《孝经》英译（三才章）

三才章第七<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

曾子曰：“甚哉，孝之大也！”子曰：“夫孝，天之经也，地之义也，民之行也。天地之经，而民是则之。则天之明，因地之利，以顺天下。是以其教不肃而成，其政不严而治。先王见教之可以化民也，是故先之以博爱，而民莫遗其亲，陈之于德义，而民兴行。先之以敬让，而民不争；导之以礼乐，而民和睦；示之以好恶，而民知禁。《诗》云：‘赫赫师尹，民具尔瞻。’”

Chapter 7

The Three Powers and Resources

Master Zeng replied, “Incredible—the profundity of family reverence!”

The Master continued, “Indeed, family reverence is the constancy of the heavenly cycles, the appropriate responsiveness (yi) of the earth, and the proper conduct of the people. It is the constant workings of the heavens and the earth that the people model themselves upon. Taking the illumination (ming) of the heavens as their model and making the most of the earth’s resources, they bring the empire into accord (shun). This is the reason that education can be effective without being severe, and political administration can maintain proper order without being harsh.

“The former kings saw that their teachings (jiao) were able to transform the people. Thus, setting their own example of magnanimity (boai) before the people, none of the people would neglect their parents; demonstrating excellence (de) and appropriateness (yi) in their own actions, the people were inspired to conduct themselves accordingly; setting their own example of respect (jing) and reverence before the people, the people did not contend among themselves; guiding the people with ritual propriety (li) and music (yue), the people found harmony (he) and accord with each other; showing the people what they deemed acceptable and unacceptable, the people understood what was proscribed. (1)

“The Book of Songs says, ‘Illustrious Grand Tutor Yin, the people all look up to you.’”(2)

(1)     The structure of this passage is reminiscent of Analects 2.3: “Lead the people with administrative injunctions and keep them orderly with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame; lead them with excellence (de) and keep them orderly through observing ritual propriety (li) and they will develop a sense of shame, and moreover, will order themselves.”

(2)     Songs 191. Cf. Legge (1960), p. 309, and Karlgren (1950b), p. 133.