Confucius was born in a small village in Changping Township, Lu State. His ancestors were from Song State, named Kong Fangshu. Kong Fangshu had a son named Bo Xia, who had a son named Shu Lianghe. Shu Lianghe had an informal relationship with a woman of the Yan family, and they had Confucius. Confucius was born in the 22nd year of Duke Xiang of Lu. He was born with a dent in his head, so he was called Qiu. His courtesy name was Zhongni, and his surname was Kong.
Shortly after Confucius was born, Shu Lianghe passed away and was buried on Fangshan. Fangshan was in the eastern part of Lu State, and Confucius once doubted the location of his father's grave, but his mother concealed the truth. When Confucius was a child, he often played with sacrificial tools and imitated ritual ceremonies. After his mother passed away, she was buried at Wufu Crossroads, reflecting his careful attention to tradition. Confucius's grandmother was buried in Zouyi, and later, she and Confucius's mother were reburied together at Fangshan.
When Confucius was in mourning attire, the Ji clan invited scholars to a banquet, and Confucius went along. Yang Hu scoffed, "The Ji clan is inviting scholars, not you!" Confucius promptly withdrew.
When Confucius was seventeen years old, a high-ranking official of Lu, Meng Li Zi, fell seriously ill and was on the verge of death. He instructed his heir Yi Zi, saying: "Kong Qiu comes from a family of sages, although the family line was broken in Song. His ancestors served Dai Gong, Wu Gong, and Xuan Gong, being appointed three times and growing increasingly respectful and cautious. Therefore, the inscription on the tripod reads: 'My first appointment? Bent over double. Second appointment? My back was killing me. Third time? I practically crawled along the walls, too scared to even breathe wrong. Just porridge to keep alive.' He was so respectful and cautious. I have heard that descendants of sages, even if they do not achieve prominence in their time, will surely produce outstanding talents. Now, Kong Qiu, at such a young age, already loves rituals. Could he be that outstanding person? After I'm gone, make sure you study under him." After Meng Li Zi's death, Yi Zi, along with Nan Gong Jing Shu, another man from Lu, went to learn rituals from Confucius. That year, Ji Wu Zi passed away, and Ping Zi succeeded to the position.
Confucius's early life was one of poverty and hardship. As he grew older, he served as a historiographer in the Ji family, in charge of weights and measures; he also held administrative positions and improved the government's livestock, which led to his appointment as Minister of Works. He left Lu, only to face ostracism in Qi, expulsion from Song and Wei, and a desperate flight through Chen and Cai before finally returning home. Confucius was nine feet six inches tall—a giant, even by today's standards! He only returned to Lu once they treated him right.
Nangong Jingshu told the Duke of Lu, "I want to take Confucius to visit the Zhou Dynasty." The Duke of Lu sent him to the Zhou Dynasty with a carriage, two horses, and a servant to study ritual. They met Laozi. As they left, Laozi said, "I have heard that wealthy people give material gifts, while kind-hearted people give words. I may not be rich, but I’m known for my kindness. I will give you a few words: 'Smart people who gossip end up killing themselves; learned people who tattle on others bring themselves down; a son should be humble; a subject should be humble, too.'" Confucius returned to Lu from the Zhou Dynasty, and his students made great strides.
At that time, Duke Ping of Jin was a hedonist, and his six ministers ran the show, constantly attacking other states; King Ling of Chu had a powerful army and bullied the Central Plains states; Qi was powerful and close to Lu. Lu was weak, so relying on Jin invited attack from Chu; relying on Chu angered Jin; and neglecting Qi meant invasion.
In the twentieth year of Duke Zhao's reign, Confucius was about thirty. When Duke Jing of Qi and Yan Ying visited Lu, the Duke asked Confucius, "How did Duke Mu of Qin, ruler of such a small, backwater state, become so powerful?" Confucius replied, "Qin might have been small and remote, but its ambition was huge, and its conduct was impeccable. Duke Mu personally welcomed a man who'd given him five rams, made him a nobleman, pulled him out of jail, spent three days talking with him, and then put him in charge. That's how you become a king, let alone a hegemon!" Duke Jing of Qi was very pleased.
When Confucius was thirty-five years old, Ji Pingzi and Cao Zhaobo upset Duke Zhao of Lu over a cockfight. Duke Zhao led an attack against Ji Pingzi, who then allied with the Meng and Shusun families to retaliate against Duke Zhao. The Duke was defeated and sought refuge in the state of Qi, where he was made the Marquis of Qian. Not long after, Lu descended into chaos. Confucius moved to Qi and became a retainer of Duke Zhao, hoping to gain the favor of Duke Jing of Qi. He discussed music with Qi's master of music, immersed himself in Shao music, and spent three months mastering it, even forgoing meat. His dedication won him admiration from the people of Qi.
Duke Jing asked Confucius for advice on ruling a country. Confucius replied, "Rulers should rule, ministers should minister, fathers should father, and sons should son." Duke Jing responded, "Quite right! If rulers don't act like rulers, ministers don't act like ministers, fathers don't act like fathers, and sons don't act like sons, even with an abundance of food, I wouldn't be able to stomach it."
A few days later, Duke Jing once again sought Confucius' counsel on governance. Confucius advised, "The key lies in frugality." Duke Jing contemplated granting Confucius lands in Nixi. At this point, Yan Ying interjected, "Those learned men, all smooth words and no substance, are too arrogant to serve under anyone. They advocate for elaborate funeral rites that impoverish families – hardly a virtuous practice. They're always seeking funds and loans, which doesn't benefit the state in any way. Ever since the great sages passed away, the Zhou dynasty has been in decline and the ritual music system has suffered. Now, Confucius, with his meticulous attire and complex rituals that take a lifetime to master and a year to comprehend, wants to change the customs of Qi. To employ him to reform Qi's customs would hardly be prioritizing the welfare of the common people." Later, Duke Jing met Confucius with respect, but did not inquire further about ritual matters.
One day, Duke Jing kept Confucius and said, "I cannot treat you as well as the Ji family's retainers." So he treated Confucius with the etiquette between the Ji family and the Meng family. Some powerful folks in Qi were gunning for Confucius, and he knew about it. Duke Jing said, "I am old and helpless." So Confucius left Qi and returned to Lu.
When Confucius was forty-two years old, Duke Zhao of Lu passed away at Qianhou, and Duke Ding succeeded to the throne. Duke Ding ruled for five years. In the summer, Ji Pingzi died, and Huan Zi succeeded to his title. When Ji Huanzi was digging a well, he found a pottery jar containing something that looked like a sheep. He asked Confucius what it was, and he said it was a "dog." Confucius replied, "To my mind, that's a sheep. I've heard there are all sorts of strange beasties—Kui and Wang Lang in the rocks and trees, dragons and whatnot in the water, and 'tomb sheep' in the earth."
Wu defeated Yue, broke through Mount Kuaiji, and obtained a huge bone that could fill a cart. Wu sent an envoy to ask Confucius, "Which part of this bone is the biggest?" Confucius said, "Yu the Great once summoned the gods at Mount Kuaiji, and only Fengfeng Shi arrived late. Yu had him bumped off for being late, and this bone belongs to him, so this is the largest." The Wu envoy asked again, "Who can be considered a god?" Confucius said, "Mountain and river gods, they're the big shots. Anyone guarding those places is considered a god. The officials who sacrifice to the ancestral temple and the nobles all belong to the Son of Heaven." The envoy asked, "What place does Fengfeng Shi guard?" Confucius replied, "The Wangwang clan—later the Changzhi—guard Mount Fengyu. They're the Li clan, and nowadays, people just call 'em the big wigs." The envoy then asked, "How tall is the average person?" Confucius said, "The shortest folks, the Jiaojiao people, were only three feet tall. Ten feet was about as tall as anyone ever got." The envoy from Wu exclaimed, "Man, that guy's a genius!"
Duke Huan had a favored minister named Zhong Lianghuai, who was at odds with Yang Hu. Yang Hu wanted to drive Zhong Lianghuai away, but Gong Shan Nu thwarted him. That autumn, Zhong Lianghuai became even more arrogant, so Yang Hu arrested him. Duke Huan was very angry, and Yang Hu took advantage of the situation to also imprison Duke Huan. After coming to an agreement with Duke Huan, Yang Hu released him. After this incident, Yang Hu looked down on the Ji family even more. The Ji family usurped the authority of the ruling house, and the power of the state fell into the hands of their retainers, so Lu's government, from top to bottom, was riddled with wrongdoing. Therefore, Confucius did not take office and retired at home, devoting himself to the study of poetry, classics, ritual, and music. His students increased, and students flocked to him from far and wide, as everyone was captivated by his learning.
In the eighth year of Duke Ding of Lu, Gong Shan Nu was in conflict with the Ji family and used Yang Hu to rebel, intending to oust the rightful heirs of the three Huan families and establish the illegitimate sons supported by Yang Hu. They captured Ji Huanzi. Ji Huanzi outwitted them and escaped. In the ninth year of Duke Ding of Lu, Yang Hu failed and fled to the state of Qi. At that time, Confucius was fifty years old.
Gong Shan Nu rebelled in Fei and resisted the Ji family, inviting Confucius. Confucius had long been committed to righteous conduct, always mild-mannered, never given a chance to prove himself, and no one valued him. He said, "King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou built their kingdom from Feng and Hao. Although Fei is small now, it may also achieve something!" He wanted to go to Fei. Zilu disagreed and stopped Confucius. Confucius said, "Those who invited me must not be speaking casually, right? If they use me, wouldn't that mean dominating the Eastern Zhou?" But in the end, Confucius did not go.
Later, Duke Ding of Lu appointed Confucius as the Chief Administrator of Zhongdu, and a year later, other states began to emulate Lu's example. Afterwards, Confucius was then promoted to Minister of Works, and subsequently to Grand Minister of Justice.
In the tenth year of Duke Ding of Lu, in the spring, Lu and Qi made peace. In the summer, the Qi state minister Li Chu said to Duke Jing of Qi, "Lu is really leaning on Confucius; this is bad news for Qi!" So Duke Jing of Qi sent envoys to Lu to set up a meeting, with the location set at Jiagu. Duke Ding of Lu personally went there. Confucius was in charge of handling political affairs at the time, and he said, "I've always heard that you gotta be ready for a fight when you're making peace, and vice-versa. In ancient times, when princes went abroad, they had to bring relevant officials with them. Please let me bring my top military guys with me." Duke Ding of Lu agreed and brought his military commanders with him.
When they met Duke Jing of Qi at Jiagu, both sides went through the alliance ceremony, setting up an altar with three levels of soil steps, and they politely climbed the altar. After the wine and toasts, officials from Qi ran over and said, "Please play music!" Duke Jing of Qi said, "Okay." Suddenly, a whole load of banners, weapons, and instruments blared to life. Confucius hurried over, climbed onto the altar, and before he even finished climbing the first step, he loudly said, "This is a friendly meeting between our two lords; what's with all this wild music? Please order the musicians to leave!" The musicians wouldn't budge, so someone told Yanzi and Duke Jing. Duke Jing of Qi got nervous, waved his hand, and drove the musicians away.
After a while, officials from the State of Qi dashed over and said, "Please perform the court music." Duke Jing of Qi agreed. Then, actors and clowns came out to perform. Confucius quickly ran over, climbed onto the altar, and before he had even finished climbing one step, he said, "A commoner actually wants to deceive the princes; he deserves to die! Please order the musicians to be punished!" The officials of Qi punished those people according to the law, binding them limb from limb. Duke Jing of Qi was afraid, realizing his own wrongdoing. When he returned to his country, he was very fearful and said to his ministers, "The State of Lu assists their ruler with the methods of a nobleman, while you are teaching me with uncivilized methods, causing me to make mistakes in front of the ruler of Lu. What should I do?" One minister replied, "A nobleman apologizes sincerely when he makes a mistake, while a petty person looks for excuses and shifts blame. If the king truly repents, he should apologize sincerely." So Duke Jing of Qi returned the lands of *Yun*, *Wenyang*, and *Guiyin* that were previously occupied from the State of Lu, as a gesture of apology.
In the summer of 497 BC, Confucius told Duke Ding, "I, as an official, do not hide weapons, and all the ministers should not build such high walls anymore." He then sent Zhong You to serve as a retainer of the Ji clan, preparing to dismantle the three cities of the Ji clan. As a result, the city of *郈* was the first to be dismantled by the Shusun clan.
When the Ji clan was about to dismantle the city of Fei, Gongshan Buni and Shusun Ze led the people and horses of Fei to attack the State of Lu. Duke Ding of Lu and three chief ministers (from the Ji clan, Meng clan, and Shusun clan) together took refuge in the palace of the Ji clan and climbed up the Wuzi Terrace. The attackers from Fei pressed their assault on the palace, even reaching Duke Ding himself. Confucius ordered Shen Ju Xu and Yue Qi to counterattack with troops, and the people of Fei were defeated. The people of Lu pursued and defeated them in Gumei. Gongshan Buni and Shusun Ze fled to the State of Qi, and Fei was then dismantled.
Next, we have to dismantle Cheng. Gong Liǎn Chùfù, a member of the Meng Sun clan, said to the Meng Sun clan, "If Cheng is dismantled, the people of Qi will definitely attack the northern gate of Lu. Furthermore, Cheng is the barrier of the Meng family. Without Cheng, there would be no Meng family. So I do not agree with dismantling Cheng." Despite the objections, by December, even though Duke Ding of Lu had surrounded Cheng, he still could not capture it. In 496 BC, at the age of 56, Confucius served as the Minister of Justice and acted as the Prime Minister. His students said, "They say a gentleman doesn't let setbacks get him down, nor does he get carried away by good fortune." Confucius replied, "Is that so? Is it not said that 'happiness lies in using one's noble status to help the lower-class people'?" Therefore, Confucius had the officials involved in political unrest executed. During Confucius' three months in office, meat sellers stopped manipulating prices. Men and women kept to separate sides of the road. There were no incidents of lost items being picked up on the road. When guests from other places arrived in Lu, they were met with hospitality and escorted back to their lodgings.
Word reached the people of Qi, who panicked, saying, "If Confucius gets into power, he'll totally run the show. Once he does, we in Qi will be the first to suffer! Better to just hand over the land and keep the peace!" Li Ju suggested, "Let's see if we can scare him off first; if not, we can always give him the land later." So Qi sent over eighty gorgeous dancers in their finest silks, along with thirty fancy chariots, as a gift for the Duke of Lu. They parked the whole show—girls and chariots—in a field outside the south gate of Lu. Duke Huan kept sneaking peeks and nearly took the bait. Someone suggested the Duke of Lu take a 'day trip' to Zhou, conveniently delaying state business for the whole day. Zi Lu said, "Teacher, we can leave now." Confucius replied, "Lu's about to have their big autumn sacrifice. If they give the nobles their share of the meat, I can stick around a bit longer." So Huanzi took the bribe, skipped court for three days, and forgot all about the nobles' share of the sacrificial meat. Confucius hightailed it out of Lu and spent the night in Tun. His student Shi Ji walked him part of the way, saying, "Master, you're not leaving because you did something wrong, are you?" Confucius replied, "'Mind if I sing you a little something?' he asked, then sang: 'Those women's mouths—they'll make a man run. Their visits—they'll ruin a good name. Ah, well, another year gone by!'" Back with Huanzi, Shi Ji reported the whole thing. Huanzi sighed, "So that's it, then. The Master blamed me for those girls!"
Confucius went to the state of Wei and stayed at the home of Yan Zhuo Zou, Zilu's brother-in-law. Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius, "How much salary do you receive in the state of Lu?" Confucius replied, "A hefty salary of sixty thousand bushels of grain." The people of Wei also gave him sixty thousand bushels of grain. Not long after, someone slandered Confucius in front of Duke Ling of Wei. Duke Ling then sent Gong Sun Yu to harass Confucius. Confucius was afraid of facing repercussions, so he left the state of Wei after staying there for ten months.
Confucius was on his way to the state of Chen and passed through Kuangdi. Yan Hui was mistaken for a runaway slave and seized, pointing to a gap in the city wall and saying, "I entered the city through that gap before." They mistook him for Yang Hu, who had previously oppressed the people of Kuangdi, so they detained Confucius. Confucius, who resembled Yang Hu, was held for five days. Later, Yan Hui found Confucius, who said, "I thought you were doomed!" Yan Hui replied, "Master, as long as you are here, how could I dare to die!" The people of Kuangdi watched Confucius more closely, and his disciples were very afraid. Confucius said, "Did the death of King Wen mean the end of culture? If Heaven wanted to wipe out culture, wouldn't future generations be left with nothing? Since Heaven hasn't done that, what can these people in Kuang do to me?" Confucius sent a retainer to serve Lord Ning Wu of Wei.
After leaving Kuang, Confucius arrived in Pu. A month later, he returned to the state of Wei and stayed at the home of his friend, Yu Boyu. Lady Nanzi, the wife of Duke Ling of Wei, sent someone to tell Confucius, "Any gentleman of virtue in the world who wants to become brothers with our ruler must first greet my wife. She wishes to see you." Confucius declined, but eventually went. Lady Nanzi was behind the curtain. When Confucius entered, he faced north and bowed. Lady Nanzi returned two bows from behind the curtain, the tinkling of her jade pendants was lovely. Confucius said, "I didn't want to meet her, but now that I have, I had to return the bow." Zilu was very unhappy. Confucius swore, "Heaven help me if I don't!" After staying in Wei for over a month, Duke Ling and Lady Nanzi rode in a carriage together, with the eunuch Yong Qu as the driver. When they left, they had Confucius ride shotgun and flaunted it. Confucius said, "Never seen anyone so obsessed with looks over character!" So Confucius expressed his displeasure with Duke Ling's behavior, left Wei, and went to the state of Cao. That year, Duke Ding of Lu passed away.
Before leaving Cao for Song, Confucius and his disciples studied etiquette under a tree. The powerful official Huan Tui of Song wanted to kill Confucius, so he sent someone to cut down the large tree. Confucius quickly left. His disciples said, "We gotta get outta here!" Confucius said, "Heaven's got my back; Huan Tui can't touch me!"
Confucius arrived in Zheng and got separated from his disciples. He stood alone at the eastern gate outside the city wall. Someone in Zheng said to Zigong, "There is an old man outside the east gate, his forehead is like Yao's, his neck is like Gao Tao's, his shoulders are like Zichan's, but he is three inches shorter than Yu from the waist down. He looks like a stray." Zigong told Confucius about this. Confucius smiled and said, "So what if I look like a stray? Guess that's what I am, then! Guess that's what I am!"
Confucius arrived in the state of Chen and stayed at the home of Zhen, the city administrator. After staying for almost a year, King Fuchai of Wu attacked the state of Chen, occupied three cities before withdrawing. At the same time, Zhao Yang attacked Chaoge, Chu surrounded the state of Cai, and Cai was forced to move its capital to Wu. Wu also defeated King Goujian of Yue, with the battle taking place in Kuaiji.
In the court of Chen, a dead falcon was found on the ground, an arrow—wooden shaft, stone head, just over a foot long—embedded in its body. Duke Min of Chen sent someone to ask Confucius about the situation. Confucius said, "This falcon has traveled a long way, and this is an arrow from the State of Sushen. After King Wu defeated the Shang Dynasty, he opened up the road to the various tribes and peoples, allowing them to each offer their local specialties as tribute, reminding them not to forget their duties. So the State of Sushen offered this wooden shaft stone arrow, over a foot long, as tribute. The former king wanted to show his grace, so he gave this Sushen arrow to Daji to marry Duke Hu of Yu, and they were enfeoffed in the state of Chen. Close relatives received precious jade; others, tributes from distant lands, a reminder of their obligations. Therefore, the State of Chen received this Sushen arrow for a reason." Later, the arrow's record was found in the old treasury of Chen.
Confucius stayed in the state of Chen for three years, during which time the states of Jin and Chu were vying for dominance and taking turns attacking Chen. In addition, Wu also invaded, causing Chen to be constantly embroiled in war. Confucius sighed, "Time to go. My students are too reckless, focused on the immediate and ignoring the long view," and left Chen.
Passing by Pudi, Confucius happened upon a rebellion led by Gongshu Shi. The people of Pudi confronted Confucius. Confucius had a student named Gong Liangru, who followed him with his five-chariot retinue. Gong Liangru was an outstanding and courageous young man. He said, "I previously faced danger with my teacher in Kuang, and now I face danger here. Guess it's fate! If my teacher and I face danger again, I'd rather die fighting!" He immediately rushed forward and fought fiercely with the people of Pudi. The people of Pudi got scared and said to Confucius, "Just don't go to Wei, and we'll let you go." They struck a deal and sent Confucius out of the east gate. Confucius then went to Wei. Zilu asked Confucius, "Can you break a deal like that?" Confucius said, "It was a deal made in a desperate situation; even the gods wouldn't hold it against us."
Duke Ling of Wei was so happy to hear Confucius had arrived that he personally went to the outskirts to meet him. Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius, "Is Pudi worth attacking?" Confucius replied, "It can be." Duke Ling of Wei said, "My advisors all say it can't be done. Pudi's a buffer zone against Jin and Chu. Attacking Pudi wouldn't be a good idea, would it?" Confucius said, "The men of Pudi are all ready to die for it, and the women will defend the Western River to the death. If I attacked, it'd be over in a flash." Duke Ling of Wei said, "Alright!" However, in the end, Pudi was not attacked.
Duke Ling of Lu was old and didn't care about governing, so he ignored Confucius. Confucius sighed and said, "If someone gave me a chance, I could show results in a month, and make a real difference in three years." After saying this, Confucius left the State of Lu.
Fuyǔ became the Zhongmou county magistrate. Later, Zhao Jianzi attacked the Fan and Zhongxing clans, taking Zhongmou in his stride. Fuyǔ defected and sent for Confucius. Confucius was inclined to go. Zi Lu said, "Master, I remember you saying, 'A gentleman doesn't consort with wrongdoers.' Now Fuyǔ has led a rebellion in Zhongmou. How can you do that, Master?" Confucius responded, "That's true. But as the saying goes, 'A strong thing can't be broken; a pure thing can't be stained.' I'm not a helpless gourd to be tied up and eaten, am I?"
Confucius was playing his qin at home. At this time, a man carrying a burden passed by the door and said, "Man, you're really focused on your qin! But you're playing so earnestly, yet no one understands you!"
Confucius learned to play the qin from Master Xiangzi, but made no progress for ten days. Master Xiangzi said, "You can continue to study." Confucius admitted, "I've got the melody down, but the rhythm eludes me." After a while, he said, "The rhythm's there, but I haven't grasped the feeling yet." Later, he confessed, "I've got the mood of the piece, but I haven't understood the creator behind it yet." After a contemplative pause, Confucius's eyes became deep, his aspirations lofty. He said, "I understand the creator of this piece, he's dark-skinned and lean, with eyes that seem to watch over a flock, yet command armies. If it's not King Wen of Zhou, who else could create such music!" Master Xiangzi quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Master, you're right, it was composed by King Wen of Zhou."
Things weren't going well for Confucius in Wei, and he planned to go to the State of Zhao to see Zhao Jianzi. When he reached the banks of the Yellow River, he heard that Dou Mingdu and Shunhua had died. He stood by the river and sighed, "Look at this magnificent river, ever flowing! I can't cross it—guess it just wasn't meant to be!" Zigong quickly approached and asked, "Master, what do you mean?"
Confucius said, "Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua are top-notch officials of the state of Jin. Before Zhao Jianzi got rich and powerful, he needed their assistance to govern the country; once he got rich and powerful, he killed them and began to rule directly. They say if you gut a pregnant woman to kill the unborn child, the qilin will not come for sacrifice; if the water in the pond is drained and all the fish are caught, the jiaolong will not appear; if the bird's nest is destroyed and the bird eggs are smashed, the phoenix will not come. Why is that? Because even good guys don't mess with their own people! Even birds and beasts know to avoid unjust people, let alone me!" So Confucius went back home to Zou and wrote the "Zou Cao" to mourn them. He then returned to the state of Wei and stayed at the home of Qubo Yu.
One day, the Duke of Wei asked Confucius about military strategy. Confucius said, "I know about sacrifices, but I ain't no military expert." The next day, the Duke was chatting with Confucius, but when he saw some geese fly over, he just looked up at them and completely ignored Confucius. So Confucius left the state of Wei and went to the state of Chen again.
That summer, Duke Ling of Wei passed away, and his grandson Zhe succeeded him, becoming Duke Chu of Wei. In June, Zhao Yang locked up Prince Kuai Kui in Qi. Yang Hu sent some of the prince's guys, plus eight guys in mourning clothes pretending to be from Wei, to sob their way into getting him back. In winter, the state of Cai moved its capital to Zhou. It was the third year of Duke Ai's reign in Lu, and Confucius was sixty. The state of Qi helped Wei attack the Qi region because the crown prince of Wei was imprisoned there.
In summer, a fire broke out at the Huanli Temple in the state of Lu, and Nangong Jingshu went to put out the fire. When Confucius heard this news in the state of Chen, he said, "Something bad must've happened at the Huanli Temple, huh?" Later, it turned out to be true.
In the autumn, Jihuanzi fell ill and asked to be carried to the city wall of the State of Lu in a litter. He sighed and said, "This country was almost flourishing in the past, but unfortunately I offended Confucius, so it did not prosper." He then turned to his successor Kangzi and said, "After I die, you must assist the State of Lu; when assisting the State of Lu, you must summon Confucius." A few days later, Jihuanzi died, and Kangzi succeeded him. After Jihuanzi was buried, Kangzi wanted to summon Confucius. Yushi, a retainer of the prince, said, "Our late lord previously employed him for a short time, and as a result, he was ridiculed by other states. Now, if we employ him again, it will not last long, and we will be ridiculed by other states again, right?" Kangzi asked, "Then who should we summon?" Yushi said, "You must summon Ran Qiu." So they sent someone to summon Ran Qiu. When Ran Qiu was about to leave, Confucius said, "The people of Lu are summoning Ran Qiu not to use him for a minor role, but for a major role!" That day, Confucius said, "Go home, go home! My students are wild and rebellious, yet also brilliant; I really don't know how to discipline them." Zigang knew that Confucius wanted to go home, so he sent Ran Qiu and told him, "If they use you, recommend Confucius." After Ran Qiu left, the following year, Confucius left the State of Chen and moved to the State of Cai. Duke Zhao of Cai planned to go to the State of Wu, and Wu sent someone to invite him. Previously, Duke Zhao had deceived his ministers by relocating them, and now, fearing he would relocate the capital again, the officials were afraid, so Gong Sun Pian shot and killed Duke Zhao. Chu invaded the State of Cai. In the autumn, Duke Jing of Qi died. The following year, Confucius moved from the State of Cai to the State of Ye. Duke Ye asked Confucius for advice on governing, and Confucius said, "The way to govern is to attract people from afar and appease those nearby." A few days later, Duke Ye asked Zilu about Confucius, but Zilu did not respond. When Confucius found out, he said, "You, why did you not answer him by saying, 'He is tireless in learning and teaching, so engrossed that he forgets to eat or worry, and he doesn't even notice he's getting old'?"
Leaving Ye and returning to Cai, Chang Ju and Jie Ni were plowing their fields. Confucius considered them hermits, so he sent Zi Lu to ask them where the ferry was. Chang Ju asked, "Who is the person driving the carriage?" Zi Lu replied, "It's Kong Qiu." Chang Ju then asked, "Is it Kong Qiu from the state of Lu?" Zi Lu said, "Yes." Chang Ju remarked, "He knows where the ferry is." Jie Ni asked Zi Lu, "Who are you?" Zi Lu responded, "I am Zhong You." Jie Ni inquired again, "Are you a student of Kong Qiu?" Zi Lu affirmed, "Yes." Jie Ni commented, "The world is full of a mess of people; who can change this situation? Moreover, instead of following those who avoid the big shots, it is better to follow those who stay away from the rat race!" After speaking, he continued farming without stopping. Zi Lu relayed these words to Confucius, who observed thoughtfully, "You can't mix oil and water. Even in times of peace, I will not easily change my thoughts."
One day, Zi Lu was walking along the road when he met an old farmer carrying a burden. The old farmer asked him, "Have you seen Confucius?" He continued, "He's out of touch with reality; what kind of person is that Confucius!" After speaking, the old farmer plunged his carrying pole into the ground and started hoeing. Zi Lu reported this to Confucius, who said, "That is a hermit." But when Zi Lu returned, the old farmer was gone.
After three years—Confucius having spent three years in Cai—Wu attacked Chen, prompting Chu to intervene. Chu's army was stationed at Chengfu. Hearing Confucius was in the Chen-Cai region, Chu sent an envoy. Confucius was preparing to meet the envoy from Chu, but the Chen and Cai officials plotted, saying, "Confucius is a wise man; his criticisms cut to the quick. His prolonged stay in the region had exposed him to their corrupt practices. Now that Chu, a powerful state, is inviting Confucius, if he goes there, we, the officials of Chen and Cai, will be in danger!" So they mobilized a work gang to besiege him in the wilds, cutting off his supplies. His followers fell ill and were too weak to move. But Confucius still persisted in teaching, singing, and playing music without stopping. Zilu was very angry and said to Confucius, "Can a guy like him end up like this?" Confucius replied, "A real gentleman stays true even when broke, but a lowlife’s more likely to turn bad." Zigong's face changed. Confucius asked him, "Zigong, you think I'm pretty smart, right?" Zigong said, "Yeah, absolutely." Confucius said, "No. It all boils down to one thing." Confucius knew that his disciples were resentful, so he called Zilu and asked him, "'The Odes say, 'No tiger, no beast, just wandering the plains.' Am I doing something wrong? Why's this happening to me?" Zilu said, "Is it because I'm not compassionate enough, so people don't trust me? Or not smart enough, so they ignore my ideas?" Confucius said, "It is possible! Zilu, if being nice guaranteed trust, what about Boyi and Shuqi? If being smart guaranteed success, what about Prince Bigan?"
After Zilu left, Zigong entered. Confucius asked him, "Zigong, in the Book of Songs it says, 'Not fierce beasts, not tigers, just walking in the open fields.' Is my path wrong? Why am I in this situation?" Zigong replied, "Teacher, your path is too noble, so no one in the world can accept you. Shouldn't you lower your standards a bit?" Confucius said, "Zigong, a good farmer can cultivate, but may not necessarily be able to harvest; a good craftsman can make things skillfully, but may not necessarily make them usable. A nobleman can cultivate his virtues, leading and guiding like a model, yet may not be accepted by the world. If you do not cultivate your virtues now and think about being accepted by the world, Zigong, your aspirations are not great!"
After Zigong left, Yan Hui entered. Confucius sighed and said, "Hui, in the Book of Songs it says, 'Not fierce beasts, not tigers, just wandering in the open fields.' Is my path not correct? Why am I in this situation?" Yan Hui replied, "Master, your path is too grand, so no one in the world can accept it. However, even if you persist in following your path and are not accepted, what does it matter? Indeed, it is in not being accepted that the true nobleman is revealed! If the path is not repaired, it is my fault; if the path is already repaired but not adopted, it is the fault of those in power. What does it matter not being accepted? It is in not being accepted that the true nobleman is revealed!" Confucius laughed heartily and said, "What a great son of the Yan family! If I were rich, I'd put you in charge of my finances."
So Confucius sent Zigong to the state of Chu. King Zhao of Chu made a grand show of welcoming Confucius, thus saving him from danger. King Zhao intended to reward Confucius with a vast tract of land. However, the Prime Minister of Chu, Zixi, opposed this, saying, "Does the king have talents as outstanding as Zigong under his command?" King Zhao denied this each time. Zixi then asked, "Does the king have anyone as wise as Yan Hui?" King Zhao denied this again. "Does the king have anyone as brave as Zilu?" King Zhao denied this once more. "Does the king have anyone as capable as Zai Yu?" King Zhao again denied this. Zixi continued, "Besides, our Chu ancestors were only given a tiny fiefdom back in the Zhou dynasty. Now, if we take up Confucius' ideas and start promoting the ways of the past, if the king follows his advice, how can we expect to keep this huge kingdom for generations? Look at King Wen and King Wu – they started with practically nothing and ended up ruling the whole country! If Confucius gets this land and all his brilliant students to help him, it'll be bad news for Chu!" Upon hearing Zixi's words, King Zhao ultimately abandoned the idea of rewarding Confucius. That autumn, King Zhao of Chu died in Chengfu.
There was a madman from Chu named Jieyu, who passed by Confucius singing a song, "Phoenix, Phoenix, why has your virtue declined? What's done is done, but we can still shape the future! Woe is us, those in power today are in trouble!" Confucius wanted to talk to him, but Jieyu ran away quickly, and Confucius did not have the chance to speak to him.
So Confucius left Chu and returned to the state of Wei. That year, Confucius was sixty-three years old, in the sixth year of Duke Ai of Lu.
The following year, Wu and Lu met at Zengdi to make peace, with Lu offering a tribute of one hundred livestock. The Chief Minister of Wu summoned Jikangzi of Lu, who sent Zigong to resolve the matter.
Confucius said, "The politics of the states of Lu and Wei are like brothers." At that time, the ruler of Wei, Wei Jun Zhe Fu, failed to become the ruler and was exiled. Other neighboring states often used this as an excuse to criticize Wei. Many of Confucius's students held positions in Wei, and the ruler of Wei wanted to invite Confucius to govern. Zi Lu asked Confucius, "If the ruler of Wei invites you to govern, what do you plan to do first?" Confucius said, "We must first 'set things right'!" Zi Lu said, "Oh, teacher, you are so old-fashioned! What exactly is this 'setting things right'?" Confucius replied, "My dear fellow, you haven't grasped the point! If names aren't right, words won't be right; if words aren't right, actions won't be right; if actions aren't right, rituals and music won't flourish; if rituals and music don't flourish, punishments won't be just; and if punishments aren't just, the people won't know how to live. A gentleman must have a proper name for everything he does, and his words must be matched by deeds. A gentleman does not do things half-heartedly."
The following year, Ran You led the troops as the general of the Ji clan to fight against the state of Qi in Langdi and won a decisive victory. Ji Kang Zi asked Ran You, "Were you naturally gifted in military strategy, or did you learn it?" Ran You replied, "I learned it from Confucius." Ji Kang Zi then asked, "What kind of person is Confucius?" Ran You replied, "Following his guidance, everything is done properly; spreading his teachings to the people, even the gods would approve. To reach his level, even if it requires exhausting the resources of countless villages, Master will not profit from it." Ji Kang Zi said, "I want to invite him, is that possible?" Ran You said, "If you want to invite him, then don't use the underhanded tactics of small-minded people to force him; that will be enough." At that time, Confucius was consulted by Kong Wenzhi of Wei, who was planning to attack Taishu. Confucius politely declined, saying he didn't know, then packed his bags and left, remarking, "Birds can choose their trees, but can trees choose their birds?" Wenzhi had no choice but to give up. Later, Ji Kang Zi expelled Gong Hua, Gong Bin, and Gong Lin, and offered a generous sum to invite Confucius. Confucius then returned to the state of Lu.
Confucius left the state of Lu for a total of fourteen years before returning. Duke Ai of Lu asked him about the way to govern a country, and Confucius replied, "The key lies in picking the right people." Ji Kangzi also asked him about the way to govern a country, and Confucius said, "If you promote good people, the bad ones will straighten up." Ji Kangzi was plagued by thieves, and Confucius said, "If someone doesn't want to steal, no reward will tempt them." But Lu never gave Confucius another chance, and Confucius didn't chase after any more jobs.
Back in Confucius' day, the Zhou Dynasty was in decline, and rituals and music had fallen by the wayside, with poetry and books being incomplete. He traced the rituals and music systems of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, collected and organized the classics, covering everything from Tang, Yao, Yu, and Shun right up to Duke Mu of Qin. He said, "I know about Xia rituals, but Qi isn't a good example; same with Yin rituals and Song. Only when the evidence is sufficient can I draw a conclusion." He observed the changes in the rituals and music systems of the Xia and Shang dynasties, saying, "Even centuries later, you can still figure things out from the records and artifacts. The Zhou picked up where the Xia and Shang left off, and boy, what a culture they built! I choose to follow the rituals and music system of the Zhou Dynasty." So, Confucius wrote the Book of Documents, the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the Record of Rites.
Confucius told Lu's Master of Music, "The rules of music can be mastered. At the beginning, the sound is harmonious, then gradually unfolds, becoming pure, bright, and smooth, eventually reaching a perfect state." "After returning from the State of Wei to the State of Lu, I organized the music, and the Ya and Song musical pieces were properly categorized." In ancient times, there were more than three thousand poems, but in Confucius's hands, he eliminated the redundant ones, retaining those that conformed to propriety and righteousness, starting from the times of Yao, Shun, Yu, and Hou Ji, describing the prosperity of the Yin and Zhou dynasties, and ending with the decline during the reigns of King You and King Li. Starting from daily life, he selected 'Guanju' to begin the Feng odes, 'Luming' for the Xiaoya, 'Wenwang' for the Daya, and 'Qingmiao' for the Song odes. Confucius personally played and sang the 305 poems, making sure they followed the rules of Shao, Wu, Ya, and Song music. From then on, ritual and music could now be properly taught and explained, used to perfect the royal path, eventually forming the Six Arts. In his later years, Confucius enjoyed studying the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), organizing sections such as "The Judgments," "The Trigrams," "The Images," "The Commentary on the Trigrams," and "The Textual Commentary." Reading the Book of Changes, he even wore out three leather thongs binding his books! He said, "If I had a few more years, I would be able to study the Book of Changes very thoroughly!" Confucius educated his students with poetry, books, rituals, and music. He had about three thousand students, but only seventy-two fully mastered the Six Arts. Students like Yan Hui, Zilu, and Ran Yong, as well as many others, learned a lot from him. His four teachings were literature, behavior, loyalty, and trustworthiness; he emphasized four things his students should avoid: no presumption, no insistence, no obstinacy, and no self-centeredness; he was particularly cautious about matters of unity, war, and illness. Confucius seldom discussed profit, fate, or benevolence. If students did not ask questions, he did not explain; if students only asked about one aspect and could not make connections, he would not continue the explanation.
In the village, he appeared humble and cautious, seeming almost taciturn; in the ancestral temple and court, he spoke clearly and with careful consideration. In the court, he spoke respectfully to superiors; with lower-ranking officials, his attitude was more kindly. When entering the government office, he always bowed and saluted; walking quickly, his movements were nimble and quick. When summoned by the monarch for guidance, he looked respectfully. When summoned by the monarch with orders, he'd leave immediately, without waiting for his carriage.
If the fish or meat was off or chopped up rough, he wouldn't eat; if the seating arrangement was untidy, he wouldn't sit; he never overate when someone nearby was in mourning. If there's a funeral today, don't sing. When seeing someone in mourning attire or a blind person, even if it's a child, one should show respect with a change of expression.
Confucius said: "Among any three people, there's always someone I can learn from." He also said: "If morality is not properly cultivated, if learning is not diligently pursued, if one hears of righteousness but fails to act on it, and if one sees what is wrong but fails to correct it, this is what worries me the most." If someone sings well, I'll have them sing again, and then I'll sing along.
Confucius did not discuss things like ghosts and spirits. Zigong said: "I can still listen to the teacher's teachings and writings, but when it comes to discussions of Heaven's will and the meaning of life, I completely do not understand." Yan Hui sighed and said, "The more I looked into it, the more profound it seemed; the more I studied it, the more challenging it became. It seems to be right in front of you, but in the blink of an eye, it's behind you. The teacher patiently guides me, teaching me with rich knowledge. He restrains me with rituals, making it hard for me to stop. My talents are fully stimulated by him, as if I have found the direction of life and suddenly stood up. Although I want to follow him, I don't know where to start." People in Daxiang said: "Confucius, remarkably knowledgeable and talented, but surprisingly unknown." When Confucius heard this, he said: "What *am* I good at? Driving? Archery? I'm just good at driving!" Lao said: "Didn't you say, 'No practice, no skill'?"
In the spring of Duke Ai's fourteenth year, Confucius went hunting in the wilderness. Chu Shang, Shusun's driver, caught a wild beast and thought it was an ominous sign. Confucius took a look and said, "It's a qilin!" He then took the qilin back and exclaimed, "The Yellow River's stopped giving up its secrets, the Luo River's gone dry; my era has come to an end!" When Yan Hui died, Confucius said, "Heaven's snatched Yan Hui away from me!" Later, during the Western Expedition, he saw the qilin again and said, "My path has come to an end!" He sighed and said, "No one understands me!" Zigong asked, "Why does no one understand you?" Confucius replied, "It's not the heavens' fault, nor anyone else's. I started from scratch and climbed high; only the heavens get me, I guess!"
"Don't lower your aspirations, don't tarnish your character, like Boyi and Shuqi!" Confucius remarked that Liu Xia Hui and Shao Lian lowered their aspirations and tarnished their character. Yu Zhong and Yi Yi secluded themselves, casually expressed opinions, and behaved nobly, but they gave up power. "As for me, I'm different from them; just let it be natural!"
Confucius sighed, "Man, a gentleman's biggest fear? Being forgotten after he's gone! If my path is not clear, how will I show my face in the future?" So he wrote the *Spring and Autumn Annals* based on historical records, starting from Duke Yin of Lu to the fourteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu, covering a total of twelve rulers of Lu. The book not only recorded the historical facts of Lu but also involved the deeds of the Zhou and Shang dynasties, spanning the history of the three generations of Xia, Shang, and Zhou. He kept it short and sweet, but packed a punch. For example, the rulers of Wu and Chu called themselves "kings," but the *Spring and Autumn Annals* referred to them as "sons"; the Jiantu Meeting was clearly a summons to the Zhou emperor, but the *Spring and Autumn Annals* referred to it as "the king hunting at Heyang." He used this method to regulate the social atmosphere of the time, and those derogatory records would serve as a lesson for future rulers to govern the world. Once people started living by the *Annals*, every crooked official would be quaking in their boots!
Confucius handled lawsuits during his lifetime, but his writing skills weren't unique; many others possessed them. However, when he wrote the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, it was different. He'd condense and craft the text with such effortless skill that even his most favored students, like Zixia, couldn't offer suggestions. When his disciples studied the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, Confucius said, "Those who get me will understand me through the *Spring and Autumn Annals*; those who don't will use it to criticize me."
The following year, Zilu died in the state of Wei. Confucius also fell ill, and Zigong went to visit him. Confucius was walking with a cane at the door, saying, "Gong, what took you so long?" Confucius sighed and sang, "Mount Tai's about to crumble! The main beam's about to snap! The wise man's about to wither away!" He then shed tears. He told Zigong, "Righteousness has been absent from the world for too long, and no one will carry on my work. The Xia people bury the dead on the east steps, the Zhou people on the west steps, and the Yin people between the two pillars. Last night, I dreamt that I was sitting between the two pillars receiving sacrifices; it seems that I originally belonged to the Yin people!" Seven days later, Confucius passed away.
Confucius died at the age of seventy-three, on the day of Ji Chou in the fourth month of the sixteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu.
Duke Ai wrote a eulogy for him, saying, "Heaven failed to protect this old man, leaving me utterly alone in my sorrow. Alas, alas! Father Ni, you lacked self-discipline!" Zigong said, "Your Majesty, isn't this eulogy going to ruin Confucius's reputation in Lu? The Master said, 'When ritual collapses, you get darkness; when titles are disgraced, you get trouble. Losing your purpose is darkness; losing your position is trouble.' Confucius was not able to receive proper recognition during his lifetime, and now after his death, using such a eulogy to mourn him goes against proper etiquette. And calling him 'just one person' is disrespectful."
After Confucius died, he was buried north of Lu city, by the Si River. His students mourned for him for three years. After the three-year mourning period ended, everyone said their goodbyes amid a torrent of tears. Each expressed their profound grief; some even stayed behind and refused to leave. Only Zigang stayed, building a small hut by Confucius's grave where he lived for six years. Later, Confucius's students and the people of Lu settled near the grave, eventually forming a village called "Kongli." Generations of Lu people kept up the tradition of worshipping at Confucius's tomb in spring and autumn. Scholars often lectured and performed the *xiangyinjiu* and *dashe* ceremonies there. The grave of Confucius was a huge expanse, about a hectare in size. Confucius's living quarters and his students' homes became temples, housing his robes, musical instruments, and writings. This continued for over two hundred years, until the Han dynasty. Even Liu Bang, the Han emperor Gaozu, sacrificed a bull to Confucius when passing through Lu! Visiting Lu officials always paid their respects at Confucius's tomb before attending to matters of state.
Confucius had a son named Kong Li, courtesy name Boyu. Boyu died before Confucius at the age of fifty. Boyu's son was named Kong Ji, courtesy name Zisi, who lived for sixty-two years. He once suffered greatly in the state of Song. Zisi wrote the book "The Doctrine of the Mean." Zisi's son was named Kong Bai, courtesy name Zishang, who lived for forty-seven years. Zishang had a son named Kong Qiu, courtesy name Zijia, who lived for forty-five years. Zijia had a son named Kong Ji, courtesy name Zijing, who lived for forty-six years. Zijing had a son named Kong Chuan, courtesy name Zigao, who lived for fifty-one years. Zigao had a son named Kong Shen, who lived for fifty-seven years and once served as the chief minister of the State of Wei. Kong Shen had a son named Kong Fu, who lived for fifty-seven years and served as an academic for King Chen Sheng, dying in the state of Chen. Kong Fu's son was named Kong Xiang, who lived for fifty-seven years. He once served as an academic for Emperor Xiaohui and later became the governor of Changsha, standing at nine feet six inches tall (approximately 2.9 meters). Kong Xiang had a son named Kong Zhong, who lived for fifty-seven years. Kong Zhong had a son named Kong Wu, who had sons named Kong Yannian and Kong Anguo. Kong Anguo served as an academic for Emperor Jing of Han, later becoming the magistrate of Linhuai, but passed away at a young age. Kong Anguo had a son named Kong Yang, who had a son named Kong Huan.
Sima Qian said, "In the Book of Songs, it is said: 'High mountains are to be admired, and noble paths are to be followed.' Although we cannot reach the level of Confucius, our hearts still long for him." After reading the books of Confucius, I can imagine what kind of person he was. When I visited the state of Lu, I visited Confucius' temple and saw his chariots and ceremonial vessels. I also observed Confucian scholars diligently studying ritual at the Kong family home. I really wanted to stay a few more days and was reluctant to leave! Although there are many kings and wise men in the world, they are honored during their lifetime, but once they pass away, they have nothing. Confucius was just a commoner, but his teachings have been passed down for over ten generations, and scholars all respect him. His influence, from emperor to commoner, remains unmatched, a testament to his enduring wisdom.
