University · Moderate

Chapter 43 Discernment
[Original text]

There are three levels of kings in the world, and there are too few of them!Shangyan ②, although good, there is no sign; no sign is not believed;Those who are inferior ③, although good, do not respect ④; do not respect, do not believe; do not believe in people, and do not obey.Therefore, the way of a gentleman is based on the body, conquers the common people, examines the three kings without being confused⑤, establishes the heavens and the earth without being in conflict⑥, confronts the ghosts and gods without doubting them⑦, and waits for a sage for a hundred generations without being confused⑧.To question ghosts and gods without any doubts is to know heaven; to be a sage without confusion for a hundred generations is to know people.

Therefore, the gentleman moves and the world is the way of the world, the world is the law of the world by action, and the world is the law of the world by speaking.If you are far away, you will be hopeful, and if you are close, you will never tire.

"Poetry" said ⑩: "There is no evil B11 there, and there is no shooting B12 here. Shu Ji Su Ye B13, and will be forever honored B14."

【Note】

① There are three levels of kings in the world: Wang (wàng), who becomes a king and rules the world.Wang is a verb.Sanzhong, three important things, refers to the etiquette, system, and text mentioned in the previous chapter.

②Shangyan: Refers to the person in the upper position.

③ Xiayan: Refers to the person in the next position.

④ Disrespect: No honorable status.

⑤ Examining the Three Kings but Not Miu: It means that the way of a gentleman conforms to the rules established by the ancient three kings.The Three Kings refer to the kings of Xia Yu, Shang Tang, and Zhou Wen.Miao, same as "miù (miù)", wrong.Zhu, "to" is a chorus.

⑥ Build the heavens and the earth without contradicting: refers to the way of a gentleman conforming to the way of heaven and earth.Establish.Paradox (bèi), violate.

⑦ There is no doubt about ghosts and gods: "The Doctrine of the Mean" believes that ghosts and gods are not suspicious, that is, they are in line with the way of heaven.Quality, proof, assurance.The other is called questioning and divination.

[-] Not confused: not confused, not opposed.

[-] Look: Looking up, admiring, admiring.

⑩ "Poetry" said: These four poems come from "Book of Songs Zhou Song Zhenlu".This poem is a song sung at the banquet when the king of Zhou hosted a banquet for the princes who came to the court.One said it was a poem praising Song Guowei.

There is no evil here: He, the country where the princes are located, one said it was in the Song Dynasty.No evil (wù), no one hates.This sentence means: The princes are diligent in political affairs, and no one in the country hates them.

⑥There is no shot here: Here, the location of King Zhou refers to the court.No shot (yì), no hatred.Shooting, "斁" in "The Book of Songs", detests, hates.This sentence means that when the princes came to the court to meet the emperor, no one in the court hated him.

Shu Ji Su Ye: Shu Ji, almost.Su (sù) night, sooner or later, still said to get up early and go to bed late.This sentence means that the princes get up early and go to bed late, and are diligent in political affairs.

Yiyong end reputation: forever, long.Finally, keep.Another said: Tong "zhong" is a borrowed word for the public.Honor, honor, praise.This sentence means that the princes can be praised by everyone for a long time.

Flea (zǎo): Tong "早", under the guise of the word.

【Translation】

There are three important things for a king to rule the world, which are "discussion of etiquette, system, and examination of texts". If he does well, his faults will be reduced.People in high positions have good morals but they are not verified. Without verification, they are not sure, and if they are not sure, they cannot win the trust of the people.People in inferior positions may have good moral character, but they are not honorable. If they are not honorable, they will not be down-to-earth, and if they are not down-to-earth, they will not be able to win the trust of the people.Therefore, the reason for a gentleman to rule the world is: to take his own moral cultivation as the foundation, and to be verified and trusted by the people.It should be checked with the etiquette and system of the ancient kings of Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties, and there will be no fallacies. There will be no contradiction between heaven and earth.

If there is nothing suspicious about divination and asking ghosts and gods, this is to understand the will of heaven; to not be confused when a sage appears after a hundred generations is to understand the will of man.

Therefore, the actions of a gentleman can become the law of the world for generations, the actions of a gentleman can become the law of the world for generations, and the words of a gentleman can become the norms of the world for generations.Those who are far away have a heart of admiration, and those who are close will not feel disgusted.

"The Book of Songs" says: "The princes are hated by no one in the country, and they are not hated by others when they are in the court. Get up early and go to bed late to work hard, and everyone praises and praises the name." A gentleman has always done these things first, but his reputation has long been spread throughout the world. of.

[Zhu Xi Tips]

RightChapter 29.

【Translation】

Zhu Xi said that the above paragraph is Chapter 29.

(End of this chapter)