Analects 7.21 · Shu Er
“The Master did not speak of prodigies, feats of strength, disorder, or spirits.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
子不語 怪力亂神 (zǐ bù yǔ, guài lì luàn shén) means “The Master did not speak of prodigies, feats of strength, disorder, or spirits.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 21.
子不語 怪力亂神
- Pinyin
- zǐ bù yǔ, guài lì luàn shén
- Translation
- The Master did not speak of prodigies, feats of strength, disorder, or spirits.
- Source
- Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 21
What does this passage mean?
The twenty-first chapter of Shu Er records four subjects that Confucius did not discuss: prodigies, meaning strange and uncanny events; feats of strength, meaning displays of brute force; disorder, meaning rebellion and the violation of moral order; and spirits, meaning matters of gods and ghosts. Such things excite curiosity but do nothing to set a life in order. Confucius spoke of what accords with reason, of virtue, and of the proper conduct of human life. Not speaking of something meant not that he was ignorant of it but that he found it unworthy of discussion. What a person speaks of and what they leave unspoken reveals their world.
How can we apply it today?
Prodigies, force, disorder, and spirits are the staple products of today’s media. Sensational incidents, supernatural stories, violence and scandal, and baseless rumors generate views. Confucius avoided such topics because they stir the mind without improving life. What we watch and what we talk about becomes the raw material of our thinking. Around people who talk about people, work, and learning instead of filling conversation with sensational news, a different air circulates. Having subjects you have decided not to speak about means your life has a center.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What mostly fills your conversations?
- ·Are sensational topics stealing your time?
- ·Are there subjects you have decided not to speak about?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 子 | zǐ | teacher | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 語 | yǔ | speak | 14 | 言 (speech) |
| 怪 | guài | strange; prodigies | 8 | 心 (heart) |
| 力 | lì | strength | 2 | 力 (power) |
| 亂 | luàn | disordered | 13 | 乙 (second) |
| 神 | shén | spirit | 10 | 示 (spirit) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The Master did not speak of prodigies…” mean?
子不語 怪力亂神 (zǐ bù yǔ, guài lì luàn shén) means “The Master did not speak of prodigies, feats of strength, disorder, or spirits.” It comes from the Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 21.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 7.21: Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 21.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Prodigies, force, disorder, and spirits are the staple products of today’s media.Sensational incidents, supernatural stories, violence and scandal, and baseless rumors generate views.