Heang Tang / 4
入公门，鞠躬如也，如不容。立不中门，行不履阈。过位，色勃如也，足躩如也，其言似不足者。摄齐升堂，鞠躬如也，屛气似不息者。出，降一等，逞颜色，怡怡如也，没阶，趋进，翼如也，复其位，踧踖如也。
Modern Chinese Guide
孔子走进朝廷的大门，显出恭敬谨慎的样子，好像没有容身之地。他站立时不站在门的正中间，行走时不踩门槛。经过国君的座位时，他脸色立刻庄重起来，脚步也加快起来，说话也好像中气不足似的。他提起衣襟下摆走上堂去，显得恭敬谨慎，屏住气好像不呼吸一样。走出来，下了一级台阶，脸色才舒展开来，显出怡然自得的样子。走完台阶，快步向前，姿态像鸟儿舒展翅膀一样端好。回到自己的位置上，仍是一副恭敬而不安的样子。
James Legge Translation
1. When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him. 2. When he was standing, he did not occupy the middle of the gate-way; when he passed in or out, he did not tread upon the threshold. 3. When he was passing the vacant place of the prince, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to bend under him, and his words came as if he hardly had breath to utter them. 4. He ascended the reception hall, holding up his robe with both his hands, and his body bent; holding in his breath also, as if he dared not breathe. 5. When he came out from the audience, as soon as he had descended one step, he began to relax his countenance, and had a satisfied look. When he had got to the bottom of the steps, he advanced rapidly to his place, with his arms like wings, and on occupying it, his manner still showed respectful uneasiness.
Notes and themes
- 底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本。
- 中文由繁体转为简体，后续白话解释需逐章审校。
- 白话参考底本：《白话论语读本》，张兆瑢、沈元起编译，上海广益书局1948 年新三版。
Ask Confucius: controlled AI entry
This release starts with a static safety prompt: AI answers must separate source text, explanation, and modern reflection, with links back to passage pages. Before a model API is connected, rate limits, Origin allowlists, and RAG sources must be ready.