Caigentan (菜根譚) - Former Collection (前集) #14 [014]
Caigentan (菜根譚) - Former Collection (前集) #14 [014]
📜 Original Text
作人無甚高遠事業,擺脫得俗情,便入名流; 為學無甚增益工夫,減除得物累,便超聖境。
📚 Translation.
To be a person, one doesn't necessarily need grand and lofty accomplishments.
If one can shed vulgar emotions, then they will enter the ranks of the distinguished.
In pursuing learning, special techniques or intensive training aren't particularly important.
If one can reduce attachment to material things, then they will transcend to the realm of the sage.
🔍 Explanation
This passage emphasizes that true character and the highest state of learning don't stem from external achievements or material possessions, but rather from inner purification and emptying the mind.
Note on Language Style: The text of 《Caigentan》 uses a transitional style that mixes elements of classical Chinese (文言文) and vernacular Chinese (白話文). This is why certain grammatical structures, like the use of '得' as a potential complement (e.g., 擺脫得), might appear different from modern Chinese usage but are natural within the context of this period's writing.
The first part states that the path to becoming a distinguished person isn't through magnificent endeavors or accomplishments. Instead, it highlights the importance of resolutely shedding vulgar emotions in everyday life – that is, worldly desires, envy, jealousy, vanity, and so forth.
It means that by purifying one's mind, one can naturally be recognized as a person of distinction.
The second part suggests that academic achievement also isn't dependent on special skills or know-how. If one truly wishes to reach a state of enlightenment through learning, they should reduce their entanglement with material things and attachment to possessions. The message is that by freeing oneself from the shackles of material things, the mind becomes free, and learning deepens, allowing one to reach the realm of the sage.
Ultimately, this passage asserts that letting go of desires and attachments is the most crucial process for completing true character and wisdom. It contains the paradoxical wisdom that by emptying oneself, one can gain something much greater.
There's no need to be outwardly outstanding.
Simply by reducing and emptying oneself internally, one can reach a high state of character and learning.
✍️ Hanja Breakdown
- 作 (zuò): to make, to do, to become
- 人 (rén): person
- 作人 (zuòrén): to be a person, character cultivation
- 無 (wú): to not have, without
- 甚 (shèn): very, extremely (here used to emphasize negation, 'not particularly')
- 高 (gāo): high
- 遠 (yuǎn): far
- 高遠 (gāoyuǎn): high and far, grand and lofty, profound
- 事 (shì): matter, affair, job
- 業 (yè): achievement, accomplishment, undertaking
- 事業 (shìyè): undertaking, achievement
- 擺 (bǎi): to swing, to wave; to put, to place; to get rid of, to shake off
- 脫 (tuō): to shed, to escape
- 擺脫 (bǎituō): to get rid of, to shake off
- 擺脫得 (bǎituō de): able to get rid of, able to shake off (here, 'if one can shed')
- 俗 (sú): vulgar, worldly
- 情 (qíng): feeling, emotion, sentiment
- 俗情 (súqíng): vulgar emotions, worldly desires, worldly sentiments
- 便 (biàn): then, in that case, immediately
- 入 (rù): to enter
- 名 (míng): name, fame
- 流 (liú): to flow; class, rank, category of people
- 名流 (míngliú): celebrity, distinguished person, famous person, ranks of the famous
- 入名流 (rù míngliú): to enter the ranks of the distinguished
- 為 (wéi): to do, to be, for the sake of
- 學 (xué): to learn, learning, study
- 為學 (wéixué): to pursue learning, to study
- 無 (wú): to not have, without
- 增 (zēng): to increase, to add
- 益 (yì): beneficial, to benefit, to add
- 增益 (zēngyì): to increase and add, to improve, increase, progress
- 工 (gōng): work, skill, technique
- 夫 (fū): person (here, a suffix)
- 工夫 (gōngfu): skill, technique, effort, training (here, 'special techniques or intensive training')
- 減 (jiǎn): to reduce, to decrease
- 除 (chú): to remove, to eliminate
- 減除 (jiǎnchú): to reduce and eliminate, to lessen, to remove
- 得 (de): able to (here, a complement indicating successful completion of the action 'reduce')
- 物 (wù): thing, object, material, wealth
- 累 (lèi): to tie, to bind; burden, encumbrance, trouble
- 物累 (wùlèi): material entanglement, attachment to material things, worldly attachment
- 便 (biàn): then, in that case, immediately
- 超 (chāo): to leap over, to transcend
- 聖 (shèng): sage, holy
- 境 (jìng): realm, state, boundary
- 聖境 (shèngjìng): realm of the sage
- 超聖境 (chāo shèngjìng): to transcend to the realm of the sage, to reach the state of the sage
📌 Grammatical Analysis of "擺脫得俗情，便入名流"
- 擺脫得 (bǎituō de): able to get rid of, able to shake off
- 俗情 (súqíng): vulgar emotions, worldly desires, worldly sentiments
- 便 (biàn): then, immediately
- 入名流 (rù míngliú): to enter the ranks of the distinguished
✔️ Usage of 得 (de) here
In classical grammar, 得 is used as a potential complement, indicating the possibility of reaching a certain state. Here, it signifies the possibility of 'being able to shed' (~을 떨쳐 낼 수 있다).
Phrasing it naturally as 'If one can do ~, then one becomes ~' flows well with the original text's structure.
✔️ 得 (de) as an archaic potential expression
From a modern Chinese grammatical perspective, 擺脫得俗情 might seem slightly awkward. However, it's a perfectly natural archaic potential expression in classical Chinese texts.
✔️ Why might it feel awkward?
In modern Chinese, one would typically say '擺脫俗情' (bǎituō súqíng) which means 'to shed vulgar emotions' (simple statement).
擺脫得俗情 isn't commonly used in modern Chinese and might feel grammatically unnatural.
Also, the position of the object and complement is different, e.g., 俗情擺脫得掉 (súqíng bǎituō de diào).
So, when we read it intuitively, we might wonder:
"Why is 得 there...? Is it a result complement attached to 擺脫? Or a potential complement?"
✔️ 《Caigentan (採根談)》's style: A transitional style mixing Classical Chinese (文言文) and Vernacular Chinese (白話文) elements
In texts from this period, the structure: Verb + 得 + Object
is frequently used as a potential expression meaning 'to be able to do something'.
Thus, 擺脫得俗情 = 'to be able to shed vulgar emotions' , and the position of 得 functions as a potential complement, not a result complement.
📝 Summary
From the perspective of classical grammar, 「擺脫得俗情」 is a perfectly natural expression.
However, it might feel somewhat awkward when viewed through the lens of modern Chinese grammar.
Specifically, the position of '得' might seem unnatural to a modern reader because in modern Chinese, a complement indicating result or degree is typically expected after the verb.
Ultimately, expressions like this, where '得' is placed in the middle of the sentence, are natural in classical Chinese but may feel grammatically slightly awkward to modern readers.
⚖️ Copyright ⓒ Witch's Study CurioCrateWitch. All rights reserved.
The translations and commentaries in this series have been independently produced through deep contemplation of the original text and detailed analysis of its vocabulary, without reference to existing translations or commentaries.
Please note, however, that interpretations of classical texts may vary depending on historical context and linguistic nuance. This commentary reflects personal reflection and interpretative judgment, and may therefore include minor errors or alternative readings.
Unauthorized reproduction and citation are respectfully declined.