Section 38.1
King Xian of Hejian questioned Master Dong of Wencheng, saying: “
The Classic of Filial Piety states: ‘Filial piety is Heaven’s Warp and Earth’s Righteousness.’
1 What does this mean?”
[Master Dong] responded: “Heaven has Five Phases. [They are] Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Wood gives birth to Fire;
Fire gives birth to Earth;
Earth gives birth to Metal;
Metal gives birth to Water.
Metal makes autumn;
Earth makes midsummer;
Fire makes summer;
Wood makes spring.
Spring governs birth;
summer governs growth;
midsummer governs nourishment;
autumn governs harvesting;
winter governs storing away.
Storing away is what winter achieves.
Thus,
what fathers engender, their sons cultivate;
what fathers cultivate, their sons nurture;
what fathers nurture, their sons perfect.
What fathers accomplish is received and accepted by their sons, who continue to carry it forth. They do not dare fail to carry things forth in accordance with their father’s intentions, doing their utmost to constitute the Human Way. Thus, the Five Phases exemplify the five [forms of] human conduct. From this perspective, we see that the father conferring and the son receiving is the Way of Heaven. Thus it is said: ‘Filial piety is Heaven’s Warp.’ This is what the statement means.”
The king responded: “Excellent! Now that I have heard your explanation regarding the phrase ‘Heaven’s Warp,’ I would like to ask about the phrase ‘Earth’s righteousness.’ ”
[Dong] responded: “Earth sends forth clouds to produce rain and arouses qi to generate wind. Wind and rain are generated by Earth, but Earth does not dare claim merit for such achievements. Rather, it confers such merit on Heaven. Thus they are named as if they emanated from Heaven’s qi and so are called Heavenly winds and Heavenly rains. No one refers to them as earthly winds or earthly rains. Diligence and hard work rest with Earth, while the reputation for such achievements resides with Heaven. If not for those who have achieved the pinnacle of righteousness, who could practice such a thing?
“Thus subordinates serve superiors, just as Earth serves Heaven. Such conduct may be called ‘great loyalty.’ Earth is the son of Fire. Of the Five Phases, none is more noble than Earth. Earth’s relation to the four seasons is that there is nothing that it commands, and it does not share in the accomplishments and reputation of Fire.
2Wood designates spring;
Fire designates summer;
Metal designates autumn,
Water designates winter.
The righteousness of the loyal minister and the actions of the filial son are derived from Earth. Earth is the most noble of the Five Phases,
3 and nothing can augment its righteousness, [just as]
of the five tones, none is more noble than gong;
of the five flavors, none is more noble than sweetness;
of the five colors, none is more luxuriant than yellow.
This is what is meant [by the expression] ‘filial piety is Earth’s righteousness.’ ” The king responded: “Excellent!” [38/48/10–22]
“Clothing and comportment are the means to delight the eyes;
Sonorous words and apt responses are the means to delight the ears;
Likes and dislikes, rejecting and following, are the means to delight the mind.”
Therefore the noble man’s
clothing is suitable and his comportment is reverent, so he delights the eyes.
His words are principled and his responses are agreeable, so he delights the ears.
His love of humaneness is ample and his hatred of shallowness is far reaching. He follows good men and avoids evil ones, so his mind is happy.
5His conduct and thought can bring joy;
his comportment and deportment are worthy of contemplation.
6This expresses it. [38/48/24–27]