The Chinese Classics (Prolegomena) - James Legge (i have read the book a hundred times TXT) 📗

4. Zan Yung, styled Chung-kung (�T�l, �r���}). He was of the same clan as Zan Kang, and twenty-nine years younger than Confucius. He had a bad father, but the master declared that was not to be counted to him, to detract from his admitted excellence. His place is among ‘The Wise Ones,’ the second, east.

5. Zan Ch’iu, styled Tsze-yu (�T�D, �r�l��). He was related to the two former, and of the same age as Chung-kung. He was noted among the disciples for his versatile ability and many acquirements. Tsze-kung said of him, ‘Respectful to the old, and kind to the young; attentive to guests and visitors; fond of learning and skilled in many arts; diligent in his examination of things:— these are what belong to Zan Ch’iu.” It has been noted in the life of Confucius that it was by the influence of Tsze-yu that he was finally restored to Lu. He occupies the third place, west, among ‘The Wise Ones.’

6. Chung Yu, styled Tsze-lu and Chi-lu (����, �r�l��, �S�r�u��). He was a native of P’ien (��) in Lu and only

nine years younger than Confucius. At their first interview, the master asked him what he was fond of, and he replied, ‘My long sword.’ Confucius said, ‘If to your present ability there were added the results of learning, you would be a very superior man.’ ‘Of what advantage would learning be to me?’ asked Tsze-lu. ‘There is a bamboo on the southern hill, which is straight itself without being bent. If you cut it down and use it, you can send it through a rhinoceros’s hide;— what is the use of learning?’ ‘Yes,’ said the master; ‘but if you feather it and point it with steel, will it not penetrate more deeply?’ Tsze-lu bowed ‘ twice, and said, ‘I will reverently receive your instructions.’ Confucius was wont to say, ‘From the time that I got Yu, bad words no more came to my ears.’ For some time Tsze-lu was chief magistrate of the district of P’u (�Z), where his administration commanded the warm commendations of the master. He died finally in Wei, as has been related above, pp. 86, 87. His tablet is now the fourth, east, from those of the Assessors.

7. Tsai Yu styled Tsze-wo (�_��, �r�l��). He was a native of Lu, but nothing is mentioned of his age. He had ‘a sharp mouth,’ according to Sze-ma Ch’ien. Once, when he was at the court of Ch’u on some commission, the king Chao offered him an easy carriage adorned with ivory for his master. Yu replied, ‘My master is a man who would rejoice in a government where right principles were carried out, and can find his joy in himself when that is not the case. Now right principles and virtue are as it were in a state of slumber. His wish is to rouse and put them in motion. Could he find a prince really anxious to rule according to them, he would walk on foot to his court and be glad to do so. Why need he receive such a valuable gift, as this from so great a distance?’ Confucius commended this reply; but where he is mentioned in the Analects, Tsze-wo does not appear to great advantage. He took service in the State of Ch’i, and was chief magistrate of Lin-tsze, where he joined with T’ien Ch’ang in some disorderly movement [1], which led to the destruction of his kindred, and made Confucius ashamed of him. His tablet is now the second, west, among ‘The Wise Ones.’

8. Twan-mu Ts’ze, styled Tsze-kung (������, �r�l�^ [al. �l�B]), whose place is now third, east, from the Assessors. He

1 �P���`�@��. See Sze-ma Ch’ien’s Biographies, chap. 7, though come have doubted the genuineness of this part of the notice of Tsze-wo.

was a native of Wei (��), and thirty-one years younger than Confucius. He had great quickness of natural ability, and appears in the Analects as one of the most forward talkers among the disciples. Confucius used to say, ‘From the time that I got Ts’ze, scholars from a distance came daily resorting to me.’ Several instances of the language which he used to express his admiration of the master have been given in the last section. Here is another:— The duke Ching of Ch’i asked Tsze-kung how Chung-ni was to be ranked as a sage. ‘I do not know,’ was the reply. ‘I have all my life had the heaven over my head, but I do not know its height, and the earth under my feet, but I do not know its thickness. In my serving of Confucius, I am like a thirsty man who goes with his pitcher to the river, and there he drinks his fill, without knowing the river’s depth.’ He took leave of Confucius to become commandant of Hsin-yang (�H���_), when the master said to him, ‘In dealing with your subordinates, there is nothing like impartiality; and when wealth comes in your way, there is nothing like moderation. Hold fast these two things, and do not swerve from them. To conceal men’s excellence is to obscure the worthy; and to proclaim people’s wickedness is the part of a mean man. To speak evil of those whom you have not sought the opportunity to instruct is not the way of friendship and harmony.’ Subsequently Tsze-kung was high in office both in Lu and Wei, and finally died in Ch’i. We saw how he was in attendance on Confucius at the time of the sage’s death. Many of the disciples built huts near the master’s grave, and mourned for him three years, but Tsze-kung remained sorrowing alone for three years more.

9. Yen Yen, styled Tsze-yu (����, �r�l��), now the fourth in the western range of ‘The Wise Ones.’ He was a native of Wu (�d), forty-five years younger than Confucius, and distinguished for his literary acquirements. Being made commandant of Wu-ch’ang, he transformed the character of the people by ‘proprieties’ and music, and was praised by the master. After the death of Confucius, Chi K’ang asked Yen how that event had made no sensation like that which was made by the death of Tsze-ch’an, when the men laid aside their bowstring rings and girdle ornaments, and the women laid aside their pearls and ear-rings, and the voice of weeping was heard in the lanes for three months. Yen replied, ‘The influences of Tsze-ch’an and my master might be compared

to those of overflowing water and the fattening rain. Wherever the water in its overflow reaches, men take knowledge of it, while the fattening rain falls unobserved.’

10. Pu Shang, styled Tsze-hsia (�R��, �r�l�L). It is not certain to what State he belonged, his birth being assigned to Wei (��), to Wei (�Q), and to Wan (��). He was forty-five years younger than Confucius, and lived to a great age, for we find him, B.C. 406, at the court of the prince Wan of Wei (�Q), to whom he gave copies of some of the classical Books. He is represented as a scholar extensively read and exact, but without great comprehension of mind. What is called Mao’s Shih-ching (����) is said to contain the views of Tsze-hsia. Kung-yang Kao and Ku-liang Ch’ih are also said to have studied the Ch’un Ch’iu with him. On the occasion of the death of his son he wept himself blind. His place is the fifth, east, among ‘The Wise Ones.’

11. Chwan-sun Shih, styled Tsze-chang (�F�]�v, �r�l�i), has his tablet, corresponding to that of the preceding, on the west. He was a native of Ch’an (��), and forty-eight years younger than Confucius. Tsze-kung said, ‘Not to boast of his admirable merit; not to signify joy on account of noble station; neither insolent nor indolent; showing no pride to the dependent:— these are the characteristics of Chwan-sun Shih.’ When he was sick, he called (his son) Shan-hsiang to him, and said, ‘We speak of his end in the case of a superior man, and of his death in the case of a mean man. May I think that it is going to be the former with me to-day?’

12. Tsang Shan [or Ts’an] styled Tsze-yu (����, �r�l�� [al. �l �P]). He was a native of south Wu-ch’ang, and forty-six years younger than Confucius. In his sixteenth year he was sent by his father into Ch’u, where Confucius then was, to learn under the sage. Excepting perhaps Yen Hui, there is not a name of greater note in the Confucian school. Tsze-kung said of him, ‘There is no subject which he has not studied. His appearance is respectful. His virtue is solid. His words command credence. Before great men he draws himself up in the pride of self-respect. His eyebrows are those of longevity.’ He was noted for his filial piety, and after the death of his parents, he could not read the rites of mourning without being led to think of them, and moved to tears. He was a voluminous writer. Ten Books of his composition are said to be contained in the ‘Rites of the elder Tai’

(�j����). The Classic of Filial Piety he is said to have made under the eye of Confucius. On his connexion with ‘The Great Learning,’ see above, Ch. III. Sect. II. He was first associated with the sacrifices to Confucius in A.D. 668, but in 1267 he was advanced to be one of the sage’s four Assessors. His title— ‘Exhibitor of the Fundamental Principles of the Sage,’ dates from the period of Chia-ching, as mentioned in speaking of Yen Hui.

13. Tan-t’ai Mieh-ming, styled Tsze-yu (�F�O����, �r�l��). He was a native of Wu-ch’ang, thirty-nine years younger than Confucius, according to the ‘Historical Records,’ but forty-nine, according to the ‘Narratives of the School.’ He was excessively ugly, and Confucius thought meanly of his talents in consequence, on his first application to him. After completing his studies, he travelled to the south as far as the Yang-tsze. Traces of his presence in that part of the country are still pointed out in the department of Su-chau. He was followed by about three hundred disciples, to whom he laid down rules for their guidance in their intercourse with the princes. When Confucius heard of his success, he confessed how he had been led by his bad looks to misjudge him. He, with nearly all the disciples whose names follow, first had a place assigned to him in the sacrifices to Confucius in A.D. 739. The place of his tablet is the second, east, in the outer court, beyond that of the ‘Assessors’ and ‘Wise Ones.’

14. Corresponding to the preceding, on the west, is the tablet of Fu Pu-ch’i styled Tsze-tsien (�W [al. �K and �{, all = ��] �� ��, �r�l��). He was a native of Lu, and, according to different accounts, thirty, forty, and forty-nine years younger than Confucius. He was commandant of Tan-fu (�����_), and hardly needed to put forth any personal effort. Wu-ma Ch’i had been in the same office, and had succeeded by dint of the greatest industry and toil. He asked Pu-ch’i how he managed so easily for himself, and was answered, ‘I employ men; you employ men’s strength.’ People pronounced Fu to be a superior man. He was also a writer, and his works are mentioned in Liu Hsin’s Catalogue.

15. Next to that of Mieh-ming is the tablet of Yuan Hsien, styled Tsze-sze (����, �r�l��) a native of Sung or according to Chang Hsuan, of Lu, and younger than Confucius by thirty-six years. He was noted for his purity and modesty, and for his

happiness in the principles of the master amid deep poverty. After the death of Confucius, he lived in obscurity in Wei. In the notes to Ana. VI. iii, I have referred to an interview which he had with Tsze-kung.

16. Kung-ye Ch’ang [al. Chih], styled