Analects 14.9
The Analects (論語), BOOK XIV. HSIEN WAN 憲問第十四
子曰、爲命、裨諶草創之、世叔討論之、行人子羽修飾之、東里子產潤色之。
The Master said, "In preparing the governmental notifications, P'i Shan first made the rough draught; Shi-shu examined and discussed its contents; Tsze-yu, the manager of Foreign intercourse, then polished the style; and, finally, Tsze-ch'an of Tung-li gave it the proper elegance and finish."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 爲wèido, handle, govern, act; be
- 命mìnglife; destiny, fate, luck; an order, ins
- 裨bìto aid, to benefit, to help, to suppleme
- 諶chénfaithful, sincere; surname
- 草cǎograss, herbs; straw, thatch
- 創chuàngto establish, to create; cut, wound, tra
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 世shìgeneration, era, age; world
- 叔shūuncle; father's younger brother
- 討tǎoto haggle, to discuss; to demand, to ask
- 論lùndebate; discussion
- 行xíngto go, to walk, to move; professional
- 人rénman, person; people
- 羽yǔfeather, plume; wings
- 修xiūto study; to repair; to decorate; to cul
- 飾shìto decorate, to adorn; ornament
- 東dōngeast, eastern, eastward
- 里lǐunit of distance equal to 0.5km; village
- 產chǎnto give birth, to bring forth, to produc
- 潤rùnfresh, moist; soft, sleek
- 色sècolor, tint, hue, shade; beauty, form; s
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi Horses' Hoofs
- Zhuangzi Perfect Happiness
- Hexagram 25
- Mencius 5B.2
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
- Zhuangzi The Evidence of Virtue Complete
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.