Zeng Shen (505-432 BCE), also known as Zeng Can, with the courtesy name Ziyu, was forty-six years younger than Confucius and a native of Nanwucheng in the State of Lu (present-day Jiaxiang County, Shandong Province). He is mentioned fourteen times in The Analects. Born into a declining aristocratic family, he was the son of Zeng Dian (a disciple of Confucius). During his youth, he engaged in agricultural labor, developing calluses on his hands and feet from frequent rough work. He often went three days without cooking a meal and went ten years without adding new clothes. He once served as a minor official.
Zengzi (a disciple of Confucius) was calm in temperament, steady in demeanor, cautious, modest, and respectful, renowned for his Xiao (Filial Piety). At age sixteen, he became a disciple of Confucius. Once, while sitting in attendance beside Confucius, the Master asked him: "The sage-kings of antiquity possessed supreme virtue and profound theories, using them to teach the people, enabling harmony among all and preventing resentment between rulers and subjects—do you know what these are?" Understanding that his teacher was about to impart the deepest teachings, Zengzi immediately rose from his mat, stepped outside, and respectfully sought instruction.
He studied diligently, learning from Confucius's teachings the methods of self-cultivation such as "daily self-examination on three points" and "being cautious when alone (Shen Du)," and placed great emphasis on the virtue of Xin (Trustworthiness). Legend has it that his wife once coaxed their child by saying, "Don't cry; Daddy will kill a pig for you to eat." Upon hearing this, he actually slaughtered the pig, explaining that one must not break faith even with a child. He particularly valued Xiao (Filial Piety) in both theory and practice, earning Confucius's appreciation. He was indifferent to fame, profit, and power; when the ruler of the State of Lu sent people several times to grant him a fief, Zeng Shen (Zengzi, a revered disciple of Confucius) firmly declined. When asked why, he replied, "I have heard that those who accept gifts fear offending the giver, while those who give gifts show arrogance toward the receiver. Even if the ruler grants me a fief without showing arrogance, how could I not fear offending him?" Confucius, upon learning this, commented, "Zeng Shen's words are sufficient to preserve his integrity." The states of Qi, Chu, and Jin also invited him to take high official positions, but he declined them all. He devoted his entire life to studying Confucius's teachings, teaching disciples, and actively promoting Confucian doctrine and spreading Confucian thought. He is traditionally credited with writing the *Book of Filial Piety (Xiaojing)* and *The Great Learning (Daxue)*.
According to the Confucian lineage, Confucius's grandson Kong Ji (Zisi, Confucius's grandson and disciple of Zengzi) studied under Zengzi (a disciple of Confucius) and later transmitted the teachings to Mencius (a prominent Confucian philosopher). Thus, Zeng Shen (Zengzi) inherited the Dao (Way) of Confucius above and inspired the Zisi-Mencius school below, both inheriting and developing Confucius's Confucian thought with his own contributions and achievements.