菜根譚 Càigēntán is a spiritual self-help book written in the late 16th century to early 17th century era of Ming by 洪自誠 Hong Zicheng. It incorporates elements of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism in 360 aphorisms and verses. This translation is based on a modern edition of the Korean translation and commentary by early 20th-century Buddhist monk, classical scholar, poet, and independence activist 한용운 Han Yong-un.¹⁾

Originally updated on the following fedi threads:

• Part 1 translations
• Part 2 translations

Subsequent edits to the translations will be made on this wiki page.

There is also a thread for translation notes. I have no plans yet to move over the translation notes to the wiki.

The short starting excerpts in the entry headings (e.g. “1. To build character…”) were added for ease of navigation on this page.

欲做精金美玉的人品  定從烈火中煅來，
思立掀天揭地的事功  須向薄冰上履過。

To build character like pure gold and fine jade
  you must be forged in the heat of fire.
If you think to raise works to lift Heaven and Earth
  you must walk as though on thin ice.

一念錯  便覺百行皆非  防之當如渡海浮囊  勿容一針之罅漏
萬善全  始得一生無愧  修之當如凌雲寶樹  須假衆木以撐持。

One misguided thought causes a hundred acts to go awry.
  Preventing this is like not tolerating a single pinprick of flaw
  in a buoy that crosses the ocean.

It takes a fullness of all virtues to lead a shameless life.
  Cultivating such is like a rare tree that pierces the clouds
  needing the support of a multitude of trees.

忙處事爲  常向閒中先檢點  過舉自稀，
動時念想  預從靜裡密操持  非心自息。

Mistakes in pressing matters will recede
  with advance care taken in spare time;
Faulty thoughts in action will naturally dispel
  with firm commitment in times of quiet.

爲善  而欲自高勝人，  施恩  而欲要名結好，
修業  而欲驚世駭俗，  植節  而欲標異見奇，
此皆是善念中戈矛  理路上荊棘，  最易夾帶  最難拔除者也。
須是滌盡渣滓  斬絕萌芽  纔見本來真體。

Doing good yet wishing self-aggrandizement and victory;
  doing favors yet seeking fame and connections;
Developing works yet wanting to shock the world and warp the custom;
  standing on principle yet aiming to make an outlandish display;
All are blades hidden in good intentions and thorns on the path of reason,
  so easy to hold close and so hard to weed out.
These must be scoured away to the last dregs and the very sprouts eliminated
  for the authentic truth of the essence to emerge.

能輕富貴  不能輕一輕富貴之心，
能重名義  又復重一重名義之念，
是事境之塵氛未掃  而心境之芥蒂未忘，
此處拔除不淨  恐石去而草復生矣。

To make light of riches and position
  yet not make light of one's own freedom from such;
To put weight on honor and duty
  yet turn around and put weight on one's right conviction;
These are worldly miasma left uncleared
  and stumbling stones of the mind left in place.
Unless these, too, are removed and fully cleared
  the rocks may be gone, but weeds may yet return.

紛擾固溺志之場  而枯寂亦搞心之地
故學者當棲心元默  以寧吾真體
亦當適志恬愉  以養吾圓機。

Places of frivolous commotion inevitably drown the will,
  while dull and lonely spaces wither the heart.
Therefore must a scholar's center rest in the Original Stillness
  for the peace of one's true essence,
And the will be housed in cheery contentment
  to cultivate the functions of serenity.

無事 便思有閒雜念想否， 有事 便思有麤浮意氣否，
得意 便思有騎矜辭色否， 失意 便思有怨望情懷否，
時時檢點 至得從多入少 從有入無處 纔是學問的真消息。

When inactive, watch for idle stray thoughts;
 when occupied, watch for coarse and flighty impulse;
With success, watch for pride in words and demeanor;
 with setbacks, watch for feelings of resentment;
Regular vigilance will reduce excess and clear the mind,
 which is the essential ebb and flow of learning.

士人有百折不回之真心 纔有萬變不窮之妙用。

A person of virtue must gird a true and unchanging heart
 for endless subtle uses in a thousand permutations.

立業建功 事事要從實地着脚 若少慕聲聞 便成僞果，
講道修德 念念要從虛處立基 若稍計功效 便落塵情。

To raise works and build a legacy,
 every matter must stand on the firm ground of practicality;
 the smallest longing for renown
 will but bear false fruit.
In learning the Way and cultivating virtue
 every thought must be rooted in unassuming emptiness;
 the least calculation of profit or gain
 will but fall to worldly cares.

一點不忍的念頭 是生民生物之根芽，
一段不爲的氣節 是撐天撐地之柱石，
故君子於一蟲一蟻 不忍傷殘 一縷一絲 勿容貪冒，
便可爲民物立命 天地立心矣。

A single thought refusing to bear cruelty
 is the root and sprout that vitalizes the people and all Creation, while
A single stance refusing to do wrong
 is the pillar and cornerstone holding up Heaven and Earth.
Therefore a person of noble character must not tolerate harm to
 a single bug or ant,
 nor allow greed for
 a single strand of thread
To give life to the people and all Creation
 and to set hearts upright between Heaven and Earth.

學者動靜殊操 喧寂異趣， 還是煅煉未熟 心神混淆故耳。
須是操存涵養 定雲止水中 有鸢飛魚躍的景象，
風狂雨驟處 有波恬浪靜的風光， 纔見處一化齊之妙。

If a scholar's discipline differs in times of activity and quiet
 and their tastes waver in commotion and in silence,
 it is because they have not been tempered to maturity
 and their spirit swirls in muddy confusion.
Their self-control must be preserved and cultivated
 so that among tranquil clouds and still waters
 they are as flying hawks and leaping fish; and
In wild winds and raging rainstorms
 they are like calm ripples and quiet waves.
 Only then do they show the subtlety of constancy at all times and through all change.

心是一顆明珠，
以物欲障蔽之 猶明珠而混以泥沙 其洗滌猶易，
以情識襯貼之 猶明珠而飾以銀黃 其滌除最難。
故學者 不患垢病 而患潔病之難治
不畏事障 而畏理障之難除。

Your mind is a clear gem.
Clouding it with greed for worldly things
 is like mingling a gem in mud and sand,
 which are indeed easy to wash away.
Layering it with emotions and perceptions, however
 is like gilding a gem with silver and gold,
 which take arduous work to scrape off.
Therefore what a learner should fear
 is not the unclean disease,
 but rather the clean one that resists the cure; and
What is daunting are not setbacks in events,
 but rather persistent barriers to understanding.

軀殼的我 看得破 則萬有皆空 而其心常虛 虛則義理來居，
性命的我 認得真 則萬理皆備 而其心常實 實則物慾不入。

Once I am struck by the insight of myself as a physical being
 everything gains its own boundless potential,
 leaving the center an unencumbered Void
 where righteous principle comes to dwell.
Once I discern the truth of my nature and Heavenly mandate
 every understanding is fully furnished,
 filling the heart with truth and meaning
 which no worldly distraction may penetrate.

我果爲洪爐大冶 何患頑金鈍鐵之不可陶鎔，
我果爲巨海長江 何患橫流污瀆之不能容納。

If I were a roaring furnace and splendid smelter,
 would I balk at shaping stubborn metal and thickest steel?
If I were the immense ocean and the River Grand,
 would I shrink from embracing the wild currents and foul ditches?

白日欺人 難逃清夜之愧赧，
紅顏失志 空貽皓首之悲傷。

Deceive others in the light of day, and
 in vain will you run on clear nights from the heat of shame;
Lose your ideals in the blush of youth, and
 your hoary-headed years will leave you nought but sorrow.

以積貨財之心 積學問， 以求功名之念 求道德，
以愛妻子之心 愛父母， 以保爵位之策 保國家。
出此入彼 念慮只差毫末 而超凡入聖 人品且判星淵矣 人胡不猛然轉念哉。

Accrue learning as you would riches;
 pursue virtue as you would fame and renown;
Cherish your parents as you would your wife and children;
 preserve the country as you would your title.
Setting the second aside for the first
 is but the smallest difference in thinking, yet
 with it you vault over the ordinary into transcendence
 in a leap of character as vast as from a pond into the stars.
 Why would you hesitate to give everything for this change of heart?

塞得物慾之路 纔堪闢道義之門，
弛得塵俗之肩 方可挑聖賢之擔。

Only when the road of worldly distraction is choked off
 can the door of righteousness be thrown open;
Only when the crush of mundane drudgery is slackened
 can the burden of transcendent wisdom be shouldered.

融得性情上偏私 便是一大學問，
消得家庭內嫌隙 便是一大經綸。

Softening petty bias in character
 is great learning indeed; while
Dissolving bitter enmity in the home
 is great governance indeed.

才智英敏者 宜以學問攝其躁，
氣節激昂者 當以德性融其偏。

It is meet that the clever and quick-witted
 should rein in impatience with learning, while
It is right that the fiercely principled and moral
 should temper intolerance with virtue.

雲煙影裡 現真身 始悟形骸爲桎梏，
禽鳥聲中 聞自性 方知情識是戈矛。

Only when among the shades of cloud and mist
 the true essence reveals itself
 do we grasp the shackles of the physical form; and
When at last amidst the cries of beasts and birds
 the voice of eternal truth is heard
 do we know the blades of feeling and perception.

人欲從初起處翦除 便似新芻遽斬 其工夫極易，
天理自乍明時充拓 便如塵鏡復磨 其光彩更新.

Eliminate desire where it first arises
 like chopping fodder when new
 to make for easy and painless work.
Bolster inspiration the moment it flashes
 like faithfully polishing a grimy mirror
 to renew its brilliance and luster.

事理因人言而悟者 有悟還有迷 總不如自悟之了了，
意興從外境而得者 有得還有失 總不如自得之休休。

Those who understand the world by explanation
 may understand but are also confused, and
 lack the clarity from understanding on their own.
Those who find resolve and joy from outside themselves
 may find but also lose their way, and
 lack the contentment of self-driven discovery.

操存 要有真宰 無真宰 則遇事便倒 何以植頂天立地之砥柱，
應用 要有圓機 無圓機 則觸物有礙 何以成旋乾轉坤之經綸。

To safeguard the self there must be a ruling principle.
 Without a ruling principle the self collapses from every care;
 how would one then erect an unyielding stanchion to hold up Heaven and tread Earth?
To act in the world there must be well-ordered functioning.
 Without well-ordered functions every contact with reality is an obstacle;
 how would one then achieve the command to revolve the sky and turn the earth?

士君子之涉世，
於人不可輕喜怒 喜怒輕 則心腹肝膽 皆爲人所窺，
於物不可重愛憎 愛憎重 則意氣精神 悉爲物所制。

As a person of learning and virtue navigates the world,
They must not be quick to exult or rage;
 for when one is quick to exult or rage
 everyone gains a window into their every inner viscera.
They must also not give weight to affection or enmity;
 for when one gives weight to affection or enmity
 all things gain a hold on their whole will and spirit.

心體澄徹 常在明鏡止水之中 則天下自無可厭之事，
意氣和平 常在麗日光風之內 則天下自無可惡之人。

When the core of your being in its piercing clarity
 resides always in the clear mirror of still waters
 there can be no anathema in all of creation; while
When your will and temperament in peace and serenity
 reside always in splendid sun and dawn winds
 there can be no one worth hating in all the world.

當是非邪正之交 不可少遷就 少遷就 則失從違之正，
值利害得失之會 不可太分明 太分明 則起趨避之私。

Do not waver the least amount in matters of right or wrong;
 for thus is principle lost in staying or leaving.
Do not be overly decisive in issues of loss or gain;
 for this leads to selfishness in aim and prohibition.

蒼蠅附驥 捷則捷矣 難辭處後之羞，
蔦蘿依松 高則高矣 未免仰攀之恥，
所以君子 寧以風霜自挾 毋爲魚鳥親人。

A flesh fly may go far by sticking to a spirited steed,
 but can ill escape the humiliation of clinging to the tail.
Ivy may rise high by leaning on a pine,
 but cannot avoid the shame of grasping upward.
This is why a person of virtue,
 though wind and frost be their constant companions,
 must never be as fish and birds tamed by man.

好醜心太明 則物不契， 賢愚心太明 則人不親，
士君子須是內精明而外渾厚 使好醜兩得其平 賢愚共受其益， 纔是生成的德量。

Cutting clarity in what is good and what is ugly
 hinders oneness with the world, while
Piercing insight into wisdom and foolishness
 prevents closeness with those around you.
A person of virtue and learning therefore requires
 exacting judgment in their inner world, and
 humble generosity in their outside dealings—
Balancing out the good and ugly, and
 helping the wise and foolish alike prosper.
This, then, is the measure of life-giving virtue.

士君子 濟人利物 宜居其實 不宜居其名 居其名 則德損。
仕大夫 憂國爲民 當有其心 不當有其語 有其語 則毀來。

When a person of learning and virtue governs
 it should be with substance and not renown,
 for a focus on renown is a failure of virtue.
When a high official tends to matters of state
 it should be with heart and not words,
 for empty words merely invite reproof.

使人有面前之譽 不若使其無背後之毀，
使人有乍交之歡 不若使其無久處之厭。

Rather than have others praise you to your face,
 better that none blame you behind your back.
Rather than win others' favor in the moment,
 better that none loathe you throughout lasting ties.

善啓迪人心者 當因其所明而漸通之 毋强開其所閉，
善移易風化者 當因其所易而漸反之 毋輕矯其所難。

To effectively guide hearts and minds to openness
 the way should be cleared bit by bit from what is known
 rather than force open what is locked tight.
To effectively overhaul custom and morality
 change should be gradual from a place of ease
 rather than tackle the spots of stiffest resistance.

己之情欲不可縱 當用逆之之法 以制之 其道只在一忍字。
人之情欲不可拂 當用順之之法 以調之 其道只在一恕字。
今人皆恕以適己 而忍以制人毋乃不可乎。

Do not let your passions run amok,
 but rather use strategies to oppose them.
 The only way to control is the word “restraint.”
Do not brush off the desires of others,
 but rather use strategies to work with them.
 The only way to peace is the word “toleration.”
Yet folks today use toleration to suit themselves
 and restraint to control others; how can this stand?

好察非明 能察能不察之謂明，
必勝非勇 能勝能不勝之謂勇。

There is no wisdom in being quick to quibble;
 wisdom is knowing when to argue and when to keep your peace.
There is no courage in a will to win;
 courage is knowing when to strive for victory and when to take a loss.

隨時之內善救時 若和風之消酷暑，
混俗之中能脫俗 似淡月之映輕雲。

Giving relief to the times while acting within them
 is like a wind that dispels the oppressive heat; while
Stepping out of custom while mingling in it
 is like a gentle touch of moon that lightens the clouds.

思入世而有爲者 須先領得世外風光 否則無以脫垢濁之塵緣。
思出世而無染者 須先諳盡世中滋味 否則無以持空寂之苦趣。

Those who would act in the world
 should first know peace away from it,
 else there is no escaping the clinging dust of worldly relations.
Those who would leave behind worldly pollution
 should first drink its varied tastes to the dregs,
 else there is no bearing the bitter bouquet of resounding silence.

與人者 與其易疏於終 不若難親於始，
御事者 與其巧持於後 不若拙守於前。

Rather than a relationship drift apart in the end,
 better to be inapproachable from the start.
Rather than uphold matters with great skill later,
 better to defend it clumsily early on.

功名富貴 直從滅處 觀究竟 則貪戀自輕，
橫逆困窮 直從起處 究由來 則怨尤自息。

Go straight to the endpoint of fame and riches
 for a thorough examination, and desire is lifted.
Go straight to the starting point of depravity and poverty
 to observe the root cause, and resentment is dispelled.

宇宙內事 要力擔當 又要善擺脫，
不擔當 則無經世之事業， 不擺脫 則無出世之襟期。

The matters of the world should
 sometimes be shouldered mightily and
 sometimes be shucked off with ease;
For there is no project of governance
 without assuming responsibility,
And no heart spanning the bounds of this world
 without a willingness to lay it all down.