Analects 19.16: 子張 (Zi Zhang)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Zizhang, Zixia, Ziyou, Master Zeng, and Zigong speak about learning, friendship, mourning, and public responsibility. Their judgments sometimes conflict: who should be welcomed as a friend, how teaching reaches the root, and whether impressive achievement amounts to humaneness. The final sayings turn to reputation and the limits of judging another person. Zigong defends the Master through images of hidden interiors, the sun and moon, and rule that would draw a response from the people.
Analects 19.16
曾子曰、堂堂乎張也、難與並為仁矣。
Master Zeng said, “How imposing Zhang is! It is hard to practice humaneness alongside him.”
Commentary
philology An imposing companion 堂堂 praises an impressive presence, but the next clause makes companionship in practicing humaneness difficult. 與並 is read as doing this alongside Zhang; a possible alternative is the difficulty of matching him. The preceding judgment that Zhang is not yet humane supports the more critical reading here.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: medium