Confucius Chose His Hosts by Principle

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English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Wan Zhang asked, “Some say that in Wei Confucius lodged with the eunuch Yongju, and in Qi with the palace attendant Jihuan. Is that true?” Mencius said, “No. It was made up by people fond of sensational stories. In Wei, Confucius lodged with Yan Qiuyou. The wife of Mi Zi and Zilu’s wife were sisters. Mi Zi told Zilu, ‘If Confucius stays at my house, he can obtain a ministerial post in Wei.’ Zilu told Confucius, who said, ‘That is a matter of destiny.’ Confucius advanced according to ritual and withdrew according to righteousness; whether he gained a post or not, he said, ‘It is destiny.’ To lodge with the eunuch Yongju or the attendant Jihuan would have been neither righteous nor a matter of destiny.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Confucius was unwelcome in Lu and Wei. In Song, he encountered Huan Tui, the minister of war, who lay in wait to kill him, so Confucius passed through Song in disguise. At that time he was in danger and lodged with Sicheng Zhenzi, serving Lord Zhou of Chen. I have heard that to judge a courtier close at hand, one looks at whom he serves; to judge a visiting minister from afar, one looks at who receives him. If Confucius had lodged with the eunuch Yongju or the attendant Jihuan, how could he still be Confucius?

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