When Confucius asked someone to convey his regards to a friend in another state, he would bow twice respectfully before sending the messenger off. When Ji Kangzi sent him medicine, Confucius bowed and accepted it, but said, “I do not yet understand its nature; I dare not taste it.”
Note
This passage from the Analects of Confucius reveals his balanced practice of ritual propriety and rational caution. In the first case, his double bow reflects deep sincerity and respect – not only for the distant friend but also for the intermediary who carries goodwill across borders. Ritual here is an expression of human connection and moral care. In the second case, while accepting a gift from a powerful minister like Ji Kangzi, Confucius observes proper etiquette by bowing in gratitude – yet he refuses blind compliance. His refusal to take the medicine without understanding it demonstrates intellectual honesty, personal responsibility for one’s health, and adherence to principle over social pressure. This embodies the Confucian ideal of combining courtesy with discernment: ritual propriety must be grounded in knowledge and integrity, not mere formality or deference to authority. True respect includes thoughtful judgment.
Further Reading
When the ruler gave food, he always straightened his mat and tasted it first… When the ruler gave a live animal, he always kept it alive. Analects 10.13 (Xiang Dang)
Both show respectful reception of gifts from superiors, but with principled adaptation – Confucius honors intent while exercising judgment (e.g., not eating unknown medicine vs. properly caring for a live gift).
Zigong wanted to abolish the sacrificial lamb used in the ceremony. The Master said, “Si, you care about the sheep; I care about the ritual.” Analects 3.17 (Ba Yi)
Highlights Confucius’s nuanced view of ritual – he preserves its spirit, not just its form. Similarly, in chapter 10.11, he honors the gesture (bowing) but prioritizes wisdom over empty observance (not taking unknown medicine).
問人於他邦，再拜而送之。康子饋藥，拜而受之。曰：「丘未達，不敢嘗。」
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