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The Man with the Straw Basket [Biographies of Noble Scholars]
An anonymous Wei hermit carrying a straw basket hears Confucius playing stone chimes. He detects Confucius’ worldly frustration and advises flexible withdrawal via a poetic metaphor. Confucius acknowledges the resolute Daoist wisdom of going with natural tides.
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Rong Qiqi [Biographies of Noble Scholars]
Poor hermit Rong Qiqi plays zither and sings at Mount Tai. Asked by Confucius why he rejoices, he names three blessings: being human, male and long-lived. He accepts poverty and death as natural, embodying Daoist contentment with simple existence.
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Lin Lei [Biographies of Noble Scholars]
Centenarian Daoist Lin Lei sings while gleaning leftover grain. When Zigong questions his joyless life, he claims worldly detachment brings longevity and peace. He views life and death as natural cycles, a wisdom Confucius greatly admires.
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Lao Laizi [Biographies of Noble Scholars]
Lao Laizi, a Chu Taoist hermit, lived simply farming on Meng Mountain. When the king offered him state governance, his wife refused officialdom’s chains, so they fled south. He penned Taoist works and won deep respect from Confucius.
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Gengsang Chu [Biographies of Noble Scholars]
Gengsang Chu, Laozi’s Taoist disciple, brought bumper harvests to Weilui Mountain via wuwei. Villagers wished to worship him as a local deity, yet he refused, believing true sages live in seclusion and let natural Heaven’s Way govern all.
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Art of War Chapter – 13.4
Before assaults, spy out enemy officials’ identities. Turn captured enemy spies into double agents, the core of all intelligence work. They support other four spy types and deserve lavish rewards under royal supervision.