Detailed Analysis of "The Analects": For All Those Who Misinterpret Confucius (47)
2007/1/17 15:12:00
The Master said: Years of study, not yet reaching perfection — never changing throughout one's life — this is achievement.
Yang Bojun: Confucius said: After three years of study without any thought of becoming an official — this is rare.
Qian Mu: The Master said: To study for three years and still not have one's heart set on official salary — such a person is hard to find!
Li Zehou: Confucius said: After three years of study, still having no plans to take office — this is very rare.
Detailed explanation: The conventional punctuation above, shared by all three, reads as "三年学，不至於榖，不易得也." Following the logic of this punctuated interpretation, wouldn't "a hundred years of study, never reaching grain/salary, be even rarer"? The correct punctuation should be "三年学不至，於谷不易，得也."
What does "至" mean? It means perfection, reaching the utmost. "不至" means not having reached perfection. In the previous chapter, Confucius said: "Whether ancient or modern, true learning and true scholars never depart from the unified learning of 'Inner Sageliness and Outer Kingliness,' 'for oneself and for others' as one." This kind of learning is not merely from books — more importantly, it involves comparison and calibration in present-moment practice. Therefore, reaching perfection after three years of study is impossible. Then does this count as having accomplished nothing? Confucius does not think so — as long as one can "於谷不易" (never change throughout one's life), one has achieved something.
What does "於榖不易" mean? "榖" — since simplified characters are now used, it's written as "谷," which gets confused with the "谷" meaning "valley." The usual interpretation of "榖" here is as the generic term for grain, extended to mean official salary. Actually, "榖" here should be interpreted as "life, being alive." The Book of Songs has "榖則異室，死則同穴" (in life, different rooms; in death, the same grave) — this is the meaning. "於榖不易" means "as long as one lives, one never changes" — one remains unchanging throughout life. "易" means to change.
"Learning" involves a problem of regression (退转). "Three years" is merely an approximate number, not literally three years. Three to five years, or seven to eight years, or even thirty to forty years — many people's "learning" completely changes over such periods. Why? Because they haven't reached the state of non-regression. They bend for a few pecks of rice, chase after fame and vanity, get swindled by the latest trends. Their learning never had a non-regressive foundation — when the wind shifts, when the environment changes, everything changes. Learning may not yet be able to reach perfection, but if one has fundamentally broken through, fundamentally achieved understanding, only then is non-regression possible, only then can one "於榖不易." This state is an important position (位次) in "learning" — it means one has achieved something in learning, hence "得也" (achieved). Without reaching this state of non-regression and "於榖不易" in learning the "Way of the Sage," one cannot be said to have "得也."
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán's Vernacular Direct Translation
子曰：三年学不至，於榖不易，得也。
Confucius said: After years of hearing the "Way of the Sage," seeing the "Way of the Sage," "comparing" with the Sage, and continually "calibrating" in real society — though unable to reach perfection, to reach the position where one's "learning" of the "Way of the Sage" never regresses throughout one's entire life — this is what it means to have truly "achieved" something in "learning."
(To be continued)
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Replies
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:22:15
[Anonymous] Speechless
2007-01-17 15:18:23
Sister Chan, will this adjustment trade time for space, or space for time?
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Even if a genuine breakout happens, this kind of shakeout washout is needed. Moreover, Shenzhen had a gap yesterday, which also creates pressure. This kind of shock is an excellent short-term opportunity. See the analysis above for details.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:25:18
[Anonymous] Learning
2007-01-17 15:19:29
LZ, does today's market count as divergence on the 30-minute?
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No need to worry about the 30-minute, because the breakout is a sub-level movement of the daily — that is, 30-minute. Whether it ends depends on whether the 5-minute shows divergence. The 5-minute divergence is blindingly obvious. Yesterday this ID specifically mentioned it — two trend segments with the MACD pulling back to the 0-axis in between, then divergence. Go look — isn't it textbook-precise?
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:28:36
Everyone:
For those who don't have an intuitive feel for divergence yet, take a good look at today's Shanghai market index and China Life's 5-minute charts. Textbook-standard patterns. Here this ID must also apologize to China Life's market maker — this ID also played short swings on it. Although this ID is bullish on it mid-term, when this ID sees divergence I can't help getting aggressive. Sorry about that.
缠中 说禅 2007/1/17 15:31:43
[Anonymous] Fast
2007-01-17 15:26:08
What are the signs marking the end of the bull market's first phase? Could Miss Math give a comprehensive summary?
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Still a long way off. How could the first phase end this quickly? Even a large-level adjustment would just be a mid-phase adjustment within the first phase. The first-phase movement could easily run until 2008. Of course, a mid-phase adjustment lasting several months would also be normal. For skilled traders, adjustments are the best — more back-and-forth opportunities, more fun. Money during adjustments is easier to grab.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:32:42
[Anonymous] Mountains and Rivers Before My Eyes
2007-01-17 15:29:00
Right — I've kept in mind LZ's mention of "possibly forming a triangle," so I've maintained a lower position.
But I really don't have good control over "divergence" (sold several stocks too early). Please, LZ, elaborate further.
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Study today's two charts carefully and engrave them in your mind.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:35:10
[Anonymous] Speechless
2007-01-17 15:18:23
Sister Chan, will this adjustment trade time for space, or space for time?
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The adjustment has already been going on for many days. What's currently worth exploring is whether the adjustment will continue. The answer will come this week, or at the latest next Monday. But even if the adjustment continues, individual stock opportunities persist — any low-priced stock that hasn't launched yet has opportunity. The significance of the index right now isn't that great.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:37:55
[Anonymous] Little Dish
2007-01-17 15:27:54
Teacher, could you analyze 600075 for me? I don't really understand.
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If you haven't figured out this ID's theory, the simplest approach is to watch the moving averages — hold as long as the 20-day MA isn't broken mid-term. Then study this ID's theory carefully.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:40:07
[Anonymous] Learning
2007-01-17 15:37:34
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán
2007-01-17 15:25:18
[Anonymous] Learning
2007-01-17 15:19:29
LZ, does today's market count as divergence on the 30-minute?
===
No need to worry about the 30-minute, because the breakout is a sub-level movement of the daily — that is, 30-minute. Whether it ends depends on whether the 5-minute shows divergence. The 5-minute divergence is blindingly obvious. Yesterday this ID specifically mentioned it — two trend segments with the MACD pulling back to the 0-axis in between, then divergence. Go look — isn't it textbook-precise?
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The pullback between the two segments — the broader market's pullback was via a completed trend type, and it's already quite clear.
Must the pull-back be via a completed trend type? My understanding is that if it's not via a completed trend type, it doesn't constitute two separate trend segments. Is this understanding correct? Or is a direct pullback that pulls MACD to 0 sufficient for comparison?
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Of course the middle portion is also a trend type — you can clearly see three segments in it. Look at those two charts — extremely standard, textbook-precise.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:42:33
If anyone still doesn't understand, look at 000002's 15-minute chart — also a standard pattern. Today's adjustment could have been completely avoided in advance.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:44:07
[Anonymous] Leisurely
2007-01-17 15:38:51
The daily chart's MACD is also diverging now, right?
Boss, say something!
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No. It's only 5-minute. For the daily to diverge, a large pullback to the 0-axis is still needed.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:47:23
[Anonymous] Nonsense
2007-01-17 15:41:09
The divergence on the Shanghai index's 5-minute chart seems a bit forced. As for China Life's 5-minute chart divergence — I simply couldn't see it.
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If you can't see it in charts this standard, then your understanding of divergence is completely wrong — at least it's not what this ID has been teaching. Note: it's a comparison between trends, not a comparison between red bar clusters.
Go study carefully. Correct your previous misconceptions. Otherwise you'll never learn.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:51:20
[Anonymous] Happy New Year
2007-01-17 15:45:21
Also, Sister Chan — divergence is produced through a pullback to the 0-axis. Does this pullback have to go below the 0-axis to count? Or does just touching it suffice?
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A little above or below doesn't matter. The key is a clear comparison between two distinct trend segments.
Note: divergence doesn't mean it will keep falling endlessly. As soon as a sub-level buy point appears, it goes back up. The concern now is the next sub-level buy point.
Take a good look at Vanke's 15-minute chart. On the 4th, there was also a divergence, then a decline, then a buy point appeared on the 1-minute, then another rise, and then yesterday another 15-minute divergence produced a sell point. Pure textbook. Study it carefully.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:52:40
[Anonymous] Happy New Year
2007-01-17 15:50:08
Sister Chan, for 000002, besides seeing the pullback to the 0-axis, the MACD red bar divergence between the two trend segments isn't that obvious. Does every pullback to the 0-axis produce divergence?
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Not obvious? The area corresponding to the left trend segment is so much larger than the right — it's visible to the naked eye.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:54:33
Sorry, I have a dinner engagement tonight. Just got the call. This ID is logging off first. Leave questions below and I'll answer when I'm back tonight.
Logging off. Goodbye.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 21:23:00
Just got back from dinner. I see there are way too many people here still in a muddle about divergence. Tomorrow this ID will write a piece on "MACD's Auxiliary Judgment of Divergence." Everyone read the article and study hard. I won't answer any more divergence-related questions tonight.
Everyone please spend more time looking at today's Shanghai index 5-minute chart and China Life's 5-minute chart — as preparation for tomorrow's lesson.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 21:27:25
This ID suddenly realized that it's not as if absolutely no one here has some feel for divergence. Look at this person — this ID can give them a big red flower.
[Anonymous] Passerby
2007-01-17 13:06:23
[Anonymous] Made Money
2007-01-17 13:01:29
[Anonymous] Brave Heart
2007-01-17 12:35:49
Blogger hello: 601628 now has 30-minute divergence. Should I sell at the afternoon opening? Anxiously waiting...
－－－－－－－－－－－－－
Where's the divergence? Looks like you didn't learn it properly.
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There is on the 1-minute.
[Anonymous] Passerby
2007-01-17 13:08:41
Sorry, I meant the 5-minute — very obvious.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 21:31:13
Everyone, attention:
To encourage everyone's enthusiasm for learning, this ID now awards a big red flower to the person called "Passerby" above. Their post at 13:00 today clearly stated that China Life had 5-minute divergence — proving that divergence is something people can grasp through study in actual trading. Everyone should learn from this Passerby and thoroughly clear up any technical uncertainties.
Take note, everyone: your study will be rewarded, but the premise is that you must work hard and thoroughly master this ID's theory.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 21:42:49
Had quite a lot of Shuijingfang at dinner — that crappy wine is really hard to drink. The only reason is "keep the profits in the family."
Too bad this ID doesn't have any illness — can't even find an opportunity to consume some medicine. Everyone chat amongst yourselves. Riding the wine buzz, this ID is going to hang out with Li Bai and friends. Won't be keeping you all company. See you tomorrow.
缠中说禅 2007/1/17 15:18:53
I said before that if sub-sub-level divergence appears, the triangle formation would come. Today the 5-minute divergence is so obvious — if you still can't see it, you seriously need to go back and study. China Life's 5-minute chart is also a classic divergence.
Today's market shock was triggered by 5-minute divergence — a perfect short-term swing opportunity. If you didn't seize it, keep studying hard. You must be able to grasp movements this classic. Those who don't understand should pull up the Shanghai index and China Life's 5-minute charts and study them carefully.
Actually, even if you couldn't read the broader market, the stocks this ID was attacking already looked ugly from early morning today — that alone tells you there'd be a shock today. Of course, this ID's joy is all built upon market makers' pain. So let me say sorry — sorry, foolish market makers.