The eight key dance in the court is tolerable, what does it mean to be unbearable

He used sixty-four people to play music and dance in his courtyard, and he could not bear to do such a thing, but what could he not do ruthlessly? ”

Confucius said of Ji's: "Eight dances in the court are tolerable, but they are unbearable!" ”

Confucius said of Ji, "He used sixty-four people to play music and dance in his courtyard, and he was willing to do such things, but what else should he not do ruthlessly?" ”

Interpretation] 八佾: 佾音yì, the meaning of the ranks. In ancient times, there were 8 people, and 8 hundred was 64 people, according to the provisions of "Zhou Li", only Zhou Tianzi could use eight hundreds, the princes were six hundreds, the secretary doctor was four hundreds, and the scholars used two hundred thousands.

Ji's is Zhengqing, and he can only use four hundreds. At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the slave society was trapped in the process of collapse and decay, and violations of Zhou etiquette and rebellion continued to occur, which was an inevitable manifestation of the process of replacing slavery with feudalism. The Ji Sun clan danced in the courtyard with eight hundreds, which is a typical incident that destroys the Zhou ceremony.

In this regard, Confucius showed great indignation, and the sentence "is it tolerable or intolerable" reflects Confucius's basic attitude towards this matter.

In the courtyard of his home temple, he played music and danced with eight hundreds, and he could tolerate such things, and what else could not be tolerated!

From the Analects of the Eight Hundred Chapters.

The original text "Confucius said that Ji's, 'Eight hundred dances in the court, it is tolerable, and it is unbearable. ’”

Translation: When Confucius commented on Ji's family, he said: "In the courtyard of his family temple, the Ji family can bear to do such a thing, and what else can't bear to do!" ”

From The Analects VIII.

The Chapter. It is the ranks of music and dance, and it is also the level and specification of music and dance that indicates social status. One hundred inner refers to a row of eight people, and eight hundred accommodate eight columns of sixty-four people. According to the rules of the Zhou rites, only the Son of Heaven can use eight hundreds, the princes use six hundreds, the secretary doctor uses four hundreds, and the scholars use two hundreds.

Ji's is Zhengqing, and he can only use four hundreds, but he uses eight hundreds. Confucius was extremely dissatisfied with this kind of transgression that undermined the hierarchy of Zhou rites, so when discussing Ji's family, he said: "In the courtyard of his family temple, he can tolerate such things with the music and dance of the Eight Hundreds, and what else can not be tolerated!" ”

佾yì Basic literal meaning.

1.The ranks of ancient music and dance: eight (eight rows and eight columns, a total of sixty-four people).

Detailed literal meaning. First name

1.Ranks of ancient dance

佾, dance ranks also. - Saying that the text is newly attached

Dancing Xia Gong six hundreds, Hou four hundreds. - The Biography of Gu Liang

佾, column also. - Guangya".

Eight hundred to dance in the Great Xia. - The Book of Rites and Rituals

Eight dances in the court. —The Analects 2Another example:

Yu Dance (an ancient dance in which the number of people in rows and the same number of people in the vertical and horizontal rows is arranged.) According to the regulations of the Western Zhou Dynasty slavery hierarchy, the Son of Heaven used eight hundreds, sixty-four; The princes used six hundreds, thirty-six people); 佾生 (佾舞生,乐舞生. In the Confucian Temple of the Qing Dynasty, the personnel who served as sacrificial music and dancers.

Wen's Zhi Yu Xuan, Wu's Zhi Shi Qi).