by 歐修梅
The story comes from “Ba Yi” of the Analects of Confucius
The border official of Yi requested an audience, saying, “Whenever a noble man comes to this place, I never miss the opportunity to see him.”
The disciples sent him in.
Upon leaving, he remarked, “Why do you, my companions, fear the loss of the rites? The world has long been without the Way. Heaven shall surely use the Master as its wooden clapper to awaken all.”
“Yi” was a city in the State of Wei, and the term “fong-ren” referred to an official in charge of border territories. This unnamed official from the city of Yi requested to meet Confucius. He said, “Whenever a virtuous and noble person passes through Yi, I never fail to meet them.”
So, Confucius’ students led the border official of Yi to meet him.
After the border official of Yi came out, he said to Confucius’ students, “Gentlemen! Why do you worry that your teacher will not find a position in the government? The world has been without the Way for a long time. The heavens surely intend to use your teacher as a wooden clapper to spread the Great Way throughout the world, which is why he travels from state to state!”
This painting depicts the story of the border official of Yi requesting an audience with Confucius. In the painting, Confucius and the official bowed to each other, with Confucius positioned above and the border official of Yi below, symbolizing the official’s reverence for the sage.
