CHAPTER IV

The Master said, "In hearing litigations, I am like any other body. What is necessary is to cause the people to have no litigations?"So , those who are devoid of principle find it impossible to carry out their speeches, and a great awe would be struck into men's minds;—this is called knowing the root.

The above fourth chapter of commentary explains the root and the issue.

没世,—see Analects, XV. xix.—Acc. to Ying-tă, 'this par. illustrates the business of having the thoughts sincere'. Acc. to Choo He, it tells that how the former kings renovated the people, was by their resting in perfect excellence, so as to be able, throughout the empire and to future ages, to effect that there should not be a single thing but got its proper place.

CHAPTER 4. EXPLANATION OF THE ROOT AND THE BRANCHES.

See the Analects XII. xiii, from which we understand that the words of Conf. terminate at 讼乎,and that what follows is from the compiler. According to the old commentators, this is the conclusion of the chapter on having the thoughts made sincere,and that 诚其意 is the root. But acc. to Choo, it is the illustration of illustrious virtue which is the root , while the renovation of the people is the result therefrom.Looking at the words of Confucius, we must conclude that sincerity was the subject in his mind.