Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s9.t2.3.2

v1.c7.s9.t2.3.2

When asked about the approach of how to govern a state by Duke Jing of the State of Qi, Confucius answered, “Let the king be a king, the minister a minister, the father a father and the son a son.” And at the time when the Duke asked for his advice, the State of Qi was in political quagmire and disorder characterised by so-called the king being unlike a king, the minister unlike a minister, with dejected human relations. As Confucius’ response hit his point, Duke of Jing intended to bestow the land of Nixi to Confucius to show his courteous reception, but was rebuffed and aborted by Yan Ying, his prime minister. In the first year of Duke of Ding of the State of Lu (509 BCE) when Ji, a clan member of the Duke, held dictatorial rule by overstepping his authority and followed by insurrection and usurping of power by Yanghu, a retainer to the Duke clan member, Confucius who had already returned to the State of Lu, resigned from his office and concentrated himself in perusal of *Classics of Odes*, *History (Collection of Deciphered Official Documentation of Earlier Dynasty)* *Rite and Music* and at the same time, was devoted himself to educational activities with great many followers regarding him as tutorial master. In the ninth year of Duke Ding of the State of Lu when Confucius was 51 years old, Gongsun Buniu intended to rebel against Ji by virtue of City Fei and sent for lobbying Confucius. Confucius would love to go, but did not make it.