《孝经》英译（孝治章）

孝治章第八<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

子曰：“昔者明王之以孝治天下也，不敢遗小国之臣，而况于公、侯、伯、子、男乎？故得万国之欢心，以事其先王。治国者，不敢侮于鳏寡，而况于士民乎？故得百姓之欢心，以事其先君。治家者，不敢失于臣妾，而况于妻子乎？故得人之欢心，以事其亲。夫然，故生则亲安之，祭则鬼享之。是以天下和平，灾害不生，祸乱不作。故明王之以孝治天下也如此。《诗》云：‘有觉德行，四国顺之。’”

Chapter 8

Governing through Family Reverence

The Master said, “Of old when the enlightened (ming) kings used family reverence to bring proper order to the empire, they would not presume to neglect the ministers of the smallest state, how much less so the dukes, earls, and other members of the high nobility. Thus all of the different vassal states participated wholeheartedly in their service to these former kings. Those who would bring proper order to the vassal states would not presume to ignore the most dispossessed, how much less so the lower officials and common people. Thus the various families all participated wholeheartedly in their service to these former lords. Those who would bring proper order to the various families would not presume to overlook their servants and concubines, how much less so their wives and children. Thus all of the people participated wholeheartedly in their service to their parents. In such a world, the parents while living enjoyed the comforts that parents deserve, and as spirits after death took pleasure in the sacrificial offerings made to them.

“Hence, the empire was peaceful (he) and free of strife, natural disasters did not occur, and man-made calamities were averted. In this way the enlightened kings used family reverence to bring proper order to the empire.

“The Book of Songs says, ‘So admirable is the excellence (de) of his conduct that all of the states in the four quarters repair (shun) to him.’”(1)

(1)    Songs 256. Cf. Legge (1960), p. 511, and Karlgren (1950b), p. 217.