Confucius and the Controversy of li: Why Does He Defend the Unlawful Marriage?

7·31 Chen Siba (1) asked, “Does Zhaogong (2) know the rites?” Confucius said, “He knows the rites.” Confucius withdrew, greeted (3) Wuma Qi (4) and said, “I heard that a gentleman does not take sides (5). The king took (6) Wu as his wife, and they had the same surname (7). He was called Wu Mencius (8). If the king knows the rites, who does not know the rites?” Wu Maqi reported this to Confucius. Confucius said, ‘I am fortunate. If I make a mistake, people will certainly know it.’

[Notes]

(1) Chen Siba: the official in charge of justice in the state of Chen, whose name is unknown. Some people say that he was a minister of the state of Qi, whose surname was Chen and whose name was Siba.

(2) Zhaogong: the ruler of the state of Lu, whose name was Zhaogong, and whose reign lasted from 541 to 510 BC. “Zhao” is a posthumous title.

(3) Yi: to make a gesture of greeting.

(4) Wumaqi: Wuma’s name was Shi, his courtesy name was Ziqi, and he was a student of Confucius, 30 years younger than Confucius.

(5) Dang: to favor or protect.

(6) Qu: to marry.

(7) The same surname: The rulers of the states of Lu and Wu had the same surname Ji. Zhouli (the rites of Zhou) stipulated that people of the same surname should not marry. Zhaogong’s marriage to a woman of the same surname was against Zhouli.

(8) Wu Mengzi: the wife of Zhaogong of Lu. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the title of a king’s wife was generally the name of the country she was born in, plus her surname. However, since her surname was Ji, she was called Wu Mengzi, not Wu Ji.

Translation

Chen Sibai asked, “Does Lord Zhaogong of Lu know the rites?” Confucius said, “He does.” After Confucius left, Chen Sibai bowed to Wumaqi and asked him to come closer. He said to him, “I heard that a gentleman is impartial. Does a gentleman also protect others? The ruler of Lu married a woman of the same surname as his wife in the state of Wu. If the ruler of Lu is considered to be knowledgeable about propriety, who else is not? Wu Maqi told Confucius about this. Confucius said, “I am truly fortunate. If I am wrong, others will surely know.”

Commentary

The ruler of Lu married a woman of the same surname as his wife, which violated the rules of propriety. This shows that Confucius was indeed defending Lord Zhaogong, that is, “covering up for the respected.” Confucius upheld the highest principle of the patriarchal hierarchy of the time, so he himself appeared to be in a contradiction. In this case, Confucius had to say sarcastically, “I am fortunate, but if I have done anything wrong, people will surely know.” In fact, he had already admitted that it was his fault to favor Lord Zhaogong, but he could not solve this contradiction.

In ancient China, adherence to 礼 (li), or ritual propriety, was a cornerstone of societal norms. Yet, the historical records reveal intriguing contradictions, especially when it comes to Confucius, the revered philosopher who championed these very principles. A notable episode illustrating this tension is the encounter between Confucius and 陈司败 (Chen Sibai), a judicial officer, regarding the actions of the Lu state ruler, 昭公 (Zhao Gong).

The Incident:

陈司败 (Chen Sibai) approached Confucius with a question: “Does the Duke of Lu, Zhao Gong, understand 礼 (li)?” Confucius affirmed that Zhao Gong did. However, Chen Sibai’s follow-up question challenged this claim. He pointed out that Zhao Gong had married a woman of the same surname from Wu, which was considered a breach of 礼 according to Zhou rituals. This was particularly significant as marriage within the same surname was prohibited, reflecting an adherence to the strict social codes of the time. The woman, known as 吴孟子 (Wu Mengzi), was Zhao Gong’s spouse, and her title reflected her origin and surname, violating the ritual norms.

Confucius’s Response:

After Chen Sibai’s critical comment, Confucius reacted with a mix of defensiveness and resignation. He remarked that he was “fortunate,” acknowledging that any mistakes he made would surely be known to others. This response highlighted Confucius’s internal struggle: while he professed to uphold the principles of 礼, he was also compelled to defend the actions of Zhao Gong, who had transgressed these very principles.

Analysis:

Confucius’s defense of Zhao Gong’s marriage despite its apparent contradiction to 礼 illustrates a deeper conflict within his philosophy. On one hand, Confucius advocated for the rigorous observance of ritual propriety. On the other hand, his loyalty to the ruling class and the existing social hierarchy sometimes led him to overlook or rationalize violations of these principles.

This episode underscores the complexities faced by Confucius as he navigated the tension between personal principles and practical politics. His admission of fault—though delivered with a tone of self-deprecation—reveals an acknowledgment of the contradictions inherent in his position. It also reflects the broader challenge of upholding ideals in a world where such ideals often clash with real-world politics and personal loyalties.