Han shih wai chuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

Shang Jung[1] had once held the feather and flute.[2] Relying on
horse and foot soldiers, he wished to attack[3] [the tyrant] Chou,
but was unable to do so. As a result he went into hiding in T`aihsing.
When King Wu conquered Yin and set himself up as Son
of Heaven, he wished to make [him] a san-kung.[4] Shang Jung
refused, saying, "I once relied on horse and foot soldiers, wishing
to attack [the tyrant] Chou, but was unable to do so. That was
stupidity. That I went into hiding without fighting was due to a
lack of courage. Stupidity and a lack of courage are not sufficient
qualifications for a san-kung." He persisted in his refusal
to the end and would not accept the king's command.

On hearing of this, the superior man says, "Of Shang Jung
it can be said that having examined himself[5] he did not falsely
represent his abilities. He was a superior man indeed. He put
away from himself unearned food." The Ode says,[6]

O that superior man!
He would not eat unearned food!

Master Shang is an example of this.

[1]

Shu ching 315-6: "[King Wu] bowed in his carriage at the gate of Shang Jung's
village." Kung Ying-ta's subcommentary on Shang shu 11.15a quotes a legend from
Ti-wang shih-chi about Shang Jung, but it has no connection with the present account.
He is also mentioned by Wang Ying-lin in K`un-hsüeh chi-wên 2.34b (Shih chi 80.7b)
and by Ch`üan Tsu-wang (Ching-shih wên-ta 2.3b).

[2]

Cf. Li Ki 1.468: "In autumn and winter they were taught the use of the feather
and flute." (Legge 1.345.) Cf. also Shih 62 No. 38/3: "In my left hand I grasp a
flute; In my right I hold a pheasant's feather." The commentators both here and in
the Li chi passage interpret the flute and feather as civil implements supplanting
weapons, and so used in a dance in a time of peace. I understand it to mean here
that he was a civil functionary and not qualified to employ military means to gain
his ends.

[3]

Ssŭ-ma Chên's subcommentary on Shih chi 55.7a in quoting this passage has
[OMITTED] "reform" for [OMITTED]. Chao remarks that it makes good sense with what follows,
but is not to be reconciled with the first phrase.

[4]

[OMITTED]. Cf. HSWC 8/19.

[5]

Cf. Analects 252 (12/4.3).

[6]

Shih 170 No. 112/1/2/3.