6.6
The Master said of Ran Yong, “If the offspring of a brindled ox is ruddy-coated and has grown its horns, however much people might hesitate to use it, would the hills and streams really reject it?”
子謂仲弓曰：「犂牛之子騂且角，雖欲勿用，山川其舍諸？」
Notes
In this dialogue from the Analects, Confucius encouraged his disciple Ran Yong (Zhonggong) with these words: “Though born of a plow ox, its calf may bear a red coat and splendid horns — why reject it? The gods will not reject it!”
This metaphor of “a humble plow ox’s offspring fit for sacrifice” shatters the prejudice that “origin determines worth”, embodying Confucianism’s core tenet: “Virtue, not birth, defines merit”. It subtly affirms Ran Yong’s exceptional character despite his lowly origins.
Confucius noted that many deemed calves of plow oxen unworthy for sacred rites due to their parentage. He refuted this “bloodline fallacy” as mere bias, lacking objectivity or inevitability.
“Yong is worthy of being placed in a position of authority.”(Analects 6.1)
Ran Yong was born in poverty and humble circumstances, yet Confucius praised him as capable of serving as a governor of a region (“placed in a position of authority”). This is a direct practice of the philosophy of “the calf of a plow ox”, proving that Confucius truly adhered to the principle of “judging talent by virtue and ability, not by family background” and valued Ran Yong for his moral integrity and governance capabilities.
“Education should be provided for all without discrimination.”(Analects 15.39)
Confucius advocated that education knows no distinctions of social status, wealth or ethnicity, and that everyone is entitled to the right to education. This is intrinsically consistent with the philosophy of “the calf of a plow ox”—the essence of education lies in cultivating moral virtue and practical ability, rather than screening individuals based on their family background. It thus provides a pathway to support the notion that “those of humble origins can also become virtuous and talented people”.
This statement from The Analects declares a timeless truth: Intrinsic virtue transcends lineage. Confucius’ analogy not only emboldened Ran Yong to overcome shame but also established a paradigm for merit-based evaluation that resonates through history.
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