How a Worthy Scholar Should Be Supported
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
万章曰:“士之不托诸侯,何也?”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “Why do gentlemen without office not lodge with the feudal lords?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“不敢也。诸侯失国而后托于诸侯,礼也。士之托于诸侯,非礼也。”
English translation
Mencius replied, “They dare not. It is proper for a lord who has lost his state to seek lodging with another lord; it is not proper for a gentleman to lodge with a lord.”
Original Chinese text
万章曰:“君馈之粟,则受之乎?”曰:“受之。”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “If a ruler sends him grain, does he accept it?” Mencius replied, “He does.”
Original Chinese text
“受之何义也?”曰:“君之于氓也,固周之。”
English translation
“On what principle does he accept it?” “A ruler is expected to provide relief to the common people.”
Original Chinese text
曰:“周之则受,赐之则不受,何也?”曰:“不敢也。”曰:“敢问其不敢何也?”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “Why accept what is relief but refuse what is a gift?” Mencius said, “He dares not accept it.” Wan Zhang asked, “May I ask why he dares not?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“抱关击柝者,皆有常职以食于上。无常职而赐于上者,以为不恭也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Gatekeepers and night watchmen have regular duties for which they receive support from their superiors. To accept a superior’s gift without holding a regular post is considered disrespectful.”
Original Chinese text
曰:“君馈之,则受之,不识可常继乎?”曰:“缪公之于子思也,亟问,亟馈鼎肉。
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “If a ruler sends him grain and he accepts it, may the support continue regularly?” Mencius said, “Duke Mu of Lu repeatedly sent inquiries and cooked meat to Zisi.”
Original Chinese text
子思不悦,于卒也,摽使者出诸大门之外,北面稽首再拜而不受,曰:“今而后知君之犬马畜伋!”盖自是台无馈也。
English translation
Zisi was displeased. At last he had the messenger escorted beyond the main gate, then faced north, bowed twice, and refused the gift, saying, “Only now do I realize that my lord keeps me, Ji, like a dog or horse!” From then on, the court stopped sending him provisions.
Original Chinese text
悦贤不能举,又不能养也,可谓悦贤乎?”
English translation
“If a ruler admires worthy people but neither appoints nor properly supports them, can he be said to value them?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“敢问国君欲养君子,如何斯可谓养矣?”曰:“以君命将之,再拜稽首而受;
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “How should a ruler support a gentleman properly?” Mencius said, “The first delivery should be sent in the ruler’s name, and the gentleman should bow twice and accept it.”
Original Chinese text
其后廪人继粟,庖人继肉,不以君命将之。子思以为鼎肉使己仆仆尔亟拜也,非养君子之道也。
English translation
“Afterward, the granary official should continue sending grain and the cook meat, without each delivery being presented in the ruler’s name. Zisi thought that having to bow repeatedly for a few pots of meat was no proper way to support a gentleman.”
Original Chinese text
尧之于舜也,使其子九男事之,二女女焉,百官牛羊仓廪备,以养舜于畎亩之中,后举而加诸上位。故曰王公之尊贤者也。”
English translation
“When Yao treated Shun this way, he had nine sons serve him, married two daughters to him, and provided officials, cattle, sheep, and granaries to support him while he still worked in the fields. Only afterward did he appoint him to the highest position. This is how rulers honor the worthy.”