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Lun Yu Introduction Table of content – The Analects of Confucius

The Master discusses with his disciples and unveil his preoccupations with society. Tr. Legge (en), Lau (en) and Couvreur (fr).

Lunyu XVII. 11. (458)

It is not the external appurtenances which constitute propriety, nor the sound of instruments which constitute music.
The Master said, "'It is according to the rules of propriety,' they say. – 'It is according to the rules of propriety,' they say. Are gems and silk all that is meant by propriety? 'It is music,' they say. – 'It is music,' they say. Are bells and drums all that is meant by music?"

Legge XVII.11.

The Master said, 'Surely when one says "The rites, the rites," it is not enough merely to mean presents of jade and silk. Surely when one says "Music, music," it is not enough merely to mean bells and drums.'

Lau [17:11]

Le Maître dit : « Les rites, toujours les rites ! Veut-on parler seulement des pierres précieuses et des soieries1 ? La musique, encore la musique ! Veut-on parler seulement des cloches et des tambours ? » Les rites exigent avant tout le respect, et la musique a pour objet principal l'harmonie (la concorde). Les pierres précieuses, les soieries, les cloches, les tambours ne sont que des accessoires. (Tchou Hsi)

1. Qu'on offre en présent.

Couvreur XVII.11.

礼、礼と人はよく口にするが、礼とは、ただ玉(ぎょく)だの絹だのという儀式道具のことをさしているわけではなかろう。
また、音楽、音楽と人はよく口にするが、音楽とは、ただ楽器を鳴らすことをさしているわけではなかろう。
Anon. – 2006/12/05
Lun Yu XVII. 11. (458) IntroductionTable of content
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The Analects of Confucius – Lun Yu XVII. 11. (458) – Chinese on/offFrançais/English
Alias the Lunyu, the Lun Yü, the Analects, les Entretiens du maître avec ses disciples.

The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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