辯偽錄 2.18

2.18

The forty-eighth transformation states: The Grand Chancellor of Song asked Master Kong, 'Is the Master a sage?' Confucius replied, 'As for being a sage, how could Qiu dare? Nevertheless, Qiu is one who is widely learned and possesses much knowledge.' The Grand Chancellor said, 'Were the Three Kings sages?' Confucius said, 'The Three Kings were good at employing wisdom and courage; as for being sages, Qiu does not know.' The Grand Chancellor said, 'Were the Five Thearchs sages?' Confucius said, 'The Five Thearchs were good at employing benevolence and righteousness; as for being sages, Qiu does not know.' The Grand Chancellor said, 'Were the Three Sovereigns sages?' Confucius said, 'The Three Sovereigns were good at employing the accord with the seasons; as for being sages, Qiu does not know.' The Grand Chancellor was greatly astonished and said, 'If so, then who is a sage?' Confucius altered his expression, paused for a moment, and said, 'Qiu has heard that among the people of the West there is a sage: he does not govern, yet there is no chaos; he does not speak, yet he is naturally trusted; he does not convert, yet things naturally proceed. Vast and boundless, the people cannot find a name for him! Qiu suspects he is a sage.' The histories and scriptural treatises say: Confucius was in Lu, and Laozi was in Zhou. Looking from Lu toward Luoyang in Zhou, it was in the west; hence it refers to Laozi as the Western Sage. When Confucius inquired about the rites, he previously had the sigh comparing him to a dragon, and therefore this refers to Laozi.