Analects 6.11 · Yong Ye
“A bowl of rice, a ladle of water, and a home in a poor lane—others could not bear such hardship, yet Hui did not let it alter his joy.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
一簞食 一瓢飮 在陋巷 人不堪其憂 回也不改其樂 (yī dān shí, yī piáo yǐn, zài lòu xiàng, rén bù kān qí yōu, huí yě bù gǎi qí lè) means “A bowl of rice, a ladle of water, and a home in a poor lane—others could not bear such hardship, yet Hui did not let it alter his joy.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 6 (Yong Ye), Chapter 11.
一簞食 一瓢飮 在陋巷 人不堪其憂 回也不改其樂
- Pinyin
- yī dān shí, yī piáo yǐn, zài lòu xiàng, rén bù kān qí yōu, huí yě bù gǎi qí lè
- Translation
- A bowl of rice, a ladle of water, and a home in a poor lane—others could not bear such hardship, yet Hui did not let it alter his joy.
- Source
- Analects, Book 6 (Yong Ye), Chapter 11
What does this passage mean?
In the Yong Ye chapter, Confucius praises Yan Hui, his most cherished disciple. 一簞食 means a single bowl of coarse food, 一瓢飮 a ladleful of water, and 陋巷 a shabby lane. Others could not endure such poverty, yet Yan Hui never surrendered the joy he found in pursuing the Way. Confucius describes him with the words 回也不改其樂—'Hui did not let it change his joy'—revealing a realm of spiritual happiness independent of material conditions.
How can we apply it today?
Modern psychology likewise confirms that material abundance and happiness do not rise in direct proportion. Beyond a certain level of income, money has little further effect on happiness. Yan Hui's joy came not from external conditions but from inner conviction. Someone who does beloved work or has found meaning in life can be happy even in harsh surroundings. Conversely, even a wealthy person who has lost direction can feel empty. The source of happiness lies within, not outside us.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Is there an area of my life that can give me joy even amid material scarcity?
- ·What makes me happy regardless of external conditions?
- ·Do I have an inner pillar that could keep me steady in hardship, as Yan Hui was?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | yī | one | 1 | 一 (one) |
| 簞 | dān | bamboo basket | 18 | 竹 (bamboo) |
| 食 | shí | food | 9 | 食 (eat) |
| 一 | yī | one | 1 | 一 (one) |
| 瓢 | piáo | gourd | 17 | 瓜 (melon) |
| 飮 | yǐn | drink | 13 | 食 (eat) |
| 在 | zài | exist | 6 | 土 (earth) |
| 陋 | lòu | humble | 9 | 阜 (mound) |
| 巷 | xiàng | alley | 9 | 己 (self) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 堪 | kān | endure | 12 | 土 (earth) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 憂 | yōu | concern | 15 | 心 (heart) |
| 回 | huí | come back | 6 | 囗 (enclosure) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 改 | gǎi | correct | 7 | 攴 (tap) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 樂 | lè | joy | 15 | 木 (tree) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “A bowl of rice, a ladle of water, and a…” mean?
一簞食 一瓢飮 在陋巷 人不堪其憂 回也不改其樂 (yī dān shí, yī piáo yǐn, zài lòu xiàng, rén bù kān qí yōu, huí yě bù gǎi qí lè) means “A bowl of rice, a ladle of water, and a home in a poor lane—others could not bear such hardship, yet Hui did not let it alter his joy.” It comes from the Analects, Book 6 (Yong Ye), Chapter 11.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 6.11: Book 6 (Yong Ye), Chapter 11.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Modern psychology likewise confirms that material abundance and happiness do not rise in direct proportion.Beyond a certain level of income, money has little further effect on happiness.