ljwrites:translation:caigentan:start
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| ljwrites:translation:caigentan:start [2025/06/09 22:02] – Part 2 / 29. & 30. ljwrites | ljwrites:translation:caigentan:start [2025/10/16 21:05] (current) – Added IV.2~4 ljwrites | ||
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| * [Part 1 translations](https:// | * [Part 1 translations](https:// | ||
| * [Part 2 translations](https:// | * [Part 2 translations](https:// | ||
| + | * [Part 3 translations](https:// | ||
| + | * [Part 4 translations](https:// | ||
| Subsequent edits to the translations will be made on this wiki page. | Subsequent edits to the translations will be made on this wiki page. | ||
| - | There is also a thread | + | There are also threads |
| + | |||
| + | * [Translation notes for Parts 1-3](https:// | ||
| + | * [Translation notes for Part 4](https:// | ||
| I have no plans yet to move over the translation notes to the wiki. | I have no plans yet to move over the translation notes to the wiki. | ||
| Line 654: | Line 660: | ||
| Spending thousands in gold to befriend scholars and heroes\\ | Spending thousands in gold to befriend scholars and heroes\\ | ||
| cannot compare to sparing half a bowl of grain\\ | cannot compare to sparing half a bowl of grain\\ | ||
| - | to the succor of the starving. | + | to the succor of the starving.\\ |
| Raising a thousand pillars to entertain a legion of guests\\ | Raising a thousand pillars to entertain a legion of guests\\ | ||
| cannot compare to thatching a few humble roofs\\ | cannot compare to thatching a few humble roofs\\ | ||
| to shelter those impoverished in their virtue. | to shelter those impoverished in their virtue. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 31. Better the generosity... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 市恩 不如報德之爲厚， 雪忿 不如忍恥之爲高，\\ | ||
| + | 要譽 不如逃名之爲適， 矯情 不如直節之爲真。\\ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Better the generosity to repay a good turn \\ | ||
| + | than make a sale of favors\\ | ||
| + | Better the nobility to bear shame\\ | ||
| + | than vindicate resentment\\ | ||
| + | Better the contentment to avoid fame\\ | ||
| + | than to seek renown\\ | ||
| + | Better the honesty of a true heart\\ | ||
| + | than to rectify sentiment. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 32. If you would save a work... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 救既敗之事者 如御臨崖之馬 休輕策一鞭，\\ | ||
| + | 圖垂成之功者 如挽上灘之舟 莫少停一掉。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | If you would save a work that is lost\\ | ||
| + | act like one driving horses at a cliff' | ||
| + | and go light on the hand that holds the crop.\\ | ||
| + | When you are on the brink of success\\ | ||
| + | act like one tugging a ship against the flow, | ||
| + | and do not falter or flag for an instant. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 33. A young person... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 小年的人 不患其不奮迅 常患以奮迅而成鹵莽 故當抑其躁心，\\ | ||
| + | 老成的人 不患其不持重 常患以持重而成退縮 故當振其惰氣。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | A young person, rather than fear a lack of energy, | ||
| + | should fear carelessness from an excess of energy\\ | ||
| + | and repress their impatience.\\ | ||
| + | An older person, rather than fear a lack of caution, | ||
| + | should fear shrinking back from an excess of caution\\ | ||
| + | and shake off their inaction. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Part 3: Deliberations (三。評議篇） | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 1. What among beings... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 物莫大於天地日月 而子美云 日月籠中鳥 乾坤水上萍，\\ | ||
| + | 事莫大於揖遜征誅 而康節云 唐虞揖遜三杯酒 湯武征誅一局棋，\\ | ||
| + | 人能以此胸襟眼界 吞吐六合 上下千古，\\ | ||
| + | 事來如漚生大海 事去如影滅長空 自經綸萬變 而不動一塵矣。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | What among beings is greater than Heaven and Earth, Sun and Moon? | ||
| + | Yet the saintly poet Du Fu spake: | ||
| + | The Sun and Moon are but birds in a cage, | ||
| + | while sky and ground are duckweed on water.\\ | ||
| + | What among deeds is greater than diplomacy and conquest? | ||
| + | Yet the scholar poet Kangjie spake: \\ | ||
| + | The sage kings Yao and Shun exchanged kingdoms like drinking cups, | ||
| + | while the kings of Shang and Zhou conquered like a game of Go.\\ | ||
| + | With such thoughts and perspectives\\ | ||
| + | whole dimensions come and go in a breath\\ | ||
| + | and one climbs the ages in their highs and lows; | ||
| + | Events but roll in like foam on ocean vast\\ | ||
| + | and fade out like shades in far-off skies, | ||
| + | eternal change in all things are ably governed\\ | ||
| + | without a single mote of dust shifting out of place. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 2. As you cultivate virtue... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 持身涉世 不可隨境而遷， \\ | ||
| + | 須是大火流金 而清風穆然 嚴霜殺物 而和氣藹然， \\ | ||
| + | 陰霾翳空 而慧日朗然 洪濤倒海 而砥柱屹然， \\ | ||
| + | 方是宇宙的真人品。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | As you cultivate virtue and navigate this life, \\ | ||
| + | never waver with the waves where you are. \\ | ||
| + | Though raging fires melt iron \\ | ||
| + | be thou calm and steady as cool wind; \\ | ||
| + | Though stern frost be the death of all \\ | ||
| + | exude the friendly warmth of amiability; \\ | ||
| + | Though dust storms cloak the sky \\ | ||
| + | be ever clear as the Piercing Sun; \\ | ||
| + | Though towering waves upturn the sea \\ | ||
| + | soar to the heavens like the immovable pillar. \\ | ||
| + | Only then is universal virtue achieved in truth. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 3. Shed vulgar custom... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 作人 要脫俗 不可存一矯俗之心， \\ | ||
| + | 應事 要隨時 不可起一趨時之念。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Shed vulgar custom to shape character, \\ | ||
| + | but harbor no aspiration to reform custom. \\ | ||
| + | Heed the times when you attend to affairs, \\ | ||
| + | but allow no temptation chase after trends. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 4. It is ugly behavior to... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 毁人者不美 而受人毀者遭一番訕謗 \\ | ||
| + | 便加一番修省 可以釋惡 而增美， \\ | ||
| + | 欺人者非福 而受人欺者遇一番橫逆 \\ | ||
| + | 便長一番器宇 可以轉禍 而爲福。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is ugly behavior to malign another \\ | ||
| + | yet one who is maligned may each time \\ | ||
| + | Take the opportunity to introspect, \\ | ||
| + | dissipating evil and gaining in good. \\ | ||
| + | It is self-defeating to deceive another \\ | ||
| + | yet one who is deceived may each time \\ | ||
| + | Take the opportunity for personal growth, \\ | ||
| + | making of misfortune a blessing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 5. They to whom Heaven... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 天欲禍人 必先以微福驕之 所以福來 不必喜 要看他會受， \\ | ||
| + | 天欲福人 必先以微禍儆之 所以禍來 不必憂 要看他會救。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | They to whom Heaven would dole out misfortune \\ | ||
| + | are first emboldened by a small blessing. \\ | ||
| + | No need, therefore, to be overjoyed \\ | ||
| + | when a blessing comes your way; \\ | ||
| + | rather look at all angles before accepting it. \\ | ||
| + | They to whom Heaven would grant a blessing \\ | ||
| + | are first warned with a small misfortune; \\ | ||
| + | No need, therefore, to be filled with dread \\ | ||
| + | when misfortune comes your way; \\ | ||
| + | rather look at all angles before attending to it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 6. A character formed on... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 作人 只是一味率真 蹤跡雖隱還顯， \\ | ||
| + | 存心 若有半毫未淨 事爲雖公亦私。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | A character formed on a consistent note of candor \\ | ||
| + | will leave its clear mark even when concealed. \\ | ||
| + | Intent marred by the merest of impurities \\ | ||
| + | will lead to bias even where fairness is called for. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 7. The arrogance of the impoverished... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 貧賤驕人 雖涉虛憍 還有幾分俠氣，\\ | ||
| + | 英雄欺世 縱似揮霍 全沒半點真心。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | The arrogance of the impoverished and lowly, | ||
| + | hollow posturing though it may be,\\ | ||
| + | at least has a shred of dignified courage.\\ | ||
| + | A remarkable person' | ||
| + | for all the flashy flourish of appearances, | ||
| + | has nothing heartfelt about it at all. | ||
| + | ### 8. Art and literature nurture... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 琴書詩畫 達士以之養性靈 而庸夫徒賞其跡像，\\ | ||
| + | 山川雲物 高人以之助學識 而俗子徒玩其光華，\\ | ||
| + | 可見事物無定品 隨人識見 以爲高下，\\ | ||
| + | 故讀書窮理 要以識趣爲先。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Art and literature nurture extraordinary spirits\\ | ||
| + | but ordinary plodding souls\\ | ||
| + | merely admire the artifact and form; while\\ | ||
| + | Encounters with creation instruct accomplished minds\\ | ||
| + | but conventional | ||
| + | simply enjoy the brilliance and splendor.\\ | ||
| + | You may observe nothing has a fixed merit, but rather\\ | ||
| + | the quality depends on the discernment of the beholder.\\ | ||
| + | Therefore in study and contemplation\\ | ||
| + | insight into inclinations is of first import. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 9. It is right that the young... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 少壯者 事事當用意 而意反輕\\ | ||
| + | 徒汎汎作水中鳧而已 何以振雲霄之翮，\\ | ||
| + | 衰老者 事事宜忘情 而情反重\\ | ||
| + | 徒碌碌爲轅下駒而已 何以脫韁鎖之身。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is right that the young and strong\\ | ||
| + | act with focused will in all things; | ||
| + | Instead the will is so trifling light\\ | ||
| + | the youth but drift like a duck upon the waves‒\\ | ||
| + | How, then, to take wing unto vast horizons? | ||
| + | It is meet that the old and failing\\ | ||
| + | dismiss the passions in all things; | ||
| + | Yet the passions bear such weight\\ | ||
| + | the aged are burdened as a fine horse at harness‒\\ | ||
| + | How, then, to shed the fettered self? | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 10. A crane looming among... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 鶴立雞群 可謂超然無侶矣\\ | ||
| + | 然進而觀于大海之鹏 則渺然自小，\\ | ||
| + | 又進而求之九霄之鳳 則巍乎莫及，\\ | ||
| + | 所以至人常若無若虛 而盛德多不矜不伐也。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | A crane looming among the chicken flock\\ | ||
| + | may seem aloof and peerless; | ||
| + | Yet going before the roc that looks to the endless sea\\ | ||
| + | it finds itself insignificant and small indeed, \\ | ||
| + | While farther to the phoenix that seeks the Ninth Heaven\\ | ||
| + | it is humbled by loftiness beyond its reach.\\ | ||
| + | Therefore a sage ever emulates the nought and null\\ | ||
| + | and, though great in virtue, is never pompous nor boastful. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 11. Moth rushes flame... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 蛾撲火 火焦蛾 莫謂禍生無本，\\ | ||
| + | 果種花 花結果 須知福至有因。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Moth rushes flame; flame roasts moth\\ | ||
| + | Think not that mischance sprouts without roots\\ | ||
| + | Fruit begets flower; flower bears fruit\\ | ||
| + | Know that blessings reach us for cause. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 12. Whether autumn bug or... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 秋蟲春鳥 共暢天機 何必浪生悲喜，\\ | ||
| + | 老樹新花 同含生意 胡爲妄別媸妍。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Whether autumn bug or spring bird\\ | ||
| + | all open up to the Universal Mystery, | ||
| + | so why should one open the floodgates \\ | ||
| + | of melancholy, and the other joy? | ||
| + | Ancient tree and newly-bloomed flower\\ | ||
| + | hold the same will for vitality, | ||
| + | so why willfully differentiate\\ | ||
| + | one as unseemly and the other lovely? | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 13. All lands share... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 萬境一轍 原無地着箇窮通\\ | ||
| + | 萬物一體 原無處分箇彼我，\\ | ||
| + | 世人 迷真逐妄 乃向坦途上 自說一坎坷，\\ | ||
| + | 從空洞中 自築一籓籬 良足慨哉。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | All lands share a single way\\ | ||
| + | and never were some closed and some clear; | ||
| + | All creation is but one\\ | ||
| + | and never was there a divide 'twixt you and me.\\ | ||
| + | Yet the world, truth-tricked and chasing phantasms, | ||
| + | pits the level road all uneven and rutted; \\ | ||
| + | and in lacuna vast builds encircling walls.\\ | ||
| + | Is this not a lamentable state of affairs? | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 14. Great works and vast plans... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 大烈鴻猷 常出悠閑鎮定之士 不必忙忙，\\ | ||
| + | 休徵景福 多集寬洪長厚之家 何須瑣瑣。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Great works and vast plans always stem \\ | ||
| + | from relaxed and steady persons of quality; | ||
| + | there is no need to be so urgent and busy.\\ | ||
| + | Auspicious omens and blessings immense\\ | ||
| + | flock to homes of extensive, abundant generosity; | ||
| + | so why be small-minded and petty? | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 15. When the virtuous poor... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 貧士肯濟人 纔是性天中惠澤，\\ | ||
| + | 鬧場能學道 方爲心地上功夫。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | When the virtuous poor delight in giving aid, | ||
| + | that is a boon from Heaven-given nature indeed.\\ | ||
| + | When the Way is sought in cacophony and tumult, | ||
| + | surely the work builds on the bedrock of the soul. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 16. A life shackled... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 人生只爲欲字所累 便如馬如牛 聽人羈絡 爲鷹爲犬 任物鞭笞，\\ | ||
| + | 若果一念清明 淡然無欲，\\ | ||
| + | 天地也不能轉動我 鬼神也不能役使我 况一切區區事物乎。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | A life shackled only to desire, | ||
| + | like horse and cattle obeys others' | ||
| + | as hawk and dog gives into the lash of the external.\\ | ||
| + | If the mind is free and clear unburdened by passion, | ||
| + | Heaven and Earth cannot move me,\\ | ||
| + | nor the dead nor spirits use me,\\ | ||
| + | to say nothing of every little trifle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 17. Ordinary people take pleasure... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 衆人以順境爲樂 而君子樂自逆境中來，\\ | ||
| + | 衆人以拂意爲憂 而君子憂從快意處起，\\ | ||
| + | 蓋衆人憂樂以情 而君子憂樂以理也。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ordinary people take pleasure from ease, | ||
| + | while the joy of the virtuous comes from adversity.\\ | ||
| + | Ordinary people are anguished by obstacles, | ||
| + | while the disquiet of the virtuous arises out of complacency.\\ | ||
| + | Observe that ordinary people are pleased and pained by circumstance, | ||
| + | while the heart of the virtuous reflects unchanging principle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Part 4: Tranquility (四。閒適篇) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 1. The dragon that may be... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 龍可豢 非真龍， 虎可搏 非真虎，\\ | ||
| + | 故 爵祿可餌榮進之輩 必不可籠淡然無欲之人，\\ | ||
| + | 鼎鑊可及寵利之流 必不可加飄然遠引之士。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | The dragon that may be penned is no true dragon; \\ | ||
| + | The tiger that may be bound is no true tiger.\\ | ||
| + | Hence, titles and riches may bait glory-pushers but\\ | ||
| + | can never cage tranquil persons free of desire, while\\ | ||
| + | Punishment and torture may reach gain-seekers but\\ | ||
| + | can never change lofty scholars removed from temptation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 2. The stalwart old stork... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 昻藏老鶴 雖飢 飲啄猶閒 肯同雞鶩之營營 而競食，\\ | ||
| + | 偃蹇寒松 縱老 丰標自在 豈似桃李之灼灼 而競妍。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | The stalwart old stork, though it may starve, | ||
| + | is placid as it pecks at water and food; | ||
| + | for how could it vie hither and thither to eat\\ | ||
| + | as mundane flocks of chicken and duck? | ||
| + | The winter pine that stands apart, though aged, | ||
| + | is its own master crowned with luxuriant growth; | ||
| + | scarce would it boast for pride of place\\ | ||
| + | like the glowing blooms of flowering minds. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 3.Our hearts may be content... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 吾人適志于花柳爛熳之時 得趣于笙歌騰沸之處\\ | ||
| + | 乃是造化之幻境 人心之蕩念也，\\ | ||
| + | 須從木落草枯之後 向聲希味淡之中 覓得一些消息，\\ | ||
| + | 纔是乾坤的橐籥 人物的根宗。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Our hearts may be content with the seasons\\ | ||
| + | of radiant blossoms and trees, and\\ | ||
| + | We may find passions stirred where\\ | ||
| + | music and song leap and foment\\ | ||
| + | Yet this is merely the mirage of the Universe\\ | ||
| + | and the fancy of the human mind.\\ | ||
| + | When trees have shed and life has withered\\ | ||
| + | in the ensuing quiet and the calm\\ | ||
| + | listen for a subtle murmur of a tiding\\ | ||
| + | For this indeed is the bellows of Sky and Earth, | ||
| + | the root and source of folk and creation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 4. Once you see through... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 看破有盡身軀 萬境之塵緣自息，\\ | ||
| + | 悟入無壞境界 一輪之心月獨明。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once you see through your own mortality, | ||
| + | every worldly fetter dissipates on its own.\\ | ||
| + | Once you are enlightened into a state of eternity, | ||
| + | the fullness of the heart-moon shines alone. | ||
ljwrites/translation/caigentan/start.1749474160.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/06/09 22:02 by ljwrites