The Roots of Care
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
墨者夷之,因徐辟而求见孟子。孟子曰:“吾固愿见,今吾尚病,病愈,我且往见。”夷子不来!
English translation
The Mohist Yi Zhi, through Xu Pi, sought to see Mencius. Mencius said: “I had indeed wished to see him. But I am still ill; when I have recovered, I will go to see him.” Yizi did not come!
Original Chinese text
他日又求见孟子。孟子曰:“吾今则可以见矣。不直则道不见,我且直之。吾闻夷子墨者,墨者之治丧也,以薄为其道也。夷子思以易天下,岂以为非是而不贵也?然而夷子葬其亲厚,则是以所贱事亲也。”
English translation
Another day he again sought to see Mencius. Mencius said: “Now I can see him. If I am not straightforward, the Way will not be made visible; I will be straightforward with him. I have heard that Yizi is a Mohist. In the Mohists’ handling of mourning, they take meagerness as their way. Yizi wishes to use it to change the world—could he think it is not right and therefore not value it? Yet Yizi buried his parents lavishly; that is to treat his parents with what he despises.”
Original Chinese text
徐子以告夷子。
English translation
Master Xu told Yizi this.
Original Chinese text
夷子曰:“儒者之道,古之人‘若保赤子’,此言何谓也?之则以为爱无差等,施由亲始。”
English translation
Yi Zi said: 'In the way of the Confucians, the ancients [acted] as if protecting an infant. What does this saying mean? I, however, think that love has no gradations, and that its application begins with one's relatives.'
Original Chinese text
徐子以告孟子。
English translation
Master Xu reported it to Mencius.
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“夫夷子信以为人之亲其兄之子为若亲其邻之赤子乎?彼有取尔也。赤子匍匐将入井,非赤子之罪也。且天之生物也使之一本,而夷子二本故也。盖上世尝有不葬其亲者,其亲死则举而委之于壑。他日过之,狐狸食之,蝇蚋姑嘬之。其颡有泚,睨而不视。夫泚也,非为人泚,中心达于面目。盖归反蔂梩而掩之,掩之诚是也。则孝子仁人之掩其亲,亦必有道矣。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Does Yi Zhi really believe that people care for a brother’s child just as they care for a neighbor’s infant? He has taken that idea from somewhere. When an infant crawls toward a well, the danger is no fault of the child. Heaven gives living things one root, whereas Yi Zhi posits two; that is the problem. In ancient times, there were people who did not bury their parents. When a parent died, they lifted the body and left it in a ravine. Later, passing by, they saw foxes eating it and flies and gnats biting at it. Sweat appeared on the person’s forehead; they glanced aside, unable to look directly. That sweat was not shed for other people; it arose from within and showed on the face. The person went back for earth-carrying baskets and spades, then covered the body. That covering was indeed right. So when filial and benevolent people bury their parents, there must be a reason for it.”
Original Chinese text
徐子以告夷子。夷子怃然为间曰:“命之矣!”
English translation
Xu Zi reported Mencius’s words to Yi Zhi. Yi Zhi looked troubled, paused for a moment, and said, “I have received his instruction.”