Once, Zilu came to see Confucius in a gorgeous dress, and Confucius said, "Zhongyu, why do you want to look so wide-sleeved and arrogant?" The Yangtze River originates from the Minshan Mountains, its source is very small, can only float wine cups, but by the time it flows into the Yangtze River, the water potential has been turbulent, people do not put the boat together, while avoiding the wind, do not dare to cross the river, this is not because the downstream water flow is too fast, the river surface is too wide, fearsome? Now that you are dressed in such gorgeous clothes and look so spirited, who in the world dares to speak to you? ”
Zi Lu hurriedly and respectfully walked out in small steps, changed his clothes and came in again, looking at ease. Confucius said, "O Zhongyou! You listen, I'll give you the reasoning. People who talk excitedly tend to talk about it, and people who act on their toes often like to boast about themselves. People who try to show themselves wise and talented on the surface are villains. Gentlemen never pretend, they say they know, they say they know, and those who don't know say they don't know, this is the key to speaking; what can be done is said to be able to do it, and what cannot be done is said to be impossible, which is the highest criterion of action. To speak wisely is to speak wisely, and to act in accordance with the norms is to be virtuous. It is both wise and benevolent, where is the need to make up for the deficiencies through cosmetic modifications? ”
Zilu is loyal and courageous, going to the great righteousness does not avoid life and death, is one of the disciples who have followed Confucius for the longest time, Confucius is generally accompanied by Zilu when he travels, and he is also one of the students who Are most criticized by Confucius, but he is also one of Confucius's favorite disciples, Confucius once said: "The Tao is not ok, floating on the sea, from our reasons!" ”
Confucius's teachings on Zilu basically revolve around Zilu's slightly reckless personality, hoping that he will make greater progress in benevolence, in fact, to protect him and avoid his misfortunes.
According to the "Chronicle of History", "Zilu was contemptuous, brave, zhizhi, crowned rooster, pei pig, and Violent Confucius." Confucius did not think so, and slowly induced him through etiquette, Zilu was inspired, put on the costume of a Confucian, carried the gift of worship, asked Confucius's disciples to introduce him, and worshiped under Confucius's door.
Zilu no longer dressed excessively outwardly, but paid attention to inner cultivation, progress is still quite large, Confucius praised him, he said, Zilu wears coarse cloth clothes, and people wearing fur coats stand together, Zilu will not feel inferior.
Zilu was actually proud of his bravery, so he liked to ask Confucius: "Do gentlemen advocate bravery?" Confucius enlightened him: "Righteousness is supreme." A gentleman is brave but unrighteous is chaotic, and a villain is brave but unrighteous is a thief. ”
Therefore, Zilu advocated xinyi and said, "May the carriage and horses and the clothes be light and light with friends, and we have no regrets." Because he believed in righteousness, said what he said, and promised to do things without delaying overnight, others did not dare to play a treacherous trick on him, so Confucius said that only one side's lawsuit can be judged, and probably only Zilu can do it.
Confucius understood the lack of benevolence in Zilu, so when he went to serve as the doctor of Puyi, Confucius warned him that there are many brave and martial people in Puyi, and you can only control them with courtesy and humility, and you must be generous and upright to the people, and they will unite around you, so that it will not be difficult to govern the city.
Confucius was always worried that Zilu was too anxious to be righteous and could not end well, hoping that Zilu could be more stable, so when Zilu asked him if the mission should be to move forward courageously, Confucius reminded him, your parents are still alive, how can you have no scruples?
Guan Zhong and Zhao Kuo originally followed Gongzi Gui together, and Duke Huan of Qi killed Gongzi, and Zhao Kuo also repaid him with death, and Guan Zhong not only did not die, but instead threw himself into the hands of Duke Huan of Qi. Zi Lu asked, Guan Zhong's behavior should be against benevolence, right?
Confucius believed that judging a person should look at the overall situation, and that the fact that the Duke of Qi Huan was able to unite the princes without resorting to force was the credit of Guan Zhong, and this was Guan Zhong's benevolence. Confucius did not want Zilu to follow in his footsteps.
Although Confucius continued to guide Zilu, the so-called nature was difficult to move, and when the matter came to an end, Zilu was still willing to throw his head and sprinkle blood, and finally died under the sword of the traitor. In the words of Zilu, the lord of the food should be loyal to the king.
The course of events is as follows: after the death of Duke Wei Ling, the son of the exiled crown prince Kuo Yun took the throne as The Duke of Wei, and many years later, with the help of his sister (the mother of The Qing Emperor Kong Wu), he infiltrated the Kong family, coerced Kong Wu to participate in the rebellion, and expelled Wei Chugong. As soon as Confucius heard that there was civil unrest in Weiguo, he said sadly: "Oh, Zilu's life is not in danger!" Zilu, who was the local governor of Kong Wu Caiyi at the time, heard that Kong Wu was being held hostage, so he ignored zi lamb's persuasion and tried to enter the capital of Weiguo and demanded that the newly enthroned Weizhuang bus out of Kong Wu, and was killed as a result.