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.
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.
Zixia states petty people always gloss over their faults out of vanity and fear of blame. Contrasted with open, self-reflective gentlemen who admit and amend mistakes, it stresses sincerity as the foundation of genuine moral self-cultivation.
Confucius names Weizi, Jizi and Bigan the three benevolent men of the Shang. Though they took vastly different paths—fleeing, feigning madness, dying in remonstrance—all acted out of loyal care for their state, showing benevolence allows flexible expedient choices.
The Master said, “When it comes to people, whom have I ever slandered? Whom have I ever praised lightly? If I have praised anyone, it was only after testing and verifying their character. It is precisely these common people who enabled the Three Dynasties – Xia, Shang, and Zhou – to follow the straight…