The object 之 and the linker 之
The same graph occupies different roles. Compare 習之 with 先王之道 before translating.
學而時習之之 follows 習 as its anaphoric object.
CHANT · CC BY-SA 4.0 · KR1h0004_001.txt, lines 16–22先王之道之 links the former kings with their way.
CHANT · CC BY-SA 4.0 · KR1h0004_001.txt, lines 110–119Make the comparison explicit
The same graph occupies different roles. Compare 習之 with 先王之道 before translating.
論語: 之 follows 習 as its anaphoric object.
論語: 之 links the former kings with their way.
Why is “the king of not king” a poor starting translation for 王之不王?
It ignores the verbal force of the second 王 and the embedded predication. The surrounding contrast between 不為 and 不能 explains what is being asserted about the king.
Shared words, images, or constructions do not by themselves establish common meaning, authorship, or origin. An explicit citation is identified only where the wording itself supports it.
zimai · AI-assisted editorial notes · Editorial pilot · not independently reviewed. Original learning material: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source text, scholarly reference, and editorial interpretation remain separately attributed.