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QassA%5/?Book_
X2 S4z
^ wlS
m. ^ m m WLA COLLECTION OE
s*:
CHINESE PROVERBSTRANSLATED AND ARRANGEDBY
WILLIAM SCARBOROUGH,MWESLEYAN MISSIONARY, HANKOW.
With an Introduction, Notes, and Copious Index.
SHANGHAI:'
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION PRESS.London: Trubner andCo.,
57 and 59 Ludgate
Hill.
1875.
In
Exchange18
Yale Univ. LiDtMr 1907
Page.
7.
8.
139 Happiness. ----- 147 Given and 153 5.Life and Death.
-------160 Mourning and Eeputation. ---------- 163 ----- 167 Wine.
The SECTION IX.3.
-
-
-
4.
Injuries,
Sustained.-'
6.
Burial.
pleasures etc. of,
ON LANGUAGE.Chapter5>
1.
Conversation. ----------
2.Similes. 3.Words.
172 178 183
SECTIONChapter 1.
X.
ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT.2.
Laws and
Penalties.
Litigation.
3.Officers. 4. Officers.5.
Civil.
Yamens and Yamen Kunners. ----SECTION XLON MAN.
Military.
------------------------
-
-
-
-
190 192 196 202 204
Chapter
1.
Mankind.(1)(2)(3)
----------of,
2. Men.
Different sorts
Aged men. Bad men.Clever Men.
(4)(5)
Conceited Men.
206 208 208 211 215 218221
Deformed Men.Excitable and Anxious Men.-
(6)
-
-
223225 228
(7)(8)
Good Men.Hypocrites.
-
(9)
Kich and Poor Men. See Section on Wealth.
445
VIPage.(10) Stupid Men. and Mean Superior Men. (11)
(12)(13)
Young Mea. Women.Human,
-
-
230 235 239 241248
Chapter
3.
Nature.
(14) Miscellaneous.
-------XII.
--245
SECTIONChapter1.
ON MANNERS.
-----Bearing and Compliments. ---3.Presents. -----
EtiquettePoliteness.2.-
256
-
-
-
4.
Visiting.
of,
-
260 262 264
SECTIONChapter5J
XIII.>
ON MEDICINE.1.
Disease.
-----XIV.ON MORALS.
2. Doctors.
269 272
SECTIONChapter 1.
2. Good Works. Reproof and Good 3.
4Vices.(2)
Conscience.
---------Counsel.-
------284289 289 289 291 292 293 298 302 306 308
276 277
(1) Flattery.
Hypocrisy and Deceit.
(3) Ingratitude.(4) Meanness.(5) Quarrelling,
and Violence.
-----
(6) Selfishness. (7) Slander.(8) Stealing.
(9) Various.
Vll
Page.
ChapterM
5.
Virtue and(2)
Vice.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6.Virtues.(1) Concession
and Forbearance.
-
-
-
-
Contentment.
-
(3) Filial Piety.(5) Gratitude.
-------
(4) Generosity and Kindness.
-----
-
-
-
-
-
310 314 314 318 319 320 322
SECTIONChapter1.
XV.
ON PRUDENCE.
Caution.
------------------
5??5
2.Discretion. 3.Economy. 4.Experience. 5.Forethought.6.
?5
Imprudence.
_-.-.XVI.
326 332 339 342 345 349
SECTIONChapter5,
ON THE FIVE RELATIONS.1.
2.
3)
3.
4.3333
-------Prince and ------Parents and Husbands and Wives.
----------Elder and YoungerMinister.
Children.
Brothers.
5. Friends. 6.Various.
-----
353 356 368 379 382 389
SECTIONChapter1.
XVII.
ON RELIGION.
3.
4.
Heaven, God. ---------------2. and and Nuns. Rewards and
Punishments. -----orIdolsIdolatry.Priests-
392 398 404 408
Vlll
SECTIONChapter1.
XVIII.Page.
ON TIMES.
Seasons.
-----------
w
2. Time. 3.Weather.
-
-
414 417 420
SECTIONChapterfJ
XIX.427 429
ON TRAVEL.1.
Scenery.Travelling.
-----------
2
SECTION XX.ON WEALTH AND POVFETY,Chapter 1. Poverty. 2. Poor
Men
-----..----Poverty.
3.Kich Men.4. 5.
6.
Rich and Poor Men. -----------451 -------- 459 Riches
andRiches.
435 441 443 445
Miscellaneous,Index.
---------.. --------------
461 1
PREFACE.This Collection of Chinese Proverbs owesits
publi-
cation to the belief that there is room for a work of the kind,
and that such a work can hardly fail to be
That the ground is almost both useful and interesting. As far as
I can learn, the unoccupied is easily shown. small compilation of "
Chinese Moral Maxims " by Sir J. F. Davis, containing only 200
examples, published in 1823, and now for a long time out of print;
and the 441 examples contained in the "Proverbes Chinois" by P.
Perny m. a., published in 1869, are the only books that have ever
appeared on the subject. Add to these a number of scattered lists,
and especially those to be found in Mr. Doolittle's " Hand-book of
the Chinese Language," and we have all the previous literature of
this subject under our notice. The probable usefulness of such a
book as this I gather partly from my own experience, and partly
from the observations of many others. A knowledge of their proverbs
is of great value to all who are brought into contact with the
Chinese; it is especially so to the Missionary in preaching to them
and even to the general reader, a translation, however imperfect,
cannot be without its use and interest. In order that the present
compilation may prove useful to those who desire to study both the
language and the people of this great empire, I have spared no
pains in its;
preparation and I feel assured that any faults which may be
discovered therein, are not the result of over haste, or
carelessness.;
gIt
would have been easy
to have doubled the size
of this compilation, but I have deemed it wiser to publish only
a part of the proverbs in my possession. In doing so the reader s
convenience has been consulted ; and it is hoped that this
collection will be foundlargefor all practical purposes. In writing
sounds of the Chinese characters I have adopted Mr. Wade's system
of orthography and tones, being under the impression that that is
the one at present most widely known, and most generally admired.
In regard to the translations, it may be remarked that in a few
cases the vulgarity of the proverb has not allowed of a literal
rendering and that in many others I have refrained from translating
the Chinese by an equivalent English proverb, thinking that a
literal translation must be more interesting, while at the same
time it could not fail to call up to the reader's mind English,
French, or other equivalents. It will be observed that most of the
chapters begin with a
enough
out the
;
number
translations. As a principle, I proverbs rhyming in the original
think it right that should do so in translation hence I have
endeavoured so to translate all such as rhymed to my ear in the
Hankow dialect. The task has been anything but easy, and my
attempts at versification may be rough and faulty, but I hope they
will not be found unendurable. The Classification of proverbs is,
confessedly, a most difficult undertaking but, considering the care
bestowed thereon, I venture to hope that this compilation will be
found tolerably convenient and satisfactory as a book of reference.
In making this selection of proverbs, it was not thought fair to
exclude altogether
of
rhymed
;
;
Ill
few of these are adthe vulgar and immoral. mitted veiled under
free translations as the representatives of a class, which, so far
as my experience Classical proverbial goes, is not a very large
one. sayings are omitted, since they are well known to be
quotations from the standard works. My most sincere thanks are due
to Messrs. A, Wylie and W. Warrick, for their kindness in reading
the greater part of the proofs. Other gentlemen have aided and
encouraged me in different ways, and to them also this expression
of my gratitude is due.
A
W.S,Hankow. May8th 1875.
INTRODUCTION.Proverbial Philosophy,suffrages of all
nations.if
genuine,
commands
theis
By common
consent Asia
acknowledged to be the soil in which it grows to most perfection
and of all Asiatic countries, perhaps China above all others
supports and justifies the general Even a slight acquaintance with
the lanopinion. guage and people of this country is enough to
convince any one of its richness in the maxims of proverbial
wisdom. And the closer one's acquaintance becomes, the higher grows
our estimate of the value of an extensive knowledge of this branch
of native literature. By some, mere lists of proverbs may be
treated with contempt, and knowledge of proverbial lore esteemed a
light thing in comparison with skill in other bran;
ches of philology ; but the man does not deserve to become
proverbial for his philosophy, who can in any way discountenance
the study of the folk-lore of an empire like that of China. The
proverbs of China deserve a careful and enthusiastic study.
Naturally enough, the Reader will here expect to find some
definition of the subject of this essay. Definitions of proverbs in
general have not been attended with very great success ; certainly
they have Eay defines a proverb to not been very unanimous. " a
short sentence or phrase in common use, conbe, taining some trope,
figure, homonymy, rhyme, or According to Bohn, a other novity of
expression."
proverb is "an instructive sentence, or common and pithy
saying." The Imperial Dictionary defines a
proverb as "a short and pithy sentence often repeated,
expressing a well known truth or common fact, asThere are certained
by experience or observation/' few who are not familiar with Lord
John Kussell's " The wisdom of many, and the wit of definition
one/' And there are fewer who will not be glad to be reminded of
Tennyson's.
That, on the stretch'd fore-finger ofSparkle for ever."
"Jewels five-words long, all Time,
None of these definitions can be accepted as accurate,or
nearlyaccurate, descriptions of that
Chinese themselves call $$ ffc Saying. Chinese proverb is
something almost, if not utterly, indefinable. Of course it bears,
in several features, a strong likeness to other branches of the
family in various countries ; but, of " that sententious brevity/'
which is said to " constitute the principal beauty of a proverb" of
that brevity without obscurity, which is said to be the very soul
of a proverb, it is often totally lacking. Other features it has
which are peculiarly its own, and which impart to it a terseness,
beauty, aud symmetry, inimitable, at least in the English language.
In order that we may discuss the subject of Chinese Proverbs with
some degree of completeness, let us direct our attention to their
Number, Sources, Form,
which the J Su hua, or a Common
A
Qualities,
and Uses.
L-NUMBER.The numberof Chinese proverbsis
certainly very
great. In proof of this it is only needful to point to the
frequent recurrence of them in the conversation of the people. No
matter what may be the topic of conversation, a proverb suitable to
the occasion is very likely
Further proof of this is found in the readiness with which
almost any educated man can write off long lists of proverbs from
memory. And still further proof is afforded by the great number In
his " Curiosities of to be found in native books. Literature/'
Disraeli assigns to the whole of Europe 20,000 proverbs: China
could probably furnish an equal number. Nor should we look upon the
great number and frequent recurrence of such maxims as matter of
surprise ; for, there is some thing in the humorous and cynical
nature of proverbs, certain to recommend them strongly to such a
people as the Chinese. Besides, they are a people glad to be saved
the trouble of thinking for themselves, and therefore predisposed
to adopt the maxims of others who have, by common consent, been
esteemed wise men. Moreover, the writings of Confucius, Facile
princeps of China's sages, contain very much of that brevity and
sententiousness characteristic of proverbs in general. And there
can be little doubt that, of all language, the Chinese is best
adapted to such kind of speech.* Its marvellous flexibility enables
it to take any mould the whim of man or custom may suggest ; its
remarkable copiousness affords an almost unlimited scope in the
selection of words, its extreme conciseness fits it to express the
greatest number of ideas in the fewest possible symbols whilst the
peculiar construction of its written characters gives it a power of
playing upon words altogether unparalleled.!to be forthcoming.;
* See M. Julien's "Syntaxe nouvelle de la Langue Chinoise," p.
2, Mailer's "Lectures on the science of language, pp. 120, 322. f
For a good instance of this, seesertion in this place.
Maxfor in-
the proverb
number 2720 too long
Vll
ii.-sou:rces.The Foreign sources of Chinese proverbs have been,
up to this time, somewhat meagre. The subject could not fail to
attract the attention, and to excite the inForeign sinologues who
have written on few books have appeared, either very hence China on
the language or people, which have not contained some reference to
it, and a specimen list of proverbs.terest, of those;
lists in which the same exagain and again, there have only,
amples are repeated to my knowledge, appeared two small works
exclusively on this subject, namely, those of Sir. John. F. The "
Vocabulary and HandDavis and P. Perny. book of the Chinese
Language/' published in 1872, by the Eev. Justus Doolittle,
contains by far the greatest number of proverbs ever before
translated They into English or any other Western language. were
supplied by various paraemiographers, and printed, unfortunately,
with little or no attempt at classification or arrangement.
Beyond
these numerous
Turning to Native sources we find almost the same meagreness.
The proverbial lore of China remains yet to be written. Of the vast
mass of proverbs in existence, only very few, comparatively, have
been reduced to writing and printed in books. A few collections are
to be found, and many specimens to be met with scattered over
various works, but no book of any size has been compiled on this
subject. The reason of this is, probably, the low esteem in which
the literati are accustomed to hold all such publications. One of
the best and most popular books ofthis class is
the Chien-pen-lisien-wen (g ;$; ]), 'A Book of Selected Virtuous
Lore otherwise, and[
%
vmcalled the Tseng-kuang (jg Jg), or Collection/ Notwithstanding
Great this latter title it is only a small book of 22 pages,
containing about*
more commonly
350 proverbs. Its date and authorship are alike unknown. The
book itself is known to almost every one, and if we may judge from
a proverb which says " Who ever has read the Tseng-kuang is able
that
the Ming-hsin-pao-chien (BJJ >fr J| fg), "A Precious MirThis
work, not ror to throw light on the mind." nearly so colloquial as
the preceding one, is held in higher esteem by native scholars. It
contains about 430 proverbs, arranged in 20 chapters the compiler's
name, however, is withheld, and nothing can be learnedis;
it is duly appreciated. to converse*" Another collection of
proverbs, or as Sir Davis calls it, "a dictionary of
quotations/'
John
respecting
its origin.
f
.
proverbs are found scattered throughout the Yiirhsio (jyj Jj|),
or " Youths' Instructor/' an encyclopedia in four volumes, divided
into 33 chapters, containing much useful and interesting matter.
Beginning with a chapter on Creation and Astronomy, it runs through
almost every imaginable subject, stopping with a chapter on Flowers
and Trees. great number of very excellent proverbs may be found in
the Chieh-jen-i (fjft a work in two |5!if)> Tan An, volumes,
divided into eight sections, by x It has been published some time
during the present It is dynasty, and the latest edition is dated
1859. interesting a compilation in prose and verse of many things
on domestic duties, morals, and manners. The Chia-pao-cttiian-chi
(% H), or 'Complete Collection of Family Treasures', is a book out
of
Many
A
A
Hu
U^
* See proverb
number
5G7.
IX
which many proverbs may be gathered. It is a work 32 volumes,
divided into four collections: the first collection treats of the
fundamentals of Happiness and longevity the second, of
self-government and the government of a family the third, of
stirring men up to intelligence and the fourth, of
harmoniousin;
;
;
highly esteemed work is Shih THen-chi (^ 5c S), who published it
in the A6th year of the reign of Kanghi, A. D. 1707. The
amplification of theSheng-yu (jg fSfr),or'" Sacred Edict/' as well
as the Kan-ying pHen ({$ H), or " Book of Rewards and Punishments,"
supplies several The some may be said of the welluseful examples.
of Chu Pai-lu (^ ffi H), called Chuknown tractate The Household
Eules tzii-chia-yen (^ ? "If ), or of the Philosopher Chu/ But when
all the native literature on the subject has been gathered
together, it still remains certain that the bulk of the proverbs
current in the land, exist only in the memories, and on the lips of
the population.dispositions.
The author
of this
H
%
'
IIIFORM.Nothing will soonerstrike one
who examines a
number
of Chinese proverbs than the fact of their It may seem, at
first, as extreme diversity of form. tho.ugh there were no rules
shaping them after any
models whatever. But, just as to the eye of a skilful botanist,
the promiscuous growths on the sides of a shady stream fall into
ranks and classes, so to one who examines these proverbs with
ar'little care, they will be seen to class themselves together,
until, out of what seemed a perfect chaos, several orders arise.
The first and greatest law evident in the formation of Chinese
proverbs is that of Parallelism. Great
numbers of them take the form of Couplets. This may be accounted
for by the facts that couplet making is a favourite amusement of
the educated classes, andthat couplets, when well turned, are
objects of their intense admiration. Of these Couplet-proverbs
there are three kinds.
The(j
first^p),
and most important of theseThisis
is
the tui-tzu
or Antithetical Couplet.strictly technical rules.
formed accor-
ding totain
A
tui-tzu
may
con-
any number of words, but the most frequent number is seven in
each line. It must be so writtenthat the order of the Tones in
thefirstly deflected, secondly even,first line
shall be,;
and thirdly
deflected
in the second line, firstly even, secondly deflected, and
thirdly even ; or vice versa. Should the first, third, orfifth
characters violate this rule, it is of no
consequence
;
the second, fourth, and sixth cannot be allowed to do so. It is
essential also that the last character in the first line should be
in a deflected tone, and the last in the second line in an even
tone. The same characters may not be repeated in either line ; and
it is essential that there be an antithesis, as well in the sense
as in the tones, of the words composing the two lines of the
couplet. It is also a rule that particles must be placed in
antithesis to particles ; and nouns, verbs, etc., to nouns, verbs,
etc. The following example with be found to illustrate all these
particulars.*T^ien 1 shang 4 chung 4 hsing 1 chieh 1 kung3 pei
3
n isi
%
sk a
"The poor must
not quarrel with the rich; noris
the rich with magistrates." Another class of
couplet-proverbs
composed of;
such as rhyme. Of these there are a great many not seem which do
to rhyme to a foreigner and, on the other hand, he can hear many
rhymes where the native can hear none. The explanation of this
is>that in order to rhyme to a native ear, the tones must
correspond ; while a foreigner's ear catches the ring of the rhyme
through all such artificial distinctions.
One examplesome in*Hao 33
will suffice to
show how melodiously-
this class of proverbs can chime.1
n m -M y ~ ta pan m % # wa m hao % m Wu m %ao t ~ ta m m Wen 5c
* m a^bo 1
P^ieb 1 k^ai 1
tWg, 1 pu4
m. x
u3
*
yii
wo 3
hsiang 1 sbang* 1
m
170Pay yourDrinkcash and take your grogit off
and on you3;
jog.liao 3 chiu 4 tsou, 3r
% m Ksien1
cb^ien 2 *bou 4 cbiu
m m
cb
& Wt m
171Profits equally share
Losses equally bear.it Cbuan4 cien 2 kung1
m
%ofen15
cbe 2 pen 3 kung 1 jen. 4
m * & m
172Buyers are esteemed Goods mere grass are deemed.
KV
sliilr*
pao;
:!
hbsiao 3
m * taofi yin 3
ta. 4
178Throwa brick to allure a o-em, tiP'ao 1 chuan 1
m
beyii.
4
179j
A man without
a smiling face must not open a shop.
A, $k Jen 3 wu 2
m
It
hsiao 4 lien 3 hsiu 1 k'ai 1 tien. 4
W
t1
j
180Cheap things are not good4i
m"% pa * ^ n g Piena;
;
good things are not cheap.itf
2
4
shih 4 *huo
4
shib 4
huo 4 pu 4 pien 4
* m %i.
2
181The melonseller declares hisjk
melons sweet.
w
Mai 4 kua 1
m m sLuoti1
JK1
m
kua1 Wen. 2
30
BUSINESS.
182Seeing a rush don't pursue.Chien 4 k*uai 4
A
ft
Jt4mo
kan. 2
S
183After ten days' waiting above the rapids, you traverse nine
provinces in a day.Sbih 2 jih 4 tfan 1 tfou 2
may
+
a
it
m ^ tso,4
b
yi 1
jih 4 tsou 3 chin 3 chou. 1to
% m
Note. This and the preceding proverb point out the advantage by
patient perseverance in trade.
be gained
184Thereis
a time to *r$$
fish,
and a timeshai 4
to2
dry
nets.
bjih,
Ta 3 wang 3
4
m
wang 3
m m'
shih.
185Fuelis
not sold in a forest, nor fish on a lake.ffhsin, 14 *hu 2
shang
Lin 2 chung1 pu 4 mai 4
# * * *Great
m * pugreat risks.ta.4
4
as yu 2
myii.
2
186profits,
Li 4 ta 4
m * m * 18*7 It Nei 4 *hang 2 pu 4 shang4 tang. 1
192Whena steelyard hgok
ends are drawn
is beaten into a out straight.
nail,
both
its
Ch^eng 3 kou 1 ta 3 ting 1 liang 3 ctte 3Note.proverb
m
ft
*r
tr
m
st
ischih.2
The;
of iron wireis
steelyard nook in question is formed by bending one straight
piece straightened out again it assumes its former condition. Hence
this applied to one who is neither richer nor poorer for his
trading.
193Waresf
are4
good and bad33
;
prices his;hchia 43 1
and low.ti.1
m m m n m # ^o m yu Huo yu hao kao f 194tai
A man maymay
AWhenNote.
be more vigorous than his luck be more unbending than his goods.
SB. fr SS
;
or he
*
A
Jen 2 ch'iang 2 ming4 pu4 ch'iang; 2 jen2 ying4 huo 4 pu4(
3
g * W
ying. 4
195thereis
noli
fish in3 2
the river, shrimps are dear.2
*Ho 2
n & m n wuis
yii,
hsia 1
m yeh & *
kuei. 4
This
saying
sometimes applied to children, showing that daughters
are precious in the absence of sons.
19SThere
may
be trade to be done, and none able to do
4Sheng 1
III, A| wui
it.
IS2
4
yu 3
lu, 4
jen 2
lu.
4
197
What
the customer dreads
is
to be taken in.
32Mai 34
BUSINESS.
a ta % jen i 'huo n n k'o p'a 198ti1
4
2
4
shang 4 tang. 1
t
Bargaining
is
as necessary to trade as poling to a vessel.
Tsui 3 yao 4 cheng, 1 cfruaia 2 yao 4 chang. 3
199Beady money can buy anysa vt Hsien 4
& %
offieu 2
mai 3
^ M
tiling in
stock
sa *jthsien 4c
H"huo. 4
M
200Badsilver will
only buy old sow'sit3
flesh.
T
m * ? M # ung mai mu 201x
ft1
2
yin 2 tzii 3
3
cbti
jou. 4
He
sings for joy2
who makesf
a profit easily.3
m m t m m m m Te ya 202liao 3 pien 4 ts ai 2 elrarig 4
tiao.
4
When
one cheats up to heaven in the price he asks;to earth in the
priceo
you come downhs?c1
yout
offer.
it
Man3 Wen
chiang 3 chia, 4
m m m m m 'huan 203o
claiu
4
ti
4
2
chHen. 2
To
fatten the
mule and starve theIIlo2
horse.
BE
Fei 2 liao 3
T
?
tzu 3 shou 4 liao 3 ma. 3iii
T %o
Note. This refers to what is said to be common enough one
partner's fattening himself at the expense of another.
China, namely,
204Whocannot catchz> Pu'U'r
fishyir
must catch shrimps.3
nm 4 % myell
te2 bsia. 1
205In business1
^ - uan M * yao H Sbeng4i
one must be perfectlyft2
affable.
cluing 1
1
yi1 t
r
*ho 2
*cli^i.
4
BUYING AND SELLING.
33
I
206Every tradeSheng 1
;
i#i
lias its
ways.lu.4
4
207
ko 4
if yu3 tao 4
I i
He who can turn his hand to anything, has not the mind of a fool
and stock which never lies dead,naturally yields a profit.Jen 2
A U i ft i& T* M pu pien *hna hsin > * is m m s m *huo pu
sheng. 208to 14 41
4
clfiin; 3
4
4
t^ing 2 liu 2
li
4
tzii 4
1
There are customers for3 41
all sorts3
of goods.
s m * s % Pai 'huo chung par 209Tosell
k'o.
4
a coupie of cucumbers in three da)r s.35t'ien1
HSan1
.
fit
Hit
mai 4
liang 3 t'iao 2 'huang 2 kua. 1
H &
210Whenwaterrises vessels rise;
2
so rise1
marketTfr
prices.
* Shui
&3
ch'ang 2_
M ch'uan4
2
m,kao ; l
M & kaot'ai3
II
shih 4 chia. 4
211Highprices attract sellers1
from?
afar.
m m m m % Chia kao chao yuan k1
o.
4
212One word nowwill settle a bargain,
though
prices!
vary from morning to night.
Mu 4-p-
e
tsao 3
w wei n & t - yen , m m x m wan' puhsia 4yi 122
ting, 4
shih 2 chia 4
4
t
c
ung. 2
213Buyers andsellers dispute
over a single cash.
34peg3
BUSINESS.
_
W -^ n Mai mai
-&4
>rt>
rs*
cheng 1 *hao 2
S
fmffl]i.
2
21.4chia 4
Dispute the price, but don't dispute the weight.Cheng1
#
m
t* pu4 cheng1
^
2pp*ing. 2
215Buyingthenfresh fishfix
and vegetables examine them
first,
the price.1
m * * ** m Hsien yu2
hsiao 3 ts^ai 4
t*i
2
Ian 2 cho 2 chia. 4
216Hold back your goodsbe sure toftsell at
for a
thousand days, and
you'll
a profit.
Fang4
te 2 ch^ien 1 jih 4 *huo, 4 tzii 4
n *
b
i
&
.
yu 3 chuan4 ch ien2r
m m
m
j&shih. 2
217Ten thousand per centto one'sis
a cargo of wealth
and return
- * Yi pen1
home.3?2
wan4
. 4li,
man 3
1 1
-I
tsai 3 erh 3 knei. 1
I
218Forprofits as small as a fly's head, to
rush from east
to west.Ying1
tW
II
2
hsiao 3
% * pen * W tsouli,
4
1
hsi 1
4
tnng. 1
210Just scales andfull
measures injure no man.o
Ctfeng 3 p*ing 2 tou 3
m
3*
man 3 pu 4
m * m a
k^uei 1 jen. 2
220Don't buy every thing that's cheap, and you'll escape being
greatly taken in.
k^iflpu 4
Mai''
chin 4 pien 4
i * m i shang puyi 444
chin 4 tang. 1
BUYING AND SELLING.
35
221He whohas patience to wait for a shoal of catch small ones if
not large.Nai4 fan 2, teng 2ta 4 yti 24
fish,
will
m m m * m a m T> * * m pu k ^te 2 ch*un 2>i>lai 2
yti 2 tao. 4
hsiao 3
yii 2
lai.
2
222Ownbrothers keep careful accounts.Ctfin 1 hsiung 1
n
w & m % % ming suanti
4
2
4
chang. 4
223Eelations or not relations, cash per picul.
my turnips are three hundred4
n m pu * m m a * =. w m - st po san 224 Small trades make great
profit. * ft chuan * ft Hsiao shengChin11
chia 11
ch^in1 chia, 1
lo 2
pai3 ch'ien 2 yi1
tan. 1
3
1
i
4
4
ta 4 cffien. 2
225Even a dolt any one.will not sell
under cost price to favourffi
Ch%2
11
s
bamboo, but on nextIf2
bamboot*u21
sprouts.2 23
Pu4
1 ^ ^ fi 4 1 * ^ chin nien chu, yeh nien 235t'u 2 lai 2
sun. 3
A string of cash can but reach to the back of one's heel.Yi 1
cttuan 4 cMen2 ta 3Note.
cM 3:
chiao 3
?
hou 4 ken. 1a meretrifle,
This proverb says in
effect
The
sum
is
not worth
contending about.
CHAPTERCAPITAL.
II,
236Two menseeing eye to eye,
m
a - yi 1
Having money gold can buy: Without money, though he try, One can
but a needle buy.)&hsin, 1
Liang 3 jen 2
Yi 1 jen 2
- a ~ &yi 1
pan 1
yu3
fiiiitctfien2
k^an1 mai 3 chin: 1
,&.hsin, 1
pan 1
wu2
& m
ch^ien 2 k^an 1
i mai i
t3
chen. 1
237Small profits on large capital are after all great profits on
small capital are after all small.;
great
* * m >h h penPen 33
ta 4
li
4
hsiao 3
2
shih 4 ta: 4
hsiao 3
li
4
ta 4
2
shih 4 hsiao. 3
238profits.3
Great capital great
# * m * Pen 239ta 4li
4
ta. 4
You cannot
must have a couplecatch fowls.
trade without some capital. Lit. : You of grains of rice in
order to
Dt
Ch*a 4 chi
S.J M yeh 4 yao 2401
3
4
liang 3 k*o 3 mi. 3
*4
No one can sew without a needle The same. Lit. one row without
water. can no:^
:
# Fei
i\
*
1
chen 1 pu 4
31 yin 8 hsien
So:
$k4
wu 2
shiu 3
I *, * 7 pu
ta 4 ctfuan. 2
CAPITAL.
39
241Thoughboiled to ribbons theJou4 Ian 4Note.liao 3
meatkuo 1
is still
in the pan.
tsai 4
li.
3
Applicable to stockUnion
in trade, or capital in
hand.
242of capitalIWJ
is like
union ofIWJ
fate.
T'ung 2 'huo 3 pen 3 ju 2 t'ung 2 ming. 4
^
ft
in
fo
243Having capital to open an eating house, the most capacious
stomach.Yu3I
dread not
m m m mA
ctfien 2 k'ai 1 fan4 tien, 4
Bo x &pu4
p'a 4
ni 3
& * tu b mta 43
'ban. 4
244Kan 1
f#
dry finger cannotcbih 3 chia 3 t^ien 3
lick
up
salt.2
m
z> pu 4
jrch'ti 3
yen 2
m *lai.
245;
Without capital. Lit. : A farmer without an ox merchant without
capital.Chuang1chia 1
a
m m *. n * wu niu; k*o wu 24622
4
2
pen. 3
To get on without capital. and opens a mill.ik
Lit.
;
He2
picks
up grain
Chien 3 tao 3 mai 4 tzu 3
m & * m m m mok^ai 1
fang. 1
247To attemptgreat trade without capital. Lit. : With never a
single hemp thread in his hand, he thinks to make a dozen nets.o 3
bhou shang^ mu-
-?
A hsm
1
a n - ft s m ken ma u hsiang - m m m is + erh ku wang.te 2 yi
11
2
hsien, 4
li
3
3
ta 3 sbih 2
4
3
3
CHAPTE E
III.
DEBTS, CREDIT, BORROWING,
AND
LENDING'.
248MyOncapital's small
andI
profits slender,
credit3
myli
goods4
can't surrender.cftien44
# * m Penhsiao 3
m.4tse,
x n & x pu 249she 1te.;
2
Lend the man money if you have it to spare And if you have not,
to be civil take care.Yu3It is
;
m m
ctfien2 chiang 1 cffien; 2;
*
i.
wu 2
i i
ch*ien 2 chiang 1
Mm
yen 2
250
not considered debt when the interest has been paid Nor when the
principal's paid back can a charge of fraud be made.si *Huan 2
7
-
?ili
4
pu4 wei 2
* Xo a * * a *huan pen pu wei 251ch^ien ; 423
it2
4
p*ien.
4
You borrow myBut through the up to dry.ftChieh 4 Ban 34
umbrella,
;
to
thank
me
do not try
;
night, I'd ask you, please,
hang
it
% m m wu yuog
.4
hsieh 4
4 chih 3 yao 4 liang ko 4 yeh. 4
k kpass.li
a*
a *
252Iron or brass,
Let nothing
Note.
This proverb
Shih 4 tfung 2 shih 4 t%h, 3 yao 1
3
yi 1
p^ieh.
1
advises to take whatever can be got of a debt.
253
Better take eight hundred than give credit thousand cash.Ctfien
1 she 1 pa 4 ju 2 pa 1 pai 3 bsien. 4
for a
^
Mi
*
jn
A
"S"
m
DEBT, CREDIT, ETC.
41
254Credit cuts off customers.She 1 chang 4 tuan 4 chu 3 ku.
4
I i
255!
1 i I
We
can deal with readycredit
money customers
;
those
who
want
mayr
spare their breath.
Hsien 2 ch ien 2 chao 4 ku4 ; she 1 che2 mien 3 yen. 2
n m
h.
nr
25S
Better twenty per cent on ready money, than thirty per cent on
credit. /She 1 san 1
^ p m & h pu ju42
hsien 2 erh. 4
257Debt oppresses man. Lit. : The character chHen (debt) presses
on the head of the character jen (man).Ctfien4 tzii 4
A I X ? i jenya 12
'
tfou, 2
Note. This ingenious play on the word ch'ien, will be readily
appreciated on an inspection of the way in which that word is
written.
258'I shall easily
get over this year's famine
plenty
it will2
but in be hard for you to meet me.;
my
^Huang1Note.refuses to lendit.
jiien
yi 4
te
2
ko 4
;
shin 2 shou 1
nan 2 .chien4
jen. 2
Said by one in low water,
who
wishes to borrow money, to one
who
ffi
259-If
If
any one wishes to enjoy the good will of his kind, let him sell
on credit and never collect the money.Shih 4 shang 4 jo 4 yao 4 jen
2 cluing 2 *hao, 3
ftshe 1
ctfii
m m A MK wu * Tbuo tt M M m mo ch u 260'
4
4
4
4
?
3
ctfien.
2
One year borrows another years
food.
42St Yin 22
BUSINESS.
niert
* $ JftSC
chih 1 liao 3
P mao 3
nien 2 Hang. 2
261Hewilltfcffl
m
even lend the plinths of hisSi
pillars,
it
51
ft
A
Tan1
tao 3 chiu4 t'ou 2 pa 3 sang 3 tun 1 chieh4 jen. 2
262He whochecks his appetite avoids debt.Jen 3
& m
t>
tsui 3
pu4
clfien4 chai. 4
%
$
263To lend without prospectthrowa fleshyof
repayment
Lit.
:
To
Tiu 1 jou 4 ku 3 ta 3 kou 3 tzu. 3
$**#&?264:
bone at a dog.
The same. lings you
Lit.
If
will lose
you pelt dogs with meat dumpall and get nothing.ch'ti4
Jou4 chiao3 ta3 kou3 yu3
wu2
lai.
2
.265Urgedto
pay he resembles a
tortoise.1
Pi 1 te 2 hsiang4
m,
m
ft
wu1
& &kuei.
Note. This very uncomplimentary saying indicates the difficulty
(experienced more particularly as the ftew Year approaches) of
meeting with a debtor. Like the tortoise when assailed, he draws in
his head, and hides himself.
266Hecannot pay his debts. Lit. ; If I kill him he has no skin
if I scrape him he has no flesh.;
Sha 1
8*
tV wu 2
ft
&
#op*i; 2
kua 1
n
fttfa 1
as
wu 2
jou. 4
267Nofear of dishonesty;
the only fearj?>
is
of penury.
ta
*Fo;
tstlie
Pu 4Note.-
p*a 4 chien 1
chih 3 p*a 4
& m mu2
clfien. 2
Payment may
be compelled in
one case, not in the other.
DEBT, CREDIT, ETC.
43
268WhenNote.sons.
the
man
dies the debt
is lost.
AThatis if
*E
Jen2 ssu 3 chai4
m
Ian. 4
he leave no responsible persons behind, such especially as
269Ason pays his father's debts, but a father will not recognise
a son s.
Fu4
chai . ft x * & m huan, chai fu pu 2704
tzii
3
2
tzii
3
4
4
4
chih. 1
Eather check your appetite than get into debt though penniless
be patient.Jen3 k*ou3
;
and
privers
mo4
n
ft
is.;
ch cien4 chai 4
m m wu2
ch*ien 2 ch*ieh 3 nai 4 fan. 2
K m m
271As thepour their waters back again into theis
sea, so
what a man has lentShui 32
returned to him again.*hai,3
* m yuan
beliu2
ch^ang 2 chiang1 kuei 1 ta 4
fa
3cchiao 1?
wu4
a m * m m w chu i a huan2
chin 4
3
jen.
2
272Lendto one
who won t
repay,
and
you'll
provoke his
dislike.Chieh 4 chHen 2 pu 4
a * huan s s k chaoc
2
fan 3
1
kuai. 4
273For criminals there are prisonsprisons for debtorsChih 3 yu3
fan 4?;
where are thereift
k whim
3ii
tsui 4
m
w.ti1;
na 3 yu 3 kai 1 chai 4
m w
ti
m %ti1
lao.
2
274If
you owe a man anything thereingoften.
is
nothing like see-
44
BUSINESS.
Cffien 4 cbai 4 pa 4
k
m
t>
ia
ju 2 cb*in 2 chien 4 mien.4
m
je
n
Note.
By
this
means
it is
it
supposed you will keep him in good temper.
275&. 4yi,
It is easier to
capture a tiger on the mountains, than to ask for a loan of
money.Sbang4 shan1 cbo 1 *bu3
m u
k^ai 1 k^ou 3 cbieb 4 cb*ien 2 nan. 2
m n
mmtear
276To borrowof one to
pay another.ntcb*iang 2
Lit.
:
To
down
an eastern to repair a westernib,
wall.
sc
ftpu 3
wbsi1
atpi.3
Cbe 2 tung1
CHAPTEEFRAUDS.
IV.
Chia 1 chia 1
277;
Dealing in smuggled wine is very much in vogue Who does so
undetected is the clever rogue.
m nIf
inai 4 ssii 1 chiu 3
% %
Mo *;
IB
pu 4 fan4;
shih 4 hao 3 shou. 3
% U
3-
278you get taken in say nothing aboutShang4 tang1 mo 4it.
s m & &2V9
tso 4 sheng. 1
With money
m * m Chiang cMen pu mai 2BO1
in your
hand don't be takenft3
in.
2
4
shu. 1
You mayarticle4;
a small quantity of an adulterated but you cannot buy a picul of
the genuine.sell
m n MaiThe
~
te 2 sari1
% nIgfi1
Qrf
chia
;
mai3 pu4
u m m x n ~ tante 2
yi 1
4
chen. 1
281priest5fe
may run
away, the temple cannot.T> pu4liao 3 miao. 4
Tsou 3
3 liao3 *ho 2 shang, 4 tsou
T
ft
o
T m
Note Said of men, who, trading in their native places, where
their shops or houses are situated, are in no danger of running
away.
282I shall
only be taken in this once.
p
Ch'ih 1 k'uei 1
m m m - m cbe 283chili34
yi 1 Tiui. 2
If you try to dye a
you must bear the unfavourablestanders.
genuine red with spurious colouring, criticisms of by-
46
BUSINESS.
Chia 3 yen 2 jan 3 chiu 4 chen 1 *hung 23
n i i m m & b A 4 M # yeb p'ang jen shuo 284pei 4
114
se,
4
ffc
2
2
1
shih 4
fei.
1
To stand underte2
a tree waiting for wind..
$ a m t teng # n shu Chan4
hsia 4
2
feng. 1for
Note.
This proverb
is
said to be
aimed at those who meanly wait
an op-
portunity to defraud others by specious offers of worthless
services.
285Ma 3
Ignorant of the jetties to pretend to be a porter.
m m wei * chao $t*ou 24
ft3
tao 3 chiu 4 tfiao 1
$ %
ft2lo.
286To pretendthat the house leaks in order to defraud the
landlord of his rent.
ftChieh 4
wu1
a a m m m lou4
p>Shao 3
yi 1
ib,ko, 4
tuan 3
& ~ myi 1sui.
CHAPTEE290
V.
PAWNING AND SURETISHIP.
Who consent as middle-men or sureties to behave, Accept
responsibilities which are exceeding grave.Tso 4 ehung1
m *
fit tso 4 pao, 3
.
&
tan 1 tai 4 pu 4 hsiao. 3
*
>h
291Donot be surety for one in custody, or for another man's
debts.
Kuan1 pu4 pao 3Note.
t
7*is
%
jen, 2
K:
ssu 1
U pu *
ftpao 3
4
chai. 4it:
ft
u He thatis
surety for a stranger shall smart for
and he that
hateth suretiship
sure."
Prov. 11
15.
292To besurety for the arrow.
bow means
being surety for the
Chao 1 kung1 ju2 chao 1
m h m m m293
chien, 4
Redeem one pledge with another, in pawn.
rft
still
that other
is
t * & tang * tang Tang tang 294'
"
"
4
4
ti
2
4
4
h
i ya 1
;
ts*ai 2
% m m % m chu3
J^ai
1
tieh 3 tang. 4
297The axewood.strikes the chisel,
and the
chisel enters the
Fa3Note.the debtor.
I
IItta3
tso, 2
I
,tso
$ A mu. I ju2
4
4
The axe represents
the creditor, the chisel the surety, and the
wood
298All middle-men prompt you to increase your offer where is the
middle-man who will assist you withhis
money
?
Chin 3 yu 3vna 3
k w m m w & chm m yu3
2 t^ien 1 ch^ien
chung1 jen 2
t^ieh
1
c
ien
2
* *
a a
;
chung 1 jen 2 ?
299He whobility.
can recommend another has great respecta-
Chien 4 cbu 3 mien4 tzu 3
m w ? *'
ta.
4
300"
A man
is
better than a pledge."
Tang4
*
'A
jen 2 pu 4 tang 4 wu. 4
* * 301
ft
" Middle-men hear no responsibilities
;
and31
sureties
pay no debts."Chung1 jen 2 pu 4
* A
T>
t/iao 1
m
So tan1
302 1
;
pao 3 jen 2 pu 4 *huan 2
A *
;
Stctfien. 2
The middle-man
settles the bargain. Lit.
:
The words
drop from the middle-man's mouth.*Hua4
+ A m $ chung jenlo 4
P2
k*ori.
3
DEBT, CREDIT, ETC.
,
49
303Afirm-shouldered surety.Ying 4 chien 1
w n m 304ti1
pao. 3
You may bePao 3Note.
surety for a general's going into battle can you be surety for
his coming out ?
;
% m
4 1 te 2 chiang cbiin 1 chinis
s
Mo;
pao 3 te 2 chiang1
% % m;
chiin 1 ch^u 1 ?
% m
This proverb
of general application.
305Selling land sell the house on it man to settle your
bargain.
and
invite a middle-
Mii 1
I. maj chWchi 14
Ifc5
ch jng 3 chung1 shuo 1 loot
#
Wt
&
CHAPTEETRADERS.
VI
30SAll unskilful fools,
Quarrel with their
tools.'h * * ? m x pu4
ffc
T>
ftchiao 4
A * w pu ming.4
f
:
2
467Teach your descendants the two proper roads ture and
farming.Chiao 4 tzu 3 sun 1 liang 3
2
litera-
m * u m
?
m
je
e&
t
4 iao 2 cheng 4 lu
m tu m wei m wei2
2
keng. 1
468Teaching sons and grandsons, mind you teach them a trade
plant the sang and the che, but not many:
flowers.
EDUCATION GENERALLY.
77
Chiao 4 tzu 3 chiao 4 sun 1 shun 4 chiao 4tsai 11
m ? m m m m m m sang m m m >p %z $i
4
:
tsai 1 che;
4
shao 3 tsai 1 ^hua. 1
Note.
The
sang
is
the mulberry
and the che, according
to
Kanghi, a
species of the same, the leaves of
which are
also used in feeding silk-worms.
469Superior
good without instruction medium men are good with it but low
fellows are badare;
men
;
despite of
it.
t> Shang4 teng 2 chih1 jen 2 pu4 chiao 4 erh 2 shan
4>}
m 2 a
chung1 teng 2 chih 1 jen 2 yi 1 chiao 4 erh 2 shan 4hsia 4 teng
2 chih 1
f
mm t t A- | Ifjen 2 chiao 4i1
;
;
pu 4 shan. 4the highest order;
Note. The
first
of these are called
Jgj Sages of
the second
j^> Sages of the second order; and the third
470:
j^
?
the stupid or worthless.
The youthful student must carve and grind he must not complain
at the amount of instruction his Teacher gives him for nothing can
be made of yellow gold until it is hammered and the jewelled; ;
sword
is
useless until
it is
sharpened.4
1 I S tu shu yao m m ft % m yen x tt n % & pu *huang nan m 4
m m tun n# yeh pao$}>J*
Tu 4
hsiao 2
2
1
hsiu 1 *hen42
2
shih 1 chiao 4 hsiin 4
chin 1
4
ta 3
2
3
chien 4
4
shih 2
I I mo m % % 3? ch^eng m m yao mo.cho 22
;
to 1
:
2
cr/i 1
;
3
4
2
t
CHAPTEE471The scholar who wishes
II.
EXAMINATIONS.
FromTu 2
all tiger1
his M. A. to gain, drawing must henceforth refrain.rt4 4
m wang m shu m chung ^ $ ^ pu4
chii, 3
k*o 3 *hua 4 lao 3
t f ^
*hu. 3
Note. That is, he must refrain from drawing up indictments, a
practice by which many B.A.'s extort unlawful gains.
472At eachEachof the Chancellor's examinations, held twicein
three years,literary, military, old, or
young, candidate ap-
pears.Hsiao 1 hsien 4 san 1 nien 2 liang 3sui423
Note. u At each,"ring the B.A.;
# m h f m m m m wen # wu % * >h KVta 4 hsiao. 3Jc*ao,i.e.
k*ao, 3
at the ^Jf
^j
k*o
or examination for confer-
degree and at the JH sui k*ao, an intermediate examination, at
which all B.A.'s are bound to appear. This examination bestows no
degrees, and is only held in order to keep an eye on the studies of
the graduates.;
473:
Yearly examinations scare the B. A. Hay time scares the farmer
in much the same way.Hsiu 4
m tts*ai
is2
p
a
final,
denoting completion or conclusion
"jPf >
an
initial
All others are shih-tsu or " real words." This is tH the
principal, if not the only grammatical distinction common amongst
the Grammar forms no part of a native scholar's education. And,
though Chinese. not he correct to say that there is no grammar of
the Chinese language, it f have no grammar of it. is certainty
correct to say that the Chinese themselvesalso an exclamation.
STUDY.
93
548Every character must be chewedTzu 4to get out its juice.
as ^ yao ^ tzu s yao 5494 43
it
ch'u 1 chih 1 chiang 1
m $lai.
2
Study thoroughly and think deeply,f*Shou 2 tu 2 shSn 1
H U Sssu.
1
550Learning cannot be gulped down. swallow dates whole.
Pu4Lit.:
Yon cannot
7
neng 2 *hu 2
Si
S.liin2
run1
f I
tsao. 3
551
The student must not listen to chatter under his window he must
with undivided attention study the;
Liang 3 erh 3 pu 4 ting 1 cfruang1 wai 4 shih 4yi 1
M S *
13
W
*h
ff;
Lsin1 chih 3
tu 2
an 4 chHen 2
shu.
1
552He whoburns his lamp with the cocks at five,till
three o'clock,
and
is
up
is
a resolute student indeed.chi,1
San1 keng1 teng1 *huo 3 wu3 keng14
H I 1 ^ i s I se. i nan i a m n erh chengshih 422
li
4
chih 4 shih. 2
553Your study goes on11like a flowing stream.ffi liu 2
Tu2
m
in
shu 1 ju 2
shui. 3
*
554Good students resemble workersShan4 in hard wood.niu. 4
# *
in
hsiao 2 che'2 ju2
kung 1 chien 1
& m *
94
EDUCATION.
555Bethousands of gold.
worth4
diligent in study, for every character is
Tu 2
m shu m yung m hsu * m * & n # - tzu11
4
i*
yi 1
chih 2 ctfien1 chin. 1
556To amass gold bystanding of the4
millionsclassics.4
is
not like a clear under-
1 I # f wan Chichin 1 cffien1
lo ^liang 3 ,
pu4 ju 2 ming 2
mjhsiao 2
chieh 3 ching1 shu. 1
I i
557Knowledge comes by study, ignoranceneglect.
follows
its
Jen2 hsiao 2
shih
3
chih 1 tao 4,
pu4
558All pursuits arelearning.Shih 4 chien1
i
4
wang 3 Jan. 2
mean4
in comparison with that of
m % t wan m pan s fi m m !i m # yu shu1
chieh1 hsia 4 p*in 3
;
ssu 1 liang 2 wei 2
3
tu 2
1
kao. 1
559Some study shows the needof more.
m Hsiaoflavourless.
as2
jan 2 *hou 4 chih 1
&
to
T> pa4
tsu.
2
560Three day's neglect of study leaves one's conversation
5San 1
jih4
.p
pu4
7 i t t i m tu shu yen wu2 1
yii 3
2
2
wei. 4
5S1By eating we overcome hunger; and by study ignorance. jy p *
Mo m m &4 &3.
I3
chW
yii 4
chi 1
;
i
3
hsiao 2
yii
yii.
STUDY.
95
562In
studyfix your mind on the Sages on your prince and country.
;
in office-
w m t wei kuanPJI
*w *&1
Tu22
shu 1 chih 4
ffi tsai 4
a
sheng 4 hsien 21
hsin 1 tsHin 2
s s # chun
;
kuo. 2
563You may studylearn.
to old age
and yet have things
to
Tso 4 tao 4 lao 3 hsiao 2 pu 4
m m % m * t 564and know howtohsiao 3
liao.
3
Eead ancientones.up
essays
compose modern
*-.*
Tu 2 ku3 wen 2Learning dyes aor black.
m $565
fit
te 2
tso 4 shih 2 wen. 2
n x
man more$k
than the colour vermilionik ftyii2
Hsiao 2 chih 1 jan 3 jen 2 sheng4
*
z.
a m 566
tan 1
ctfing. 1
m
Learningwhere.
is
a treasure which follows
its
owner every-
Shu1
m # m shen % z * 567nai 3 sui 21
chih 1 pao. 3
In learning there is neither old nor young intelligent takes
precedence.Hsiao 2
;
the most
* M wq
2
M
\;
lao 3 shao 3
m % M %fa 2
568mostintelligentHsiao 2
che 2 wei 2 hsien. 1
In learning length of study goes for nothing; the
becomes master.Sich*ien 2 *hou 4
n m wu
2
&.
;
& m m m weita 2 che 32
shih. 1
96
EDUCATION.
569Past and present times supply unlimited stores of knowledge,
but a man's capacity is limited*
Ku3yi 1
4> * 8 3R ? 7 i?4
* m yung * is shao m m fang Shu $ & m kuo a % & mtao
4shih2
fr
than his destiny.
Hsin 1 kao 1 ming 4 pu 4 kao. 1
M
fo
^
Bfi
673Plant flowers with care, and they may never grow stick
willows in carelessly, and they may yield apleasant shade.:
% m m & & * s pu *& 9k W W J* m wuYu 32i
4
tsai 1 ^hua 1 ^hua 1
4
fa, 1
ffi
hsin 1 cfra 1 liu 3 liu 3 ch^eng 2 yiu. 1
674The more[
more I miss the mark what have I to do with fate ? The more I
miss the mark* the more I study what has fate to do with me ?I
study, the
:
:
114
FORTUNE.
i I I ^ M x * I Yueh pa chung yueh444
+o4
ft;
&ch*i2
in
foim
fa?
Yueh 4 tu2 yueh4 pu 4 chung4
yao 4 tu^
i%
wo 3:
ju 2 ming4 *ho 2
ft ming4
&ch*i
2
ju 2
wo 3
i*ho 2 ?
Note. This saying of the ancients in flat contradiction of many
of the preceding proverbs means u that the decree of fate does not
violate the liberty of the human will, or impose a necessity on man
to act either in one way or in another." Milne. Sacred Edict, 2nd
edition, page 125.
675Menare
:;
good or bad according to their conduct and their misery or
happiness depends on themselves.Shan4 o 4
# &
bs
a
fk,;
sui 2 jen 2 tso 4
*huo 4 fu 2 tzu 4 chi 3 chao. 1
m m
i
a
ta
Note.
This proverb,
as well as the preceding one, shows that the Chinese are
not, at all events, consistent necessitarians.
evsThe man
^ m
can, but his fate cannot.
ft Jen 2 nng 2 ming4 pu 4 neng. 2
a m
677Fate. Lit.:
The abacus
in the temple of the city-god.
Ch^eng 2 *huang 2 miao 4
m
m
m m suan m mti1
4
p*an. 2
678"Ifit
be
myft
wealthPi
it
won't go
;
if lie
be
my
son
lie
won t
die/'
Hsi 4 wo 3Note.
%
not but still he refused to believe. So this devil said he would
kill his first-born son. u Well he might do." After he had done so,
as he thought, he came again to see if the gentleman Still no So
the devil killed a second youth. but still he did not. believed
change appeared in the philosopher's incredulity, and he threatened
to kill a third. The devil, however, now grew nervous, and did not
or could not kill that one, who was the real son. Hence the saying
" if he be my son he will not die."It is said
;
tf *o ffi pu 4 ch^ii4 hsi 4 wo 3 tzti 3 pu4 szu. 3 of Fan Wen
Cheng Rung f^ 3C IE 5^? tnat he didts^ai2;
* * ;
believe in devils.
One came
to
him and questioned him
G79One's every glass of wine and every predestined.slice of
meat, are
Pei 1 chiu 3 k^uai 4 jou 4 chieh 1 ch ien 2c
% m m & m
m %ting.
4
FATE.
115
S80Wife, wealth, children, pay, areCtfi 1 ts&
is
true
and
k
kV
3p & m949
niang 2 chen1 hsin 1 shih 2
t mi.
4
A
is
daughter-in-law's mourning for her mother-in-law purely
hypocritical.Hsi 2 fa 4
i i
kV pV
5?
m 1 I po 950c
'ft
.
AS
Mi.
2
chia 3 chHng 2 chia 3
4
A
son-in-law's
mourning
for
his
mother-in-law
is
short
and
fitful.
Nii 2 hsu 4Note.sinceit
kV
chang 4
mu3
lii
2
tzii 3
fang 4
p*i.
4
The
latter part of this proverb I
have
preferred to translate freely,
contains an illustration less beautiful than striking.
951The harodies
and the fox mourns.
TV
>
% m mssii3
*hu 2
pei, 1
MOURNING AND BURIAL.
161
952Whenpuss mourns for the ratit is all
sham
pity.
Mao 1
m u m % m % kV m % shuerh 2lao 33
chia 3 tz*u 2 pei. 1
953Whenhis lady dies,;
condole
but
when2
hundreds of visitors haste to the general himself dies, not
a
single soldier appears.
w e n * a % pai ko jen men -$ m i c ^ s Chiang chun wang tsu pu
954Fu 1ssii33c
4
lin 2
2
;
1
1
2
yi 1
2
4
chih. 4
Over a husbands's death a wifeyears;
will trulyis
over a wife's such favourdays.nien 2 clri 1 ta 42
mourn three not shown for
more than a hundredFu 1ssii3
h "j$ m * m ^ 5E san I I wn I I I kuo ,s1
hsiao 4 ;ssu.1
ch'i 1 ssii 3
4
pai 3 jih 4
955Vainis
the sacrifice of an unfilial son.
Tsai 4 sheng 1 pu 4 hsiao, 4
# *
#o
*Essii3
^ & wuchi 42i.
2
956Whyshould he,living,
when
who does not honour his parents mourn for them when dead ?tG
Tsai 4 sheng 1 pu 4 pa 3
* % & ft ssu ho3
>pi 4
*hou 4
c
2
& mu # & fi 31 kVfu 43
chiog, 4
ling 2 *hun. 2
957Tooffer a
to
bullock at one's parents' grave, is not equal presenting them
while living with fowls or)
sucking-pigs.
u ^ m *Yiictfi 2cl^iii2
roerh 2
niu 2
chi 4
% m mu,
4
162
JOYS AND SORROWS.to pu4 ju 2
*
ftchi 1
thin 2 chih 1
M m Mtai 4
ts*un. 2
958Men mourn2
for those
who
% I - t Cffuangtfou 2
yi 1 ts^ang 1 ku, 3
&
leave fortunes behind them.ssu 3 liao 3
*,
A 7 f yu3
98
jen 2 k^u.1
959Don tdistress yourself for the dead.Lit.:
Let the
dead care5ESsu 3
for the dead,
and the living1,
for the living.
toti1
m n ku4
too3
ssii
ti
t'ien
- m *n t m ju kan % pu ^ in Hi ju wu.yi 1ti1
2
1
lu,
4
1
pei 1
4
2
2
Medicine may heal imagined sickness, but wine can never dispel
real sorrow.Yao4 neng 2
1
mi i
IK
chia 3 ping, 4 chiu 3
m pu x m m m chen4
chieb 1
1
ch^ou. 2
992Three glasses help one to understand great doctrines perfect
intoxication scatters a thousand troubles.Saa1
h % m * t'ung tapei 11
Motao 4;
4
- m m
1 yi 1 tsui 4 chieh 1 ch'ien ch'ou. 2
*
m
993He
got into debt for wine wherever he could.
Chiu 3 chai 4 hsin 2 ch^ang 2 hsing 2 ch^u 4 yu. 3 NoTE.-r-This
is said of Li T ai-yai (^ >[C fzj) an epicurean Lf
m m m %lie
n m mlife
the
T'ang dynasty; who, becauseit
saw that
was
short,
L. D. of determined to
enjoy in
as
much
pleasure as possible.
994To the drunken man heaven and earth are great the man of
leisure days and months are long.Tsui 4 'hou 4 ch'ien 2 k'un 1 ta
4;
to
m m a n
*.
m 995;;;
4
hsien 2 chung 1 jih 4
yueh 4 ch r ang. 2
m
&
Good wine reddens the
face
riches excite the mind.
*Hao 3 chiu 3 *hung2 jen 2 mien 4
n m & a M
ts^ai 2 pai 2
a & m & tung m jen4 2
hsin.
1
WINE.
169
996With a well-known friend, a thousand cups of wine are few
when opinions disagree, even half a;
sentence
is
too much.*II
Cbiu 3 feng 2 chih 14 4
i 1 f % & shao (Men -# * % n s m pan % hua pu tVuchi 31
pei 14
3:
2
chi 1
1
chii
to.
1
997Three glasses of wine can %aSan1 pu4set
everything to rights.4
H %ii
'ho 2
H $ wan
shih. 4
998Wine can bothChiu 3 ntkig 2 ch'eng 2
mm
help and hinder business.shih,
999is
i. 4
chiu 3 neng 2 pai4 shih. 4
i i i iIf
Wine
a discoverer of secrets.
Chiu 3 fa 1 hsin1 fu 2 chih 1 yen. 2
8 j'd R 4lOOO*
Wineis
is a poison which perforates the bowels a sharp knife which
scrapes the bones.
;
lechery
Chiu 3 shih 4 cttuan 1 ch^ang 2 tu 2 yao 4 ;ffl
e s * m m m 6 75 kua % kacg M 7) kuse 4
nai 3
3
3
1
tao. 1*
lOOlWineis
a proper drink for men, as grains a proper
food for pigs.Chiu 3 shih 4 jen 2Note.
m & a mis
m*ti,1
^ho 1
tsao 1 shih 4 chu 1 ctfih 1
m & m m mti.
1
This
said to deter
men
from drinking too much.
1002To be mad with wine.if Fa 1chiu 3 feng. 1
m
170
JOYS AND SORROWS.
1003Your wholefaceis
reddened with the spring wind4
Man3
i mien I s
a
ch'un1 feng. 1
1004Donot drink more wine than you are able to carry. t*
3&
Mo4Intoxication
n
yin 3 kuo 4 liang 2 chih 1 chiu. 3
s m 1005fault,a 2
is
not the wine's3
but the man's.
m x m A a Chiu pu4
tsui 4 jen,
jen 2 tzu
a4
wtsui.
4
1006Drunk butChiu 3
still intelligent.
m m
tsui 4 hsin1
m & 1007>&ming2Jft
pai. 2
Whether the
affair be settled or not, our eighteen bottles of wine.Clferig
2
we must have
A pu *
4
ch^eng2 shih 2 pa 1 p^iog. 2
+ A
1.008Whendrinking wine remember the poverty of yourfamily.
ChWNowine, no
& m p m % 1009;
chiu 3 nien4 chia 1 p'in. 3
company2
no wine, no conversation.:
Wu
chiu 3
pu 4
'hui 4
wu2
chiu 3
pu4
i.
4
1010Over the wine cup conversationChiu 3 pei 1 shuo 1 *hua 4is
light.
m % m n m,
ch^ing.
1
WINE.
171
lOllKich or notit is
my
country's wine.
it j> Mei3 pu 4 mei 3 bsiang1 chung 1
m m
*
chiu. 3
m
1012Excessive joy breeds sorrow; excess of wine disorderLe 1
m m m m
chi 2 tse 2 pei 1
;
chiu 3 chi 2 tse 2 Ian. 4
m m m
il
SECTION IX.ON LANGUAGE.
CHAPTER1013With. "With
I.
CONVERSATION.
Win wang your manners and music display Pa wang let arms be the
talk of the day.Yii 44
;
Wen 2 wang 24
shih 1
li
3
yo 4
;
# m kbsiao 3;
ftli
ta 4
4
wu2
# # * tsun
pei.
1
1198Better awe-inspiring police than awe-inspiring mandarins ;
for if the police be not so, the mandarins will be lightly
esteemed.
Kuan 1 wei 1 pu4 '& ffiya 24
i S wei * m t WL & kuan puT> iD
li
ju 2
ya 2
yi 4
1
;
wei 1
1
cbiu 4
1199courtiers.
ti.
1
Magistrates innumerable beget sons to die of want whilst many
unofficial men bear sons who turn out
Wu
8
2
bsien4 chu 1to 1
R
ftchi:3
4 S M chV 13 % % & wuifc
mn21
H
sheng 1 o4 p'iao 3ctfao 2 lang. 2
;
ffi
pai 2
CIVIL OFFICEKS.
201
1200Neither dogs nor mandarins injure those them anything.
who
give
Kou3 pu 4 yao 31
m ^ mm m t x n m mm kuan puo 1 sui 1ti1 ;
4
ta 3
sung4
li
3
ti.
1
Note.
This
common and very
suggestive proverb,
is
too coarse for
any more
literal translation
than the one given above*
CHAPTER1201WhenHisfirst
IV.
MILITARY OFFICERS.
against rebels a general does an army bring, endeavour ought to
be to seize the rebel king.
,H
Chiang 1 chun 1 shang 3 chan 4 ctfang, 2 chHn 2
I 1
S
1.
I I
^fe
tsei 2 hsien1 eh*in 2
I I wang.
2
1202Nailmakers don't good iron use Nor good men to be soldiers
choose.;
'Hao 3
n
t'ieh 3
m x puSS
*r4
ta 3
u a # % ^ 1203*r.ting 1;
'hac^jen 2 pu 4 tang1 ping. 1
Under a powerful general
there are no feeble soldiers.
Ch'iang 2 cbiang1 shou 3 bsia 4
? T 1204ta
ft
wu2
jo 4
p ^
ping. 1
The rank
of general
is
open to the meanest born.bj
Chiang 1 chiin 1 pu 4 p*a 4
m
m #
chV
shen 1
#
i&ti1
1205Though youthousandkill
ten thousand, you will have three
killed.D
Sha 1 jen 2
# A ~ wan,yi 1
S4
tzu 4 sun 3 san 1
H H *o
ch'ien.
1
1206Armies are kept a thousand daysto be used
on
one.
m Yang
'M3
chiin
1
ch^ien 1 jih
^
M yung 1207 B44
3
tsai 4
yi 1 chao. 1
To rush on the foe at the point of the spear, is the mark of a
truly brave man and the scholar who earth is wonderfully can move
heaven and;
talented.
MILITARY OFFICERS.Ch'ung 1 feng 1
203tan. 3
bsien 1 t'ien 1 chieh 1
m m us m chgn m ko m * m % ^ & * # % n m fang 1208p'o
4ti21
4
ta 4
ti
4
1
shih 4 chi 1 ts'ai. 2
A
great generalF
is
honoured everywhere.Tfi1
Ta 4
A chiang ^ pa1
chiin 1
mien 4 wei 1
a mfeng. 1
1209A(defeated) general never dismounts, so each soldier
may
flee
where hepu4
pleases.roa, 3
Chiang1
chiin 1
hsia 4
ko 4
tzii
4
1210A
pen 1 ch*ien 2 ch^eng. 2
thousand soldiers are easily obtained is hard to find.Cfrien 1
pingL.;
;
one general
i
4
te 2
;
yi 1 chiang 1
nan 2
ch^iu. 2
1211his
The martial magistrate draws
sword and puts
down
all rebellion.
Wu
a kuan t i31
3i
t*i
2
tao 1 ting 4 tan 1
=p
%ko. 1
CHAPTEK1212As sheep drop
V.
TAMENS AND YAMEN-RUNNEI^S,
into a tiger's jaw,3-0
Cash drops into an underling's paw.Glf ien2 lo 4 ctfai 1 shou, 3
yang 2
m m m
& m
tit
nk*ou. 3
lo 4
*hu 3
1213actions are subject to fate.
A police-runner'sDoeslie
fear lest a
shower should sprinkle his pate
?
if
is.ch'ai 1
Kuan1
pu4 tzu 4
* s
&o
yu, 2 na 3 p'a 4
mM m m yu3
lin
4
t'ou. 2
1214Though the yamen be small the law85*
is4
Ya 2 men 2
n m
>h
sui 1 hsiao 3 fa 3
m tu m- n4
the same.
yi1
li.
1215andtheir corruptions
Yamensffi
are deep as the sea,
lofty as heaven.
Ya2 men2Official
r
as
ehen 1 esu 4
m
&or
bai, 3
w m *pi 4 ping 4
fa
ta 4 ju 2
xt'ien.
1
1216underlings see
money
as a fly
sees blood.
Kung1
jen 2 chien 4 cfrien 2 ju 2 ts^ang1 ying1 chien 4 bsieh. 3
1217Yamen-runners must be very brave who can deceive, frighten,
defraud, and extort.nit
Hung 3Note.
hsia 4 p*ien 4 cha 4 cfrai 1 tan 3
m m & m m *ta.
4
See
next proverb and note.
1218Whatpaddy-fields?
belong to the
and
corn-fields
yamen
YAMEN AND YAMEN-RUNNERS.Yu 3 mo 1Note.
205ti
m m ya mis
pi
2
men2
at^ien,
2
yu 3 mo 1 ya2 men2
m m b m
4
