Confucius

  • On the Snake Catcher

    – by Liu Zongyuan (Tang Dynasty) In the wilds of Yongzhou, there lives a strange snake: black-bodied with white markings. Any grass or tree it touches withers and dies; if it bites a person, nothing can save them. Yet, once captured and dried, it becomes a potent medicine – capable of curing leprosy, paralysis,…

  • The Simple Room Inscription

    My humble abode is not defined by its height, but by the virtue of its inhabitant. Likewise, a body of water need not be deep to be inhabited by a dragon. This is a humble dwelling, yet my character is fragrant. Moss creeps up the steps, turning them a lush green, while the color…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.14

    The wife of a feudal lord is called “Fu Ren” (Lady) by her husband; she refers to herself humbly as “Xiao Tong” (Little Child); the people of her state call her “Jun Fu Ren” (Lord’s Lady); when her state refers to her when speaking to other states, she is called “Gua Xiao Jun” (My…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.13

    Chen Kang asked Bo Yu (Kong Li), Confucius’son, “Have you received any special teachings from your father?” Bo Yu replied, “Nothing special. Once, my father was standing alone in the courtyard, and I hurried past. He asked me, ‘Have you studied the Odes?’ I answered, ‘Not yet.’ He said, ‘If you do not study…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.12

    Duke Jing of Qi owned four thousand horses (in ancient China, a team of four horses was called a “si”; thus, one thousand si equals four thousand horses), enjoying immense wealth and luxury. Yet on the day he died, the people could find no virtue in him to praise. Bo Yi and Shu Qi…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.11

    Confucius said, “When seeing goodness, one should feel as if unable to catch up with it; when seeing what is not good, one should recoil as if touching boiling water. I have seen such people and heard their words. As for those who retreat into seclusion to preserve their aspirations and act righteously to…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.10

    Confucius said, “The noble person has nine things to reflect on: in seeing, think of clarity; in hearing, think of acuteness; in facial expression, think of warmth; in demeanor, think of respectfulness; in speech, think of sincerity; in action, think of diligence; in doubt, think of asking; in anger, think of the difficulties it…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.9

    Confucius said, “Those who understand by birth are the highest; those who understand through learning come next; those who learn only after encountering difficulties are yet lower; and those who encounter difficulties but still do not learn – these are the lowest of the people.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.8

    Confucius said, “The noble person has three things to revere: reverence for the Mandate of Heaven, reverence for persons of high station or great virtue (‘daren’), and reverence for the words of the sages. The petty person, not understanding the Mandate of Heaven, feels no reverence; treats exalted persons with undue familiarity; and mocks…