The Original Quote:
曾子有疾，孟敬子问之。曾子言曰：“鸟之将死，其鸣也哀；人之将死，其言也善。君子所贵乎道者三：动容貌，斯远暴慢矣；正颜色，斯近信矣；出辞气，斯远鄙倍矣。笾豆之事，则有司存。”
Zēngzǐ yǒu jí, Mèng Jìngzǐ wèn zhī. Zēngzǐ yán yuē: “Niǎo zhī jiāng sǐ, qí míng yě āi; rén zhī jiāng sǐ, qí yán yě shàn. Jūnzǐ suǒ guì hū dào zhě sān: dòng róngmào, sī yuǎn bào màn yǐ; zhèng yánsè, sī jìn xìn yǐ; chū cíqì, sī yuǎn bǐ bèi yǐ. Biān dòu zhī shì, zé yǒusī cún.”
English Translation:
When Master Zeng fell ill, Meng Jingzi came to inquire after him. Master Zeng spoke, saying: “As a bird approaches death, its cries are mournful; as a man approaches death, his words are sincere. There are three things that the noble person (jūnzǐ) treasures in the Way (dào): By composing his countenance, he avoids rudeness and negligence; by rectifying his expression, he draws near to trustworthiness; by modulating his speech and tone, he avoids coarseness and error. As for matters of ritual vessels and ceremonial details, there are officials to attend to them.”
Key Concepts Explained:
- 道 (Dào): The Way—the fundamental principle of moral order and proper conduct in Confucian thought, encompassing both personal cultivation and social harmony.
- 君子 (Jūnzǐ): The noble person or exemplary individual—one who cultivates virtue and leads by moral example, central to Confucian ethics.
- 信 (Xìn): Trustworthiness or integrity—a core virtue in Confucianism, essential for building reliable relationships and social cohesion.
- 礼 (Lǐ): Ritual propriety—the system of rites and ceremonies that embody moral values and structure social interactions, here distinguished from mere administrative tasks.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Lúnyǔ, Book 8, Chapter 4) captures Master Zengzi, a leading disciple of Confucius, imparting final wisdom to Meng Jingzi, a high-ranking official of the state of Lu. On his deathbed, Zengzi emphasizes that true leadership begins with self-cultivation of outward demeanor, not mere mastery of ritual procedures. The metaphor of the dying bird’s mournful cry underscores the urgency and sincerity of his advice. Historically, this teaching reflects the Confucian priority of moral character over bureaucratic expertise, a principle that shaped Chinese governance for millennia, where rulers were expected to inspire through personal virtue rather than coercive power.