Book 8: 《泰伯》 Tai Bo
《泰伯》 Passage 8.8
Legge Translation (1861)
The Master said: "It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused.It is by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established.
It is from Music that the finish is received."
Word by word
- 子曰 zǐ yuē
the Master said
- 子 the Master, courtesy title for Confucius
- 曰 said, spoke (introduces quoted speech)
- 興 xīng
to be stirred, aroused, inspired
First of three parallel stages (興於詩，立於禮，成於樂): the Odes stir one to begin, ritual establishes one in society, music brings completion.
- 於 yú
coverb marking source or means: by, from, in
- 詩 shī
the Odes, the Book of Songs
Rendered as 'the Odes' or 'the Songs' (Book of Songs / Shijing) depending on translator; Watson's text is missing the title word here.
- 立 lì
to stand firm, take one's place, become established
- 於 yú
coverb marking means: by, through, on
- 禮 lǐ
ritual propriety, the rites
- 成 chéng
to be completed, perfected, brought to fulfillment
- 於 yú
coverb marking means: by, with, in
- 樂 yuè
music
read yuè, music, not lè, joy.
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