《论语》“父母唯其疾之忧”本义诂证

An Identified Interpretation of Meaning of "Parents Only Worried about His(qi) Illness" inAnalects

《论语.为政》篇中的"父母唯其疾之忧"一句的训释自汉以来一直存在分歧,出现了两种绝然相反的观点:一说认为"其"字指代父母,此句应训为"儿女只担忧父母之疾";一说认为"其"字指代儿女,此句应训为"父母只担忧儿女之疾"。前一说不符合先秦古文的语法规则,亦不符合孔子的孝道思想,而后一说才是此段话的本义。

The identified interpretation of the sentence ＂Parents only worried about his illness＂ in Analects has long been disputable. There have been two opposite views. One holds that ＂qi＂ refers to parents, so the sentence should mean ＂Sons and daughters only worried about their parents＇ illness＂. The other maintains that ＂qi＂ refers to son or daughter, so the sentence means ＂parents worried about his illness＂. The author thinks the former one is not in accordance with the ancient Chinese grammar as well as Confucius filial thoughts. And the latter is the correct interpretation.