中庸-英文版byCharlesMuller.doc

Doctrine of the Mean 中庸(英文版) Translated by Charles Muller A. The Text 　　1. What Heaven confers is called nature. 　　Accordance with this nature is called the Way. 　　Cultivating the Way is called education. 　　That which is called Way cannot be separated from for an instant. What can be separated from is not the Way. Therefore the Superior Man is cautious in the place where he is not seen, and apprehensive in the place where he is not heard. Nothing is more visible than the hidden, and nothing is more apparent than the subtle. Therefore the Superior Man is cautious when he is alone. When joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure have not yet arisen, it is called chung (equilibrium, centrality, mean). When they arise to their appropriate levels, it is called harmony. Chung is the great root of all-under-heaven. Harmony is the penetration of the Way through all-under-heaven. When the mean and harmony are actualized, Heaven and Earth are in their proper positions, and the myriad things are nourished. 本文来源于孔子学院 / B. The Commentary 　　2. 仲尼曰，「君子中庸；　小人反中庸。」「君子之中庸也，君子而時中。小人之中庸也，小人而無忌憚也。」 　　Confucius said: The Superior Man actualizes the mean, the inferior man goes against it. The Superior Man actualizes the mean because he is always with it; the inferior mans contrarity is do to his heedlessness. 　　3. How far-reaching the mean is! That is why those who are able to keep it for long are few. 　　4. Confucius said: I know why the Way is not practiced. The intelligent go beyond it and the dull do not reach it. I know why the Way is not manifested. The good go beyond it and the unworthy do not reach it. There is no one who does not eat or drink, but there are few who really have taste. 　　5. Confucius said: What a pity! The way is not followed. 　　6. Confucius said: (Emperor) Shun was so wise! He liked to question people and delighted in listening to everyday speech. He would cover peoples bad points and disclose their goodness. He snatched up their excesses and facilitated their balanced na