Threads · lǐ

禮 Ritual & Propriety

Ceremony, courtesy, mourning, sacrifice — the forms that shape character.

68 sayings touch this thread

I.9The philosopher Tsang said, ‘Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the…The philosopher Tsang
I.12The philosopher Yu said, ‘In practising the rules of propriety, a natural ease is to be prized. In the ways prescribed by the ancient kings, this is the…The philosopher Yu
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.3The Master said, ‘If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense…The Master
II.5Mang I asked what filial piety was. The Master said, ‘It is not being disobedient.’ Soon after, as Fan Ch’ih was driving him, the Master told him, saying,…The Master
II.7Tsze-yu asked what filial piety was. The Master said, ‘The filial piety of now-a-days means the support of one’s parents. But dogs and horses likewise are able…The Master
II.20Chi K’ang asked how to cause the people to reverence their ruler, to be faithful to him, and to go on to nerve themselves to virtue. The Master said, ‘Let him…The Master
II.24The Master said, ‘For a man to sacrifice to a spirit which does not belong to him is flattery. ‘To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.’The Master
III.2The three families used the YUNG ode, while the vessels were being removed, at the conclusion of the sacrifice. The Master said, ‘“Assisting are the princes;—…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.4Lin Fang asked what was the first thing to be attended to in ceremonies. The Master said, ‘A great question indeed! ‘In festive ceremonies, it is better to be…The Master
III.6The chief of the Chi family was about to sacrifice to the T’ai mountain. The Master said to Zan Yu, ‘Can you not save him from this?’ He answered, ‘I cannot.’…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.9The Master said, ‘I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words. I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin…The Master
III.10The Master said, ‘At the great sacrifice, after the pouring out of the libation, I have no wish to look on.’The Master
III.11Some one asked the meaning of the great sacrifice. The Master said, ‘I do not know. He who knew its meaning would find it as easy to govern the kingdom as to…The Master
III.12He sacrificed to the dead, as if they were present. He sacrificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present. The Master said, ‘I consider my not being…The Master
III.15The Master, when he entered the grand temple, asked about everything. Some one said, ‘Who will say that the son of the man of Tsau knows the rules of…
III.17Tsze-kung wished to do away with the offering of a sheep connected with the inauguration of the first day of each month. The Master said, ‘Ts’ze, you love the…The Master
III.18The Master said, ‘The full observance of the rules of propriety in serving one’s prince is accounted by people to be flattery.’The Master
III.19The Duke Ting asked how a prince should employ his ministers, and how ministers should serve their prince. Confucius replied, ‘A prince should employ his…The Master
III.22The Master said, ‘Small indeed was the capacity of Kwan Chung!’ Some one said, ‘Was Kwan Chung parsimonious?’ ‘Kwan,’ was the reply, ‘had the San Kwei, and his…The Master
III.26The Master said, ‘High station filled without indulgent generosity; ceremonies performed without reverence; mourning conducted without sorrow;— wherewith…The Master
IV.13The Master said, ‘If a prince is able to govern his kingdom with the complaisance proper to the rules of propriety, what difficulty will he have? If he cannot…The Master
IV.18The Master said, ‘In serving his parents, a son may remonstrate with them, but gently; when he sees that they do not incline to follow his advice, he shows an…The Master
VI.20Fan Ch’ih asked what constituted wisdom. The Master said, ‘To give one’s self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to…The Master
VI.25The Master said, ‘The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not…The Master
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.20The subjects on which the Master did not talk, were— extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder, and spiritual beings.
VII.30The minister of crime of Ch’an asked whether the duke Chao knew propriety, and Confucius said, ‘He knew propriety.’ Confucius having retired, the minister…The Master
VIII.2The Master said, ‘Respectfulness, without the rules of propriety, becomes laborious bustle; carefulness, without the rules of propriety, becomes timidity;…The Master
VIII.4The philosopher Tsang being ill, Meng Chang went to ask how he was. Tsang said to him, ‘When a bird is about to die, its notes are mournful; when a man is…The philosopher Tsang
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
IX.3The Master said, ‘The linen cap is that prescribed by the rules of ceremony, but now a silk one is worn. It is economical, and I follow the common practice.…The Master
IX.9When the Master saw a person in a mourning dress, or any one with the cap and upper and lower garments of full dress, or a blind person, on observing them…
IX.10Yen Yuan, in admiration of the Master’s doctrines, sighed and said, ‘I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I tried to penetrate them, and…
X.6The superior man did not use a deep purple, or a puce colour, in the ornaments of his dress. Even in his undress, he did not wear anything of a red or reddish…
X.8He did not dislike to have his rice finely cleaned, nor to have his minced meat cut quite small. He did not eat rice which had been injured by heat or damp and…
X.10When the villagers were drinking together, on those who carried staffs going out, he went out immediately after. When the villagers were going through their…
X.13When the prince sent him a gift of cooked meat, he would adjust his mat, first taste it, and then give it away to others. When the prince sent him a gift of…
X.15When any of his friends died, if he had no relations who could be depended on for the necessary offices, he would say, ‘I will bury him.’ When a friend sent…
X.16In bed, he did not lie like a corpse. At home, he did not put on any formal deportment. When he saw any one in a mourning dress, though it might be an…
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.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
XII.1Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, ‘To subdue one’s self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself…The Master
XII.2Chung-kung asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, ‘It is, when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ…The Master
XII.5Sze-ma Niu, full of anxiety, said, ‘Other men all have their brothers, I only have not.’ Tsze-hsia said to him, ‘There is the following saying which I have…Tsze-hsia
XII.15The Master said, ‘By extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, one may thus likewise not err from…The Master
XIII.4Fan Ch’ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, ‘I am not so good for that as an old husbandman.’ He requested also to be taught gardening, and…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.43Tsze-chang said, ‘What is meant when the Shu says that Kao-tsung, while observing the usual imperial mourning, was for three years without speaking?’ The…The Master
XIV.44The Master said, ‘When rulers love to observe the rules of propriety, the people respond readily to the calls on them for service.’The Master
XV.8The Master said, ‘The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their…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.17The Master said, ‘The superior man in everything considers righteousness to be essential. He performs it according to the rules of propriety. He brings it…The Master
XV.32The Master said, ‘When a man’s knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will…The Master
XVI.1The head of the Chi family was going to attack Chwan-yu. Zan Yu and Chi-lu had an interview with Confucius, and said, ‘Our chief, Chi, is going to commence…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.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.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
XVII.24Tsze-kung said, ‘Has the superior man his hatreds also?’ The Master said, ‘He has his hatreds. He hates those who proclaim the evil of others. He hates the man…The Master
XIX.1Tsze-chang said, ‘The scholar, trained for public duty, seeing threatening danger, is prepared to sacrifice his life. When the opportunity of gain is presented…Tsze-chang
XIX.14Tsze-hsia said, ‘Mourning, having been carried to the utmost degree of grief, should stop with that.’Tsze-hsia
XIX.17The philosopher Tsang said, ‘I heard this from our Master:— “Men may not have shown what is in them to the full extent, and yet they will be found to do so, on…The philosopher Tsang
XX.1Yao said, ‘Oh! you, Shun, the Heaven-determined order of succession now rests in your person. Sincerely hold fast the due Mean. If there shall be distress and…
XX.3The Master said, ‘Without recognising the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. ‘Without an acquaintance with the rules of Propriety, it…The Master