Book III: Pa Yih explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Ritual and Propriety

  Central theme; Confucius criticizes the violation of ritual by the Chî family and emphasizes the importance of propriety in ceremonies, mourning, and the conduct between rulers and ministers.

• Virtuous Governance

  Confucius links ritual propriety to governance, stating that a prince should employ ministers according to propriety and ministers should serve with faithfulness. He also criticizes Kwan Chung for lacking propriety in his conduct.

• Sincerity and Faithfulness

  Confucius emphasizes the importance of sincerity over extravagance in ceremonies and mourning, and the need for faithfulness in serving one's prince.

• The Superior Man

  Confucius describes the student of virtue as having no contentions, and even in archery, he remains a Chün-tsze (superior man) by bowing complaisantly to competitors.

Characters to notice

• Confucius

  Central figure; criticizes the Chî family's use of eight rows of pantomimes and the three families' use of the Yung ode, emphasizing the need for humanity in ritual.

• Lin Fang

  Asks about the first thing to be attended to in ceremonies; Confucius responds that in festive ceremonies it is better to be sparing than extravagant, and in mourning, deep sorrow is better than minute observances.

• Yen Yû

  Asked by Confucius to save the chief of the Chî family from sacrificing to the T’âi mountain; he admits he cannot.

• Tsze-hsiâ

  Asks about the meaning of a passage from the Odes; Confucius praises him for bringing out his meaning and says he can now talk about the Odes with him.

• Wang-sun Chiâ

  Asks about the saying 'It is better to pay court to the furnace than to the southwest corner'; Confucius replies that he who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray.

• Tsze-kung

  Wishes to do away with the offering of a sheep at the inauguration of the first day of each month; Confucius says he loves the ceremony.

• Duke Ting

  Asks how a prince should employ his ministers and how ministers should serve their prince; Confucius replies with the rules of propriety and faithfulness.

• Tsâi Wo

  Answers Duke Âi about the altars of the spirits of the land, mentioning the trees planted by the Hsiâ, Yin, and Châu dynasties.

• Kwan Chung

  Criticized by Confucius for having small capacity and for not knowing the rules of propriety, as he had a screen at his gate and a stand for inverted cups like the princes.

Key passages

• “If a man be without the virtues proper to humanity, what has he to do with the rites of propriety? If a man be without the virtues proper to humanity, what has he to do with music?”

  If a person lacks humanity, the rites and music are meaningless to them.

  Confucius emphasizes that ritual and music are only meaningful when grounded in humaneness.

• “In festive ceremonies, it is better to be sparing than extravagant. In the ceremonies of mourning, it is better that there be deep sorrow than a minute attention to observances.”

  In celebrations, frugality is preferable to extravagance; in mourning, genuine grief is more important than meticulous ritual.

  Confucius advises Lin Fang on the priority of inner feeling over outward form.

• “The student of virtue has no contentions. If it be said he cannot avoid them, shall this be in archery? But he bows complaisantly to his competitors; thus he ascends the hall, descends, and exacts the forfeit of drinking. In his contention, he is still the Chün-tsze.”

  The virtuous person does not compete, but if competition is unavoidable, as in archery, they do so with courtesy and remain a gentleman.

  Confucius illustrates the ideal of the superior man even in competitive situations.

• “A prince should employ his minister according to the rules of propriety; ministers should serve their prince with faithfulness.”

  A ruler should treat his ministers with respect, and ministers should serve their ruler loyally.

  Confucius answers Duke Ting's question on the proper relationship between ruler and minister.