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Zi Zhang(子张)

Zi Zhang contains 25 passages on learning, virtue, and practical conduct.

This book has 25 chapters; 16/25 chapters currently have audio.

Passages in this book

Zi Zhang(子张)·01

子zǐ张zhāng曰yuē,士shì,见jiàn危wēi致zhì命mìng,见jiàn得dé思sī义yì,祭jì思sī敬jìng,丧sāng思sī哀āi,其qí可kě已yǐ矣yǐ。

Tsze-chang said, "The scholar, trained for public duty, seeing threatening danger, is prepared to sacrifice his life. When the opportunity of gain is presented to him, he thinks of righteousness. In sacrificing, his thoughts are reverential. In mourning, his thoughts are about the grief which he should feel. Such a man commands our approbation indeed."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·02

子zǐ张zhāng曰yuē,执zhí德dé不bù弘hóng,信xìn道dào不bù笃dǔ,焉yān能néng为wéi有yǒu,焉yān能néng为wéi亡wú。

Tsze-chang said, "When a man holds fast to virtue, but without seeking to enlarge it, and believes right principles, but without firm sincerity, what account can be made of his existence or non-existence?"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·03

子zǐ夏xià之zhī门mén人rén问wèn交jiāo于yú子zǐ张zhāng。子zǐ张zhāng曰yuē,子zǐ夏xià云yún何hé。对duì曰yuē,子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,可kě者zhě与yǔ之zhī,其qí不bù可kě者zhě拒jù之zhī。子zǐ张zhāng曰yuē,异yì乎hū吾wú所suǒ闻wén,君jūn子zǐ尊zūn贤xián而ér容róng众zhòng,嘉jiā善shàn而ér矜jīn不bù能néng,我wǒ之zhī大dà贤xián与yú,于yú人rén何hé所suǒ不bù容róng,我wǒ之zhī不bù贤xián与yú,人rén将jiāng拒jù我wǒ,如rú之zhī何hé其qí拒jù人rén也yě。

The disciples of Tsze-hsia asked Tsze-chang about the principles that should characterize mutual intercourse. Tsze-chang asked, "What does Tsze-hsia say on the subject?" They replied, "Tsze-hsia says:—'Associate with those who can advantage you. Put away from you those who cannot do so.'" Tsze-chang observed, "This is different from what I have learned. The superior man honours the talented and virtuous, and bears with all. He praises the good, and pities the incompetent. Am I possessed of great talents and virtue?—who is there among men whom I will not bear with? Am I devoid of talents and virtue?—men will put me away from them. What have we to do with the putting away of others?"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·04

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,虽suī小xiǎo道dào,必bì有yǒu可kě观guān者zhě焉yān,致zhì远yuǎn恐kǒng泥nì,是shì以yǐ君jūn子zǐ不bù为wéi也yě。

Tsze-hsia said, "Even in inferior studies and employments there is something worth being looked at; but if it be

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Zi Zhang(子张)·05

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,日rì知zhī其qí所suǒ亡wú,月yuè无wú忘wàng其qí所suǒ能néng,可kě谓wèi好hào学xué也yě已yǐ矣yǐ。

Tsze-hsia said, "He, who from day to day recognises what he has not yet, and from month to month does not forget what he has attained to, may be said indeed to love to learn."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·06

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,博bó学xué而ér笃dǔ志zhì,切qiè问wèn而ér近jìn思sī,仁rén在zài其qí中zhōng矣yǐ。

Tsze-hsia said, "There are learning extensively, and having a firm and sincere aim; inquiring with earnestness, and reflecting with self-application:—virtue is in such a course."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·07

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,百bǎi工gōng居jū肆sì,以yǐ成chéng其qí事shì,君jūn子zǐ学xué以yǐ致zhì其qí道dào。

Tsze-hsia said, "Mechanics have their shops to dwell in, in order to accomplish their works. The superior man learns, in order to reach to the utmost of his principles."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·08

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,小xiǎo人rén之zhī过guò也yě,必bì文wèn。

Tsze-hsia said, "The mean man is sure to gloss his faults."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·09

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,君jūn子zǐ有yǒu三sān变biàn,望wàng之zhī俨yǎn然rán,即jí之zhī也yě温wēn,听tīng其qí言yán也yě厉lì。

Tsze-hsia said, "The superior man undergoes three changes. Looked at from a distance, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to speak, his language is firm and decided."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·10

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,君jūn子zǐ信xìn而ér后hòu劳láo其qí民mín,未wèi信xìn,则zé以yǐ为wéi厉lì己jǐ也yě,信xìn而ér后hòu谏jiàn,未wèi信xìn,则zé以yǐ为wéi谤bàng己jǐ也yě。

Tsze-hsia said, "The superior man, having obtained their confidence, may then impose labours on his people. If he have not gained their confidence, they will think that he is oppressing them. Having obtained the confidence of his prince, one may then remonstrate with him. If he have not gained his confidence, the prince will think that he is vilifying him."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·11

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,大dà德dé不bù逾yú闲xián,小xiǎo德dé出chū入rù可kě也yě。

Tsze-hsia said, "When a person does not transgress the boundary line in the great virtues, he may pass and repass it in the small virtues."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·12

子zǐ游yóu曰yuē,子zǐ夏xià之zhī门mén人rén小xiǎo子zǐ,当dāng洒sǎ扫sǎo,应yìng对duì,进jìn退tuì,则zé可kě矣yǐ,抑yì末mò也yě,本běn之zhī则zé无wú,如rú之zhī何hé。子zǐ夏xià闻wén之zhī曰yuē,噫yī,言yán游yóu过guò矣yǐ,君jūn子zǐ之zhī道dào,孰shú先xiān传chuán焉yān,孰shú后hòu倦juàn焉yān,譬pì诸zhū草cǎo木mù,区qū以yǐ别bié矣yǐ,君jūn子zǐ之zhī道dào,焉yān可kě诬wú也yě,有yǒu始shǐ有yǒu卒zú者zhě,其qí惟wéi圣shèng人rén乎hū。

1. Tsze-yu said, "The disciples and followers of Tsze-hsia, in sprinkling and sweeping the ground, in answering and replying, in advancing and receding, are sufficiently accomplished. But these are only the branches of learning, and they are left ignorant of what is essential.—How can they be acknowledged as sufficiently taught?" 2. Tsze-hsia heard of the remark and said, "Alas! Yen Yu is wrong. According to the way of the superior man in teaching, what departments are there which he considers of prime importance, and delivers? what are there which he considers of secondary importance, and allows himself to be idle about? But as in the case of plants, which are assorted according to their classes, so he deals with his disciples. How can the way of a superior man be such as to make fools of any of them? Is it not the sage alone, who can unite in one the beginning and the consummation of learning?"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·13

子zǐ夏xià曰yuē,仕shì而ér优yōu则zé学xué,学xué而ér优yōu则zé仕shì。

Tsze-hsia said, "The officer, having discharged all his duties, should devote his leisure to learning. The student, having completed his learning, should apply himself to be an officer."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·14

子zǐ游yóu曰yuē,丧sāng致zhì乎hū哀āi而ér止zhǐ。

Tsze-hsia said, "Mourning, having been carried to the utmost degree of grief, should stop with that."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·15

子zǐ游yóu曰yuē,吾wú友yǒu张zhāng也yě,为wéi难nán能néng也yě,然rán而ér未wèi仁rén。

Tsze-hsia said, "My friend Chang can do things which are hard to be done, but yet he is not perfectly virtuous."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·16

曾zēng子zǐ曰yuē,堂táng堂táng乎hū张zhāng也yě,难nán与yǔ并bìng为wéi仁rén矣yǐ。

The philosopher Tsang said, "How imposing is the manner of Chang! It is difficult along with him to practise virtue."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·17

曾zēng子zǐ曰yuē,吾wú闻wén诸zhū夫fū子zǐ,人rén未wèi有yǒu自zì致zhì者zhě也yě,必bì也yě亲qīn丧sāng乎hū。

The philosopher Tsang said, "I heard this from our Master:—'Men may not have shown what is in them to the full extent, and yet they will be found to do so, on occasion of mourning for their parents.'"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·18

曾zēng子zǐ曰yuē,吾wú闻wén诸zhū夫fū子zǐ,孟mèng庄zhuāng子zǐ之zhī孝xiào也yě,其qí他tā可kě能néng也yě,其qí不bù改gǎi父fù之zhī臣chén,与yǔ父fù之zhī政zhèng,是shì难nán能néng也yě。

The philosopher Tsang said, "I have heard this from our Master:—'The filial piety of Mang Chwang, in other matters, was what other men are competent to, but, as seen in his not changing the ministers of his father, nor his father's mode of government, it is difficult to be attained to.'"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·19

孟mèng氏shì使shǐ阳yáng肤fū为wéi士shì师shī,问wèn于yú曾zēng子zǐ。曾zēng子zǐ曰yuē,上shàng失shī其qí道dào,民mín散sàn,久jiǔ矣yǐ,如rú得dé其qí情qíng,则zé哀āi矜jīn而ér勿wù喜xǐ。

The chief of the Mang family having appointed Yang Fu to be chief criminal judge, the latter consulted the philosopher Tsang. Tsang said, "The rulers have failed in their duties, and the people consequently have been disorganised, for a long time. When you have found out the truth of any accusation, be grieved for and pity them, and do not feel joy at your own ability."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·20

子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,纣zhòu之zhī不bú善shàn,不bù如rú是shì之zhī甚shèn也yě。是shì以yǐ君jūn子zǐ恶wù居jū下xià流liú,天tiān下xià之zhī恶è皆jiē归guī焉yān。

Tsze-kung said, "Chau's wickedness was not so great as that name implies. Therefore, the superior man hates to dwell

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Zi Zhang(子张)·21

子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,君jūn子zǐ之zhī过guò也yě,如rú日rì月yuè之zhī食shí焉yān,过guò也yě,人rén皆jiē见jiàn之zhī,更gēng也yě,人rén皆jiē仰yǎng之zhī。

Tsze-kung said, "The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the sun and moon. He has his faults, and all men see them; he changes again, and all men look up to him."

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Zi Zhang(子张)·22

卫wèi公gōng孙sūn朝cháo问wèn于yú子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,仲zhòng尼ní焉yān学xué。子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,文wén,武wǔ之zhī道dào,未wèi坠zhuì于yú地dì,在zài人rén。贤xián者zhě识zhì其qí大dà者zhě,不bù贤xián者zhě识zhì其qí小xiǎo者zhě,莫mò不bù有yǒu文wén,武wǔ之zhī道dào焉yān。夫fū子zǐ焉yān不bù学xué。而ér亦yì何hé常cháng师shī之zhī有yǒu。

1. Kung-sun Ch'ao of Wei asked Tsze-kung, saying, "From whom did Chung-ni get his learning?" 2. Tsze-kung replied, "The doctrines of Wan and Wu have not yet fallen to the ground. They are to be found among men. Men of talents and virtue remember the greater principles of them, and others, not possessing such talents and virtue, remember the smaller. Thus, all possess the doctrines of Wan and Wu. Where could our Master go that he should not have an opportunity of learning them? And yet what necessity was there for his having a regular master?"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·23

叔shū孙sūn武wǔ叔shū语yù大dà夫fū于yú朝cháo曰yuē,子zǐ贡gòng贤xián于yú仲zhòng尼ní。子zǐ服fú景jǐng伯bó以yǐ告gào子zǐ贡gòng。子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,譬pì之zhī宫gōng墙qiáng,赐cì之zhī墙qiáng也yě,及jí肩jiān,窥kuī见jiàn室shì家jiā之zhī好hǎo。夫fū子zǐ之zhī墙qiáng,数shù仞rèn,不bù得dé其qí门mén而ér入rù,不bú见jiàn宗zōng庙miào之zhī美měi,百bǎi官guān之zhī富fù。得dé其qí门mén者zhě或huò寡guǎ矣yǐ,夫fū子zǐ之zhī云yún,不bú亦yì宜yí乎hū。

1. Shu-sun Wu-shu observed to the great officers in the court, saying, "Tsze-kung is superior to Chung-ni." 2. Tsze-fu Ching-po reported the observation to Tsze-kung, who said, "Let me use the comparison of a house and its encompassing wall. My wall only reaches to the shoulders. One may peep over it, and see whatever is valuable in the apartments. 3. "The wall of my Master is several fathoms high. If one do not find the door and enter by it, he cannot see the ancestral temple with its beauties, nor all the officers in their rich array. 4. "But I may assume that they are few who find the door. Was not the observation of the chief only what might have been expected?"

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Zi Zhang(子张)·24

叔shū孙sūn武wǔ叔shū毁huǐ仲zhòng尼ní。子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,无wú以yǐ为wéi也yě,仲zhòng尼ní不bù可kě毁huǐ也yě,他tā人rén之zhī贤xián者zhě,丘qiū陵líng也yě,犹yóu可kě逾yú也yě,仲zhòng尼ní,日rì月yuè也yě,无wú得dé而ér逾yú焉yān,人rén虽suī欲yù自zì绝jué,其qí何hé伤shāng于yú日rì月yuè乎hū,多duō见jiàn其qí不bù知zhī量liàng也yě。

Shu-sun Wu-shu having spoken revilingly of Chung-ni, Tsze-kung said, "It is of no use doing so. Chung-ni cannot be reviled. The talents and virtue of other men are hillocks and mounds which may be stepped over. Chung-ni is the sun or moon, which it is not possible to step over. Although a man may wish to cut himself off from the sage, what harm can he do to the sun or moon? He only shows that he does not know his own capacity.

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Zi Zhang(子张)·25

陈chén子zǐ禽qín谓wèi子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,子zǐ为wéi恭gōng也yě,仲zhòng尼ní岂qǐ贤xián于yú子zǐ乎hū。子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē,君jūn子zǐ一yì言yán以yǐ为wéi知zhì,一yì言yán以yǐ为wéi不bú知zhì,言yán不bù可kě不bú慎shèn也yě。夫fū子zǐ之zhī不bù可kě及jí也yě,犹yóu天tiān之zhī不bù可kě阶jiē而ér升shēng也yě。夫fū子zǐ之zhī得dé邦bāng家jiā者zhě,所suǒ谓wèi立lì之zhī斯sī立lì,道dǎo之zhī斯sī行xíng,绥suī之zhī斯sī来lái,动dòng之zhī斯sī和hé。其qí生shēng也yě荣róng,其qí死sǐ也yě哀āi。如rú之zhī何hé其qí可kě及jí也yě。

1. Ch'an Tsze-ch'in, addressing Tsze-kung, said, "You are too modest. How can Chung-ni be said to be superior to you?" 2. Tsze-kung said to him, "For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We ought to be careful indeed in what we say. 3. "Our Master cannot be attained to, just in the same way as the heavens cannot be gone up to by the steps of a stair. 4. "Were our Master in the position of the ruler of a State or the chief of a Family, we should find verified the description which has been given of a sage's rule:—he would plant the people, and forthwith they would be established; he would lead them on, and forthwith they would follow him; he would make them happy, and forthwith multitudes would resort to his dominions; he would stimulate them, and forthwith they would be harmonious. While he lived, he would be glorious. When he died, he would be bitterly lamented. How is it possible for him to be attained to?"

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