While in Wei, Confucius was playing the qing (a stone chime). A reclusive passerby carrying a straw basket happened to walk by Confucius’s gate and said upon hearing the sound, “Ah! There is intention behind this chime!”
After a moment, he added, “How narrow-minded! So obstinately persistent! If no one understands you, just let it be. When the water is deep, wade through with your clothes on; when it is shallow, lift your hem and cross – why cling so stubbornly?”
Confucius replied, “How resolute he is! There is nothing to dispute with him.”
Note
This dialogue from The Analects (Lunyu), sparked by a recluse’s commentary on Confucius’ music, highlights the tension between Confucian activism – “knowing it is impossible, yet still acting” – and Daoist-inspired withdrawal – “go with the flow and preserve oneself.”
The recluse immediately sensed Confucius’ inner anguish and resolve from the chime (“There is intention!”), showing how deeply Confucius’ emotions resonated through his music.
Yet he criticized Confucius as “obstinately persistent”, arguing that if no one understands you, there’s no need to persist. Using the metaphor from the Book of Songs – “When the water is deep, wade through; when shallow, lift your hem” – he advocated flexible adaptation to circumstances, a philosophy akin to Daoist or hermit wisdom.
Confucius’ response – “How resolute he is! There is nothing to dispute with him” – does not signal agreement, but acknowledges the internal consistency and firmness of the recluse’s stance. Still, Confucius does not abandon his own path; he respects alternative choices while remaining committed to his mission: “If the world were ruled by the Way, I would not be trying to change it” (Analects 18.6).
This passage poignantly contrasts two life orientations: the recluse prioritizes self-preservation (“adapt to the world”), while Confucius prioritizes moral responsibility (“transform the world”). Both are reasonable, but Confucius chooses the harder, historically weightier path.
It also reveals Confucius’ openness to criticism – even from an anonymous passerby – demonstrating humility and intellectual generosity.
In short, this episode is not about right or wrong, but a dialogue between idealism and pragmatism; though Confucius understands the logic of retreat, he still chooses to express his resolve through the chime and embody the Way through action.
Further Reading
Chang Ju and Jie Ni were plowing together… The Master sighed, “One cannot live with birds and beasts. If I do not associate with fellow humans, then with whom should I associate? If the world were ruled by the Way, I would not be trying to change it.” Analects 18.6 (Wei Zi)
Both contrast reclusion with Confucius’s commitment to engage with society despite its flaws.
Zilu spent the night at the Stone Gate… [The gatekeeper] said, “Is this not the man who knows it’s impossible yet still does it?” Analects 14.38 (Xian Wen)
Reinforces the image of Confucius as the “impossible actor” – persistent despite futility.
The Master said, “When the world is ruled by the Way (Dao), appear; when it is not, withdraw.” Analects 8.13 (Tai Bo)
Presents the ideal standard; yet Confucius himself often acts contrary to withdrawal when the world is most disordered – showing his exceptional sense of duty.
子擊磬於衛。有荷蕢而過孔氏之門者，曰：「有心哉！擊磬乎！」既而曰：「鄙哉！硜硜乎！莫己知也，斯己而已矣。深則厲，淺則揭。」子曰：「果哉！末之難矣。」
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