Li Lou I · 孟子 4A.19

Passage 19

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「事shì孰shú爲wéi大dà？事shì親qīn爲wéi大dà。守shǒu孰shú爲wéi大dà？守shǒu身shēn爲wéi大dà。不bù失shī其qí身shēn而ér能néng事shì其qí親qīn者zhě，吾wú聞wén之zhī矣yǐ；失shī其qí身shēn而ér能néng事shì其qí親qīn者zhě，吾wú未wèi之zhī聞wén也yě。孰shú不bù爲wéi事shì？事shì親qīn，事shì之zhī本běn也yě。孰shú不bù爲wéi守shǒu？守shǒu身shēn，守shǒu之zhī本běn也yě。曾céng子zǐ養yǎng曾céng晳xī，必bì有yǒu酒jiǔ肉ròu；將jiāng徹chè，必bì請qǐng所suǒ與yǔ；問wèn有yǒu餘yú，必bì曰yuē『有yǒu』。曾céng晳xī死sǐ，曾céng元yuán養yǎng曾céng子zǐ，必bì有yǒu酒jiǔ肉ròu；將jiāng徹chè，不bù請qǐng所suǒ與yǔ；問wèn有yǒu餘yú，曰yuē『亡wáng矣yǐ』，將jiāng以yǐ復fù進jìn也yě，此cǐ所suǒ謂wèi養yǎng口kǒu體tǐ者zhě也yě。若ruò曾céng子zǐ，則zé可kě謂wèi養yǎng志zhì也yě。事shì親qīn若ruò曾céng子zǐ者zhě，可kě也yě。」

Mencius said, 'Of services, which is the greatest? The service of parents is the greatest. Of charges, which is the greatest ? The charge of one's self is the greatest. That those who do not fail to keep themselves are able to serve their parents is what I have heard. But I have never heard of any, who, having failed to keep themselves, were able notwithstanding to serve their parents. There are many services, but the service of parents is the root of all others. There are many charges, but the charge of one's self is the root of all others. The philosopher Zeng, in nourishing Zeng Xi, was always sure to have wine and flesh provided. And when they were being removed, he would ask respectfully to whom he should give what was left. If his father asked whether there was anything left, he was sure to say, "There is." After the death of Zeng Xi, when Zeng Yuan came to nourish Zengzi, he was always sure to have wine and flesh provided. But when the things were being removed, he did not ask to whom he should give what was left, and if his father asked whether there was anything left, he would answer "No;" - intending to bring them in again. This was what is called "nourishing the mouth and body." We may call Zengzi's practice "nourishing the will." To serve one's parents as Zengzi served his, may be accepted as flial piety.'