TZ E
‘
KU N G FU
A
DR A
MA TI
PO E
C
M
BY
PA U L
C kR U S
‘
d
E HI Z‘ R w fi fl k
!
W hat
y e w is h
Do ye
n ot un t
t
no
done
o ot hers
u nt
TH E
O PE N
y ou ,
"
.
—
L O N DO N
o
C onfu ci us
.
C H I C A GO
C O U R T PU BL I S H I N G C O
1915
.
C op y r igh t b y
TH E O P E
N
CO
U R T P U BL I S H I NG
19 15
CC
.
.
C h i caflo
F OR E
WOR D
.
I n the p re s en t wor k K ung F u Tze a D ramatic Poem
the autho r doe s n ot i nte n d to o ff e r a d rama of the usua l
wi th th ril l i n g adv e nture s plots an d h ai rbrea d th
s tyle
e s cape s b u t as the s ubti tle state s a d ramatic poem
In
a mo s t con ci s e form ada p ted to the s tage the compo s iti on rep
res e nt s C onfuci a n i s m i n i ts origi n an d according to the
D ramatic action an d s tage e ffects wh ich we would
s ou rces
not b e wi th ou t in the d rama have n ot be e n over l ooked ; i n
fact they are obviou s l y p re s e n t B ut the author s main
obj ect has b ee n to wor k out for the E n gli s h speaking public
a p re s e n tatio n of the C hi ne s e religio ethi ca l w or l d conception
in the d ramatized l i fe of its foun d er K ung N i commo n l y
call e d K u n g F u Tz e who has moul d e d the histo ry o f C hina
and is s till the mai n factor i n the public an d private l i fe of
his n ative coun try
I n undertaki n g a wor k o f thi s k ind which i n the author s
opinion is a highly desi rab l e ta s k the temptati on at once o ff er s
i tsel f to sacrifice truth to b e auty or rather to the taste of
to d ay ; to n eglect h istory for the sake of art i e of epheme ral
art i nterpretation ; an d to cha n ge the tradi ti on al figure of
ou r he ro i n to a modern ized mani k i n who wou l d be li k ely to
a rou s e the a p plau s e of the gall e ri e s I t is a temptation and
the te mp tatio n is gr e at b ecau s e i t p romi s e s succe s s ; i t wou l d
be i rre s i s tib l e i f the obj e ct we re pecu n i a ry p rofi t
And i t
w ould be s o easy ! I t is much ea s ie r to l e t a sage who l ive d
almost two and a hal f mi l le n n i ums ago sp e ak li ke a reformer
of to d ay and to adap t the age i n whi ch he attempte d to
i n trod uce his ide als to the cu s toms an d th ough ts of ou r ow n
days M oreove r w e coul d inven t th rill i n g an d impos s i ble
s t orie s of c o
u rt i n trigu es of ou r he r os ri s e to p owe r and his
fin al d ow n fall an d the r e s ul t would be that the aud ience
!
!
‘
,
,
,
,
,
!
!
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
’
.
-
-
-
‘
,
,
‘
,
.
’
,
,
,
-
,
.
.
,
.
,
.
-
,
.
,
’
,
,
6
FORE W ORD
ould fin d e ntertainmen t fo
r an
ev e n i n g the s p ectators
would a p plaud an d go home satisfie d The author has ah
s tai n e d f rom modernizing t he su bj ect except wh e re certai n
modernization s are i n di s pensable to render i t i n telligently into
a mode r n l a n guage B ut t he author has n ot wri tten for glo ry
nor has he contemp l ated a busines s succe ss on the stage
H is i nt e n tio n is to ch i se l out i n d ramatically p resenta b l e form
the character and destiny o f a man who has been t he hero
i n the m oral dev e lo p me n t of a great n atio n He has not
ventu r e d to cha n ge the mai n outlines of tra d i ti on n ot becau s e
he w as toop e da n tic to do s o b u t becau s e he s ee s in the hi s tory
of huma n developme n t a higher mode of a rt
H i s tory to h im
appears as a divin e d rama whos e auth or is G od him se l f
I n a n cien t G r e ec e the d rama w as a r e ligious p erf ormance
and at Athen s i t w as d e e med s o importa n t that ci tizen s were
p ai d a day la b or e r s price to e n able even the poor m an to
atte n d i t I n thi s cou n try the d rama is a bu s ine ss propo s i ti on
designed to while away the eve n i ng by a pleasing enter
in me n t
ta
The time may come whe n the arti s tic feature
of the d rama wil l be in d ema n d I n ma n y cities theate r s
are clo s e d on S u n days ; but the true d rama is rel igiou s i n its
i n mo s t n ature and is or ough t to be as good as i f not better
tha n a s e rmo n i n chu rch
Tradi tion is i n the habi t of i dealizi n g its her oes an d th at
is part of h i s tory
I t was n ot J e s us who founded the chu rch
but C h ri s t ; n ot G autam a S iddharth a w ho gave ri s e to Bud
dhis m b u t the Tathagata the World ho n or e d B uddha ; n ot
M ohammed who e s ta bli s hed Islam b u t the P rophet ; an d
the s e fa ctors existed before t he p e r s o ns i n whom they became
i n ca r n ate an d who deve l op e d i n to s u p e rp e r son alit ie s aft e r
the i r deaths Th i s is the ca s e al s o wi th C onfuci u s The
idea l of a sag e a s u p erior thin k er an overman a master
exi s ted b e f o re C onfucius an d C on fu ci us b e l i e ved in the ideal s
H e laid n o claim to s u p er n atural r e velatio n
of the pa s t
but later g e n e ratio n s adopted his d octri n e s as i n s pi red as
i n fallible as divi n e
U p on t he w hole the author has foll owe d tra d i tion for he
d id n ot d ee m i t righ t in this d rama to make innovation s or to
w
,
.
.
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
.
’
.
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
-
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
7
FORE W ORD
ub s ti tute m oder n vi e w s for the O l d C hi n e s e i d eal s C on
fu cius appear s he re as he is rep resented i n C onfuci an li tera
tu re n ot a l ways toou r ta s te n ot as a war l i ke Saxon n ot as
a b ol d re former l ike L uthe r not as a b rave figh te r o r o ri ginal
thinke r or as a pion e e r but as a p rophe t of peace as a q uie t
enthusiast for authori ty and an admi r e r of the venerab l e pas t
that has lai d the ba s is for civilizatio n The ch anges wh ich
ha
ve been i n trod uced f or the s a ke of adapti n g certai n eve n t s
to d ramatic e ff ective n ess are few an d of seco n dary significance
So in h i s tory the man who marrie d the n iece of C on fucius
was n ot M a n g I him s el f but N an Yung probably a cousi n
of M a n g I
The name O f the s age s n i e ce is not k nown n or
is he r cha ract e r an absolute type of the C on f ucian i d ea l O f
woma n hood but thi s d evi atio n is ma d e purposely The
i d e a l woman of C o n fuci an ethics woul d be almo s t impo ss ib l y
monotonou s an d w e k n ow f rom the B oo k of O des th at s ome
of the action s and s entime n ts of C hine s e women w e re mor e
h uma n th a n the sage him s el f would app rove
The s cen e th at is placed near the e n d of Act I I di d n ot
happen in L O afte r the meeti n g wi th L ao Tze i n 5 18 B C
bu t much l ate r in C on fuci u s s li fe in 49 5 i n C hang s outh of
I will al s o me ntion that C onfuci us was
t he state of Wei
called to office in 49 7 much lat e r than migh t be as sumed by
t he context o f thi s d rama ; at lea s t the lap s e of n in e te e n y e ars
be tween Acts I I I an d I V is not emphasized L ikewi s e the
i n cident of t he crazy man referred to i n the s eco n d sce n e of
Act I V also happ ened about ten years ear l ier
The pictu re here given is ge n ui n e in all e ssential p oi n ts
an d the contra s t b e tween C on fuciu s an d h is rival the philos
opher L ao Tan (alias L ao Tze ) is true to l i f e We s ee
the man K u n g as he w as an d C on fuci a n i s t s wil l hav e no
rea s on to fi nd faul t wi th the characterizatio n o f thei r master
The author has nei the r adde d e mbellishme nts to n or
detracted augh t f rom the man an d his i d eals ; nor have the
defects of the great t e acher been hidd e n I n deed we can
under s tan d how the ha b i tual teach ing and moral izi n g mu s t
s ometime s hav e exci t e d the admi rati o
n of his co n temp orari e s
an d s ometimes h ave b ored them
Above a l l we shall find
s
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
-
,
’
-
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
’
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
‘
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
FORE W ORD
8
h e re an opp ortu n i ty to u n d e r s ta n d the gr e at s ucce s s of the
s age by co n s id e ri n g the im p re ss ion he made o
ntem
n his c o
We s ee b e f or e
p or ar ies as w e ll as on s ucc ee di n g ge n e ratio n s
u s t he e s pr it de co
rp s th at e ns ouled his di s ciple s whos e lov e
an d f ai th finally elevat e d th e i r ma s t e r to the high p l a n e of
a d ivi n e p r op h e t to the r a n k O f such m e n as Zarathu s tra
B uddh a C h ri s t an d M ohammed
I t is a q u e s tio n w hether s uch su bj e ct s as t he live s of the s e
g reat r e ligi ou s le ad e r s s h ould b e d ramatiz e d at all but the
author is s tr on gly i n cli n e d to affirm th at the d eep e s t problem s
of ma n k i n d the r e ligi ou s s oluti on s of the wo r ld r i ddle as
offered u n d e r di ffere n t co n di tio n s i n p a s t ag es by the lead e r s
of huma n th ough t ar e m os t a p p rop ri at e s u bj e ct s for d ramatic
p re s e n tatio n and the time wi ll com e wh e n ou r th e ater going
Th e n the p oe t s h ould n ot
p ubli c will dema n d t o s e e them
O ffer fanta s tic fa b rication s ou t of the wealth of his imagi n a
ti on but s hould ma k e h im s e l f the mouthpiece of that great e s t
of all p oet s G od
the G od of hi s t ory the G od of huma n
p rogr es s the G od O f evolution
I n thi s S p i ri t an d wi th thi s i deal in view the pres e n t
d ramati c poem has bee n w ri tte n an d i f thi s style o f d ramatic
t reatme n t sh ould n ot b e a ccord i n g to the ta s te of the p resen t
g e n e rati on th e au t hor f ee l s that the futur e is p re p aring wh e n
i t wi ll fin d re sp on s e an d b e a p preci ated
.
,
,
,
.
,
-
,
,
-
,
.
,
—
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
a
le
a
le
*6
A few comm e nt s may b e add e d to e x p lai n the C hin e s e
w orld c on c e p ti o
n
God in the p rop e r s e n s e of the w ord t he on e an d o n ly
God c r eat or an d s u s tai n e r of the worl d has b ee n k n own in
C hi n e s e hi s tory s i n ce tim e i mmem orial u n d e r the name of
H oweve r Sha n g Ti has
S H A N G Ti the L ord on H igh
n ot b e e n in i mm e di at e t o
u ch wi th the mi n d s and co n s cience s
of the C hi n e s e pe ople H is r e cog n i tio n is more th e oreti cal
an d do e s n ot e n ter i n t o p ra ctical l i f e
H e is wor s h i p ed by
the emperor a n n ually in a holocau s t O ff e r e d hi m at P e k i n g
on the al tar O f H eaven
Th ough S hang Ti is alway s s p oken O f as a per s o n al God
he is f r equ e n tly id e n tifi e d by p hil osophe r s wi t h a p hil os o p hic
-
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
9
FORE W ORD
l i tt l e of Sha n g Ti bu t much of
H eaven in the s e n s e O f P rovi de n ce an d L ao Tze ca l ls G od
which mea n s Ance s tor or Arch
w an w ah chi ts u n g
Fathe r O f the te n thou s a n d thi n gs (s e e the Tao Te h K in g or
I )
L ao
The C an on of R eas on an d V ir t u e C ha p I V
Tz e practically let s a b origi n al re a s o n the Tao take the p l ace
of Shang Ti i n the s e n s e of the d ivi n e p rinci p le that gove rns
the w orld an d thes e views are qui te comm on th roughout the
wri tings of C h inese ph il os opher s
According to the C hi n e s e wor l d co n ception all thi n gs are
a ss um e d to be mixtu r e s of tw o o p po s i te s the Y A N G an d the
Y I N of whi ch Ya n g is the p os itiv e an d Yi n the n egative ele
m e n t The former mean s s tro n g lord li ke l umi nous an d is
re p r e s e nt e d i n n atu re by h e av e n ; the latter b e i n g womanly
is r ep r e s e n t e d by earth The forme r w as
w ea k s ubmi ss ive
origi n ally pictured as a w hit e di s k thus : 0 an d l ate r on as a
le l i n e th u s :
s traigh t wh o
t he l atter origi n ally as a
b lack disk thu s : 0 l at e r as a b ro k e n li ne th u s :
I n th e i r combi n atio n th e y w ere rep re s e n t e d by a peculiar
s ymbol
th u s
called T ai C hi w hich me a n s th e G reat
U l timate or the Gr and E xtr e m e al s o tran s late d the U lti
a
i
mat e or A bs olu te
C hi o riginally d e n oted the gable of a
roof an d s o rep re s en ts the id e a of the t op most o r ul timate
outcome of th ough t or as we s t er n p h ilo s ophe rs would s ay
the Ab s olut e
I n i ts undi ff e rentiated form i t i s com
mon l y re p re s e n ted as a l umi n ou s orb
A C hi n e s e philo s opher woul d ma k e the s ame s tatement
that w e fin d in the B i b l e I n the b egi n n i n g God created
t he heav e n a
n d t he e arth
b u t he would i nte rp ret the wor d s
heaven an d earth in a more general se n s e i n a ph i l osophical
and almost mathematical con ce p tion meaning by heaven the
p ri nciple Ya n g an d by e arth the p ri n ciple Yi n
I n C hi n e s e h i s tory the founder of civi l ization w as F 11 H i
He w as the fi r s t of the p rimi tive fiv e ru l ers O f C hina an d he
w a
f w riting or rath e r of
s cr e di t e d wi th t he i n ven tio n o
p rincip l e
C on fu ciu s s p eaks
.
,
,
!
!
!
,
!
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
-
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
a
'
,
,
e
.
,
,
!
,
!
.
.
!
,
!
!
,
,
.
.
,
,
’
pp
.
A l s o tr an s crib e d T ai
2 4 ff
‘
.
K i ll
.
S ee
th e
au th or
’
s
C hi n e s e P hi l os ophy
,
10
FORE W ORD
h ough t
ymb ol s e s p e cially th e c om b inati ons of the Yang
an d Y in in s et s of th r e e called in C hi n e s e hw a or trigrams
L at e r on the trigram s we re d oubled and formed hexa
grams s ixty f ou r com b inatio n s of wh ich are p os si ble and the
mys tical mea n i n g o f the s e con s ti tute s the s ubj ect matte r of
the a n ci e n t Book of C hange s calle d i n C hi n ese Y ih K in g
1
The Yih K ing is a book of divi n ati on and tradi tion con
n e e t s with i t t he fate of Wen Wang
the ancestor of the
im p eri al house o f C how D e tails wi th regard to thi s man
and his s o n s Wu Wang an d C how K ung are well worth
k n owi ng on accou n t of the s ignificance they pos s es s ed in t he
O p i n i on of C o n fucius Wen Wang i e
Scho l arly R uler
is t he posthumou s appellation of C h a n g who s e tit l e in his
li fetime w as S i P e h i e
H e was
C hi e f of the West
here d i tary C hie ftai n of the p rincipali ty O f K i in the te rri to ry
of the moder n She n si The l ast empe ror of the house of
Y in C how S in characte riz e d in C hi n e s e hi s to ry as
the
aba n do n e d tyra n t cau s ed C h ang the C hief of th e W e s t
to be imp ri s o n ed becau s e on e of the imperial advise r s H u
the earl of Ts ung regar d e d him as d angerou s on accou n t O f
his vi rtues
While he ld in d ura n ce for two years at Yew L i the
Scholarly R ul e r p on d e red ov e r the meani ng of the Y ih
the changes or p e rmuta t i on s of the hexagram s and d erived
f r om them the hop e of a fi n al del ivery an d a brighte r future
H is e xpectatio n s were fulfill e d and his son Fa be s t k nown
u n d e r the po s thumou s ti tle Wu Wa n g cro ss e d the Hwang
H 0 at the f ord O f M e n g an d overth r e w the a b a n d oned tyrant
C how S in i n battle on the plai n s of M u h whereupon h e was
r e cognized as emperor
Wu Wa n g w as s upported by his younger b rothe r Tan the
fourth son of the C hief O f the We s t W e n Wang and k n ow n
i n histo ry as C how K u n g the D u ke of C how O n the d e ath
O f his imperi al b rother Wu Wa n g this Duke of C how acte d
t
s
,
,
.
,
-
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
!
!
.
,
.
.
,
,
‘
!
!
.
,
.
.
,
‘
-
.
!
,
,
!
‘
,
,
,
.
,
,
‘
,
.
,
!
!
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
so
Y i h K i n g s e e t h e au thor s C hin es e P hi l o
phy, p 7 , an d
C hi n es e Thoug ht, p p 2 6 - 3 6
A s to th e p rob ab l e con n e ct i on w h i ch
thi s m e th od of d i v i n at i on h a
d hi s tori cal l y w i th th e U ri m an d
T h umm i m , s e e Th e O r acl e of Y ahw e h, p p 2 7 -3 4
1
.
O
’
n th e
.
.
.
.
.
1l
FORE W OR D
as
IS
guardi an of his n e phe w the chil d e mpero r an d his vi rtue
praised as highly as that of the ancien t rule rs Yao an d Shun
,
,
.
At 1 7 yea r s O f age h e
held a po s iti on as s uperi n tenden t of an e s tate The fi rst
and secon d acts of our d rama play i n the y e a r 5 1 8 B C
the s on of the mini s ter M ang H s i j oi n s the
w hen M a n g I
gethe r the ci ty of L O ca p i tal of the
s age a
n d they vi s i t t o
and the home of the O l d p hilos opher L ao Tze
s tate C how
The s econd act take s p l ace s oon afte r the retu rn of K ung
Tze an d M ang I to thei r home i n the state O f L fi I n the
thi rd act we find C o n fuci us installe d as mi n i s ter of j u s tice
b u t he fe e l s compel l e d to l eave his post on account of the
ar r iv al O f the s i n gi ng dam s els se n t to D uke L i ng as a p re s e n t
by th e D uke of T s i n The l as t act show s us the en d o f the
'
s age s career a
n d his d eath
which took p l ace i n 4 79 A D
H is f aith f u l di s cip l e Tze K ung sees i n a vision the pos
thu m o
u s h onor s fi r s t bestowed upon C on f uci us by K a
o Ti
th e f ou n der of the H an dynasty who asc e n d e d the th rone
in 2 02 B C
The books O f C on f uciu s were p roscribe d togethe r with all
other l i t e ratu re ex cept the wri tings on d ivi n ation agricu l tur e
an d medici n e by the order of S he H wang Ti the fou n der of
the Ts i n dy n asty in the y e ar 2 1 3 B C but the Ts i n dy
n asty w a
s O f s hort d u ratio n
E mpero r K ao Ti an d his suc
ce s s or s O f the h ou s e of H an di d thei r be s t to h ave the l o s t
t rea s u re s r es tored The empe ror P ing Ti had a temp l e erect
C o n f uci u s was b orn i n 5 5 1 B C
.
.
.
.
.
-
,
,
,
,
.
,
‘
-
.
,
‘
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
!
,
,
‘
‘
.
.
,
,
.
‘
.
il
Ti i m p l y i n g th e d i v i n e n atu r e of a
v e re i g n auth ori ty
so
H i s n am e w as C h e n g an d h e i s b e s t k now n i n h i s tory as th e
b u i l d e r of th e g r e at w al l
A ccord i ng to tr ad i ti on h e w as th e s on
of the con cu bi n e of C hw an g S i ang W ang th e D uk e of T s i n an d
th e l atte r s m i n i s t e r of s t ate L u P u W e i
H e as ce n d e d th e th ron e
of Ts i n an d s u b d ue d th e oth e r v as s al s of C h i n a thus cr e ati ng a
l arg e e mp ir e and ab ol i s hi n g i ts f e ud al con s ti tu t i on
H e nce hi s
h os ti l e atti tu d e tow ard th e an ci e n t l i te rature H e w as a m an of
u n u s u al abi l i ty an d a r u l e r of i n d om i t ab l e e n e r
gy b ut h at ed b y
t h e l i t e r at i
S e e Wi l l i am F re d e ri ck M ay e rs C hin e s e R e ade r s
M an u al P art I N os 46 5 an d S 9 7
2
.
S he
H w ang
Ti
w
as
th e
firs t
ror
ru l e r s
empe
as s u m e
to
th e
t t e
’
,
.
.
‘
,
,
’
,
.
‘
,
.
.
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
.
FORE W OR D
12
d in the y e ar 1 A D w h ere s a cri fice s we re o ff e red to C on
fu ciu s i n c ompa n y wi th the a n cient model of vi rtue , C how
K ung
The ti tl e s u n d e r wh i ch t he s age w as reve re d changed
!
Th e y w ere I ll u s
s l igh tly b u t r e mai n ed the s ame in s pi ri t
!
!
L ord of C omplete Prai s e then Pri n ce of
t r iou s Du k e N i
!
!
!
!
I llu s t r i ou s L e a rn i n g
S age of A n ti qui ty ,
M os t Perfect
Sag e e tc I n the year 1 7 43 the mu s ical p ortio n of C on
fuciu s w or s hi p w as regulated by impe ria l decree i n an elab
ora t e s tyl e an d as w e may a ss um e in a c on s ervative fa s hi on
’
p r e tty n e a r ly as rep r e s e n t e d i n Tz e K u n g s vi s io n at the
con clu s i on of ou r d rama
e
.
.
,
.
.
,
!
,
!
,
,
!
.
,
,
,
.
9K
9%
9K
:
The C hi n e s e are an ethical
ati on Th e y l ove to pon d e r
on e thic s an d in a ctual li fe are k nown to be u n u s ually re
li a bl e We s t e r n p e opl e w ho have dealings w i th the C hin e se
do n ot h e s i tate to charact e rize th e m as more tru s tworthy
tha n m e m b e r s of o ther n ati on s an d thi s is t ru e not only of
b ig b u s i n e ss m e n b u t e ven of t he cooly
A s a rul e C hina
m e n are p rai s e d for adheri n g to thei r co n tract s e ve n when
re n d e red u n favorable by changed con di ti on s
The qu e s ti on n ow ari s e s w h e the r the C hi n e s e have ac
q ui red thei r p eculiar l ov e of m oralizi ng from thei r ed ucation
w h ic
h has come d ow n to th e m f rom C on fuciu s th rough two
an d a hal f mille n n ium s or wh e th e r C o
n fuciu s ha
s become
acce p table t o th e m as a t e acher as a n ati on al repre s entative
be cau s e his d octri n e com es n eare s t to the C hi n e s e i deal
There may b e t ru th in e i th e r p r op os i t i on for i t is certai n
that w e h av e to r e cog n iz e C on fuci u s as the rep re s entativ e
typ e of C h i n e se ma n h ood in C hi n a s cla s s ical p a s t
n
.
.
,
!
!
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
’
.
a
le
a
e
r
a
e
r
The es s e n tial eleme n ts of a t rag e dy c on s i s t in t he e ndeav or
I n d oi n g s o he o ffers
of a m an t o s ta n d u p for his id e al s
him s e l f an d the b es t e ff ort s of his li f e as a s a cr ifice for his
conviction an d w h e th e r or n ot by his ow n fault s u ff e rs d e f e at
in his p e rsonal int e re s t s w hile from the wrec k age of his li fe
In
his i d e al s c om e ou t afte r his death in trium p h a n t vict ory
t hi s s e n s e w e mu s t gra n t th at C o n fuciu s is a tragic figu r e
C on fu ci u s p ass e d th r ough all the s e s tag e s an d is n ow t he
.
,
,
.
.
C
A ST
O F C H AR
A C TE
R
S
T ze (C on f u ci u s )
‘
L ad y C h i e n K w an, W i f e of C on f uci u s
N i e ce of C on f u ci u s
K
‘
F
ung
C
u
L ady C
N
K u ng
T ze K un g , the f ai th f u l d i s ci p l e
H o C h i , cal l e d M ang -I , a p ri n ce of ari s tocr ati c app e ar an ce M I
Lu
C h un g Y fi, s ty l e d T z e L u th e cou r ag e ou s
.
.
.
.
,
M in
Y
en
l d Tze C h
S un ,
H
ui,
!
i en
M in
or ator an d d i p l om at
!
C on t i n u ator of th e S ag e ; th e f av ori te d i s ci p l e,
s ty e
‘
,
m uch y oun g e r th an th e oth e rs
‘
K ung L i , th e s on of C on f u ci u s
.
K
‘
u ng
Y
.
C hi , th e g r an d s on of C on f uci u s , a b oy of tw e l v e y e ars ,
!
l ate r on f amou s as th e auth or of Th e D octri n e of th e
M e an
C hi
T z e K ao, a h u n ch b ack, of
Li E
r
l
un u s u a
bri g h tn e s s
h, cal l e d L ao T an or L ao Tz e ,
th e
K ao
ol d p hi l os op h e r, op
i
p os e d to C on f uc u s
L ao T an
’
A
A
s ta
te
-
.
T
.
Bo
y
y ou th
Ti ng
of L u
ive
0
f ath e r
P an g e m p e ror K ao Ti f ou n d e r of th e H an d y n as ty an d
I n s ti tu tor of C on f uci an w or s hi p ; as ce n d e d th e th ron e
B C 2 02
A p p e ars i n T z e K un g s v i s i on
y oun g m an ,
L iu
th e
h al f g row n
of L o, th e cap i t al of th e s t ate C h ow
old m an , d i s p l e as e d w i th h i s s on
na
t
n
L
atte n d an t, a b oy or
s
D uk e T i n g , of
A
en
s ue
,
d
by his
M
.
S on
,
Ti
’
.
.
.
.
B ri d e s mai d s , g room s me n , m us i ci an s an d
i
i
s ng n g
d ams e l s
.
A CT I
S CE N E
.
I
.
The R eception R oom of C on f ucius i n the yea r 5 1 8
B C
I n t he backg r ou n d an e n tr an ce w ide
u ts ide
ns o
The door
ug h t o s h o
en o
w tw o p er s o
op e n s an d t w o m e n TZ E K U N G (K u ng) an d
I ) ar e s e en s tan ding ou ts ide how
MANG I
ing t o each ot he r
.
.
.
,
-
.
.
K u ng
M
Please en te r
.
s ir
!
I sh al l not be so ru d e
As to take p recedence before my betters
I
.
,
.
K ung
I am a simple man and you r i n ferio r ;
E e n you r d e portment pr ove s your higher rank
Appar e n tly you are of noble bi rth
T is not you r d ress alone ; I see qui te plai n l y
You are accu s tomed to cou rt eti quette
Wh ile I am but a modest commoner
.
’
.
.
’
,
.
M
.
P ray d o not estimate my bi rth too h igh
Y ou are a ge n tleman of great d i s ti nctio n
O f poli s he d ma n n e r s and accompli s hments
I
.
,
K u ng
.
You a r e too k i n d i n over e stimati n g
My worth O h pray shame n ot your humb l e
s e rva n t
By greater courte s y Please enter fi rst !
-
.
.
,
.
M
.
I
L
.
K ung
.
et us s
’
tep o er the th reshold both at once
.
Th at would b e hoove m e not S o plea s e walk i n
And I will f ollow you Y ou a re too kin d
.
.
.
,
16
M
K
.
I
U NO
F
P ray
TZ E
U
Wi th y our p ermi s sio n I
.
K ung
’
w
i ll
en
te r the n
,
.
do s o, s i r
M A N G I e n te rs an d TZ E K U N G f ol l ow s
A n d I will call the M a s ter ;
B ut k i n dly tell m e s ir wh at ki n d of bu s ine s s
’
7
B ri n gs y ou to him Y ou are
.
.
-
.
,
,
.
I ll
.
I
I am H o C hi
S on of H is E xce ll e n ce t he late M a n g H s i
S tate M i n i s t e r of L G an d commonly
Am call e d l\I an g I
[ B ow s l ow ] M a n g I ! I m greatly h on ored !
I m T w an M u Tz e an d am add r es s e d Tz e K u n g
I come fr om W e i an d I ta ke prid e in bei n g
A p u p il of the M a s te r K ung E u Tz e
I k n ow you r ho n orable fathe r died
B ut a few w e ek s ago an d all the people
S i n ce r e ly mou r n his pre m ature d e mi s e
H e w as a t ruly good an d ho n e s t m an
R a re in thi s troubled an d d e ge ne rate age
.
,
,
,
,
—
.
K u ng
’
-
.
’
‘
.
,
,
.
,
.
M
.
I
[ B ow s ] M y father s imply t ried to do his duty ;
T is all that h e a cc ompli s h e d s i n ce Du ke C ha o
Ap p oi n t e d hi m his M ini s ter of S tate
H e k n e w he s aid that he w as un p repared
F or his high dutie s
When he cam e to die
He charged m e t o do be tt e r an d to lear n
Th e r e is K ung C h i u he s ai d a ma s t e r s ag e
Who s commo n ly add r e ssed as K ung E u Tz e
H e dwell e th in thi s s tate of L in an d he
K n ow s mor e a b out ou r a n cie n t i n s ti tutio n s
A b out prop riety an d righ t an d wr ong
Tha n an y living m ortal n e ar or far
G o thou my fathe r s ai d
an d learn fr om him
.
’
.
,
,
.
.
!
‘
!
‘
!
,
,
’
‘
.
,
,
,
.
,
!
!
,
K u ng
.
!
.
,
Bl e s t be the mem ory of you r d e ar f ather
For truly he w as righ t in wh at he though t
O f M a s ter K u n g
I ndeed K u n g is a s age
S ome ti m e ago I heard his k nowledge prai s e d
,
‘
‘
.
.
.
K
‘
U NO F
TZ E
U
17
d wen t to h im am b i tiou s , p rou d an d eager
To j oi n a t once ou r lea rned n ob l e M aste r
A
n
.
M
.
1
do
H ow
.
K ung
.
E
ng
rank
ou
r
K
u
o
u
y
‘
Tze as s age !
u
I do not know nor can I well describe i t
I ve had the heavens all th r ough my l i fe o er head
B ut do not k n ow th e i r heigh t I ve had the earth
Beneath my feet b u t do n ot k now i ts depth
I s erve the M a s te r l e a r n f rom h im ; his wisdom
I s i n fi n i te and i n e xh austible !
I m l i ke a th i rsty m an w ho wi th a p i tche r
G oe s to t he rive r s b ri n k I d raw the wate r
And d ri n k my fill pu re water yet know not
The rive r s d epth and b r e adth an d its s upply
.
,
’
’
,
’
.
.
,
,
’
,
,
’
.
—
—
’
.
I e n vy thee Tze K u n g ! I f ain woul d fo ll ow
Thi s s ame good n oble M a s ter K ung F u Tze !
,
‘
,
,
K u ng
.
And thee I welcome as a w orthy comrade !
Thou art desce n d e d f rom a n obl e race
And ki n thou art to ou r ow n ducal h ouse
,
.
.
M
.
I
Thou spea ke st truly f ri e n d ; my family
I s ol d an d powe rful but pri n cely b i rth
Doe s n ot con fe r a me ri t to be p roud of
I t is the m e ri t of mi n e an ce s tor s
N ot of mi n e own an d I mu s t live to ea r n i t
I only s hall de s e rve my noble bi rth
I f I i n though ts an d word s and deed s p r ove n ob le
I f I excel in wi s dom truth an d fai th
A n d i f my s ou l b e worthy O f my ra n k
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
K ung
.
S uch is the man I l ove ! S uch is my M aste r ;
F or you may know p e rchance that K ung E u Tze
Trace s de s cent f rom the im p eri al hou s e
O f Yi n
H is ance s tor was F u F u H o
Be s t by h is ti tle k n ow n as the D uke L i
The elder b r othe r of Fa n g S z e ; and E u
R e signed the th rone in fav or of Fa n g S z e
‘
.
,
,
.
I he ai d of
'
i t b efore
but
w
as
n
ot
certai n
.
,
18
K
K u ng
.
UNG F
‘
TZ E
U
i f I were of nob l e family
u n to K ung or s ir l ike unto you
I wou l d wi th a l l my power aspi re to grow
Worthy the ho n or thus i nheri ted
Oh ,
L i ke
‘
,
,
,
.
M
.
You are my f rien d and verily he whom
H is deed s h ave k nighted is alo n e a knigh t
Tho s e who by nob l e bi rth are noble are
B ut promi s e s ; they neve r s ha l l be noble
U n til they h ave rede e med thei r obligation s
E n te r C H U N G Y 0 s ty l e d TZ E L U (L u) an d M I N
S U N (M i n ) s ty l ed TZE C H I E N b ot h b ow ing
to MANG I
K U NG addr ess es t he l atter w it h
I
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
’
,
,
-
.
dig n ity by
,
K ung
.
w
ay of in tr odu ct i on
.
H o C hi , s on of H is Honor , the l ate M a n g H s i,
A n d sty l ed M ang- I , here are the two disciples
‘
O f our gr e at maste r K u n g , whom I regard
As bei ng most d i s ti n guishe d in ou r ranks
You will be pleased to meet them , an d the more
Y ou k now them both , the bette r you wi l l l ike them
H ere is M in S u n a dear good fe l low s tu d ent ;
‘
’
H e is add re s s ed Tze C h ie n An d here s C hung Y fi
K nown as Tz e L u and al s o calle d C hi L u
.
.
,
.
,
-
.
M
.
1
[ A ddr es s ing M I N S U N s tan din g n ear es t ]
Were you attracted by the M aster s fame
And did you come to p rofit by his w i s dom !
.
,
’
,
.
Mi n
An awkward country lad I h i ther came
.
K u ng
.
M ang
.
what K u n g Tze made of h im
H e is an orato r a d iplomat
A man who has command of choicest sp ee ch ;
E ndowed he is wi th tale n t for persua s io n
O h i t is wonderful how much he s cha n ged !
But
s ee ,
-
I
‘
,
,
,
.
’
,
.
Min
I nd e e d i t
.
K u ng
.
is ,
and all is K ung Tz e s wor k
’
‘
.
xcuse me s ir I ll go an d call the M aste r
I ll t e l l h im of you r p re sence and de s cribe
The me ri ts of his noble visi tor
’
E
,
,
’
.
.
.
K
‘
U NO F
U
TZE
19
Prav friend Tze K ung do n ot exagge rate
The s mall accomplishment s which I posse ss
(E xit K U N G b ow ing t o M A NG I )
!
[ To M I N ] You r home is i n the ru ral districts s ir
I came he re f rom the midst of ree d s an d sedges
A n d j oi n ed the s chool o f ou r reve red great M a s ter ;
H e trained my mi nd to fi l ial piety
Taugh t me the examples of the a n ci e n t ki n gs
And how I lov e d to be i n s truct e d ! H ow
I lov e d to learn the wi s dom o f ou r s age s !
B ut the n a n oth e r p ictu re l ure d me on ;
I saw th e people in authority
Wi th al l th e i r pomp th e i r ba n n ers and umbre ll as
I n gorg e ou s d re ss s u rr ound e d by retai ners
I li ked the s e show s an d yet I fe l t distress e d
Because the s pectac l e s d i d n ot agree
Wi th all that I h ad learned of j u s tice vi rtue
A n d of p rop riety
The M a s ter s lesson s
H owever have sun k deeply in my heart
A n d the e xamples of my fe l low students
H ave al s o help e d to s e t my min d at rest
I see the empti n ess of al l the pomp
An d I re gard i t n ow no more than d u s t
I value vi rtue n ow vi rtue alo n e
This s olve s for me all p roblems an d my mi n d
At la s t has found completest satisfaction
,
,
.
-
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
.
I k now y ou f o ll ow the righ t master s ir
The ma s te r that imp re ss ed you certain l y
A paragon o f wi s dom is an d vi rtue
A n d wh at is your expe rience Tze L u ! [ t u r n in g t o
TZ E L U ]
I s ough t the M a s ter s good a d vice an d a s ked
Wh at can you d o fo r me ! And how may I
P rofit by you you r wi s dom and you r l earni n g !
!
o
h
u
th
e
Wh
at
l
o
ve
you
be
s
t
an d I repl ied
:
Q
I lov e my s word my s har p an d shini ng sword
Well sai d the sage your s tatu re an d d eportment
,
.
.
,
.
L
u
’
.
,
,
!
!
,
!
!
,
!
!
.
,
!
!
,
!
,
20
K
‘
U NG F
TZ E
U
Bod e cou rage I f you a d d a higher trai n i n g
To you r activi ti e s you can b e come
Superior and a man of s terli ng w orth
That has f rom boyh oo d e e r been my ambi tio n
Thou gh t I supe rior men a re born not raise d ;
A n d so I ve n ture d to obj ect :
There grow
Some bamb oo s ta l ks h e re on the s outh e r n slope
S o straight th at cul tu re could not ma k e th e m
s traighte r ;
Th ei r fibers are s os tr on g they p ierce the hide
O f a rh inoc e ro s
A n d he the M aste r
R eplied wi th calm compo s u re : I t is true
S uperior men are bor n yet even they
N e e d trai n i n g A ye ! You r w ell gr ow n b amboo
s tal k
C an do fa r greater th ings i f i t be armed
With i ron poi n t an d winged wi th feather s Yea
The a rr ow maker choos e s stalks both str on g
And s traigh t to make goo d arrow s So the s age
N ee de th discip l es o f good character
That d ay I j oi ned our l ea rned nob l e M aste r
And am convinced th at I have f ound the m an
The only m an who lea d eth the righ t way
.
,
!
.
’
.
,
,
!
,
!
.
,
,
!
,
,
-
.
.
,
-
.
!
.
,
,
.
M
.
1
Y ou are the man for me ; l et us be frie n d s !
The door op e n s
E n te r C O N F U C I U S
TZ E K U NG
.
.
.
K ung
Th is is M a n g I son o f H is E xcellence
The l ate Prime M inister of S tate
-
.
,
,
.
M y noble si r be s eated
,
.
What I can d o for you
M
.
I
.
B e seated
L e t me h ear
,
.
M y father
,
s ir ,
I n due apprec iation of you r wisdom ,
C harged me i n his last will an d testamen t
To ask you for advice an d k i n dly gui dance
A n d b ade me learn f rom you the p ri n ciple
,
w
it h
22
K
'
U NO F U TZ E
I s e e th at you are vig or ou s an d man l y
You r ga i t an d s t atu re b od e both s trength an d
cou rage
,
.
L
u
S i r he remind s me of ou r f ormer tal k
H e s li k e the bamb oo on the s outhern hill
Wh ich grow s up st raight and has n o n ick nor ben t
S o straigh t th at cul tur e c ould n ot ma ke i t s traighter
.
,
,
’
But cultu re can imp rove on
n
atu r e
’
s
w ork
,
.
.
Your w o rd s i n de e d ar e true an d I will l earn
The l e s sons th at y ou t e ach Yo u ll find me ready
To acc e pt in s truction wi th d ue reverence
Bef ore I leave s i r may I be p e rmi tt e d
To as k a s pecial favo r !
,
’
.
.
,
,
Speak and I
Will do whatever lie s wi th i n my powe r
,
.
M
.
I
.
The anci ent capi tal of ou r gre at empi r e
I s ma n y peopled L
A n d ri te s are still
The cu s toms th e re
ob s e rv e d i n pure s t form
The rul e r bei n g of the hou s e of C h ow
n d there
I s e mp e ror at l e ast i n name a
T he ar chives are there is the l i b rary
Which hol ds the choice s t lore of f orm e r age s
The temple s ervic e s are there retained
N ow as in olden time s and th e r e at cou r t
The ceremonie s are mo s t dign i fied
Woul d you great M a s ter un de rta k e a j ou rn e y
To L o the s e at of deep e st thought and learning
!
e
s
s
A n d i ntr oduce me to i ts wo n d rous t r a u re
—
O
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
ill dear s ir ; and thou s ha l t be to me
A s mi n e ow n s on t o whom I s hall b e qu e athe
The d ee p e s t word s of wisdom I h av e fou n d
I
w
,
,
.
M
.
I
.
O ur gra cious over l ord , the D uke of L fi
’
I s w e ll acquainted wi th my f ather s wi s h ;
H e has a p p rove d of i t , and bid d e th m e
To s end his r oyal greeti ngs to your H onor
,
.
,
K
’
UNO F
TZ E
U
23
H e s ays that he w ill speed the v oyage by
E quipping you wi th carriag e an d good hor s e s
H e ll give you l e tte r s to H is M aj e s ty
The E mp e ror w hich wil l p repar e for you
A dign ifi e d reception an d wil l O pe n
To you the temple s an d the archiv e s
.
’
,
,
.
Welcome
M o s t welcome is this o ff e r f rie n d M ang I
And m ost au s p ici ou s s h all th is j ou r n e y pr ove
I n L o there liv e s L i E r h a famou s s age
C all e d L ao K ii e n al s o L ao T an
O r L ao Tz e the ol d p h il os opher
The ve n erabl e k ee per of the arch ives
H e s e e s the urgent n e ed of a reform
And he wil l h e l p u s i n ou r e nte rp ri s e
He ll s m ooth ou r path s an d his authority
Will be of great e s t s e rvice to ou r cau se
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
’
,
.
SC E NE II
.
H ou s e of C onfuci u s F r om the
door on t he r ig ht t he N I EC E of C on f u cius
p e ep s ou t l ook in g e xp e ctan t ly t ow ard t he door
The
S he w i t hdraw s q u ick ly
in t he ce n t e r
l eads ou t
door in t he ce n t e r op e n s an d L U
The tw o w al k ou t t ow ar d t he r ig ht
MA N G I
ou t an d p ass e s t he m
w he n
t he l ady com es
M A NG I s t e pp i ng as ide t o m ak e r oom for her
b ow s l ow an d r e v e r e n t ly ; s he ack n ow l e dg es t he
t i on o
s al u tat i o
n b y a s l ig h t b u t dig n ifi
ed m o
f he r
head an d dis app e ars i n t he h ous e
C ourtyard i n
t he
.
,
.
.
-
.
.
-
,
,
.
M
L
u
M
I
.
.
.
P ray tell me my f rie n d L u who is thi s lady !
,
She
.
I
.
is
,
the niece of ou r great M aste r K ung
‘
,
I migh t have thought s he is s ome kin to him
S o state ly an d s up e ri or a true lady
Forsooth i t can be s ee n that K ung E u Tze
.
,
‘
,
.
24
K
’
UNG F
U
TZ E
I
A scion is of an imperial l ine ;
Whatever is conn e ct e d wi th the
Bear e th the s tamp of r oyal ty
g
sa e
.
L
u
You know
He has d e s ce nd e d f rom the h ouse of Y in
That h e ld the em p i re for s ix ce nturi e s
And m or e u n til C how S i n the unw orthy tyra n t
T he l as t on e of hi s race up on th e th r on e
W as van qui s h e d by Wu Wa n g the war king Fa
The founde r of the p re se n t dyna s ty
The house of C how wh ich n ow th e em p i re ho l d s
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
M
1
.
.
Thi s h ou s e rules but i n nam e I t has no pow e r
F or e v e r y pri n ce d o e s as i t p lea s e s him
The bar on s are n o b e tte r ; n or a re the y
I n turn s ubmiss iv e to the d u ke s thei r p rince s
A n d the re s ul t is chao s n e e di n g re f orm
.
.
,
.
,
,
—
.
L
u
Yea fr om the cha os s u ff e rs all the world
O u r wi s e and able M a s te r tri e s r e f orm
A n d a reform he s u rely wi l l achiev e
.
,
.
,
.
SC E NE III
.
’
The Wom e n s Apartme n t in C o n fuciu s H ou s e
t he w if e o
L AD Y C H I E N K W A N (L
f C on
fu cius an d his N I E C E (N ) ar e s e e n e ng ag e d in
’
.
.
.
,
s ew
N
L
.
Aunti e Au n t C hien
,
.
.
in g
C
is
,
i t wr ong to look at a man
!
’
.
What do you me an d e arie ! Y ou di dn t l ook at a
m an did y ou ! [ L ook ing at t he g ir l w it h as er i ous e x
pr es s ion of r epr oof ]
[ N I ECE n ods w it h a r og u is h s m il e of adm is s ion ]
!
A n d w ho was i t
,
,
.
.
I do n t k n ow He
b e e n visi ti n g u n cle
’
.
.
man
.
w
as a
Oh ,
trange r H e mu s t have
he w as a man ! A real
s
.
K
L
.
C
.
‘
UNO F
TZ E
U
25
You me t h im !
[ N n ods ag ain ]
I hope i t w as by acci d en t !
.
.
C e rtainly
i t was the s heerest accident H e came
th rough th e gate wh e n I loo k e d up f rom my em
broid e ry and gaz e d th rough the wi n d ow He
couldn t s ee me H e w as hardly l i k e a man
.
,
.
’
.
.
ca l le d him j ust now a rea l man
Y ou
yes a rea l man
mor e than a man
Oh
,
,
.
manly bu t he looke d
is
He
.
.
L
ike a gentleman !
much more ! There w as s omething superior
abou t h im
[ M us ing ] Y ou know aun tie i f I
we r e a s culptor I would carve K wang Ti the great
G od the war lord l i k e h im
I wonder who he w as
R eally aunti e I am n ot cu r iou s but p e r h ap s you
coul d as k u n cle who his vi s itor was !
Oh ,
,
.
,
,
-
,
,
L
.
C
.
.
.
,
,
,
What an im p rope r s uggesti on ! U nc l e wou l d be
i n d ignan t to learn o f you r in quisi tiveness
.
’
Would
O h I d on t m e an anything improper
I only wi s hed to k n ow s omething about him You
s ee he migh t i n qui re about me
he !
,
,
.
.
,
H ow could he chil d
,
!
’
H e didn t
se e
you
.
he d id [ A f t er a p aus e ] You s ee whi l e
I l ooked out of the wi ndow Tz e L u met him
The two wal ked togethe r an d went to the hou s e to
uncle I watched the d oor becau s e well becau s e
I w onder e d because he stave d so l ong
O h , ye s ,
.
,
.
,
—
,
.
—
.
L
.
C
.
My chil d
I am a l arme d
h ave never notice d in
your behavior a l ack of p rop riety and I must say th at
this is to say the lea s t not becoming i n a gi r l o f
good family H ow can you take an y i nte rest i n a
strange man !
,
—
—
.
.
I
26
K
’
U NG F
U
TZ E
took n o i nte r e s t i n the stra n ge r I was only
i ntere s t e d in uncle an d wondered w hat the stranger
had to s ay to him an d what u n cle migh t thi nk of the
stra n ge r C a n t I be i n terested i n uncle !
I
.
,
’
.
ce rtai n ly in uncle but you say the s trange r s aw
you H ow d i d that h appen !
Oh ,
,
,
.
We ll auntie that was another acci d ent You s ee
I n ee d ed some more s i l k s kei ns I have enough re d
and pi nk s il k but I n eed orang e The s tranger
wore a scarf of de e p orange and I wanted a ske i n
of that co l o r and i t mu s t be exactly t hat co l or fo r
n o other wi l l d o
S o I we n t to cal l the nu r s e to
s e n d her to the mercha n t
but she had to see the
s carf
I cal l ed the n ur s e an d could n t find he r ;
and th e n I we n t out i nto the cou rtyard thin k i ng
that I would fin d the gi rl over th e re in the ki tch e n
I w as a li ttle afrai d that the s trange r wou l d cro s s
t he yard an d so I wai ted a li ttle and watche d the
door Well I d o n t say exactly that I was afrai d
of mee ti n g the s tra n ger but I trie d to avoi d him ;
b u t j u s t when I crosse d the courtyar d the d oor
opened an d he saw me
That is why I wante d to
as k you i f i t is wrong to l ook at a man
I was i n
an aw ful pos i tion You can t rea l ize auntie how
aw f u l i t w as
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
’
.
,
.
’
.
,
.
.
’
.
,
,
.
Yo u po or chil d
the yar d
,
y ou
shou ld
t
no
have venture d i n to
.
N ow you s ee ; he loo ked at me an d stoo d sti ll on l y
for a moment gazing at me as i f i n a d ream then
he b ow e d low and p a s s e d ou t o f the gate
,
,
.
L
.
C
.
I hope
y ou
O h no
l ooked at
,
L
.
C
.
,
di d n t
’
l ook
at him
!
I o n ly too k a quick peep at him but he
me
,
.
You shoul d not have raised you r eye s eve n for a
secon d
.
K
’
U NG
F
H ow coul d I hel p i t !
s o re s pectful
an d he
U
TZ E
27
cou rte ous an d
was s o manly ! Y ou s houl d
h ave s een him I ha d s ca rce ly time to note the color
of his s carf
That s carf w as fine an d on l y for the
s ake of the scarf I s hou ld li k e to k n ow who he w a
s
H
e
w
so
as
—
,
.
.
,
.
L
.
C
.
My d ear child I mu s t rep rove you
for
you r be
havior an d I expect of you mo s t deci d e dly tha t such
s cenes shal l not occur agai n
,
.
B ut au n tie it was all an accid e n t I coul dn t he l p i t
’
,
L
.
C
.
.
,
My d ear that is all very well but I have th e
,
.
im
are
y ou
L et
,
p ress ion that you s tand in n e ed of advice You
no longe r a chi l d The time has come when
mu s t be watch f ul an d guarde d in you r cond uct
vi rtue an d ho n o r be always you r fi r s t con s i d e ration
Avoid eve n the me re semb l a n ce of imp rop riety
E ven the though t of a m an must neve r rise i n your
mi n d Y ou have made a s erie s o f mistakes Fi rst
you s houl d not have looked up f rom you r e mb roid
e ry ; s eco n d y ou s hou l d not h ave l ooke d ou t o f the
wi n dow ; th i rd i f a man e n ter e d the gate you shou l d
no
t h ave behe l d h im at a l l
Then you shou ld not
have though t of hi m as b e i n g a man O h an d how
d read ful i t w as to goou t wh e re you coul d mee t him !
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
’
B ut aun ti e he d idn t look dange rous I am su re
he is a ge n tleman and he looked l ike a p rince H e
must have b ee n a nobleman H is d re ss h is gai t his
carriage w e r e di s ti n guish e d an d he was as beauti ful
as a you n g god I love d the ve ry sigh t of h im O h
au n ti e I wish you h a d seen him you wou ld have
l i ked h im too I m su re there is n o on e i n a ll the
M iddle K ingdom so manly and so lord l ike as thi s
mysteriou s strange r
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
,
’
,
.
.
L
.
C
.
C hi l d
my waywa r d child ! What is the matter
wi th you ! Y ou s p e a k as i f you we re i n l ove C al m
you rsel f Y ou are i nfatuated wi th a V i s i on
,
.
.
.
28
N
L
K
I n l ove !
.
C
.
.
I
'
UNO
F
TZ E
U
th at possible !
s
Forget the s trang e r and l earn the rule s of mo d esty
and p ropri e ty A you n g gi rl l ike you must not allow
he r h e a rt to be ca rried away
You are young an d
inex p e rie n ced and do n ot k n ow the dange rs of the
w orld
.
.
,
.
N
L
Te ach me auntie I wil l be gl ad to lea rn
.
.
,
C
.
L
,
.
ook here my good n iece th is is the picture of you r
grandmother
She w as L a d y K u n g the moth e r
of your uncle K ung E u Tze and s he indeed was
worthy to b e come the mothe r of a great sage
G ra n d father K ung w as a migh ty man and a genera l
of renow n
H e had b een married to a lady w ho
bore h im ni n e daugh ters and no son
H ow h e
long e d for an hei r who cou l d perform the prope r
ri tual s acrifices at his tomb ! S o he went to h is
f rie n d the honorabl e Y en a m an of d i s ti nction and
a s ked hi m for on e of his daugh ter s i n marri age
The H onorabl e M r Yen add ressed his th ree dau gh
ter s an d said : I s th e r e on e of you w ho wil l marry
G en e ral K u n g ! H e has b ee n a cou rageous soldie r
an d s to od the b ru n t of ma n y a fight i n the se rvice of
the D u ke O f L u I n his best year s he w as strong
an d tall
H e s till s tand s over t e n s ho e s i n heigh t
but he has grown ol d an d cou n ts now eighty year s
M r Yen th e n a s ked his olde s t daughte r Wou l d
you ta k e h im for a h u s b a n d ! b u t she cherish e d in
her heart the image of a n other m an who w as fai r
I fe e l mys el f ho n or e d by
to l oo k u p on a
n d said :
G eneral K ung s propo s al b u t I p refer to h ave my
The s econ d daugh te r a n s we red : I f
ow n choice
I m af ry Ge neral K u n g I s hall have to be a nu r s e
all my wedd e d li fe I n s t e ad of h aving a husba n d
I s hould hav e a patien t on my ha n d s Pray l et the
gene ral ta ke s om e one el s e for wi fe s ome one who
w oul d li k e to become a young widow
When M r
,
,
‘
.
,
‘
,
.
‘
.
.
,
,
,
.
.
!
‘
.
,
.
!
.
!
,
.
!
!
,
‘
’
‘
!
!
.
‘
.
.
,
!
.
.
30
K
‘
U NO F
TZ E
U
Th e n le t m e have my d ream s as lo n g as crue l re al i ty
has not yet d e s troyed them
E n t e r C ON F UC I U S
L A D Y C k n e e ls dow n s o does
his N I EC E t he l at t e r w i t h s om e hes i tati on
.
.
.
,
,
.
M y hu s band and mv l or d !
R i s e my good wi fe
R i s e to you r fe e t an d hear the im p orta n t n e w s !
I n compa n y with L u K u n g an d M a n g I
The s on of the late M i n i s te r of S tate
I go to visi t L o the a n ci e n t ci ty
A n d whilom capi tal of ou r great count ry
The venerab l e ce n ter of ou r cu l ture
Where liv e s the greate s t of p h ilosophers
The noble venerable L ao T an
And there I sh all imbi be at i ts fi rst sou rce
H oary tradi tio n s of ou r hi s to ry
A n d k n owledge of the great m e n of the p a s t
All sh all be utilized for a r e form
O f thi s d e cade n t n ation an d the future
Will be as b right and gloriou s as great Y il
And Sha o and Wu Wang could eve r ma k e i t
I will revive the vi r tue o f the ancie n ts
A n d I shall b e the leader i n reform !
lV I v s tar is ri s i n g n ev e rm ore to se t
,
.
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
’
.
,
C
URTA I N )
.
A CT II
.
S CE N E I
.
The H all of L igh t i n the C i ty of L O in the yea r
5 18
The imp e r ial t hr on e r oom of t he h ous e of
C h ow decorat e d in a g or g e ous old C hin es e s ty l e
B e hi n d t he e l e vat ed t hr on e a p ict u r e of t he D u ke
of C h ow w it h his in fan t n ep he w
E n ter C O N
F U C I U S w i t h his dis c
ip l es
,
-
.
.
.
.
1
.
This is a p l ace which I h ave longed to see
H ow beauti fu l i t is an d full o f rel ics
O f sacre d symbols ancien t art and pictu res
.
,
,
.
I t is the H all of L igh t the vene rab l e
O l d th rone room of the imperi a l hou s e o f C how
Here is a lesso n We ca n not un d er s ta n d
Th e p r esen t age u n less we know the pa s t !
The l ast on e o f the house of Yin C how Si n
I s k n own as tyrant and his crime s are many
We owe ou r fathe r l ove and reve rence
We ow e allegiance to ou r soverei gn but
S uch righ ts imply great d uties an d i f d uties
Are hee dl ess l y neglecte d heave n will puni s h
The trespas s e r s ! S O H eaven deal t wi th Yi n
A s overeig n s as a father s righ t s depen d
U pon his goodne s s ; i f he l acks t rue g oodness
H e surely forfei ts h is authori ty
S i P éh named C h ang C hie f of the West Wen
Wang
H ad su ffe re d much abuse was cas t i n p ri son
By S in the tyra n t and i n tribulation
Fou n d comfort only i n the B ook of Yi h
,
-
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
’
’
,
,
,
.
‘
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
32
K
’
U NO F
U
TZE
The s acred permutatio n s w h ich divine d
For him a glo rious triump h of his cau s e
A n d truly he regai n ed his liberty
Th e n a fte r him his valiant s on Wu Wang
Wi th t he ass i s tance of s ome other p rin ce s
O e r th r ew the d e b auched tyra n t i n pi tched battle
A n d thereup on the tyra n t lo s t h is realm
Wu Wa n g a s ce n ded the im p eri al th rone
A s founder of the dynasty of C how
See here a b ove th e r oyal s eat portraye d
Th e D uke of C h ow a b r other of Wu Wa n g
H oldi ng al oft t he i n fa n t emperor
N amed C h ang the hei r apparent to the realm
Wu Wang had died an d left a mi nor s on
Ward of his fai th ful b rother Du k e of C ho w
The Du ke might ea s ily have s e t h im s el f
U pon h is much lamented brother s th rone
B ut he w ould n ot d e prive h is orph a n ed nephew
O f his i n heri tance
H e kept the tru s t
And here you s ee th is noble hone s t man !
The va s sa l s of the empi re swear allegiance
T o thei r chil d emperor who s e righ t s he sh ield e d
S e e h ere the sec ret basis of C how s greatne s s !
Justice alone can make an empi re s trong ;
Where j u s tice lacks d ecay is not far off
,
,
.
’
,
.
,
,
,
‘
,
.
,
,
.
’
,
.
,
,
.
’
.
,
M
.
I
.
S i r wonde rful is this and h i s tory
I s full of l esso n s ! Y ou expound them well
A n d from the pa s t we lear n the pri ncip l e s
By wh ich the f utu re s hould be guided
,
,
.
.
Frien d s
O ur culture is much older than the Y in
H ere a re the fi rs t five ruler s of our r e alm :
Here is E u H i the oldest of them all
Who l ived more tha n tw o thousan d year s ago
I n age s O f remote anti quity
He re a re his diagrams e igh t combination s
O f whole and bro k en lines of Yang an d Yi n
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
K
‘
U NO F
TZ E
U
33
po s i tive an d negative d eve l oped
From t he p rimordial uni t T ai C hih
The ab s olute co n tai ni ng i n i tse l f
Duali ty H ere is F u H i s successo r
S hé n N ung She i nventor of the plow
Hwang Ti the yel l ow e mpe ro r gave us
The calen d ar and b uil t the fi rst great temple
Wh e rei n to wors hip G o d the L ord on H igh
H e was a ma s ter i n ph ilosophy
E xtendi ng the e ight trigram s o f F u H i
I nto the four an d s ixty hexagram s
H is wi fe S i L i n g taugh t us to rear the s il kworm
Yao the great and Shun l ai d the foundatio n
O f gre at p rosperi ty ; they regulate d
The rive r cou r s es thus p reventing floo d s
An d i t w as Y ii the G reat who buil t the d y ke s
S hao d i d not appoin t his son s uccessor ;
H e d i d n ot d eem hi m worthy of the hono r ;
H e ch os e the hum b le Shun of low l y bi rth
Distinguishe d by his filia l piety
An d filial piety is bottom rock
The b ottom rock on which we bui ld ou r cultu re
Wh os e application l ies i n five re l atio n s
An d five ideals sta n d out paramou n t :
H uma n eness u p righ tne s s p rop riety
E nligh te n ment an d l a s t not l ea s t goo d fai th
He re we have s e e n the treasure s of the pa s t
Bu t higher s till th an art and p reci ous relic s
We deem the lear n ing of the s age for he
C an teach us wi s dom truth an d al s o vi rtu e
The greatest mi n d that now ou r cou n try h old s
I s L ao T an the ol d phi l o s opher ;
An d you and I shall see hi m f ace to face
Of
,
‘
,
,
’
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
'
.
’
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
SC E NE I I
.
The Archives of C how i n the ci ty L o L A O TA N
(L T a man of advan ce d y ear s w ith aflow ing
w hit e b ear d is s eat e d at a tab l e w it h a l u te b efo
re
.
.
.
,
h
.
34
L
.
K
T
’
F
U NG
TZ E
U
Th e reason that can b e reaso n ed is not the e ternal
rea s on The word th at can be spoke n is not the
et e rnal word The reas on th at can be reasone d is
ma n s rea s o n M an s reason is vai n an d subj ect to
e rror
I long for the e terna l rea s on the rea s o n of
H eave n H eaven s rea s on is un n amable I t is the
m othe r of the wor ld the mother of the ten thousa n d
thi n gs We call i t Tao M an s reason is bu t a
fai n t echo of the Tao M an imagi nes howeve r that
his h uman an d all too h uman reason is un f ailing
The ge n ui n e human reason an d the heavenly reason
I long f or the eter n al
ar e truly on e and the s am e
rea s on the Tao S he is my mother I am he r chi ld
B ut to be the s on of the eternal reason I mu s t h ave
w n ; no rea s on i n contradiction t o
n o reason of my o
the heavenly reaso n
I mu s t empty my
the Tao
heart of d esi re
.
.
’
’
.
.
,
’
.
.
,
’
.
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
H
e
beg in s t o p l ay t he l u te an d
dr amat ic s tr ain
i
i n a m el o
s n gs
:
H e who des i rele s s is f oun d
The s p i ritual o f the wor ld wil l soun d ;
B ut he who by desi re is b ound
See s the me re shel l of th ings aroun d
.
B oy
r
an d m ak es
e n te s
u n til
t u ll y
s pe c
f
b ow
B oy
.
K
s
ag ain
.
L
L
A O
a b ow
TA N
A O
H
.
e
w
aits
p
p l ay ing t he n
up e x
p e ctan tl y
s to s
TA N l ooks
re
,
.
ung C hi n of the S tate of L ii attended by Tze L u
Tze K ung an d M ang I the son o f H is E xcellence
M ang H si late M ini s te r of L u are here to pay you
thei r re s pects
‘
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
L
.
T
Who is
K u n g C hi n !
L fi, who would
‘
I s i t K ung Tze the mo d ern
fain reform the who l e wor l d
[ B oy han ds him a s lip of
age of
!
by revivi n g the past
p ap er bearing t he n ame
T A N r eads it ] I ndee d
s
‘
,
of K
'
u ng
E
u
Tz e
that i s the man
'
,
.
.
L
It
AO
is
K
U NO F
‘
TZ E
U
35
ung Tze wi th some o f his discip l es
ente r
K
‘
L
.
et
him
.
B oy b ow s an d g oes ou t
L
.
T
.
[ S p eaking t o hims e l f ] He is gai ning fame and
people p rai s e hi m ; yet i t s eem s to me that he cl ings
to exte rnali tie s
[ L e ts his fi ng ers r u n ove r his l ute
ag ain ]
H e p reache s vi rtue ; he p rocl aims j u s tice ;
he insists on ceremonial the ce remoni al of the past
the ol d dead past The great reaso n the i ne ff able
inexp ress i b le rea s on is n ot so complicate d D oe s
K u n g k n ow i ts s implici ty !
I fear he is fa r f rom
i t What we need is s ingleness of heart
A ccomp any ing hims el f on t he l u t e L ao Tan s in gs
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
‘
.
.
,
ag ain
:
The s imp l ici ty of the unexp resse d
Wi l l puri fy the heart o f l u s t
Where there s no l ust there will be rest
An d all the wor l d will thus be b l est
.
’
,
,
.
The great Tao the eternal reason is as i f non
e xistent
I t is as empty as the e xpanse o f heaven
bu t its use i s inexha u stible
,
,
.
.
CO N F U C I U S
uo
us
an d his dis cip l es
dig n ity
w it h
e n te r
conspic
.
B lest be ou r en trance here where holy scroll s
G reet us f rom al l the she l ve s These cu rious
wri tings
C ome f rom the han d s o f ou r ancestral s ages
The hoary past is speaking unto us
H ere in these arch ives o f ol d empero rs
Yea envi ab l e is thy f ate great L ao Tan
C u rator o f the ho l y scriptures here !
L A O TA N has r is e n an d t he tw o s ag es b ow r ep eat
.
.
.
e dl y
L
.
T
.
,
,
,
.
I f I can he l p thee worthy guest comman d me
,
,
.
36
K
O
’
U NG F
TZE
U
noble L ao Tan thy wi s dom is
Wel l k nown th rough all the empi r e K indly si r
L et us r e a p benefit s f rom thy great k nowledge
Most wo n d rou s the resource s thou hast here
I n these famed archives of the H ou s e of C how
Which si nce the d ay of Wu has rule d the coun try
There may be docume n ts i n thy possession
That date as far back as the hou s e o f Yin ;
Yea trace s may b e here among thy trea s ures
O f the p rimordial f ou n de rs of ou r land
O f the five a n cient rule rs ; of F u H i
I n ve n tor of ou r s cript ; of Sheng N ung She
The godly h u s b a n dma n w ho taugh t the people
To fa s hion plow s f rom wood ; further Hwang Ti
The yellow emperor or one of his
S ix mi nisters ; perhaps some othe r sages
H ave l eft some record of ou r a n cien t r i tes
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
L
T
.
The men of whom you s pea k si r a l l are d ead
An d n ow are moulderi ng i n thei r graves Thei r
words
Alo n e are exta n t still
Tis of no use
To see the place s wh e r e they lived to han dl e
The ma n u s cript s they wrote wi th the i r own hands
S imply fo r us to make a s how of l earni ng
,
,
,
.
’
.
,
.
Al l ow me to i n s ist that all the rule rs
Shou ld ma k e a s h ow of thei r authori ty
And th e i r authori ty is based u p on
The wi s dom o f tradi tio n of the past
The p e o p l e ough t to s ee that th e y a re governed
,
,
L
.
T
.
.
N o s i r I d i ffe r from you on thi s point
The peopl e s carcely k n ew of the existe n ce
L esser ones they l ike d
O f ou r great ru l ers
And prai s ed S ti l l lesser on es they feare d an d then
The lea s t the mea n e s t s mall e st they d e s pise d
.
.
,
.
,
.
,
No
,
s ir ,
oh no !
,
.
38
K
’
U N G F U TZ E
Further i f beauty makes display of b e auty
I t is s hee r uglin e ss to be despi s ed
When p e ople l o s e the Tao vi rtue comes ;
The n th e y begin to tal k an d p reach o f vi rtue
I f they l os e vi rtue th e n benevolence
C om e s i n i ts place
They los e benevolence
A n d j u s tice come s
Wh e n they lo s e j ustice too
Th e y p reach p rop riety P rop riety
I s bu t a sembl ance of true l oyal ty
O f g oodn e s s vi rtu e fai th
Th i s ha n keri ng
Aft e r tradi tio n s old thi s revere n ce
O f vi rtue j u s tice and benevolence
I s a mere empty s h ow which but concea l s
The l ac k of rea s on an d of ge n ui n e vi rtu e
I t is the fl ower of rea son not i ts frui t
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
u n derval ue what the sage can do
I f he bu t find s the place which he dese rves
Y ou
L
.
T
.
A n oble man w ho fi n d s his time wil l ri s e ;
B ut i f he d oe s n ot find his time he d ri fts
A n d li k e a rovi n g p lant he ll have to wander
L e t go si r y our ambi tious a ffectation
Your h augh ty ai r s All thi s is of no u se
,
,
,
’
,
,
.
,
.
.
S i r you are f ra n k !
,
Truth ful y ou d have m e be
are n ot plea s ant ; pleasa n t wor d s
’
.
True word s s ir
Are scarcely tru e
,
,
.
You are di s cou raging
.
d iscourag e when I woul d correct !
I d but discou rage h im who see ke th sel f ;
N ot him who s ee ke th Tao and would find i t
I s eek the Tao an d the Tao s ir
S e rves me as guide I t is the mi ddle path
B etween extremes and lea d s us to the goal
The Tao teaches vi rtue teaches goodn e ss
And al l we need is goodne s s
Do I
’
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
K
'
U NG F
TZ E
U
39
G oodn e ss on l y !
M eet al l wi th goodn e ss ; meet the good with goo d ne s s
And l ikewi s e too meet evil ones with good n e s s
,
M y p ri ncip l e
,
.
j ustice Do not to others
What thou would s t n ot h ave d on e to thee I nd e ed
The good on es we should meet wi th goo d n es s truly !
B u t bad one s I woul d meet as they d e s e rve
For why s hould we the ba d o n es al s o treat
Wi th goodness s ay ! The word s which th ou ha s t
spoken
Are hard to un d erstan d
(A s if s p eak in g t o hims e l f :)
O h I had h op e d
To l earn f rom thee of ancient ri tuals
O f ce remonia l s an d p ropriety !
is
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
L
.
T
For al l of which I care so l i ttle si r !
S o l e t th at go I have no more to s ay
,
.
.
Then we will part and I fo r on e regret
That f rom thy wisdom I could l ea rn no more
B ot h r is e an d b ow an d L A O T A N accom p an ie s
C ON F U C I U S t o t he door
E xit C ON F U C I U S ac
comp an ied by M A N G I
T ZE L U an d TZE
K UNG
,
.
,
.
,
-
,
.
L
.
T
!
F
th
at
ung
Tze
the
great
reforme
r
w
a
s
K
u
So
Is he the he ra l d of a steri l e futu re !
Wil l he bui l d up ou r nation ! Woe to u s !
O r am I so mi s ta k en i n the truth !
There is a gul f twixt us ca n not be b ri d ged
Wou l d he migh t fin d the Tao but i ts l igh t
Shineth i n vain ; he comp rehen d s i t not
‘
,
’
.
,
.
(H
)
H ow few there are who understand the Tao !
We l oo k at i t an d y e t we se e i t not ;
We l i s te n for i ts voice bu t hear n o s ou n d ;
W e grope for i t but cannot touch i ts form ;
e
b eg i ns t o m us e
.
40
K
Y
’
U NG
F
U
TZ E
i t e xi s t s i t m ould s thi s w h ol e grand world
I t is a b e ing w on d r ou s and com p l e te ;
E re h e av e n an d e arth IT w as
H ow calm i t is !
Al on e it s t a n d e t h an d i t s u ff e re th not
The r ef or e i t is the mother of the world
I do n ot k now i ts n ame I call i t T ao
K u n g mea n eth w e ll but wi l l wi th fai lure me e t ;
H e ca n n ot fin d his tim e an d he will d ri f t
Fr om p la ce to p lace in i dl e q u e s t A n d I !
A nd I !
I am f orlor n O h s o f orlor n !
I am a s tr an g e r h e r e ; I l on g for h om e
M y d ays ar e n um b e r e d an d I will d epart
Y e s Y e s ! Ab road in li f e an d home i n d e ath !
et
,
.
.
,
,
.
—
.
‘
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
SC E NE II I
A S tr ee t
.
in L O the cap i tal of C how
E n te r a
n at i v e o
C ON F U C I U S p as s es by
H e
f L o (L o)
app e ars dis con ce r t e d an d ag itat e d as if he had
l os t his w ay
E xit C ON F U C I U S
N at ive of L a
l ooks back af te r C ON F UC I U S s hak es his head an d
ex
pr es s es as t on is hm e n t
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
L o
.
A r e marka b le m an ! I wonde r who he is ! A
s tri k i n g figure !
E n te r M A N G I TZ E L U an d T Z E K U NG
S i r have y ou s e e n a s tra n ge r here !
Y e s s i r I h ave
Pe rh aps i t w as the M aste r K u n g F u Tz e
Di d he app e ar to you e xtrao rdi n a ry !
I n deed he did s ir The man I s aw had a forehead
li k e Y a
o
o the w i se empe ror ; a n e c k li ke K ao Y a
the great mi ni s ter of Shu n ; shoulders much li k e
Ts z e C h a n w ho gover n ed C heng s o w e ll in tim e s
of great disor d e r !
H e wa n t e d a l i ttle bel ow the
wai s t of the heigh t of Y ii the G reat the b uil d e r of
I n deed an extr aordi n a ry man b u t his
ou r dy k e s
g e n e ral demean or w as th at of a stray dog
-
,
L
u
.
,
L o
.
L
.
,
.
,
‘
u
.
L o
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
‘
-
‘
,
,
.
,
,
.
K
L
u
Whi the r did he go
.
L o
K u ng
C
TZ E
U
41
O
.
.
M aste r venerab l e M a s ter ! At la s t we foun d you
,
an d
We we re much worried
I
h ave
se
arch e d for you
f riends I m disco n certe d an d I f ee l
D e feate d and dej ected since I met
The a n cien t sage the famous L ao Tan
.
.
You h ave no rea s on to be thu s d ownc as t
Wi th al l due r e verence for L ao Tan
I thi n k that h e but f aile d to un d er s tan d ;
M av be that he at bottom m e ans the s ame
I k now the bi r d s can fl y an d fi s h e s swim ;
I k n ow wi ld bea s ts can run B ut man d e vi s es
S n ar es fo r the ru n n er nets to catch the s wi mme r
And wi th his arr ows b rings the flyers d own
I k n ow i t but th e d ragon I kn ow not
The d ragon is mi racu l ous an d gran d ;
The d rago n can bestride the wind and clou d s
Wh e n rising heavenwar d I k n ow him not
Thi s L ao Tan methi n k s is l ike th e d rago n
Be not discomfitte d my dear goo d M a s t e r
E e n though you r views d o n ot agree wi th Tan s
You h ave an ai m a n oble ai m You wi ll
Accompli s h s ome thi ng i n this worl d An d I
Will stand by you
Pu r s ue you r ai m d ear M as t e r
We wil l stand by you and we sha l l n ot flinch
We wi ll be f ai th f ul to the ve ry en d
I tha n k you f rom the bottom o f my heart
You both a re fai th fu l an d you both are m anl v
S i nce you ve b ee n with me K ung I have n o longe r
S e en snee rs i n faces o f unf rie n dl y peop l e
.
.
C
.
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
,
M
.
I
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
’
’
.
,
.
.
K u ng
.
,
,
.
,
1W 1
.
C
.
.
.
,
,
,
I ll I
.
’
O
.
.
!
Th e re he comes n ow
E n te r C O N F U C I U S
.
.
U NG F
That is ou r M aste r ; we have f oun d h im
.
K u ng
I II
’
.
.
.
,
’
,
,
42
K
‘
U NO F
TZE
U
Who would not countenance my th ought Bu t here
Against the great p hilo s oph e r L ao Tan
Y ou are of n o avail
M ang I you too
H ave p roved a help bu t all you r i n fl ue n ce
Wi ll not wi n the support of this lone thinke r
For ou r great noble cau s e
.
-
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
[M I
.
M y dear good M aster
.
,
I h ave s uch fai th i n y ou I can n ot se e
H ow you can feel so grievously dej ected
M erely becau s e one d reamy s impleton
A s o l d as he i s s i n gular an d hazy
A n d odd di ff e rs from you
L e ave him a l one
I f he or any one of his admi rer s
Would ventu re to oppo se u s l e t th e m d o so
We need opponents and w e ll meet them squar e ly
You r mis s i on tis to r e ar the e ternal pillar s
O f the goo d doctri ne of p rop riety
The gol d e n ru l e the five re l atio n ships
.
.
,
.
,
’
.
’
,
,
.
,
I thank you my good friend s most cor d ia ll y
,
K u ng
M
.
I
.
.
,
N ot for our s elve s al one we speak f or a ll
Your followe rs an d for you r t rue disciples
.
,
.
We will convert the world to you An d M aster
[ Wit h s om e hes itation ] I wi s h to be a l lie d to you
and to
Your family K indly al l ow me si r
To sen d to you as soon as we reach home
A go betwee n who wou l d arrange my marriage
To you r fai r niece
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
-
.
My niece !
1W 1
.
Yea to you r niece
,
.
My niece to me
.
l i k e unto a d augh ter
An d no one f rien d M ang I wou l d be more we l come
You r cheer i ng wor d
A s son in l aw th an you
M ost noble s ir s ha l l be a prophecy
O f the great futu re which before me lies
is
,
-
,
,
-
-
,
.
,
.
A CT
III
SC E NE
.
I
.
H ome of C on fuci u s in the year 5 1 7 B C
.
,
N I EC E
.
of C on f u ci us is s ee n in f es t iv e b r idal att ir e at
t e n ded by m aids
,
.
The day is come and here I wai t f or him :
,
And O h to l ook upon hi m to behol d
H is ma n ly figu re an d his kindly face
H and me my l ute an d I wil l s i ng the song
M y u n cl e taught me the ol d b ri d al s ong
That has come dow n to u s f rom hoary ages
An d which exactly fits my p resen t moo d
A maid han ds he r a l u te S h e p l ay s an d s in gs :
At the gate awai t s me n ow
Screened f rom s igh t hi ho!
O ne wi th tas s els o e r his b row
A l l of whi te hi ho!
Ge ms beam bright !
What a s igh t ! H i ho!
—
,
.
,
.
.
,
-
,
’
-
,
-
Th rough the c ou rtya rd n ow he goe s
Pa s t the screen H i ho!
Jew e ls which his headgear s hows
A r c of green hi ho!
S uch a sheen
I s rarely s een H i ho!
-
.
-
,
-
.
H e a p proache s n ow the h all
I am told ; H i ho!
-
,
44
K
’
'
U NG F
TZ E
U
Tis my b ridegroom amo n g a ll
,
Fai r to b hol d H i ho l
D e ck e d wi th g old
*
Fai r to behold H i ho!
’
-
.
,
-
.
E
C
C ON F UC I U S an d his
n t er
My d earest niece
w
if e
.
o faul t has
ye t be e n mad e
The gobetween h as come and we ve t ra n s acted
A l l detail s as p rescrib e d by ancie n t cu s tom
You r name s and age s have been state d ; p rese nts
H ave bee n exchanged and ou r co n sent is given ;
The day of marri age has b e e n d uly fixed
And w e awai t thy b ridegroom now to take th e e
H ome to h is p a rent s h ou s e yea to thei r palac e
F or they are we althy and of roya l b l oo d
Thy mother in law expects th ee wi th desi re
To h ave th e e wi th her for s he loves th e e d early
The bride of he r be loved and favorite son
.
,
n
.
’
-
.
.
,
’
,
,
,
.
-
-
,
,
,
.
aid
.
The gro om is coming ; the proce ss ion
M ang
ne a
r e th
gorgeou s as K wang Ti h imsel f
S u rroun d e d by his relatives and f rien d s
[ To t he s e r van t ] Sh ow the mu s icians i n an d call
the mai ds
-
I is
,
.
C
,
.
.
E
The f or m e r
m u s icians an d a g r oup of g ir l s
w it h t he i r i n s t r u m e n ts tak e s e ats o
n t he r ig h t ;
The tabl e w it h
t he l at te r s u rr ou n d t he b r ide
ug ht
t he l u t e is r e m o
v e d an d a p al an q u i n is b r o
n te r
.
.
.
C
L
Is
.
.
C
the t rouss eau i n readine ss !
I
.
t
is
.
He re are the b oxes packe d wi th proper car e
[ Tu r n in g t o he r n ie ce ]
O h my dear niece how happy is you r lot
a
"
Thi s
s
on g i s a
K i n g ( 1, V I I I
C on f uci us
.
,
,
,
,
t
.
r an s l ati on of Th e B ri d e s D i tty i n the S hi
th e p oe t i cal cl as s i c c
ol l e cte d and e d i te d b y
’
!
,
!
46
K
‘
U NO F
TZE
U
H ow do the locust s all
Together cl u s ter !
M av thy de s ce n d ant s too
I n such wi s e muster !
,
Whil
,
br ide is car r ied ou t i n t he p al an qu in t hey
B r idal S on g fr om t he S hi K ing I I 6
s in g t he
O u r t ran s l at ion is by Wil l iam J e n n in gs
e
t he
,
!
!
,
,
,
.
.
Ho grace f ul l i ttle peach tree
B righ t l y thy blo ss oms bloom !
The mai d goe s to her h u s band ;
Adorns his hall his room
-
,
,
.
,
grace f u l l i ttle peach tree
Thy f rui t abun d ant fa ll !
The mai d goes to her h usban d ;
A d orns his room his ha l l
H o,
-
,
.
,
fi
h
H o graceful l i tt l e peach tree
Wi th foliage far an d wi d e !
The mai d goes to her husban d ;
H is hou s ehold well to gui d e
-
,
,
E xe u n t all
e
exc
p t C ON F U C I U S
.
an d L
AD Y C
.
A h appy d ay this i s for me The marriage
O f M ang to ou r goo d n iece can only serve
To make h im even more attached to me
Than ever ; an d I p rize his frie n d s h ip high
Th is morning on l y have I summone d been
To call on our mos t gracious lor d Du k e Ti ng
Who seeks my se rvice I am calle d upon
To govern fi rst a d istrict then the state
H ere is my chance ; I sha l l make use of i t
.
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
L
.
C
.
l o rd D uke Ti ng is young an d p l easu re loving ;
H e is not co n s tant and success i s d oubtful
I do not tru s t the honor beck oni ng thee
Ou r
.
,
.
K
'
U NO F U TZ E
47
Wi fe have no d oubt f or i n my i nmost sou l
I fee l that P rovi d ence s e l ecte d me
To car ry ou t the great pla n of r e form
There is no one on e arth exce p t my s el f
Who kn ows the nee d s of man k i nd who can teach
The rul e s of con d uct wh o can regulate
The five relations and I f eel convi n ce d
The L ord on H igh wi ll spee d m e wi th succes s
When I was you n g I was i n offi ce t w ice
Fi r s t I w as keepe r o f the stores o f grain
Then I ha d charge o f public fie ld s an d l and
B oth offi ce s were h umble certainly
B ut I was fai th ful i n these smalle r duties
My calcu l ation s balanced and the cattle
U nd e r my care di d p rospe r M a d am then
D O you remember when our son was born
The D uke sen t me a p resen t o f two carp
I t w as the father of the young D uke Ting
I n fri e n dly recogni tion of my work
I s hall b e j u s t as fai th f ul now i n th i s
M y n ew p os i tion wi th its wider range
I t is the cause o f heaven I advocate
The cau s e of heav e n can n ot be doome d to f ailure
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
.
,
,
'
.
A CT I V
SC E NE I
.
L at e r
C ou rt of the S tate L 6 , i n
49 7
I n t he backg r ou n d t he j udg m e n t s eat w it h
I n t he f or eg r ou n d Y E N H U I
a s cr e e n b e hi n d
( Y e n) TZ E K U NG an d T Z E L U
Twenty Year s
.
'
.
.
.
,
L
u
[ To Y E N ] There w as a time when I w as j ealou s
Si r
Jealou s of you for ou r gr e at M a s t e r s lov e
B ut you have ove rcome all my ill feeling
For to be f ran k I l ov e you too
.
,
,
’
.
-
.
,
K u ng
.
.
,
An d you
Are worthy to be cheri s h e d by us all ,
You are so though tful ge n tle lova b le
The M a s te r l oves you an d who l oves you
.
,
,
n
,
Y
en
.
ot !
prai s e me I do not d e s erve i t
I love the M as t e r an d I ca n not help i t
I loved hi m as a child
M y f ather l ov e d him
M y fathe r b ei n g one of his di s cipl e s
L oo ked up to h im wi th deepe s t reverence
And I w as born to this my father s S pi rit
I n d e e p e s t reve re n ce for the M as te r K u n g
I have im b i bed i t wi th my mother s mil k
And was brough t up i n thi s s ame atmo s p here
Whe n I grew olde r and bega n to thi n k
I s aw good rea son for admi ri n g h im
Wh o is th e safe s t guid e for all the world
U n n oti ce d by t he ot he rs K U NG L i (L i) t he
of C on f u ci us e n te rs an d l is te ns
O do n ot
,
.
,
.
.
.
.
’
,
‘
.
,
’
.
.
.
'
,
,
,
.
n
so
K
L
u
‘
U NO
F
TZE
U
49
you a re righ t my frie n d my dea r Yen H ui
M a s te r showe d for me conside rati on ;
He often f ollowed my advice and I
Was n ear to hi m nearer than al l the others ;
B ut since you came an d j oi n ed ou r company
Y ou have become nearest of all an d h e
L oo k eth to you to carry on his work
Tis you wh om he regard s as his s ucce ss or
d
The
A
.
n
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
.
K ung
.
H e l oves you more th a n his ow n s on and I
G ladly co n fe s s that you deserve his favor
,
.
L i
[ A s ide ]
me
.
’
T is true my father love s him m ore
t
,
han
.
Y
en
I s till am you n g an d l ac k experience ;
You both are older an d k now mor e th a n I
I ve much to l e arn an d how can I b e fi t
To be all owed to carry on the wo r k
O f ou r great M a s t e r s wisdom ! N o d e a r s i r
I f e e l my great u n wo rthi ne ss too much
T o s ti r i n you a cau s e fo r j eal ou s y
I t is e n ough for me i f I can s erve him ;
That is high ho n or an d gr e at p rivil e ge
.
.
’
,
’
,
,
.
.
L
u
I have no grudge Y e n H ui an d i f I had
I w oul d s u pp re ss i t for you are t oo dear
To mi n e ow n heart
.
,
,
,
.
Why wa s te thi s
[ A s ide ]
O n y on der go s l i n g !
K ung
.
s
ympathy
And now e speci a l ly
S i n ce ou r gr e at M a s te r has bee n call e d to o ffi ce
We mu s t n ot s p li t b u t fi rmly s tand toge t he r
.
Y
en
.
I am so g l a d the ma s te r d i d n ot d eig n
To s erv e the s tate whe n call e d on by Yang H o
Ya n g H o w as a usu rpe r H e i t w as
Who had Du ke C ha o expe ll e d an d the n d e priv e d
H im of his th rone an d cau s e d all the con fusio n
.
.
,
,
50
K
’
U NO F
T ZE
U
I n our state L fi H e wa n t e d but the name
O f K u n g Fu Tze
K ung s fai r untarnishe d name
To shield an d j usti fy his u nj ust rule
.
‘
’
‘
—
,
,
.
E xit L i
K u ng
L
u
Who
.
w
,
as
w
hos e dep ar t u r e is obs er ve d by
L
u
.
Was t not the M aster s son !
.
en
ot he r s
that !
’
Y
t he
was indeed K ung L i
It
.
’
‘
.
H e s eems to have
N o t i tt l e of h is fathe r s nobl e s pi rit
.
’
.
Y
en
O h , he
’
not bad ; he s bu t i n di ff erent
He doe s n ot kn ow the worth of h is great father
H e woul d have l i k ed the M a s ter to acce p t
The o ff er of Yang H o And for a while
K u n g wav e red for he deem e d i t possi ble
Tocha n ge the man to ma k e him do the right
H e hoped he migh t convert the u n s crupulou s
By acti n g as his mentor and advise r
O n ce s lyly sai d Yang H o to K ung E u Tze :
C an he be cal l e d be n evolent who leave s
H is j ewel s i n his bo s om an d his country
I n wor s e co n fu s ion !
N o our M aster s aid
Ya n g H o co n tinued : And you want emp l oyment
B ut wa s t e your O p p ortuni ty O u r years
Slip quic kly an d the mo n th s pa ss by accept !
The M aste r then repli e d : Your word s s eem t rue
Perhaps I ought to enter i nto o ffi ce
.
’
s
.
.
.
‘
,
.
,
.
‘
!
!
!
!
.
,
!
.
!
—
!
,
!
.
K u ng
.
The M a s ter wavere d ; yea he w as incl i ne d
To accept the tempting o ff er of Yang H o
B ut I p reve n ted i t I poi nted out
The viciou s ch aracter of Ya n g and that
The cau s e of a u s urpe r s houl d not be
B ut si n ce the n
E n cou raged or s u p ported
The righteous hei r D uke Ti ng is reinstated
An d happily D uke Ting has foun d employme n t
For K ung F u Tze i n this our state of L G
,
.
.
.
,
.
,
‘
.
K
Y
’
U NO
F
TZ E
U
51
When K ung E u Tze fi rst served as gover n or
O f the smal l d istrict at C hu n g Til of L u
Wh at great reform w as th e n at once accompli s hed !
Things d ropped in stree ts we re not picked up or
sto l en ;
The s trong d i d not make evi l use O f p ower
The merchants u s ed righ t weigh t the ol d w e r e
ho n ore d
Above all
A n d w omanh ood re s pect e d
All funeral O b s e rva n ce s we re s trictl y
A n d piou s ly ob s e rved
‘
en
.
-
,
,
,
.
,
.
K u ng
.
Yea that w as go od
B ut b etter s till was the establi s hmen t
O f our you n g d uke s authori ty
The barons
H a d grown too powerful B ut K u n g Tze b roke
Some o f thei r ca s t l e s whe re they bade defiance
A n d humbled them
Thus sp r e ad ou r M aster s
fame
A n d now K u n g Tze commands the co n fidence
O f our good du k e H is R oya l H igh n ess Ting
H oldi n g the place of M i n ister of Justice
The othe r p ri n ces n ow begi n to fear
That L u ou r l i ttle coun try will out s hi ne
I n gl ory all the others Yea ou r neighbor
The Du k e o f C h i woul d g l adly conque r L fi
,
,
’
.
‘
.
’
.
‘
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
‘
.
,
Y
’
He won t succe e d
en .
L
u
Y
en
.
H e may
.
I
.
K u ng
se e n o
d a n g e r f riend
,
.
We cannot tell
.
.
The D uke o f C h i
I s fil l ed wi th hate agai n s t D uke Ting o f L G
A n d do you s till remembe r how ou r M a s ter
D e feated C h i s i n trigue s at C hia K u
Th e meeti n g place of the two s overeigns !
The D u ke of C h i wou l d have i mprisoned Ti ng
Ha d not ou r M aste r wi th his i n n ate wi s dom
‘
.
.
‘
’
-
,
‘
,
52
K
’
U NG F
TZ E
U
De fe n de d j u s tice to p rotect ou r cau s e
S ince then D uke Ti n g has confi d e n ce i n K u n g
.
‘
K u ng
.
.
The danger is not past for ou r D uke Ti ng
I s l ike the re s t
,
.
Y
en
What do you mean f rien d K ung !
.
,
K u ng
a
le
.
Beauty to Ting goe s alway s before duty
I l ear n the Du k e of C h i w ill s e n d a pre s ent
O f thi rty s p a n s of s teed s y ou k n ow the D uk e
L ove s r aci n g ho rs e s ; an d of eigh ty dam s el s
Wi th s on g an d da n ce th ey w ill s o e n t e rtai n
The Du ke as g re atly to d i s t r act his s oul
A n d ma k e him h ate the very n am e of vi rtue
‘
—
.
.
M
I
.
.
The D u ke has hear d of i t bu t is d e termined
N ot t o rec e ive the p r ese n t
I f he did
O ur M a s ter could not stay H e r e com e s K u n g Tz e
They b ow l ow
E n t e r C ON F U C I U S
,
.
‘
.
.
.
.
I gre e t y ou f riend s an d above all Y e n H ui
Thou mo s t a ffectio n ate be s t of my s tude n t s
At last my time has come : at l a s t I h ave
An op p o r tu n i ty to p rove my doct r i n e
H is R oyal H i gh n e s s Ti n g ou r n ob le rul e r
The D u k e of L D le n d s me his ear an d l i s te n s
To th e advic e I give
We kn o w i t s ir
L u
The fame of L fi is gr ow i n g s i n ce D u k e Ti n g
H as made th e e cou n s el or of state
I see
C
G reat vi s tas open n ow an d I s hall n eed
A ss i s ta n ce D e ar T z e L u the D u k e of Wei
Wa n t s an advi s e r an d he n e e d s a m an
O f s tr e n gth ; wil t thou be a bl e t o k ee p ord e r !
* A
r s ay i n g w as u s e d w i th r e f e r e n ce to th e D uk e of We i
s i mi l a
w h o d rov e w i th hi s f r i v ol ou s q u e e n t h e i n t i g u i n g N an tz e i n th e
A t
fir s t carri ag e an d m ad e h i s g u e s t K u n g T e f ol l ow b e hi n d
ns
th e s i g h t of t hi s s p e ct acl e th e p e op l e e xcl ai m e d (i n L e gg e s tr a
l ati on ) : L us t i n f ron t V i r t ue b e hi n d
C
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
‘
z
,
,
-
r
,
.
,
’
.
!
!
,
.
54
K
’
U NG F
U
TZ E
Woul d car e to hav e th e i r ci ties f ortifie d
By wall an d m oat but fu s e thei r heavy sp e ars
And s word s i n to the tools for tilling land
Th e i r fl ocks woul d graz e u n h armed without p rotec
t i on
I n open field s N 0 war would widow wives
And orp h an child r e n an d the r e d be n o chance
F or L u Tz e t o di s play his b ravery
N or f or Tze K u n g to be an orat or
,
.
.
’
,
.
H ui I p rize thy view as the m os t lofty
I s e e that thou ha s t s ou n ded all the depths
O f w i s dom ; th ou art fitt e s t to become
The tru e C ontinuator of my d octrine
I n e ed di s ciples men of di ff er e nt type ;
I need men of a li terary ta s te
A n d di p lomat s and men of s trength an d va l or ;
I n e ed i n s tructor s an d phil os op h e r s
Th e y all s h all be enl i s t e d in the cau s e
O u r ch e ri s h e d cau s e the cau s e of all man k i nd ;
B ut thou Y e n H ui art n eare s t to my heart ;
A n d tis thy l ov e w hich comp re he n de th a ll
All wisdom and all c oura ge and al l l e a rning
All oratory and diplomacy
C O N F U C I U S w al ks t ow ard t he door his dis cip l es
Y
en
.
,
!
!
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
.
,
on e it h e r s ide bow i n g w he n L i his s on
com e s f r om on e s ide u p on t he s tag e an d p as s in g
rs t
over in t he ce n t e r r eaches t he door fi
s tan di n g
,
,
.
my o n ly s on how d oe s it h ap p e n
That thou ta k s t pre ce de n ce before thy father !
H a s t thou n ot r e ad the b ook s of O d e s whe rei n
[ L i r e t u r n s s hakes his head an d bow s w it h a con
n ]
t r i te expr ess i o
Thou can s t become acqu ain ted w ith the spi ri t
!
s
O f ancient sages empe rors an d noble
They were disti ngui s he d by p rop riety
And strict l y cou rteous be h avior s on
They never woul d have taken precedence
L i,
s
on
,
,
’
,
.
'
,
,
.
,
K
’
U NG F
TZ E
U
55
Be f ore thei r bette rs nor b e f ore th e i r paren ts
R emembe r son and rea d the boo k s of O d e s
,
,
,
Li
s te
ps
.
.
his fat her an d t he dis
s ta
ys b e hin d
as ide an d al l ow
cip l es t o e n t e r
Li
.
H
.
e
s
.
[ S hak ing his head]
H e is a s age I doubt not ; he s a scho l ar ;
B ut he is always preaching m ora l izi ng
A n d ta l ki n g wis e ly
I am s ick of i t
I t bore s me i t an n oys me H ow s h all I
Find time to read the b oo k o f O de s ! I must
Be fili a l mu s t behave d ecorou s ly ;
I must obse rve ru l e s of p rop ri e ty
Th e re is no l e isu re le ft for a n ythi ng
E n t er an old man ( 0
w i t h his s o
n (S o
n)
P ray s ir is h e re the cou rt whe re I can fin d his high
honor the L o r d M i nister of Ju s tice !
’
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
.
.
0
M
.
.
,
.
,
,
Li
0
.
‘
Do you refer to K ung
.
M
.
I n d ee d I d o
u
Tze !
.
I f s o this is the place
his d eci s ion s
Li
F
,
‘
He re K ung F u Tze makes
.
.
S on
Father let u s go hence I f you will only be reason
able I wil l do what I can to s ati s fy you
.
.
,
.
,
0
.
M
.
Wh at you can ! N o n o I know wh at that means
Y ou sha ll d o what you must
You are my son and
you mu s t obey K u n g F u Tz e t e ache s filia l pie ty
and h e will puni s h you s everely i f he h e ars my c ase
Y ou mu s t su rre n de r comp l ete l y
I t is not sufficient
to do wh at you can
,
.
,
.
,
‘
.
.
.
.
S on
0
.
Fathe r l et us go back I am a f rai d
.
M
,
.
,
.
I wil l not go back I wi ll comp l ai n of you an d his
H on or wil l deal wi th you as you deserve He
wi l l p robab l y pu t you i n the stocks ; you r feet
and you r hands wi ll be l ocke d and you wil l carry
a p l acar d
Puni s he d f or l ack o f respect to his
.
,
.
!
,
56
K
U NG F
‘
TZ E
U
!
father or s om e thi n g li ke th at I w ill s en d y ou r
fri en d s to t he ma rke tp lac e to gaz e at you and you
w i ll be c o
m e a p u bl ic exam p le for the w hole t own
All y ou r n e ighb ors w ill gath e r arou n d you an d moc k
.
,
.
you
S on
.
Fath e r let
.
go hom e
us
,
.
N o n o!
I w ill h av e j udgmen t K u n g E u Tze
is a w i s e j udg e
H e w ill t e a ch y ou filial piety
He
can pu n i s h y ou k n ow ; he had b u t t o hav e on e crim
i n al e xe cut e d an d c r ime almo s t di s a p pear e d B ut
he had to hav e on e m an a r e al criminal , execut e d
M ayb e he w ill hav e y ou exe cu t e d too Thi n k O f
it
Th e r e ar e s o ma n y di ff e re n t k i n d s of crimi nal
I do n ot k now w hat man n er he would
p u n i s hm e n t
s e l e ct
Ther e are five k i n d s of ca p i tal p u n i s hmen t
‘
,
.
.
.
,
.
.
,
.
,
.
.
.
.
fa th e r
O
m e ou t
I can
I am n ot s o bad as you make
I hav e the b es t i n t e n ti on s I w ill do all
l et
,
.
go
us
.
.
.
0
M
.
Li
.
.
N o
,
no
Y ou
.
mu s t stay and h e ar j udgmen t
.
ill c all my father the j udge [ To t he fat he r ]
Y ou were here
H e k n ow s of y our ca s e do es he n ot !
be fore !
I
.
w
.
,
,
0
.
M
.
Y
! oh y es !
es
H
j udgme n t H e
an d come again
w e are
.
.
has heard u s b u t he di d n ot
s aid w e s h ould con s id e r ou r
S o w e h av e com e agai n an d
e
,
giv e
ca s e
here
.
Li
I will cal l H
.
S on
.
Father
,
Oh
,
l et
is
us
H onor
[E
.
go home
xit ]
.
o s ir ; you
mu s t s tay and hear your doom H is
H o n or the j udge will teach you a les s o n M ay be
he w ill s im p ly give you a flogging
,
n
.
.
,
,
.
S on
.
f ath e r w hat w ro n g have I d one to d e se rve auv
pu n ishmen t at a l l !
Oh
,
,
K
n,
so
'
U NO E
TZ E
U
57
!
Do you not k now that it i s ve ry
wrong to con tra d ict you r father an d to quarre l wi th
!
h im
Thin k of i t ! That is what you ve d on e
Y ou hav e q uarreled wi th you r fathe r wi th m e wi th
you r ow n fat he r !
Oh ,
so
n
’
.
,
E
,
r C ON F UC I U S f oll ow e d by mag is t rates an d his
S eats hi ms e l f b ef or e t he s cr e e n
The
dis cip l es
ol d m an an d his s on p r os t rate t he ms e l v es
n te
,
.
.
.
C
h ave come bac k y ou two to hear my j udgmen t
B ut I am l oathe to give i t I will wai t
Till ye am on g your s elv e s h av e p eaceably
Arranged you r q uarrels
Y ou
.
,
,
.
.
B ut s i r he is my s on
I am th e father of th is ob s treperou s boy
,
,
,
.
[ S l ow ly ]
I s ee you a re
I un d er s tan d that you
H ave e ducat e d this you r wayward ch il d
H e may be bad
B ut s ay who b e ars the gui l t
I f not the fathe r w ho has f ail e d to teach
H is s on the rule s of filial p ie ty !
M y j udgme n t is to s end you both to j ai l
A n d kee p you the re unti l you have ma d e peace
—
.
.
,
,
.
0
M
.
Wh at do you s ay you r H onor ! H ear I righ t !
D o you r e gard me guil ty me the fathe r
O f this my s on s great fau l ts !
.
,
,
,
’
C
I n d ee d
.
’
And I s hall punish you
A s him
e en
I do
as s e vere l y
.
0
C
.
M
Me !
.
.
.
,
Yes i n d ee d
i t s eems to me th is is bu t f ai r
,
And
0
M e the fathe r !
.
M
.
,
as
,
.
,
us go home you r H ono r : I be l ieve
I can persuade my son to bette r l iving
L
et
,
.
C
.
Go home an d do not da re to come again
,
Wi thout a goo d an d rea l cause
.
The j u d ges
,
58
K
A
’
U NO F
TZE
U
not in s talle d to hea r paltry comp l aints
Wh e re fathe rs are tru e fathers and whe re sons
Are s ons there is n o need of court s and j u d ges
re
.
,
.
E xe u n t old man an d his s on
.
M us icin
dis tan ce
t he
.
What do tho s e sounds porten d !
L
u
[ Going t o the door and l ooking
f e stive p rocess ion coming l ord I t
s eem s to me the mu s ic they h ave intoned is frivolou s
I n d eed the tune is f rivolou s Who is this company
o f female mi nstrel s !
M y l ord I know I see i t now These l a d ies are
the singi n g dam s e l s which the Duke of C h i ha
s sent
to ou r L o r d Ti ng the Duke of L 6
There are the
thi rty span o f horse s t oo O h how they p rance !
And here appears D uke Ti ng him s el f
I fear my hour has come I must withd raw
The D uke is s ick of vi rtue sick of me
S ick of goo d governmen t H ere is no longe r
A p l ace f or me I d better l eave the fie ld
To sport an d to f rivo l i ties to vice
To fiatte re rs an d to these s i nging d am s els
C r e tir es s l ow l y t o a cor n er of t he s tag e f oll ow ed
by his dis cip l es
The ar m e d bail iff of the cou r t
E n te r D U K E
The m us iccon ti n u es
s t ep s a
s ide
T I NG Ting) w it h r e tin u e an d s ing ing dams el s
’
I ll see , my lord
ou t ]
There is a
.
.
.
,
.
.
K u ng
.
.
,
.
‘
.
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
’
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
C hor us of dams e ls
:
Ta s te the s weets
L i f e can giv e ;
L augh and l ove
Wh ile you l ive ;
Taste the j oys
Which we b ri ng
While i n gl ee
M e rri l y
Songs we sing
,
.
K
’
UNO F
U
TZ E
59
Joi n u s i n ou r wa n ton play ! H i ho !
And enj oy l i fe whi l e you may H i ho !
.
C ON F U C I U S an d r e t in u e exe u n t
T Z E K U NG
main s on t he s tag e an d app r oaches t he D u ke
re
.
,
K u ng
.
.
D u ke Ti ng most R oyal H i gh n e ss hea r me s pea k
I have f or you some news of great importance
,
,
.
.
Ting
What can be more importan t than the b e auty
Th at now su rrou n d s us ! B ut s peak on Tze K ung
.
.
,
K ung
You r councilo r you r H ighn e ss K ung E u Tze
Who has done gloriou s service i n you r state
Will take his leave u n le ss the s e d amse l s go
‘
.
,
,
,
.
Tin g
!
I n dee d ! Th ink you th at K ung Fu Tze wi ll go
I sh a ll be g l a d to s o be ri d o f him
H e acts as my bad con s ci e nce an d he gru d ges
My every j oy i n l i fe ; an d me h e blames
F or eve ry mi s h ap eve ry acci d en t
When ou r ance s tra l temple b ur n e d he cl aime d
Th at my ancestors wer e en rage d at me
An d wou ld refuse me f urthe r he l p
They were
N o better than I am
And al l my neighbors
The D ukes of C h i an d Wei the emperor
At L O and al l the pri nce s enj oy thems e l ves
Why should not I ! And you my f rien d Tze K ung
Y ou shoul d be wi s e e n ough to u n d e rstand
That d ri n k ing vinega r i n s te ad of wi ne
I s not a s ign of vi rtue but of fol l y
C ome K ung and j oi n me in my gaity ;
Be my companion i n the place of K ung
‘
.
.
.
,
,
.
.
‘
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
K u ng
.
N o s ir ; I cannot I wou ld rather starve
Wi th K ung the s age than l ive i n O pu l ence
O n roya l bounties he re ami d these p l easu re s
S o fare you wel l ! We leave you to yo u r pastimes
.
,
‘
.
The dams el s again dan ce
.
.
6O
K
'
U NO F
TZ E
U
C h or us of dams el s :
Tas te the swee ts
L i fe can give ;
L augh and l ove
While you l ive ;
Ta s te the j oys
Which we b ri n g
Whi l e i n glee
M errily
Songs w e s ing
Joi n us in ou r wanton p l ay ! H i ho !
An d e nj oy li f e whi l e you may ! H i ho !
,
,
,
.
SC E NE I I
.
A Scene on th e R oa d in 49 7
,
on his
K u ng
C
t r av e l s
C ON F U C I U S is
.
.
gran d thi s scene ry of Tai S an
The mountai n range which separates me f rom L il !
H ow
.
,
H ow beauti f u l those cli ffs but d iffi cu l t
They are to travel th rough impervious to the foot
H and me my l ute friend K ung
.
,
,
C
.
.
.
,
K u ng
seen
He re tis d ear M ast e r
’
.
,
[ P l ay s l u t e an d in
p oe m of Tai S an ]
a me l odr amatic v oice
Would ri s e to t he lofty pea k ;
R avin e s and cli ff s d ebar
S o truth though ev e r near
Is to the se e ke r fa r
H ow weari some tom e
Those ta n gli n g mazes are
I sigh an d loo k arou n d
Th e s ummi t i n full view :
Wi th woodlan d s i t is crowned
And sandy patches too
.
.
.
,
,
,
.
i
r e ct es
t he
K
‘
U NO F
TZ E
U
Flow e rs they are of royal worth but here
They s ta n d unheeded
Such is the s age s f ate
,
’
.
[H
e
tak e s
p l ays
his l u te an d
H
.
]
s in g s :
e
So gently b l ow the val l ey breezes
With d rizzli n g mist an d rai n
A n d honi e w ar d b ound a st ra n ger tarries
Wi th frie n d s in a de s ert d omain
Blue h eav e n ab ove ! for all h is worth
I s there n o place for him on earth !
,
.
Th rough a l l the cou n trie s did h e roam
Ye t f ou n d he n o end uring home
Worldli ngs are s tu p i d and l ow
They naugh t of s age s k n ow
S o s wi ftly year s and days pa ss by
And s oon old age is d rawing nigh
.
,
.
,
'
.
A n alects I I I xxiv
,
,
.
.
A CT V
SC E NE
I
.
The G arden o f C on fuci us in 4 7 9 B C A tabl e
hai rs
w i t h a l u t e an d tw o c
I n t he backg r ou n d
a hous e f r om w hich C ON F U C I U S is com in g
H e
l ooks f e e bl e an d carr i es a s taff
D rag g in g his
s ta
ff he appr oache s t he tabl e an d s its dow n H is
app ear an ce is w or r ie d an d he l e ts his fi ng er s r u n
ov er t he l u te
E n t er T Z E K U N G
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
K u ng
.
My M aster oh my goo d belove d M aste r
,
H ow
C
did you pass the
n
,
ight !
,
M aster I though t
.
,
n
ee d e d s leep ; but
you
I d reamt il l boding d reams
have risen ear l y
.
-
.
K u ng
C
,
,
You
C
,
Tze K ung my f rien d
!
o
Why do you come s l ate
.
K ung
.
.
.
.
Y ou
are not we ll
A n d you we re re stle s s i n you r sleep l ast night
,
.
I d reamt th at I was s itting i n the ha l l
Between the centra l pillars o ff eri ngs
Before me as w as cu s tom o f the Yi n
Accord ing to the ancient ri tua l
The d ead was treated as a guest an d pl ace d
A b ove the ea s tern s tai rs b u t then the Yi n
R e garded him as ho s t and gues t at once
And s o they cofii ne d hi m between the pi l lars
Down i n the hall The C how t reat him as gue s t
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
64
K
SO
’
U NO F U TZE
’
now he s placed on top the w e ster n stai rs
I am a m an O f Y in an d I b e l ong
Betw ee n t he pillars in the hall Th at d ream
My time has come to die
Porte n d s the truth
.
,
.
.
K u ng
.
N ot
yet my M a s ter
,
.
.
L i fe has be e n a failure ;
M y s on is d e ad an d he accompli s hed naugh t
B ut wor s e w as t he be reav e m e n t w h ich I s u ff e red
Th r ough the d e mi s e of my bel ov d Y en H ui
H e w as too g e ntle for thi s world of trou b le ;
H is hai r
T O O k i n d , too n o ble and too wi s e
Bleached early , e re he reached his th i rty year s ,
A n d whe n b u t thi rty on e he p a s sed away ,
’
T is he
H e who s hould have succe e de d me
Who w as my be s t di s ciple S ince he di e d
I feel that h e ave n has rej ect e d me
.
’
.
.
-
.
.
K u ng
.
My d ear old M aster do
,
n
ot
s
pea k in gloom
.
I s p eak but as I f eel I n better day s
I u s ed to s ee whe n s eated at the ta bl e
At d inner time before m e at my p lace
The n oble cou n tenance of Y aoT i ;
And whe n I rai s ed my e ye s I plainly s aw
The great Sh u n on the wall
I have not se e n
The D u k e of C how i n d ream as f orm e rly
H e w as a b l e s s i n g in my li fe a s ou rce
O f comfort but I am as i f aba n do n ed
By all the s pi ri t s of the p a s t the heroe s
O f ou r anti q ui ty ou r a n cient cul tu re
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
K ung
.
are di s cou raged by d i s eas e good M a s te r
R e mem ber you ar e on e of ou r gr e at m e n
Y ou are a s age yea truly t he G r e at Sage
A s g r eat as any one amo n g the a n cients
Y ou
,
.
,
.
,
.
I d are n ot ra n k my s elf amo n g the s age s
N or w i th the m e n of p e r f e ct vi r tu e K u n g
I sim p ly s trive t obe a teach e r patient
,
,
.
.
K
A
A
’
U NO F
U
TZ E
65
d d i l ig e n t
I l ove the anci e nt s d e ar l y
n d am but a transmi tt e r , n o
t a ma k e r
The b e s t of me is but a compo s i tion
O f gr e ater o n e s that have p receded me
n
.
.
.
.
K u ng
.
You r d ecl aration p roves your mo d e s ty
F or certainly the great n e s s of the past
H as ta k en i ts a b ode in you
,
.
Yea K ung
This much is true that after great Wen Wang
H eaven reveale d the truth i n me : and heaven
Will not allow the cause of truth to pe ri s h
.
,
,
.
K u ng
.
The gl ory of the past will never d ie !
H ave you n ot left us trea s ure s everlasting !
Y ou have collected the five s acred s cripture s
And a l s o the f our books ; you have i n s tructed
I n y our great d octri n es many worthy men
.
E
n te
r K U N G C H I ( C hi)
fu cius
C hi
C
C hi
C
.
of C on
.
’
Your gran d fath e r s
.
K
.
t he g r an ds on
,
Do I i ntrude !
.
K u ng
'
‘
n
ot
we l l
.
ung C hi my gra n dchil d you are w e l come boy
,
,
,
G rand f athe r can you s pare me a few momen ts !
,
I m l i s te n ing my boy what is you r wi s h !
’
.
C hi
,
.
,
I wan t to hav e i n struction in you r doctri n es
I t is b u t p r ope r that a chil d s hould lear n
H is fathe r s trad e his bu s i n e ss or p rofes s ion
Why s hou l d I be excluded ! You r li fe s ai m
I s s o much grander noble r s o much highe r
Than th at of others All the more I s hould
Become proficient i n the work you do
.
’
,
,
’
,
,
,
.
.
Y ou
F or
till are you n g my boy bu t I con s en t
I f ee l co n fi d en t th at you w il l take
The p l ace of my d ecease d d iscip l e Yen
s
,
,
,
,
.
K
‘
U NO F
TZ E
U
My much beloved gre atly lamente d friend
,
Tze Y ii an
K u ng
,
.
Ta ke h e re s ome of grand father s books
A n d r e ad the m boy
Y ou may not care for thi s
The bo ok of R i t e s n or for the O des but he re
The b oo k of H i s tory w ill plea s e you surely
’
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
C hi
Tha n k you d e ar s i r
[ Tu r n in g t o C on f u cius ]
Th a n k you gra n dfather than k you very much
B ut I sh oul d al s o li k e to h ave the O d e s E e n i n the
b ook O f R i tes I m i n t e re s ted
.
,
.
.
,
,
’
.
’
.
G oes off
K ung
w
ith
t he
b ooks
.
Pos t e r i ty wi ll y e t hear of K ung C hi
The grands on of the gr e atest s age of C h i n a
And thou dear M a s ter wi th s uch a de s cendant
Do n ot expect
A s C hi shouldst n ot complai n
That thou can s t b e s uccess ful d uring li fe
F or while thou live s t j eal ousie s wi ll b e
The re will be p u n y mind s w ho gr ud ge thee honors
And i nflue n ce an d p owe r B ut do n ot be
D i s courag e d Th ine i deals are ete rnal
A n d they will live when thou ha s t pa s se d away
When al l the mortal part of thee is gon e
Thy truer sel f will gai n due recogni tion
Th ou wil t be greate r aft e r d eath dear M aste r
Tha n tho u ha s t b ee n in li f e an d emper ors
Will bow b e fore the grand divi n e d ee p truth
Which th ou h as t taugh t
‘
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
TZ E K A O
C
.
,
.
u ng
.
W e though t you and Tze
s
.
An d whe re is L u !
H as
to C
on f u cius
So unexpecte d !
L
u
we r e s till
I nde e d I was but managed to e scape
K ao
C
hu r r iedl y an d b ow
Tze K ao!
.
K u ng
K
e n ter s
in
Wei !
.
he remained i n Wei !
I fear the w orst Tze L u is b rave an d f ai th f u l
I always sai d that he w as n ot to d ie
.
.
.
K
‘
U NO F
TZ E
U
67
A n atu ra l d eath I know the state o f Wei
Tell me all you know
I s i n r e be l lio n
.
.
.
K ao
.
The rebel s gained an d I advi s e d the D u ke
To l e ave the capi ta l b u t he though t l ittle
O f my i n competen t advice
H e stayed
A n d with hi m L u
To tell the s tory b rie fly
The palace w as s u rrounded by a mob
To kill the D uke ; and Tze L u s tayed wi th hi m
H e ch arged h is enemies wi th fearless cou rage
F e lle d s om e b ut finally was ove rcome
Th e reafter fe l l the D uke h im s e l f
Alas !
Tze L u ! my noble b rave Tze L u ! But you
Tze K ao you escaped the rebels
P e rhap s
The mob s par e d me because I was too ugly ;
Th e y di d n ot deem me wo rthy of th e i r s teel
I am too i n s igni ficant an d dw ar fish
I am a puny fe l low and against me
E e n criminals are gen e rous an d ki n d
A n d n oble hearted
Some most e n viou s f e l low
Who having do n e gr e at w r on g was led b efore me
While I s till s e rved as magi s trate i n Wei
A n d I as j udge condemned hi m by the l aw
T o los e his l eg
N ow th i n k !
I on my fligh t
Was s uddenly conf ronte d wi th th at man
Y e a then I though t I had e s ca p e d i n vain
Th i s one legged s cound rel would surre n de r me
A n d ma k e m e die a martyr for the cau s e
O f law an d orde r
B ut th at he d i d not d o
H e r e cognized me greeted m e righ t ki nd l y
A n d poi n t e d ou t to me a safe escape
Said I to hi m : A n d don t you hate me then
B e cau s e I h ad you puni s hed !
N o s ai d he
F or y ou were j udge an d had to do you r d u ty
I n oticed the n he s aid the one l egged villain
Th at you we re not i l l willed as j u d ge i n cou rt
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
K ao
.
.
.
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
-
.
.
,
.
’
!
,
!
!
,
!
,
,
!
.
!
-
,
,
!
,
-
,
,
68
K
’
UNG F
TZ E
U
Th at you were loath to h ave the law en force d
You are in trouble n ow and might be slai n
I t w oul d not help me to delive r you
I n to the ha n d s of th es e b loo d thi rsty rebels
Flee th e n an d s ave you rsel f an d when you come
To L u greet K u n g Fu Tze your worthy M aster
M ay t he tim e come wh e n he the sage wil l b ring
Peace upo n e arth an d make m en wel l di spo s e d
.
,
.
,
,
‘
,
,
,
,
!
.
Thou art my good di s ci p le K ao Tze
An d p r ov es t true my doctrine s I am grate f ul
,
,
.
K ao
.
.
The on e legg e d man de s e rv e s your th a n k s not I
-
,
H e is a th i n k er an d he argued thu s :
The age is rotte n Th at is what he s ai d
R otte n he s aid The pri n ce s l ive for pl e a s u re
T he magi s trat e s an d j udge s are appoi n te d
F or flattery an d they ta k e b ri b e s ; and t ruly
There is no l aw or order in the world
H o n e sty d oe s not p ay an d crimi n al s
R emai n unpuni s hed That s the ru l e he sai d
A n d you al one
add re ss i n g m e he s ai d i t
A n d you alo n e mad e an e xceptio n si r
Wher e ver s uch a s tat e o f thi n gs p revails
There is n o u se in striving to be hone s t
Y es I di d wrong
A n d s o I wen t a s tray
And I d e s erve d the p uni s hm e n t you gave me
Y ou tol d me at the ti me an d I rememb e r
T he l e s s o n which y ou taugh t Je t villain s know
That ther e is law an d order i n the w orl d
That they can ma ke with ho n e s ty a l iving
Th at j u s ti ce will reward the good and pu n ish
The evil doe r then they will re form
I f I had l ived in orderly con di tion s
N or s e e n that villai n s tri um p h an d the good
Were s u ffe ri n g m e rely for th e i r me e k n es s sa k e
I woul d n ot h av e tra n sgr esse d the mi ddle path
That is the r e a s on ve n erable M aster
Why he believed in you
.
,
.
,
.
,
’
.
.
,
!
!
,
,
,
!
.
,
,
.
,
.
—
—
,
,
-
.
,
,
’
,
.
,
,
.
!
.
.
70
K
‘
'
UNG F
TZE
U
I f the strong b e am s will rot away
O n what shall I depe n d !
I f sages wi ther li k e the grass
From wh om shall I then lear n ala s !
,
C
My cou rse
is
run an d death is near at hand
I h ave grown o l d an d feeble The re s n o p rince
Will o ff e r me the place of h is advise r
M y doctri n e now is fi n i s hed
.
,
.
’
.
.
.
K u ng
Yea fini s hed s ir !
I t is completed but i t has not ende d ;
I t but begi n s Th e worl d will come to you
S i t at you r feet an d follow you r advice
I s ee as i n a vi s ion the wh ol e n ation
Wor s hip the sag e of sage s E mperor s
Wi ll b uild you te mpl es an d b ring off erings
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
.
C
Th ou art a comfort
.
to
me K ung my f riend
,
,
.
[ K u ng tak e s t he l u te again an d s ing s ]
I f all would goaway
I will n ot leave my M a s te r ;
Wi th him I m e an to s tay
Th rough s ic k ness an d di s a s t e r
Aye aye for s ooth
.
K u ng
.
,
.
,
Will stay unto the e n d
Til l death the cord has tor n
And as his nearest frie n d
Will at the tomb s ti l l mou r n
Aye aye for sooth
,
,
.
,
The re s t of all my l i fe s hall
Devoted to his memo ry
Aye aye for s ooth
,
H
be
.
,
of C ON F U C I U S s in ks g radual l y up on t he tabl e
The backg r ou n d op e n s an d
as if fal l in g as l eep
l ouds t he C on f ucian t e mp l e at
un de d by c
s u rr o
d
ea
,
.
,
K
'
U NG E
TZ E
U
71
app ears w it h t he s ag e s i mag e
The e m
per or K ao Ts u t he f ou n de r of t he H an D y n as ty
H e is offe r in g i n cen s e
is s e e n w it h r e t in u e
Whil e t he ce r e m on ies ar e i n pr eparation an d the
cel e br an t man dar i n s ar e m ar chi n g up K U N G ad
dr ess es C ON F U C I U S
K ii E
’
u
.
,
,
.
.
.
K u ng
.
M a s ter l isten
to
my prophecy
As i n a vision I beho l d the f utu re !
Thy do ctrin e will take root i n h uman heart s
The people flock to thee an d emperors
Wi l l honor thee wi th holy sacrifice
A dynasty a great new dynasty
Will actua l ize thy thought and i t wil l rise
O ut of the midst of s tur d y commoner s
O
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
[ Tu r n ing
t in nes ]
t o t he s ce n e t hat
has op e n ed K u ng con
,
.
’
There is a peas an t youth ; tis L iu Pang
G ood n atured a ff able an d much be l ove d
Amo n g the village rs of P ei L iu Pang
I s de s tined to accomp l i s h d ee d s of greatness
H e lead s his men to victo ry f or great
P ri n ce Hwai whose cau s e he has espou s e d but
heaven
R e s e rve d the th ro n e for the gr e at commoner
K nown to the world as E mpe ror K ao Ti
I s ee thee now before me P rai s e t o thee
F or exe rcising clemency for stoppi n g
The fu ry O f the troop s and teaching victors
S te rn di s cip l ine an d maste ry of se l f
G reat K ao p raise to thee for abrogati ng
The ol d barbaric penal co d e ; f or bei ng
H umane upon the th rone ! Thou comest to teach
The people cu l tu re Thou ha s t wisdom learne d
From K ung F u Tze I t is the M a s ter s spi ri t
That moves in thee and gui d e s thy gove rnmen t
I see thee now approach the s acred spot
,
-
,
‘
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
’
‘
.
.
72
K
’
U NO F
U
TZE
Where on the grave of the great s ain t a temp l e
H as been e rected
H ail K ao Ti ! H ail ! H ai l !
.
H
K u ng
er e
f oll ow s p er f or m an ce of r itual
.
[ Tu r n ing t o C ]
O K ung E u Tze this is th i n e after l i fe
See he re the ho n or give n unto thee
And liste n how an emper or of worth
The empe ror of bette r ge ne ratio n s ,
The victo r strong in arms and k i n d in peace
The foun d er o f a broad and gl orious cu l tu re
Devout an d pious will ad d res s thy s pi ri t :
.
.
‘
-
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
K ao Ti O K
.
ung illustrious and all complete ;
Thou ancient Teacher and thou p e rfect S age !
Ful l is thy vi rtue abso l ute thy d octrine
Among all huma n k ind there s n o n e th ine e qua l
All ki n gs rule r s and p ri nces d o th e e honor
S tatute s o f j ustice thou h ast h a n d e d d own
A pattern art thou u nto al l o f us
We w orship thee i n h umble reverence
An d fi ll e d wi th awe we s oun d ou r d rums an d be ll s
’
,
.
,
’
.
.
,
.
.
,
.