Chapter Four: LEARNING TO BE CAREFUL

朝起早，夜眠迟，老易至，惜此时。
晨必盥，兼漱口，便溺回，辄净手。
冠必正，纽必结，袜与履，俱紧切。
置冠服，有定位，勿乱顿，致污秽。
衣贵洁，不贵华，上循分，下称家。
对饮食，勿拣择，食适可，勿过则。
年方少，勿饮酒，饮酒醉，最为丑。
步从容，立端正，揖深圆，拜恭敬。
勿践阈，勿跛倚，勿箕踞，勿摇髀。
缓揭帘，勿有声，宽转弯，勿触棱。
执虚器，如执盈，入虚室，如有人。
事勿忙，忙多错，勿畏难，勿轻略。
斗闹场，绝毋近，邪僻事，绝勿问。
将入门，问谁存，将上堂，声必扬。
人问谁，对以名，吾与我，不分明。
用人物，须明求，倘不问，即为偷。
借人物，及时还，人借物，有勿悭。

这一章讲衣着方面要注意的事情。首先还是强调衣物的摆放要整洁有序，不要随随便便，邋邋遢遢的。在有限的存放空间里，我们如何把四季应用的衣物摆放整齐，而又方便取用，这是一门书本上都学不到的经济学。

This section discusses the points we need to pay attention to with regard to clothing. First of all, it emphasizes that we should put our clothes away in a neat and orderly fashion, and not be sloppy or messy. Making the most efficient use of limited closet space to organize clothing for the four seasons neatly and yet allowing clothes to be taken out conveniently, is a lesson in economics that isn’t found in any book.

你或者会说﹕「为什么我们谈着道德的培养，却又牵扯上经济学呢？」好似注重道德的人，不应该讲究经济，太世俗了！这你就错了。真正有道者，是珍惜人力物命，十分注重经济效益的。我们如果能这样做，一则已延续了衣物的使用寿命；二则可提升衣物的外观价值；三则又绝对会节省下每日的更衣时间；这不就是经济学所强调的经济效益吗？那么一个懂得生活质量的有道之士，又怎能忽略这种经济效益呢？

"We’re supposed to be talking about cultivation of virtue; what does that have to do with economics?" you might ask, thinking that people who value virtue aren’t supposed to be concerned with such a worldly matter as economics! You’re wrong on that one. People who truly understand the Way will cherish people’s energy and want objects to last long; they are very concerned with economics. If we can practice in this way, then first of all our clothes will last longer, second of all we will look more well-dressed, and thirdly, we will lessen the time it takes to change clothes. Isn’t that the "economic value "that economists are always stressing? How could a person of integrity who appreciates the quality of life disregard economic value in this sense?

有道者，大都有节俭的美德。很多人就又产生一种错误的观念，就把他们的形象局限在衣衫褴褛，不修边幅，甚至是赤膊跣足，蓬头垢面可也；这更是大错特错了！贤者也有贫富贵贱不同的命运，但是真正到了证圣地步的大圣人，即使再显贵，也不会骄奢浪费，开了冷气穿貂皮大衣；再清寒，也不会绉衣脏帽上殿堂。他们一衣一履，都切合自己的身份，也配合场合来穿着，因为这是礼仪，也是戒律。

Since people of moral caliber are usually thrifty, they are often misportrayed as being disheveled and sloppy, and even going around barefoot, with mussed up hair and grimy faces. This is an inaccurate picture. Virtuous people may be rich or poor, noble or common, but if they have reached sage hood, then no matter how rich or noble they may be, they would never be so extravagant and wasteful as to turn on the air-conditioning and wear a fur coat; no matter how destitute they are, they would never go to a formal place with messy clothes or a dirty hat. They always dress fittingly for their own position and for the situation or place they are in; that is the observance of etiquette and precepts.

所谓「贫家净扫地，贫女净梳头；景色虽不艳丽，气度自然可观。」这才叫穷得潇洒！诸如嬉皮妄作洒脱状，或假道学故示寒酸状的，莫说不是圣人，连自然忘俗的狂者也称不上；只能说他们是社会的「剩人」罢了！至于打肿脸充胖子，尽在衣着上费钱费工夫，甚至等而下之，硬在衣着上作怪的「闲人」和「嫌人」呢，实在也犯不着去对他们侧目而视，因为他们都是心灵空虚的可怜人，没有自知之明。

As it’s said, "If a poor household is swept clean and a poor girl combs her hair neatly, then although their appearance is not gorgeous, they will naturally have a pleasing air." That’s what’s meant by the care freeness of poverty! As for hippies who make a pretense of being free and relaxed, or those hypocrites who deliberately dress in rags, not only are they not sages, they don’t even match up to naturalists who have forgotten the mundane. They can only be called the outcasts of society. As for those who "slap their cheeks so they can pass for plump (affluent) people," those who spend all their time and money on clothing, or even worse, the leisurely rich or punks who insist on dressing in bizarre styles, there’s no need to be surprised by them. They’re to be pitied because their lives are spiritually empty and they don’t understand themselves.

所以我们要有正知正见，即便在穿衣戴帽上的生活琐事上，也要严谨自持 ，以中道为依归。所谓「小事不察，大事不明」，过去不知今已知，改过即是圣贤；千万不要错拿了「大行不顾细节」或「难得胡涂」作挡箭牌，来给自已做辩护律师。

So we must have proper knowledge and understanding, and even in the trivial matter of clothing, we have to be scrupulous and follow the Middle Way. It’s said, "If we don’t pay attention to small matters, we won’t be clear about the big matters." Now that we know this, if we can correct our faults, we can be considered sages and worthies. We certainly shouldn’t try to defend ourselves by saying, "In big endeavors, we shouldn’t worry about details," or "Being muddled is a quality to be cherished."

中国古代的贤德女子里，有个「鹿车归里」的美谈。汉朝的鲍宣十分好学，但是家境清贫，他的老师很赞赏他贫贱不移的气节，不但把女儿桓少君嫁给他，还赠送了婢仆和丰盛的财物以为嫁妆。新婚第二天，新娘子一身锦衣绣服、珠光宝气地打扮停当，却发觉新郎板着脸不理她。

Concerning the virtuous daughters of ancient China, there’s a beautiful story called "Returning Home in a Deer Cart." In the Han Dynasty, there was a diligent student named Bao Xuan who came from a poor family. His teacher admired him for maintaining his resolute integrity despite his poverty and low social class, and gave him his daughter Huan Shaojun to be his wife, as well as servants and a large fortune as a dowry. The day after the wedding, the new wife dressed up in embroidered finery and bedecked herself with glittering jewelry, but to her surprise her husband became sullen and gave her the cold shoulder.

桓少君终究是有教养的淑女，不但不敢发脾气，还虚心下气地请教他，自己是否犯了过错？鲍宣便说﹕「少君生在奢富的家庭，习惯了漂亮的装扮，可是我们鲍家很穷苦，你这种打扮实在不得体！」桓少君就说﹕「家父因为先生您的道德，才教我来事奉您的起居；既然鲍家的规矩这样，我当然会遵从。」鲍宣这才欢喜起来﹕「妳能这样，才是我所希望的。」

Being a refined lady, Shaojun dared not get angry, but humbly asked her husband whether she had done something wrong. Bao Xuan said, "You come from a rich family and are used to wearing fancy clothes, but my family is poor and your attire is not appropriate." Shaojun said, "Because of your virtue, my father asked me to serve you; I will certainly honor your family’s ways." Bao Xuan happily said, "I really hoped you would be able to do this."

于是桓少君马上遣回所有的婢仆嫁妆，换上了短衣布裙，和鲍宣两人，牵了鹿车，载着简单的行李，回到乡间的鲍家；拜见婆婆后，桓少君取了水桶，就去打水做饭。以后桓少君也真的能谨修妇女的美德，做个称职的鲍家媳妇，乡里的人都十分赞叹她。

Shaojun immediately sent back all the servants and dowry and changed into a short jacket and cotton skirt. Then she and Bao Xuan piled their simple possessions on a deer-drawn cart and went to the Baos’ home in the countryside. After paying respects to her mother-in-law, Shaojun took the water pail and went to draw water to do the cooking. Later she proved to be a virtuous wife and worthy daughter-in-law to the Bao family. She earned the praise of all her fellow villagers.

现今的社会里，处处可以看到很多衣着入时，却俗艳难耐的人；他们不管自己的身份年龄合不合适，只知盲目追求时尚，这可说是「东施效颦」，丑不自知了！甚至有被物欲所迷的，过份讲求衣着，花费往往超出家庭预算；且不论他个人的品味高低，这终究不是好现象。君不见，多少男子为入不敷出铤而走险，终至家破人亡？多少女子为奢华无度沦落烟花，终至身败名裂？世间如桓少君的，真是凤毛麟角，少之又少了！我们能不以为殷鉴吗？

In today’s society, we see many fashionably dressed and yet terribly vulgar people, who blindly strive to be in style without considering whether their attire is appropriate for their age and position. They are like the ugly lady who tried to imitate the pout of a beautiful lady, and only ended up looking more ugly. Some people are so deluded by their materialistic desires that they outspend their budget and ruin their own lives and families. How many girls have spoiled their reputations and lives because of their extravagant taste in clothing? Women like Huan Shaojun are truly rare. We should certainly take her as our inspiration!