中庸第十九章 Doctrine of the Mean Chapter Nineteen

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原文：
子曰：“武王、周公，其达孝矣乎。
夫孝者，善继人之志，善述人之事者也。
春秋，修其祖庙，陈其宗器，设其裳衣，荐其时食。
宗庙之礼，所以序昭穆也。序爵，所以辨贵贱也。序事，所以辨贤也。旅酬下为上，所以逮贱也。燕毛所以序齿也。
践其位，行其礼，奏其乐，敬其所尊，爱其所亲，事死如事生，事亡如事存，孝之至也。
郊社之礼，所以事上帝也。宗庙之礼，所以祀乎其先也。明乎郊社之礼，禘尝之义，治国其如示诸掌乎。”

白话文：
孔子说：“武王，周公真是最守孝道的人了！
所谓的孝者，就是善于继承先人的遗志，善于继续先人未完成的事业。
在春秋两季祭祀的时节，整修祖宗庙宇，陈列祭祀器具，摆设先王遗留下来的衣裳，进献祭祀的鲜美食物。
宗庙祭祀的礼制，是要排列父子、长幼的顺序。按官爵排列次序，就可以分辨出贵贱，按职位排列次序，就能分辨出贤与不贤；敬酒时晚辈先向长辈举杯，这样祖先的恩惠就会延及到晚辈，宴饮时按头发的黑白次序坐，这样就使老少有次序。
站到自己的位置上，进行应有礼节，奏起那音乐，恭敬那所尊重的，敬爱那所亲爱的，侍奉死者如同侍奉生者一样，侍奉亡者如同侍奉生存的一样，这是最高的孝了。
祭祀天地的礼节，用来祭祀神明；祭祀宗庙的礼节，是用来祭祀祖先。明白了祭祀天地的礼节和夏祭秋祭的意义，那么治理天下国家，就像看着自己手掌上的东西那样明白容易啊！”

英文：
Confucius said: "King Wu and the Duke of Zhou truly embodied the perfect filial piety!
Filial piety means skillfully inheriting the aspirations of ancestors and carrying forward their unfinished endeavors.
During spring and autumn sacrifices, they repaired ancestral temples, displayed ritual vessels, arranged ancestral garments, and offered seasonal foods.
The rites of ancestral temples served to arrange the order of generations (Zhao-Mu system); ranking by nobility distinguished status; assigning duties identified the capable. When toasting, juniors first offered cups to elders to include the humble; seating by hair color (age) at banquets ordered seniority.
Standing at ancestral altars, performing rituals, playing sacred music, they honored whom ancestors revered and cherished whom ancestors loved. Serving the deceased as if alive, treating the departed as present—this is the pinnacle of filial devotion.
Sacrifices to heaven and earth served the Supreme Deity; ancestral rites honored forebears. Understanding these rituals and the meaning of Di and Chang sacrifices makes governing a nation as clear as viewing one's palm!"