Confucius: Xue Er
The book Xue Er by Confucius is once again a text that teaches spookery, i.e. ruling one’s subjects through total deception.
Introduction
The 學而 Xué Ér is an ancient Chinese book allegedly written by Confucius, who is said to have lived around 500 BCE. As with many famous works, already the title doesn’t make much sense: It simply repeats the first 2 words and means “studying, but…” which carries no information. The possible punny spook title makes more sense: 學貳 xué èr means something like “imitating the assistants” or “imitating the secondary [people]”. For more proof, this meaning is repeated in the 2nd phrase, as Chinese poetry often uses repetition: 學貳勢傒 xué èr shì xī means “imitate an assistant, pretend to be a servant”. This sums up the whole concept of spookery: nepotist rulers feigning to be independent little people.
One term that is central to the text is 君子 jūnzǐ, which means both “noble character” and “nobleman”. Another central term is 孝弟 xiàodì “filial and fraternal piety”, which puns with 效低 xiàodī “imitating the lower [classes]”. The text was written by aristocrats for aristocrats, and teaches them how to hide their nepotism by posing as commoners!
This ancient Chinese text is proof that cryptocracy, i.e. the concept of ruling by systematically deceiving one’s subjects, was invented independently in many different regions around the world, typically in the most powerful & hierarchic civilizations. We find this concept in ancient Semitic texts, in Greek & Latin texts, in ancient Egypt, and now in ancient China. The Fertile Crescent and China were nowhere close to each other, neither geographically nor culturally. Still, the concept of systematic deception is present in both regions. This proves that it was developed independently: Once a civilization had advanced sufficiantly to allow the rulers to deceive their subjects without retribution or even detection, they did simply that, and even wrote encrypted texts about it!
How to read this
- In the interlinear word-by-word translation, each word is shown as a little block; each verse is a paragraph of little blocks.
- Use the Pun Config to choose your level: Minimal for secret meaning only, Beginner for secret & official English texts, Intermediate for word-by-word vocabulary, Expert for original text & glyphs.
- Possible pun-encrypted meaning is marked with light red.
- Official meaning is marked with light green.
- Pun vocabulary is in red, whenever the meaning differs. All vocabulary is linked to online dictionaries.
- Please read the introduction, and judge yourself whether I got it right.
- Religious readers should proceed with care.
Pose as a Subject
Imitate the assistants, pose as a servant.
Xue Er 1.1.a
Encrypted: Confucius says: Imitating the assistants, posing outwardly as a servant doing it, is it not also governing them?
Official: Confucius says: Learning but with constant time and habit doing it, is it not also pleasing?
Confucius
子 zǐ: master, teacher
子 zǐ
子 zǐ: master, teacher
Confucius
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
Imitating
學 xué: imitate
學 xué
學 xué: learn
Learning
the assistants,
佴 èr: assistant; 貳 èr: assistant, secondary
而 ér
而 ér: but
but [with]
posing outwardly
勢 shì: pose, outward appearance
時 shí
時 shí: time
[constant] time
[as] a servant
傒 xī: servant; 奚 xī: servant
習 xí
習 xí: practice, habit
[and] habit
[doing] it,
之 zhī: it, them
之 zhī
之 zhī: it, them
[doing] it,
[is it] not also
不 bù: not; 亦 yì: also
不亦 bùyì
不 bù: not; 亦 yì: also
[is it] not also
governing [them]?
御 yù: manage, govern
說 yuè
悅 yuè: pleasing
pleasing?
乎 hū: (question)
乎 hū
乎 hū: (question)
Beguile by feigning to be a stranger.
Xue Er 1.1.b
Encrypted: Beguiling by being similar to one from a faraway place coming, is it not also commanding them?
Official: Having friends from a faraway place coming, is it not also happy?
Beguiling
誘 yòu: beguile, lure, mislead
有 yǒu
有 yǒu: there is
Having
[by being] similar to [one]
朋 péng: similar, equal
朋 péng
朋 péng: friend
friends
from
自 zì: from
自 zì
自 zì: from
from
a faraway place
遠方 yuǎnfāng: far away
遠方 yuǎnfāng
遠方 yuǎnfāng: far away
a faraway place
coming,
來 lái: come
來 lái
來 lái: come
coming,
[is it] not also
不 bù: not; 亦 yì: also
不亦 bùyì
不 bù: not; 亦 yì: also
[is it] not also
commanding [them]?
勒 lè: compel, force, lead, command
樂 lè
樂 lè: happy, cheerful
happy?
乎 hū: (question)
乎 hū
乎 hū: (question)
You can be a nobleman even if people don’t know you are.
Xue Er 1.1.c
Encrypted: If people do not know him, yet he does not feel discomfort, is he not also still a nobleman?
Official: If people do not know him, yet he does not feel discomfort, is he not also a noble character?
[If] people
人 rén: man, people
人 rén
人 rén: man, people
[If] people
do not
不 bù: not
不 bù
不 bù: not
do not
know [him],
知 zhī: know
知 zhī
知 zhī: know
know [him],
yet
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
yet
[he does] not
不 bù: not
不 bù
不 bù: not
[he does] not
feel discomfort,
慍 yùn: feel hurt
慍 yùn
慍 yùn: feel hurt
feel discomfort,
[is he] not also
不 bù: not; 亦 yì: also
不亦 bùyì
不 bù: not; 亦 yì: also
[is he] not also
[still] a nobleman?
君子 jūnzǐ: nobleman
君子 jūnzǐ
君子 jūnzǐ: noble character
a noble character?
乎 hū: (question)
乎 hū
乎 hū: (question)
If you imitate the lowly folk, they stop being violent towards you.
Xue Er 1.2.a
Encrypted: Youzi says: Such acting persons, if they do imitate the lower folk but those folk still are prone to offending their superiors, this would be rare.
Official: Youzi says: Such acting persons, if they are of filial piety and fraternal piety, but they still are prone to offending their superiors, this would be rare.
Youzi
有子 yǒuzǐ: Youzi
有子 yǒuzǐ
有子 yǒuzǐ: Youzi
Youzi
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
Such
其 qí: he, his, one, such, if
其 qí
其 qí: he, his, one, such, if
Such
acting
為 wéi: act as, become
為 wéi
為 wéi: act as, become
acting
persons,
人 rén: man, person
人 rén
人 rén: man, person
persons,
if [they do]
也 yě: indeed, if
也 yě
也 yě: indeed, if
if [they are]
imitate
效 xiào: imitate
孝 xiào
孝 xiào: filial piety
of filial piety
the lower [folk]
低 dī: low, beneath
弟 dì
弟 dì: younger brother
and fraternal piety,
but [those folk still are]
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
but [they still are]
prone
好 hào: prone to
好 hào
好 hào: prone to
prone
to offending
犯 fàn: violate, offend
犯 fàn
犯 fàn: violate, offend
to offending
[their] superiors,
上 shàng: upper, superior
上 shàng
上 shàng: upper, superior
[their] superiors,
者 zhě: one who (is)
者 zhě
者 zhě: one who (is)
[this would be] rare.
鮮 xiǎn: rare
鮮 xiǎn
鮮 xiǎn: rare
[this would be] rare.
矣 yǐ: (final particle)
矣 yǐ
矣 yǐ: (final particle)
If people are not violent, there will be no rebellion.
Xue Er 1.2.b
Encrypted: And if they are not even prone to violating their own superior, but that they would still be prone to create disorder & rebellion, not something like this there is indeed.
Official: And if they are not even prone to violating their own superior, but that they would still be prone to create disorder & rebellion, not something like this there is indeed.
[And if they are] not [even]
不 bù: not
不 bù
不 bù: not
[And if they are] not [even]
prone to
好 hào: prone to
好 hào
好 hào: prone to
prone to
violating
犯 fàn: violate, offend
犯 fàn
犯 fàn: violate, offend
violating
[their own] superior,
上 shàng: upper, superior
上 shàng
上 shàng: upper, superior
[their own] superior,
but
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
but
[that they would still be] prone
好 hào: prone to
好 hào
好 hào: prone to
[that they would still be] prone
to create
作 zuò: do, make
作 zuò
作 zuò: do, make
to create
disorder & rebellion,
亂 luàn: disorder, unrest, rebellion
亂 luàn
亂 luàn: disorder, unrest, rebellion
disorder & rebellion,
者 zhě: one who (is)
者 zhě
者 zhě: one who (is)
not
未 wèi: not yet
未 wèi
未 wèi: not yet
not
[something like] this
之 zhī: this
之 zhī
之 zhī: this
[something like] this
there is
有 yǒu: there is
有 yǒu
有 yǒu: there is
there is
indeed.
也 yě: indeed
也 yě
也 yě: indeed
indeed.
You can fake your origin, and still lead the lower classes.
Xue Er 1.2.c
Encrypted: Because even if a nobleman has no known origin, his established position will yet lead the multitudes. Imitating the lower classes, if one is like this, that is just faking a person of him the origin, is it not?
Official: A noble character pursues this foundation, having established this, there will yet all other principles grow. Filial and fraternal duty, if one is like this, that is becoming a person of virtue of it the origin, is it not?
[Because even if] a nobleman
君子 jūnzǐ: nobleman
君子 jūnzǐ
君子 jūnzǐ: noble character
A noble character
has no
無 wú: not have
務 wù
務 wù: engage, seek, pursue
pursues
[known] origin,
本 běn: source, origin
本 běn
本 běn: source, origin
this foundation,
[his] established position
本利 běnlì: capital and profit
本立 běnlì
本 běn: this, present, current; 立 lì: stand, standing, establish
[having] established this,
[will] yet
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
[there will] yet
lead
导 dǎo: guide, lead
道 dào
道 dào: path, principle
[all other] principles
the multitudes.
甡 shēn: multitude
生 shēng
生 shēng: born, grow
grow.
Imitating the lower [classes],
效 xiào: imitate; 低 dī: low, beneath
孝弟 xiàodì
孝 xiào: filial piety; 弟 dì: younger brother
Filial and fraternal duty,
if [one is]
也 yě: also, if
也 yě
也 yě: also, if
if [one is]
[like] this,
者 zhě: one who (is), this
者 zhě
者 zhě: one who (is), this
[like] this,
that [is]
其 qí: one, it, that
其 qí
其 qí: one, it, that
that [is]
[just] faking
偽 wěi: false, fake, forged
為 wéi
為 wéi: act as, become
becoming
a person
人 rén: man, person
仁 rén
仁 rén: humane, person of virtue
a person of virtue
of him
之 zhī: him, it
之 zhī
之 zhī: him, it
of it
the origin,
本 běn: source, origin
本 běn
本 běn: source, origin
the origin,
[is it not]?
與 yǔ: and; 歟 yú: (final particle)
與 yú
與 yǔ: and; 歟 yú: (final particle)
[is it not]?
Skillful words & fake appearances change a person.
Xue Er 1.3.a
Encrypted: Confucius says: Skillful words and another appearance, can visibly change a person!
Official: Confucius says: Skillful words and overly good appearance, this is rare for a true person of virtue!
Confucius
子 zǐ: master, teacher
子 zǐ
子 zǐ: master, teacher
Confucius
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
Skillful words
巧 qiǎo: skillful; 言 yán: words, speech
巧言 qiǎoyán
巧 qiǎo: skillful; 言 yán: words, speech
Skillful words
[and] another
另 lìng: other, another
令 lìng
令 lìng: good, excellent
[and overly] good
appearance,
色 sè: color, look, appearance
色 sè
色 sè: color, look, appearance
appearance,
[can] visibly
㬎 xiǎn: visible, apparent
鮮 xiǎn
鮮 xiǎn: rare
[this is] rare
change
異 yì: different, other
矣 yǐ
矣 yǐ: (final particle)
a person!
人 rén: man, person
仁 rén
仁 rén: person of virtue
[for a true] person of virtue!
Check your role-playing for believability.
Xue Er 1.4.a
Encrypted: Zengzi says: I myself every day in three ways do I shape my own self: When as another person I do imitate, do I appear yet not correct enough? When fooling my retainers in pretense, do I appear yet not believable enough? When I play a role, am I not thorough enough?
Official: Zengzi says: I myself every day in three ways do I inspect my own self: When for another person I do work, am I yet not honest enough? When with my friends I do associate, am I yet not truthful enough? When I am taught, do I not learn enough?
Zengzi
曾子 zēngzǐ: Zengzi
曾子 zēngzǐ
曾子 zēngzǐ: Zengzi
Zengzi
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
I myself
吾 wú: I, my
吾 wú
吾 wú: I, my
I myself
[every] day
日 rì: day
日 rì
日 rì: day
[every] day
[in] three [ways]
三 sān: three
三 sān
三 sān: three
[in] three [ways]
[do I] shape
形 xíng: appear, look, shape
省 xǐng
省 xǐng: inspect, examine
[do I] inspect
my [own]
吾 wú: I, my
吾 wú
吾 wú: I, my
my [own]
self:
身 shēn: body, oneself
身 shēn
身 shēn: body, oneself
self:
[When] as
為 wéi: become, as
為 wèi
為 wèi: to, for
[When] for
[another] person
人 rén: man, person
人 rén
人 rén: man, person
[another] person
[I do] imitate,
模 mó: imitate
謀 móu
謀 móu: seek, work for
[I do] work,
[do I appear] yet
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
[am I] yet
not
不 bù: not
不 bù
不 bù: not
not
correct [enough]?
中 zhòng: hit the mark, correct, successful
忠 zhōng
忠 zhōng: loyal, honest
honest [enough]?
乎 hū: (question)
乎 hū
乎 hū: (question)
[When] fooling
愚 yú: cheat, deceive, fool
與 yǔ
與 yǔ: together with
[When] with
[my] retainers
朋友 péngyǒu: retainers
朋友 péngyǒu
朋友 péngyǒu: friend
[my] friends
[in] pretense,
矯 jiǎo: pretend, feign
交 jiāo
交 jiāo: make friends
[I do] associate,
[do I appear] yet
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
[am I] yet
not
不 bù: not
不 bù
不 bù: not
not
believable [enough]?
信 xìn: believe, accurate
信 xìn
信 xìn: truthful, true
truthful [enough]?
乎 hū: (question)
乎 hū
乎 hū: (question)
[When I] play a role,
裝 zhuāng: play a role, pretend
傳 chuán
傳 chuán: teach
[When I am] taught,
[am I] not
不 bù: not
不 bù
不 bù: not
[do I] not
thorough [enough]?
細 xì: detailed, meticulous, thoroughly
習 xí
習 xí: practice, study
learn [enough]?
乎 hū: (question)
乎 hū
乎 hū: (question)
Xue Er 1.5.a
Encrypted: Confucius says: Leading of thousands of people a nation, one must plaster up one’s personal affairs and yet be believable, guard against the crowds and obstruct the people, make the people forget the truth.
Official: Confucius says: Leading of a thousand chariots a nation, one must respectfully treat one’s personal affairs and yet be truthful, be economic with using resources and love the people, employing the people at the right seasons.
Confucius
子 zǐ: master, teacher
子 zǐ
子 zǐ: master, teacher
Confucius
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
Leading
導 dǎo: lead, guide, direct
道 dǎo
導 dǎo: lead, guide, direct
Leading
of thousands
千 qiān: thousand
千 qiān
千 qiān: thousand
of a thousand
of people
甡 shēn: multitude, crowd
乘 shèng
乘 shèng: chariot
chariots
之 zhī: (possession)
之 zhī
之 zhī: (possession)
a nation,
國 guó: nation
國 guó
國 guó: nation
a nation,
[one must] plaster up
墐 jǐn: bury, plaster
敬 jìng
敬 jìng: respect
[one must] respectfully [treat]
[one’s personal] affairs
事 shì: matter, affair
事 shì
事 shì: matter, affair
[one’s personal] affairs
and yet
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
and yet
be believable,
信 xìn: believe, accurate
信 xìn
信 xìn: trust, true, truthful
be truthful,
guard against
戒 jiè: guard against
節 jié
節 jié: economize, save
be economic
the crowds
擁 yōng: crowd, crowd of people
用 yòng
用 yòng: use
[with] using [resources]
and
而 ér: but, yet, and
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet, and
and
obstruct
礙 ài: hinder, obstruct, block
愛 ài
愛 ài: like, love
love
the people,
人 rén: man, people
人 rén
人 rén: man, people
the people,
make
使 shǐ: make, cause, employ
使 shǐ
使 shǐ: make, cause, employ
employing
the people
民 mín: people
民 mín
民 mín: people
the people
forget
遺 yí: lose, forget, fail to remember
以 yǐ
以 yǐ: at
at
the truth.
實 shí: truth, fact, reality
時 shí
時 shí: time, season
[the right] seasons.
A ruler must imitate the lowly people.
Xue Er 1.6.a
Encrypted: Confucius says: A ruler person when he enters office he should imitate the little people, and when he goes out he should still imitate the lowly people.
Official: Confucius says: A young person when he enters the house then he should be filial, and when he goes out then he should still behave like a junior.
Confucius
子 zǐ: master, teacher
子 zǐ
子 zǐ: master, teacher
Confucius
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
A ruler
帝 dì: emperor, sovereign
弟 dì
弟 dì: junior
A young
person
子 zǐ: person
子 zǐ
子 zǐ: son, child
person
[when he] enters [office?]
入 rù: enter
入 rù
入 rù: enter
[when he] enters [the house]
[he should] imitate
則 zé: follow, imitate
則 zé
則 zé: but, then
then
the little [people],
小 xiǎo: small
孝 xiào
孝 xiào: filial piety
[he should be] filial,
[and when he] goes out
出 chū: go out
出 chū
出 chū: go out
[and when he] goes out
[he should still] imitate
則 zé: follow, imitate
則 zé
則 zé: but, then
then
the lowly [people].
低 dī: low, beneath
弟 dì
弟 dì: junior
[he should still behave like] a junior.
A ruler must hinder & obstruct the multitudes.
Xue Er 1.6.b
Encrypted: He should be careful, yet believable. He should hinder and obstruct the multitudes and capture the people.
Official: He should be sincere, and truthful. He should overflow with love to all and be close to persons of virtue.
[He should be] careful,
謹 jǐn: sincere, careful
謹 jǐn
謹 jǐn: sincere, careful
[He should be] sincere,
yet
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
and
believable.
信 xìn: believe, accurate
信 xín
信 xìn: trust, true, truthful
truthful.
[He should] hinder
妨 fáng: hinder
汎 fàn
泛 fàn: flood, extensive
[He should] overflow
and obstruct
礙 ài: hinder, obstruct
愛 ài
愛 ài: like, love
[with] love
the multitudes
眾 zhòng: crowd, multitude
眾 zhòng
眾 zhòng: many, numerous
[to] all
and
而 ér: but, yet
而 ér
而 ér: but, yet
and
capture [???]
擒 qín: catch, seize, hold, capture
親 qīn
親 qīn: close, intimate
be close
the people.
人 rén: man, person, people
仁 rén
仁 rén: humane, person of virtue
to persons of virtue.
If possible, he should still feign to be friendly.
Xue Er 1.6.c
Encrypted: But if he is able to have extra ability, then he should use it to still imitate gentleness.
Official: And if he is able to have extra strength, then he should use it to study literature.
[But if he is] able to
行 xíng: go, do, able, capable
行 xíng
行 xíng: go, do, able, capable
[And if he is] able to
have
有 yǒu: have, there is
有 yǒu
有 yǒu: have, there is
have
extra
餘 yú: extra, surplus
餘 yú
餘 yú: extra, surplus
extra
ability,
力 lì: strength, power, ability
力 lì
力 lì: strength, power, ability
strength,
then
則 zé: but, then
則 zé
則 zé: but, then
then
[he should] use it
以 yǐ: by means of, use
以 yǐ
以 yǐ: by means of, use
[he should] use it
to [still] imitate
學 xué: imitate
學 xué
學 xué: learn, study
to study
gentleness [??].
溫 wēn: mild, soft, tender, gentle
文 wén
文 wén: writing, literary
literature.
If your appearance needs to be changed, you can borrow a role.
Xue Er 1.7.a
Encrypted: Zixia says: If one’s appearance is changed for another role, if for the affairs of a governor he can borrow for himself a veil mask, if for the affairs of a ruler he can conceal his self,
Official: Zixia says: If a virtuous man has changed from worshiping beauty, if for the affairs of his parents he can exhaust his energy, if for the affairs of his ruler he can devote his self,
Zixia
子夏 zǐxià: Zixia
子夏 zǐxià
子夏 zǐxià: Zixia
Zixia
says:
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
says:
[If one’s] appearance
顯現 xiǎnxiàn: appearance, appear
賢賢 xiánxián
賢 xián: virtuous, worthy
[If] a virtuous man
is changed
易 yì: change, exchange
易 yì
易 yì: change, exchange
has changed
[for another] role,
色 sè: appearance, theatrical role
易色 sè
色 sè: beauty, lust
[from worshiping?] beauty,
[if for] the affairs
事 shì: matter, thing, affair
事 shì
事 shì: matter, thing, affair
[if for] the affairs
[of] a governor
府幕 fǔmù: government advisor
父母 fùmǔ
父母 fùmǔ: parents
[of his] parents
[he] can
能 néng: can, able
能 néng
能 néng: can, able
[he] can
borrow
借 jiè: lend, borrow
竭 jié
竭 jié: exhaust
exhaust
[for] himself
其 qí: he, his
其 qí
其 qí: he, his
his
a veil [mask],
縭 lí: veil
力 lì
力 lì: power, strength, ability
energy,
[if for] the affairs
事 shì: matter, thing, affair
事 shì
事 shì: matter, thing, affair
[if for] the affairs
of a ruler
君 jūn: lord, ruler
君 jūn
君 jūn: lord, ruler
of [his] ruler
[he] can
能 néng: can, able
能 néng
能 néng: can, able
[he] can
conceal
遮 zhē: cover, hide, conceal
致 zhī
致 zhì: devote, cause
devote
his
其 qí: he, his
其 qí
其 qí: he, his
his
self,
身 shēn: body, oneself
身 shēn
身 shēn: body, oneself
self,
Pretense in speech must have the servants’ trust.
Xue Er 1.7.b
Encrypted: if when being with his retainers, his pretense in speech is but having their trust.
Official: if when being with his friends, his exchange of speech is but having truth.
[if when being] with
與 yǔ: and, with
與 yǔ
與 yǔ: and, with
[if when being] with
[his] retainers,
朋友 péngyǒu: retainers
朋友 péngyǒu
朋友 péngyǒu: friend
[his] friends,
[his] pretense
矯 jiǎo: pretend, feign
交 jiāo
交 jiāo: turn over, make friends
[his] exchange
in speech
言 yán: speech, talk, words
言 xíng
言 yán: speech, talk, words
of speech
is but
而 ér: but, yet
而 ěr
而 ér: but, yet
is but
having
有 yǒu: have, there is
有 yǒu
有 yǒu: have, there is
having
[their] trust.
信 xìn: trust, believe
信 xìng
信 xìn: truthful
truth.
Some say we don’t need imitation, but we do.
Xue Er 1.7.c
Encrypted: Although some will say one does not need imitation here, but we in our position need imitation.
Official: Although some will say he has not learned anything here, but I certainly would say that he has learned something.
Although
雖 suī: although
雖 suī
雖 suī: although
Although
[some will] say
曰 yuē: say
曰 yuē
曰 yuē: say
[some will] say
[one does] not
未 wèi: not, have not
未 wèi
未 wèi: not, have not
[he has] not
[need] imitation [here],
學 xué: imitate
學 xué
學 xué: learn
learned [anything here],
[but] we [in] our
吾輩 wúbèi: we, us
吾必 wúbì
吾 wú: I; 必 bì: must, certainly
[but] I certainly
position
位置 wèizhi: place, position
謂之 wèizhī
謂 wèi: speak, say; 之 zhī: him
[would] say [that] he [has]
[need] imitation.
學 xué: imitate
學 xué
學 xué: learn
learned [something].
矣 yǐ: (final particle)
矣 yǐ
矣 yǐ: (final particle)