Zhongyong – The Doctrine of the Mean

The Master said, "How far-extending was the filial piety of king Wû and the duke of Châu!

Legge XIX.1.

它是最恰当地继承上辈先祖的意志，最恰当地完成上辈先祖的事业。

白话翻译

"Now filial piety is seen in the skillful carrying out of the wishes of our forefathers, and the skillful carrying forward of their undertakings.

Legge XIX.2.

在春秋二季，修理好宗庙，陈设妥帖传世的宝器，摆设好他们穿戴的衣冠，供奉四季的应时食品。

白话翻译

"In spring and autumn, they repaired and beautified the temple halls of their fathers, set forth their ancestral vessels, displayed their various robes, and presented the offerings of the several seasons.

Legge XIX.3.

宗庙的礼仪按左昭右穆的次序放置神主，以表示历代的先后。依爵位高低来排列，是为了辨明贵贱的；分配祭祀时礼仪人员的职务，是为了辨别各人才能的。互相酬饮时，晚辈向长辈敬酒，自己先导饮，是借此使后辈人人普遍有饮食的机会。饮宴的时候，按头发的颜色黑白来定坐位，是为了表明年龄长幼的。

白话翻译

"By means of the ceremonies of the ancestral temple, they distinguished the royal kindred according to their order of descent. By ordering the parties present according to their rank, they distinguished the more noble and the less. By the arrangement of the services, they made a distinction of talents and worth. In the ceremony of general pledging, the inferiors presented the cup to their superiors, and thus something was given the lowest to do. At the concluding feast, places were given according to the hair, and thus was made the distinction of years.

Legge XIX.4.

登先王先公的神位，行他们的礼仪，奏他们的音乐，敬重他们所尊敬的人，爱他们所亲的人；事奉死者好像他们仍然活着，事奉已经逝世的长辈，好像他们仍然生存着，这可以说是尽孝到极点了。

白话翻译

"They occupied the places of their forefathers, practiced their ceremonies, and performed their music. They reverenced those whom they honored, and loved those whom they regarded with affection. Thus they served the dead as they would have served them alive; they served the departed as they would have served them had they been continued among them.

Legge XIX.5.

祭天祭地的礼，是为了事奉上帝；祭祖庙的礼，是为了供奉历代祖先的。能够明白祭祀天地和合祭祖先、秋祭先人各种礼仪的意义，那治理国家就像把一件小物摆在手掌上那样容易。”

白话翻译

"By the ceremonies of the sacrifices to Heaven and Earth they served God, and by the ceremonies of the ancestral temple they sacrificed to their ancestors. He who understands the ceremonies of the sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, and the meaning of the several sacrifices to ancestors, would find the government of a kingdom as easy as to look into his palm!"

Legge XIX.6.

鲁哀公问怎样治理国家。

白话翻译