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Commentary on the Confucian Analects, Book 13: "Tsze-lu" Part 1/2

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7 years ago
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"If a superior man love propriety, the people will not dare to be reverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare to submit to his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to be sincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters will come to him, bearing their children on their backs; what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry?"

Hello everyone! I am sorry that this is up a few minutes late! I got a late start, and am just finishing at 6:04. For those of you who may be new, this is a series in which I provide commentary on the Confucian Analects. If you would like to read any of the previous posts, they will be linked at the bottom of this article. Let's get into Book 13!

Here is the first half of my commentaries on Book 13: Yen Tsze-lu:

[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

Tsze-lu

I
The secret of success in governing the unwearied example of the rulers-a lesson to Tsze-lu

  1. Tsze-lu asked about government. The Master said, "Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs."
  2. He requested further instruction, and was answered, "Be not weary (in these things)."

Confucius' point here is that a good governing official will make his agenda clear to the people. He will be thorough in his efforts to achieve what they trust him to achieve.

II
The duties chiefly to be attended to by a head minister-a lesson to Zan Yung

  1. Chung-kung, being chief minister to the Head of the Chi family, asked about government. The Master said, "Employ first the services of your various officers, pardon small faults, and raise to office men of virtue and talents."
  2. Chung-kung said, "How shall I know the men of virtue and talent, so that I may raise them to office?" He was answered, "Raise to office those whom you know. As to those whom you do not know, will others neglect them?"

I'm sure you remember Confucius' feelings towards the Chi family. I think it's funny that one of his followers wound up as their chief minister. Confucius makes the point that to create an honorable government, make sure the officers you choose are skilled in the fields you choose them for, do not punish mistakes that are small and have little effect, and make sure the people you pick follow their own moral standards.

III
The supreme importance of names being correct

  1. Tsze-lu said, "The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?"
  2. The Master replied, "What is necessary is to rectify names."
  3. "So indeed!" said Tsze-lu . "You are wide of the mark! Why must there be such rectification?"
  4. The Master said, "How Uncultivated you are, Yu! A superior man, in regard to what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve."
  5. "If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success."
  6. "When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music will not flourish. When properties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot."
  7. "Therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses may be spoken appropriately, and also that what he speaks may be carried out appropriately. What the superior man requires, is just that in his words there may be nothing incorrect."

This passage highlights the importance of a group using and keeping up to date on their own vocabulary. If everyone is not using the same vocabulary, or people disagree on definition, a possibility of there being a misunderstanding and a mistake is created. One example of this from the real world is how doctors and nurses (1) ask the patient every time they see them what their name and birthday is to make sure they are with the right person (as well as what they are allergic to), and (2) make sure to keep everyone involved informed as to what is going on (doctor keeps nurse up to date).

IV
A ruler has not to occupy himself with what is properly the business of the people

  1. Fan Ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, "I am not so good for that as an old husbandman." He requested also to be taught gardening, and was answered, "I am not so good for that as an old gardener."
  2. Fan Ch'ih having gone out, the Master said, "A small man, indeed, is Fan Hsü!"
  3. "If a superior man love propriety, the people will not dare to be reverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare to submit to his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to be sincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters will come to him, bearing their children on their backs; what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry?"

I think Confucius' point in this passage is that a superior man needs to lead by example rather than expect qualities such as respect, righteousness, and honesty. He says that if people had qualities such as the ones previously listed, there would be no need to learn how to be a proper husband.

V

Literary acquirements useless without practical ability
The Master said, "Though a man may be able to recite the three hundred odes, yet if, when intrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not how to act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give his replies unassisted, not withstanding the extent of his learning, of what practical use is it?"

The point of this passage is that knowledge is not useful unless you know how to apply it to your own life.

VI
His personal conduct all in all to a ruler
The Master said, "When prince's personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed."

This is another passage that points out the effectiveness of a leader's example over any order he may give. Confucius' point is that if a leader demonstrates all of the qualities he wishes his people to have, he does not need to force the people to do anything, for they will follow his example.

VII
The similar condition of the states of Lu and Wei
The Master said, "The governments of Lu and Wei are brothers."

The governments of Lu and Wei are either both corrupt, or both superior. I am not sure which.

VIII
The contentment of the officer Ching, and his indifference on getting rich
The Master said of Ching, a scion of the ducal family of Wei, that he knew the economy of a family well. When he began to have means, he said, "Ha! here is a collection!" When they were a little increased, he said, "Ha! this is complete!" When he had become rich, he said, "Ha! this is admirable!"

I think Confucius is mocking this officer, who achieved his goals through corruption.

IX
A people numerous, well-off, and educated, is the great achievement of government

  1. When the Master went to Weil, Zan Yu acted as driver of his carriage.
  2. The Master observed, "How numerous are the people!"
  3. Yu said, "Since they are thus numerous, what more shall be done for them?" "Enrich them," was the reply.
  4. "And when they have been enriched, what more shall be done?" The Master said, "Teach them."

I think the point of this passage is that when there are a lot of people, it is important for superior members of the community to demonstrate good values so the people will follow the example. Once the people practice these values, it is important for the superior community members to teach the people why these values are important.

X
Confucius's estimate of what he could do, if employed to administer the government of a state
The Master said, "If there were (any of the princes) who would employ me, in the course of twelve months, I should have done something considerable. In three years, the government would be perfected."

Confucius feels that as an official in government, he could have perfected a state within three years, and made a considerable impact after just one. I guess this shows the confidence Confucius had in his own values.

XI
What a hundred years of good government could effect
The Master said, If good men were to govern a country in succession for a hundred years, they would be able to transform the violently bad, and dispense with capital punishments.' True indeed is this saying!"

XII
In what time a royal ruler could transform the kingdom
The Master said, "If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would still require a generation, and then virtue would prevail."

I think these two passages can go together. Their point is that it is possible for a society to live under virtue if it is well governed for a lifetime. The point is that true perfection takes time, good intentions, and hard work to achieve.

XIII
That he be personally correct essential to an officer of government
The Master said, "If a minister make his own conduct correct, what difficulty will he have in assisting in government? If he cannot rectify himself, what has he to do with rectifying others"

This passage again makes the point that the "Preacher needs to practice his own preachings."* If a governor cannot live in the way he wants his people to live, what business does he have in leading?

XIV
An ironical admonition to Zan Yu on the usurping tendencies of the Chi family
The disciple Zan returning from the court, the Master said to him, "How are you so late?" He replied, "We had a government business." The Master said, "It must have been family affairs. If there had been government business, though I am not now in office, I should have consulted about it."

Confucius' point here is that everyone who is effected by government business should be informed of it, and be allowed to participate.

XV
How the prosperity and ruin of a country may depend on the ruler's view of his position, his feeling its difficulty, or only cherishing a headstrong will

  1. The duke Ting asked whether there was a single sentence which could make a country prosperous. Confucius replied, "Such an effect cannot be expected from one sentence."
  2. "There is a saying, however, which people have-'To be a prince is difficult; to be a minister is not easy.' "
  3. "If a ruler knows this-the difficulty of being a prince-may there not be expected from this one sentece the prosperity of his country?"
  4. The duke then said, "Is there a single sentece which can ruin a country?" Confucius replied "Such an effect as that cannot be expected from one sentence. There is, however, the saying which people have-'I have no pleasure in being a prince, but only in that no one can offer any opposition to what I say!' "
  5. "If a ruler's words be good, is it not also good that no one oppose them? But if they are not good, and no one opposes them, may there not be expected from this one sentence the ruin of his country?"

I think the point of this passage is that a ruler needs to understand the significance behind his position, and carefully consider his own decisions. Though this work is hard, the country will benefit from it. If a ruler does not think about his decisions, and makes them for the sake of making powerful decisions, the country will suffer as a result.

Previous Posts

Confucian Analects

Art of War Review

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