Translation:Tales of the New Era

Section I: Virtue and Conduct

 * 1) Zhong-Jyu was a learned man. His words and actions were regarded as a criterion for the knowledgeable and a model for the public. Riding in his new official limousine, Zhong-Jyu dreamt of bringing transparent politics to the world. He was made governor of YUZHANG. Once he arrived, he asked where Sir Xu-Roo lived, intending to pay a visit to him at once. The chief secretary said, "Our people will be expecting the governor to settle down in the mansion prior to this." But Zhong-Jyu replied, "When Lord Woo had just defeated Emperor Zhou of Shang, he commended Shang-Rong, minister of the Shang, immediately; at that time he had not had a chance to rest for warmth. Compared to that, with my courtesy towards this virtuous person, is there anything wrong?
 * 2) Zi-Jyu often said, "Once in a while I cannot meet with Sir Shu-Doo, my humbleness and avarice in mind would be breeding again."
 * 3) Lin-Zong once went to RUNAN and visited Feng-Gao, but he went on a trip again before his vehicle had even stopped completely. Later he visited Shu-Doo, while days and nights passed by. When asked about the reason, he said, "Shu-Doo is broad like millions of acres of lake, which can be neither filtered transparent, nor adulterated dirty. His magnitude is deep and wide, hard to measure."

Section II: Language and Conversation

 * 1) Wen-Lee visited the newly appointed governor Feng-Gao, feeling embarrassing. Feng-Gao said, "Once Hsu-You was employed by the reputed Emirate Yao, he did not appear to be embarrassed. Why do you behave as if your garments are upside-down, Sir?" Wen-Lee answered, "As governor, you have just arrived; your Emirate Yao-like virtue has not been displayed yet, which was the reason I looked as if my garments were upside-down."
 * 2) When Hsu-Roo was nine years old, he once played in the moonlight. Somebody asked him, "If there was nothing inside the white moon, it would be extremely bright, wouldn't it?" Hsu said, "Not exactly; as an analogy, there are pupils in one's eyes. Without them, eyes would not look so bright."

Section III: Policy and Affairs

 * 1) When Zhong-Gong was chair of TAI-TSIU, there was an officer who asked for a leave by lying about his mother being ill. The affair was found out. Zhong-Gong captured him, and sentenced him to death. The chief secretary requested that this case be sent to the inspection department for review of the details. But Zhong-Gong argued, "Deceiving the monarch was not loyal, and sickening his parent was not pious; because it was neither loyal nor pious, his felony could not have been worse. Could any detail that's inspected be of more importance?"

Section XXXVI: Resentment
世說新語