Duke Ai of Lu asked Jan Yu, "With nothing more than the
natural endowments of the ordinary man, is it study that is
necessary to make him a superior man?"
Jan Yu replied, "I have heard that `though you have good
jade, without cutting and carving, it will not make a useful
vessel.'[2]
One may have fine endowments, but without study, he
will not become a superior man."
"How do you know that it true?"[3]
"Now Tzŭ-lu was a country fellow from Pien,[4]
and Tzŭ-kung
was a merchant from Wei.[5]
Both studied under Confucius and
afterwards became famous persons in the empire. None of the
feudal lords that heard of them failed to treat them with respect,
and none of the ministers and Great Officers that heard of them
failed to love them. This was the result of study.
"Of old Wu, Ch'u, Yen, and Tai[6]
planned to raise a joint force
and were going to attack Ch`in. Yao[7]
Ku, the son of a gatekeeper,[8]
went on a mission to them on behalf of Ch`in and succeeded in
breaking up their plans and stopping their armies [from attacking
Ch`in]. When he went back, the King of Ch`in was greatly pleased
and set him up as a minister of the highest rank.
"There was Po-li Hsi, who was a beggar in Ch`i. Driven out
of Ch`i to the west, he had no way of bringing himself to the notice
[of the prince], and so he sold himself for five sheepskins and drove
a single-yoke cart. When he was set up as minister by Duke Mu
of Ch`in, he succeeded in establishing [Ch`in's] hegemony over the
western Jung.
"As a youth T`ai-kung Wang lived with his wife's family as
son-in-law, but in his old age was driven out. He butchered cattle
in Ch`ao-ko, hired himself out in Chi-chin, and was a fisherman in
P`an-ch`i. King Wên raised him up and employed him, enfeoffing
him in Ch`i.
"Kuan Chung with his own hands shot Duke Huan,[9]
who
nevertheless expelled from his heart all idea of revenge and set
him up as minister. [Kuan Chung] preserved [Ch`i] from destruction,
and insured the continuation [of the ruling line]; he brought
together the feudal lords and unified the empire.
"These four men were all at one time lowly and poor, in straits
and in a state of degradation, and yet their fame has spread to
later generations. Was it not through learning that this result
was achieved? Viewed in the light of this, a gentleman must first
study and only then will he become a superior man. The Ode
says,[10]
By daily progress and monthly advance.
Whereupon Duke Ai laughed joyously and said, "Although I
am not intelligent, I wish to receive your teaching, Master."
