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Commentary on the Confucian Analects, Book 10: "Hsiang Tang" Part 1/1

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7 years ago
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"The stable burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, 'Has any man been hurt?' He did not ask about the horses."

Hello everyone! This is the next post in my series of commentaries on the Confucian analects. Happy Wednesday! Only two more days (plus 6 hours) until it is officially the weekend. If you have missed any of my previous posts in this series, they will be linked down below. Otherwise, let's get into my commentaries on Book 10!

Here are my commentaries on Book 10: Hsiang Tang:

[Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CCO Public Domain]

Original text from the Public Domain Confucian Analects (from the 2013 edition of "The Art of War and Other Classics of Eastern Thought")

@cmp2020 original commentary

Hsiang Tang

I
Demeanor of Confucius in his village, in the ancestral temple, and in the court

  1. Confucius, in his village, looked simple and sincere, and as if he were not able to speak.
  2. When he was in the prince's ancestral temple, or in the court, he spoke minutely on every point, but cautiously.

When Confucius was in an area that gave him comfort, he looked simple and honest. He did not feel the need to speak. When he was at a place of significance and profession, he spoke with an attention to even the smallest of details, but made sure to speak carefully as to maintain a professional manner. The purpose of this passage, and the next few, is to demonstrate how one should act in different environments, around different people, and under different circumstances.

II
Demeanor of Confucius at court with other great officers, and before the prince

  1. When he was waiting at court, in speaking with the great officers of the lower grade, he spoke freely, but in a straightforward manner; in speaking with those of the higher grade, he did so blandly, but precisely.
  2. When the ruler was present, his manner displayed respectful uneasiness; it was grave, but self-possessed.

When Confucius spoke to less experienced and lower ranked officers, he spoke freely yet seriously. When he spoke to the most experienced officers, he spoke monotonously, yet accurately. He made sure to seem nervous around his superiors.

III
Demeanor of Confucius at the official reception of a visitor

  1. When the prince called him to employ him in the reception of a visitor, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to move forward with difficulty.
  2. He inclined himself to the other officers among whom he stood, moving his left or right arm, as their position required, but keeping the skirts of his robe before and behind evenly adjusted.
  3. He hastened forward, with his arms like the wings of a bird.
  4. When the guest had retired, he would report to the prince, "The visitor is not turning round anymore"

I think this passage has to do with how seriously Confucius took the tasks that the prince gave him. When he was assigned to escort a visitor, he did so with utmost respect, and made sure to fulfill all of his tasks.

IV
Demeanor of Confucius in the court at an audience

  1. When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him.
  2. When he was standing, he did not occupy the middle of the gateway; when he passed in or out, he did not tread upon the threshold.
  3. When he was passing the vacant place of the prince, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to bend under him, and his words came as if he hardly had breath to utter them.
  4. He ascended the reception hall, holding up his robe with both his hands, and his body bent; holding in his breath also, as if he dared not breathe.
  5. When he came out from the audience, as soon as he had descended one step, he began to relax his countenance, and had a satisfied look. When he had got the bottom of the steps, he advanced rapidly to his place, with his arms like wings, and on occupying it, his manner still showed respectful uneasiness.

I think this passage specifically has to do with making sure you act a certain way around those who are above you and order you. This goes into more detail about what number two said about "displaying respectful uneasiness." I think the point of showing respectful uneasiness is to flatter your boss in a way that is polite, and seems natural. Confucius might have been what we would call "a teacher's pet."

V
Demeanor of Confucius when employed on a friendly embassy

  1. When he was carrying the scepter of his ruler, he seemed to bend his body, as if he were not able to bear its weight. He did not hold it higher than the position of the hands in making a bow, nor lower than their position in giving anything to another. His countenance seemed to change, and look apprehensive and he dragged his feet along as if they were held by something to the ground.
  2. In presenting the presents with which he was charged, he wore a placid appearance.
  3. At his private audience, he looked highly pleased.

I think this again demonstrates how Confucius took the tasks that rulers gave him very seriously. He makes sure to do every task in the proper way to make sure he pleases his superiors.

VI
Rules of Confucius in regard to his dress

  1. The superior man did not use a deep purple, or a puce color, in the ornaments of his dress.
  2. Even in his undress, he did not wear anything of a red or reddish color.
  3. In warm weather, he had a single garment either of coarse or fine texture, but he wore it displayed over an inner garment.
    4.Over lamb's fur he wore a garment of black; over a fawns fur one of white; and over fox's fur one of yellow.
  4. The fur robe of his undress was long, with the right sleeve short.
  5. He required his sleeping dress to be half as long again as his body.
  6. When staying at home, he used thick furs of the fox or the badger.
  7. When he put off mourning, he wore all appendages of the girdle.
  8. His undergarment, except when it was required to be of the curtain shape, was made of silk cut narrow above and wide below.
  9. He did not wear lamb's fur or a black cap, on a visit of condolence.
  10. On the first day of the month he put on his court robes, and presented himself at court.

This doctrine again describes the formalities behind how a superior man dresses. This most certainly no longer applies, but it still conveys the concept that a superior man thinks carefully about what his clothes might represent, and carefully considers all of his options (and their unintended consequences) before making a decision.

VII
Rules observed by Confucius when fasting

  1. When fasting, he thought it necessary to have his clothes brightly clean and made of linen cloth.
  2. When fasting, he thought it necessary to change his food, and also to change the place where he commonly sat in the apartment.

This is again, another formality that Confucius thought carefully about. I think the overall point that the superior man thinks about his decisions applies here as well.

VIII
Rules of Confucius about his food

  1. He did not dislike to have his rice finely cleaned, nor to have his mince meat cut quite small.
  2. He did not eat rice which had been injured by heat or damp and turned sour, nor fish or flesh which was gone. He did not eat what was discolored, or what was of a bad flavour, nor anything which was ill-cooked, or was not in season.
  3. He did not eat meat which was not cut properly, nor what was served without its proper sauce.
  4. Though there might be a large quantity of meat, he would not allow what he took to exceed the due proportion for the rice. It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
  5. He did not partake of wine and dried meat bought in the market.
  6. He was never without ginger when he ate.
    7 He did not eat much.
  7. When he had been assisting at the prince's sacrifice, he did not keep the flesh which he received overnight. The flesh of his family sacrifice he did not keep over three days. If he kept over three days, people could not eat it.
  8. When eating, he did not converse. When in bed, he did not speak.
  9. Although his food might be coarse rice and vegetable soup, he would offer a little of it in sacrifice with a grave respectful air.

I would like to take notice to number ten. I think that in Confucius' time, sacrificing coarse rice and vegetable soup was not conventional. I think that Confucius is not making these decisions based on convention, but rather based on what he deems as appropriate and ethical.

Ix
Rule of Confucius about his mat
If his mat was not straight, he did not sit on it.

Confucius was careful, even when it came to the position of what he sat on.

X
Other ways of Confucius in his village

  1. When the villagers were drinking together, upon those who carried staffs going out, he also went out immediately after.
  2. When the villagers were going through their ceremonies to drive away perstilential influences, he put on his court robes and stood on the eastern steps.

Confucius sometimes made decisions based on the decisions of those around him.

XI
Traits of Confucius's intercourse with others

  1. When he was sending complimentary inquiries to any one in another State, he bowed twice as he escorted the messenger away.
  2. Chi K'ang having sent him a present of physic, he bowed and received it, saying "I do not know it. I dare not taste it."

Again, I'd point out that Confucius made his decisions carefully, and largely based on what he deems as appropriate for the scenario.

XII
How Confucius valued human life
The stable burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, "Has any man been hurt?" He did not ask about the horses.

Confucius views the safety of men as a priority above the safety of animals

XIII
Demeanor of Confucius in relation to his prince

  1. When the prince sent him a gift of cooked meat, he would adjust his mat, first taste it, and then give it away to others. When the prince sent him a gift of undressed meat, he would have it cooked, and offer it to the spirits of his ancestors. When the prince sent him a gift og a living animal, he would keep it alive.
  2. When he was in attendance on the prince and joining in the entertainment, the prince only sacrificed. He first tasted everything.
  3. When he was ill and the prince came to visit him, he had his head to the east, made his court robes be spread over him, and drew his girdle across them.
  4. When the prince's ordercalled him, without waiting for his carriage to be yoked, he went at once.

This passage makes the point that Confucius acted a certain way around the prince. Even when he (Confucius) was ill.

XIV
[Repetition of III:XV]
When he entered the ancestral temple of the State, he asked about everything.

Again, he is doing everything in a certaian way that he deems respectful.

XV
Traits of Confucius in the relation of a friend

  1. When any of his friends died, if he had no relations who could be depended on for the necessary offices, he would say, "I will bury him."
  2. When a friend sent him a present, though it might be a carriage and horses, he did not bow.
  3. The only present for which he bowed was that of the flesh of sacrifice.

Confucius was respectful to his friends, but he did not deem it appropriate to bow after he'd received a gift unless that gift was a sacrifice.

XVI
Confucius in bed, at home, hearing thunder, etc.
In bed, he did not lie like a corpse. At home, he did not put on any formal deportment.

  1. When he saw any one in mourning dress, though it might be an acquaintance, he would change countenance; when he saw any one wearing the cap of full dress, or a blind person, though he might be in his undress, he would salute him in a ceremonious manner.
  2. To any person in mourning he bowed forward to the crossbar of his carriage; he bowed in the same way to any one bearing the tables of population.
  3. When he was at an entertainment, where there was an abundance of provisions set before him, he would change countenance and rise up.
  4. On a sudden clap of thunder, or a violent wind, he would change countenance.

Again, Confucius follows a protocol when in bed, at home, or even in a storm.

XVII
Confucius at and in his carriage

  1. When he was about to mount his carriage, he would stand straight, holding the cord.
  2. When he was in the carriage, he did not turn his head quite round, he did not talk hastily, he did not point with his hands.

Even when riding in his carriage, Confucius followed a protocal that he thought demonstrated the rules of propriety.

XVIII
[A fragment]

  1. Seeing the countenance, it instantly rises. It flies round, and by and by settles.
  2. The Master said, "There is the hen-pheasant on the hill bridge. At its season! At its season!" Tsze-lu made a motion to it. Thrice it smelt him and then rose.

Even the hen-pheasant does things in a specific way.

Conclusion

In general, I think this segment (and possibly the next) largely defines how a man of Confucius' time could easily live in harmony with those around him. The overall point of which being that it is important to think about how your decisions will effect you, and those around you. I think that this point has been sumarized numerous times in previous points, and has a large emphasis in Confucianism.

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Confucian Analects

Art of War Review

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