← 中Zhōng庸Yōng · The Doctrine of the Mean

第dì31章zhāngChapter 31

31-1

唯wéi天tiān下xià至zhì圣shèng，为wèi能néng聪cōng明míng睿ruì知zhī，足zú以yí有yǒu临lín也yě；宽kuān裕yù温wēn柔róu，足zú以yí有yǒu容róng也yě；发fā强qiáng刚gāng毅yì，足zú以yí有yǒu执zhí也yě；齐qí庄zhuāng中zhōng正zhèng，足zú以yí有yǒu敬jìng也yě；文wén理lǐ密mì察chá，足zú以yí有yǒu别bié也yě。

It is only he, possessed of all sagely qualities that can exist under heaven, who shows himself quick in apprehension, clear in discernment, of far-reaching intelligence, and all-embracing knowledge, fitted to exercise rule; magnanimous, generous, benign, and mild, fitted to exercise forbearance; impulsive, energetic, firm, and enduring, fitted to maintain a firm hold; self-adjusted, grave, never swerving from the Mean, and correct, fitted to command reverence; accomplished, distinctive, concentrative, and searching, fitted to exercise discrimination.

Legge · 1885 · public domain

31-2

溥pǔ博bó渊yuān泉quán，而ér时shí出chū之zhī。

All-embracing is he and vast, deep and active as a fountain, sending forth in their due season his virtues.

Legge · 1885 · public domain

31-3

溥pǔ博bó如rú天tiān，渊yuān泉quán如rú渊yuān。见jiàn而ér民mín莫mò不bú敬jìng，言yán而ér民mín莫mò不bú信xìn，行xíng而ér民mín莫mò不bù说shuō。

All-embracing and vast, he is like Heaven. Deep and active as a fountain, he is like the abyss. He is seen, and the people all reverence him; he speaks, and the people all believe him; he acts, and the people all are pleased with him.

Legge · 1885 · public domain

31-4

是shì以yǐ声shēng名míng洋yáng溢yì乎hū中zhōng国guó，施shī及jí蛮mán貊mò；舟zhōu车chē所suǒ至zhì，人rén力lì所suǒ通tōng；天tiān之zhī所suǒ覆fù，地dì之zhī所suǒ载zài，日rì月yuè所suǒ照zhào，霜shuāng露lù所suǒ队duì；凡fán有yǒu血xuè气qì者zhě，莫mò不bù尊zūn亲qīn，故gù曰yuē配pèi天tiān。

Therefore his fame overspreads the Middle Kingdom, and extends to all barbarous tribes. Wherever ships and carriages reach; wherever the strength of man penetrates; wherever the heavens overshadow and the earth sustains; wherever the sun and moon shine; wherever frosts and dews fall:-all who have blood and breath unfeignedly honor and love him. Hence it is said, "He is the equal of Heaven."

Legge · 1885 · public domain