Threads · yuè

樂 Music, Odes & the Arts

Poetry, music, and archery as instruments of cultivation.

35 sayings touch this thread

I.15Tsze-kung said, ‘What do you pronounce concerning the poor man who yet does not flatter, and the rich man who is not proud?’ The Master replied, ‘They will do;…The Master
II.2The Master said, ‘In the Book of Poetry are three hundred pieces, but the design of them all may be embraced in one sentence— “Having no depraved thoughts.”’The Master
III.3The Master said, ‘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…The Master
III.7The Master said, ‘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…The Master
III.8Tsze-hsia asked, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the passage— “The pretty dimples of her artful smile! The well- defined black and white of her eye! The plain…The Master
III.16The Master said, ‘In archery it is not going through the leather which is the principal thing;— because people’s strength is not equal. This was the old way.’The Master
III.23The Master instructing the grand music-master of Lu said, ‘How to play music may be known. At the commencement of the piece, all the parts should sound…
VII.13When the Master was in Ch’i, he heard the Shao, and for three months did not know the taste of flesh. ‘I did not think’’ he said, ‘that music could have been…
VII.17The Master’s frequent themes of discourse were— the Odes, the History, and the maintenance of the Rules of Propriety. On all these he frequently discoursed.
VII.31When the Master was in company with a person who was singing, if he sang well, he would make him repeat the song, while he accompanied it with his own voice.
VIII.3The philosopher Tsang being ill, he called to him the disciples of his school, and said, ‘Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. It is said in the Book of Poetry,…
VIII.8The Master said, ‘It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused. ‘It is by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established. ‘It is from Music that the…The Master
VIII.15The Master said, ‘When the music master Chih first entered on his office, the finish of the Kwan Tsu was magnificent;— how it filled the ears!’The Master
IX.2A man of the village of Ta-hsiang said, ‘Great indeed is the philosopher K’ung! His learning is extensive, and yet he does not render his name famous by any…
IX.14The Master said, ‘I returned from Wei to Lu, and then the music was reformed, and the pieces in the Royal songs and Praise songs all found their proper places.’The Master
XI.1The Master said, ‘The men of former times, in the matters of ceremonies and music were rustics, it is said, while the men of these latter times, in ceremonies…The Master
XI.14The Master said, ‘What has the lute of Yu to do in my door?’ The other disciples began not to respect Tsze-lu. The Master said, ‘Yu has ascended to the hall,…The Master
XI.25Tsze-lu, Tsang Hsi, Zan Yu, and Kung-hsi Hwa were sitting by the Master. He said to them, ‘Though I am a day or so older than you, do not think of that. ‘From…The Master
XIII.3Tsze-lu said, ‘The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?’…The Master
XIV.6Nan-kung Kwo, submitting an inquiry to Confucius, said, ‘I was skillful at archery, and Ao could move a boat along upon the land, but neither of them died a…The Master
XIV.13Tsze-lu asked what constituted a COMPLETE man. The Master said, ‘Suppose a man with the knowledge of Tsang Wu-chung, the freedom from covetousness of…The Master
XIV.42The Master was playing, one day, on a musical stone in Wei, when a man, carrying a straw basket, passed the door of the house where Confucius was, and said,…The Master
XV.10Yen Yuan asked how the government of a country should be administered. The Master said, ‘Follow the seasons of Hsia. ‘Ride in the state carriage of Yin. ‘Wear…The Master
XV.41The Music-master, Mien, having called upon him, when they came to the steps, the Master said, ‘Here are the steps.’ When they came to the mat for the guest to…The Master
XVI.2Confucius said, ‘When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the son of Heaven. When bad…The Master
XVI.5Confucius said, ‘There are three things men find enjoyment in which are advantageous, and three things they find enjoyment in which are injurious. To find…The Master
XVI.13Ch’an K’ang asked Po-yu, saying, ‘Have you heard any lessons from your father different from what we have all heard?’ Po-yu replied, ‘No. He was standing alone…
XVII.4The Master, having come to Wu-ch’ang, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing. Well pleased and smiling, he said, ‘Why use an ox knife to…The Master
XVII.9The Master said, ‘My children, why do you not study the Book of Poetry? ‘The Odes serve to stimulate the mind. ‘They may be used for purposes of…The Master
XVII.11The Master said, ‘“It is according to the rules of propriety,” they say.— “It is according to the rules of propriety,” they say. Are gems and silk all that is…The Master
XVII.18The Master said, ‘I hate the manner in which purple takes away the luster of vermilion. I hate the way in which the songs of Chang confound the music of the…The Master
XVII.21Tsai Wo asked about the three years’ mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. ‘If the superior man,’ said he, ‘abstains for three years from…The Master
XVIII.4The people of Ch’i sent to Lu a present of female musicians, which Chi Hwan received, and for three days no court was held. Confucius took his departure.
XVIII.5The madman of Ch’u, Chieh-yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, ‘O FANG! O FANG! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but…
XVIII.9The grand music master, Chih, went to Ch’i. Kan, the master of the band at the second meal, went to Ch’u. Liao, the band master at the third meal, went to…