The Analects – Chapter 108 (5.18). Confucius’ indictment of a corrupt statesman

5.18

The Master said, “Zang Wenzhong kept a Cai tortoise in a hall with the hill-pattern on its pillar tops and the duckweed pattern on its king-posts. Of what sort, pray, was his knowledge?”

子曰：「臧文仲居蔡，山節藻梲，何如其知也？」

Notes

This chapter from the Analects reveals Confucius’ critical evaluation of Zang Wenzhong — a senior minister of Lu who served four rulers over four decades and was widely hailed as ‘wise.’

However, Confucius held Zang in low regard due to repeated violations of core Confucian values, notably:

1. Transgressing ritual norms: Building extravagant turtle houses with imperial-grade decorations reserved for sacred temples;
2. Abusing authority: Flaunting power through opulent private residences, violating frugality principles;
3. Poor judgment: Promoting unworthy officials while ignoring true talent.

Confucius condemned Zang’s actions as both ritually improper and theologically misguided, reflecting a ‘fawning over spirits’ that distorted proper reverence.”

“To dedicate oneself to the righteous duties of the people, to respect ghosts and gods yet keep a distance from them – this may be called wisdom.”(Analects 6.22)

It directly defines the core of wisdom as “dedication to the righteous duties of the people” rather than blind belief in ghosts and gods. Forming a sharp contrast with Confucius’ criticism of Zang Wenzhong for squandering his efforts on decorating a tortoise shrine – a deed deemed unwise – this saying serves as an essential definition of the true nature of wisdom.

“What is called propriety yet violates propriety, what is called righteousness yet violates righteousness – the noble-minded man will not act thus.”(Mencius 8.6)

It condemns the behavior of paying lip service to propriety while in fact violating it. Consistent with Confucius’ accusation that Zang Wenzhong’s use of imperial temple decorations for a tortoise shrine was exactly such an act of “so-called propriety that violates propriety”, this statement emphasizes that wisdom requires distinguishing the essence of propriety, rather than following formalities blindly.