The OG Squad: Who Were Confucius’s Actual Friends?

Book 11 of The Analects is basically a giant vibe check on Confucius’s students. If you ever wondered what it was like to be in his inner circle, this is where we see the receipts. He didn’t just teach them theory; he sized them up constantly and had very specific opinions on who was doing it right.

The Favorite Student Problem

We have to talk about Yan Hui. He was the Master’s absolute favorite. When Yan Hui died, Confucius was completely wrecked. He cried so much his other students actually told him he was going too far. But Confucius was like, if I’m not going to cry for this guy, who am I going to cry for?

The interesting thing is that even though he loved Yan Hui like a son, he still stayed firm on his principles. Yan Hui’s dad wanted Confucius to sell his carriage to pay for a fancy outer coffin. Confucius said no. It sounds harsh, but his logic was that when his own son died, he didn’t get a fancy outer coffin either. He believed that showy funerals didn’t actually prove how much you loved someone.

The Different Personalities

Confucius knew his students had totally different energies.

• Zilu: He was the “tough guy” of the group. Confucius often worried about him because he was so unbending. He even predicted Zilu wouldn’t die a natural death (and he was right).
• Zigong: He was the smart, successful one who was good at making money. Confucius respected his hustle but reminded him that there’s more to life than just speculation.
• Zengzi: He was the one who was a bit slow because he spent so much time overthinking everything.

Urging Them On

There’s a great moment where two different students ask the same question: “If I hear a good idea, should I act on it right away?”

To the student who was always holding back, Confucius said, “Yes, do it now!” To the student who was always rushing into things, he said, “Wait, check with your family first.”

It’s the ultimate “know your audience” move. He wasn’t giving a one-size-fits-all answer. He was giving them what they specifically needed to find some balance.

Previous: Book 10: Confucius at Home and at Court Next: Book 12: Governing with Humaneness

Book Metadata: Title: The Analects Author: Confucius Translator: Annping Chin ISBN: 9780698153516