The Analects – Chapter 10.10

When fellow townspeople held a communal drinking ceremony, Confucius would not leave until the elders leaning on staffs had departed. When the villagers performed the ‘nuo’ exorcism ritual (to drive away plague spirits), he put on his formal court robes and stood respectfully on the eastern host’s steps.

Note

This passage from the Analects of Confucius illustrates his deep respect for local customs through two concrete scenarios, embodying core Confucian values: reverence for elders, commitment to ritual, and engaged social responsibility. In the village drinking ceremony – a ritual affirming community hierarchy and filial piety – Confucius waited for the staff-bearing elders (symbols of wisdom and seniority) to leave first, demonstrating that true li lies not in outward form but in genuine deference to age and virtue. During the folk ‘nuo’ exorcism – a popular, quasi-religious rite to expel evil spirits – Confucius, though a scholar-official, did not dismiss it as superstition. Instead, he donned formal court attire and stood on the host’s eastern steps, showing respect for communal beliefs while lending dignity to the occasion through his solemn presence. This reveals that Confucianism is not elitist detachment but rooted engagement: it honors grassroots traditions while subtly elevating them through moral example. For Confucius, li is not rigid dogma but a living practice grounded in humaneness (benevolence), attuned to social context, and aimed at fostering communal harmony.

Further Reading

Youzi said, “A person who is filial and respectful to elders rarely disobeys superiors…” Analects 1.2 (Xue Er)

Both emphasize that respect for elders in local community life is the foundation of social order and moral character.

The Master said, “The common people can be made to follow the Way; they cannot easily be made to understand it.” Analects 8.9 (Tai Bo)

Suggests Confucius’s pragmatic approach to folk practices – he engages respectfully to guide behavior, even if the populace doesn’t grasp deeper principles.

Among his fellow townspeople, Confucius was modest and gentle, appearing almost unable to speak. Analects 10.1 (Xiang Dang)

Demonstrates Confucius’s humility and contextual conduct in local settings – consistent with his respectful participation in village rituals.

鄉人飲酒，杖者出，斯出矣。鄉人儺，朝服而立於阼階。