Zai Yu
| Zai Yu | ||
|---|---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin Zǎi Yǔ | | |
| Wade–Giles | Tsai Yü | |
| Southern Min | ||
| Hokkien POJ | Cháiⁿ Ú | |
| Other names | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ziwo ( Hanyu Pinyin | Zǎi Wǒ | |
| Wade–Giles | Tsai Wo | |
| Southern Min | ||
| Hokkien POJ | Cháiⁿ Ngó͘ | |
Zai Yu (522–458 BC),disciple of Confucius, known for his gift in speech. However, Confucius severely criticized him for proposing to shorten the three-year mourning period after the death of a parent.[2]
Life
Zai Yu was a native of
State of Lu.[3][4] He was considered as the most eloquent speaker among Confucius' disciples.[3] However, the only references of him in the Analects were Confucius' criticism of him.[1] In an important discussion of mourning, Zai Yu questioned the necessity for the three-year mourning period after the death of a parent, and suggested a maximum of one year of mourning. Confucius severely criticized Zai Yu, describing him as inhuman. Confucius argued that children seldom leave their parents' arms in their first three years of life and asked rhetorically, did Zai Yu not receive these three years of tender care from his parents?[1] Confucius also criticized him for sleeping during the day,[3] comparing him to rotten wood that cannot be carved (朽木不可雕也).[5][6] Despite the criticism, he remained one of the Master's close disciples.[1]
According to
Zuozhuan only mentions that Kan Zhi (阚止) was killed in Chen Heng's rebellion. As Kan Zhi was also known by his courtesy name Ziwo, which was identical to that of Zai Yu, Sima Qian may have conflated the two people's stories.[6]
Legacy
In
Confucian temples, Zai Yu's spirit tablet is placed the second among the Twelve Wise Ones, on the west.[4]
During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong posthumously awarded Zai Yu the nobility title of Marquess of Qi (齊侯). Song dynasty emperors further awarded him the titles of Duke of Linzi (臨菑公) and Duke of Qi (齊公).[7]
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d Taylor & Choy 2005, p. 621.
- ^ Confucius 1997, p. 202, Analect 17:21.
- ^ a b c Confucius 1997, p. 202.
- ^ a b Legge 2009, p. 115.
- ^ Confucius 1997, p. 74.
- ^ a b c Han 2010, pp. 4585–6.
- ^ "Zai Yu" (in Chinese). Taipei Confucian Temple. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-19-506157-4.
- Han, Zhaoqi (2010). "Biographies of the Disciples of Confucius". Shiji (史记) (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. ISBN 978-7-101-07272-3.
- ISBN 978-1-60520-644-8.
- Taylor, Rodney Leon; Choy, Howard Yuen Fung (2005). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Confucianism: N–Z. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8239-4081-3.