Ritual and Expediency

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Chunyu Kun asked, “Is it a rule of ritual that men and women do not hand things directly to one another?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius replied, “It is.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Chunyu Kun asked, “If one’s sister-in-law were drowning, would one reach out a hand to save her?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius replied, “If a sister-in-law were drowning and one did not reach out to save her, one would be a jackal or wolf. The rule that men and women do not hand things directly to each other is ritual; reaching out to save a drowning sister-in-law is an exercise of discretion.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Chunyu Kun asked, “Now the whole world is drowning. Why does the Master not reach out to save it?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius replied, “When the world is drowning, save it with the Way; when a sister-in-law is drowning, save her with a hand. Would you try to save the world with your hands?”

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