Zeng Xi (the father of Zengzi) had a strong fondness for jujubes (sheep dates), and Zengzi, out of deep sorrow, could not bear to eat them after his father’s passing.
Gongsun Chou asked Mencius, “Which is more delicious: minced meat and roast meat, or jujubes?” Mencius replied, “Minced meat and roast meat, of course!”
Gongsun Chou then asked, “If minced meat and roast meat are better, why did Zengzi eat them but refuse to eat jujubes?” Mencius explained, “Minced meat and roast meat are commonly liked by everyone, whereas jujubes were a unique preference of his father. This is exactly like the ancient taboo of avoiding the personal names of one’s ancestors but not their surnames. The surname is shared by all, but the personal name is uniquely his own.”
Note
This passage from the Jin Xin II chapter of the Mencius uses a vivid dialogue between Gongsun Chou and Mencius regarding “dietary preferences” and “naming taboos” to profoundly reveal the Confucian ethics and delicate psychology concerning “filial piety,” “universality versus individuality,” and “emotional attachment.” Drawing on historical context and Confucian classics, we can understand its underlying thought through the following dimensions:
- The Deep Psychology of Filial Piety: “Inability to Bear” and the Uniqueness of Emotion
Zengzi’s refusal to eat jujubes was not because they were unpalatable, but stemmed from his profound affection for his late father. In the Confucian view, true filial piety is not merely material support, but a spiritual “reverence for the departed and tracing back to one’s ancestors.” Jujubes were his father’s unique favorite; eating them would trigger memories and evoke endless longing. This psychological “inability to bear” is the natural expression of a filial child’s utmost sincerity. - Ethical Distinction Between “Universality” and “Individuality”: “The Common” and “The Unique”
Through the comparison of “minced meat” and “jujubes,” Mencius introduced a highly exquisite philosophical and ethical concept: the distinction between the universal and the particular. Minced meat represents the universal sensory enjoyment of the masses (the common), while jujubes represent the unique personal mark of the father (the unique). Confucianism holds that while universal, mass-oriented things can be shared collectively, things that carry strong personal characteristics and special emotional memories must be treated with reverence and restraint. - The Internal Logic of Ritual Propriety: The Brilliant Analogy of “Tabooing Names but Not Surnames”
Mencius’ use of the “naming taboo” system to explain Zengzi’s behavior is nothing short of brilliant. In ancient patriarchal society, naming taboos were a crucial form of etiquette. Mencius pointed out that people taboo personal names but not surnames precisely because surnames are public, while personal names are private. This analogy not only perfectly answered Gongsun Chou’s doubts but also unified Confucian “filial piety” with “ritual propriety”: the external norms of ritual (such as naming taboos or abstaining from jujubes) are internally driven by the respect for individual uniqueness and deep affection for one’s closest kin.
曾皙嗜羊枣，而曾子不忍食羊枣。
公孙丑问曰：“脍炙与羊枣孰美？”孟子曰：“脍炙哉！”
公孙丑曰：“然则曾子何为食脍炙而不食羊枣？”曰：“脍炙所同也，羊枣所独也。讳名不讳姓，姓所同也，名所独也。”
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