Analects 5.18: 公冶長 (Gongye Chang)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Book 5 tests judgments of people against their conduct. The Master praises particular abilities and virtues while repeatedly withholding the larger judgment of humaneness. Marriage choices, public service, friendship, speech, and learning supply different kinds of evidence. Several exchanges expose a distance between what someone says or wants and what they can do; Zai Yu’s conduct even changes the Master’s way of judging. Near the end, the teacher and his companions state their own aspirations. The closing sayings turn assessment inward, toward recognizing faults and continuing to love learning.
Analects 5.18
子張問曰、令尹子文三仕為令尹、無喜色、三已之、無慍色。舊令尹之政、必以告新令尹、何如。子曰、忠矣。曰、仁矣乎。曰、未知、焉得仁。崔子弒齊君、陳文子有馬十乘、棄而違之。至於他邦、則曰、猶吾大夫崔子也、違之、之一邦、則又曰、猶吾大夫崔子也、違之、何如。子曰、清矣。曰、仁矣乎。曰、未知、焉得仁。
Zizhang asked, “Ziwen became chief minister three times and showed no joy; three times he was dismissed and showed no resentment. He always told the incoming chief minister how he had conducted the government. What would you say of him?” The Master said, “He was loyal.” “Was he humane?” “I do not know. How can he be humane?” Zizhang continued, “Cui murdered the ruler of Qi. Chen Wenzi had ten teams of horses, but abandoned them and left. On reaching another state, he said, ‘They are like our minister Cui,’ and left. He went to yet another state, said again, ‘They are like our minister Cui,’ and left. What would you say of him?” The Master said, “He was pure.” “Was he humane?” “I do not know. How can he be humane?”
Commentary
politics Loyal service and a clean withdrawal Zizhang presents two different responses to office. Ziwen passes on knowledge even when dismissed; Chen Wenzi gives up valuable horses and repeatedly leaves states whose ministers he rejects. 忠, loyalty, fits the first man’s public service; 清, purity, fits the second man’s refusal to stay implicated. Each receives a specific commendation.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: high
ethics Why the same answer comes twice “I do not know. How can he be humane?” follows both cases. The repetition keeps loyalty and purity distinct from a sufficient judgment of humaneness. As in the assessments of practical ability earlier in the book, the Master identifies something admirable while withholding the larger conclusion.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: high