Zengzi

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zeng.
Statue of Zengzi (right) and his mother
Zengzi
Chinese 曾子
Literal meaning "Master Zeng"

Zengzi (Chinese: 曾子; literally: "Master Zeng", 505–435 BC), born Zeng Shen or Zeng Can (曾參), courtesy name Ziyu (子輿), was an influential Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.[1] He later taught Zisi (Kong Ji), the grandson of Confucius, who was in turn the teacher of Mencius, thus beginning a line of transmitters of orthodox Confucian traditions.[1] He is revered as one of the Four Sages of Confucianism.[2]

Biography

Zeng Shen was 46 years younger than Confucius.[3] He was a native of South Wu City in the State of Lu, and was the son of Zeng Dian, one of the earliest disciples of Confucius.[1]

When he was sixteen, he was sent by his father to study under Confucius. Confucians later considered him to be his second most senior student, after Yan Hui. Duanmu Ci said of him, "There is no subject which he has not studied. His appearance is respectful. His virtue is solid. His words command credence. Before great men he draws himself up in the pride of self-respect. His eyebrows are those of longevity." He was noted for his filial piety, and after the death of his parents he could not read the rites of mourning without being led to think of them and being moved to tears. He was a voluminous writer. He composed ten books, compiled in the Rites of the Elder Dai (大戴禮). He was said to have composed and/or edited the Classic of Filial Piety under the direction of Confucius. He was also associated with transmission of the Great Learning. He was first associated with the sacrifices to Confucius in 668 AD, but in 1267 he was advanced to be one of Confucius' Four Assessors. His title, "Exhibitor of the Fundamental Principles of the Sage", dates from the reign of the Jiajing Emperor, when he was associated with Yan Hui.[2]

Zengzi established his own school, and taught Zisi (Kong Ji), the grandson of Confucius, who was in turn the teacher of Mencius, thus beginning a line of transmitters of orthodox Confucian traditions.[1] Along with Yan Hui, Zisi, and Mencius, Zengzi is considered to be one of the Four Sages of Confucianism.[2]

Filial piety

Zeng Shen was known for his filial piety. After the deaths of his parents, he was unable to read the rites of mourning without bursting into tears.[2]

A famous legend about Zeng Shen, called Nie Chi Tong Xin (Chinese: 齧指痛心), is included in the influential Yuan dynasty text The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars. In the story, Zeng Shen was one day out gathering firewood, when some visitors unexpectedly showed up at his home. His mother bit her finger, and Zeng felt a sharp pain in his heart. He immediately knew his mother needed him and rushed home.[4]

Descendants

Zengzi's offspring held the title of Wujing Boshi (五经博士; 五經博士; Wǔjīng Bóshì).[5][6][7][8]

In the Republic of China there is an office called the "Sacrificial Official to Zengzi" which is held by a descendant of Zengzi, like the post of "Sacrificial Official to Mencius" for a descendant of Mencius, "Sacrificial Official to Yan Hui" for a descendant of Yan Hui, and the post of "Sacrificial Official to Confucius", held by a descendant of Confucius.[9][10][11][12]

The descendants of Zengzi still use generation poems for their names given to them by the Ming and Qing Emperors along with the descendants of the other Four Sages 四氏, Confucius, Mencius, and Yan Hui.

The Temple of Zengzi 曾廟.

List of descendants of Zengzi

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Huang 1997, p. 204.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Legge 2009, pp. 117–8.
  3. ↑ Han 2010, p. 4610.
  4. ↑ Li 2011, p. 205.
  5. ↑ H.S. Brunnert; V.V. Hagelstrom (15 April 2013). Present Day Political Organization of China. Routledge. pp. 493–494. ISBN 978-1-135-79795-9.
  6. ↑ http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/Present_Day_Political_Organization_of_China_1000115601/507
  7. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/presentdaypoliti00brun#page/492/mode/2up
  8. ↑ H.S. Brunnert; V.V. Hagelstrom (15 April 2013). Present Day Political Organization of China. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-79794-2.
  9. ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/tw/2009-07/24/content_11764658.htm
  10. ↑ http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2009-07-23/101716000328s.shtml
  11. ↑ http://www1.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/115/article_15023.asp
  12. ↑ http://blog.xuite.net/ahhsiang/TYDA/20446373-【文史雜記】大成至聖先師奉祀官

Bibliography

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