The book of filial duty

No. XV He collected Mulberries to support his Mother

During the Han dynasty lived Ts‘ai Shun, whose father died when he was young, and who served his mother very dutifully. It happened that, during the troubles of the time, when Wang Mang was plotting to usurp the throne, there were years of scarcity, in which he could not procure food, and Ts‘ai was compelled to gather mulberries, which he assorted, putting them into two vessels. The red-eyebrowed robber⁴  saw him, and inquired why he did thus. Ts‘ai replied: "The black and ripe berries I give to my mother, the yellow and unripe ones I eat myself." The bandit admired his filial affection, and rewarded him with three measures of white rice and the leg of an ox.

Anxious and fearful, he seeks for food; untiring in his toil, he takes up his baskets and penetrates the thickets of the distant forests, where he finds many mulberry-trees. His hunger now has something to satisfy its cravings; he also remembers his mother, and that he must carry some to her. The ripe and unripe berries he does not put together, but divides them, so that mother and son can each have their proper portion. The chieftain heard of his conduct, and highly praised him, conferring a gift upon him,[[@Page:52]] and speaking of his filial piety to all around. Taking up his rice and flesh, Ts‘ai returned home to his mother with the food; and in their joy they even forgot that the year was one of dearth.

No. XVI He laid up the Oranges for his Mother

Lu Chi, a lad six years old, who lived in the time of Han and in the district of Kinkiang, once met the celebrated general Yüan Shu, who gave him a few oranges. Two of them the lad put in his bosom, and when turning to thank the giver, they fell out on the ground. When the general saw this, he said: "Why does my young friend, who is now a guest, put the fruit away in his bosom?" The youth, bowing, replied: "My mother is very fond of oranges, and I wished, when I returned home, to present them to her." At this answer Yüan was much astonished.

On account of his love for his parent, he would not at first taste the present of fruit, but put into his sleeve to carry home the fragrant and luscious gift. I think that when he saw his mother, her pleasant countenance must have brightened, for the fruit filled his bosom and delighted all who came near him. Lu, although so young, had the true heavenly disposition; even in the small matter of an orange he did not forget his parent's wishes. Many children are perhaps like this boy,[[@Page:53]] and those who requite their parents for the care bestowed upon them, we hope, are not few.

No. XVII On hearing the Thunder he wept at the Tomb

In the country of Wei lived Wang P‘ou, a very dutiful child, whose mother, when alive, was much afraid of thunder. After her death her grave was dug in the hilly forest; and whenever it blew and rained furiously, and Wang heard the sound of the chariot of the Thunder-goddess rolling along, he hastened immediately to the grave, and, reverently kneeling, besought her with tears, saying: "I am here, dear mother; do not be alarmed." And afterwards, whenever he read in The Book of Odes this sentence, "Children should have deep and ardent affection for their parents, who have endured so much anxiety in nourishing them," the tears flowed abundantly at the recollection of his mother.

Suddenly the black clouds arise from the wilderness, whirled by the wind; he hears the distant mutter of thunder from the southern hills. Heedless of the rain, hastily he speeds over the rugged path leading to the tomb, and as he goes round the grave his tones of grief and entreaty are heard. The roaring of the dreadful thunder affrights the ears of men, one clap following another in quick succession. If his kind mother,[[@Page:54]] when alive, always dreaded the voice of Heaven's majesty, how much more will she now, when lying alone in the depths of the wild forest! If P‘ou was with his mother, he knew she would be comforted; and he thinks that if in the green hills she has a companion, she will not be terrified. Afterwards, being successful, he refused to take the duties of an officer under the Emperor Ssŭ-ma, because he wished to go frequently to visit the grave of his parent. And when he was going and returning from it, he would weep at the recollection of his mother, and ask himself: "If I have not yet recompensed the care and trouble my mother endured for me, what more can I do?" And to this day, whenever scholars read the pages of the Liu O, they remember how tears bedewed the cheeks of Wang P‘ou.

No. XVIII He wept to the Bamboos, and Shoots sprang up

Mêng Tsung, who lived in the Chin dynasty, lost his father when young. His mother was very ill, and one winter's day she longed to taste a soup made of bamboo shoots, but Mêng could not procure any. At last he went into the bamboo grove, and, clasping the bamboos with his hands, wept bitterly. His filial love moved Nature, and the ground slowly opened, sending forth several shoots, which he gathered and carried home. He[[@Page:55]] made a soup of them, which his mother tasted, and immediately recovered from her malady.

In winter, when the forests are unsightly and bare, and the bamboos sombre and gloomy, for plants to send forth their branches is surprising and unexpected. But it is impossible to root out the true filial nature from men who have it, although senseless and ignorant people, not understanding its power, ridicule them, calling them mad. The young Mêng Tsung dutifully served his mother, and morning and evening waited on her to receive her commands. His mother was ill, and desired the delicacy of a soup made from bamboo shoots; but in dreary winter, Nature still concealed her fruits awaited. With anxious haste he goes to the cheerless forest, which he enters, seeking for them; but not finding the shoots, he entreats the bamboos with tears. One petition from his inmost heart ascended to the threshold of heaven, and the deities were delighted, laughing with pleasure. A miracle is wrought, the ordinary course of nature is reversed, and suddenly the pearly shoots appear in the forest.

No. XIX He slept on Ice to procure Carp

During the Chin dynasty lived Wang Hsiang, who early lost his mother, and whose stepmother[[@Page:56]] Chu had no affection for him. His father also, hearing many evil reports against him, in course of time ceased to regard him with kindness. His mother was in the habit of eating fresh fish at her meals, but winter coming, the ice bound up the rivers. Wang unloosed his clothes, and went to sleep on the ice in order to seek them; when suddenly the ice opened of itself, and two carp leapt out, which he took up and carried to his mother. The villagers, hearing of the affair, were surprised, and admired one whose filial duty was the cause of such an unusual event.

The river is firmly bound up by ice, and the fish are hidden in their deep retreats. Perturbed and anxious, Wang goes out to seek the fish, apparently forgetting that it was winter. His resolution is fixed, and although it is at the risk of his life, he will go. He was not dismayed at the coldness of the snow, nor terrified at the fierceness of the winds. Even the wicked spirits were deterred from injuring him, and dared not molest him. If metals and stones can be opened, shall ice be considered too difficult to cleave? The frisking fish came up on the surface of the water, obedient to the hand of him who would take them out. A thousand ages cannot efface the remembrance of the crack in the ice, nor obliterate the fragrant traces of so worthy a deed. [[@Page:57]]

No. XX Wu Mêng fed the Mosquitoes

Wu Mêng, a lad eight years of age, who lived in the Chin dynasty, was very dutiful to his parents. They were so poor that they could not afford to furnish their beds with mosquito-curtains; and every summer night myriads of mosquitoes attacked them without restraint, feasting upon their flesh and blood. Although there were so many, yet Wu would not drive them away from himself, lest they should go to his parents and annoy them. Such was his filial affection!

The buzzing of the mosquitoes sounds like ying, ying, and their united hum is almost equal to thunder. His tired parents are reclining on their bed, their countenances already sunk in slumber. Legions of mosquitoes fiercely attack them, alternately retreating and advancing. The insects disturb the dreaming sleepers, and with annoyance they toss from side to side. Wu sees them sucking his parents' blood, which causes his heart to grieve; his flesh, he thinks, can be easily pierced, but that of his parents is hard to penetrate. Lying on the bed, he threw off his clothes, and soon feeling the pain of their attacks, he cried: "I have no dread of you, nor have you any reason to fear me; although I have a fan, I will not use it, nor will I strike you with[[@Page:58]]

my hand. I will lie very quietly, and let you gorge to the full."

No. XXI

This story, commemorating Yü Ch‘ien-lou of the southern Ch‘i dynasty, is best left out.

No XXII

The same applies to this story, commemorating the Lady T‘ang of the T‘ang dynasty.

No. XXIII He resigned Office to seek his Mother

In the Sung dynasty lived Chu Shou-ch‘ang, whose mother, Liu, when he was seven years of age, left the family because she was hated by his father's wife; and mother and son did not see each other for about fifty years. It was during the reign of Shên Tsung that Chu resigned his official station and went into the Ch‘in country, and there made an engagement with his family "that he would not return until he had found his mother." He then travelled into T‘ung-chou, where he discovered his mother, who at that time was over seventy years of age.

Thus Chu exclaimed: "I have a mother; but, alas! separated, we abide in different villages.[[@Page:59]] It was not the free will of my mother which led her thus to forsake her son, but the envious mistress who compelled her to go. Without a mother, on whom shall I rely? to whom shall I pour out my sorrows and cares? Now I am grown older and have become an officer, but as yet I have been unable to return the kindness of my parent. In what place, among all the countries under heaven, does she live? I am determined to resign my office and seek her abode, not deterred from the trouble of the search. To effect it, I will part from my family and no longer be a companion with them; I will not return till I find my mother, and they need not await in expectation of me." Heaven directed his way, and he came into T‘ung-chou, where she resided. When the mother and the son met each other, joy and grief arose together—joy for the meeting after fifty years, sorrow that they had been so long apart. But now, in one hour, all their long-accumulated griefs were laid aside, and joy and gladness filled their hearts. Chu possesses the true heavenly disposition, and honours and riches cannot destroy his affection for his mother.

No. XXIV He watched by his Mother's Bedside

In the Yüan-yu period of the Sung dynasty, Huang T‘ing-chien filled the office of prefect.[[@Page:60]] He was of a very filial disposition, and although honourable and renowned, yet he received his mother's commands with the utmost deference. When his mother was seized with illness, he watched her for a whole year without leaving her bedside or even taking off his clothes; and at her death he mourned so bitterly that he himself fell ill and nearly lost his life.

Well-written poetry flows along like rills meandering among the hills and valleys. This instance of a dutiful heart has not as yet been brought into much notice. For a whole year he tended his parent in her illness; and both she who dwelt in the curtained room (i.e. his mother) and he who remained in the hall (i.e. his father) strove to express the merits of their son. It would be difficult to find another child who would have done so—all would be dilatory and unwilling; and where shall we meet another who would undergo such drudgery himself with keenness and pleasure? Although raised to high office, he does not hesitate to perform the most troublesome and minute duties, for he loves his parents; how then can we suppose that he will change from what he was when young and unhonoured?

Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.[[@Page:61]]

Advertisements

"The following advertisements appeared at the end of the original text. They are included for completeness."

THE ORIENT LIBRARY

THE WISDOM OF THE EAST SERIES

Edited by L. CRANMER-BYNG and Dr. S. A. KAPADIA

THE HON. ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE ORIENT LIBRARY

(WISDOM OF THE EAST SERIES)

Lord REAY, G.C.S.I., President.

Sir ARTHUR WOLLASTON, K.C.I.E., Chairman.

L. CRANMER-BYNG and S. A. KAPADIA, Hon. Secs.

Prof. T. W. Arnold (London University College).	Sir Henry Howorth, K.C.I.E.
Prof. L. D. Barnett(London University College).	Dr. S. A. Kapadia (London University College)
Miss G. Bell.	Sir Alfred Lyall, G.C.I.E.
Syed Hosain Bilgrami, C.S.I.	Sir Charles Lyall, K.C.S.I.
Prof. J. F. Blumhard (Cambridge University).	Prof. D. S. Margoliouth (Oxford University).
Prof. E. G. Browne (Cambridge University).	Mrs. D. S. Margoliouth.
L. Cranmer-Byng, Esq.	Prof. A. A. Macdonell (Oxford University).
Dr. J. Estlin Carpenter (Oxford University).	Theodore Morrison, Esq., M.A.
A. G. Ellis, Esq.	J. Morris, Esq. (Japan).
Prof. Gregory Foster (Provost London University College).	A. H. Hallam Murray, ESQ.
Prof. Reginald A. Nicholson (Cambridge University).	Prof. Rapson (Cambridge University)
Dr. M. Gaster	Miss Ridding.
Prof. H. A. Giles (Cambridge University).	Syed Ameer Ali., C.I.E.
Lionel Giles, Esq., M.A.	F. W. Thomas, Esq.,
M.A. Prof. Ignaz Goldziher (Buda-pest University).	Prof. Anton Tien.
Dr. G. A. Grierson, C.I.E.	Don M. De Wickremasinghe (Oxford University).

LONDON

JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.

[[@Page:62]] The Diwan of Abu’l-Ala

By HENRY BAERLEIN. 1/- net.

Brahma-Knowledge: An Outline of the Philosophy of the Vedānta

As set forth by the Upanishads and by Śankara. By L. D. BARNETT, M.A., Litt.D., Professor of Sanskrit at University College, London. 2/- net.

The Conduct of Life; or, The Universal Order of Confucius

A Translation of one of the four Confucian Books, hitherto known as the Doctrine of the Mean. By KU HUNG MING, M.A. (Edin.). 1/- net.

The Teachings of Zoroaster and the Philosophy of the Parsi Religion

Translated with Introduction by Dr. S. A. KAPADIA, Lecturer, University College, London. 2/- net.

The Persian Mystics

I. Jalálu’d-dín Rúmí

By F. HADLAND DAVIS. 2/- net.

II. Jámí.

By F. HADLAND DAVIS. 2/- net.

The Way of the Buddha

Selections from the Buddhist texts, together with the original Pali„ with Introduction by HERBERT BAYNES, M.R.A.S. 2/- net.

The Sayings of Confucius

A new Translation of the greater part of the Confucian Analects, with Introduction and Notes by LIONEL GILES, M.A. (Oxon.), Assistant in the Department of Oriental Books and Manuscripts of the British Museum. 2/- net.

Musings of a Chinese Mystic

Selections from the Philosophy of Chuang Tzŭ. With Introduction by LIONEL GILES, M.A. (Oxon,), Assistant at the British Museum. 2/- net.

The Awakening of the Soul

From the Arabic of IBN TUFAIL. Translated with Introduction by PAUL BRÖNNLE, Ph.D. 1/6 net.

The Religion of the Koran

With Introduction by Sir ARTHUR N. WOLLASTON, K.C.I.E. 1/- net.

[[@Page:63]] The Wisdom of Israel: Being Extracts from the Babylonian Talmud and Midrash Rabboth

Translated from the Aramaic with an Introduction by EDWIN COLLINS. 1/- net.

Sadi’s Scroll of Wisdom

By SHAIKH SA’DI. With Introduction by Sir ARTHUR N. WOLLASTON, K.C.I.E. 1/- net.

The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep and the Instruction of Ke’gemni

The Oldest Books in the World. Translated from the Egyptian with Introduction and Appendix by BATTISCOMBE G. GUNN. 1/- net.

The Rose Garden of Sa’di

Selected and Rendered from the Persian with Introduction by L. CRANMER-BYNG. 1/- net.

The Classics of Confucius

I. The Book of History (Shu-King)

By W. GORN OLD. 1/- net.

II. The Book of Odes (Shi-King)

By L. CRANMER-BYNG. 1/- net.

The Sayings of Lao Tzŭ

From the Chinese. Translated with Introduction by LIONEL GILES, of the British Museum. 1/- net.

Women and Wisdom of Japan

With Introduction by S. TAKAISHI. 1/- net.

Arabian Wisdom

Selections and Translations from the Arabic by JOHN WORTABET, M.D. 1/- net.

The Duties of the Heart

By Rabbi BACHYE. Translated from the Hebrew with Introduction by EDWIN COLLINS, Hollier Hebrew Scholar, U.C.L. 1/- net.

All literary communications to be addressed to the Editors of

THE ORIENT LIBRARY, c/o DR. S. A. KAPADIA, ORIENTAL

SECRETARY, NORTHBROOK SOCIETY, 185 PICCADILLY, LONDON, W.

The object of the Editors of this Series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West, the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour. Finally, in thanking press and public for the very cordial reception given to the "Wisdom of the East" Series, they wish to state that no pains have been spared to secure the best specialists for the treatment of the various subjects at hand.

SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS

The Athenæum.—"We wish that there were more of them; they are dreamy, lifelike, and fascinating."

Pall Mall Gazette.—"No translation of this important work has been made since the beginning of the eighteenth century."

Manchester Courier.—"Worthy of close study by all who would penetrate to the depth of Eastern thought and feeling."

Literary Guide.—"We wish success to this little series of books."

Outlook.—"This Series is published to help in the process of renewing the spiritual and moral life of the West."

The Scotsman.—"This Series should not fail to please readers of the more studious sort."

Southport Guardian.—"This Series will find considerable favour with all Students of Eastern Literature and Eastern Philosophy."

Bristol Mercury.—"We commend these little books to all who imagine that there is no knowledge worth having outside Europe and America."

Glasgow Herald.—"This new Series has a definite and lofty aim, and is deserving of support. The books are small, cheap, and well adapted for the pocket. Every page is regularly refreshing and stimulating."

Field.—"Such books are valuable aids to the understanding of a far-off age and people, and have a great interest for the student of literature."

Irish Times.—"The volumes are charming in form, low in price, and excellent in matter."

 

LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.

1^ Translated by John Carey Hall in Chinese Civilisation, by Pierre Laffitte.

2^ The 27th of the books of Chou in the Canon of History.

3^ I.e. Heaven, Earth, and Man.

4^ That is, the usurper Wang Mang himself.