玄端而朝日於東門之外，聽朔於南門之外，閏月則闔門左扉，立於其中。
The son of Heaven, when sacrificing, wore (the cap) with the twelve long pendants of beads of jade hanging down from its top before and behind, and the robe embroidered with dragons.
When saluting the appearance of the sun outside the eastern gate, he wore the dark-coloured square-cut robes; and (also) when listening to the notification of the first day of the month outside the southern gate.
If the month were intercalary, he caused the left leaf of the door to be shut, and stood in the middle of that (which remained open).
He wore the skin cap at the daily audience in the court, after which he proceeded to take the morning meal in it.
At midday he partook of what was left in the morning.
He had music at his meals.
Every day a sheep and a pig were killed and cooked; and on the first day of the month an ox in addition.
There were five beverages: water, which was the principal; rice-water, spirits, must, and millet-water.
When he had done eating, he remained at ease in the dark-coloured square-cut robes.
His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
The blind musician in attendance judged whether the music were too high or too low.
If the year were not good and fruitful, the son of Heaven wore white and plain robes, rode in the Plain and unadorned carriage, and had no music at his meals.
皮弁以日視朝，遂以食，日中而餕，奏而食。
The son of Heaven, when sacrificing, wore (the cap) with the twelve long pendants of beads of jade hanging down from its top before and behind, and the robe embroidered with dragons.
When saluting the appearance of the sun outside the eastern gate, he wore the dark-coloured square-cut robes; and (also) when listening to the notification of the first day of the month outside the southern gate.
If the month were intercalary, he caused the left leaf of the door to be shut, and stood in the middle of that (which remained open).
He wore the skin cap at the daily audience in the court, after which he proceeded to take the morning meal in it.
At midday he partook of what was left in the morning.
He had music at his meals.
Every day a sheep and a pig were killed and cooked; and on the first day of the month an ox in addition.
There were five beverages: water, which was the principal; rice-water, spirits, must, and millet-water.
When he had done eating, he remained at ease in the dark-coloured square-cut robes.
His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
The blind musician in attendance judged whether the music were too high or too low.
If the year were not good and fruitful, the son of Heaven wore white and plain robes, rode in the Plain and unadorned carriage, and had no music at his meals.
日少牢，朔月大牢；五飲：上水、漿、酒、醴、酏。
The son of Heaven, when sacrificing, wore (the cap) with the twelve long pendants of beads of jade hanging down from its top before and behind, and the robe embroidered with dragons.
When saluting the appearance of the sun outside the eastern gate, he wore the dark-coloured square-cut robes; and (also) when listening to the notification of the first day of the month outside the southern gate.
If the month were intercalary, he caused the left leaf of the door to be shut, and stood in the middle of that (which remained open).
He wore the skin cap at the daily audience in the court, after which he proceeded to take the morning meal in it.
At midday he partook of what was left in the morning.
He had music at his meals.
Every day a sheep and a pig were killed and cooked; and on the first day of the month an ox in addition.
There were five beverages: water, which was the principal; rice-water, spirits, must, and millet-water.
When he had done eating, he remained at ease in the dark-coloured square-cut robes.
His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
The blind musician in attendance judged whether the music were too high or too low.
If the year were not good and fruitful, the son of Heaven wore white and plain robes, rode in the Plain and unadorned carriage, and had no music at his meals.
卒食，玄端而居。
The son of Heaven, when sacrificing, wore (the cap) with the twelve long pendants of beads of jade hanging down from its top before and behind, and the robe embroidered with dragons.
When saluting the appearance of the sun outside the eastern gate, he wore the dark-coloured square-cut robes; and (also) when listening to the notification of the first day of the month outside the southern gate.
If the month were intercalary, he caused the left leaf of the door to be shut, and stood in the middle of that (which remained open).
He wore the skin cap at the daily audience in the court, after which he proceeded to take the morning meal in it.
At midday he partook of what was left in the morning.
He had music at his meals.
Every day a sheep and a pig were killed and cooked; and on the first day of the month an ox in addition.
There were five beverages: water, which was the principal; rice-water, spirits, must, and millet-water.
When he had done eating, he remained at ease in the dark-coloured square-cut robes.
His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
The blind musician in attendance judged whether the music were too high or too low.
If the year were not good and fruitful, the son of Heaven wore white and plain robes, rode in the Plain and unadorned carriage, and had no music at his meals.
動則左史書之，言則右史書之，御瞽几聲之上下。
The son of Heaven, when sacrificing, wore (the cap) with the twelve long pendants of beads of jade hanging down from its top before and behind, and the robe embroidered with dragons.
When saluting the appearance of the sun outside the eastern gate, he wore the dark-coloured square-cut robes; and (also) when listening to the notification of the first day of the month outside the southern gate.
If the month were intercalary, he caused the left leaf of the door to be shut, and stood in the middle of that (which remained open).
He wore the skin cap at the daily audience in the court, after which he proceeded to take the morning meal in it.
At midday he partook of what was left in the morning.
He had music at his meals.
Every day a sheep and a pig were killed and cooked; and on the first day of the month an ox in addition.
There were five beverages: water, which was the principal; rice-water, spirits, must, and millet-water.
When he had done eating, he remained at ease in the dark-coloured square-cut robes.
His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
The blind musician in attendance judged whether the music were too high or too low.
If the year were not good and fruitful, the son of Heaven wore white and plain robes, rode in the Plain and unadorned carriage, and had no music at his meals.
年不順成，則天子素服，乘素車，食無樂。
The son of Heaven, when sacrificing, wore (the cap) with the twelve long pendants of beads of jade hanging down from its top before and behind, and the robe embroidered with dragons.
When saluting the appearance of the sun outside the eastern gate, he wore the dark-coloured square-cut robes; and (also) when listening to the notification of the first day of the month outside the southern gate.
If the month were intercalary, he caused the left leaf of the door to be shut, and stood in the middle of that (which remained open).
He wore the skin cap at the daily audience in the court, after which he proceeded to take the morning meal in it.
At midday he partook of what was left in the morning.
He had music at his meals.
Every day a sheep and a pig were killed and cooked; and on the first day of the month an ox in addition.
There were five beverages: water, which was the principal; rice-water, spirits, must, and millet-water.
When he had done eating, he remained at ease in the dark-coloured square-cut robes.
His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
The blind musician in attendance judged whether the music were too high or too low.
If the year were not good and fruitful, the son of Heaven wore white and plain robes, rode in the Plain and unadorned carriage, and had no music at his meals.
東風解凍，蟄蟲始振，魚上冰，獺祭魚，鴻雁來。
The east winds resolve the cold.
Creatures that have been torpid during the winter begin to move.
The fishes rise up to the ice.
Otters sacrifice fish.
The wild geese make their appearance.
哀公曰：「敢問儒行。」孔子對曰：「遽數之不能終其物，悉數之乃留，更仆未可終也。」哀公命席。
The duke said, 'Allow me to ask what is the conduct of the scholar.' Confucius replied, 'If I were to enumerate the points in it summarily, I could not touch upon them all; if I were to go into details on each, it would take a long time.
You would have changed all your attendants-in-waiting before I had concluded.' The duke-ordered a mat to be placed for him.
牧之野，武王之大事也。
The field of Mu-ye was the great achievement of king Wu.
When he withdrew after the victory, he reared a burning pile to God; prayed at the altar of the earth; and set forth his offerings in the house of Mu.
He then led all the princes of the kingdom, bearing his offerings in their various stands, and hurrying about, and carried the title of king back to Tai who was Dan-fu, Ji-li, and king Wen who was Chang - he would not approach his honourable ancestors with their former humbler titles.
既事而退，柴於上帝，祈於社，設奠於牧室。
The field of Mu-ye was the great achievement of king Wu.
When he withdrew after the victory, he reared a burning pile to God; prayed at the altar of the earth; and set forth his offerings in the house of Mu.
He then led all the princes of the kingdom, bearing his offerings in their various stands, and hurrying about, and carried the title of king back to Tai who was Dan-fu, Ji-li, and king Wen who was Chang - he would not approach his honourable ancestors with their former humbler titles.
遂率天下諸侯，執豆籩，逡奔走；追王大王亶父、王季歷、文王昌；不以卑臨尊也。
The field of Mu-ye was the great achievement of king Wu.
When he withdrew after the victory, he reared a burning pile to God; prayed at the altar of the earth; and set forth his offerings in the house of Mu.
He then led all the princes of the kingdom, bearing his offerings in their various stands, and hurrying about, and carried the title of king back to Tai who was Dan-fu, Ji-li, and king Wen who was Chang - he would not approach his honourable ancestors with their former humbler titles.
尊讓潔敬也者，君子之所以相接也。
Such giving of honour, such humility, such purity, and such respect belonged to the intercourse of superior men with others.
When they gave honour and showed humility, no contentions arose.
When they maintained purity and respect, no indifference or rudeness arose.
When there was no rudeness or contention, quarrels and disputations were kept at a distance.
When men did not quarrel nor dispute, there came no evils of violence or disorder.
It was thus that superior men escaped suffering calamity from other men; and therefore the sages instituted the observances in this ceremony to secure such a result.
君子尊讓則不爭，潔敬則不慢，不慢不爭，則遠於鬬辨矣；不鬬辨則無暴亂之禍矣，斯君子之所以免於人禍也，故聖人制之以道。
Such giving of honour, such humility, such purity, and such respect belonged to the intercourse of superior men with others.
When they gave honour and showed humility, no contentions arose.
When they maintained purity and respect, no indifference or rudeness arose.
When there was no rudeness or contention, quarrels and disputations were kept at a distance.
When men did not quarrel nor dispute, there came no evils of violence or disorder.
It was thus that superior men escaped suffering calamity from other men; and therefore the sages instituted the observances in this ceremony to secure such a result.
故射者，進退周還必中禮，內志正，外體直，然後持弓矢審固；持弓矢審固，然後可以言中，此可以觀德行矣。
The archers, in advancing, retiring, and all their movements, were required to observe the rules.
With minds correct, and straight carriage of the body, they were to hold their bows and arrows skilfully and firmly; and when they did so, they might be expected to hit the mark.
In this way (from their archery) their characters could be seen.
所謂誠其意者，毋自欺也，如惡惡臭，如好好色，此之謂自謙，故君子必慎其獨也！
What is meant by "making the thoughts sincere." is the allowing no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when we love what is beautiful.
This is called self-enjoyment.
Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
There is no evil to which the mean man, dwelling retired, will not proceed, but when he sees a superior man, he instantly tries to disguise himself, concealing his evil, and displaying what is good.
The other beholds him, as if he saw his heart and reins;-of what use is his disguise?
This is an instance of the saying -"What truly is within will be manifested without." Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
The disciple Zeng said, "What ten eyes behold, what ten hands point to, is to be regarded with reverence!" Riches adorn a house, and virtue adorns the person.
The mind is expanded, and the body is at ease.
Therefore, the superior man must make his thoughts sincere.
小人閑居為不善，無所不至，見君子而後厭然，掩其不善，而著其善。
What is meant by "making the thoughts sincere." is the allowing no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when we love what is beautiful.
This is called self-enjoyment.
Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
There is no evil to which the mean man, dwelling retired, will not proceed, but when he sees a superior man, he instantly tries to disguise himself, concealing his evil, and displaying what is good.
The other beholds him, as if he saw his heart and reins;-of what use is his disguise?
This is an instance of the saying -"What truly is within will be manifested without." Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
The disciple Zeng said, "What ten eyes behold, what ten hands point to, is to be regarded with reverence!" Riches adorn a house, and virtue adorns the person.
The mind is expanded, and the body is at ease.
Therefore, the superior man must make his thoughts sincere.
人之視己，如見其肺肝然，則何益矣！
What is meant by "making the thoughts sincere." is the allowing no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when we love what is beautiful.
This is called self-enjoyment.
Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
There is no evil to which the mean man, dwelling retired, will not proceed, but when he sees a superior man, he instantly tries to disguise himself, concealing his evil, and displaying what is good.
The other beholds him, as if he saw his heart and reins;-of what use is his disguise?
This is an instance of the saying -"What truly is within will be manifested without." Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
The disciple Zeng said, "What ten eyes behold, what ten hands point to, is to be regarded with reverence!" Riches adorn a house, and virtue adorns the person.
The mind is expanded, and the body is at ease.
Therefore, the superior man must make his thoughts sincere.
此謂誠於中，形於外，故君子必慎其獨也。
What is meant by "making the thoughts sincere." is the allowing no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when we love what is beautiful.
This is called self-enjoyment.
Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
There is no evil to which the mean man, dwelling retired, will not proceed, but when he sees a superior man, he instantly tries to disguise himself, concealing his evil, and displaying what is good.
The other beholds him, as if he saw his heart and reins;-of what use is his disguise?
This is an instance of the saying -"What truly is within will be manifested without." Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
The disciple Zeng said, "What ten eyes behold, what ten hands point to, is to be regarded with reverence!" Riches adorn a house, and virtue adorns the person.
The mind is expanded, and the body is at ease.
Therefore, the superior man must make his thoughts sincere.
曾子曰：「十目所視，十手所指，其嚴乎！」富潤屋，德潤身，心廣體胖，故君子必誠其意。
What is meant by "making the thoughts sincere." is the allowing no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when we love what is beautiful.
This is called self-enjoyment.
Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
There is no evil to which the mean man, dwelling retired, will not proceed, but when he sees a superior man, he instantly tries to disguise himself, concealing his evil, and displaying what is good.
The other beholds him, as if he saw his heart and reins;-of what use is his disguise?
This is an instance of the saying -"What truly is within will be manifested without." Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.
The disciple Zeng said, "What ten eyes behold, what ten hands point to, is to be regarded with reverence!" Riches adorn a house, and virtue adorns the person.
The mind is expanded, and the body is at ease.
Therefore, the superior man must make his thoughts sincere.
三讓而後傳命，三讓而後入廟門，三揖而後至階，三讓而後升，所以致尊讓也。
The message was transmitted (only) after the messenger had thrice declined to receive (the courtesies offered to him at the gate); he entered the gate of the ancestral temple after thrice in the same way trying to avoid doing so; thrice he exchanged bows with his conductor before they arrived at the steps; and thrice he yielded the precedence offered to him before he ascended the hall - so did he carry to the utmost his giving of honour and yielding courtesy.
如三年之喪，則既顈，其練祥皆同。
If during the three years' mourning (there occurred also another three years' mourning for the eldest son), then after the coarser girdle of the Jiong hemp had been assumed in the latter case, the sacrifices at the end of the first or second year's mourning for a parent might be proceeded with.
子貢退，言游進曰：「敢問禮也者，領惡而全好者與？」子曰：「然。」「然則何如？」子曰：「郊社之義，所以仁鬼神也；嘗禘之禮，所以仁昭穆也；饋奠之禮，所以仁死喪也；射鄉之禮，所以仁鄉黨也；食饗之禮，所以仁賓客也。」
Zi-gong having retired, Yan You advanced, and said, 'May I be allowed to ask whether the rules of ceremony do not serve to control what is bad, and to complete what is good?' The Master said, 'They do.' 'Very well, and how do they do it?' The Master said, 'The idea in the border sacrifices to Heaven and Earth is that they should give expression to the loving feeling towards the spirits; the ceremonies of the autumnal and summer services in the ancestral temple give expression to the loving feeling towards all in the circle of the kindred; the ceremony of putting down food (by the deceased) serves to express the loving feeling towards those who are dead and for whom they are mourning; the ceremonies of the archery fetes and the drinking at them express the loving feeling towards all in the district and neighbourhood; the ceremonies of festal entertainments express the loving feeling towards visitors and guests.'
孔子侍坐於哀公，哀公曰：「敢問人道誰為大？」孔子愀然作色而對曰：「君之及此言也，百姓之德也！
Confucius was sitting beside duke Ai, when the latter said, 'I venture to ask, according to the nature of men, which is the greatest thing (to be attended to in dealing with them).' Confucius looked startled, changed countenance, and replied, 'That your lordship should put this question is a good thing for the people.
How should your servant dare but express his opinion on it?' Accordingly he proceeded, and said, 'According to the nature of men, government is the greatest thing for them.'
碧臣敢無辭而對？
Confucius was sitting beside duke Ai, when the latter said, 'I venture to ask, according to the nature of men, which is the greatest thing (to be attended to in dealing with them).' Confucius looked startled, changed countenance, and replied, 'That your lordship should put this question is a good thing for the people.
How should your servant dare but express his opinion on it?' Accordingly he proceeded, and said, 'According to the nature of men, government is the greatest thing for them.'