Scholars › Philosopher / Thinker

Zengzi

Disciple of Confucius from Nanwucheng, known for filial devotion, whom the Shiji credits with the Classic of Filial Piety and later ages honoured as the Ancestral Sage

Also known as Zeng Shen · Zi Yu · Zong Sheng

Zengzi, personal name Shen and courtesy name Ziyu, came from Nanwucheng, son of the disciple Zeng Dian. The biographies of Confucius's disciples in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) make him forty-six years younger than the Master, say Confucius taught him because he understood filial duty, and credit him with the Classic of Filial Piety (Xiaojing). The Analects quote his habit of examining himself three times a day and describe him on his deathbed asking his pupils to uncover his hands and feet to show them unharmed. Zhu Xi argued that the opening of the Great Learning (Daxue) records Confucius's words as passed on by Zengzi and the commentary was written by his followers. The Han bibliography lists a Zengzi in eighteen chapters, ten of which survive in the Elder Dai's Record of Rites. The Yuan court made him Duke of Cheng, Ancestral Sage, and from 1530 he was honoured as one of the Four Correlates beside Confucius in the temple.

Life and times

  1. c. 505 BCEBornZhou
  2. c. 435 BCEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Prose13
    1. The Great LearningZhouBook of Rites chapter on self-cultivation and rule, ascribed to Zengzi; first of the Four Books
    2. The Great Learning: The Great Learning: SelectionsZhou
    3. The Great Learning: Classic TextZhou
    4. The Great Learning: Commentary 1: Explaining "Illustrating Illustrious Virtue"Zhou
    5. The Great Learning: Commentary 2: Explaining "Renovating the People"Zhou
    6. +8 more
      1. The Great Learning: Commentary 3: Explaining "Resting in the Highest Good"Zhou
      2. The Great Learning: Commentary 4: Explaining Root and BranchZhou
      3. The Great Learning: Commentary 5: Explaining the Investigation of ThingsZhou
      4. The Great Learning: Commentary 6: Explaining Making the Intention SincereZhou
      5. The Great Learning: Commentary 7: Explaining Rectifying the Mind and Cultivating the PersonZhou
      6. The Great Learning: Commentary 8: Explaining Cultivating the Person and Regulating the FamilyZhou
      7. The Great Learning: Commentary 9: Explaining Regulating the Family and Governing the StateZhou
      8. The Great Learning: Commentary 10: Explaining Governing the State and Bringing Peace to All Under HeavenZhou
  2. Literature · Sayings4
    1. Investigating Things to Extend KnowledgeZhouIdiom from the Great Learning: investigating things to reach true knowledge
    2. Sincere Intentions, Rectified HeartZhouIdiom from the Great Learning: sincere intentions and a rectified heart as self-cultivation
    3. Resting in the Highest GoodZhouIdiom from the Great Learning: resting only in the highest good
    4. Going to Every LengthZhouIdiom from the Great Learning: once praise for total effort, now for ruthlessness

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Zeng Xi
    Father
    Zengzi

Connections

  1. Teachers and students1
    1. Confucius (Kongzi)Teacher · 551 BCE–479 BCE

Records

A scholar must be broad and firm; humaneness is his charge

Late Spring and Autumn, early Warring States

The Analects records Zengzi as saying that a scholar must be broad-minded and firm, for his load is heavy and his road long; humaneness is his own charge, and only death ends it. He also named three things the gentleman values in the Way: composed bearing, a proper face, and measured speech. The Records of the Historian says he made the Classic of Filial Piety.

References (2)

Received Confucius's teaching; called his disciples when ill

Late Spring and Autumn, early Warring States

Zeng Shen came from Nanwucheng, courtesy name Ziyu, and was forty-six years younger than Confucius; Confucius judged that he understood filial piety and so taught him. The Analects adds that when ill he called his disciples and told them to look at his feet and hands, quoting the Odes: in fear and trembling, as at a deep pool, as on thin ice.

References (2)