Water as Metaphor
眠雲臥石
Once, the philosopher Confucius (a.k.a. Master Kong, circa 551–479 B.C.E.), stood staring intently at water flowing eastward. A disciple saw him and posed a question, addressing the sage as Gentleman:
“Why, when the Gentleman sees a great body of water, you are certain to gaze upon it?” Master Kong said, “When water is great, it sustains all life everywhere without motive; this resembles virtue. It flows down through the lowland, overlapping and bending, following by necessity its course; this resembles propriety. Ah, its sparkling waters, untroubled and undwindling; this resembles the Way. Overflowing its banks, it goes swift as an echo down a hundred gorges without fear; this is courage. As a standard of measurement, it is perpetually level; this resembles a model principle. Filled to overflowing, there is no need for a leveling stick; this resembles rightness. Soft and compliant, it penetrates the smallest places; this resembles judgment. Going into and out of it, one becomes fresh and pure; this resembles goodness. Altered by ten thousand twists and turns, it always flows eastward; this resembles mindfulness. Thus, when a gentleman sees a great body of water, he must indeed gaze intently upon it.”
孔子觀於東流之水子貢問於孔子曰君
子之所以見大水必觀焉者是何孔子曰
夫水大徧與諸生而無為也似德其流也
埤下裾拘必循其理似義其洸洸乎不淈
盡似道若有決行之其應佚若聲響其赴
百仞之谷不懼似勇主量必平似法盈不
求槩似正淖約微達似察以出以入以就
鮮絜似善化其萬拆也必東似志是故君
子見大水必觀焉
Source
Xun Kuang 荀況 (circa 310–238 B.C.E.), Xunzi 荀子 (Master Xun), juan 20, pp. 5b-6a. SKQS