Four Books

The Records of the Historian (Shiji 史記)¹, in its section on Noble Families, states:

Kongzi 孔子 was named Qiu and styled Zhongni.² His ancestors were from the state of Song. His father was Shuliang He and his mother came from the Yan clan. In the 22nd year of the Duke Xiang of Lu, in the Gengxu year, on the Gengzi day of the 11th month (551 BC), Kongzi was born in the Zou village in the Changping district of the state of Lu. As a child playing, he often layed out the sacrificial vessels and performed rituals. As he grew older, he served as a granary official, managing the standardization of weights and measures.

史記世家曰：「孔子名丘，字仲尼。其先宋人。父叔梁紇，母顏氏。以魯襄公二十二年，庚戌之歲，十一月庚子，生孔子於魯昌平鄉陬邑。為兒嬉戲，常陳俎豆，設禮容。及長，為委吏，料量平。

“Granary official” 委吏 was originally recorded as “historian of the Ji family” 季氏史. Suo Yin said: “Another version has it written as ‘granary official’, in accordance with Mengzi” (Mengzi, Wan Zhang II, 14.1). I now follow this.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

委吏，本作季氏史。索隱云：「一本作委吏，與孟子合。」今從之。

He served as an official responsible for raising and breeding livestock.

為司職吏，畜蕃息。

This post is seen in the Zhou Rites under the term “Ox-man,” and is presumably a place for tethering and raising sacrificial animals. This official post is what Mengzi refers to as “managing fields” (Mengzi, Wan Zhang II, 14.1).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

職，見周禮牛人，讀為樴，義與杙同，蓋繫養犧牲之所。此官即孟子所謂乘田。

He went to Zhou to inquire about rituals from Laozi. After returning, his pupils made all the more progress. In the 25th year of Duke Zhao, the Jiashen year (516 BC), when Kongzi was 35 years old, Duke Zhao fled to Qi and Lu was thrown into chaos. Therefore, he went to Qi, and served as a minister in the household of Gaoshaozi, in order to communicate with Duke Jing (the ruler of Qi).

適周，問禮於老子，既反，而弟子益進。昭公二十五年甲申，孔子年三十五，而昭公奔齊，魯亂。於是適齊，為高昭子家臣，以通乎景公。

He had two matters: hearing the music and asking about governance.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有聞韶、問政二事。

While there, the Duke wished to grant Yan Ying (an important official in the state of Qi) the land of Nixi, but he did not accept, which left the Duke puzzled.

公欲封以尼谿之田，晏嬰不可，公惑之。

There are the “Ji and Meng” and “I am old” quotes (Discourses 18.3) from the Duke.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有季孟吾老之語。

Kongzi then departed, returning to Lu. In the first year of Duke Ding, the Renchen year, when Kongzi was 43 years old, the Ji family arrogantly usurped power, and their minister Yang Hu caused chaos and monopolized politics. Therefore, Kongzi did not serve in office, but retired to study the poetry, books, rites, and music, and his disciples grew in number. In the ninth year, Gengzi year, when Kongzi was 51 years old, Gongsan Buni used the expense of the border to defy the Ji family. He summoned Kongzi, who wanted to go, but ultimately did not go.

孔子遂行，反乎魯。定公元年壬辰，孔子年四十三，而季氏強僭，其臣陽虎作亂專政。故孔子不仕，而退修詩、書、禮、樂，弟子彌眾。九年庚子，孔子年五十一。公山不狃以費畔季氏，召，孔子欲往，而卒不行。

There is a quote in response to Zi Lu about an “Eastern Zhou” (Discourses 17.5).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有答子路東周語。

Duke Ding (ruler of the state of Lu) appointed Kongzi as the central governor, and in one year, all directions corresponded to him. He then became Minister of Works, and then became Grand Minister of Justice. In the tenth year, the Xinchou year, he accompanied Duke Ding in meeting with the Duke of Qi at Jiagu. The people of Qi converged on Lu and invaded its land. In the twelfth year, the Guimao year, he appointed Zhong You as the steward for the Ji family, demolished the three cities, and confiscated their weapons. The Meng family did not want to demolish Cheng, so they besieged it, but did not conquer it. In the fourteenth year, the Yisi year, when Kongzi was 56 years old, he acted as a regent, executed Shaozheng Mao , and heard the national affairs. In the third month, the state of Lu was greatly governed, so the people of Qi sent women to play music to seduce Ji Huanzi (of a powerful family in Lu), and he accepted them. The suburban sacrifices did not provide the great officers with meat and wine, so Kongzi departed.

定公以孔子為中都宰，一年，四方則之，遂為司空，又為大司寇。十年辛丑，相定公會齊侯于夾谷，齊人歸魯侵地。十二年癸卯，使仲由為季氏宰，墮三都，收其甲兵。孟氏不肯墮成，圍之不克。十四年乙巳，孔子年五十六，攝行相事，誅少正卯，與聞國政。三月，魯國大治。齊人歸女樂以沮之，季桓子受之。郊又不致膰俎於大夫，孔子行。

The Noble Families of Lu consider all the above to be affairs of the twelth year (497 BC).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

魯世家以此以上皆為十二年事。

He went to the state of Wei and was the guest of Yan Zhuozou, the brother-in-law of Zi Lu (a famous pupil of Kongzi).

適衛，主於子路妻兄顏濁鄒家。

Mengzi writes it as Yan Chouyou (Mengzi, Wan Zhang I, 8.2).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

孟子作顏讎由。

He went to the state of Chen and passed through Kuang. The people of Kuang mistook him for Yang Hu (a tyrant minister of Lu who had seized power) and detained him.

適陳，過匡，匡人以為陽虎而拘之。

There are quotes from this time about “Yan Hui had fallen behind” (Discourses 11.23) and “Now that King Wen is gone” (Discourses 9.5).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有顏淵後及文王既沒之語。

After he was released, he returned to the state of Wei and was the guest of Qu Boyu’s household, where he met Nanzi (consort of Duke Ling).

既解，還衛，主蘧伯玉家，見南子。

There are quotes from this time about vowing to Zi Lu (Discourses 6.28) and “Not yet seen one who likes virtue” (Discourses 9.18).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有矢子路及未見好德之語。

He left to go to Song, but the minister of war there, Huan Tui, wanted to kill him.

去適宋，司馬桓魋欲殺之。

There is the quote about “Heaven endowed virtue” (Discourses 7.23) and the affair of crossing Song in disguise (Mengzi, Wan Zhang I, 8.2).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有天生德語及微服過宋事。

Again, he left, went to the state of Chen, and was the guest of the Minister of Justice Zhenzi’s household. He lived there for three years, then returned to Wei, but Duke Ling could not employ him.

又去，適陳，主司城貞子家。居三歲而反于衛，靈公不能用。

There is the quote “in three years it would be complete” (Discourses 13.10).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有三年有成之語。

The house servant of the Zhao family in Jin, Fu Xu, rebelled with the region of Zhongmou, and summoned Kongzi. He wanted to go, but in the end, he didn’t.

晉趙氏家臣佛肸以中牟畔，召孔子，孔子欲往，亦不果。

There is a quote in response to Zi Lu about “hard and white” (Discourses 17.7), and the matter of the man “carrying a straw basket who passed by the door” (Discourses 14.39).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有答子路堅白語及荷蕢過門事。

He was about to go west to meet Zhao Jianzi, but turned back at the river. Again, he was a guest in the household of Qu Boyu. When Duke Ling asked about the state of Chen, he did not answer and left, returning to Chen.

將西見趙簡子，至河而反，又主蘧伯玉家。靈公問陳，不對而行，復如陳。

According to the Discourses, the cutting off of provisions should have occurred at this time (Discourses 15.2).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

據論語則絕糧當在此時。

Ji Huanzi (of a powerful Lu family) died, and in his will he advised Kangzi (a Duke of Wei) to summon Kongzi, but his ministers stopped him, so Kangzi called for Ran Qiu (Ran You, one of Kongzi’s pupils) instead.

季桓子卒，遺言謂康子必召孔子，其臣止之，康子乃召冉求。

The Records of the Historian take the Discourses’ “sigh of agreement with returning home” (Discourses 11.26) as occurring at this time, and the Mengzi’s recording of the “Sighing Words” (Mengzi, Wan Zhang I, 8.2) as happening during the time of the Minister of Justice Zhenzi. I suspect this is not so. Presumably, the sayings Mengzi recorded all originally belong to this same time period, but this recording has differences.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

史記以論語歸與之歎為在此時，又以孟子所記歎辭為主司城貞子時語，疑不然。蓋語孟所記，本皆此一時語，而所記有異同耳。

Kongzi then went to the states of Cai and Ye.

孔子如蔡及葉。

There are the affairs of Lord Ye’s question and Zi Lu’s non-answer (Disourses 7.19), Ju and Ni’s side by side plowing (Discourses 18.6), the old man carrying on his shoulder a basket (Discourses 18.7), and so on. The Records of the Historian says, “At this point, King Zhao of the state of Chu sent someone to invite Kongzi. Kongzi was going to go to pay respects, but the senior officials of states of Chen and Cai released prisoners and besieged him, so Kongzi was cut off from provisions between Chen and Cai.” There are quotes about Zi Lu’s visible anger (Discourses 15.2) and telling Zi Gong about “a single thread” (Discourses 15.3). According to this time, Chen and Cai were subservient to the powerful state of Chu. If King Chu came to invite Kongzi, how would the senior officials of Chen and Cai dare to besiege him? Moreover, according to the Discourses, being cut off from provisions should have occurred when departing Wei to go to Chen (Discourses 15.2).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有葉公問答子路不對、沮溺耦耕、荷蓧丈人等事。史記云：「於是楚昭王使人聘孔子，孔子將往拜禮，而陳蔡大夫發徒圍之，故孔子絕糧於陳蔡之間。」有慍見及告子貢一貫之語。按是時陳蔡臣服於楚，若楚王來聘孔子，陳蔡大夫安敢圍之。且據論語，絕糧當在去衛如陳之時。

King Zhao of Chu wanted to grant Kongzi the land of Shushe, but his prime minister Zi Xi disagreed, so he stopped.

楚昭王將以書社地封孔子，令尹子西不可，乃止。

The Records of the Historian says, "The land of Shushe is seven hundred li," but I fear this is not logical. At this time, there was the song of Jieyu (Discourses 18.5).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

史記云「書社地七百里」，恐無此理，時則有接輿之歌。

Kongzi returned to Wei again. At this time, Duke Ling had already passed away, and Lord Wei quickly wanted Kongzi to govern.

又反乎衛，時靈公已卒，衛君輒欲得孔子為政。

There are quotes about the governments of Lu and Wei being brothers (Discourses 13.7) and the reply to Zi Gong about Yi and Qi (Discourses 07.15), as well as to Zi Lu about the rectification of names (Discourses 13.3).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有魯衛兄弟及答子貢夷齊、子路正名之語。

But Ran Qiu (a pupil of Kongzi), acting as a general for the Ji family of Lu, distinguished himself in a battle against the state of Qi. Consequently, Duke Kang (ruler of the state of Lu) called for Kongzi, prompting Kongzi to return to Lu. This occurred in the 11th year of Duke Ai's reign, a year denoted as Ding-Si in the sexagenary cycle (483 BC), by which time Kongzi was 68 years old.

而冉求為季氏將，與齊戰有功，康子乃召孔子，而孔子歸魯，實哀公之十一年丁巳，而孔子年六十八矣。

There are sayings addressed to Duke Ai and Duke Kang (Discourses 2.19 and Discourses 2.20).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有對哀公及康子語。

However, Lu in the end could not employ Kongzi, and Kongzi also did not seek a position, so instead he organized the Book of History and the Book of Rites.

然魯終不能用孔子，孔子亦不求仕，乃敘書傳禮記。

There are related quotes about Qi and Song (Discourses 3.9), additions and subtractions (Discourses 2.23), “I follow Zhou” (Discourses 3.14), and others.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有杞宋、損益、從周等語。

He reduced the Book of Poetry and rectified the music,

刪詩正樂，

There are quotes about speaking to the Grand Music Master (Discourses 3.23) and the rectification of music (Discourses 9.15).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有語大師及樂正之語。

He arranged the Book of Changes—including the Tuan, Xiang, Shuogua, and Wenyan commentaries.

序易彖、繫、象、說卦、文言。

There is the quote about “granting me several more years” (Discourses 7.17).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有假我數年之語。

His pupils numbered three thousand, and among them, 72 had personally mastered the six arts.

弟子蓋三千焉，身通六藝者七十二人。

Yan Hui was the most virtuous of his pupils, but died young. After him, only Zeng Shen (in the Discourses referred to as Zengzi 曾子) was able to transmit Kongzi's way.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

弟子顏回最賢，蚤死，後惟曾參得傳孔子之道。

In the fourteenth year of the Gengshen cycle, Lu caught a unicorn³ in its Western Hunt,

十四年庚申，魯西狩獲麟，

There was the lament “No one knows me” (Discourses 14.35).

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有莫我知之歎。

Kongzi composed the Spring and Autumn Annals.

孔子作春秋。

There are sayings such as "know my faults, my grade" 知我罪我等 (unknown reference), and the discussion about requesting to punish Chen Heng (Discourses 14.21), which also occurred this year.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

有知我罪我等語，論語請討陳恆事，亦在是年。

The following year, which was a Xin-You year, Zi Lu died in Wei. In the 16th year, on the day of Ren-Xu, in the fourth month on the day of Ji-Chou (479 BC), Kongzi passed away at the age of 73. He was buried north of the city of Lu on the Si River. All his disciples wore mourning for three years and then left, except Zi Gong, who built a hut on the grave and stayed for six years. Kongzi had a son named Li, who was given the courtesy name Bo Yu, and who predeceased him. Bo Yu had a son named Ji, courtesy name Zi Si 子思, who wrote the Doctrine of the Mean.

明年辛酉，子路死於衛。十六年壬戌、四月己丑，孔子卒，年七十三，葬魯城北泗上。弟子皆服心喪三年而去，惟子貢廬於冢上，凡六年，孔子生鯉，字伯魚，先卒。伯魚生伋，字子思，作中庸。」

Zi Si learned from Zengzi, and then Mengzi received teachings from the pupils of Zi Si.

– Zhu Xi 朱熹

子思學於曾子，而孟子受業子思之門人。

¹ The Records of the Historian (Shiji 史記) is a historical account of ancient China, completed around 94 BC by the Han dynasty official Sima Qian. The 'Noble Families' section is one of its 30 volumes.

² The name "Confucius" is a Latinized mispronunciation from 16th century missionaries. His correct name is Kong 孔 (clan) Qiu 丘 (given name), which with the honorific zi 子, becomes Kongzi. At his coming of age ceremony, he was given the courtesy name of “Zhongni.”

³ The term “unicorn” (lin 麟) refers to a mythical creature often known as a Qilin in Chinese mythology. This is considered a good omen that signifies the arrival of a benevolent ruler.