Book 14: 《憲問》 Xian Wen (Xian Asked)
《憲問》 Passage 14.18
Legge Translation (1861)
The great officer, Zhuan, who had been family-minister to Gongshu Wen, ascended to the prince's court in company with Wen.The Master, having heard of it, said: "He deserved to be considered WEN (the accomplished)."
Word by word
- 公叔文子 gōng shū wén zǐ
Gongshu Wenzi, a grandee of the state of Wey
- 公 surname element, romanized 'Gong'; not the literal sense 'duke'
- 叔 surname element, romanized 'Shu'
- 文 appellation element, romanized 'Wen'; not the literal sense 'culture'
- 子 honorific suffix in the appellation Wenzi
This passage explains why he earned the posthumous name 文 (Wen); the name is used proleptically throughout.
- 之 zhī
possessive particle: 's, of
- 臣 chén
household retainer, private minister of a nobleman
Marks Zhuan's earlier private status, contrasted with the state rank 大夫 he was promoted to.
- 大夫 dà fū
grand officer, a senior appointed minister of state
- 大 title element, romanized 'da'; not the literal sense 'big'
- 夫 title element, romanized 'fu', completing the rank name Grand Officer
- 僎 zhuàn
Zhuan, personal name of Gongshu Wenzi's retainer
- 與 yǔ
with, together with
- 文子 wén zǐ
Wenzi, referring to Gongshu Wenzi
- 文 appellation element, romanized 'Wen', referring to Gongshu Wenzi
- 子 honorific suffix in the appellation Wenzi
- 同 tóng
together, alike, of equal standing
- 升 shēng
to rise, ascend, be promoted
- 諸 zhū
fused particle 之於: to it, to that place
諸 here contracts 之 (it, referring to the promotion) and 於 (to), a common classical contraction.
- 公 gōng
the duke's court, seat of public office
- 子 zǐ
the Master, Confucius
- 聞 wén
to hear, hear of, learn of
- 之 zhī
it, this
Refers back to the promotion of Zhuan just described.
- 曰 yuē
to say, said
- 可以 kě yǐ
deserves to, is entitled to
- 可 can, may, be worthy of
- 以 completes the modal expression 可以: can, may
- 為 wéi
to be regarded as, to be considered
- 文 wén
posthumous epithet: cultured, accomplished, refined
- 矣 yǐ
final particle marking assertion: indeed, surely
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