| | 乐记: |
是故乐之隆，非极音也。食飨之礼，非致味也。清庙之瑟，朱弦而疏越，壹倡而三叹，有遗音者矣。大飨之礼，尚玄酒而俎腥鱼，大羹不和，有遗味者矣。是故先王之制礼乐也，非以极口腹耳目之欲也，将以教民平好恶而反人道之正也。 |
| Yue Ji: |
Hence the greatest achievements of music were not in the perfection of the airs; the (efficacy) of the ceremonies in the sacrificial offerings was not in the exquisiteness of the flavours. In the lute's for the Qing Miao the strings were of red (boiled) silk, and the holes were wide apart; one lute began, and (only) three others joined it; there was much melody not brought out. In the ceremonies of the great sacrifices, the dark-coloured liquor took precedence, and on the stands were uncooked fish, while the grand soup had no condiments: there was much flavour left undeveloped. Thus we see that the ancient kings, in their institution of ceremonies and music, did not seek how fully they could satisfy the desires of the appetite and of the ears and eyes; but they intended to teach the people to regulate their likings and dislikings, and to bring them back to the normal course of humanity. |
| | 乐记: |
人生而静，天之性也；感于物而动，性之欲也。物至知知，然后好恶形焉。好恶无节于内，知诱于外，不能反躬，天理灭矣。 |
| Yue Ji: |
It belongs to the nature of man, as from Heaven, to be still at his birth. His activity shows itself as he is acted on by external things, and developes the desires incident to his nature. Things come to him more and more, and his knowledge is increased. Then arise the manifestations of liking and disliking. When these are not regulated by anything within, and growing knowledge leads more astray without, he cannot come back to himself, and his Heavenly principle is extinguished. |
| | 乐记: |
夫物之感人无穷，而人之好恶无节，则是物至而人化物也。人化物也者，灭天理而穷人欲者也。于是有悖逆诈伪之心，有淫泆作乱之事。是故强者胁弱，众者暴寡，知者诈愚，勇者苦怯，疾病不养，老幼孤独不得其所，此大乱之道也。 |
| Yue Ji: |
Now there is no end of the things by which man is affected; and when his likings and dislikings are not subject to regulation (from within), he is changed into the nature of things as they come before him; that is, he stifles the voice of Heavenly principle within, and gives the utmost indulgence to the desires by which men may be possessed. On this we have the rebellious and deceitful heart, with licentious and violent disorder. The strong press upon the weak; the many are cruel to the few; the knowing impose upon the dull; the bold make it bitter for the timid; the diseased are not nursed; the old and young, orphans and solitaries are neglected - such is the great disorder that ensues. |
| | 乐记: |
故曰：乐者乐也。君子乐得其道，小人乐得其欲。以道制欲，则乐而不乱；以欲忘道，则惑而不乐。 |
| Yue Ji: |
Hence we have the saying, 'Where there is music there is joy.' Superior men rejoice in attaining to the course (which they wish to pursue); and smaller men in obtaining the things which they desire. When the objects of desire are regulated by a consideration of the course to be pursued, there is joy without any disorder. When those objects lead to the forgetfulness of that course, there is delusion, and no joy. |
| | 乐记: |
乐其象，然后治其饰。是故先鼓以警戒，三步以见方，再始以著往，复乱以饬归。奋疾而不拔，极幽而不隐。独乐其志，不厌其道；备举其道，不私其欲。是故情见而义立，乐终而德尊。君子以好善，小人以听过。故曰：生民之道，乐为大焉。 |
| Yue Ji: |
Thus they first strike the drum to warn (the performers) to be in readiness, and (the pantomimes) take three steps to show the nature of the dance. This is done a second time and they begin to move forward; and when they have completed their evolutions, they return and dress their ranks. However rapid their movements may be, there is nothing violent in them; however mysterious they may be, they are not beyond the power of being understood. One, studying them alone, finds pleasure in the object of them, and does not tire in his endeavours to understand them. When he has fully understood them, he does not keep what he desires to himself. Thus the affections (of joy) are displayed; the (ideal) of righteousness is established; and when the music is ended, the (due) honour has been paid to virtue. Superior men by it nourish their love of what is good; small men in it hear the (correction of) their errors. Hence it is said, that 'for the courses to be pursued by men the influence of music is great.' |
| | 乐记: |
魏文侯问于子夏曰：“吾端冕而听古乐，则唯恐卧；听郑卫之音，则不知倦。敢问：古乐之如彼何也？新乐之如此何也？” |
| Yue Ji: |
The marquis Wen of Wei asked Zi-xia, saying, 'When in my square-cut dark robes and cap I listen to the ancient music, I am only afraid that I shall go to sleep. When I listen to the music of Kang and Wei, I do not feel tired; let me ask why I should feel so differently under the old and the new music.' |
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子夏对曰：“今夫古乐，进旅退旅，和正以广。弦匏笙簧，会守拊鼓，始奏以文，复乱以武，治乱以相，讯疾以雅。君子于是语，于是道古，修身及家，平均天下。此古乐之发也。 |
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Zi-xia replied, 'In the old music, (the performers) advance and retire all together; the music is harmonious, correct, and in large volume; the stringed instruments (above) and those made from gourd shells with the organs and their metal tongues (below), are all kept waiting for the striking of the drum. The music first strikes up at the sound of the drum; and when it ends, it is at the sound of the cymbals. The close of each part of the performance is regulated by the Xiang, and the rapidity of the motions by the Ya. In (all) this the superior man speaks of, and follows, the way of antiquity. The character is cultivated; the family is regulated; and peace and order are secured throughout the kingdom. This is the manner of the ancient music. |
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今夫新乐，进俯退俯，奸声以滥，溺而不止；及优侏儒，糅杂子女，不知父子。乐终不可以语，不可以道古。此新乐之发也。今君之所问者乐也，所好者音也！夫乐者，与音相近而不同。” |
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'But now, in the new music, (the performers) advance and retire without any regular order; the music is corrupt to excess; there is no end to its vileness. Among the players there are dwarfs like monkeys, while boys and girls are mixed together, and there is no distinction between father and son. Such music can never be talked about, and cannot be said to be after the manner of antiquity. This is the fashion of the new music. What you ask about is music; and what you like is sound. Now music and sound are akin, but they are not the same.' |
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文侯曰：“敢问何如？”子夏对曰：“夫古者，天地顺而四时当，民有德而五谷昌，疾疢不作而无妖祥，此之谓大当。然后圣人作为父子君臣，以为纪纲。纪纲既正，天下大定。天下大定，然后正六律，和五声，弦歌诗颂，此之谓德音；德音之谓乐。《》云：‘莫其德音，其德克明。克明克类，克长克君，王此大邦；克顺克俾，俾于文王，其德靡悔。既受帝祉，施于孙子。’此之谓也。今君之所好者，其溺音乎？” |
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The marquis asked him to explain, and Zi-xia replied, 'In antiquity, Heaven and Earth acted according to their several natures, and the four seasons were what they ought to be. The people were virtuous, and all the cereals produced abundantly. There were no fevers or other diseases, and no apparitions or other prodigies. This was what we call "the period of great order." After this arose the sages, and set forth the duties between father and son, and between ruler and subject, for the guidance of society. When these guiding rules were thus correctly adjusted, all under heaven, there was a great tranquillity; after which they framed with exactness the six accords (upper and lower), and gave harmony to the five notes (of the scale), and the singing to the lutes of the odes and praise-songs; constituting what we call "the virtuous airs." Such virtuous airs constituted what we call "Music," as is declared in the Book of Poetry (III, i, ode 7, 4), 'Silently grew the fame of his virtue, His virtue was highly intelligent; Highly intelligent, and of rare discrimination; Able to lead, able to rule, To rule over this great country, Rendering a cordial submission, effecting a cordial union. When (the sway) came to king Wen, His virtue left nothing to be dissatisfied with. He received the blessing of God, And it was extended to his descendants." May I not say that what you love are the vile airs?' |
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文侯曰：“敢问溺音何从出也？”子夏对曰：“郑音好滥淫志，宋音燕女溺志，卫音趋数烦志，齐音敖辟乔志；此四者皆淫于色而害于德，是以祭祀弗用也。《》云：‘肃雍和鸣，先祖是听。’夫肃肃，敬也；雍雍，和也。夫敬以和，何事不行？ |
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The marquis said, "Let me ask where the vile airs come from?' Zi-xia replied, 'The airs of Zheng go to a wild excess, and debauch the mind; those of Song tell of slothful indulgence and women, and drown the mind; those of Wei are vehement and rapid, and perplex the mind; and those of Qi are violent and depraved, and make the mind arrogant. The airs of those four states all stimulate libidinous desire, and are injurious to virtue;--they should therefore not be used at sacrifices. It is said in the Book of Poetry (IV, i [Part ii], ode 5), "In solemn unison (the instruments) give forth their notes; Our ancestors will hearken to them." That solemn unison denotes the grave reverence and harmony of their notes - with reverence, blended with harmony, what is there that cannot be done? |
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为人君者谨其所好恶而已矣。君好之，则臣为之。上行之，则民从之。《》云：‘诱民孔易’，此之谓也。”然后，圣人作为鞉、鼓、椌、楬、埙、篪，此六者德音之音也。然后钟磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之庙也，所以献酬酳酢也，所以官序贵贱各得其宜也，所以示后世有尊卑长幼之序也。 |
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'A ruler has only to be careful of what he likes and dislikes. What the ruler likes, his ministers will practise; and what superiors do, their inferiors follow. This is the sentiment in the Book of Poetry (III, ii, ode 10, 6), "To lead the people is very easy." Seeing this, and after (the repose of the people was secured), the sages made hand-drums and drums, the stopper and the starter, the earthen whistle and the bamboo flute - the six instruments which produced the sounds of their virtuous airs. After these came the bell, the sounding-stone, the organ with thirty-six pipes, and the large lute, to be played in harmony with them; the shields, axes, ox-tails, and plumes, brandished by the pantomimes in time and tune. These they employed at the sacrifices in the temple of the former kings, at festivals in offering and receiving the pledge cup; in arranging the services of officers (in the temple) according to the rank due to each, as noble or mean, and in showing to future ages how they observed the order due to rank and to age. |
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钟声铿，铿以立号，号以立横，横以立武。君子听钟声则思武臣。石声磬，磬以立辨，辨以致死。君子听磬声则思死封疆之臣。丝声哀，哀以立廉，廉以立志。君子听琴瑟之声则思志义之臣。竹声滥，滥以立会，会以聚众。君子听竽笙箫管之声，则思畜聚之臣。鼓鼙之声欢，欢以立动，动以进众。君子听鼓鼙之声，则思将帅之臣。君子之听音，非听其铿枪而已也，彼亦有所合之也。 |
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'The bells give out a clanging sound as a signal. The signal is recognised by all, and that recognition produces a martial enthusiasm. When the ruler hears the sound of the bell, he thinks of his officers of war. The sounding-stones give out a tinkling sound, as a summons to the exercise of discrimination. That discrimination may lead to the encountering of death. When the ruler hears the sounding-stone, he thinks of his officers who die in defence of his frontiers. The stringed instruments give out a melancholy sound, which produces the thought of purity and fidelity, and awakens the determination of the mind. When the ruler hears the sound of the lute and cithern, he thinks of his officers who are bent on righteousness. The instruments of bamboo give out a sound like that of overflowing waters, which suggests the idea of an assembly, the object of which is to collect the multitudes together. When the ruler hears the sound of his organs, pipes, and flutes, he thinks of his officers who gather the people together. The drums and tambours give out their loud volume of sound, which excites the idea of movement, and tends to the advancing of the host. When the ruler hears the sounds of his drums and tambours, he thinks of his leaders and commanders. When a superior man thus hears his musical instruments, he does not hear only the sounds which they emit. There are associated ideas which accompany these.' |
