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道家 - Daoism

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莊子 - Zhuangzi

[Warring States] 350 BC-250 BC English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《莊子》 Library Resources
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[Also known as: 《南華真經》]

內篇 - Inner Chapters

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources

齊物論 - The Adjustment of Controversies

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《齊物論》 Library Resources
6 齊物論:
以指喻指之非指,不若以非指喻指之非指也;以馬喻馬之非馬,不若以非馬喻馬之非馬也。天地,一指也;萬物,一馬也。
可乎可,不可乎不可。道行之而成,物謂之而然。惡乎然?然於然。惡乎不然?不然於不然。物固有所然,物固有所可。無物不然,無物不可。故為是舉莛與楹,厲與西施,恢恑憰怪,道通為一。
其分也,成也;其成也,毀也。凡物無成與毀,復通為一。唯達者知通為一,為是不用而寓諸庸。庸也者,用也;用也者,通也;通也者,得也。適得而幾矣。因是已。已而不知其然,謂之道。勞神明為一,而不知其同也,謂之朝三。何謂朝三?曰狙公賦芧,曰:「朝三而莫四。」眾狙皆怒。曰:「然則朝四而莫三。」眾狙皆悅。名實未虧,而喜怒為用,亦因是也。是以聖人和之以是非,而休乎天鈞,是之謂行。
The Adjustment of Controversies:...:
By means of a finger (of my own) to illustrate that the finger (of another) is not a finger is not so good a plan as to illustrate that it is not so by means of what is (acknowledged to be) not a finger; and by means of (what I call) a horse to illustrate that (what another calls) a horse is not so, is not so good a plan as to illustrate that it is not a horse, by means of what is (acknowledged to be) not a horse. (All things in) heaven and earth may be (dealt with as) a finger; (each of) their myriads may be (dealt with as) a horse.
Does a thing seem so to me? (I say that) it is so. Does it seem not so to me? (I say that) it is not so. A path is formed by (constant) treading on the ground. A thing is called by its name through the (constant) application of the name to it. How is it so? It is so because it is so. How is it not so? It is not so, because it is not so. Everything has its inherent character and its proper capability. There is nothing which has not these. Therefore, this being so, if we take a stalk of grain and a (large) pillar, a loathsome (leper) and (a beauty like) Xi Shi, things large and things insecure, things crafty and things strange; they may in the light of the Dao all be reduced to the same category (of opinion about them).
It was separation that led to completion; from completion ensued dissolution. But all things, without regard to their completion and dissolution, may again be comprehended in their unity - it is only the far reaching in thought who know how to comprehend them in this unity. This being so, let us give up our devotion to our own views, and occupy ourselves with the ordinary views. These ordinary views are grounded on the use of things. (The study of that) use leads to the comprehensive judgment, and that judgment secures the success (of the inquiry). That success gained, we are near (to the object of our search), and there we stop. When we stop, and yet we do not know how it is so, we have what is called the Dao. When we toil our spirits and intelligence, obstinately determined (to establish our own view), and do not know the agreement (which underlies it and the views of others), we have what is called 'In the morning three.' What is meant by that 'In the morning three?' A keeper of monkeys, in giving them out their acorns, (once) said, 'In the morning I will give you three (measures) and in the evening four.' This made them all angry, and he said, 'Very well. In the morning I will give you four and in the evening three.' The monkeys were all pleased. His two proposals were substantially the same, but the result of the one was to make the creatures angry, and of the other to make them pleased - an illustration of the point I am insisting on. Therefore the sagely man brings together a dispute in its affirmations and denials, and rests in the equal fashioning of Heaven. Both sides of the question are admissible.

13 齊物論:
問景曰:「曩子行,今子止,曩子坐,今子起,何其無特操與?」景曰:「吾有待而然者邪!吾所待又有待而然者邪!吾待蛇蚹、蜩翼邪!惡識所以然?惡識所以不然?」
The Adjustment of Controversies:...:
The Penumbra asked the Shadow, saying, 'Formerly you were walking on, and now you have stopped; formerly you were sitting, and now you have risen up - how is it that you are so without stability?' The Shadow replied, 'I wait for the movements of something else to do what I do, and that something else on which I wait waits further on another to do as it does. My waiting, is it for the scales of a snake, or the wings of a cicada? How should I know why I do one thing, or do not do another?

人間世 - Man in the World, Associated with other Men

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《人間世》 Library Resources
3 人間世:
葉公子高將使於齊,問於仲尼曰:「王使諸梁也甚重,齊之待使者,蓋將甚敬而不急。匹夫猶未可動,而況諸侯乎!吾甚慄之。子常語諸梁也,曰:『凡事若小若大,寡不道以懽成。事若不成,則必有人道之患;事若成,則必有陰陽之患。若成若不成而後無患者,唯有德者能之。』吾食也,執粗而不臧,爨無欲清之人。今吾朝受命而夕飲冰,我其內熱與!吾未至乎事之情,而既有陰陽之患矣;事若不成,必有人道之患。是也,為人臣者不足以任之,子其有以語我來!」仲尼曰:「天下有大戒二:其一,命也;其一,義也。子之愛親,命也,不可解於心;臣之事君,義也,無適而非君也,無所逃於天地之間。是之謂大戒。是以夫事其親者,不擇地而安之,孝之至也;夫事其君者,不擇事而安之,忠之盛也;自事其心者,哀樂不易施乎前,知其不可奈何而安之若命,德之至也。為人臣子者,固有所不得已,行事之情而忘其身,何暇至於悅生而惡死!夫子其行可矣!丘請復以所聞:凡交,近則必相靡以信,遠則必忠之以言,言必或傳之。夫傳怒之言,天下之難者也。夫喜必多溢美之言,怒必多溢惡之言。凡溢之類妄,妄則其信之也莫,莫則傳言者殃。故法言曰:『傳其常情,無傳其溢言,則幾乎全。』且以巧鬥力者,始乎陽,常卒乎陰,大至則多奇巧;以禮飲酒者,始乎治,常卒乎亂,大至則多奇樂。凡事亦然。始乎諒,常卒乎鄙;其作始也簡,其將畢也必巨。夫言者,風波也;行者,實喪也。風波易以動,實喪易以危。故忿設無由,巧言偏辭。獸死不擇音,氣息茀然,於是並生心厲。剋核大至,則必有不肖之心應之,而不知其然也。苟為不知其然也,孰知其所終!故法言曰:『無遷令,無勸成。』過度,益也。遷令、勸成殆事,美成在久,惡成不及改,可不慎與!且夫乘物以遊心,託不得已以養中,至矣。何作為報也!莫若為致命。此其難者。」
Man in the World,...:
Zi Gao, duke of She, being about to proceed on a mission to Qi, asked Zhongni, saying, 'The king is sending me, Zhu Liang, on a mission which is very important. Qi will probably treat me as his commissioner with great respect, but it will not be in a hurry (to attend to the business). Even an ordinary man cannot be readily moved (to action), and how much less the prince of a state! I am very full of apprehension. You, Sir, once said to me that of all things, great or small, there were few which, if not conducted in the proper way, could be brought to a happy conclusion; that, if the thing were not successful, there was sure to be the evil of being dealt with after the manner of men; that, if it were successful, there was sure to be the evil of constant anxiety; and that, whether it succeeded or not, it was only the virtuous man who could secure its not being followed by evil. In my diet I take what is coarse, and do not seek delicacies - a man whose cookery does not require him to be using cooling drinks. This morning I received my charge, and in the evening I am drinking iced water; am I not feeling the internal heat (and discomfort)? Such is my state before I have actually engaged in the affair; I am already suffering from conflicting anxieties. And if the thing do not succeed, (the king) is sure to deal with me after the manner of men. The evil is twofold; as a minister, I am not able to bear the burden (of the mission). Can you, Sir, tell me something (to help me in the case)?'
Zhongni replied, 'In all things under heaven there are two great cautionary considerations: the one is the requirement implanted (in the nature); the other is the conviction of what is right. The love of a son for his parents is the implanted requirement, and can never be separated from his heart; the service of his ruler by a minister is what is right, and from its obligation there is no escaping anywhere between heaven and earth. These are what are called the great cautionary considerations. Therefore a son finds his rest in serving his parents without reference to or choice of place; and this is the height of filial duty. In the same way a subject finds his rest in serving his ruler, without reference to or choice of the business; and this is the fullest discharge of loyalty. When men are simply obeying (the dictates of) their hearts, the considerations of grief and joy are not readily set before them. They know that there is no alternative to their acting as they do, and rest in it as what is appointed; and this is the highest achievement of virtue. He who is in the position of a minister or of a son has indeed to do what he cannot but do. Occupied with the details of the business (in hand), and forgetful of his own person, what leisure has he to think of his pleasure in living or his dislike of death? You, my master, may well proceed on your mission. But let me repeat to you what I have heard: In all intercourse (between states), if they are near to each other, there should be mutual friendliness, verified by deeds; if they are far apart, there must be sincere adherence to truth in their messages. Those messages will be transmitted by internuncios. But to convey messages which express the complacence or the dissatisfaction of the two parties is the most difficult thing in the world. If they be those of mutual complacence, there is sure to be an overflow of expressions of satisfaction; if of mutual dissatisfaction, an overflow of expressions of dislike. But all extravagance leads to reckless language, and such language fails to command belief. When this distrust arises, woe to the internuncio! Hence the Rules for Speech say, "Transmit the message exactly as it stands; do not transmit it with any overflow of language; so is (the internuncio) likely to keep himself whole."
Moreover, skilful wrestlers begin with open trials of strength, but always end with masked attempts (to gain the victory); as their excitement grows excessive, they display much wonderful dexterity. Parties drinking according to the rules at first observe good order, but always end with disorder; as their excitement grows excessive, their fun becomes uproarious. In all things it is so. People are at first sincere, but always end with becoming rude; at the commencement things are treated as trivial, but as the end draws near, they assume great proportions. Words are (like) the waves acted on by the wind; the real point of the matters (discussed by them) is lost. The wind and waves are easily set in motion; the success of the matter of which the real point is lost is easily put in peril. Hence quarrels are occasioned by nothing so much as by artful words and one-sided speeches. The breath comes angrily, as when a beast, driven to death, wildly bellows forth its rage. On this animosities arise on both sides. Hasty examination (of the case) eagerly proceeds, and revengeful thoughts arise in their minds; they do not know how. Since they do not know how such thoughts arise, who knows how they will end? Hence the Rules for Speech say, "Let not an internuncius depart from his instructions. Let him not urge on a settlement. If he go beyond the regular rules, he will complicate matters. Departing from his instructions and urging on a settlement imperils negotiations. A good settlement is proved by its lasting long, and a bad settlement cannot be altered - ought he not to be careful?"
Further still, let your mind find its enjoyment in the circumstances of your position; nourish the central course which you pursue, by a reference to your unavoidable obligations. This is the highest object for you to pursue; what else can you do to fulfil the charge (of your father and ruler). The best thing you can do is to be prepared to sacrifice your life; and this is the most difficult thing to do.'

7 人間世:
支離疏者,頤隱於臍,肩高於頂,會撮指天,五管在上,髀為脅。挫鍼治繲,足以餬口;鼓筴播精,足以食十人。上徵武士,則支離攘臂而遊於其間;上有大役,則支離以有常疾不受功;上與病者粟,則受三鐘與十束薪。夫支離其形者,猶足以養其身,終其天年,又況支離其德者乎!」
Man in the World,...:
There was the deformed object Shu. His chin seemed to hide his navel; his shoulders were higher than the crown of his head; the knot of his hair pointed to the sky; his five viscera were all compressed into the upper part of his body, and his two thigh bones were like ribs. By sharpening needles and washing clothes he was able to make a living. By sifting rice and cleaning it, he was able to support ten individuals. When the government was calling out soldiers, this poor Shu would bare his arms among the others; when it had any great service to be undertaken, because of his constant ailments, none of the work was assigned to him; when it was giving out grain to the sick, he received three kung, and ten bundles of firewood. If this poor man, so deformed in body, was still able to support himself, and complete his term of life, how much more may they do so, whose deformity is that of their faculties!

大宗師 - The Great and Most Honoured Master

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《大宗師》 Library Resources
2 大宗師:
死生,命也,其有夜旦之常,天也。人之有所不得與,皆物之情也。彼特以天為父,而身猶愛之,而況其卓乎!人特以有君為愈乎己,而身猶死之,而況其真乎!泉涸,魚相與處於陸,相呴以溼,相濡以沫,不如相忘於江湖。與其譽堯而非桀,不如忘而化其道。夫大塊載我以形,勞我以生,佚我以老,息我以死。故善吾生者,乃所以善吾死也。夫藏舟於壑,藏山於澤,謂之固矣。然而夜半有力者負之而走,昧者不知也。藏大小有宜,猶有所遯。若夫藏天下於天下,而不得所遯,是恆物之大情也。特犯人之形而猶喜之,若人之形者,萬化而未始有極也,其為樂可勝計邪!故聖人將遊於物之所不得遯而皆存。善妖善老,善始善終,人猶效之,又況萬物之所係,而一化之所待乎!
The Great and Most...:
Death and life are ordained, just as we have the constant succession of night and day - in both cases from Heaven. Men have no power to do anything in reference to them - such is the constitution of things. There are those who specially regard Heaven as their father, and they still love It (distant as It is); how much more should they love That which stands out (Superior and Alone)! Some specially regard their ruler as superior to themselves, and will give their bodies to die for him; how much more should they do so for That which is their true (Ruler)! When the springs are dried up, the fishes collect together on the land. Than that they should moisten one another there by the damp about them, and keep one another wet by their slime, it would be better for them to forget one another in the rivers and lakes. And when men praise Yao and condemn Jie, it would be better to forget them both, and seek the renovation of the Dao.
There is the great Mass (of nature) - I find the support of my body on it; my life is spent in toil on it; my old age seeks ease on it; at death I find rest in it - what makes my life a good makes my death also a good. If you hide away a boat in the ravine of a hill, and hide away the hill in a lake, you will say that (the boat) is secure; but at midnight there shall come a strong man and carry it off on his back, while you in the dark know nothing about it. You may hide away anything, whether small or great, in the most suitable place, and yet it shall disappear from it. But if you could hide the world in the world, so that there was nowhere to which it could be removed, this would be the grand reality of the ever-during Thing. When the body of man comes from its special mould, there is even then occasion for joy; but this body undergoes a myriad transformations, and does not immediately reach its perfection; does it not thus afford occasion for joys incalculable? Therefore the sagely man enjoys himself in that from which there is no possibility of separation, and by which all things are preserved. He considers early death or old age, his beginning and his ending, all to be good, and in this other men imitate him; how much more will they do so in regard to That Itself on which all things depend, and from which every transformation arises!

外篇 - Outer Chapters

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources

秋水 - The Floods of Autumn

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《秋水》 Library Resources
1 秋水:
秋水時至,百川灌河,涇流之大,涘渚崖之間,不辯牛馬。於是焉河伯欣然自喜,以天下之美為盡在己。順流而東行,至於北海,東面而視,不見水端,於是焉河伯始旋其面目,望洋向若而歎,曰:「野語有之曰『聞道百,以為莫己若』者,我之謂也。且夫我嘗聞少仲尼之聞而輕伯夷之義者,始吾弗信,今我睹子之難窮也,吾非至於子之門則殆矣,吾長見笑於大方之家。」
The Floods of Autumn:...:
The time of the autumnal floods was come, and the hundred streams were all discharging themselves into the He. Its current was greatly swollen, so that across its channel from bank to bank one could not distinguish an ox from a horse. On this the (Spirit-) earl of the He laughed with delight, thinking that all the beauty of the world was to be found in his charge. Along the course of the river he walked east till he came to the North Sea, over which he looked, with his face to the east, without being able to see where its waters began. Then he began to turn his face round, looked across the expanse, (as if he were) confronting Ruo, and said with a sigh, 'What the vulgar saying expresses about him who has learned a hundred points (of the Dao), and thinks that there is no one equal to himself, was surely spoken of me. And moreover, I have heard parties making little of the knowledge of Zhongni and the righteousness of Bo-yi, and at first I did not believe them. Now I behold the all-but-boundless extent (of your realms). If I had not come to your gate, I should have been in danger (of continuing in my ignorance), and been laughed at for long in the schools of our great System.'

至樂 - Perfect Enjoyment

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《至樂》 Library Resources
1 至樂:
天下有至樂無有哉?有可以活身者無有哉?今奚為奚據?奚避奚處?奚就奚去?奚樂奚惡?
Perfect Enjoyment:
Under the sky is perfect enjoyment to be found or not? Are there any who can preserve themselves alive or not? If there be, what do they do? What do they maintain? What do they avoid? What do they attend to? Where do they resort to? Where do they keep from? What do they delight in? What do they dislike?
夫天下之所尊者,富貴壽善也;所樂者,身安、厚味、美服、好色、音聲也;所下者,貧賤夭惡也;所苦者,身不得安逸,口不得厚味,形不得美服,目不得好色,耳不得音聲;若不得者,則大憂以懼。其為形也亦愚哉!
What the world honours is riches, dignities, lonevity, and being deemed able. What it delights in is rest for the body, rich flavours, fine garments, beautiful colours, and pleasant music. What it looks down on are poverty and mean condition, short life and being deemed feeble. What men consider bitter experiences are that their bodies do not get rest and ease, that their mouths do not get food of rich flavour, that their persons are not finely clothed, that their eyes do not see beautiful colours, and that their ears do not listen to pleasant music. If they do not got these things, they are very sorrowful, and go on to be troubled with fears. Their thoughts are all about the body - are they not silly?
夫富者,苦身疾作,多積財而不得盡用,其為形也亦外矣。夫貴者,夜以繼日,思慮善否,其為形也亦疏矣。人之生也,與憂俱生,壽者惛惛,久憂不死,何苦也!其為形也亦遠矣。烈士為天下見善矣,未足以活身。吾未知善之誠善邪,誠不善邪?若以為善矣,不足活身;以為不善矣,足以活人。故曰:「忠諫不聽,蹲循勿爭。」故夫子胥爭之以殘其形,不爭,名亦不成。誠有善無有哉?今俗之所為與其所樂,吾又未知樂之果樂邪,果不樂邪?吾觀夫俗之所樂,舉群趣者,誙誙然如將不得已,而皆曰樂者,吾未之樂也,亦未之不樂也。果有樂無有哉?吾以無為誠樂矣,又俗之所大苦也。故曰:「至樂無樂,至譽無譽。」
Now the rich embitter their lives by their incessant labours; they accumulate more wealth than they can use: while they act thus for the body, they make it external to themselves. Those who seek for honours carry their pursuit of them from the day into the night, full of anxiety about their methods whether they are skilful or not: while they act thus for the body they treat it as if it were indifferent to them. The birth of man is at the same time the birth of his sorrow; and if he live long he becomes more and more stupid, and the longer is his anxiety that he may not die; how great is his bitterness!-- while he thus acts for his body, it is for a distant result. Meritorious officers are regarded by the world as good; but (their goodness) is not sufficient to keep their persons alive. I do not know whether the goodness ascribed to them be really good or really not good. If indeed it be considered good, it is not sufficient to preserve their persons alive; if it be deemed not good, it is sufficient to preserve other men alive. Hence it is said, 'When faithful remonstrances are not listened to, (the remonstrant) should sit still, let (his ruler) take his course, and not strive with him.' Therefore when Zi-xu strove with (his ruler), he brought on himself the mutilation of his body. If he had not so striven, he would not have acquired his fame: was such (goodness) really good or was it not? As to what the common people now do, and what they find their enjoyment in, I do not know whether the enjoyment be really enjoyment or really not. I see them in their pursuit of it following after all their aims as if with the determination of death, and as if they could not stop in their course; but what they call enjoyment would not be so to me, while yet I do not say that there is no enjoyment in it. Is there indeed such enjoyment, or is there not? I consider doing nothing (to obtain it) to be the great enjoyment, while ordinarily people consider it to be a great evil. Hence it is said, 'Perfect enjoyment is to be without enjoyment; the highest praise is to be without praise.'
天下是非果未可定也。雖然,無為可以定是非。至樂活身,唯無為幾存。請嘗試言之。天無為以之清,地無為以之寧,故無為相合,萬物皆化。芒乎芴乎,而無從出乎!芴乎芒乎,而無有象乎!萬物職職,皆從無為殖。故曰:「天地無為也,而無不為也。」人也,孰能得無為哉!
The right and the wrong (on this point of enjoyment) cannot indeed be determined according to (the view of) the world; nevertheless, this doing nothing (to obtain it) may determine the right and the wrong. Since perfect enjoyment is (held to be) the keeping the body alive, it is only by this doing nothing that that end is likely to be secured. Allow me to try and explain this (more fully): Heaven does nothing, and thence comes its serenity; Earth does nothing, and thence comes its rest. By the union of these two inactivities, all things are produced. How vast and imperceptible is the process!-- they seem to come from nowhere! How imperceptible and vast!-- there is no visible image of it! All things in all their variety grow from this Inaction. Hence it is said, 'Heaven and Earth do nothing, and yet there is nothing that they do not do.' But what man is there that can attain to this inaction?

田子方 - Tian Zi-fang

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《田子方》 Library Resources
4 田子方:
孔子見老聃,老聃新沐,方將被髮而乾,慹然似非人。孔子便而待之,少焉見曰:「丘也眩與?其信然與?向者先生形體掘若槁木,似遺物離人而立於獨也。」老聃曰:「吾遊心於物之初。」
Tian Zi-fang:
Confucius went to see Lao Dan, and arrived just as he had completed the bathing of his head, and was letting his dishevelled hair get dry. There he was, motionless, and as if there were not another man in the world. Confucius waited quietly; and, when in a little time he was introduced, he said, 'Were my eyes dazed? Is it really you? Just now, your body, Sir, was like the stump of a rotten tree. You looked as if you had no thought of anything, as if you had left the society of men, and were standing in the solitude (of yourself).' Lao Dan replied, 'I was enjoying myself in thinking about the commencement of things.'
孔子曰:「何謂邪?」曰:「心困焉而不能知,口辟焉而不能言,嘗為汝議乎其將。至陰肅肅,至陽赫赫;肅肅出乎天,赫赫發乎地;者交通成和而物生焉,或為之紀而莫見其形。消息滿虛,一晦一明,日改月化,日有所為,而莫見其功。生有所乎萌,死有所乎歸,始終相反乎無端,而莫知其所窮。非是也,且孰為之宗!」
Confucius said, 'What do you mean?' Lao Dan replied, 'My mind is so cramped, that I hardly know it; my tongue is so tied that I cannot tell it; but I will try to describe it to you as nearly as I can. When the state of Yin was perfect, all was cold and severe; when the state of Yang was perfect, all was turbulent and agitated. The coldness and severity came forth from Heaven; the turbulence and agitation issued from Earth. The two states communicating together, a harmony ensued and things were produced. Some one regulated and controlled this, but no one has seen his form. Decay and growth; fulness and emptiness; darkness and light; the changes of the sun and the transformations of the moon: these are brought about from day to day; but no one sees the process of production. Life has its origin from which it springs, and death has its place from which it returns. Beginning and ending go on in mutual contrariety without any determinable commencement, and no one knows how either comes to an end. If we disallow all this, who originates and presides over all these phenomena?'
孔子曰:「請問遊是。」老聃曰:「夫得是,至美至樂也。得至美而遊乎至樂,謂之至人。」孔子曰:「願聞其方。」曰:「草食之獸不疾易藪,水生之蟲不疾易水,行小變而不失其大常也,喜怒哀樂不入於胸次。夫天下也者,萬物之所一也。得其所一而同焉,則四支百體將為塵垢,而死生終始將為晝夜而莫之能滑,而況得喪禍福之所介乎!棄隸者若棄泥塗,知身貴於隸也,貴在於我而不失於變。且萬化而未始有極也,夫孰足以患心!已為道者解乎此。」
Confucius said, 'I beg to ask about your enjoyment in these thoughts.' Lao Dan replied, 'The comprehension of this is the most admirable and the most enjoyable (of all acquisitions). The getting of the most admirable and the exercise of the thoughts in what is the most enjoyable, constitutes what we call the Perfect man.' Confucius said, 'I should like to hear the method of attaining to it.' The reply was, 'Grass-eating animals do not dislike to change their pastures; creatures born in the water do not dislike to change their waters. They make a small change, but do not lose what is the great and regular requirement (of their nature); joy, anger, sadness, and delight do not enter into their breasts (in connexion with such events). Now the space under the sky is occupied by all things in their unity. When they possess that unity and equally share it, then the four limbs and hundred members of their body are but so much dust and dirt, while death and life, their ending and beginning, are but as the succession of day and night, which cannot disturb their enjoyment; and how much less will they be troubled by gains and losses, by calamity and happiness! Those who renounce the paraphernalia of rank do it as if they were casting away so much mud - they know that they are themselves more honourable than those paraphernalia. The honour belonging to one's self is not lost by any change (of condition). Moreover, a myriad transformations may take place before the end of them is reached. What is there in all this sufficient to trouble the mind? Those who have attained to the Dao understand the subject.'
孔子曰:「夫子德配天地,而猶假至言以修心,古之君子,孰能脫焉?」老聃曰:「不然。夫水之於汋也,無為而才自然矣。至人之於德也,不修而物不能離焉,若天之自高,地之自厚,日月之自明,夫何修焉!」
Confucius said, '0 Master, your virtue is equal to that of Heaven and Earth, and still I must borrow (some of your) perfect words (to aid me) in the cultivation of my mind. Who among the superior men of antiquity could give such expression to them?' Lao Dan replied, 'Not so. Look at the spring, the water of which rises and overflows - it does nothing, but it naturally acts so. So with the perfect man and his virtue - he does not cultivate it, and nothing evades its influence. He is like heaven which is high of itself, like earth which is solid of itself, like the sun and moon which shine of themselves - what need is there to cultivate it?'
孔子出,以告顏回曰:「丘之於道也,其猶醯雞與!微夫子之發吾覆也,吾不知天地之大全也。」
Confucius went out and reported the conversation to Yan Hui, saying, 'In the (knowledge of the) Dao am I any better than an animalcule in vinegar? But for the Master's lifting the veil from me, I should not have known the grand perfection of Heaven and Earth.'

雜篇 - Miscellaneous Chapters

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources

徐無鬼 - Xu Wu-gui

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《徐無鬼》 Library Resources
10 徐無鬼:
仲尼之楚,楚王觴之,孫叔敖執爵而立,市南宜僚受酒而祭曰:「古之人乎!於此言已。」曰:「丘也聞不言之言矣,未之嘗言,於此乎言之。市南宜僚弄丸而家之難解,孫叔敖甘寢秉羽而郢人投兵。丘願有喙三尺。」
Xu Wu-gui:
Zhongni, having gone to Chu, the king ordered wine to be presented to him. Sun Shu-ao stood, holding the goblet in his hand. Yi-liao of Shi-nan, having received (a cup), poured its contents out as a sacrificial libation, and said, 'The men of old, on such an occasion as this, made some speech.' Zhongni said, 'I have heard of speech without words; but I have never spoken it; I will do so now. Yi-liao of Shi-nan kept (quietly) handling his little spheres, and the difficulties between the two Houses were resolved; Sun Shu-ao slept undisturbed on his couch, with his (dancer's) feather in his hand, and the men of Ying enrolled themselves for the war. I wish I had a beak three cubits long.'
彼之謂不道之道,此之謂不言之辯。故德總乎道之所一,而言休乎知之所不知,至矣。道之所一者,德不能同也;知之所不能知者,辯不能舉也。名若儒、墨而凶矣。故海不辭東流,大之至也。聖人并包天地,澤及天下,而不知其誰氏。是故生無爵,死無諡,實不聚,名不立,此之謂大人。
In the case of those two (ministers) we have what is called 'The Way that cannot be trodden;' in (the case of Zhongni) we have what is called 'the Argument without words.' Therefore when all attributes are comprehended in the unity of the Dao, and speech stops at the point to which knowledge does not reach, the conduct is complete. But where there is (not) the unity of the Dao, the attributes cannot (always) be the same, and that which is beyond the reach of knowledge cannot be exhibited by any reasoning. There may be as many names as those employed by the Literati and the Mohists, but (the result is) evil. Thus when the sea does not reject the streams that flow into it in their eastward course, we have the perfection of greatness. The sage embraces in his regard both Heaven and Earth; his beneficent influence extends to all tinder the sky; and we do not know from whom it comes. Therefore though when living one may have no rank, and when dead no honorary epithet; though the reality (of what he is) may not be acknowledged and his name not established; we have in him what is called 'The Great Man.'
狗不以善吠為良,人不以善言為賢,而況為大乎!夫為大不足以為大,而況為德乎!夫大備矣,莫若天地;然奚求焉,而大備矣。知大備者,無求、無失、無棄,不以物易己也。反己而不窮,循古而不摩,大人之誠。
A dog is not reckoned good because it barks well; and a man is not reckoned wise because be speaks skilfully - how much less can he be deemed Great! If one thinks he is Great, he is not fit to be accounted Great - how much less is he so from the practice of the attributes (of the Dao)! Now none are so grandly complete as Heaven and Earth; but do they seek for anything to make them so grandly complete? He who knows this grand completion does not seek for it; he loses nothing and abandons nothing; he does not change himself from regard to (external) things; he turns in on himself, and finds there an inexhaustible store; he follows antiquity and does not feel about (for its lessons) - such is the perfect sincerity of the Great Man.

則陽 - Ze-yang

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《則陽》 Library Resources
3 則陽:
冉相氏得其環中以隨成,與物無終無始,無幾無時日。與物化者,一不化者也,闔嘗舍之!夫師天而不得師天,與物皆殉,其以為事也若之何?夫聖人未始有天,未始有人,未始有始,未始有物,與世偕行而不替,所行之備而不洫,其合之也若之何?
Ze-yang:
(The sovereign) Ran-xiang was possessed of that central principle round which all things revolve, and by it he could follow them to their completion. His accompanying them had neither ending nor beginning, and was independent of impulse or time. Daily he witnessed their changes, and himself underwent no change; and why should he not have rested in this? If we (try to) adopt Heaven as our Master, we incapacitate ourselves from doing so. Such endeavour brings us under the power of things. If one acts in this way, what is to be said of him? The sage never thinks of Heaven nor of men. He does not think of taking the initiative, nor of anything external to himself. He moves along with his age, and does not vary or fail. Amid all the completeness of his doings, he is never exhausted. For those who wish to be in accord with him, what other course is there to pursue?
湯得其司御門尹登恆為之傅之,從師而不囿,得其隨成;為之司其名之名,嬴法得其見。仲尼之盡慮,為之傅之。
When Tang got one to hold for him the reins of government, namely, Men-yin Deng-heng, he employed him as his teacher. He followed his master, but did not allow himself to be hampered by him, and so he succeeded in following things to their completion. The master had the name; but that name was a superfluous addition to his laws, and the twofold character of his government was made apparent. Zhongni's 'Task your thoughts to the utmost' was his expression of the duties of a master.
容成氏曰:「除日無歲,無內無外。」
Rong-cheng said, 'Take the days away and there will be no year; without what is internal there will be nothing external.'

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