3.15
When the Master entered the Grand Temple he asked questions about everything there. Someone said, “Do not tell me that this son of a villager from Zou is expert in matters of ritual. When he went to the Grand Temple, he had to ask about everything.”
The Master hearing of this, said, “Just so! Such is the ritual.”
子入大廟，每事問。或曰：「孰謂鄹人之子知禮乎？入大廟，每事問。」子聞之曰：「是禮也。」
Notes
This passage from the Analects vividly illustrates Confucius’ embodiment of the spirit of ritual propriety. Through his humble inquiries in the Grand Temple and response to critics, it reveals that ritual’s core transcends formal rules – encompassing attitudes of humility, reverence, and intellectual rigor.
During the Spring-Autumn period, ritual knowledge was monopolized by nobles. Commoners displaying such expertise risked accusations of “usurpation”. As a non-elite scholar publicly studying the Grand Temple rites, Confucius faced particular scrutiny.
Critics argued that “one who knows rites shouldn’t ask questions”, equating ritual with rote memorization of protocols – a shallow misunderstanding.
Confucius (a master of Zhou rites) practiced “inquiring about every detail” not from ignorance, but from reverential diligence.
Essentially, this story clarifies: Ritual’s heart lies in attitude, not form. True ritual mastery means approaching rules with teachable humility and practicing norms with sacred seriousness – not parading knowledge.
Where critics saw questioning as weakness, Confucius upheld reverence as essence.
Today, its lesson remains vital: In learning, rule-following, or human relations, “humble inquiry” always brings us closer to ritual’s true purpose than “arrogant presumption” – for ritual ultimately cultivates self-refinement and social harmony through reverence and respect.
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