Tag Archives: Confucius on ritual

Analects of Confucius Book 11: new English translation

December 22, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

Read this new English translation of the Analects of Confucius Book 11 to learn more about the teachings of China’s most famous philosopher.

Chapter 1
子曰：「先進於禮樂，野人也；後進於禮樂，君子也。如用之，則吾從先進。」
Confucius said: “Those who learn ritual and music before taking up an official position are the common people; those who learn ritual and music after taking up an official position are the nobility. If I were to employ them, I would employ the former.”
Continue reading Analects of Confucius Book 11: new English translation →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: a special case?

November 30, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

顏淵死，顏路請子之車以為之。子曰：「才不才，亦各言其子也。鯉也死，有棺而無；吾不徒行，以為之，以吾從大夫之後，不可徒行也。」
When Yan Hui died, his father Yan Lu asked Confucius if he could sell his carriage so that he could pay for an outer coffin for his son. Confucius said: “Talented or not, a son is a son. When my son Li died, he was buried in an inner coffin but there was no outer coffin. I wouldn’t go on foot in order to give him one because it wasn’t proper for me as a former minister to go on foot.” (1) (2) (3)

If you fail to follow the rules and conventions of your organization, how can you expect others to observe them? If you allow yourself some wriggling room by treating a sensitive or contentious case as an exception, why can’t everyone else do the same? Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: a special case? →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: ingrained institutional biases?

November 23, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

子曰：「先進於禮樂，野人也；後進於禮樂，君子也。如用之，則吾從先進。」
Confucius said: “Those who learn ritual and music before taking up an official position are the common people; those who learn ritual and music after taking up an official position are the nobility. If I were to employ them, I would employ the former.” (1) (2)

What kind of staff do you prefer to hire? Candidates who have put in the hard yards to develop their knowledge and expertise but are a little rough around the edges? Or candidates who have developed the right connections and demeanor as a result of their family background but know next to nothing about the job you plan to place them in? Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: ingrained institutional biases? →

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Analects update: halfway there

November 20, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

More by accident than design, I completed my overview of the first half of the Analects of Confucius just before my trip to the UK. I will start tackling the second half this weekend. In the meantime, here are links to materials covering the first ten books, including posts on each chapter and more general articles about certain topics.

Analects of Confucius Book 1
Analects of Confucius Book 2
Analects of Confucius Book 3
Analects of Confucius Book 4
Analects of Confucius Book 5
Analects of Confucius Book 6
Analects of Confucius Book 7
Analects of Confucius Book 8
Analects of Confucius Book 9
Analects of Confucius Book 10

Although I enjoyed Book 10, I still haven’t quite figured out what to make of it. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s not even clear whether its chapters describe the behavior of Confucius himself or that of an archetypal gentleman. Nevertheless, its advocacy of the importance of ritual is as relevant today as it was in Confucius’s time. Essentially, it is telling you how to make the most of every moment in your life. Continue reading Analects update: halfway there →

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Analects of Confucius Book 10: resources

November 5, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

Here is a list of resources covering Book 10 of the Analects of Confucius. You can click on the links below to learn more about the main themes of the book:

Analects of Confucius Book 10: translation

Here is a list of articles I have written about each chapter in the book. Again, click on the links to learn more. Continue reading Analects of Confucius Book 10: resources →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: random delights

November 5, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

色斯舉矣，翔而後集。曰：「山梁雌雉，時哉時哉！」子路共之，三嗅而作。
Startled by a sudden movement, the bird flew off, hovered for a while, and then landed again. Confucius said: “The hen pheasant on the mountain bridge – How timely! How timely!” Zilu clasped his hands and bowed towards the bird, which tweeted three times and flew away. (1) (2)

No matter how well tuned in you are to the rituals of everyday life, it’s always good to escape from them with a visit to the countryside and enjoy the natural world. There’s no telling what random delights you might come across! Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: random delights →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: the best you can be

October 27, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

升車，必正立執綏。車中不內顧，不疾言，不親指。
Before mounting his carriage, he stood straight and grasped the hand strap. Once in the carriage, he didn’t turn to look back, talk loudly, or point with his finger. (1)

Put your best foot forward. Screen out the noise and distractions. Focus on the here and now. Even if you’re just taking a short trip from A to B, proceed with grace, precision, and purpose. You never know what might happen or who you might meet along the way. Or what you might learn or experience if you’re paying full attention to everything that’s happening around you. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: the best you can be →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: lessons in etiquette

October 18, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

見齊衰者，雖狎必變。見冕者與瞽者，雖褻必以貌。凶服者式之；式負版者，有盛饌，必變色而作。迅雷風烈必變。
When he saw someone in mourning clothes, he adopted a solemn expression on his face and remained distant even if he knew them well. When he saw someone wearing a ceremonial cap or a blind person, he was courteous even if he was familiar with them. When he came across someone in mourning garments while riding in his carriage, he leaned over the stanchion to greet them; he would do the same when he encountered someone carrying official documents. When he was served rich delicacies at a banquet, he adopted a gracious expression on his face and rose to his feet to show his appreciation. When he heard a sudden clap of thunder or a ferocious wind an awe-struck expression came over his face.

Every day is full of encounters with other people in different contexts – from the person you sit next to on the bus or train to work and the barista who serves you coffee to your colleagues in the office and the friend you meet for lunch. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: lessons in etiquette →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: the blurring of the lines

October 17, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

寢不尸，居不容。
In bed, he didn’t lie stiffly like a corpse; at home, he was informal and relaxed. (1)

We are living at a time when the distinction between our working and personal lives has never been more blurred. Thanks to ubiquitous connectivity, we are increasingly expected to be available at all times – no matter what day or time it is. Even if we aren’t answering email, our minds are still busy spinning over work issues in the background like the cogs and wheels of a clock. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: the blurring of the lines →

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Leadership lessons from Confucius: a horse and carriage

October 16, 2019 Richard Brown Leave a comment

朋友之饋，雖車馬，非祭肉，不拜。
When receiving a gift from a friend, he wouldn’t bow even if it was a horse and carriage. The only gift he would bow for was one of sacrificial meat.

Customs change along with the times. Long-established conventions like wearing a suit and tie to the office give way to more casual forms of dress and behavior. Centuries-old church services are spiced up to appeal to younger audiences. Do you stick to the old ways and decry the loss of age-old traditions? Or do you keep up with the times and celebrate the latest social innovations? Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: a horse and carriage →