University · Moderate

Chapter 5 Interpretation of the Chapter "End of Perfection"
[Original text]

"Poetry" cloud ①: "The country is thousands of miles away, and the people of the Wei Dynasty stop ②."

"Poetry" says: "The savage yellow bird is right in the corner of the hill ③." Zi ④ said: "Stop at ⑤, know where it stops, can you be a human instead of a bird?"

"Poetry" cloud ⑥: "King Mu Muwen, stop at Jixi and respect." To be a ruler, stop with benevolence; to be a minister, stop with respect; to be a son, stop with filial piety; Yu Xin.

【Note】

① "Poetry" cloud sentence: see "Book of Songs Shang Song Xuan Niao".Bangji (jī), in ancient times, refers to the territory directly belonging to the emperor.That is, the capital where the king lives and the surrounding areas under his jurisdiction.Thousands of miles, thousands of miles around.

②Dimension: still "for".Stop: live.These two lines are quoted from The Book of Songs.It was originally a song sung during sacrifices, and it is also a short epic poem. The poem narrates the legend of the birth of Qi, the ancestor of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, and the achievements of Cheng Tang in establishing the king's business and Wu Ding's revival.These two poems are quoted here to explain that everything should have a place.

③ Manman: The sound of birds.缗, the original poem is "Mian".See "Book of Songs Xiaoya Mianman".Stop, perch.In the corner of the hill, there are many tree-filled earth and hills.

④ Son: Confucius.The meaning of this passage of Confucius is that all birds know where they should inhabit, so people should strive to achieve the highest state of beauty.

[-] Yu: Same as Yu, the ancient character of Wu, an interjection.

⑥ Poetry cloud sentence: King Wen, King Wen of Zhou.Mu Mu, dignified, dignified and respectful.Go ahead and go on.Hee, bright.Stop, modal particle.These two poems are quoted from the "Book of Songs Daya King Wen".

【Translation】

The "Book of Songs" says: "Kyoto has a vast territory and a radius of thousands of miles, and many people would like to live there."

The "Book of Songs" says: "The yellow bird sang 'Mian Man' and perched on the hill with many trees." Confucius read these two poems and said with emotion: "Oh, when the yellow bird lives, it knows that it lives on it. Is man not as good as a bird in the place where he should inhabit?"

The "Book of Songs" says: "King Wen of Zhou, who is dignified and dignified, is respected by all people for his bright virtues." As a monarch, his words and deeds should be benevolent; as a subject, his words and deeds should be respectful; , his words and deeds must conform to filial piety; as a father, his words and deeds must reflect love, and he must stick to faith when interacting with the people of his country.

[Original text]

"Poetry" says ①: "Looking at Qi'ao, vegetables and bamboos are Yi ②. There are gentlemen of Fei, such as cutting like shaving, such as cutting like grinding ③, seizing Dong, and being noisy. There are gentlemen, don't make noise Xi!" Those who are "cutting like learning" are Taoism; those who are "cutting like grinding" are self-study; There is a gentleman of Fei, and he will never be friendly with him." Those who have the highest morality and goodness can never be forgotten by the people.

【Note】

① Cloud sentence in "Poetry": See "Book of Songs·Wei Feng·Qi'ao".The first paragraph of this quotation is to regard it as a tribute to Wei Wugong, so the translation and annotation here take the meaning of "Great Learning".

②Qi'ao: Qi, refers to Qishui, in the northern part of Henan Province, which belonged to Weiguo in ancient times.Ao (yù) refers to the place where the river bank bends.Yiyi (yīyī), the appearance of a plant growing shiny and lush.

③ Fei: There is a literary look.Brilliant and brilliant.Gentleman: Refers to Wei Wugong.Such as cutting like learning: cutting, cutting with a knife, learning, flattening with a file.Cutting like grinding: cutting, carving with a knife.To grind, to polish with sand.The above "cutting, consultation, cutting, and grinding" are originally different techniques for smelting jade, stone, and bone elephant ware in ancient times. "Erya·Shiqi" says: "Bones are called cutting, elephants are called grinding, jade is called cutting, and stones are called grinding." Meticulous.It means that self-cultivation should be as fine as pondering jade, and it should be refined endlessly.

④ Se: Here it means solemn.Se, a borrowed word for Xie, originally used to describe the appearance of freshness and cleanliness.According to "Shuowen·Yubu", it is quoted as "璱".僴 (xiàn): Describes an open-minded appearance, here is a mighty and majestic appearance.He: bright, brilliant.Xuan: Tong "Xuan", grand, prominent.Noisy: "谖" in "The Book of Songs", forgetting, forgetting.Xun Li: panic, fear.Here is a look of humility and prudence.

【Translation】

"The Book of Songs" says: "Looking at the curved place on the bank of the Qi River, the green bamboo is lush and moist. The gentleman Wei Wugong, who is full of literary talent, is as rigorous and meticulous in his studies as cutting a bone; his self-cultivation is like The jade is so finely crafted, and he keeps improving. His appearance is solemn and majestic, and his moral character is brilliant. The gentleman Wei Wugong, who is full of literary talents, will never be forgotten for life!"

In the poem, "like cutting like learning" is a metaphor for studying meticulously; "like cutting like grinding" is a metaphor for cultivating virtue; There is a gentleman in Fei, so don’t make noise in the end.” It means that Wei Wugong has the good character of a gentleman, and his virtue has reached a perfect state. Of course, the common people will not forget him.

[Original text]

"Poetry" says ①: "In the play! The former king will never forget."

【Note】

① Cloud sentence in "Poetry": See "Book of Songs · Zhou Song · Lie Wen".Yuxi: That is "yuxi (wūhū)", the sound and meaning are the same as "woohu", an interjection, which is equivalent to "oops" in modern Chinese.Former King: Refers to King Wen of Zhou.This refers to the ancient sage kings.

②Xian Qixian: The former word "Xian" is used as a verb, meaning respect.The latter word "Xian" is used as a noun, referring to a wise gentleman.Kiss one's relatives: the former word "qin" means dear, and the latter word "qin" means relatives.

③Leqile: The two characters "乐" (luò) both mean "happiness".The former word "le" is used as a verb, meaning to enjoy the joy of the villain.Liqili: The first word "li" is used as a verb, meaning to benefit the common people.The latter word "利" means benefit.This to: therefore.No world: forever, forever.

【Translation】

The "Book of Songs" says: "Alas, the virtues of the former virtuous kings will never be forgotten." The peace that came down, gained the benefits that were left behind.Therefore, this is the reason why the virtuous kings of the previous generation will last forever and not be forgotten by people.

[Zhu Xi Tips]

The three chapters of the right biography explain "stopping at the ultimate good".

【Translation】

Zhu Xi said that the above paragraph is Chapter 3 of Chuanwen, explaining "stopping at the ultimate good".

(End of this chapter)