Mencius said, “The distress suffered by the gentleman (Confucius) between the states of Chen and Cai was due to having no connections with either superiors or subordinates.”
Note
This passage is from the Jin Xin II section of the Mencius. Through the historical allusion of Confucius’ “distress between Chen and Cai,” Mencius provides a profound summary of the predicament and political ideals of gentlemen in chaotic times. Drawing on historical context and Confucian classics, we can understand its underlying thought through the following dimensions:
- Restoration of Historical Background and Objective Circumstances: “No Connections with Superiors or Subordinates”
According to historical records such as the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), when Confucius traveled through the states of Chen and Cai during his wanderings, it coincided with the State of Wu attacking Chen and the State of Chu sending troops to rescue it. The ministers of Chen and Cai feared that if Confucius were employed by Chu, it would threaten their own interests. Thus, they dispatched troops to besiege Confucius and his disciples in the wilderness, cutting off their food supply for seven days and causing many followers to fall ill. Mencius accurately summarized this desperate situation as “having no connections with superiors or subordinates”: upwardly, the ruling elites of Chen and Cai rejected him; downwardly, being trapped in a war zone and siege, he could not establish contact with the common people. This illustrates that the distress of a gentleman is often caused by a toxic political ecology and objective environment, rather than any moral failing of their own. - A Rational Interpretation of “The Gentleman Remains Firm in Adversity”
Confucius once said, “The gentleman remains steadfast in adversity; the petty man, when in adversity, gives way to excess.” Mencius further explains here why a gentleman would face such “adversity.” In Mencius’ view, the moral principles of a gentleman transcend worldly affairs. When their political ideals clash with the reality of feudal lords fighting for supremacy and pursuing only profit, they are inevitably marginalized. This loneliness and hardship of “having no connections” are precisely the price gentlemen pay for upholding the right path and refusing to compromise with the corrupt. Mencius used this to affirm Confucius’ greatness in adversity; the hardship did not diminish Confucius’ brilliance but rather highlighted the resilience of his character. - Realistic Reflection on Confucian Political Ideals and the Profound Significance of Concluding the Entire Book
As the final chapter of Jin Xin II and indeed the entire Mencius, concluding with this passage carries profound symbolic meaning. It indicates that while Confucianism highly champions the ideals of “benevolent governance” and “people-oriented” politics, it also clearly recognizes that these ideals are extremely difficult to implement in the chaotic world of that era. Even if a gentleman possesses perfect morality, without a suitable political platform (connections with superiors and subordinates), they can only face the predicament of starvation. This serves as both a deep sympathy for and summary of Confucius’ lifelong hardships, and an implicit encouragement to later scholars: even when placed in the desperate situation of “having no connections,” a gentleman must still steadfastly uphold the “Way” within their heart and remain unmoved by external circumstances.
孟子曰：“君子之厄于陈蔡之间，无上下之交也。”
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