Liezi’s master, the Old Merchant, taught him to transcend right-wrong and profit-loss over seven years. Impatient student Yin Sheng left resentful after getting no lessons. Liezi chides him that profound Daoist attainment demands long inner purification, not instant mastery.
Daoist master Huqiu Zilin teaches Liezi that true travel lies in inner reflection instead of chasing outer scenery. Enlightened, Liezi abandons wandering and lives in quiet seclusion for forty years to seek inner self-sufficiency.
Yuan Xian, Confucius’ disciple, lives in a shabby cottage yet plays zither calmly. He tells wealthy Zigong poverty differs from moral failure, condemning hypocritical scholars chasing fame. Embarrassed, Zigong feels ashamed for his snide remark ever after.
Yan Hui, Confucius’ finest disciple, dwells in a shabby alley with scant land. He rejects official posts, as farming, music and mastering Confucian teachings bring him full joy. Deeply touched, Confucius highly admires his aspiration to delight in the Dao amid poverty.
Zeng Shen, Confucius’ virtuous disciple, endured extreme poverty yet sang cheerfully. He turned down a noble’s fief, fearing favors would bind his independence. No ruler could win him over, embodying the Confucian ideal of finding peace amid hardship.
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 四体不勤，五谷不分Pinyin: sì tǐ bù qín, wǔ gǔ bù fēnLiteral Meaning: One does not work with one’s four limbs, and cannot tell the five staple grains apart.Figurative Meaning: A person who lives in comfort, never engages in manual labor, and lacks basic knowledge of farming and everyday practical life. It criticizes…
A Daoist hermit with a hoe reproaches Zigong for lacking farming skills. Though warm and hospitable, he shuns political pursuits. Confucius deems him a hidden sage, yet the hermit vanishes to avoid further contact with Confucian followers.