Meaning: Rotten wood cannot be carved. Walls built with dirty soil cannot be painted!
Rotten wood: rotten wood.
Dung soil: rotting soil, dirty soil.
嬬: Refers to the tool used by masons to plaster walls. It is also used as a verb to smooth the wall.
From: "The Analects of Confucius·Gongye Chang Chapter 5"?
Zaiyu was sleeping during the day, and the Master said: "Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall of dung cannot be built!" Why punish me?" Confucius said: "At first I listened to others and believed in their actions; now I listen to their words and observe their actions."
Translation:
Jaeyu sleeps during the day. Confucius said: Rotten wood cannot be carved, dirty walls cannot be smoothed, and there is no need to condemn Jaeyu. Confucius said: In the past, when I judged people, I believed in their actions through their words. From now on, when I judge people, I have to listen to their words and then look at their actions before I can draw a conclusion. These are things that happened to Jaeyu that made me change. Extended information
"The Analects of Confucius·Gongye Chang" is the fifth chapter in "The Analects". This chapter has 28 chapters, focusing on talking about benevolence and virtue. In this chapter, Confucius and his disciples learn from various aspects The characteristics of benevolence and virtue are discussed side by side. These thoughts have had a great influence on later generations.
Human nature cannot be changed through nurture. After carving, the essence of rotten wood is also rotten wood; no matter how well-decorated and cultivated a wall of dung is, its essence is still a wall of dung. What changes the day after tomorrow is only its appearance. As human beings, appearance is actually our words. No matter how colorful and eloquent we speak, it is just appearance. The specific expression of human nature can only be understood through behavior.
Confucius’ student Zaiyu slept during the day, and Confucius criticized him greatly. This matter is not as simple as it seems. Combining the relevant contents of the previous and following chapters, it can be seen that Zaiyu had heretical thoughts on Confucius's teachings, so he was reprimanded by Confucius. In addition, Confucius also proposed here that the correct way to judge a person is to listen to his words and observe his actions.
Confucius condemned Jaeyu because he was angry, and he was angry because he was powerless. It shows that Confucius is a person who always reflects on himself and can control his emotions.