DOI article:
Waley, Arthur: Confucius
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29343#0016
to make it clear that his plea of sickness had reluctantly confessed that his wish would be,
been a polite fiction. The Rev.W. E. Soothill “Towardstheendof Springtogo in myspring-
remarks in his edition of the Analects: “That clothes with five or six young men and bathe
such laxity on the part of China’s noblest Ex- in the river: enjoy the wind among the Rain
emplar has fostered that disregard for truth for Altars, and go home singing.”
whichthis nation is so notori-
ous, can hardly be denied.”
He had occasional
outbursts of petu-
lance or whimsical-
ity. He once said
“My doctrines
make no progress. I
will get upon a raft
and float to sea.”
Heand his disciples
sometimes played at
the game of cLet’s
Pretend.’ £CIf your
wishes could come
true,”heonceasked
them, ccwhat would
you desire?” CCI
should like to have
carriages and ASTAROTH
horses,”said thediscipleTzu Lu,ccandlightfurs
to wear; to be able to share them freely with my
friends and to be so rich that it would not matter
if I spoilt them. May we hear the Master’s
wishes?”
CCI would wish,” replied Confucius,cc to com-
fort the aged, support my friends and cherish
the young.” Another time when this game was
played, the disciples, taking a lesson from Con-
fucius’s elevated reply on the occasion just
described, vied with one another in virtuous
and altruistic wishes . . . all except Tien who
The Master heaved a deep sigh
and said CCI am with Tien.”
IFanyonewishes
toacquainthim-
self withthesys-
tem of conduct
which Confucius
desired to perpetu-
ate, let him read the
Li Chi or Book of
Rites, particularly
the chapter on Do-
mestic Virtue. Pere
Couvreur’s transla-
tion is the best.
The classical Chi-
nese household, for
adults a hell of in-
significant duties
Ao.spARE andminuteroutine,
was apparently a children’s Paradise.
ccChildren,” we read, ccmay get up and go to
bed when they please. They need not appear
punctually at meals.”
Sometimes the advice given seems almost un-
necessary. As for example in Book i 5 : ccWhen
one is visiting a distinguished man and notices
that he is yawning or stretching his legs,
fiddling with his jade tablets, rubbing the hilt
of his sword, twiddling his shoes, askingwhat
o’clock it is, one may without breach of etiquette
take steps to bring one’s visit to a close.
been a polite fiction. The Rev.W. E. Soothill “Towardstheendof Springtogo in myspring-
remarks in his edition of the Analects: “That clothes with five or six young men and bathe
such laxity on the part of China’s noblest Ex- in the river: enjoy the wind among the Rain
emplar has fostered that disregard for truth for Altars, and go home singing.”
whichthis nation is so notori-
ous, can hardly be denied.”
He had occasional
outbursts of petu-
lance or whimsical-
ity. He once said
“My doctrines
make no progress. I
will get upon a raft
and float to sea.”
Heand his disciples
sometimes played at
the game of cLet’s
Pretend.’ £CIf your
wishes could come
true,”heonceasked
them, ccwhat would
you desire?” CCI
should like to have
carriages and ASTAROTH
horses,”said thediscipleTzu Lu,ccandlightfurs
to wear; to be able to share them freely with my
friends and to be so rich that it would not matter
if I spoilt them. May we hear the Master’s
wishes?”
CCI would wish,” replied Confucius,cc to com-
fort the aged, support my friends and cherish
the young.” Another time when this game was
played, the disciples, taking a lesson from Con-
fucius’s elevated reply on the occasion just
described, vied with one another in virtuous
and altruistic wishes . . . all except Tien who
The Master heaved a deep sigh
and said CCI am with Tien.”
IFanyonewishes
toacquainthim-
self withthesys-
tem of conduct
which Confucius
desired to perpetu-
ate, let him read the
Li Chi or Book of
Rites, particularly
the chapter on Do-
mestic Virtue. Pere
Couvreur’s transla-
tion is the best.
The classical Chi-
nese household, for
adults a hell of in-
significant duties
Ao.spARE andminuteroutine,
was apparently a children’s Paradise.
ccChildren,” we read, ccmay get up and go to
bed when they please. They need not appear
punctually at meals.”
Sometimes the advice given seems almost un-
necessary. As for example in Book i 5 : ccWhen
one is visiting a distinguished man and notices
that he is yawning or stretching his legs,
fiddling with his jade tablets, rubbing the hilt
of his sword, twiddling his shoes, askingwhat
o’clock it is, one may without breach of etiquette
take steps to bring one’s visit to a close.