Ziqin said to Zigong, “When our Master arrives in a fresh country he always manages to find out about its policy. Does he do this by asking questions, or do people tell him of their own accord?”
Zigong answered, “Our Master gets things by being gentle, kind, courteous, temperate, deferential. That is our Master’s way of inquiring — a very different matter, certainly, from the way in which inquiries are generally made.”
子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」子貢曰：「夫子溫、良、恭、儉、讓以得之。夫子之求之也，其諸異乎人之求之與？」
Notes
This dialogue from the Analects, seemingly about how Confucius obtained political information, actually reveals through Zigong’s response the core Confucian belief: ‘Virtue never stands alone; it always attracts kindred spirits’ — the power of moral integrity naturally commands respect and trust, transcending deliberate strategizing.
Ziqin’s question reflects a common worldly mindset: that accessing critical information (especially state affairs) requires either aggressive maneuvering or leveraging power and status. This assumption — that information access depends on utilitarian tactics — mirrors the opportunistic culture pervasive in Spring and Autumn period politics.
Confucius’ Character Traits
- Gentle: Approachable and unhurried, inviting closeness;
- Kind-hearted: Free of malice, inspiring security;
- Respectful: Honoring others without arrogance, affirming their dignity;
- Temperate: Self-restrained without greed, disarming suspicion;
- Unassuming: Humble and yielding, fostering acceptance.
Confucius’ attention to state affairs embodied his engaged spirit and idealism:
- He sought fertile ground to implement benevolent governance, fulfilling his mission to rescue people from suffering;
- He refined his political philosophy through observation and reflection;
- He demonstrated to disciples and the world the standards of just governance.
Such engagement always centered on the Confucian mission: To uphold the moral conscience of the world and secure the welfare of the people.
Leave a Reply