You Ruo (518 BCE - ?), with the surname You, given name Ruo, also known as Zi You, was respectfully called Master You. He was thirteen years younger than Confucius and was a native of the State of Lu. He is mentioned four times in The Analects. You Ruo was gentle, sincere, and devoted to practice, and was a cherished disciple of Confucius in his later years. He had a strong memory, valued antiquity, was well-versed in Li (Ritual Propriety) and music, advocated harmony, and emphasized Li (Ritual Propriety) and moral education. When discussing governance with Duke Ai of Lu, he put forward the "valuing the people" view, stating, "When the people are prosperous, how could the ruler be insufficient? When the people are poor and lacking, how could the ruler be sufficient?" He also proposed that Xiao (Filial Piety) and Ti (Fraternal Respect) are "the root of Ren (Benevolence)" and that "in practicing Li (Ritual Propriety), harmony is the most valuable," thus enriching Confucian doctrine. He also dialectically discussed the relationship between Li (Ritual Propriety) and harmony. He said that the application of Li (Ritual Propriety) values careful consideration, moderation, and harmony as most precious. If one rigidly adheres to ritual regulations in everything, it may sometimes prove unworkable. Simply pursuing harmony without using Li (Ritual Propriety) to regulate it is also unacceptable.
Because You Ruo's (a disciple of Confucius) appearance and temperament closely resembled those of Confucius, after Confucius passed away, his disciples, missing their teacher, treated You Ruo as their teacher. However, Zengzi (another disciple) disagreed, arguing that Confucius was like something washed in the waters of the Yangtze and Han Rivers and bleached under the summer sun—so pure and unmatched that no one could compare to him. After You Ruo died, he was buried in Feicheng, and Duke Dao of Lu (the ruler of the State of Lu) personally offered condolences to him.