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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.
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 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.
Zai Yu,also known by his courtesy name Ziwo and as Zai Wo,was a prominent disciple of Confucius,known for his gift in speech. However,Confucius severely criticized him for proposing to shorten the three-year mourning period after the death of a parent.
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.
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.
Nangong Kuo,commonly known as Nan Rong and also known by his courtesy name Zirong and as Nangong Tao,was a major disciple of Confucius. Commending Nangong Kuo as a gentleman of virtue,Confucius gave the student his niece in marriage.
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.
Gongye Chang,courtesy name Zichang,was a major disciple and the son-in-law of Confucius. Little is known about his life,but Chinese legends attribute to him the ability to understand birds' language.
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.
Yan Wuyou,courtesy name Lu (路),also known as Yan Lu,was a Chinese philosopher. He was one of the earliest disciples of Confucius. He was the father of Yan Hui,Confucius' favourite disciple.
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.
Gao Chai,courtesy name Zigao,was one of the major disciples of Confucius. Confucius considered him unintelligent because he was very short and ugly,but he served capably in the governments of the states of Lu and Wey.
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.
Gongbo Liao,courtesy name Zizhou,was a disciple of Confucius. He was born in the State of Lu,Confucius' native state. His years of birth and death are unknown.
References
Citations
- 1 2 3 Huang (1997), p. 204.
- ↑ Xu (2002), p. 109.
- 1 2 3 Legge (2009), p. 118.
- 1 2 Han (2010), p. 4614.
- 1 2 Han (2010), pp. 4615–6.
- 1 2 Berkowitz (2014) , p. 342.
- ↑ Wu Xiaoyun. "Yuan Xian" (in Chinese). Taipei Confucian Temple. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
Bibliography
- Han, Zhaoqi (2010). "Biographies of the Disciples of Confucius". Shiji史记 (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. ISBN 978-7-101-07272-3.
- Huang, Chichung, ed. (1997). The Analects of Confucius. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-506157-4.
- Legge, James (2009). The Confucian Analects, the Great Learning & the Doctrine of the Mean. Cosimo. ISBN 978-1-60520-644-8.
- Berkowitz, Alan (2014), "Biographies of Recluses: Huangfu Mu's Accounts of High-Minded Men", Early Medieval China: A Sourcebook, New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 333–349, ISBN 978-0-231-15987-6 .
- Xu, Gan (2002). Balanced Discourses中論. Translated by John Makeham. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09201-1.