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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 XIV. 21. (368)

How Confucius wished to avenge the murder of the duke of Ch'î:– his righteous and public spirit.
1. Chan Ch'ang murdered the duke Chien of Ch'î.
2. Confucius bathed, went to court and informed the duke Âi, saying, "Chan Hang has slain his sovereign. I beg that you will undertake to punish him."
3. The duke said, "Inform the chiefs of the three families of it."
4. Confucius retired, and said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter, and my prince says, 'Inform the chiefs of the three families of it.'"
5. He went to the chiefs, and informed them, but they would not act. Confucius then said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter."

Legge XIV.22.

Ch'en Ch'eng Tzu killed Duke Chien. After washing himself ceremonially, Confucius went to court and reported to Duke Ai, saying, 'Ch'en Heng has killed his lord. May I request that an army be sent to punish him?' The Duke answered, 'Tell the three noble lords.' Confucius said, 'I have reported this to you simply because I have a duty to do so, seeing that I take my place after the Coun- sellors, and now you say "Tell the three noble lords."'
He went and reported to the three noble lords, and they refused his request. Confucius said, 'I have reported this to you simply because I have a duty to do so, seeing that I take my place after the Counsellors.'

Lau [14:21]

Tch'enn Tch'eng tzeu avait mis à mort le prince Kien. Confucius, après s'être purifié, alla au palais informer Ngai, prince de Lou. « Tch'enn Heng, dit-il, a tué son prince ; je vous prie de le faire châtier. » Le prince répondit : « Adressez-vous aux trois grands seigneurs. » Confucius se dit en lui-même : « Parce que j'ai encore rang parmi les grands préfets, je n'aurais pas osé me dispenser de l'avertir. Le prince me répond de m'adresser à ces trois seigneurs ! » Confucius alla faire son rapport aux trois grands seigneurs, qui rejetèrent sa demande. Il leur dit : « Parce que j'ai encore rang parmi les grands préfets, je n'aurais pas osé ne pas vous avertir. » Trois ministres, chefs de trois grandes familles, s'étaient arrogé tout le pouvoir et gouvernaient en maîtres la principauté de Lou. Le prince n'était pas libre de décider par lui-même. (Tchou Hsi)Il répondit à Confucius : « Vous pouvez vous adresser à ces trois grands seigneurs. » C'étaient les chefs des trois grandes familles Meng suenn, Chou suenn et Ki suenn. (Tchou Hsi)

Couvreur XIV.22.

Lun Yu XIV. 21. (368) IntroductionTable of content
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The Analects of Confucius – Lun Yu XIV. 21. (368) – 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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