Book 10: Xiang Dang (In His Village)

Confucius, in his village, looked simple and sincere, and as if he were not able to speak. When he was in the prince's ancestorial temple, or in the court, he spoke minutely on every point, but cautiously. When he was waiting at court, in speaking with the great officers of the lower grade, he spake freely, but in a straightforward manner; in speaking with those of the higher grade, he did so blandly, but precisely. When the ruler was present, his manner displayed respectful uneasiness; it was grave, but self-possessed.

孔子は郷里の村では、素朴で誠実な様子をしていて、まるで口もきけない人のようだった。君主の祖先をまつる廟や朝廷では、どんなことも細かくはっきり話したが、言葉はつつしみ深かった。朝廷で控えているとき、下級の大夫とは、うちとけて、しかもまっすぐに話した。上級の大夫とは、おだやかに、しかもきちんと話した。君主がその場にいるときは、うやうやしく、身のすくむような様子を見せた。おごそかでありながら、落ち着いていた。

When the prince called him to employ him in the reception of a visitor, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to move forward with difficulty. He inclined himself to the other officers among whom he stood, moving his left or right arm, as their position required, but keeping the skirts of his robe before and behind evenly adjusted. He hastened forward, with his arms like the wings of a bird. When the guest had retired, he would report to the prince, 'The visitor is not turning round any more.'

君主に呼ばれて来客の接待役を命じられると、顔つきが変わったように見え、足もなかなか前へ進まないように見えた。一緒に並んでいるほかの役人たちには、その位置に合わせて左手や右手を動かしながら、身をかがめて会釈をした。それでも、着物の前とうしろのすそは、きちんと整ったままだった。小走りに進むときは、両腕を鳥の翼のように張っていた。客が帰ると、必ず君主に「お客さまは、もう振り返ってはいらっしゃいません」と報告した。

When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him. When he was standing, he did not occupy the middle of the gate-way; when he passed in or out, he did not tread upon the threshold. When he was passing the vacant place of the prince, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to bend under him, and his words came as if he hardly had breath to utter them. He ascended the reception hall, holding up his robe with both his hands, and his body bent; holding in his breath also, as if he dared not breathe. When he came out from the audience, as soon as he had descended one step, he began to relax his countenance, and had a satisfied look. When he had got to the bottom of the steps, he advanced rapidly to his place, with his arms like wings, and on occupying it, his manner still showed respectful uneasiness.

宮殿の門を入るときは、門が小さすぎて通れないかのように、身をかがめた。立ち止まるときは、門の通り道の真ん中には立たなかった。出入りするときは、敷居を踏まなかった。君主のいない席の前を通るときは、顔つきが変わり、ひざが折れそうに見えた。言葉も、息がろくにつけないかのように、とぎれとぎれだった。謁見の広間へは、両手で着物のすそを持ち上げ、身をかがめて上った。息もひそめて、まるで息をするのもはばかるかのようだった。謁見を終えて出てくると、階段を一段下りたとたんに顔つきがゆるみ、ほっとした様子になった。階段の下まで来ると、両腕を翼のように張って、自分の席まで小走りに進んだ。席についても、やはりうやうやしく、身のすくむような様子だった。

When he was carrying the scepter of his ruler, he seemed to bend his body, as if he were not able to bear its weight. He did not hold it higher than the position of the hands in making a bow, nor lower than their position in giving anything to another. His countenance seemed to change, and look apprehensive, and he dragged his feet along as if they were held by something to the ground. In presenting the presents with which he was charged, he wore a placid appearance. At his private audience, he looked highly pleased.

君主の圭（玉でできたしるし）を持って使いに行くときは、その重さに耐えられないかのように身をかがめた。圭は、おじぎをするときの手の位置より高くは上げず、人に物を手渡すときの手の位置より低くは下げなかった。顔つきは変わって、おそれかしこまっているように見えた。足は、何かで地面に引きとめられているかのように、すり足で進んだ。あずかってきた贈り物をさしだすときは、おだやかな顔つきだった。私的に会うときは、とてもうれしそうな様子だった。

The 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 colour. In warm weather, he had a single garment either of coarse or fine texture, but he wore it displayed over an inner garment. Over lamb's fur he wore a garment of black; over fawn's fur one of white; and over fox's fur one of yellow. The fur robe of his undress was long, with the right sleeve short. He required his sleeping dress to be half as long again as his body. When staying at home, he used thick furs of the fox or the badger. When he put off mourning, he wore all the appendages of the girdle. His under-garment, except when it was required to be of the curtain shape, was made of silk cut narrow above and wide below. He did not wear lamb's fur or a black cap, on a visit of condolence. On the first day of the month he put on his court robes, and presented himself at court. When fasting, he thought it necessary to have his clothes brightly clean and made of linen cloth. When fasting, he thought it necessary to change his food, and also to change the place where he commonly sat in the apartment.

君子は、濃い紫やくすんだ赤紫を、着物の飾りに使わなかった。ふだん着でも、赤や赤みがかった色のものは着なかった。暑い季節には、粗い布か細かい布のひとえを着たが、必ず下着の上に重ね、表に出して着た。子羊の毛皮の上には黒い上着を、子鹿の毛皮の上には白い上着を、狐の毛皮の上には黄色い上着を重ねた。ふだん着の毛皮の着物は丈が長く、右のそでだけ短くしてあった。寝間着は、必ず身の丈の一倍半の長さにさせた。家にいるときは、狐やアナグマの厚い毛皮を使った。喪が明けると、帯にさげる飾りをすべてつけた。下に着る衣は、幕のような形にする決まりのとき以外は、絹を使い、上を狭く下を広く裁って作った。弔問のときは、子羊の毛皮も黒い冠も身につけなかった。毎月一日には、朝廷の礼服を着て、朝廷へ出仕した。物忌みをするときは、明るく清らかな麻の着物を必ず着た。また物忌みのときは、必ずふだんとは食べ物を変え、部屋の中でいつも座る場所も変えた。

He 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 turned sour, nor fish or flesh which was gone. He did not eat what was discoloured, or what was of a bad flavour, nor anything which was ill-cooked, or was not in season. He did not eat meat which was not cut properly, nor what was served without its proper sauce. Though there might be a large quantity of meat, he would not allow what he took to exceed the due proportion for the rice. It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it. He did not partake of wine and dried meat bought in the market. He was never without ginger when he ate. He did not eat much. When he had been assisting at the prince's sacrifice, he did not keep the flesh which he received overnight. The flesh of his family sacrifice he did not keep over three days. If kept over three days, people could not eat it. When eating, he did not converse. When in bed, he did not speak. Although his food might be coarse rice and vegetable soup, he would offer a little of it in sacrifice with a grave, respectful air.

米はよくついて白くしたものをいやがらず、刻んだ肉も、ごく細かく切ったものをいやがらなかった。暑さや湿気でいたんで酸っぱくなった飯や、腐った魚や肉は食べなかった。色の悪いもの、味の悪いもの、煮え方のよくないもの、季節はずれのものも食べなかった。切り方の正しくない肉や、それに合ったたれが添えられていない料理も食べなかった。肉がたくさんあっても、飯との釣り合いを超えるほどは食べなかった。酒だけは量を決めていなかったが、乱れるほどには飲まなかった。市場で買った酒や干し肉は口にしなかった。食事には必ずしょうがを添えた。食べる量は多くなかった。君主の祭りを手伝って受け取った肉は、一晩もとっておかなかった。自分の家の祭りの肉は、三日を超えてとっておかなかった。三日を過ぎると、食べられなくなるからである。食べているときは話をしなかった。寝床に入ってからも話をしなかった。粗末な飯や野菜の汁であっても、少し取り分けて、おごそかに、うやうやしく神に供えた。

If his mat was not straight, he did not sit on it. When the villagers were drinking together, on those who carried staffs going out, he went out immediately after. When the villagers were going through their ceremonies to drive away pestilential influences, he put on his court robes and stood on the eastern steps. When he was sending complimentary inquiries to any one in another State, he bowed twice as he escorted the messenger away. Chi K'ang having sent him a present of physic, he bowed and received it, saying, 'I do not know it. I dare not taste it.' The stable being burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, 'Has any man been hurt?' He did not ask about the horses.

敷物がまっすぐでなければ、座らなかった。村人たちが集まって酒をくみかわすときは、杖をついた老人たちが帰っていくと、そのすぐあとに席を立った。村人たちが疫病を追い払う儀式をするときは、朝廷の礼服を着て、東の階段に立った。よその国の人に使いを送って安否をたずねるときは、使いの者を見送りながら、二度おじぎをした。季康子から薬を贈られたときは、おじぎをして受け取ったが、こう言った。「わたしはこの薬のことをよく知りません。口にするのはひかえさせていただきます。」孔子が朝廷にいるあいだに、馬小屋が焼けたことがあった。帰ってくると、「けがをした人はいないか」とたずねた。馬のことはたずねなかった。

When 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 undressed meat, he would have it cooked, and offer it to the spirits of his ancestors. When the prince sent him a gift of a living animal, he would keep it alive. When he was in attendance on the prince and joining in the entertainment, the prince only sacrificed. He first tasted everything. When he was ill and the prince came to visit him, he had his head to the east, made his court robes be spread over him, and drew his girdle across them. When the prince's order called him, without waiting for his carriage to be yoked, he went at once. When he entered the ancestral temple of the State, he asked about everything.

君主から調理した肉を贈られると、敷物をまっすぐに直して、まず自分で味わい、それから人に分け与えた。生の肉を贈られると、煮て祖先の霊に供えた。生きた動物を贈られると、殺さずに飼っておいた。君主のそばに仕えて宴席に加わったときは、供えの儀式は君主だけが行い、孔子は先にすべての料理を味見した。病気のときに君主が見舞いに来ると、頭を東に向けて寝て、朝廷の礼服を体の上に広げてかけさせ、その上に帯を渡した。君主のお召しがあると、馬車に馬をつなぐのを待たずに、すぐに出かけた。国の大廟に入ると、一つ一つのことについてたずねた。

When 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 him a present, though it might be a carriage and horses, he did not bow. The only present for which he bowed was that of the flesh of sacrifice.

友人が亡くなって、葬儀を任せられる身内がいないときは、「わたしが葬ろう」と言った。友人から贈り物があれば、たとえそれが馬車と馬であっても、おじぎはしなかった。おじぎをして受け取るのは、祭りに供えた肉の贈り物だけだった。

In 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 acquaintance, he would change countenance; when he saw any one wearing the cap of full dress, or a blind person, though he might be in his undress, he would salute them in a ceremonious manner. To any person in mourning he bowed forward to the crossbar of his carriage; he bowed in the same way to any one bearing the tables of population. When he was at an entertainment where there was an abundance of provisions set before him, he would change countenance and rise up. On a sudden clap of thunder, or a violent wind, he would change countenance.

寝るときは、死人のような格好で横たわらなかった。家では、かしこまった態度をとらなかった。喪服を着た人を見ると、たとえ親しい知り合いでも、顔つきをあらためた。正装の冠をかぶった人や目の見えない人を見ると、自分がふだん着のときでも、必ずていねいに礼をした。喪中の人に出会うと、馬車の横木まで身をかがめて礼をした。戸籍の帳簿を運ぶ人にも、同じように礼をした。ごちそうがたくさん並ぶもてなしの席では、顔つきをあらためて立ち上がった。急な雷や激しい風にあうと、顔つきをあらためた。

When he was about to mount his carriage, he would stand straight, holding the cord. When he was in the carriage, he did not turn his head quite round, he did not talk hastily, he did not point with his hands. Seeing the countenance, it instantly rises. It flies round, and by and by settles. The Master said, 'There is the hen-pheasant on the hill bridge. At its season! At its season!' Tsze-lu made a motion to it. Thrice it smelt him and then rose.

馬車に乗ろうとするときは、まっすぐに立って、つかまるための綱を握った。馬車の中では、うしろをすっかり振り返ることはせず、早口でしゃべらず、手で指さしもしなかった。鳥は人の顔色を見ると、さっと飛び立つ。空を飛びまわってから、やがて舞い降りる。先生（孔子）は言った。「山の橋の上に、めすのキジがいる。時をわきまえているな。時をわきまえているな。」子路がキジに向かって手を動かすと、キジは三度においをかいでから、飛び立っていった。

— To be continued —