Analects 12.20: 顏淵 (Yan Yuan)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Book 12 asks how humaneness takes shape in conduct: self-mastery and ritual, care toward others, and words answerable to action. Its political exchanges test government through trust, the people’s livelihood, and the example of those who lead. Questions about clear sight and genuine accomplishment make understanding people more demanding than knowing their reputation. The account of promoting the upright brings that judgment into public service, while Zixia’s examples place the distancing of the inhumane beside the claim of reform. The closing sayings return to friendship as a practice of advice, restraint, learning, and support for humaneness.
Analects 12.20
子張問士何如、斯可謂之達矣。子曰、何哉、爾所謂達者。子張對曰、在邦必聞、在家必聞。子曰、是聞也、非達也。夫達也者、質直而好義、察言而觀色、慮以下人、在邦必達、在家必達。夫聞也者、色取仁而行違、居之不疑、在邦必聞、在家必聞。
Zizhang asked, “What must an officer be like to be called accomplished?” The Master said, “What do you mean by accomplished?” Zizhang replied, “They are sure to be known in the state and sure to be known in the household.” The Master said, “That is being known, not being accomplished. An accomplished person is upright in character and loves what is right, examines words and observes expressions, and takes care to put themselves below others. They are sure to be accomplished in the state and sure to be accomplished in the household. As for someone who is known, they take on a humane appearance while their actions go against it, and rest in this without doubting themselves. They are sure to be known in the state and sure to be known in the household.”
Commentary
philology Accomplishment and being heard of Zizhang asks about a 士, here an officer engaged in public service. 達 suggests getting through or attaining something; 聞 means being heard of. “Accomplished” and “known” keep the distinction audible each time it returns. The state and household are both fields of service and reputation; 家 can here be the household of a ruling family.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: medium
ethics Two uses of appearance The accomplished person watches other people’s words and expressions, joining attentiveness to an effort to yield. The merely known person presents an appearance of 仁 while acting against it. “Rest in this without doubting themselves” takes 居之不疑 as their own complacency; it could instead suggest that others do not suspect them. The contrast turns on character and conduct rather than the extent of publicity.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: medium