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You Ruo

Disciple of Confucius, honoured in the Analects as Master You, who resembled Confucius and was briefly proposed by fellow disciples as their teacher after his death.

Also known as Master You

You Ruo, a native of Lu and a disciple of Confucius, is one of only two disciples, with Zeng Shen, honoured in the Analects with the title Master; sayings attributed to him include that filial and fraternal devotion is the root of humaneness and that harmony is what ritual prizes most. Mencius records that after Confucius died, Zixia, Zizhang and Ziyou wished to serve You Ruo as they had served the Master because he resembled him, until Zengzi objected. Mencius also quotes his praise of Confucius as unsurpassed since humankind began.

Life and times

  1. UnknownBornZhoulate Spring and Autumn; the Shiji says he was 43 years younger than Confucius
  2. UnknownDied

Connections

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

Records

Spoke on filial piety as the root of benevolence, called Master You

Late Spring and Autumn period

Three chapters of the Analects, in Xue er, record sayings of Master You: that filial piety and brotherly respect are the root of benevolence, that in the use of ritual harmony is to be valued, and that trustworthiness close to rightness lets one keep one's word. The Records of the Grand Historian says You Ruo was forty-three years younger than Confucius and that after Confucius died the disciples, finding he resembled the master, set him up as teacher; when he could not answer a question, a disciple stood and asked him to give up the seat.

References (1)