Jin Xin II · Passage 36 / 38 · 孟子 7B.36

Mencius 7B.36: Zengzi avoids sheep-dates because rite

Mencius explains Zengzi's refusal to eat sheep-dates by showing that ritual avoidance protects what is uniquely tied to one beloved person.

曾晳嗜羊棗，而曾子不忍食羊棗。公孫丑問曰：「膾炙與羊棗孰美？」孟子曰：「膾炙哉！」公孫丑曰：「然則曾子何為食膾炙而不食羊棗？」曰：「膾炙所同也，羊棗所獨也。諱名不諱姓，姓所同也，名所獨也。」

céng xī shì yáng zǎo， ér céng zǐ bù rěn shí yáng zǎo。 gōng sūn chǒu wèn yuē：「kuài zhì yǔ yáng zǎo shú měi？」 mèng zǐ yuē：「kuài zhì zāi！」 gōng sūn chǒu yuē：「rán zé céng zǐ hé wéi shí kuài zhì ér bù shí yáng zǎo？」 yuē：「kuài zhì suǒ tóng yě， yáng zǎo suǒ dú yě。 huì míng bú huì xìng， xìng suǒ tóng yě， míng suǒ dú yě。」

Mencius said, 'Zeng Xi was fond of sheep-dates, and his son, the philosopher Zeng, could not bear to eat sheep-dates.' Gong Sun Chou asked, saying, 'Which is best, minced meat and broiled meat, or sheep-dates?' Mencius said, 'Mince and broiled meat, to be sure.' Gong Sun Chou went on, 'Then why did the philosopher Zeng eat mince and broiled meat, and would not eat sheep-dates?' Mencius answered, 'For mince and broiled meat there is a common liking, while that for sheep-dates was peculiar. We avoid the name, but do not avoid the surname. The surname is common; the name is peculiar.'