Analects 10.5
The Analects (論語), BOOK X. HEANG TANG 鄉黨第十
執圭、鞠躬如也、如不勝、上如揖、下如授、勃如戰色、足蹜蹜如有循。享禮、有容色。私覿、愉愉如也。
1. When he was carrying the scepter of his ruler, he seemed to bend his body, as if he were not able to bear its weight. He did not hold it higher than the position of the hands in making a bow, nor lower than their position in giving anything to another. His countenance seemed to change, and look apprehensive, and he dragged his feet along as if they were held by something to the ground.
2. In presenting the presents with which he was charged, he wore a placid appearance.
3. At his private audience, he looked highly pleased.
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 執zhíto execute; to grasp, to hold; to keep;
- 圭guījade tablet
- 鞠jūto bow, to bend; to nourish, to rear
- 躬gōngto bow; personally, in person; oneself
- 如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposing
- 也yěalso, too
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 勝shèngvictory; to excel, to truimph
- 上shàngabove, on top, superior; to go up; to at
- 揖yīto bow, to salute; to defer, to yield
- 下xiàbelow, underneath; inferior; to bring do
- 授shòuto award, to confer, to instruct, to tea
- 勃bóthriving, prosperous; sudden, quick
- 戰zhànwar, fighting, battle
- 色sècolor, tint, hue, shade; beauty, form; s
- 足zúfoot; to attain, to satisfy; enough
- 蹜sùwalk carefully
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 循xúnto obey, to follow, to comply with
- 享xiǎngto share; to enjoy; to benefit from
- 禮lǐcourtesy, manners, social customs
- 容róngappearance, looks; form, figure; to cont
- 私sīpersonal, private, secret; selfish
- 覿dísee; interview; be admitted to audience
- 愉yúpleasant, delightful; to please
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 10.4
- Art of War 3.17
- Analects 5.24
- The Great Learning Passage 14
- Analects 10.3
- Zhuangzi The Universe
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.