折疑論 2.125

2.125

In ancient times, Taibo cut his hair and tattooed his body, which may indeed be called injuring it; yet Zhongni praised his supreme virtue (Taibo was the eldest son of King Tai of Zhou; he yielded the throne without succession, and cut his hair and tattooed his body going to Wu; with him was his younger brother Zhongyong. The Analects says: 'Taibo may indeed be said to possess supreme virtue; three times he yielded the realm, and the people could find no words to praise his virtue.' As for his cutting his hair and tattooing his body, why did Confucius not reprove him for being unfilial, but instead praised his supreme virtue?).