Book X
Heang Tang. The Master's deportment, behavior, and ceremonial conduct in various settings.
66 argumentative units
- 01Confucius's demeanor in his village
Confucius appeared simple and sincere in his village, presenting himself as someone who did not speak much.
- 02Confucius's speech in the temple and court
When in the prince's ancestral temple or court, Confucius spoke with detailed knowledge on all points but exercised caution.
- 03Confucius's speech with different grades of officers
Confucius spoke freely but straightforwardly to lower-grade officers, and blandly but precisely to higher-grade officers.
- 04Confucius's manner when the ruler was present
When in the ruler's presence, Confucius displayed respectful uneasiness while maintaining a grave but self-possessed demeanor.
- 05Confucius's physical comportment when receiving a visitor
When summoned to receive a visitor, Confucius changed his countenance, moved his legs with difficulty, and adjusted his body and robe with careful attention.
- 06Confucius's hurried movement toward the guest
Confucius hastened forward with his arms positioned like a bird's wings in a gesture of deference.
- 07Confucius's report to the prince after guest departure
After the guest departed, Confucius reported to the prince that the visitor was no longer turning around.
- 08Confucius's deportment at the palace gate
When entering the palace gate, Confucius bent his body as if it would not fit through the opening.
- 09Confucius's careful positioning at the gateway
When standing or passing through gates, Confucius avoided occupying the center and did not step on the threshold.
- 10Confucius's reverence when passing the prince's vacant place
When passing the prince's vacant place, Confucius changed his countenance, his legs bent, and he spoke as if barely able to breathe.
- 11Confucius's careful ascent to the reception hall
Confucius ascended the reception hall while holding his robe, bending his body, and holding his breath as if not daring to breathe.
- 12Confucius's relaxation and movement after leaving the audience
After descending one step from the audience, Confucius relaxed his expression and appeared satisfied; at the bottom he moved rapidly with arms like wings.
- 13Confucius's comportment when carrying the ruler's scepter
While carrying the ruler's scepter, Confucius bent his body as if unable to bear its weight, held it at the proper height, and dragged his feet.
- 14Confucius's demeanor when presenting gifts on behalf of the ruler
When presenting gifts as the ruler's representative, Confucius wore a placid and composed appearance.
- 15Confucius's demeanor at private audience with the ruler
During private audiences with the ruler, Confucius appeared highly pleased.
- 16Superior man's avoidance of certain dress colors
The superior man does not use deep purple or puce colors in his dress ornaments.
- 17Superior man's color restrictions in undress
Even in undress, the superior man avoids wearing red or reddish colored garments.
- 18Superior man's garment in warm weather
In warm weather, the superior man wears a single garment of either coarse or fine texture, displayed over an inner garment.
- 19Superior man's choice of fur and corresponding garments
The superior man wears black garments over lamb's fur, white over fawn's fur, and yellow over fox's fur.
- 20Superior man's fur robe for undress
The superior man's undress fur robe is long with the right sleeve short.
- 21Superior man's sleeping dress proportions
The superior man's sleeping dress is made half as long again as his body length.
- 22Superior man's choice of furs when at home
When staying at home, the superior man uses thick furs of fox or badger.
- 23Superior man's dress after completing mourning
When putting off mourning clothes, the superior man wears all the appendages of the girdle.
- 24Superior man's undergarment style
The superior man's undergarment, except when required to be of curtain shape, is made of silk cut narrow above and wide below.
- 25Superior man's dress restrictions when visiting the bereaved
The superior man does not wear lamb's fur or a black cap when making a visit of condolence.
- 26Superior man's observance of the first day of the month
On the first day of the month, the superior man puts on his court robes and presents himself at court.
- 27Confucius's dress requirements when fasting
When fasting, Confucius required his clothes to be brightly clean and made of linen cloth.
- 28Confucius's food and seating changes when fasting
When fasting, Confucius changed both his food and his usual seating place in the apartment.
- 29Confucius's standards for rice and meat preparation
Confucius had no objection to finely cleaned rice or finely minced meat.
- 30Confucius's rejection of spoiled or improperly prepared food
Confucius would not eat rice damaged by heat or damp that had turned sour, nor spoiled fish or flesh.
- 31Confucius's standards for food quality and flavor
Confucius would not eat discolored food, food with bad flavor, improperly cooked food, or food not in season.
- 32Confucius's requirements for meat cutting and sauce
Confucius would not eat meat that was not cut properly or meat served without its proper sauce.
- 33Confucius's balanced consumption of meat and rice
Though meat might be abundant, Confucius ensured his portion of meat did not exceed the proper proportion for rice.
- 34Confucius's approach to wine drinking
Confucius placed no limit on wine consumption but did not allow himself to become confused by it.
- 35Confucius's rejection of market-bought wine and dried meat
Confucius did not partake of wine and dried meat purchased from the market.
- 36Confucius's habitual use of ginger
Confucius was never without ginger when eating.
- 37Confucius's moderate eating habits
Confucius did not eat much.
- 38Confucius's handling of meat from sacrifices
Confucius did not keep overnight the flesh from the prince's sacrifice, and kept family sacrifice flesh for no more than three days.
- 39Confucius's silence during eating and sleeping
When eating, Confucius did not converse; when in bed, he did not speak.
- 40Confucius's respectful treatment of humble food offerings
Even with coarse rice and vegetable soup, Confucius would offer a portion in sacrifice with a grave and respectful air.
- 41Confucius's requirement for a straight sitting mat
Confucius would not sit on a mat unless it was straight.
- 42Confucius's participation in village drinking ceremonies
When villagers were drinking together, Confucius departed when those carrying staffs departed.
- 43Confucius's participation in pestilence-driving ceremonies
When villagers performed ceremonies to drive away pestilential influences, Confucius put on his court robes and stood on the eastern steps.
- 44Confucius's respectful protocol for inquiries to other states
When sending complimentary inquiries to someone in another state, Confucius bowed twice while escorting the messenger away.
- 45Confucius's cautious response to a gift of medicine
When Chi K'ang sent Confucius a gift of medicine, Confucius bowed in receipt but said he did not know it and dared not taste it.
- 46Confucius's priority when the stable burned down
When the stable burned down while Confucius was at court, upon returning he asked only if any person was hurt, not about the horses.
- 47Confucius's protocol for receiving cooked meat from the prince
When the prince sent Confucius cooked meat, he would adjust his mat, taste it first, and distribute it to others.
- 48Confucius's handling of undressed meat from the prince
When the prince sent Confucius undressed meat, he would have it cooked and offer it to the spirits of his ancestors.
- 49Confucius's care for living animals received from the prince
When the prince sent Confucius a living animal, he would keep it alive.
- 50Confucius's role when attending the prince's entertainment
When attending the prince's entertainment, Confucius would first taste everything while the prince performed the sacrifice.
- 51Confucius's proper deportment when visited by the prince during illness
When ill and visited by the prince, Confucius positioned his head to the east and had his court robes spread over him with his girdle fastened.
- 52Confucius's immediate response to the prince's summons
When called by the prince's order, Confucius went at once without waiting for his carriage to be yoked.
- 53Confucius's diligent inquiry in the ancestral temple
When entering the ancestral temple of the state, Confucius asked about everything.
- 54Confucius's responsibility for burying friends without proper relations
When a friend died without relations to perform the necessary offices, Confucius would offer to bury him.
- 55Confucius's general refusal to bow for received gifts
When a friend sent Confucius a present, even a carriage and horses, he did not bow.
- 56Confucius's special respect for sacrifice flesh as a gift
Confucius only bowed in receipt of the flesh of sacrifice as a gift.
- 57Confucius's relaxed posture when in bed
In bed, Confucius did not lie like a corpse; at home, he did not adopt formal deportment.
- 58Confucius's respectful response to those in mourning dress
When seeing anyone in mourning dress, though an acquaintance, Confucius would change his countenance.
- 59Confucius's ceremonious greeting to those in formal or ceremonial attire
When seeing anyone wearing full dress cap or a blind person, Confucius would salute them ceremoniously even if in undress himself.
- 60Confucius's special bow to those in mourning or bearing official tables
To anyone in mourning, Confucius would bow forward to the carriage crossbar; he gave the same bow to those bearing population tables.
- 61Confucius's respectful response to excessive provisions
When at an entertainment with abundant provisions before him, Confucius would change countenance and rise up.
- 62Confucius's reverent response to natural phenomena
On sudden thunder or violent wind, Confucius would change his countenance in reverence.
- 63Confucius's proper posture when mounting his carriage
When about to mount his carriage, Confucius would stand straight while holding the cord.
- 64Confucius's composed behavior while in the carriage
When in the carriage, Confucius did not turn his head fully, did not talk hastily, and did not point with his hands.
- 65Observation of the hen-pheasant's behavior
The hen-pheasant's countenance rises immediately and flies around before settling.
- 66Confucius's remarks about the hen-pheasant
Confucius observed a hen-pheasant on the hill bridge and remarked 'At its season! At its season!' while Tsze-lu attempted to approach it.