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Excerpts from What Ignorant Children Must Know – On Speaking and Walking

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What Ignorant Children Must Know (童蒙須知, 동몽수지) was a Neo-Confucian work specifically intended for educating children on morals (修身, 수신).  The work is composed of five chapters: on Wearing Clothing (衣服冠履, 의복관구); on Speaking and Walking (語言步趨, 언어보추); on Cleaning (灑掃涓潔, 쇄소연결); on Reading and Writing (讀書寫字, 독서사자); and on Various Other Activities (雜細事宜, 잡세사의). The book gives details specific etiquette on in various facets of daily life.

Zhu Xi (朱熹, 주희, Ju Heui, 1130-1200) is the author of What Ignorant Children Must Know. The work first entered Korea at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty (高麗, 고려, 918-1392). It became a popular children’s book during the Chosun dynasty, and became first printed in 1517. There were other editions of the work. In Korea, Ro Sushin (盧守愼, 노수신, 1515-1590) wrote an annotated version of the work sometime during his nineteen year exile (1547-1566). Back in China, from where the work had originated, during the Qing dynasty, Wan Huquan (萬斛泉, 만곡천, Man Gokcheon, 1808-1904) wrote a versified edition of the work (童蒙須知韻語, 동몽수지운어).

語言步趨第二 언어보추제이

On Speaking and Walking – Chapter II

凡爲人子弟, 須是常低聲下氣, 語言詳緩, 不可高言喧哄, 浮言戲笑.
범위인자제, 수시상저성하기, 언어상완, 불가고언훤홍, 부언희소.

In general, those who have become the children and younger brothers of others must always lower their voice and decrease their energy, and their speech detailed and slow, and cannot be loud speech, chattering and giggling, and [do not] say trivialities teasing and laughing.

      • 喧(훤) – To chatter (지껄이다).
      • 哄(홍) – To laugh loudly (크게 웃다).

父兄長上有所教督, 但當低首聽受, 不可妄有議論.
부형장상유소교독, 단당저수청수, 불가망유의론.

When your father, older brothers, elders, and adults have [something] to teach or to supervise, it is right to only lower your head to listen and receive. You cannot absurdly have discussions.

長上檢責, 或有過誤, 不可便自分解.
장상검책, 혹유과오, 불가편자분해.

Even if the supervision or obligations of elders and adults are at fault or in error, you cannot by yourself [ask for] an explanation.

姑且隱默, 久却徐徐細意條陳云: “此事恐是如此. 向者, 當是偶爾遺忘.” 或曰: “當是偶然思省未至.”
고차은묵, 구각서서세의조진운: “차사공시여차. 향자, 당시우이유망.” 혹왈: “당시우연사성미지.”

Briefly [wait], and be calm and still. After awhile, gradually and slowly, put your intentions in detail and arrange one [grievance] by one [grievance], and say [to yourself], “This affair is perhaps like this. Last time, fairly and incidentally, I have forgotten.” Or say, “Fairly and by incidentally, my thoughts and reflections have not yet reached [to full comprehension].”

      • 姑(고) – Here, briefly (잠깐, 暫也).
      • 恐(공) – Here, perhaps or maybe (아마도).
      • 向者(향자) – Last time (지난번).

若爾, 則無傷忤, 事理自明. 至於朋友分上, 亦當如此.
약이, 즉무상오, 사리자명. 지어붕우분상, 역당여차.

If so done, you will not feel hurt or disobey, and the facts and reasons will naturally become clear. With regards to your friends and what was made clear above, it is also fair to do likewise.

      • 忤(오) – To disobey (거스리다).

凡聞人所爲不善, 下至婢僕違過, 宜且包藏, 不應便爾聲言, 當相告語, 使其知改.
범문이소위불선, 하지비부위과, 의차포장, 불응편이성언, 당상고어, 사기지개.

In general, if you hear what vices others pursue, as below, [even if] it has reached the transgressions and faults of your female and male servants, it is rightful to keep [that to yourself] and is just to not divulge [to others] the description [of the situation]. It is right to mutually give words of admonition and render their knowledge fixed.

      • 婢僕(비복) – Female and male servants.
      • 爾(이) – Here, third person pronoun (그).

凡行步趨蹌, 須是端正, 不可疾走跳躑.
범행보추창, 수시단정, 불가질주도척.

In generally, your stride and gait should be well-conducted. You cannot quickly run and leap while hesitating.

      • 趨蹌(추창) – Refers to an etiquette wherein one walks quickly while bowing.
      • 躑(척) – To hesitate (머뭇거리다).

若父母長上有所喚召, 却當疾走而前, 不可舒緩.
약부모장상유소환소, 각당질주이전, 불가서완.

If your father and mother or an elder or an adult have something to call [you about], it is rightful to quickly walk forward. [In such circumstances,] you cannot be lazy and tarry.

      • 喚(환) – To call (부르다).
      • 舒(서) – To be lazy (게으르다).
      • 緩(완) – To be slow (느리다).


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