Yang Huo wanted to meet Confucius, but Confucius refused to see him. So, Yang Huo sent Confucius a steamed piglet. (According to the etiquette of the time, if a minister sent a gift to a scholar and the scholar was not home to accept it in person, the scholar had to visit the minister’s home later to express gratitude.)
Confucius waited until he found out that Yang Huo was out, and then went to return the visit, but unfortunately, they ran into each other on the road. Yang Huo said to Confucius, “Come here! Let me say a few words to you.”
He then asked, “Keeping your treasure of talent hidden while letting your state fall into chaos, can this be called Benevolence (Ren)?”
Confucius replied, “No.”
Yang Huo asked again, “Being eager to engage in public affairs yet repeatedly missing the right opportunities, can this be called Wisdom?”
Confucius replied, “No.”
Yang Huo finally said, “The days and months are passing; time waits for no one.”
Confucius had to answer, “Very well. I shall take up office.”
Note
This passage vividly portrays Confucius’ inner struggle between entering public service and remaining in seclusion, as well as his helplessness and compromise when facing political realities.
Historically, Yang Huo was a rebellious minister who usurped state power. Confucius morally despised him and therefore avoided meeting him. However, Yang Huo was very cunning; he set a trap using “etiquette” and then used “Benevolence” and “Wisdom” – the two core values Confucius cherished most – to morally corner him. Finally, he struck at Confucius’ sore spot by saying “time waits for no one,” targeting Confucius’ deep desire to promote the Great Way despite his repeated setbacks. Confucius’ ultimate agreement to “take up office” was not a surrender to Yang Huo as an individual, but rather stemmed from his yearning to “practice the Way/Dao and save the world.”
This reflects the Confucian spirit of “doing what one knows is impossible,” as well as the complex wisdom of finding a balance between adhering to principles and adapting to the circumstances of the time.
Further Reading
Changju and Jieni were plowing together… The Master sighed and said, “One cannot associate with birds and beasts. If I do not associate with these people, with whom should I associate? If the Way prevailed in the world, I would not be trying to change it.”
— The Analects, Weizi, 18.6
These chapters collectively illustrate Confucius’ political dilemmas and choices when “the Way does not prevail in the world.” Whether facing the mockery of hermits, the summons of rebellious ministers, or the pressure from Yang Huo, Confucius never abandoned his ideal of “saving the world.” He neither wanted to flow with corrupt officials nor completely escape social responsibilities like the hermits. This contradiction of “being unable to hide, yet unwilling to serve” is precisely the tragic yet heroic embodiment of the Confucian active engagement in the world and taking the responsibility for all under heaven.
陽貨欲見孔子，孔子不見，歸孔子豚。孔子時其亡也，而往拜之，遇諸塗。謂孔子曰：「來！予與爾言。」曰：「懷其寶而迷其邦，可謂仁乎？」曰：「不可。」「好從事而亟失時，可謂知乎？」曰：「不可。」「日月逝矣，歲不我與。」孔子曰：「諾。吾將仕矣。」
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