When asked where Confucius learned, Zigong replies the ancient kings’ Way lives among all people. Virtuous folks grasp its core, others its trivial details. Confucius learned widely from everyone, needing no single fixed teacher.
Zigong compares a gentleman’s faults to solar and lunar eclipses. His mistakes are visible to all, yet when he sincerely amends them, people admire him greatly, highlighting honesty and courage to correct wrongs as core virtues.
Zengzi passes on Confucius’ comment: Meng Zhuangzi’s ordinary filial deeds are easy to imitate, yet his restraint to retain his late father’s officials and policies stands as rare, supreme filial piety integrating morality and stable governance.
Zengzi relays Confucius’ view: people rarely pour out their full genuine emotions, except when mourning parents. This innate heartfelt grief rooted in blood ties forms the natural foundation of Confucian filial piety and authentic ritual sentiment.
Zengzi acknowledges Zizhang’s dignified bearing but remarks it hard to cultivate benevolence with him. He implies Zizhang overemphasizes outward grandeur while lacking the sincere inner simplicity that true benevolence demands.
Ziyou admits Zizhang boasts rare admirable merits yet judges he has not attained full benevolence. It reveals Confucianism sets an extremely high bar for benevolence, a perfect inner moral state far beyond merely outstanding external conduct.
Ziyou states mourning rituals only need sincere, full grief, no excessive formalities or unbridled sorrow. This embodies Confucian moderation: genuine inner grief matters most, yet emotions must stay restrained by reason to avoid harming oneself.