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Scope: Kongzi Xian Ju Request type: Paragraph
Condition 1: References "明明天子,令闻不已" Matched:1.
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孔子闲居 - Kongzi Xian Ju

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《孔子闲居》 Library Resources
[Also known as: "Confucius at home at leisure"]

5 孔子闲居:
子夏曰:“三王之德,参于天地,敢问:何如斯可谓参于天地矣?”孔子曰:“奉三无私以劳天下。”
Kongzi Xian Ju:
Zi-xia said, '(It is said that) the virtue of the kings (who founded the) three dynasties was equal to that of heaven and earth; allow me to ask of what nature that virtue was which could be said to put its possessors on an equality with heaven and earth.' Confucius said, 'They reverently displayed the Three Impartialities, while they comforted all beneath the sky under the toils which they imposed.'
子夏曰:“敢问何谓三无私?”孔子曰:“天无私覆,地无私载,日月无私照。奉斯三者以劳天下,此之谓三无私。其在《》曰:‘帝命不违,至于汤齐。汤降不迟,圣敬日齐。昭假迟迟,上帝是祗。帝命式于九围。’是汤之德也。
Zi-xia said, 'Allow me to ask what you call the "Three Impartialities."' Confucius said, 'Heaven overspreads all without partiality; Earth sustains and contains all without partiality; the Sun and Moon shine on all without partiality. Reverently displaying these three characteristics and thereby comforting all under heaven under the toils which they imposed, is what is called "the Three Impartialities." It is said in the Book of Poetry (IV, iii, ode 4, 3), "God in His favour Tang's House would not leave, And then Tang rose that favour to receive. Tang's birth was not from Xie too far removed, His sagely reverence daily greater proved. For long to Heaven his brilliant influence rose, And while his acts the fear of God disclose, God Tang as model fit for the nine regions chose" - such was the virtue of Tang.
“天有四时,春秋冬夏,风雨霜露,无非教也。地载神气,神气风霆,风霆流形,庶物露生,无非教也。清明在躬,气志如神,嗜欲将至,有开必先。天降时雨,山川出云。其在《》曰:‘嵩高惟岳,峻极于天。惟岳降神,生甫及申。惟申及甫,惟周之翰。四国于蕃,四方于宣。’此文武之德也。三代之王也,必先令闻,《》云:‘明明天子,令闻不已。’三代之德也。‘弛其文德,协此四国。’大王之德也。”子夏蹶然而起,负墙而立曰:“弟子敢不承乎!”
'To Heaven belong the four seasons, spring, autumn, winter, summer, with wind, rain, hoar-frost, and dew;--(in the action) of all and each of these there is a lesson. Earth contains the mysterious energy (of nature). That mysterious energy (produces) the wind and thunder-clap. By the wind and thunder-clap the (seeds of) forms are carried abroad, and the various things show the appearance of life - in all and each of these things there is a lesson. When the personal character is pure and bright, the spirit and mind are like those of a spiritual being. When what such an one desires is about to come, there are sure to be premonitions of it in advance, (as when) Heaven sends down the seasonable rains, and the hills produce the clouds. As it is said in the Book of Poetry (III, iii, ode 5, 1), "How grand and high, with hugest bulk, arise. Those southern hills whose summits touch the skies! Down from them came a Spirit to the earth, And to the sires of Fu and Shan gave birth. In those two states our Zhou a bulwark has, O'er which the southern foemen dare not pass, And all its states they screen, and through them spread. Lessons of virtue, by themselves displayed" - such was the virtue of (kings) Wen and Wu. As to the kings (who founded) the three dynasties, it was necessary that they should be preceded by the fame of their forefathers. As it is said in the Book of Poetry (III, iii, ode 8, 6), "Very intelligent were the sons of Heaven, Their good fame was without end" - such was the virtue of (the founders) of the three dynasties. (And again), "He displayed his civil virtues, And they permeated all parts of the kingdom" - such was the virtue of king Tai.' Zi-xia rose up with a sudden joy, and, standing with his back to the wall, said, 'Your disciple dares not but receive (your instructions) with reverence.'

Total 1 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1.