觀guan
Contemplation
See also: Wilhelm commentary for Hexagram 20
Hexagram Statement
卦辭
王道之可觀者，莫盛乎宗廟。宗廟之可觀者，莫盛於盥也。至薦，簡略不足復觀，故觀盥而不觀薦也。孔子曰：「禘自既灌而往者，吾不欲觀之矣。」盡夫觀盛，則下觀而化矣。故觀至盥則有孚顒若也。
Of what is worthy of contemplation in the way of the king, nothing surpasses the ancestral temple. Of what is worthy of contemplation in the ancestral temple, nothing surpasses the ablution.
When it comes to the offering of food, it is simple and insufficient for further contemplation; therefore one contemplates the ablution but does not contemplate the offering. ' When one fully contemplates the grandeur, those below contemplate it and are transformed.
Therefore, when contemplation reaches the ablution, there is sincerity, dignified and reverent.
正義曰：觀者，王者道德之美而可觀也，故謂之觀。「觀盥而不薦」者，可觀之事，莫過宗廟之祭。盥，其禮盛也。薦者，謂既灌之後，陳薦籩豆之事，其禮卑也，今所觀宗廟之祭，但觀其盥禮，不觀在後籩豆之事，故云「觀盥而不薦」也。「有孚顒若」者，孚，信也。但下觀此盛禮，莫不皆化，悉有孚信而顒然，故云「有孚顒若」。
The Correct Meaning states: 'Contemplation' means that the beauty of the king's virtue and the Way is worthy of contemplation, hence it is called Guan (Contemplation).
'Contemplating the ablution but not the offering' means that of things worthy of contemplation, nothing surpasses the sacrifice at the ancestral temple. The ablution—its ritual is grand. The offering refers to the presenting of food vessels (bian and dou) after the libation—its ritual is lesser.
' 'There is sincerity, dignified and reverent': fu means sincerity. '
注「王道」至「顒若也」。正義曰：「盡夫觀盛則下觀而化」者，「觀盛」謂觀盥禮盛則休而止，是觀其大，不觀其細，此是下之效上，因觀而皆化之矣。故「觀至盥則有孚顒若」者，顒是嚴正之貌，若為語辭，言下觀而化，皆孚信容貌儼然也。
' The Correct Meaning states: 'When one fully contemplates the grandeur, those below contemplate and are transformed' means that 'contemplating the grandeur' refers to contemplating the grand ablution ritual and then stopping.
This is contemplating the great and not contemplating the minor—this is those below emulating those above, being transformed through contemplation.
Therefore 'when contemplation reaches the ablution, there is sincerity, dignified and reverent': yong means a solemn and upright appearance; ruo is a modal particle. It says that those below contemplate and are transformed, all having sincerity with a dignified and stately bearing.
Unlock Full Scholarly Text
Verify your email to access the complete bilingual translation. We'll send you a one-click verification link.
Free access. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏