University · Moderate

Chapter 27 Self-cultivation
[Original text]

A gentleman follows his position ① and does not want to be outside of it ②.If you are rich and noble, you will act like rich and noble; if you are poor and lowly, you will follow the poor and lowly;

In the upper position, not under the mausoleum ⑤.In the lower position, do not support ⑥.Righteousness⑦ and not asking for others, then there will be no grievances, no grievances at the top, no grievances at the bottom, ⑧people.Therefore, a gentleman lives in Yi ⑨ to meet his fate, and a villain travels in danger ⑩ to get lucky.

The Master said: "Shooting is like a gentleman B11, losing all righteousness B12, and seeking all things in one's own body instead."

【Note】

① Su Qibit: Be content with your usual position.Su, usually, usually.Position, position, status.

② wish: admiration, envy.Outside: Refers to things outside the standard.

③Yi Di: Yi, refers to the ancient oriental tribes.Di, refers to the ancient Western tribes.

④ into: in.

⑤ Mausoleum: Same as "Ling", bullying.

[-] Aid: Climbing, fawning.

[-] Zhengji: Correct your own conduct.

[-] Especially: Resentment.

[-] Juyi: In an easy and safe situation.Easy, flat land.仙 (sì) life: to wait for the destiny.

[-] Adventure: Adventure.徼 (jiǎo) luck: an attempt to achieve success by chance or avoid misfortune by accident.徼, a variant of "fluke".

Archery is like a gentleman: archery, archery.This sentence uses the principle of archery to describe the principle of a gentleman who "justifies himself and does not ask others".

Missing the target: refers to not hitting the target.Zhenghu (zhēnggǔ), the circle in the center of the target.Those painted on cloth are called "zheng"; those painted on leather are called "hu".Zheng Xuan's note: "The canvas is called Zheng, and the skin on which it rests is called a swan." Lu Deming explained: "Zheng and swan are all the names of birds. One said: Zheng, Zheng also; Shoot Zhang Buhou and establish Zheng Ye."

【Translation】

A gentleman is at ease in his ordinary position, does what he should do, and never envies fame and wealth outside his job.When you are in a position of wealth and honor, do what you should do in a rich and honored position; in a position of poverty, do what you should do in a poor and humble position; What should be done in the position of barbarians; when in adversity, do what should be done in adversity.In this way, no matter what position the gentleman is in, he will not feel uneasy.

A gentleman occupies a superior position and does not bully those who are inferior.A gentleman is in a lower position, and he doesn't go up to those who are in a higher position.Just rectify yourself without demanding others, so that you will have no complaints, and you will not complain about heaven and people below.Therefore, the gentleman keeps himself safe and waits for the blessings of heaven, while the villain tries to take risks and hopes to get lucky.

Confucius said: "The principle of archery is like a gentleman's way (righteousness and not asking others). If the arrow is shot outside the bull's-eye circle, you should turn around and blame yourself."

[Zhu Xi Tips]

RightChapter 14.

【Translation】

Zhu Xi said that the above paragraph is Chapter 14.

(End of this chapter)