Zengzi and Zisi in Times of Danger
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
曾子居武城,有越寇。或曰:“寇至,盍去诸?”曰:“无寓人于我室,毁伤其薪木。”寇退,则曰:“修我墙屋,我将反。”寇退,曾子反。
English translation
Zengzi lived in Wucheng when Yue raiders invaded. Someone said, “The raiders are coming. Why not leave?” Zengzi replied, “Do not lodge anyone in my house, and do not damage my trees and firewood.” After the raiders withdrew, he said, “Repair my walls and house; I am going back.” Once they had left, Zengzi returned.
Original Chinese text
左右曰:“待先生如此其忠且敬也,寇至则先去以为民望,寇退则反,殆于不可。”沈犹行曰:“是非汝所知也。昔沈犹有负刍之祸,从先生者七十人,未有与焉。”
English translation
Those around him said, “The people here treat you with such loyalty and respect. When the raiders came, you left first and became an example for the people; now that they have gone, you return. Surely that is inappropriate.” Shen Youxing said, “This is beyond your understanding. Once, Shen You’s household faced a disturbance led by a raider named Fuchu; none of the Master’s seventy followers took part in or became involved in it.”
Original Chinese text
子思居于卫,有齐寇。或曰:“寇至,盍去诸?”子思曰:“如汲去,君谁与守?”
English translation
Zisi lived in Wei when Qi invaded. Someone said, “The raiders are coming. Why not leave?” Zisi replied, “If I, Ji, were to leave, who would be here to help you keep watch?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“曾子、子思同道。曾子师也,父兄也;子思臣也,微也。曾子、子思易地则皆然。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Zengzi and Zisi followed the same Way. Zengzi was a teacher and an elder; Zisi was a minister of lesser rank. If they exchanged positions, each would have acted as the other did.”