Confucius in England

 Confucius in England 

How Confucius could be “not at home,” yet give 
intimation to one that wished to visit of his presence.

The Master in England

His neighbor Zû Pei wished to see Confucius, but the Master declined because he was ill. But after his messenger had gone out, had delivered the Master’s message to Zû Pei, and then returned, Confucius took up his lute and sang to it, so that his neighbor might hear him.

     So Zû Pei said to himself, “What a remarkable recovery. I must go see the master.”

This is what brought Confucius to England, where hearing the sound of stringed instruments and singing, he smiled and said, “Why would one use an ox knife to kill a fowl?” Later, when asked the meaning of his saying, the Master replied, “In music, I do not like the manner in which purple takes away the luster of vermillion.”

     Then he said, “In my country it is this way: The Duke Ching of Ch’î had a thousand teams, of four horses apiece, but when he died, he was immediately forgotten. Po- î and Shû-ch’î died of hunger at the foot of the Shâu-yang mountain, yet people speak of them to this day.”

     To which his English interlocutor replied, “Not here they don’t.”

06.03.16