6.1,
The Master said, “Now Yong, for example. I should not mind setting him with his face to the south.”
子曰：「雍也可使南面。」
Notes
Yong, referring to Ran Yong (courtesy name Zhonggong), was a disciple of Confucius. This statement from the Analects is Confucius’ high praise for him. “Facing south” symbolizes holding official position, indicating Confucius believed Ran Yong possessed the character and capability to govern.
Confucius’ assessment was grounded in deep observation of Ran Yong’s virtues:
Benevolent Yet Unadorned in Speech
Confucius noted, “Yong is benevolent but not eloquent” (Analects 5.5). Ran Yong had profound benevolence but shunned glib speech. In Confucianism, benevolence is paramount for governance, while “lack of eloquence” is a virtue — it prevents deviation through rhetoric and fosters sincere, pragmatic administration.
Magnanimous Yet Disciplined
As recorded in Xunzi, Ran Yong was “tolerant without indulgence, upright without harshness” — broad-minded yet principled, incorruptible yet kind.
Challenging Aristocracy, Advocating Meritocracy
Ran Yong came from humble origins. As recorded in Records of the Grand Historian: “Though Ran Yong’s father was of lowly status, he himself was virtuous.”
In an era privileging lineage, this hindered high office. Confucius disregarded his birth, declaring him fit to govern — a quiet rebellion against nepotism that embodied the Confucian ideal of promoting the virtuous.
Leave a Reply