Confucius by Meher McArthur

Author:Meher McArthur
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegasus Books

Zigong

Another student who is also believed to have joined Confucius on his great journey was Duanmu Si, best known by his courtesy name, Zigong (b. 520 BC). According to Sima Qian, Zigong was a native of Wei, to the west of Lu,14 and he must have travelled a considerable distance to study under Confucius. He joined Confucius’ school during the period when Confucius was focusing on teaching and research in his thirties and forties, so is one of the second generation of students who were roughly thirty years younger than their Master. Zigong appears to have been one of Confucius’ brighter, more enthusiastic and accomplished students and is mentioned often in The Analects, usually questioning Confucius on how best to become a true gentleman. Confucius generally thought well of him and once gave him high praise in a discussion about what it takes to be a junzi. Zigong asked Confucius if the following would be a good description of a good man: ‘“Poor without servility; rich without arrogance.” How is that?’ Confucius replied, ‘Not bad, but better still: “Poor, yet cheerful; rich yet considerate”‘ To this, Zigong quoted The Book of Songs: ‘“Like carving horn, like sculpting ivory, like cutting jade, like polishing stone.” Is this not the same idea?’ Confucius was delighted that Zigong could allude so skilfully to the important text in a discussion about refining one’s character. He exclaimed, ‘Ah, one can really begin to discuss the Poems [Songs] with you! I tell you one thing, and you can figure out the rest.’15 Confucius clearly relished such conversations with bright young minds like Zigong, as he considered them to be quicker-witted, more emotionally generous and less rigid than men of his own age. Sparring with them apparently kept his own mind sharp and helped him to formulate his thoughts more clearly.16

Although Confucius admired Zigong for his quick and clear mind, he did not apparently rank him among those of his students who possessed great virtue. Zigong did not seem to mind this assessment and himself once conceded to Confucius that he could not compare with Confucius’ favourite student Yan Hui in virtue or intelligence. Confucius’ response to this admission was revealing: ‘Indeed, you are not his equal; and neither am I.’17 On another occasion, when Zigong asked Confucius what he thought of him, Confucius replied, ‘You are a pot.’ This was not a flattering response from the Master, who had taught that a gentleman should not be like a container or vessel, with a finite capacity and a specific function. Unperturbed, Zigong then asked, ‘What sort of pot?’ to which Confucius replied, ‘A precious ritual vessel,’ showing Zigong that although he had not yet acquired the qualities of a gentleman, he was still of great value.18 Perhaps Confucius had reservations about Zigong because the latter was also very interested in commerce, and Confucius was not. According to both Confucius and Sima Qian, Zigong was talented in business and became extremely wealthy.19 The historian also describes Zigong as

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