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Three-Character Classic st.17-20, attrib. Wang Yinglin
Tuesday, 25 April 2023 07:5317.
We speak of water, fire,
Metal, wood, and earth—
These are the five changes
Rooted in repetition.
曰水火
木金土
此五行
本乎数
18.
We speak of righteous, kind,
Proper, wise, and true:
These are the five eternals
Preventing all disorder.
曰仁义
礼智信
此五常
不容紊
19.
Sorghum, rice, and beans,
Wheat, millet, and white millet:
These are the six grains,
All things that people eat.
稻粱菽
麦黍稷
此六谷
人所食
20.
Horses, cattle, sheep,
Chickens, dogs, and pigs:
These are the six livestocks,
All things that people feed.
马牛羊
鸡犬豕
此六畜
人所饲
• 17: The traditional term “five elements” is a bad translation for 五行; “phases” is slightly better, and I sometimes use that, but “changes” comes closer to the concept of 行, which has the root sense of motion. • 18: Better (i.e. less compacted) translations of the five eternals qualities would be the noun forms “benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and integrity.”
---L.
We speak of water, fire,
Metal, wood, and earth—
These are the five changes
Rooted in repetition.
曰水火
木金土
此五行
本乎数
18.
We speak of righteous, kind,
Proper, wise, and true:
These are the five eternals
Preventing all disorder.
曰仁义
礼智信
此五常
不容紊
19.
Sorghum, rice, and beans,
Wheat, millet, and white millet:
These are the six grains,
All things that people eat.
稻粱菽
麦黍稷
此六谷
人所食
20.
Horses, cattle, sheep,
Chickens, dogs, and pigs:
These are the six livestocks,
All things that people feed.
马牛羊
鸡犬豕
此六畜
人所饲
• 17: The traditional term “five elements” is a bad translation for 五行; “phases” is slightly better, and I sometimes use that, but “changes” comes closer to the concept of 行, which has the root sense of motion. • 18: Better (i.e. less compacted) translations of the five eternals qualities would be the noun forms “benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and integrity.”
---L.