed; I considered the questions about hardness and whiteness; I set forth what was to be affirmed and what was not, and what was allowable and what was not; I studied painfully the various schools of thought, and made myself master of the reasonings of all their masters. I thought that I had reached a good understanding of every subject; but now that I have heard the words of Zhuangzi, they throw me into a flutter of surprise. I do not know whether it be that I do not come up to him in the power of discussion, or that my knowledge is not equal to his. But now I do not feel able to open my mouth, and venture to ask you what course I should pursue.'
公子牟隱机太息,仰天而笑曰:「子獨不聞夫埳井之鼃乎?謂東海之鱉曰:『吾樂與!出跳梁乎井幹之上,入休乎缺甃之崖,赴水則接腋持頤,蹶泥則沒足滅跗,還虷蟹與科斗,莫吾能若也。且夫擅一壑之水,而跨跱埳井之樂,此亦至矣,夫子奚不時來入觀乎?』東海之鱉左足未入,而右膝已縶矣。於是逡巡而卻,告之海曰:『夫千里之遠,不足以舉其大;千仞之高,不足以極其深。禹之時,十年九潦,而水弗為加益;湯之時,八年七旱,而崖不為加損。夫不為頃久推移,不以多少進退者,此亦東海之大樂也。』於是埳井之鼃聞之,適適然驚,規規然自失也。且夫知不知是非之竟,而猶欲觀於莊子之言,是猶使蚊負山,商蚷馳河也,必不勝任矣。且夫知不知論極妙之言,而自適一時之利者,是非埳井之鼃與?且彼方跐黃泉而登大皇,無南無北,奭然四解,淪於不測;無東無西,始於玄冥,反於大通。子乃規規然而求之以察,索之以辯,是直用管窺天,用錐指地也,不亦小乎!子往矣!且子獨不聞壽陵餘子之學行於邯鄲與?未得國能,又失其故行矣,直匍匐而歸耳。今子不去,將忘子之故,失子之業。」
Gong-sun Mou leant forward on his stool, drew a long breath, looked up to heaven, smiled, and said, 'Have you not heard of the frog of the dilapidated well, and how it said to the turtle of the Eastern Sea, "How I enjoy myself? I leap upon the parapet of this well. I enter, and having by means of the projections formed by the fragments of the broken tiles of the lining proceeded to the water, I draw my legs together, keep my chin up, (and strike out). When I have got to the mud, I dive till my feet are lost in it. Then turning round, I see that of the shrimps, crabs, and tadpoles there is not one that can do like me. Moreover, when one has entire command of all the water in the gully, and hesitates to go forward, it is the greatest pleasure to enjoy one's self here in this dilapidated well - why do not you, Master, often come and enter, and see it for yourself?" The turtle of the Eastern Sea (was then proceeding to go forward), but before he had put in his left foot, he found his right knee caught and held fast. On this he hesitated, drew back, and told (the frog) all about the sea, saying, "A distance of a thousand li is not sufficient to express its extent, nor would (a line of) eight thousand cubits be equal to sound its depth. In the time of Yu, for nine years out of ten the flooded land (all drained into it), and its water was not sensibly increased; and in the time of Thang for seven years out of eight there was a drought, but the rocks on the shore (saw) no diminution of the water because of it. Thus it is that no change is produced in its waters by any cause operating for a short time or a long, and that they do not advance nor recede for any addition or subtraction, whether great or small; and this is the great pleasure afforded by the Eastern Sea." When the frog of the dilapidated well heard this, he was amazed and terror-struck, and lost himself in surprise.
And moreover, when you, who have not wisdom enough to know where the discussions about what is right and what is wrong should end, still desire to see through the words of Zhuangzi, that is like employing a mosquito to carry a mountain on its back, or a millipede to gallop as fast as the Ho runs - tasks to which both the insects are sure to be unequal. Still further, when you, who have not wisdom enough to know the words employed in discussing very mysterious subjects, yet hasten to show your sharpness of speech on any occasion that may occur, is not this being like the frog of the dilapidated well?
And that (Zhuangzi) now plants his foot on the Yellow Springs (below the earth), and anon rises to the height of the Empyrean. Without any regard to south and north, with freedom he launches out in every direction, and is lost in the unfathomable. Without any regard to east and west, starting from what is abysmally obscure, he comes back to what is grandly intelligible. (All the while), you, Sir, in amazement, search for his views to examine them, and grope among them for matter for discussion - this is just like peeping at the heavens through a tube, or aiming at the earth with an awl; are not both the implements too small for the purpose? Go your ways, Sir.
And have you not heard of the young learners of Shou-ling, and how they did in Han-dan? Before they had acquired what they might have done in that capital, they had forgotten what they had learned to do in their old city, and were marched back to it on their hands and knees. If now you do not go away, you will forget your old acquirements, and fail in your profession.'
公孫龍口呿而不合,舌舉而不下,乃逸而走。
Gong-sun Long gaped on the speaker, and could not shut his mouth, and his tongue clave to its roof. He slank away and ran off.

達生 - The Full Understanding of Life

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《達生》 Library Resources
12 達生:
東野稷以御見莊公,進退中繩,左右旋中規。莊公以為文弗過也,使之鉤百而反。顏闔遇之,入見曰:「稷之馬將敗。」公密而不應。少焉,果敗而反。公曰:「子何以知之?」曰:「其馬力竭矣,而猶求焉,故曰敗。」
The Full Understanding of...:
Dong-ye Ji was introduced to duke Zhuang to exhibit his driving. His horses went forwards and backwards with the straightness of a line, and wheeled to the right and the left with the exactness of a circle. The duke thought that the lines and circles could not be surpassed if they were woven with silken strings, and told him to make a hundred circuits on the same lines. On the road Yan He met the equipage, and on entering (the palace), and seeing the duke, he said, 'Ji's horses will break down,' but the duke was silent, and gave him no reply. After a little the horses did come back, having broken down; and the duke then said, 'How did you know that it would be so?' Yan He said, 'The horses were exhausted, and he was still urging them on. It was this which made me say that they would break down.'

山木 - The Tree on the Mountain

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《山木》 Library Resources
4 山木:
孔子圍於陳、蔡之間,七日不火食。大公任往弔之,曰:「子幾死乎?」曰:「然。」「子惡死乎?」曰:「然。」
The Tree on the...:
Confucius was kept (by his enemies) in a state of siege between Chen and Cai, and for seven days had no food cooked with fire to eat. The Da-gong Ren went to condole with him, and said, 'You had nearly met with your death.' 'Yes,' was the reply. 'Do you dislike death?' 'I do.'
任曰:「予嘗言不死之道。東海有鳥焉,其名曰意怠。其為鳥也,翂翂翐翐,而似無能;引援而飛,迫脅而棲;進不敢為前,退不敢為後;食不敢先嘗,必取其緒。是故其行列不斥,而外人卒不得害,是以免於患。直木先伐,甘井先竭。子其意者飾知以驚愚,修身以明汙,昭昭乎若揭日月而行,故不免也。昔吾聞之大成之人曰:『自伐者無功,功成者墮,名成者虧。』孰能去功與名而還與眾人!道流而不明居,得行而不名處;純純常常,乃比於狂;削跡捐勢,不為功名。是故無責於人,人亦無責焉。至人不聞,子何喜哉?」
Then Ren continued, 'Let me try and describe a way by which (such a) death may be avoided. In the eastern sea there are birds which go by the name of yi-dai; they fly low and slowly as if they were deficient in power. They fly as if they were leading and assisting one another, and they press on one another when they roost. No one ventures to take the lead in going forward, or to be the last in going backwards. In eating no one ventures to take the first mouthful, but prefers the fragments left by others. In this way (the breaks in) their line are not many, and men outside them cannot harm them, so that they escape injury. The straight tree is the first to be cut down; the well of sweet water is the first to be exhausted. Your aim is to embellish your wisdom so as to startle the ignorant, and to cultivate your person to show the unsightliness of others. A light shines around you as if you were carrying with you the sun and moon, and thus it is that you do not escape such calamity. Formerly I heard a highly accomplished man say, "Those who boast have no merit. The merit which is deemed complete will begin to decay. The fame which is deemed complete will begin to wane." Who can rid himself of (the ideas of) merit and fame, and return and put himself on the level of the masses of men? The practice of the Dao flows abroad, but its master does not care to dwell where it can be seen; his attainments in it hold their course, but he does not wish to appear in its display. Always simple and commonplace, he may seem to be bereft of reason. He obliterates the traces of his action, gives up position and power, and aims not at merit and fame. Therefore he does not censure men, and men do not censure him. The perfect man does not seek to be heard of; how is it that you delight in doing so?'
孔子曰:「善哉!」辭其交遊,去其弟子,逃於大澤;衣裘褐,食杼栗;入獸不亂群,入鳥不亂行。鳥獸不惡,而況人乎!
Confucius said, 'Excellent;' and thereupon he took leave of his associates, forsook his disciples, retired to the neighbourhood of a great marsh, wore skins and hair cloth, and ate acorns and chestnuts. He went among animals without causing any confusion among their herds, and among birds without troubling their movements. Birds and beasts did not dislike him; how much less would men do so!

田子方 - Tian Zi-fang

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《田子方》 Library Resources
2 田子方:
溫伯雪子適齊,舍於魯。魯人有請見之者,溫伯雪子曰:「不可。吾聞中國之君子,明乎禮義而陋於知人心,吾不欲見也。」至於齊,反舍於魯,是人也又請見。溫伯雪子曰:「往也蘄見我,今也又蘄見我,是必有以振我也。」出而見客,入而歎。明日見客,又入而歎。其僕曰:「每見之客也,必入而歎,何邪?」曰:「吾固告子矣:『中國之民,明乎禮義而陋乎知人心。』昔之見我者,進退一成規,一成矩;從容一若龍,一若虎;其諫我也似子,其道我也似父。是以歎也。」
Tian Zi-fang:
Wen-bo Xue-zi, on his way to Qi, stayed some time in Lu, where some persons of the state begged to have an interview with him. He refused them, saying, 'I have heard that the superior men of these Middle States understand the (subjects of) ceremony and righteousness, but are deplorably ignorant of the minds of men. I do not wish to see them.' He went on to Qi; and on his way back (to the south), he again stayed in Lu, when the same persons begged as before for an interview. He then said, 'Formerly they asked to see me, and now again they seek an interview. They will afford me some opportunity of bringing out my sentiments.' He went out accordingly and saw the visitors, and came in again with a sigh. The next day again he saw the visitors, and again came in again with a sigh. His servant said to him, 'Whenever you see those visitors, you are sure to come in again sighing - Why is this?' 'I told you before,' was the reply, 'that the people of these Middle States understand (the subjects of) ceremony and righteousness, but are deplorably ignorant of the minds of men. Those men who have just seen me, as they came in and went out would describe, one a circle and another a square, and in their easy carriage would be like, one a dragon and another a tiger. They remonstrated with me as sons (with their fathers), and laid down the way for me as fathers (for their sons). It was this which made me sigh.'
仲尼見之而不言。子路曰:「吾子欲見溫伯雪子久矣,見之而不言,何邪?」仲尼曰:「若夫人者,目擊而道存矣,亦不可以容聲矣。」
Zhongni saw the man, but did not speak a word to him. Zi-lu said, 'You have wished, Sir, to see this Wen-bo Xue-zi for a long time; what is the reason that when you have seen him, you have not spoken a word?' Zhongni replied, 'As soon as my eyes lighted on that man, the Dao in him was apparent. The situation did not admit of a word being spoken.'

知北遊 - Knowledge Rambling in the North

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《知北遊》 Library Resources
10 知北遊:
冉求問於仲尼曰:「未有天地可知邪?」仲尼曰:「可。古猶今也。」冉求失問而退,明日復見,曰:「昔者吾問『未有天地可知乎』,夫子曰:『可。古猶今也。』昔者吾昭然,今日吾昧然,敢問何謂也?」仲尼曰:「昔之昭然也,神者先受之;今之昧然也,且又為不神者求邪?無古無今,無始無終。未有子孫而有子孫,可乎?」冉求未對。仲尼曰:「已矣,末應矣!不以生生死,不以死死生。死生有待邪?皆有所一體。有先天地生者物邪?物物者非物。物出不得先物也,猶其有物也。猶其有物也,無已。聖人之愛人也終無已者,亦乃取於是者也。」
Knowledge Rambling in the...:
Ran Qiu asked Zhongni, saying, 'Can it be known how it was before heaven and earth?' The reply was, 'It can. It was the same of old as now.' Ran Qiu asked no more and withdrew. Next day, however, he had another interview, and said, 'Yesterday I asked whether it could be known how it was before heaven and earth, and you, Master, said, "It can. As it is now, so it was of old." Yesterday, I seemed to understand you clearly, but to-day it is dark to me. I venture to ask you for an explanation of this.' Zhongni said, 'Yesterday you seemed to understand me clearly, because your own spiritual nature had anticipated my reply. Today it seems dark to you, for you are in an unspiritual mood, and are trying to discover the meaning. (In this matter) there is no old time and no present; no beginning and no ending. Could it be that there were grandchildren and children before there were (other) grandchildren and children?' Ran Qiu had not made any reply, when Zhongni went on, 'Let us have done. There can be no answering (on your part). We cannot with life give life to death; we cannot with death give death to life. Do death and life wait (for each other)? There is that which contains them both in its one comprehension. Was that which was produced before Heaven and Earth a thing? That which made things and gave to each its character was not itself a thing. Things came forth and could not be before things, as if there had (previously) been things - as if there had been things (producing one another) without end. The love of the sages for others, and never coming to an end, is an idea taken from this.'

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