Ones good at establishing (virtues) don't withdraw, ones good at holdi

修觀 · Xiū Guān

Classical Chinese Text

善建者不拔，善抱者不脱，子孙以祭祀不辍。
修之于身，其德乃真；修之于家，其德乃余；修之于乡，其德乃长；修之于邦，其德乃丰；修之于天下，其德乃普。
故以身观身，以家观家，以乡观乡，以邦观邦，以天下观天下。吾何以知天下然哉？以此。

Translation & Meaning

Ones good at establishing (virtues) don't withdraw, ones good at holding (Tao) don't slip; with it the posterity holds the ritual unwaveringly.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 善 (shàn): goodness / skillful / kind
  • 建 (jiàn): classical character (jiàn)
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 拔 (bá): classical character (bá)
  • 抱 (bào): classical character (bào)
  • 脱 (tuō): classical character (tuō)
  • 子 (zǐ): child / progeny
  • 孙 (sūn): classical character (sūn)
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 祭 (jì): classical character (jì)
  • 祀 (sì): classical character (sì)
  • 辍 (chuò): classical character (chuò)
  • 修 (xiū): classical character (xiū)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 身 (shēn): classical character (shēn)
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 乃 (nǎi): classical character (nǎi)
  • 真 (zhēn): classical character (zhēn)
  • 家 (jiā): classical character (jiā)
  • 余 (yú): classical character (yú)
  • 乡 (xiāng): classical character (xiāng)
  • 长 (cháng): long / enduring / grow
  • 邦 (bāng): classical character (bāng)
  • 丰 (fēng): classical character (fēng)
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 普 (pǔ): classical character (pǔ)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 观 (guān): observe / contemplate essence
  • 吾 (wú): I / myself
  • 何 (hé): classical character (hé)
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
  • 哉 (zāi): classical character (zāi)
  • 此 (cǐ): classical character (cǐ)