Transcriptions | |
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Standard Mandarin | |
Hanyu Pinyin | Mǐn Sǔn |
Wade–Giles | Min Sun |
Other names | |||||||||
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Ziqian | |||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 子 騫 | ||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 子 骞 | ||||||||
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Min Sun (536 –c. 487 BC),also known by his courtesy name Ziqian,was one of the most prominent disciples of Confucius. Confucius considered Min his second best disciple after Yan Hui,and commended him for his filial piety. [1] His legend is included in the Confucian text The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars .
Min Sun was a native of the State of Lu. [1] According to Sima Qian,he was fifteen years younger than Confucius, [2] but the Narratives of the School states that he was fifty years younger. [3]
When he first came to Confucius he had a starved look,but after studying with Confucius he gained a look of fullness and satisfaction. When Duanmu Ci once asked Min Sun how this change had come about,he replied,"I came from the midst of my reeds and sedges into the school of the Master. He trained my mind to filial piety,and set before me the examples of the ancient kings. I felt a pleasure in his instructions;but when I went abroad,and saw the people in authority,with their umbrellas and banners,and all the pomp and circumstance of their trains,I also felt pleasure in that show. These two things assaulted each other in my breast. I could not determine which to prefer,and so I wore that look of distress. But now the lessons of our Master have penetrated deeply into my mind. My progress also has been helped by the example of you my fellow disciples. I now know what I should follow and what I should avoid,and all the pomp of power is no more to me than the dust of the ground. It is on this account that I have that look of fullness and satisfaction." Min Sun was one of Confucius's favourite students. He was distinguished for his moral purity and his love for his parents. His place in the Temple of Confucius is on the first place on the east,among the Twelve Wise Ones,immediately following the Four Assessors. He was first sacrificed to,along with Confucius,in 720 AD,by the sixth emperor of the Tang dynasty. His title,the same as that of all but the four assessors,is "The Ancient Worthy,the Philosopher Min." [3] The eleventh chapter of the Analects was traditionally attributed to his disciples. [4]
Min Sun was one of the 24 Confucian paragons of filial piety. According to legend,his mother died when he was young;and,after his father remarried,he was raised by his stepmother. Under her care,he was abused and mistreated. His stepmother,during winter,would line her own sons' clothes with warm cotton,while she would line his clothes with weeds. One day,while taking his father out in a carriage,he almost succumbed to the cold. When his father learned what had happened,he went back to throw his wife out of the house. However,Min Sun said,"If mother leaves,there will be three of your sons who go cold,but if she stays,then only one will suffer." His stepmother was touched by his kindness and never mistreated him again. [5]
In 739 AD,Emperor Xuanzong of Tang posthumously awarded Min Sun the nobility title Marquess of Fei (費侯),and during the Song dynasty,he was additionally awarded the titles of Duke of Langye (瑯琊公) and Duke of Fei (費公). [6]
There are several memorial tombs and temples of Min Sun in China,including the Tomb of Min Ziqian in Jinan,Shandong,and the Min Ziqian Temple in Suzhou,Anhui,a major protected heritage site of Anhui province. [6]
Min Sun's descendants held the title of Wujing Boshi ( 五經博士 ;Wǔjīng Bóshì). [7]
According to Sima Qian,Confucius said:"The disciples who received my instructions,and could themselves comprehend them,were seventy-seven individuals. They were all scholars of extraordinary ability." It was traditionally believed that Confucius had three thousand students,but that only 72 mastered what he taught. The following is a list of students who have been identified as Confucius's followers. Very little is known of most of Confucius's students,but some of them are mentioned in the Analects of Confucius. Many of their biographies are recorded in the Sima Qian's Shiji. The Six Arts were practiced by the 72 disciples.
Zeng Shen,better known as Zengzi,courtesy name Ziyu,was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius. He later taught Zisi,the grandson of Confucius,who was in turn the teacher of Mencius,thus beginning a line of transmitters of orthodox Confucian traditions. He is revered as one of the Four Sages of Confucianism.
The Classic of Filial Piety,also known by its Chinese name as the Xiaojing,is a Confucian classic treatise giving advice on filial piety:that is,how to behave towards a senior such as a father,an elder brother,or a ruler.
The Tomb of Min Ziqian is a memorial to Min Sun,a disciple of Confucius and the fourth of the 24 Confucian paragons of filial piety. The memorial is located in Jinan,the capital of Shandong Province,China.
Yan Hui was a Chinese philosopher. He was the favorite disciple of Confucius and one of the most revered figures of Confucianism. He is venerated in Confucian temples as one of the Four Sages.
Ran Geng,also known by his courtesy name Boniu,was one of the most prominent disciples of Confucius. Confucius considered him his third best disciple,after Yan Hui and Min Sun,in terms of moral conduct.
Ran Yong,also known by his courtesy name Zhonggong,was one of the prominent disciples of Confucius. Confucius thought highly of his excellent moral conduct,and considered him fit to be the ruler of a state. After completing school,he served as chief officer of Jisun,the noble clan that dominated the politics of Lu.
Ran Qiu,also known by his courtesy name Ziyou and as Ran You,was a leading disciple of Confucius. Among Confucius's disciples,he was the foremost in terms of ability and accomplishment in statesmanship. As a military commander of the State of Lu,he repelled an invasion from the neighbouring State of Qi. His influence in Lu facilitated the return of Confucius to his native state after fourteen years of exile.
Zhong You,commonly known by his courtesy names Zilu and Jilu,was one of the best known and most faithful disciples of Confucius. Among Confucius's disciples,he was the second in terms of ability and accomplishment in statesmanship,after Ran Qiu. He was noted for his valour and sense of justice,but Confucius often warned him against acting without forethought. He was killed in the State of Wey in defence of his lord Kong Kui.
Duanmu Ci,also known by his courtesy name Zigong,was a Chinese businessman,philosopher,and politician. He was one of the most important and loyal disciples of Confucius. Among Confucius' students,he was the second best at speech,after only Zai Yu. He was a prominent diplomat of the Spring and Autumn period who served as a high official in several states,and was a very wealthy businessman.
Bu Shang,commonly known by his courtesy name Zixia or as Buzi,was an ancient Chinese philosopher and a prominent disciple of Confucius who was considered one of the most accomplished in cultural learning. He was one of the five disciples who took chief responsibility for the transmission of Confucius' teachings. He played a significant role in the transmission of such classics as the Book of Poetry and the I Ching. He established his own school,and taught Marquess Wen of Wei,ruler of Wei,the most powerful state of the early Warring States period.
Yan Yan,also known by his courtesy name Ziyou and as Yan You or Yanzi,was a prominent disciple of Confucius,considered by Confucius to be his most distinguished disciple in the study of the classics. A native of the state of Wu,he was the only known southerner among Confucius' disciples.
Zhuansun Shi,commonly known by his courtesy name Zizhang,was a prominent disciple of Confucius,who accompanied Confucius in his travels abroad,and later started his own sect of Confucianism.
The Kongzi Jiayu,translated as The School Sayings of Confucius or Family Sayings of Confucius,is a collection of sayings of Confucius (Kongzi),written as a supplement to the Analects (Lunyu).
Tantai Mieming or Dantai Mieming,also known by his courtesy name Ziyu,was a major disciple of Confucius. He was known for being very ugly,but was morally upright. He started his own school in the Yangtze River region,and became a major transmitter of Confucian thoughts. Confucius initially misjudged him because of his bad looks,but later expressed his regret.
Fu Buqi,also pronounced Mi Buqi,was a major disciple of Confucius. He was also known by his courtesy name Zijian. He was known as a capable governor and was also a writer.
Gongxi Ai,courtesy name Jici,was a disciple of Confucius. Sima Zhen's Shiji Suoyin says his name was Gongxi Ke,citing the Kongzi Jiayu.
Zeng Dian,courtesy name Zixi,also known as Zeng Xi,was one of the earliest disciples of Confucius. He is known for a passage in the Analects in which he expressed his ambition as no more than being content with daily life. He was the father of Zeng Shen,or Master Zeng,one of the most prominent disciples of Confucius.
Shang Qu,courtesy name Zimu,was a disciple of Confucius. He studied the I Ching from Confucius,and is credited with the preservation and transmission of the classic.
Qidiao Kai,courtesy name Zikai or Ziruo,was a major disciple of Confucius. He declined to take government office,but started his own school,which developed into one of the eight branches of Confucianism identified by Han Fei. His work,known as the Qidiaozi,has been lost.