孔子世家

Confucius was born in the township of Changping in Zou, in the state of Lu. His ancestors were men of Song. His great-grandfather was Kong Fangshu. Fangshu sired Bo Xia. Bo Xia sired Shu Lianghe. He and a woman of the Yan family conceived Confucius through an irregular union, having prayed at Mount Niqiu. Confucius was born in the twenty-second year of Duke Xiang of Lu. At birth, the top of his head was concave, and so he was named Qiu (meaning 'mound'). His courtesy name was Zhongni, and his surname was Kong.

Qiu was born and Shu Lianghe died. He was buried at Mount Fang. Mount Fang was east of Lu. Confucius was uncertain of his father's burial place because his mother kept it secret. As a child at play, Confucius would constantly set out ritual vessels and practice ceremonial postures. When his mother died, he placed her coffin at the crossroads of Wufu — out of caution. A woman of Zou, the mother of Man Fu, told Confucius where his father's grave was, and only then did he go and inter his mother alongside his father at Fang.

While Confucius was wearing mourning, the Ji family held a banquet for its retainers. Confucius went to attend. Yang Hu barred him, saying: "The Ji family is feasting its retainers — they did not presume to invite you." Confucius withdrew.

When Confucius was seventeen, the Lu grandee Meng Xizi lay ill and near death. He admonished his heir, Yizi: "Kong Qiu is a descendant of sages — his line perished in Song. His ancestor Fu Fuhe was first entitled to Song but yielded the succession to Duke Li. Then Zheng Kaofu served Dukes Dai, Wu, and Xuan, growing more reverential with each appointment. The inscription on his cauldron read: 'At the first appointment, I bowed; at the second, I bent double; at the third, I stooped low, walking along the wall — none dared insult me. I make my gruel in this, I make my porridge in this, to feed my mouth.' Such was his humility. I have heard that descendants of sages, even if they do not rule in their own generation, will surely produce a man who achieves greatness. Now Kong Qiu, though young, loves ritual — he is surely such a man. When I am gone, you must take him as your teacher." When Xizi died, Yizi and Nangong Jingshu of Lu went to study ritual under Confucius. That year, Ji Wuzi died and Pingzi succeeded him.

Confucius was poor and of low station. When he grew up, he once served as a clerk for the Ji family, keeping the accounts accurate and fair. He once served as a livestock officer, and the animals thrived. From this he was made Minister of Works. Afterward he left Lu, was rebuffed in Qi, expelled from Song and Wey, and trapped between Chen and Cai — then he returned to Lu. Confucius was nine chi and six cun tall. People all called him 'the tall one' and marveled at him. Lu again treated him well, and so he returned.

Nangong Jingshu of Lu spoke to the Lord of Lu: "I request permission to accompany Confucius on a visit to Zhou." The Lord of Lu provided one carriage, two horses, and a young attendant, and they traveled to Zhou to inquire about ritual. There, it is said, they met Laozi. Upon their departure, Laozi said in farewell: "I have heard that the wealthy see people off with gifts of money, and the humane see people off with gifts of words. I am not wealthy, but I will borrow the title of a humane man and see you off with words: Those who are brilliant in perception and keen in observation yet come close to death — they are men who love to criticize others. Those who are eloquent and wide-ranging yet endanger themselves — they are men who expose others' faults. One who is a son should not think of himself as his own; one who is a minister should not think of himself as his own." After Confucius returned from Zhou to Lu, his disciples gradually grew in number.

In the twentieth year of Duke Zhao of Lu, Confucius was about thirty years old. Duke Jing of Qi came to Lu with Yan Ying. Duke Jing asked Confucius: "Duke Mu of Qin ruled a small state in a remote corner — how did he achieve hegemony?" Confucius replied: "Though Qin was small, its ambitions were great; though it was remote, its conduct was upright. The duke personally discovered Baili Xi among fettered captives, raised him to the rank of great officer, conversed with him for three days, and entrusted him with governance. With such methods, he could have become a true king — his mere hegemony was a small achievement." Duke Jing was pleased.

When Confucius was thirty-five, Ji Pingzi and Hou Zhaobo quarreled with Duke Zhao of Lu over a cockfight. Duke Zhao led his troops against Pingzi, but Pingzi allied with the Meng and Shusun families and the three clans jointly attacked Duke Zhao. Duke Zhao's forces were defeated and he fled to Qi, where he was settled at Ganhou. Shortly after, Lu fell into disorder. Confucius went to Qi and served as a household retainer of Gao Zhaozi, hoping to gain access to Duke Jing. He discussed music with Qi's Grand Music Master and heard the Shao music. He studied it so intently that for three months he did not notice the taste of meat. The people of Qi praised him for this.

Duke Jing asked Confucius about governance. Confucius said: "Let the ruler be a ruler, the minister a minister, the father a father, the son a son." Duke Jing said: "Excellent! Truly, if the ruler is not a ruler, the minister not a minister, the father not a father, the son not a son — though I had grain, how could I eat it?" On another day he again asked about governance. Confucius said: "Governance lies in controlling expenditure." Duke Jing was pleased and was about to enfeoff Confucius with the fields of Nixi. Yan Ying objected: "These Ru scholars are glib and cannot be held to fixed laws; they are arrogant and self-willed and cannot serve as subordinates; they exalt mourning and prolong grief, bankrupting families with lavish funerals — this cannot be made custom; they travel about offering counsel and seeking loans — this cannot be the basis of statecraft. Since the great worthies passed and the Zhou house declined, ritual and music have been in disrepair. Now Confucius adorns his appearance, elaborates the rituals of ascending and descending, and the etiquette of approaching and retreating — it would take generations to exhaust his learning and a lifetime could not master his rituals. If my lord wishes to use this to transform the customs of Qi, this is not the way to serve the common people." Thereafter Duke Jing received Confucius respectfully but did not ask about ritual. On another day, Duke Jing told Confucius: "I cannot treat you as the Ji family is treated." He offered him a rank between Ji and Meng. The great officers of Qi wished to harm Confucius. Confucius heard of it. Duke Jing said: "I am old. I cannot employ him." Confucius departed and returned to Lu.

Later, Duke Ding appointed Confucius as magistrate of Zhongdu. After one year, all four quarters took him as a model. From magistrate of Zhongdu he was promoted to Minister of Works, and from there to Grand Minister of Justice.

In the spring of Duke Ding's tenth year, Lu made peace with Qi. In summer, the Qi great officer Li Chu said to Duke Jing: "Lu is employing Kong Qiu. This trend endangers Qi." Qi therefore proposed a friendly conference with Lu, to be held at Jiagu. Duke Ding of Lu was about to go with just a carriage and friendly retinue. Confucius, acting as diplomatic minister, said: "Your servant has heard that those who engage in civil affairs must have military preparations, and those who engage in military affairs must have civil preparations. When ancient lords left their borders, they always brought a full complement of officials. I request that the Left and Right Marshals be prepared." Duke Ding agreed.

They met the Lord of Qi at Jiagu. An earthen platform was built with three steps, and they met with the protocol of an informal encounter, exchanging courtesies as they ascended. After the toasting rituals were completed, a Qi official hurried forward and said: "We request the performance of music of the four quarters." Duke Jing said: "Granted." Thereupon men with banners, pennants, feathered ornaments, spears, halberds, swords, and shields came drumming and shouting. Confucius strode forward, mounted the steps without reaching the top, raised his sleeve, and declared: "Our two lords are meeting in friendship — what is barbarian music doing here? I request that the officials be ordered to remove it!" The officials tried to stop it but the performers would not leave. They looked to Yan Ying and Duke Jing. Duke Jing was ashamed and waved them away.

Shortly after, a Qi official hurried forward: "We request the performance of palace music." Duke Jing said: "Granted." Jesters, entertainers, and dwarves came forward to perform. Confucius strode forward, mounted the steps without reaching the top, and said: "A commoner who bewilders and confuses the feudal lords deserves execution! I request that the officials enforce the law!" The officials carried out the sentence — their hands and feet were severed. Duke Jing was shaken with fear. He recognized that his sense of righteousness was inferior. Returning home in great alarm, he told his ministers: "Lu assists its lord with the Way of the gentleman, while you have taught me only the ways of barbarians, causing me to offend the Lord of Lu. What shall I do?" An official replied: "When a gentleman errs, he apologizes with substance; when a petty man errs, he apologizes with words. If my lord is truly troubled, apologize with substance." The Lord of Qi thereupon returned the fields of Yun, Wenyang, and Guiyin that had been seized from Lu, as an apology.

In the summer of Duke Ding's thirteenth year, Confucius said to the duke: "Ministers should not store weapons; great officers should not have city walls of a hundred zhi." He appointed Zhong You as steward of the Ji family and prepared to demolish the three fortified cities. The Shusun family demolished Hou first. When the Ji family was about to demolish Fei, Gongshan Buniu and Shusun Zhe led the men of Fei in a surprise attack on Lu. The duke and the three ministers took refuge in the Ji family's mansion, ascending the terrace of Wuzi. The men of Fei attacked but could not take it, pressing close to the duke. Confucius ordered Shen Juxu and Yue Qi to sally forth against them. The men of Fei fled north. The people of the capital pursued and routed them at Gumie. The two rebel leaders fled to Qi, and Fei was demolished. When they were about to demolish Cheng, Gonglian Chufu told Mengsun: "If Cheng is demolished, the men of Qi will reach our north gate. Moreover, Cheng is the Meng family's stronghold — without Cheng, there is no Meng family. I will not demolish it." In the twelfth month, the duke besieged Cheng but could not take it.

In Duke Ding's fourteenth year, Confucius, aged fifty-six, was promoted from Grand Minister of Justice to Acting Chancellor. He wore a look of pleasure. His disciples said: "We have heard that a gentleman does not fear when disaster comes, nor rejoice when good fortune comes." Confucius said: "There is such a saying. But is there not also: 'He delights in being able to treat those below him with courtesy despite his high station'?" He then executed Shaozheng Mao, a Lu great officer who had caused political disorder. Within three months of participating in state governance, traders selling lambs and piglets no longer inflated their prices; men and women walked on separate sides of the road; nothing was left on the road unclaimed; and visitors from the four quarters arriving at the city had no need to seek officials — all were given what they needed and sent home.

The men of Qi heard and were afraid: "If Confucius governs, Lu will certainly achieve hegemony. If Lu becomes hegemon, our territory is the closest — we will be the first to be annexed. We should cede land." Li Chu said: "Let us first try to undermine him. If that fails, then cede land — what is the delay?" They selected eighty beautiful young women from across Qi, dressed them in embroidered garments to dance the Kangle, and gathered thirty teams of four ornamented horses, and sent them all to the Lord of Lu. The female musicians and decorated horses were displayed outside the south gate of Lu. Ji Huanzi went in plain clothes to watch them, going back three times. He was about to accept them. He told the Lord of Lu they should tour along the Zhou Road, and they watched all day, neglecting governance.

Zi Lu said: "The Master may depart now." Confucius said: "Lu is about to perform the suburban sacrifice. If they send the sacrificial meat to the great officers, I can still remain." Huanzi accepted the Qi musicians and for three days did not attend to governance. At the suburban sacrifice, the sacrificial meat was not distributed to the great officers. Confucius departed and lodged at Tun. The musician Shi Ji came to see him off and said: "The Master bears no fault." Confucius said: "May I sing?" He sang: "Those women's mouths can drive a man to flight; those women's pleading can lead to death and ruin. How leisurely, how carefree — just to see the year through!" Shi Ji returned. Huanzi asked: "What did Confucius say?" Shi Ji told him exactly. Huanzi sighed: "The Master blames me on account of those serving-girls!"

Confucius then went to Wey and lodged with Yan Zhuozou, the brother of Zi Lu's wife. Duke Ling of Wey asked Confucius: "What salary did you receive in Lu?" He replied: "Sixty thousand measures of grain." The people of Wey likewise provided sixty thousand. After a short time, someone slandered Confucius to Duke Ling. Duke Ling sent Gongsun Yujia to shadow him, coming and going. Confucius, fearing he would be charged with an offense, left Wey after ten months.

Traveling toward Chen, he passed through Kuang. Yan Ke served as driver and pointed with his whip, saying: "Once before I entered through that gap in the wall." The people of Kuang heard this and took Confucius to be Yang Hu of Lu. Yang Hu had once brutalized the people of Kuang, and they now detained Confucius. Confucius resembled Yang Hu in appearance and was held for five days. Yan Hui fell behind. The Master said: "I thought you were dead." Yan Hui replied: "While the Master lives, how would Hui dare to die?" The people of Kuang pressed their detention more urgently. His disciples were afraid. Confucius said: "King Wen is dead, but does not culture reside here? If Heaven intends to destroy this culture, then those who come after will never share in it. If Heaven does not intend to destroy this culture, what can the people of Kuang do to me?"

He departed, passed through Pu, and after a month returned to Wey, lodging with Qu Boyu. Duke Ling's consort Nanzi sent word to Confucius: "Gentlemen from the four quarters who are not ashamed to seek brotherhood with our lord must first present themselves to his humble consort. The humble consort wishes to meet you." Confucius declined but, unable to refuse, went to see her. The lady was behind a thin curtain. Confucius entered, faced north, and bowed to the ground. The lady bowed twice from behind the curtain, her jade pendants ringing clearly. Confucius said: "I had originally intended not to see her, but having done so, I returned her courtesy according to ritual." Zi Lu was displeased. Confucius swore: "If I have done anything wrong, may Heaven reject me! May Heaven reject me!"

Confucius had been in Cai three years when Wu attacked Chen. Chu came to Chen's rescue and encamped at Chengfu. Hearing that Confucius was between Chen and Cai, Chu sent an envoy to invite him. Confucius was about to go and accept the courtesy when the great officers of Chen and Cai conferred: "Confucius is a worthy man. His criticisms always strike at the weaknesses of the feudal lords. He has lingered long between Chen and Cai, and the policies we ministers have implemented are all contrary to Zhongni's principles. Now Chu, a great state, has come to invite Confucius. If Confucius is employed by Chu, then the ministers in power in Chen and Cai are in danger." They therefore jointly dispatched men to surround Confucius in the wilderness. He could not move. Their provisions were exhausted. His followers fell ill and none could rise. Confucius continued to lecture, recite, play his lute, and sing without faltering.

Zi Lu came before him with an angry expression: "Does the gentleman too suffer extremity?" Confucius said: "The gentleman is steadfast in extremity. The petty man, when reduced to extremity, overflows all bounds."

Confucius knew his disciples were resentful. He summoned Zi Lu and asked: "The Odes say, 'We are neither rhinoceros nor tiger — yet we pace the empty wilderness.' Is my Way wrong? Why am I reduced to this?" Zi Lu said: "Perhaps we are not yet humane enough, and so people do not trust us. Perhaps we are not yet wise enough, and so people will not follow our Way." Confucius said: "Is that so? You — if the humane were always trusted, how would there be Bo Yi and Shu Qi? If the wise were always followed, how would there be Prince Bigan?"

Zi Gong came and received the same question. Then Yan Hui entered. Confucius said: "Hui — the Odes say, 'We are neither rhinoceros nor tiger — yet we pace the empty wilderness.' Is my Way wrong? Why am I reduced to this?" Yan Hui said: "The Master's Way is supremely great — therefore All-Under-Heaven cannot contain it. Even so, the Master advances and practices it. If the world cannot contain it, what harm is that? Not being contained is what reveals the gentleman! If the Way is not cultivated — that is our disgrace. If the Way has been fully cultivated and is still not adopted — that is the disgrace of those who hold states. Not being contained — what harm is that? Not being contained is what reveals the gentleman!"

Confucius smiled with delight and said: "Is this truly so, son of the Yan family! If you had great wealth, I would serve as your steward."

Thereupon Zi Gong was sent to Chu. King Zhao of Chu raised his army to welcome Confucius, and they were at last freed.

Confucius was absent from Lu for fourteen years before returning.

Duke Ai of Lu asked about governance. Confucius replied: "Governance lies in selecting the right ministers." Ji Kangzi asked about governance. Confucius said: "Raise up the straight and place them above the crooked — then the crooked will become straight." Kangzi was troubled by theft. Confucius said: "If you yourself were free of desire, even if you rewarded people for stealing, they would not steal." Yet Lu never employed Confucius, and Confucius no longer sought office.

In Confucius's time, the Zhou royal house had weakened, ritual and music had fallen into ruin, and the Odes and Documents were fragmentary. He traced the rituals of the Three Dynasties, arranged the Documents and their commentaries, recording events from the time of Tang and Yu above down to Duke Mu of Qin below. He said: "I can speak of the rituals of Xia, but Qi cannot furnish sufficient evidence. I can speak of the rituals of Yin, but Song cannot furnish sufficient evidence. If there were sufficient evidence, I could verify them." Observing what Yin and Xia had added and subtracted, he said: "Even a hundred generations hence can be known, through the alternation of refinement and simplicity. Zhou looked back upon two dynasties — how splendidly refined it is! I follow Zhou." Thus the Documents and commentaries and the Record of Rites derive from Confucius.

In ancient times there were over three thousand poems. By Confucius's time, he removed duplicates and selected those applicable to ritual and righteousness, choosing from the age of Xie and Houji above, through the greatness of Yin and Zhou, down to the decline of Kings You and Li. Beginning with the chamber, he said: "The Guanju is the beginning of the Airs; Luming is the beginning of the Minor Odes; Wen Wang is the beginning of the Major Odes; Qingmiao is the beginning of the Hymns." Confucius set all three hundred and five poems to string and song, seeking to recover the music of the Shao, Wu, Ya, and Song. From this point, ritual and music could be transmitted, completing the kingly Way and fulfilling the Six Arts.

In his later years, Confucius came to love the Changes. He arranged the Tuan, Xi, Xiang, Shuogua, and Wenyan commentaries. He read the Changes until the leather thongs binding the bamboo strips broke three times. He said: "Give me a few more years — if so, I shall be well versed in the Changes."

Confucius taught through the Odes, the Documents, Ritual, and Music. His disciples numbered approximately three thousand. Those who personally mastered the Six Arts were seventy-two.

The Master said: "Alas! Alas! The gentleman dreads dying without his name being spoken. My Way will not be practiced. How shall I make myself known to later generations?" He therefore used the historical records to compose the Spring and Autumn, from Duke Yin above to the fourteenth year of Duke Ai below — twelve dukes. He took Lu as his base, drew close to Zhou, and looked back to Yin, encompassing the Three Dynasties. He made the text concise yet its meaning vast. Thus the lords of Wu and Chu styled themselves kings, but the Spring and Autumn demoted them to 'viscount.' At the Conference of Jiantu, the Zhou Son of Heaven was actually summoned, but the Spring and Autumn concealed this, writing instead: 'The Heavenly King hunted at Heyang.' By extending such principles, he judged the current age. The moral judgments of praise and censure — a later king may take them up and carry them forward. When the principles of the Spring and Autumn are put into practice, the disloyal ministers and traitorous sons of All-Under-Heaven will tremble.

In the spring of the fourteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu, a hunt was held at Daye. A driver of the Shusun family, Chu Shang, caught a beast and considered it inauspicious. Zhongni examined it and said: "It is a qilin." He took it. Then he said: "The Yellow River sends forth no chart; the Luo River sends forth no book. I am finished!" When Yan Yuan had died, Confucius said: "Heaven is destroying me!" And when the qilin was caught in the western hunt, he said: "My Way is at its end!" He sighed deeply: "No one understands me!" Zi Gong asked: "Why does no one understand the Master?" The Master said: "I do not resent Heaven, I do not blame others. I learn from below and reach upward. The one who understands me — it is Heaven alone!"

The following year, Zi Lu died in Wey. Confucius fell ill. Zi Gong requested an audience. Confucius was leaning on his staff, pacing slowly before the gate. He said: "Ci, why have you come so late?" Confucius sighed and sang: "Mount Tai crumbles! The ridgepole breaks! The wise man withers!" Tears streamed down. He told Zi Gong: "All-Under-Heaven has been without the Way for a long time, and none have been able to follow me. The Xia people placed the coffin by the eastern stairs; the Zhou by the western stairs; the Yin between the two pillars. Last night I dreamed I sat before offerings placed between the two pillars — I am after all a man of Yin." Seven days later he died.

Confucius was seventy-three years old. He died on the jichou day of the fourth month of the sixteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu.

Confucius was buried north of the Lu city walls, on the bank of the Si River. His disciples all observed three years of mourning. When the three years of inner mourning were complete, they bade one another farewell and departed, weeping, each giving full vent to his grief. Some stayed on. Zi Gong alone built a hut on the grave mound and remained for six years before departing. Disciples and people of Lu who came to settle near the grave numbered over a hundred households, and the place was called Kongli — the Village of Kong.

Generation after generation, the people of Lu transmitted the tradition of performing seasonal sacrifices at Confucius's grave. Confucian scholars also conducted rites, village banquets, and archery ceremonies there. The grave mound measured one qing. The hall where Confucius had lived was maintained by his disciples. In later generations a temple was built, preserving Confucius's clothing, cap, lute, carriage, and books — continuing without interruption for over two hundred years into the Han dynasty. When the High Ancestor passed through Lu, he performed a Grand Sacrifice with the Three Victims. Whenever feudal lords, ministers, and chancellors arrived, they always paid their respects first before taking up governance.