Exploring the Analects

Exploring the Analects

Book 3: 《八佾》 Ba Yi (Eight Rows)

《八佾》 Passage 3.22

子曰:「管仲之器小哉!」或曰:「管仲儉乎?」曰:「管氏有三歸,官事不攝,焉得儉?」「然則管仲知禮乎?」曰:「邦君樹塞門,管氏亦樹塞門;邦君為兩君之好,有反坫,管氏亦有反坫。管氏而知禮,孰不知禮?」

Legge Translation (1861)

The Master said: "Small indeed was the capacity of Guan Zhong!"

Some one said: "Was Guan Zhong parsimonious?"

"Guan," was the reply, "had the San Gui, and his officers performed no double duties; how can he be considered parsimonious?"

"Then, did Guan Zhong know the rules of propriety?"

The Master said: "The princes of States have a screen intercepting the view at their gates. Guan had likewise a screen at his gate. The princes of States on any friendly meeting between two of them, had a stand on which to place their inverted cups. Guan had also such a stand. If Guan knew the rules of propriety, who does not know them?"
管仲

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