Confucius traced his teachings back to Yao and Shun,and took Wen and Wu as his models for institutions.Above, he conformed to the rhythms of Heaven’s seasons;below, he followed the patterns of earth, water, and soil.
The Master said:“How supreme is the Doctrine of the Mean!Yet among the people, few have been able to practice it for long!”
3.11 Someone asked for an explanation of the Ancestral Sacrifice. Confucius said, “I do not know. Anyone who knew the explanation could deal with all things under Heaven as easily as I lay this here”; and he laid his finger upon the palm of his hand.
The factors of decay are already latent in times of greatest prosperity, and a new lease of life starts to exist at a time when everything is in decay.
Whatever I do, I leave some part of it unfinished; that way the Creator will not frown on me and the ghosts and spirits will not be able to harm me.
A sea-gull alighted in a suburb of the capital of Lu. The Marquis of Lu welcomed it and feasted it in the temple hall, ordering the royal music and grandest sacrifices for it.