Tsz-Lu Interacts with the Farmers

Confucius

In the reign of the last king of the Yin dynasty, there were 3 men of philanthropic spirit*:

1. The viscount of Wei, who withdrew from him
2. The viscount of Ki, who became his bondsman
3. Pi-kan, who reproved him and suffered death

Hwi of Liu-hi was the Chief Criminal Judge and was thrice dismissed.

A person remarked to him, “Can you not yet bear to withdraw?”

Confucius

If I act in a straightforward way in serving men, whither in these days should I go, where I should not be thrice dismissed? Were I to adopt crooked ways in their service, why need I leave the land where my parents dwell?"

Duke King of Ts’i remarked respecting his attitude towards Confucius:

Duke

“If he is to be treated like the Chief of the Ki family, I cannot do it. I should treat him as somewhere between the Ki and Mang Chiefs. I am old and not competent to avail myself of him.

Confucius, hearing of this, went away.

The Ts’i officials presented to the Court of Lu a number of female musicians.

Ki Hwan accepted them. For 3 days, no Court was held.

Confucius went away. Tsieh-yu, the madman [33] of Ts’u, was once passing Confucius, singing as he went along.

He sang:

Tsieh-yu

Ha, the phoenix! Ha, the phoenix! How is Virtue lying prone! Vain to chide for what is o’er, Plan to meet what’s yet in store.

Confucius alighted, wishing to talk to him. But the man hurried along and left him.

Chang-tsu and Kieh-nih [34] were working together on some ploughed land. Confucius was passing by them, and sent Tsz-Lu to ask where the ford was.

Chang-tsu

Who is the person driving the carriage?

Tsz-Lu

Confucius

Chang-tsu

Is he of Lu?

Tsz-Lu

Yes

Chang-tsu

He knows then where the ford is

Tsz-Lu then asked it Kieh-nih.

Kieh-nih

You are a follower of Confucius of Lu, are you not? These waters rise and overflow their bounds, ’tis so with all throughout the empire; and who is he that can alter the state of things?

You are a follower of a learned man who withdraws from his chief; had you not better be a follower of such as have forsaken the world?

He went on with his harrowing, without stopping.

Tsz-Lu went and informed his Master of all this.

He was deeply touched, and said:

Tsz-Lu

One cannot herd on equal terms with beasts and birds.

If I am not to live among these human folk, then with whom else should I live? Only when the empire is well ordered shall I cease to take part in the work of reformation.