toppage

TheGreatLearning
Translatedby

A.CharlesMuller

July4,2013

TableofContents

A. TheText
B. TheTraditionalCommentary,AttributedtoConfucius,ThroughtheTransmissionofCengzi

Whenciting,pleaserefertotheURLofthispage:http://www.acmuller.net/con
dao/greatlearning.html

A.TheText
[1]

Thewayofgreatlearningconsistsinmanifestingone'sbrightvirtue,consistsinlovingthe
people,consistsinstoppinginperfectgoodness.

[2]

Whenyouknowwheretostop,youhavestability.

Whenyouhavestability,youcanbetranquil.

Whenyouaretranquil,youcanbeatease.

Whenyouareatease,youcandeliberate.

Whenyoucandeliberateyoucanattainyouraims.

[3]

Thingshavetheirrootsandbranches,affairshavetheirendandbeginning.Whenyouknowwhat
comesfirstandwhatcomeslast,thenyouareneartheWay.
[4]

Theancientswhowantedtomanifesttheirbrightvirtuetoallintheworldfirstgovernedwell
theirownstates.

Wantingtogovernwelltheirstates,theyfirstharmonizedtheirownclans.

Wantingtoharmonizetheirownclan,theyfirstcultivatedthemselves.

Wantingtocultivatethemselves,theyfirstcorrectedtheirminds.

Wantingtocorrecttheirminds,theyfirstmadetheirwillssincere.

Wantingtomaketheirwillssincere,theyfirstextendedtheirknowledge.

Extensionofknowledgeconsistsoftheinvestigationofthings.

[5]

Whenthingsareinvestigated,knowledgeisextended.

Whenknowledgeisextended,thewillbecomessincere.

Whenthewillissincere,themindiscorrect.

Whenthemindiscorrect,theselfiscultivated.

Whentheselfiscultivated,theclanisharmonized.

Whentheclanisharmonized,thecountryiswellgoverned.

Whenthecountryiswellgoverned,therewillbepeacethroughouttheland.

[6]

Fromthekingdowntothecommonpeople,allmustregardthecultivationoftheselfasthe
mostessentialthing.

[7]

Itisimpossibletohaveasituationwhereintheessentialsareindisorder,andtheexternals
arewellmanaged.Yousimplycannottaketheessentialthingsassuperficial,andthe
superficialthingsasessential.Thisiscalled,Knowingtheroot.ThisiscalledThe
extensionofknowledge.

B.TheTraditionalCommentary,AttributedtoConfucius,Throughthe
TransmissionofCengzi
3.

3.Makingthewillsincere,meansnoselfdeception.Likewhenweallowourselvestobe
disgustedbyabadsmellorbecomeinfatuatedwithanattractiveappearance.Thisiscalled
selfsatisfaction.ThereforetheSuperiorManmustbewatchfuloverhimselfwhenheis
alone.

Whentheinferiormanisatleisure,thereisnolimittotheextentofhisevil.Butwhenheseesa
SuperiorManhewillbeashamedhewillcoverhisevilandshowhisgoodness.Whenpeopleobserve
you,theyseerighttoyourcore.Sowhat'stheuseofbeingdeceitful?Thereforewesay:internal
sincerityexpressesitselfoutwardly.ThereforetheSuperiorManmustbewatchfuloverhimselfwhen
heisalone.

Cengzisaid,Whatteneyessee,whattenfingersindicate,isthisnottobetakenseriously?

Richlandmakesahouseluxurious,virtuemakesapersonshinewhenthemindis

expands,thebodyisenriched.ThereforetheSuperiorManmustmakehiswillsincere.

4.

 4.TheBookofOdesalsosays,

LookatthebendintheQiRiver,

Andhowgreenandluxuriantthebambootreesarethere!

Hereisourrefinedprince,

Whoislikeagemcutandfiled,

Carvedandpolished!

Howdignifiedheis,andhowawesome!

Howmajesticanddistinguished!

Ourillustriousprincewillneverbeforgotten.

Likeagemcutandfiledreferstothewayofstudy.Likeagemcarvedandpolishedreferstoself

cultivation.Howdignifiedandawesome,referstoacautiousrespect.Howmajesticand

distinguished,referstohisaweinspiringwayofhandlinghimself.Ourillustriousprincewillnever

beforgotten,meansthattheDaoflourishesinhimandhisvirtuereachesexcellence,hence,thepeople

willbeunabletoforgethim.

TheBookofOdesalsosays,Aah,theancientkingsarenotforgotten!TheSuperiorMan

treatstheworthyasworthyandloveshisfamily.Theinferiormanenjoyshisenjoyment

andgrabsprofitwheneverhehasachance.Itisinthiswaythattheyarenotforgottenafter

theirdeath.

5.

5.IntheKangReportitissaid,Hewasabletomanifesthisvirtue.

TheTaijia1says,HecontemplatedHeaven'sunveiledmandate.

TheCanonofYaosays,hewasabletomanifesthisloftyvirtue.
6.

6.TheinscriptionofthebathofKingTangsaid,Ifyourenewyourselfforoneday,youcan
renewyourselfdaily,andcontinuetodoso.

IntheKangReportitsays,Carryouttherenewalofthepeople.

TheBookofOdessays,EventhoughZhouwasanancientstate,itsmandatewassustained

anew.ThereforethereisnothinginwhichtheSuperiorMandoesnotfullyexerthimself.

7.

7.TheBookofOdessays,Thepeopleonlystay(comfortably)inastatewherethereis
security.

TheBookofOdesalsosays,Thechirpingbirdonlyrestsinthewoodedpartofthehill.

TheMastersaid,Whenitrests,itknowswheretorest.Canapersonpossiblybeunequal

toabird?

TheBookofOdesalsosays,HowsublimewasKingWen!Heabodeinclear,shining

reverence.Asaruler,heabodeinhumanenessasaminister,heabodeinreverenceasa

son,heabodeinfilialpietyasafather,heabodeinlovingcompassion,andinhis

interactionswiththepeopleoftheland,heabodeintrustworthiness.

8.

8.Confuciussaid,InhearinglegalcasesIamjustlikeanyoneelse.Whatwereallyneedis
tonothavelegalcases.

Thosewholacksincerityshouldnotbeallowedtospeakonandon.Theyshouldalsohave

agreataweforthewillofthepeople.Thisiscalledknowingthebasis.

9.

9.Thecultivationofthepersonliesinthecorrectionofthemind.
 Whenyouareangry,youcannotbecorrect.Whenyouarefrightened,youcannotbecorrect
whenthereissomethingyoudesire,youcannotbecorrectwhenthereissomethingyouare
anxiousabout,youcannotbecorrect.Whenthemindisnotpresent,welook,butdonotsee.
Welisten,butdonothearweeat,butdon'ttasteourfood.Thisisthemeaningofthe
cultivationofthepersonliesinthecorrectionofthemind.

9.

9.Theregulationofthefamilyliesinthecultivationoftheperson.

Whenthereissomeoneyoulove,youarebiased.Whenthereissomethingyouhate,youare
biased.Whenthereissomethingyouareinaweof,youarebiased.Whenthereissomeone
youpity,youarebiased.Whenyouarelazy,youarebiased.Thosewholovesomeoneand
yetknowtheirbadpoints,orwhohatesomeoneandyetknowtheirgoodpoints,arefewand
farbetween.Hencethereistheproverb:Themandoesnotknowofhisownson'sevil,or
therichnessofhisowncorn.Thisshowsthatifyoudonotcultivateyourself,youcannot
regulateyourfamily.

10.

10.Beforegoverningthecountry,youmustfirstregulateyourfamily.

Therehasneverbeenacasewhereamancouldnoteducatehisownfamily,andyetcould
educateothers.ThereforetheSuperiormanperfectstheeducationforthecountrywithout
leavinghisownhome.Filialpietyisthemeansbywhichyouserveyourruler.Fraternal
submissionisthemeansbywhichyouserveyourelders.Compassionisthemeansbywhich
youdealwitheveryone.

TheAnnouncementofKangsays:Itislikeamothercompletelygivingherselftothecare
ofherbaby.Shemaynotbeperfect,butshewon'tbefaroff,eventhoughshenevertooka
courseonchildrearingbeforehavingthebaby.
 Whenonefamilybecomeshumane,thewholecountrywillbestimulatedtohumane.When

onefamilybecomeseasytogetalongwith,allthepeopleinthecountryarestimulatedto

becomeeasytogetalongwith.Ifonemangreedilyupsetsthings,thewholecountrycanbe

plungedintochaos.Itsfunctionisreallylikethis.Hencethereisthesayingonewordcan

winthewholeaffair,onemancansettlethewholekingdom.YaoandShunledtherealm

byhumanenessandthepeoplesubmittedtothem.JieandZhouledtherealmwith

aggression,andthepeoplesubmittedtothem,butdidnotgoalongwithlawsthatthey

didn'tlike.

TheSuperiorManlooksforgoodinothersonlyafterpossessingitinhimself.Henegates

theevilinothersonlyafterriddingitfromhimself.Therehasneverbeenacasewherea

personwasabletoteachothersthethingshehadlearned,ifhelackedasenseofreciprocity

.Therefore,thegoverningofthecountryliesintheregulationofthefamily.

TheBookofOdessays:Thepeachtreesoripe,itsleavessoluxuriant.Thegirlisgoingto
herhusband'shouse,andshewillharmonizethehousehold.Oncethehouseholdis
harmonized,thepeopleoftherealmcanbetaught.

TheBookofOdessays:Hetreatedhiselderbrothersright,hetreatedhisyoungerbrothers
right.Ifyoucantreatyourbrothersright,thenyoucanteachyourcountrymen.

TheBookofOdessays:Hismannerunchanging,herectifieshiswholestate.Onlywhen

therulerhasactualizedtheharmoniousrelationshipsoffather/son,elderbrother/younger

brotherinhimselfwillthepeopletakehimasamodel.Thus,itissaid:Theabilityto

governthecountryliesinharmonizingthefamily.

12.

12.Bringingpeacetotherealmliesintheabilitytogovernthecountry.

Ifyourespecttheaged,thepeoplewillbeencouragedtobefilial.Ifyourespectyourelders,thepeople
willbestimulatedtorespecttheirelders.Ifyoupitytheweakanddefenseless,thepeoplewon'thurt
them.ThereforetheSuperiorManhasaWayofCorrecting.Whathehatesinhissuperiors,hedoesnot
givetohisinferiors.Whathehatesinthosebelowhim,hedoesnotpassuptothoseabovehim.What
hehatesinthosewhoareinfront,hedoesnotpassontothosebehindwhathehatesinthosebehind,
hedoesnotpassontothoseinfront.Whathehatesontheright,hedoesn'ttransfertotheleft.Whathe
hatesontheleft,hedoesn'ttransfertotheright.ThisishisWayofCorrecting.TheBookofOdessays:

Howwonderfulistheprince!

Theparentofthepeople.

Whatthepeoplelikes,helikes.Whatthepeoplehate,hehates.Thusheiscalledthe

parentofthepeople.

TheBookofOdessays:

Howhigh,theSouthernPeaks

Thecraggedrocksjuttingintheair.

MagnificentistheTeacherYin

Alllookuptoyou!

Hewhopossessesthecountrymustbeprudent.Ifheerrs,hewillbetheembarrassmentoftherealm.

13.

13.TheBookofOdessays:

BeforetheYinlostitsteachers

TheycouldappealdirectlytotheLordonHigh.

LearnfromtheYin:

Theloftymandateisnoteasytomaintain.

TheWayistowinthepeople,thenwinthecountry.Ifyoulosethepeople,youlosethecountry.
Thereforetherulermustbeconcernedabouthisownvirtuefirst.Ifhehasvirtue,hewillhavethe
people.Ifhehasthepeople,hewillhavetheland.Ifhehastheland,hewillhavewealth.Ifhehas
wealth,hewillbeabletofunction.
Thus,virtueistherootandwealthisthebranches.Ifyouputtherootsoutsideandthebranches
inside,youwillstruggleagainstyourpeople,andmakethemgrabforanythingtheycan.Ifyougather
thewealth,youwillscatterthepeople.Ifyouscatterthewealth,youwillgatherthepeople.Therefore,
thewrongwordsgoingoutwillresultinthewrongwordscomingbackin.Wealthtakenwronglywill
alsoleavewrongly.TheAnnouncementofKangsays:

Evendestinyisnotchangeable,since

Whenourwaysaregood

Weobtainit.

Whenourwaysarenotgood

Weloseit.

TheCh'uRecordsays:

ThestateofCh'udoesnottreasurethat.

Ittreasuresitsgoodmen.

UncleFan(maternaluncletoaprinceinexile)said:

Ourexiledprincehasnotreasure.

Tobegoodtohisparentsishisonlytreasure.

14.

14.TheOathofCh'insays:

Iwouldliketohavejustonedecisiveman,withoutallkindsofspecificabilities,whose

mindwasbroadandeasy,suchthathecouldutilizethetalentsofothersasiftheywerehis

own.Findingsages,hewouldsincerelylovethemwithhisheart,andnotjustgivethem

lipservice.Bybeingabletoacceptandutilizeeveryoneinthisway,hewouldbeensuring
 safetyforme,mysons,grandsonsandallthepeople.Wouldn'tthebenefitsbegreat?But

whatcanyoudowhenyouhaveamanwhogetsjealousoftheabilitiesofothersandhates

them?Whenhehatesthesagely,createsdisturbancesforthemandkeepsthemfrom

advancing?Sincehecannotprotectme,myson,grandsonsorthecommonpeople,isn'the

quitedangerous?

Onlyamanofrencanbanishsuchaministerandsendhimouttolivewiththebarbariantribesaway
fromthemiddlekingdoms.Thusthesaying:Onlytherenmancanlovepeopleandhatepeople.2

Toseeaworthyandbeincapableofpromotinghimtopromotehim,butnottothetopthisis
avoidingresponsibility.Toseesomeoneevilandnotremovehimortoremovehim,butnotcompletely
getridofhimthisisafatalerror.

Tolovethatwhichthepeoplehate,andhatethatwhichthepeoplelove:thisistoignorehumannature,
andyouaresuretobringgreatharmtoyourself.ThereforetherulerattainstheGreatWaythrough
loyaltyandtrust,andlosesitwithprideandarrogance.

15.

15.ThereisalsoaclearWayfortheproductionofwealth.Whenproducersaremanyand
consumersarefewwhenproductionisrapidanduseisslow,thentherewillalwaysbe
enough.Therenmanexpendshiswealthtoexpandhimself.Lackingren,oneexpends
himselftoexpandhiswealth.

ThereisnosuchcasewherethoseinpowerlovedrenandthosebelowdislikedJustice.Andthereisno
casewhereamanlovesJusticeandisnotthoroughinhiswork.Inthissituation,therearenotreasure
housesinthestatewhichdonotbelongtotheruler.

16.

16.MengXianzisaid:

Themanwhokeepshorsesandchariots

Doesnotlookafterchickensandpigs.

Thefamilythatstoresice3

Doesnotraisecattleandsheep.
 Ahundredchariotclan

Doesnotkeepataxcollector.

Iftheyaregoingtohaveataxcollector,

Theymightjustaswellhaveathug.

Thus,thesaying:Astatedoesnotbenefitbyprofiteering,itbenefitsbyitsJustice.

Onewhorulesastateoraclanwhosacrificeshimselftowealthanditsusagemustbeunderthe
influenceofaninferiorman.Hemayregardhimasgood,butifthismanhandlestheaffairsofthestate
orclan,calamitiesfromHeavenandharmfrommenwillbevisiteduponhim.Evenifagoodmanis
finallyfound,whatcanhedo?Thusthesaying:Astatedoesnotbenefitfromprofiteering,itbenefits
fromJustice.

Notes

1.ThetitleofasectionoftheShujing.ThenameofthefoundingemperoroftheShang(Yin)
dynasty.

2.ThissayingcanbefoundinAnalects4:3.

3.Theprocurementandstorageoficeinancienttimeswasextremelydifficult,andthereforeanexpensive
proposition.