The Original Quote:
子张问曰：“令尹子文三仕为令尹，无喜色，三已之无愠色，旧令尹之政必以告新令尹，何如？”子曰：“忠矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”“崔子弑齐君，陈文子有马十乘，弃而违之。至于他邦，则曰：‘犹吾大夫崔子也。’违之。之一邦，则又曰：‘犹吾大夫崔子也。’违之，何如？”子曰：“清矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”
Zǐ Zhāng wèn yuē: “Lìngyǐn Zǐwén sān shì wéi lìngyǐn, wú xǐsè, sān yǐ zhī wú yùnsè, jiù lìngyǐn zhī zhèng bì yǐ gào xīn lìngyǐn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Zhōng yǐ.” Yuē: “Rén yǐ hū?” Yuē: “Wèi zhī, yān dé rén?” “Cuīzǐ shì Qí jūn, Chén Wénzǐ yǒu mǎ shí shèng, qì ér wéi zhī. Zhì yú tā bāng, zé yuē: ‘Yóu wú dàfū Cuīzǐ yě.’ Wéi zhī. Zhī yī bāng, zé yòu yuē: ‘Yóu wú dàfū Cuīzǐ yě.’ Wéi zhī, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Qīng yǐ.” Yuē: “Rén yǐ hū?” Yuē: “Wèi zhī, yān dé rén?”
English Translation:
Zizhang inquired, saying: “The Prime Minister Ziwen thrice assumed office without a hint of joy, and thrice retired without a trace of resentment. He unfailingly apprised his successor of all previous governance. What may be said of him?” The Master replied: “He may be called loyal.” Zizhang asked: “May he be deemed ren (仁)?” The Master answered: “This I know not; how could such alone constitute ren?” Zizhang continued: “When Cuizi assassinated the Lord of Qi, Chen Wenzi, possessing forty horses, abandoned them and departed. Upon reaching another state, he remarked: ‘Here the ministers are like our Cuizi,’ and so left. Arriving at yet another state, he said similarly: ‘Here the ministers are like our Cuizi,’ and again departed. What may be said of him?” The Master replied: “He may be called pure.” Zizhang asked: “May he be deemed ren?” The Master answered: “This I know not; how could such alone constitute ren?”
Key Concepts Explained:
- Ren (仁): The supreme Confucian virtue, denoting a holistic, transcendent moral perfection that integrates inner benevolence with outward conduct. It is not reducible to any single trait, such as loyalty or purity, but represents the active, selfless love for all humanity and the cosmos.
- Zhong (忠): Loyalty or conscientiousness, specifically the unwavering dedication to one's duties and superiors, as exemplified by Ziwen's selfless service.
- Qing (清): Purity or moral clarity, reflecting an uncompromising integrity that shuns corruption, as seen in Chen Wenzi's refusal to serve under unjust rulers.
- Lingyin (令尹): The title of Prime Minister in the ancient state of Chu, denoting high political office and responsibility.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Lunyu 5.19) illuminates Confucius's nuanced view of ren (仁) as the ultimate moral ideal—a holistic, metaphysical principle that transcends discrete virtues. In the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE), loyalty (zhong) and purity (qing) were esteemed, yet Confucius here distinguishes them from ren, which encompasses a complete, self-aware moral agency rooted in the cosmos. The characters' actions, while admirable, lack the active, universal love and self-cultivation that define ren. Historically, this teaching countered the era's political turmoil, urging rulers and ministers to seek not mere competence but profound moral transformation. Ren, derived from the Chinese characters for “human” (人) and “two” (二), symbolizes the harmonious interplay of heaven, earth, and humanity, reflecting a timeless call for ethical wholeness in leadership and life.