Ancient Chinese Stories: The Ancient Chinese Tale of Master Zeng AKA Zeng Zi Refusing A city
May 24, 2009
My ancient Chinese text
Hey everybody, welcome back to my ancient Chinese story site. So today I am going to be translating a story from the Zhou dynasty about master Zeng aka Zeng Zi. Now Master Zeng is a very well known ancient Chinese person. The story I will tell you today is a translation (my own) from the original ancient text I used in my classical Chinese textbook. The title of todays ancient tale is Master Zeng Refuses A City.
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Zeng Zi would wear tattered clothes as he would plow the fields. The ruler of Lu sent a messenger to Zeng Zi offer him a town and the messenger said, “We request that you have this so you may fix your damaged clothes.”
Master Zeng didn’t accept it. Not being accepted the messenger returned to his master, then was sent back to Zeng Zi and he did not accept it again. The messenger then said, “Master, you are not taking from others, they wish to give to you. Why shall you not accept?” Zeng Zi then said, ” Those who accept these gifts are afraid and those who give the gifts are arrogant. Even if the ruler had a gift and he still was not arrogant to me, I can’t not fear him?” In the end he did not accept it. Confucius heard of this and said, “My disciple said this was sufficient enough to maintain his virtue.”
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Master Zeng’s ancient Chinese story was quite remarkable for the situation which he was in. Now mind you normally when I hear of Master Zeng, I do think this story, but usually I tend to think more of his mother. His mother in ancient times was a well respected and strong woman. If this is the case, then one can see from this ancient story why Master Zeng is brave enough not to accept the rulers bribe or be forced to fear him. It also shows that there was high sense of honor and virtue which Confucius admired especially since he did not perform anything violent.
Today’s ancient Chinese stories’ picture is the actual text I used to translate it. You can see all my notes as well as the former owners notes on it. This Chinese story is the ancient text and as a result much tougher to translate. Well, that is all for the ancient Chinese stories writer today, till the next ancient Chinese tale everyone.
