忠經 Zhong Jing #9

忠經 Zhong Jing #9

觀風章 Observe Air Chapter

忠經 Zhong Jing #9

(PD) Mt Seoraksan Republic of Korea

Skies, earth, footprint...

(Photo clarity, angle, and wording by Larry Neal Gowdy)

Larry Neal Gowdy

Copyright ©2019 November 01, 2019



The ninth chapter of 忠經 (Zhong Jing) is titled 觀風章, which is loosely interpreted to be Observe Air Chapter. The chapter's topic revolves around the acts of rational logic based upon the reasonings of firsthand observations. The following quotes are lightly edited draft translations of portions of the sentences within 觀風章.


'Only official use heaven child it fate

Out-arise when-regard four direction use look-observe wind-air

Hear-listen not able-to use-because not intelligent-bright

Look-at-inspect not able-to use-because not bright-understanding(sun&moon obvious)

Order-envoy-cause official it behavior

Similar-according noble ear eye

Not intelligent-bright not bright-understanding

Not success its trust-to-rely-on

Intelligent-wise then detailed-thorough when-regard matter-thing


It is unknown of how well the author himself may have been able to describe his own observations, but he did raise a very important topic: the ability to describe what is sensed. Even if a thing cannot be seen nor heard, still the individual ought to be able to describe with details of how their own mind was able to discern how the thing exists. The ability to consciously discern and to describe, is uncommon. The Sensory Quotient project evaluated the normal person's ability to perceive and to describe... the results, were, that it is very uncommon for an individual to be consciously aware of their own perceptions, and less common for an individual to describe anything with details. It is not an 'enlightenment' to be able to be aware of one's own thoughts... it is, merely, self-thinking.


Bright-understanding then distinguish when rational-logic

Not intelligent-wise then confuse-puzzled its place hear-smell

Not bright-understanding then conceal-hide its place opinion-appear

Rational-logic distinguish then devotion

Matter-thing detailed-thorough then share-minute

Rational-logic not distinguish then it absolutely-stop-judge-sever one-sided-lean-slant-prejudiced

Matter-thing not detailed-thorough then its faith-trust-true confuse-puzzle-delude

Noble it go-leave its-his personal-selfish-private

Correct-straight its color-appearance

Personal-selfish-private go-leave then feeling-emotion extinguish


The modern English concept might be phrased as the emotion of personal bias being extinguished. Not all emotions, of course, are eliminated, nor is it possible to eliminate all emotions, but when a self-thinking individual is observing a thing, the discernment of the thing's details are accompanied without belief-based bias and prejudice. One of the predominate emotions that remain, is that of caring to discern correctly... devotion... put one's heart into it.


Color-appearance correct then evil distant

Not injure-harm rational-logic according-to injure-harm matter-thing

Seek-investigate guilt-blame serve-as-be public-fair-honorable

Then capable carve temporary-surplus-superficial

Not dread-fear power-circumstance-situation


Not fear nor dread the circumstance of discernment... yes, it is okay to self-think. Today, it is as if a taboo for an individual to discern details of any object... tiny people become upset when an individual speaks of details, but, the solution is easy, while also precluding the dread of tiny people complaining... simply do not speak of the details to tiny people.


Use raise-recommend trust-to-allow

Raise-recommend certainly-will use talent-ability-only-if

Not certainly-will use power-circumstances-situation

However good-virtuous correct take-part-give

However evil-badness correct except-beside-remove-eliminate

Good even-if-though enemy certainly-will present-recommend

Evil-bad even-if close-intimate-relative certainly-will leave-depart

Use it and-as-well-as climb-ascent

Then have capable-finish-accomplish

Noble it result-effectiveness capable-ability {also}

Use it and out-come-out-exit

Then nothing hatred-blame-complaint-resent

Tiny people prostrate-crawl guilt-crime-fault-blame {also}

Man similar-like correct

Then heaven under respect duty-office

Ten-thousand country-state use peaceful

Official do-one's-utmost-affair cultivate politics

People begin acquire-gain-harvest stable-calm

Poem say: "Carry-transport gallop-speed

Carry-transport spur-horse"

Diligent-attentive labor not peaceful-tranquil

Good-perfect cleave-while-this advise-recommend {carry}'