CHAPTER 4

The philosopher Tsăng said, "I daily examine myself on three points:—whether, in transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful;—whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have been not sincere;-whether I may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher."

3. FAIR APPEARANCE ARE SUSPICIOUS.巧言令色,—see Shoo-king, II.ⅲ.2. 巧, 'skill in workmanship'; then, 'skill', 'cleverness', generally, and sometimes with a bad meaning, as here,='artful', 'hypocritical'. 令 'a law', 'an order', also 'good', and here like 巧, with a bad meaning,='pretending to be good'. 色, 'the manifestation of the feelings in the colour of the countenance', is here used for the appearance generally.

4. HOW THE PHILOSOPHER TSANG DAILY EXAMINED HIMSELF, TO GUARD AGAINST HIS BEING GUILTY OF ANY IMPOSITION. Tsăng, whose name was 参, (Ts'an, now commonly read Sin) and his designation 子舆, was one of the principal disciples of Confucius. A follower of the sage from his 16th year, though inferior in natural ability to some others, by his filial piety and other moral qualities, he entirely won the Master's esteem, and by persevering attention mastered his doctrines. Confucius employed him in the composition of the 孝经, or 'Classic of Filial Piety'. The authorship of the 大学, 'The Great Learning', is also ascribed to him, though incorrectly, as we shall see. Ten books, moreover, of his composition are preserved in the Le-ke. His spirit tablet among the sage's four assessors, occupying the first place on the west, has precedence of that of Mencius. 省, read sing, 'to examine'. 三省 is naturally understood of 'three times', but the context and consent of commentators make us assent to the interpretation—'on three points'. 身, 'the body', 'one's personality'; 吾身=myself. 为 is in low 8d tone,= 'for'. So, frequently, below. 忠 from 中, 'middle', 'the centre', and 心, 'the heart', =loyalty, faithfulness, action with and from the heart. 朋, see ch.1. 友, 'two hand joined', denoting union. 朋友, 'friends'. 传不习 is very enigmatical. The translation follows Choo He. 何安 explained quite differently:—'whether I have given instruction in what I had not studied and practiced?' It does seem more correct to take 传 actively, 'to give instruction', rather than passively, 'to receive instruction'. See 四书改错, XV.17.