Chinese Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 342 pages of information about Chinese Literature.

Chinese Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 342 pages of information about Chinese Literature.

Among those who have retired from public life have been Peh-I and Shuh-Ts’i, Yu-chung, I-yih, Chu-chang, Hwui of Liuhia, and Shau-lien.

“Of these,” said the Master, “Peh-I and Shuh-Ts’i may be characterized, I should say, as men who never declined from their high resolve nor soiled themselves by aught of disgrace.

“Of Hwui of Liu-hia and Shau-lien, if one may say that they did decline from high resolve, and that they did bring disgrace upon themselves, yet their words were consonant with established principles, and their action consonant with men’s thoughts and wishes; and this is all that may be said of them.

“Of Yu-chung and I-yih, if it be said that when they retired into privacy they let loose their tongues, yet in their aim at personal purity of life they succeeded, and their defection was also successful in its influence.

“My own rule is different from any adopted by these:  I will take no liberties, I will have no curtailing of my liberty.”

The chief music-master went off to Ts’i.  Kan, the conductor of the music at the second repast, went over to Ts’u.  Liau, conductor at the third repast, went over to Ts’ai.  And Kiueh, who conducted at the fourth, went to Ts’in.

Fang-shuh, the drummer, withdrew into the neighborhood of the Ho.  Wu the tambourer went to the Han.  And Yang the junior music-master, and Siang who played on the musical stone, went to the sea-coast.

Anciently the Duke of Chow, addressing his son the Duke of Lu, said, “A good man in high place is not indifferent about the members of his own family, and does not give occasion to the chief ministers to complain that they are not employed; nor without great cause will he set aside old friendships; nor does he seek for full equipment for every kind of service in any single man.”

There were once eight officials during this Chow dynasty, who were four pairs of twins, all brothers—­the eldest pair Tab and Kwoh, the next Tub and Hwuh, the third Ye and Hia, the youngest Sui and Kwa.

[Footnote 33:  He only pretended to be mad, in order to escape being employed in the public service.]

[Footnote 34:  Two worthies who had abandoned public life, owing to the state of the times.]

BOOK XIX

Teachings of Various Chief Disciples

“The learned official,” said Tsz-chang, “who when he sees danger ahead will risk his very life, who when he sees a chance of success is mindful of what is just and proper, who in his religious acts is mindful of the duty of reverence, and when in mourning thinks of his loss, is indeed a fit and proper person for his place.”

Again he said, “If a person hold to virtue but never advance in it, and if he have faith in right principles and do not build himself up in them, how can he be regarded either as having such, or as being without them?”

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Chinese Literature from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.