The Joy of Receiving a Humble Food Gift

The story comes from Confucius’ Family Sayings: Reflections

In the State of Lu, there lived a frugal man who prepared food with a humble pottery vessel and found it pleasing upon tasting his modest fare. The person placed the food in an earthen bowl and offered it to Confucius. Confucius received it with genuine joy, as if it were a sumptuous feast.

Zi Lu remarked, “The bowl is a common vessel, and the food within is plain. Why does my master find such delight in it?”

Confucius responded, “A man who cares deeply for his king is ever mindful of him, and one who savors good food remembers his parents. My joy does not lie in the elegance of the food or the vessel, but the thought of me in one’s moment of enjoyment!”

In the State of Lu, there was a frugal person who used pottery pots to cook his food. Finding the food delicious, he placed some of it in a pottery bowl and offered it to Confucius. Confucius seemed as delighted as if he had received the “three sacrifices”—beef, lamb, and pork.

Zi Lu, one of Confucius’ students, wondered, “The gift was placed in a simple open pottery bowl, which is a rather lowly utensil. The food itself is plain and unsophisticated, too. Why are you so pleased, my teacher?” Confucius replied, “A person who cares deeply about his king and often wishes to offer advice always thinks of his king. Similarly, someone who respects and loves his parents will think of them when enjoying good food. I am happy not because of the richness or quality of the food and the utensil, but because he thought of me when he had something nice to eat.”