Classic Reading: 'The Book of Rites - Under the Bow' — Confucius: 'Harsh politics is worse than a tiger!' (Original Text and Vernacular Translation)

This article is excerpted from 'The Book of Rites - Under the Bow,' a classic story about 'Harsh politics is worse than a tiger.' The story narrates how Confucius, while passing through Mount Tai, encountered a woman crying at a grave. Her family had been devoured by tigers for three generations, yet she refused to leave because there was no harsh politics. Confucius lamented that harsh governance is more fearsome than tigers. The article includes the original text and a complete vernacular translation.