King Hsüan of Ch`i said to T`ien Kuo, "I have heard that
Confucians mourn three years for their parents, [and three years
for a ruler].[2]
Now which is the more important, a father or a
ruler?"
[T`ien Kuo] replied, "Without a ruler's lands there is no place
to settle one's parents; without a ruler's pay there is no means of
supporting one's parents; without rank [conferred] by a ruler
there is no way of making one's parents respected and illustrious.
What is received from the ruler is passed on to the parents. So
serving a ruler is also something always done on behalf of one's
parents."[3]
King Hsüan was taken aback and had nothing to
answer him.
The Ode says,[4]
The king's business is not to be slackly performed,
And I have no leisure to nourish my father.
