Confucious' Disciples
by ConfuciusThe first to make progress in the Proprieties and in Music are plain farmers.
After them, the men of higher standing. If I had to employ any of them, I would choose the farmers.
Of those who were with me when I was in the Ch’in and Ts’ai States, not one now is left to approach my door.
As for Hwui, he is not one to help me on. There is nothing I say but he is not well satisfied with.
What a dutiful son was Min Tsz-k’ien! No one finds occasion to differ from what his parents and brothers have said of him.
Nan Yung used to repeat three times over the lines in the Odes about the white sceptre.
Confucius caused his own elder brother’s daughter to be given in marriage to him.
There was one Yen Hwui who was fond of it. But unfortunately he died early. Now his like is not to be found.
When Yen Yuen died, his father, Yen Lu, begged for the Master’s carriage in order to get a shell for his coffin.
Ability or no ability every father still speaks of ‘my son’. When ‘my own son’ Li died, and the coffin for him had no shell to it, I know I did not go on foot to get him one.
But that was because I was, though retired, in the wake of the ministers, and could not therefore well do so.
On the death of Yen Yuen the Master exclaimed, “Ah me! Heaven is ruining me, Heaven is ruining me!”
On the same occasion, his wailing for that disciple becoming excessive, those who were about him said, “Sir, this is too much!”
The disciples then wished for the deceased a grand funeral. The Master could not on his part consent to this. They nevertheless gave him one.
Upon this he remarked:
The disciple Min was by his side, looking affable and bland. Tsz-Lu also, looking careless and intrepid; and Yen Yu and Tsz-Kung, firm and precise.
The Master was cheery.
Some persons in Lu were taking measures in regard to the Long Treasury House. Min Tsz-k’ien observed, “How if it were repaired on the old lines?”
On seeing, however, some disrespect shown to him by the other disciples, he added,
