There is a lot controversy over the exact identity of Tantai Mieming (澹臺滅明). According to the Records of the Historian (not always the most reliable of sources), Tantai was so ugly that the first time Confucius met him he mistook him for being stupid. It was only later that the sage realized his error and grew to appreciate him for his exemplary moral conduct. Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Tantai Mieming
Tag Archives: Followers of Confucius
Followers of Confucius: Shen Cheng
Shen Cheng (申棖) is said to have come from Confucius’s home state of Lu and may possibly have been the follower called Shen Dang in the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian.
Shen is featured only once in the Analects. He was known for his love of argument and refusal to concede defeat even when he was on the losing side. Some of Shen’s peers saw this as a sign of strength and resoluteness, but Confucius saw his need to win at all costs as a sign of weakness because it demonstrated his inability to control his internal desires and compulsions.
Followers of Confucius: Qidiao Kai
Although Qidiao Kai (漆雕開) only makes a single appearance in the Analects, he was a highly influential disciple who went to establish his own school, which became one of the eight branches of Confucianism identified by the philosopher Han Fei (韓非) in the third century BCE. Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Qidiao Kai
Followers of Confucius: Zijian
Zijian (子賤), also known by his courtesy name of Fu Buji (宓不齊), was born in 521 BCE in the state of Lu and was 49 years younger than Confucius.
After studying under the sage, he served as the chief magistrate (宰/zǎi) of Danfu (單父) in modern-day Shandong province and achieved such a good reputation that Confucius describes him as a true leader in Chapter 3 of Book 5 of the Analects. Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Zijian
Followers of Confucius: Gongye Chang
Gongye Chang (公冶長), also known as Zichang (子長), Zizhi (子之), or Gongye Zhi (公冶芝), was born either in the state of Lu or the state of Qi. Even though he spent some time in prison, Confucius believed he was innocent and gave his daughter to him in marriage.
Nothing else is known about Gongye, unless you count some fantastical tales of his amazing supernatural abilities based on his ability to understand the language of birds and other animals. Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Gongye Chang
Analects of Confucius Book 1: young pretenders and old companions
Confucius attracted quite a following during his lifetime as a result of his reputation as a great teacher. It is traditionally believed that he had as many as three thousand students, though only seventy-two were said to have truly mastered his teachings. In Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian (史記/shǐjì) Confucius himself is quoted as saying that he had seventy-seven “scholars of extraordinary ability” who were able to understand his “instructions.” Continue reading Analects of Confucius Book 1: young pretenders and old companions
Followers of Confucius: Lin Fang
Lin Fang was from Lu, the home state of Confucius. Aside from his interest in ritual matters, there is no concrete information about him. Apparently, he was known for being rather slow-witted. Perhaps that’s the reason why he only appears twice in the Analects. Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Lin Fang
Followers of Confucius: Ran Geng
Ran Geng (冉耕), also known by the courtesy name of Boniu (百牛), was a native of the state of Lu like Confucius and was born about seven years after him in 554 BCE. He came from the same clan as two other followers of the sage, Ran Yong (冉雍) and Ran Qiu (冉求). Some sources even claim that he was Ran Yong’s father.
Followers of Confucius: Ran Yong
Ran Yong (冉雍), also known as Zhonggong (冉仲弓), was born in 522 BCE and came from the same clan as his fellow followers Ran Geng (冉耕) and Ran Qiu (冉求). Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Ran Yong
Followers of Confucius: Nan Rong
The identity of Nan Rong (南容), who was also known by the courtesy name of Nangong Kuo (南宮适), is uncertain, though Confucius thought highly enough of him to arrange for him to marry his niece.
Some commentators speculate that Nan Rong was Nangong Jingshu (南宮敬叔), the younger son of Meng Xizi (孟僖子), the head of one of the notorious Three Families that were the real power in the state of Lu. If this claim is true, Nan Rong would have been the first private student of Confucius along his elder brother Meng Yizi (孟懿子). Continue reading Followers of Confucius: Nan Rong