Great Learning 4-5

[Turner]

[4] 古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。

The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states.

欲治其國者先齊其家。

Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans.

欲齊其家者先脩其身。

Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves.

欲脩其身者先正其心。

Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds.

欲正奇心者先誠其意。

Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere.

欲誠其意者先致其知。

Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge.

致知在格物。

Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things.

 

[5] 物格而后知至。

When things are investigated, knowledge is extended.

知至而后意誠。

When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere.

意誠而后心正。

When the will is sincere, the mind is correct.

心正而后身脩。

When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated.

身脩而后家齊。

When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized.

家齊而后國治。

When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed.

國治而后天下平。

When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land.

 

(Muller translation: http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/greatlearning.html)

 

Note: Legge's translation (http://nothingistic.org/library/confucius/learning/learning01.html) uses "heart" in place of "mind" and "thought" in place of "will."

[dawei]

Great job for giving some more space to discussing this sub-section

 

I am glad you point out the nuance of translating Xin (心) and Yi (意).

 

I lean toward:

Xin = heart-mind

Yi = intention

 

But it should reflect Confucian thought...