Someone asked Confucius about Zi Chan. The Master said, “He was a man who showed kindness to the people.”
He then asked about Zi Xi. Confucius replied, “That man! That man!” (a dismissive and evasive expression).
He further asked about Guan Zhong. Confucius said, “He was a true man! He confiscated three hundred households of Bo Shi’s fief at Pian, leaving Bo Shi to eat coarse grain for the rest of his life – yet Bo Shi never uttered a word of complaint until his death.”
Note
Through these contrasting evaluations of three statesmen, Confucius articulates the Confucian standard for virtuous governance:
- Zi Chan: Praised as a “man of kindness”, he governed Zheng with benevolence and public-spirited policies, embodying the Confucian ideal of “benefiting and nurturing the people.”
- Zi Xi: Confucius’s repeated “That man! That man!” is a classic rhetorical evasion in the Analects, signaling disapproval without direct condemnation – likely because Zi Xi, though powerful, lacked moral integrity (he once blocked Confucius’s political appointment in Chu).
- Guan Zhong: Though he served as prime minister under Duke Huan of Qi and employed strong-handed measures (e.g., confiscating land), his actions were so just and transparent that even the aggrieved party held no resentment. Confucius calls him “a true man” (literally, “he is benevolent”), a profound affirmation echoing his earlier praise: “Wasn’t Guan Zhong humane? Wasn’t he humane?” (Analects 14.17).
This passage from the Analects underscores that a statesman’s worth lies not in rank or power, but in whether he acts with public-minded fairness and earns the people’s trust. True virtue in governance can justify firm actions if they are impartial and righteous; conversely, mere position without moral substance deserves no acclaim.
Further Reading
The Master said of Zi Chan, “He practiced four virtues of the noble person: in conduct, he was respectful; in serving superiors, reverent; in nurturing the people, kind; in employing them, righteous.” Analects 5.16 (Gongye Chang)
Reinforces why Zi Chan is praised as “a man of kindness” – his governance integrated virtue and practical care.
Zigong said, “Was Guan Zhong not humane? When Duke Huan killed Prince Jiu, Guan Zhong did not die with him but became his minister.” The Master said, “Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan… Wasn’t he humane! Wasn’t he humane!” Analects 14.17 (Xian Wen)
Both passages defend Guan Zhong’s moral stature based on his great public service, despite conventional criticisms – highlighting Confucius’s pragmatic yet principled view of benevolence.
或問子產。子曰：「惠人也。」問子西。曰：「彼哉！彼哉！」問管仲。曰：「人也。奪伯氏駢邑三百，飯疏食，沒齒，無怨言。」
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