《 DISCOURSES 1.11 》
WHEN THE FATHER IS ALIVE 《父在》
WHEN THE FATHER IS ALIVE
《父在》
When the father is alive, observe the son’s intentions;
when the father passes, observe the son’s actions.
If for three years he does not change the father’s way,
he may be called affectionate and trustingly obedient.– Kongzi 孔子
父在，觀其志；
父沒，觀其行；
三年無改於父之道，
可謂孝矣。
When the father is alive, observe the son’s intentions; when the father passes, observe the son’s actions. If for three years he does not change the father’s way, he may be called affectionate and trustingly obedient.– Kongzi 孔子
父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。
[currently under review]
When the father is alive, observe the son’s intentions; when the father passes, observe the son’s actions. If for three years he does not change the father’s way, he may be called affectionate and trustingly obedient.
When the father is alive, the son cannot take sole charge for himself, but his intentions can be known. When the father has passed, however, then his actions can be seen. Surely observing this is sufficient to discern the good and bad of a person. Nevertheless, in addition he must be able to maintain his father’s way for three years; thereupon his xiao (孝, virtuous service) can be seen. If it is not so, then these actions, although good for their part, are not able to be regarded as affectionate and trustingly obedient.
– Zhu Xi 朱熹
父在，子不得自專，而志則可知。父沒，然後其行可見。故觀此足以知其人之善惡，然又必能三年無改於父之道，乃見其孝，不然，則所行雖善，亦不得為孝矣。
° ° °
If [the father’s ways are] in accordance with the Way, even though they go all the way to the end of one’s life without change, it is acceptable. If not in accordance with the Way, why wait for three years? In this case, it is because the filial son’s heart holds something which cannot bear the change.
– Yin Tun 尹焞¹
如其道，雖終身無改可也。如其非道，何待三年。然則三年無改者，孝子之心有所不忍故也。
“Three years without change” only refers to situations in which the thing is apt to change but is acceptable unchanged.
– You Zuo 游酢²
三年無改，亦謂在所當改而可以未改者耳。
Translated text: Discourses with Collected Commentaries, Qing Dynasty imperial library edition, pg5: chapter 1, verse 11.