When the pheasants sensed a change in human expression, they immediately took flight; after circling in the air, they settled again. Confucius, observing this, remarked, “Ah, the female pheasant on the mountain ridge – how timely she is! How perfectly she understands the right moment!” Hearing this, Zilu bowed respectfully toward the bird. It flapped its wings three times, sniffed the air, and then flew away.
Note
This poetic vignette from the Analects uses the behavior of wild pheasants as a metaphor for the Confucian ideal of “timeliness”. The birds’ alertness – flying at the first sign of disturbance yet returning only when safe – exemplifies prudent responsiveness to changing circumstances. Confucius praises them not for cleverness but for their natural attunement to the right moment, reflecting his belief that moral action must be context-sensitive and appropriately timed. In Confucian ethics, rigid adherence to rules without regard to circumstance is insufficient; true virtue lies in discerning when to act, speak, withdraw, or engage – just as the sage adapts to political opportunity or retreats in times of chaos. Zilu’s respectful gesture shows disciples learning from nature, while the bird’s final departure underscores that even reverence should not disrupt natural spontaneity. Thus, the passage blends Daoist-like appreciation of natural rhythm with Confucian emphasis on ethical timing, suggesting that wisdom involves harmonizing human conduct with the rhythms of the world.
色斯舉矣，翔而後集。曰：「山梁雌雉，時哉！時哉！」子路共之，三嗅而作。
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