The Analects
Book 3 · Ritual and Music
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Ritual and Music · 3.1
Confucius said of the Ji family, “They have eight rows of dancers perform in their courtyard. If they can bear to do this, what could they not bear to do?”
Ritual and Music · 3.2
The three great families had the hymn Yong sung as the sacrificial vessels were removed. The Master said, “‘The lords assist; the Son of Heaven stands solemnly.’ What place do these words have in the halls of the three families?”
Ritual and Music · 3.3
The Master said, “If someone lacks humaneness, what can that person do with ritual? If someone lacks humaneness, what can that person do with music?”
Ritual and Music · 3.4
Lin Fang asked about the root of ritual. The Master said, “A great question! In ritual, rather than extravagance, prefer restraint. In mourning, rather than polished ease, prefer genuine grief.”
Ritual and Music · 3.5
The Master said, “The Yi and Di may have rulers, yet they do not equal the Chinese states even when these are without a ruler.”
Ritual and Music · 3.6
The Ji family performed the mountain sacrifice at Mount Tai. The Master said to Ran You, “Can you not stop this?” He replied, “I cannot.” The Master said, “Alas! Could Mount Tai really be thought less discerning than Lin Fang?”
Ritual and Music · 3.7
The Master said, “An exemplary person does not compete. If there must be competition, surely it is in archery! The competitors bow and yield as they ascend, then descend and drink together. Even in competition, they remain exemplary.”
Ritual and Music · 3.8
Zixia asked, “‘Her lovely smile has dimples; her beautiful eyes have clear pupils; the plain ground brings out the colors.’ What does this mean?” The Master said, “Painting comes after the plain ground.” Zixia said, “Does ritual likewise come afterward?” The Master said, “Shang, you have opened something up for me! Now I can begin discussing the Odes with you.”
Ritual and Music · 3.9
The Master said, “I can speak about the rituals of Xia, but Qi offers insufficient evidence for them. I can speak about the rituals of Yin, but Song offers insufficient evidence for them. This is because the records and the learned people are insufficient. If they were sufficient, I could provide the evidence.”
Ritual and Music · 3.10
The Master said, “At the great ancestral sacrifice, once the libation has been poured, I no longer wish to watch.”
Ritual and Music · 3.11
Someone asked for an explanation of the great ancestral sacrifice. The Master said, “I do not know it. Someone who knew its meaning would find governing the world as clear as looking at this.” He pointed to his palm.
Ritual and Music · 3.12
He sacrificed as though the ancestors were present, and sacrificed to the spirits as though the spirits were present. The Master said, “If I do not take part in the sacrifice myself, it is as though I had not sacrificed.”
Ritual and Music · 3.13
Wangsun Jia asked, “What does this saying mean: ‘Rather than court the favor of the household shrine, court the favor of the kitchen stove’?” The Master said, “That is not right. If you offend against Heaven, there is nowhere you can pray.”
Ritual and Music · 3.14
The Master said, “Zhou looked back to the two preceding dynasties. How rich and splendid its culture is! I follow Zhou.”
Ritual and Music · 3.15
When the Master entered the grand ancestral temple, he asked about everything. Someone said, “Who says that the son of the man from Zou knows ritual? He enters the grand temple and asks about everything.” Hearing this, the Master said, “That itself is ritual.”
Ritual and Music · 3.16
The Master said, “In archery, piercing the hide target is not the chief concern, because people's strength is not all of one degree. This was the ancient way.”
Ritual and Music · 3.17
Zigong wanted to dispense with the live sheep offered when the new moon was announced. The Master said, “Si, you care about the sheep; I care about the rite.”
Ritual and Music · 3.18
The Master said, “When one serves a ruler with every observance of ritual, people take it for flattery.”
Ritual and Music · 3.19
Duke Ding asked, “How should a ruler employ ministers, and how should ministers serve a ruler?” Confucius replied, “The ruler should employ ministers according to ritual, and ministers should serve the ruler with wholehearted loyalty.”
Ritual and Music · 3.20
The Master said, “The Ospreys expresses joy without excess and sorrow without injury.”
Ritual and Music · 3.21
Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altar of the soil. Zai Wo replied, “The Xia rulers used pine; the people of Yin used cypress; the people of Zhou used chestnut, saying it would make the people tremble.” The words for chestnut and trembling form a play on words. Hearing this, the Master said, “Do not explain away what is already done, remonstrate about what is already completed, or pursue blame for what is past.”
Ritual and Music · 3.22
The Master said, “How limited was Guan Zhong's capacity!” Someone asked, “Was Guan Zhong frugal?” The Master replied, “Guan maintained the Three Gui establishments, and his officials did not combine duties. How could he be called frugal?” “Then did Guan Zhong understand ritual?” The Master replied, “A ruler erects a screen at his gate; Guan also erected a screen. When rulers meet in friendship, they have a stand for returning ceremonial cups; Guan had such a stand too. If Guan understood ritual, who does not?”
Ritual and Music · 3.23
The Master spoke to the grand music master of Lu about music: “Music can be understood in this way. When it begins, let the sounds come together. As it proceeds, let them be harmonious, distinct, and continuous, until the whole is brought to completion.”
Ritual and Music · 3.24
The border official at Yi requested an audience, saying, “Whenever an exemplary person comes here, I have never failed to meet him.” The followers arranged for him to see the Master. On coming out, he said, “Why should you disciples worry that he has lost his position? The world has lacked the Way for a long time. Heaven intends to make your Master a wooden-clapper bell to proclaim its message.”
Ritual and Music · 3.25
The Master said of the Shao music, “It is beautiful in every way, and also good in every way.” Of the Wu music, he said, “It is beautiful in every way, but not good in every way.”
Ritual and Music · 3.26
The Master said, “To occupy a high position without generosity, perform ritual without reverence, or attend mourning without grief—what is there in such conduct for me to look upon?”
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