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 a fedi thread. Subsequent edits will be made on this page. 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.