Chinese Merry Tales (1909)/Explaining the Classics

Chapter XXI.—Explaining the Classics.(中酒.)

THERE was a teacher who taught in a school. One day the scholars questioned the teacher: "What is meant by the principles of the Great Learning (大學之道 )?" As the teacher could not explain, he immediately pretended to be drunk. "You always ask me questions when I have had too much to drink. How can I explain clearly when I am in that condition?" He dismissed the students and went home. He then repeated to his wife the scholars' questions. His wife replied: "Great Learning is the name of a book. Tze Tao (之道) are the principles or discussions given in the book. What is the difficulty in that?" The next day, when the teacher returned to the school, he said to the scholars: "You all are ignorant. Yesterday when I was drunk, you persisted in questioning me. To-day I have come to my senses again, and you do not question me. What is the reason? What you asked about 'Ta Hsio Tze Tao' yesterday you listen and I will explain to you. 'Ta Hsio' is the name of a book. 'Tze Tao' are the principles or discussions in the book. Do you all understand it clearly?" The students said: "We all understand." They put another question, the next sentence: "Tsai Min Min Teh (在明明德) What does it mean?" When the teacher heard this, his eyes looked askance, and he said: "Stop, don't be in a hurry; the wine has gone up to my head again."

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