Ceng Zi was ill, so he called his brother and said, "Give me enough! Yu Kaishou! As the poem says, "Fear is treading on thin ice". Occasionally, I know my husband and children! "

To annotate ...

Yes, Ceng Zi asked the students to lift the quilt and look at their hands and feet.

Shi Yun: The following three sentences are quoted from The Book of Songs Xiaoya Xiao Min.

Exemption: refers to protecting the body from harm.

Boy: Disciple's name.

translate

Ceng Zi was ill, so he called his students to him and said, "Look at my feet! Look at my hand (see if there is any damage)! The Book of Songs says,' Being careful is like walking on thin ice next to an abyss. From now on, I know my body will never be damaged again, disciples! "

Comment and analysis

Ceng Zi borrowed three sentences from The Book of Songs to illustrate that he was cautious all his life, avoided hurting his body and could be filial to his parents. According to the Book of Filial Piety, Confucius once said to Zeng Shen: "Parents dare not damage their bodies and skins, and filial piety begins." In other words, a dutiful son should take good care of his body, including his hair and skin, which is the beginning of filial piety. Before he died, Ceng Zi showed his students their hands and feet to prove that their bodies were intact, and that they had adhered to filial piety all their lives. This shows the importance of filial piety in Confucian moral norms.