Lin Lei was a native of Wei, nearly a hundred years old. In late spring, wearing a fur coat, he would pick up leftover grain stalks in the harvested fields, singing as he walked.
When Confucius was traveling to the state of Wei, he spotted Lin Lei in the wilderness and said to his disciples, “That old man is someone worth talking to; let us go and inquire.”
Zigong volunteered to go. Meeting him at the edge of the field, Zigong sighed and asked, “Sir, do you have no regrets, that you sing while picking up leftover grain?”
Lin Lei kept walking without stopping, his song unbroken. Zigong pressed him further, and Lin Lei finally looked up and replied, “What regrets could I possibly have?”
Zigong asked, “In your youth, you were not diligent; in your prime, you did not strive for opportunities; now in old age, you have no wife or children, and death is near. What joy could you possibly have, to sing while picking up grain?”
Lin Lei smiled and said, “The reason for my joy is something everyone possesses, yet people treat it as sorrow. Because I was not diligent in youth and did not strive in my prime, I have been able to live this long. Because I have no wife or children in old age and death is near, I am able to be this joyful.”
Zigong said, “Longevity is what people desire; death is what people detest. Why do you consider death a joy?”
Lin Lei replied, “Death and life are merely a departure and a return. So if one dies here, how does one know they will not be born elsewhere? Thus, I know they are not equal. Moreover, how do I know that frantically striving for life is not a delusion? And how do I know that my death now is not better than my life in the past?”
Zigong heard this but did not grasp his meaning. He returned and reported it to Confucius, who said, “I knew he was someone worth talking to; indeed, he is.”
Note
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.
Lin Lei:
A legendary Daoist hermit and centenarian featured in both the Biographies of Noble Recluses (高士传) and the Liezi. He embodies the Daoist ideal of radical acceptance of nature’s cycles, demonstrating that true happiness comes from letting go of societal ambitions and the fear of death.
Confucius and Zigong:
Confucius represents the Confucian pursuit of moral and social order, while Zigong acts as his articulate disciple. Their encounter with Lin Lei serves as a philosophical dialogue between Confucian engagement and Daoist detachment. Confucius’ final remark acknowledges Lin Lei’s profound wisdom, showing mutual respect between the two traditions.
Death as a Return:
This is a core Daoist concept found in texts like the Zhuangzi and Liezi. It views life and death not as absolute opposites, but as continuous transformations within the Dao. Death is simply a return to the source, making the fear of death an illusion born of human attachment.
Rejection of Worldly Striving (少不勤行，长不竞时):
Lin Lei’s lack of worldly ambition is framed not as laziness, but as a deliberate choice to preserve his natural lifespan and inner peace. In Daoist thought, societal success often comes at the cost of one’s vital energy (qi) and true nature.
林类者，魏人也，年且百岁。底春披裘，拾遗穗於故畦，并歌并进。孔子适卫，望之於野，顾谓弟子曰：“彼叟可与言者，试往讯之。”子贡请行，逆之陇端，面之而叹曰：“先生曾不悔乎，而行歌拾穗？”林类行不留，歌不辍。子贡叩之不已，乃仰而应曰：“吾何悔邪？”子贡曰：“先生少不勤行，长不竞时，老无妻子，死期将至，亦有何乐，而拾穗行歌乎？”林类笑曰：“吾之所以为乐，人皆有之，而反以为忧。少不勤行，长不竞时，故能寿若此。老无妻子，死期将至，故能乐若此。”子贡曰：“寿者，人之情。死者，人之恶。子以死为乐，何也？”林类曰：“死之与生，一往一反。故死於是者，安知不生於彼。故吾知其不相若矣。吾又安知营营而求生非惑乎？亦又安知吾今之死不愈昔之生乎？”子贡闻之，不喻其意。还，以告夫子。夫子曰：“吾知其可与言，果然。”
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