Analects 7.1 · Shu Er
“I transmit rather than invent; I trust in and cherish antiquity.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
述而不作 信而好古 (shù ér bù zuò, xìn ér hào gǔ) means “I transmit rather than invent; I trust in and cherish antiquity.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 1.
述而不作 信而好古
- Pinyin
- shù ér bù zuò, xìn ér hào gǔ
- Translation
- I transmit rather than invent; I trust in and cherish antiquity.
- Source
- Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 1
What does this passage mean?
This opening passage of the Shu Er chapter reveals Confucius's scholarly attitude. 述而不作 means transmitting the old without inventing anew, while 信而好古 means trusting and loving antiquity. Confucius presents himself as a transmitter rather than a creator. In practice, however, he did more than pass down the past: he re-created it by giving it new interpretations and a new system. His words express humility and declare his respect for tradition.
How can we apply it today?
In a modern age that prizes innovation and creation above all else, Confucius's 述而不作 offers counterintuitive wisdom. We do not need to make everything anew. Properly understanding and transmitting existing wisdom can itself be of immense value. Just as an excellent curator matters as much as an excellent artist, discovering new meaning in the old is also an act of creation. Tradition and innovation are not opposites but complements.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Am I neglecting existing wisdom because I pursue only what is new?
- ·What can I learn from tradition?
- ·Have I ever interpreted something old in a new way?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 述 | shù | relate | 8 | 辵 (walk) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 作 | zuò | make | 7 | 人 (person) |
| 信 | xìn | trust | 9 | 人 (person) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 好 | hào | delight in | 6 | 女 (woman) |
| 古 | gǔ | old | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “I transmit rather than invent; I trust in…” mean?
述而不作 信而好古 (shù ér bù zuò, xìn ér hào gǔ) means “I transmit rather than invent; I trust in and cherish antiquity.” It comes from the Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 1.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 7.1: Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 1.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
In a modern age that prizes innovation and creation above all else, Confucius's 述而不作 offers counterintuitive wisdom.We do not need to make everything anew.