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BOOK XXV. KUNG-NI YEN KU
OR
KUNG-NI AT HOME AT EASE".
1. Kung-ni 'being at home at ease?,' with Zzekang, Zze-kung, and Yen Ya by him, their conversation went on from general matters to the subject of ceremonies.
2. The Master said, “Sit down, you three, and I will discourse to you about ceremonies, so that you may rightly employ them everywhere and in all circumstances.'
3. 3ze-kung crossed over (3ze-kang's) mat®, and replied, 'Allow me to ask what you mean. The Master said, 'Respect shown without observing the rules of propriety is called vulgarity ; courtesy without observing those rules is called forwardness; and boldness without observing them is called violence.' The Master added, 'Forwardness takes away from gentleness and benevolence.'
4. The Master said, 'Sze, you err by excess, and Shang by defect.' ¿ze-khân might be regarded as a
See the introductory notice of this Book, vol. xxvii, page 40. The Yen (1.1) in Yen Kü is said by Kång to denote that the party had been to court, and was now at his ease in his own residence.
? The three disciples must have risen from their mats on the introduction of a new topic, according to vol. xxvii, page 76, paragraph 21.
Substantially a violation of vol. xxvii, page 71, paragraph 26.
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