The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy by Sun Tzu

Author:Sun Tzu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canterbury Classics

BOOK XI

HSIEN TSIN

I

1.The Master said, “The men of former times, in the matters of ceremonies and music were rustics, it is said, while the men of these latter times, in ceremonies and music, are accomplished gentlemen.

2.“If I have occasion to use those things, I follow the men of former times.”

II

1.The Master said, “Of those who were with me in Ch’ăn and Ts’âi, there are none to be found to enter my door.”

2.Distinguished for their virtuous principles and practice, there were Yen Yûan, Min Tsze-ch’ien, Zan Po-niû, and Chung-kung; for their ability in speech, Tsâi Wo and Tsze-kung; for their administrative talents, Zan Yû and Chî Lû; for their literary acquirements, Tsze-yû and Tsze-hsiâ.

III

The Master said, “Hûi gives me no assistance. There is nothing that I say in which he does not delight.”

IV

The Master said, “Filial indeed is Min Tsze-ch’ien! Other people say nothing of him different from the report of his parents and brothers.”

V

Nan Yung was frequently repeating the lines about a white scepter stone. Confucius gave him the daughter of his elder brother to wife.

VI

Chî K’ang asked which of the disciples loved to learn. Confucius replied to him, “There was Yen Hûi; he loved to learn. Unfortunately his appointed time was short, and he died. Now there is no one who loves to learn, as he did.”

VII

1.When Yen Yüan died, Yen Lû begged the carriage of the Master to sell and get an outer shell for his son’s coffin.

2.The Master said, “Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents. There was Lî; when he died, he had a coffin but no outer shell. I would not walk on foot to get a shell for him, because, having followed in the rear of the great officers, it was not proper that I should walk on foot.”

VIII

When Yen Yüan died, the Master said, “Alas! Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!”

IX

1.When Yen Yüan died, the Master bewailed him exceedingly, and the disciples who were with him said, “Master, your grief is excessive?”

2.“Is it excessive?” said he.

3.“If I am not to mourn bitterly for this man, for whom should I mourn?”

X

1.When Yen Yüan died, the disciples wished to give him a great funeral, and the Master said, “You may not do so.”

2.The disciples did bury him in great style.

3.The Master said, “Hûi behaved towards me as his father. I have not been able to treat him as my son. The fault is not mine; it belongs to you, O disciples.”

XI

Chî Lû asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said, “While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?” Chî Lû added, “I venture to ask about death?” He was answered, “While you do not know life, how can you know about death?”

XII

1.The disciple Min was standing by his side, looking bland and precise; Tsze-lû, looking bold and soldierly; Zan Yû and Tsze-kung, with a free and straightforward manner. The Master was pleased.

2.He said, “Yû, there! He will not die a natural death.

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