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Confucianism -> Liji -> Zhongni Yan Ju -> 9

子張問政，Zi-gong asked about government.
子曰： The Master said,
「師乎！ 'Shi,
前，吾語女乎？ did I not instruct you on that subject before?
君子明於禮樂，The superior man who is well acquainted with ceremonial usages and music
舉而錯之而已。」 has only to take and apply them (in order to practise government).'
子張復問。 Zi-zhang again put the question,
子曰： and the Master said,
「師， 'Shi,
爾以為必鋪几筵， do you think that the stools and mats must be set forth,
升降酌獻酬酢，the hall ascended and descended, the cups filled and offered, the pledge-cup presented and returned,
然後謂之禮乎？ before we can speak of ceremonial usages?
爾以為必行綴兆。 Do you think that there must be the movements of the performers in taking up their positions,
興羽龠， the brandishing of the plumes and fifes,
作鐘鼓，the sounding of the bells and drums
然後謂之樂乎？ before we can speak of music?
言而履之，To speak and to carry into execution what you have spoken
禮也。 is ceremony;
行而樂之，to act and to give and receive pleasure from what you do
樂也。 is music.
君子力此二者以南面而立， The ruler who vigorously pursues these two things may well stand with his face to the south,
夫是以天下太平也。 for thus will great peace and order be secured all under heaven;
諸侯朝， the feudal lords will come to his court;
萬物服體， all things will obtain their proper development and character;
而百官莫敢不承事矣。 and no single officer will dare to shrink from the discharge of his functions.
禮之所興， Where such ceremony prevails,
眾之所治也； all government is well ordered;
禮之所廢， where it is neglected,
眾之所亂也。 all falls into disorder and confusion.
目巧之室，A house made by a good (though unassisted) eye
則有奧阼，will yet have the corner of honour, and the steps on the east for the host to ascend by;
席則有上下， every mat have its upper and lower end;
車則有左右， every chariot have its right side and left;
行則有隨， walkers follow one another,
立則有序， and those who stand observe a certain order
古之義也。- such were the right rules of antiquity.
室而無奧阼， If an apartment were made without the corner of honour and the steps on the east,
則亂於堂室也。 there would be confusion in the hall and apartment.
席而無上下， If mats had not their upper and lower ends,
則亂於席上也。 there would be confusion among the occupants of them;
車而無左右， if carriages were made without their left side and right,
則亂於車也。 there would be confusion in their seats;
行而無隨， if people did not follow one another in walking,
則亂於涂也。 there would be confusion on the roads;
立而無序， if people observed no order in standing,
則亂於位也。 there would be disorder in the places they occupy.
昔聖帝明王諸侯， Anciently the sage Dis and intelligent kings and the feudal lords,
辨貴賤、長幼、遠近、男女、外內，in making a distinction between noble and mean, old and young, remote and near, male and female, outside and inside,
莫敢相逾越， did not presume to allow any to transgress the regular rule they had to observe,
皆由此涂出也。」 but all proceeded in the path which has been indicated.'
三子者，既得聞此言也於夫子， When the three disciples had heard these words from the Master,
昭然若發矇矣。 they saw clearly as if a film had been removed from their eyes.

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