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弟子規淺釋
Standards for Students

孫果秀註釋 Explained by Jennifer Lin

目錄

第一章﹕開宗明義章

Chapter 0ne: Revealing the Principle and Explaining the Meaning

弟子規,聖人訓。首孝悌,次謹信。
泛愛眾,而親仁。有餘力,則學文。

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you

yu

li

 

ze

xue

wen

還有

多餘的

心力

 

那麼、就

學習

學識文章

have

extra

strength

 

then

study

learning

假如以上都能努力去實行,還有更多的能力,就應該研究學問。
Whatever time you have left should be devoted to learning.

如果以上都能努力去實行,還有多餘的時間和精力,那就應該學習更多的知識。

 

If we diligently carry out the things mentioned in the lines above and still have some time and energy left after that, then we should study more to expand our knowledge.

 

為什麼呢?前面說到,如果沒有道德的基礎,才智學識都反而成為作惡的工具;但是假如道德具備了,卻沒有其他的技能知識,也沒有辦法擴展我們的見地,並進一步地幫助開導別人。就好比一個天生純潔的小嬰孩,連站也不會站,更別說懂得做什麼事了!所以「學文」,是十分重要的。但是在學文之初,要先著重道德的修習,所以說「有餘力」;就是在講究道德之後,還要再研究學識。

 

Why is this? As mentioned before, if we possess talent and knowledge but lack a foundation in virtue, then our talent will only serve to help us do evil. On the other hand, if we have virtue but lack skills and knowledge, then we will not be able to transmit our understanding or to help and teach others. We will be like a newborn baby who cannot even stand up, much less do anything else. Therefore, it is important to study. However, the cultivation of virtue should come even before studying. That's why the line says "whatever time you have left." After first concentrating on the cultivation of virtue, we should spend some time studying.

 

這個「文」字,在孔子的時代,指的是詩書六藝。也就是包括靜態的書本知識,如六經﹕詩、書、禮、樂、易、春秋;以及動態的技能訓練,如六藝 :禮、樂、射、御、書、數。

 

In Confucius' time, the scope of learning included the Book of Odes, the Book of History, and the six arts. It comprised both academic knowledge, such as from the six classics the Book of Odes, the Book of History, the Book of Rites, the Book of Music, the Book of Change, and the Spring and Autumn Annals --as well as practical skills, such as the six arts--rites, music, archery, charioteering , writing, and arithmetic.

   

《詩經 是中國古代的一部詩歌總集,上自君王,乃至文人百官、販夫走卒,都藉著詩歌來傳達他們的心意。讚嘆功德的,既不流阿諛﹕勸諫君王的,亦不顯露骨:悲歎命運的,也不至淒厲。因此,學詩足以陶冶人溫柔忠厚的本性。

 

The Book of Odes is a compilation of songs and poems from the kings, scholars, officials, and common people of ancient China: they used songs to express their thoughts and feelings. The odes praised merit without flattering, remonstrated with negligent rulers without being overly harsh, and lamented fate without being excessive. If we study them, we can develop a gentle and honest nature.

 

《書經是中國上古的歷史書,讀了可使人通達事理而有遠見。《樂經記載著音樂的道理,了解它,會令人知識廣博而平易善良。《易經》雖是一本卜筮的記載,卻窮究天四時之變化﹕讀通了它,人自然而然地敬天畏命,退而能守,進而能取了!《禮》是研習待人處世的種種禮節,學習這門知識,能令人恭敬自重而儉約。《春秋》孔子褒貶君臣大義的一部史書,我們可以自當中學到如何應對言談。

 

The Book of History, which records the history of China in remote antiquity, can give us a more comprehensive understanding of the facts and principles and a more farsighted view. If we can understand the principles of music theory found in the Book of Music, it will expand our learning and make us more mellow and easy-going. The Book of Change, while used for divination purposes, is actually an exhaustive key to the changes of Nature through the four seasons. Thorough study of it will naturally give us a sense of awe for the universe, we will know when to retreat and guard our position, and when to forge ahead. The Book of Rite. sets forth in detail the various rules of etiquette for inter-acting with others and conducting ourselves in the world. If we learn these rules, we will gain the respect of others, have more self-esteem. and be more thrifty. By studying the Spring and Autumn Annals. in which Confucius praised and disparaged the attitude and conduct of kings and officials, we can learn the proper way to speak in a variety of situations.

 

這六種的知識,陶冶我們六種不同的修養。而六藝呢?那是六種的技能訓練。學習禮節和音樂,有助於調和人莊嚴且和樂。射箭和駕御馬車,是一種智巧和體力配合的最佳體能訓練。書寫,可以磨平人的銳傲氣。算數,卻可以鍛鍊人的敏捷度。這都是古代中國學生的必修課,包括了現代所說的德、智、體、群四育。所以古代的人,事實上是一點也不落伍的。

 

The study of these six classics can refine our character in six different ways. The six arts are six practical disciplines. The study of rites and music instills in us a sense of dignity and harmony. Archery and charioteering are excellent forms of training that require the combined use of wit and physical strength. Writing, or calligraphy, tempers our aggressiveness and arrogance: arithmetic strengthens our mental agility. These were all subjects that students in ancient China were required to study. The elements of moral education, academic study, physical education, and social training are present in them. We can see that, compared to modern people, the ancients were not behind at all. 

 

 

我們現代的學校教育有我們的學科,這裡是說,在講求道德之餘,我們就該好好地把這些學科都研習了它,不可偏廢。這樣內在和外在兼而有之,才叫做「文質彬彬」。

 

Just as today's schools have their curriculum, here it says that in whatever time we have left after we have applied effort in cultivating virtue. We should devote ourselves to studying these subjects. In that way, we will have both inner cultivation and external knowledge and skills: we will have both elegance and substance.

   

孔子的學生中,有一個很出名的人物,誰呢?他姓仲名由,字子路。子路為人孝勇信義,豪爽質樸,卻也相當莽撞冒失。在拜孔子為師之前,他自恃勇猛,一向瞧不起那些口誦詩書,躬行揖讓之禮的讀書人,因此初次去見孔子,他就耀武揚威地闖了進去,帽插長長的山雞毛,腰佩熊皮劍套的特長號寶劍,好不威風!

 

Confucius had a well-known student named Zhong You, also called Zilu. As a person, Zilu was filial, brave, trustworthy, righteous, straightforward, and unpretentious. But he was also very reckless. Before he became Confucius' student, he had always depended on his bravery and looked down on the intellectuals who knew only how to recite from books and who cultivated courteous manners and yielded to others. The first time he went to see Confucius, he marched in with an awesome martial spirit, a long pheasant feather stuck in his cap, along sword sheathed in bearskin hanging from his waist. 

 

沒想到孔夫子卻是那麼神色自若,且溫文有禮。再比射箭,孔夫子也神閒氣定,箭箭直入紅心,毫不怯弱。子路自慚形穢,急忙退出,改易儒服,再正式去求見孔子,並拜孔子為師。可是江山易改,本性難移,這麼一個弟子,並非容易教化調伏的。

 

But Confucius' relaxed, gentle, and courteous manner caught him off guard. They had an archery match, during which Confucius was also calm and relaxed. Confucius shot confidently and hit the bull's eye every time. Zilu was embarrassed and ashamed of himself. He hurried back and changed into a scholar's robes, and then he went to visit Confucius formally and to bow to Confucius as his teacher. However, while it is not easy to move mountains and rivers, it is even harder for a person to change his character. Zilu was not a student who was easy to teach and subdue. 

 

有一次,他就問老師﹕「南山上有又高又直的好竹子,劈了來做箭,射得又直又遠。可見人只要有好的本質就夠了,又何必一定要學文?」孔子也引他的譬喻,反過來調教他﹕「這支竹箭,若前頭加上金屬的箭頭,後尾飾上羽毛,豈不更可射得遠,又入得深呢?」子路聽了,從此才專心向學,終於成為有用的人才。

 

He once asked his teacher, "An arrow made from the tail. straight bamboo growing on South Mountain will shoot straight and far. Likewise, if a man has a good character, that should be enough: what need is there to seek refinement in learning? Confucius used the same analogy to answer Zilu, saying, "If one adds a metal tip to that bamboo arrow and feathers to its shaft, won't it shoot even farther and strike even deeper?" Hearing that answer, Zilu was inspired to concentrate on his studies, and he eventually became a very capable individual.

   

開宗明義章只有八句,以後就把「孝」、「悌」、「謹」、「信」、「汎愛眾」、「親仁」和「學文」,逐次分章地解釋出來。

 

We have discussed the eight verses of the first chapter, which explains the principle and meaning of the text. The following chapters will individually explain the concepts of being filial, being respectful to elders, being careful, being trustworthy, being kind and friendly to all, drawing near to good people, and studying.

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