________________
BOOK XXVI. KHUNG-BZE HSIEN KÜ
OR
CONFUCIUS AT HOME AT LEISURE".
1. Confucius being at home at leisure, with Zzehsia by his side, the latter said, 'With reference to the lines in the Book of Poetry (III, ii, ode 8, I),
“The happy and courteous sovereign
Is the father and mother of the people;" I beg to ask what the sovereign must be, who can be called "the parent of the people."' Confucius said, 'Ah! the parent of the people! He must have penetrated to the fundamental principles of ceremonies and music, till he has reached the five extreme points to which they conduct, and the three that have no positive existence, and be able to exhibit these all under heaven; and when evil is impending in any part of the kingdom, he must have a foreknowledge of it:such an one is he whom we denominate the parent of the people.'
2. 3ze-hsià said, 'I have thus heard (your explanation) of the name "parent of the people;" allow me to ask what “the five extreme points " (that you mention) mean. Confucius said, 'The furthest aim of the mind has also its furthest expression in the Book of Poetry. The furthest expression of the Book of Poetry has also its furthest embodiment in the ceremonial usages. The furthest embodiment
See the introductory notice, vol. xxvii, page 41.
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