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What Is Confucius Response To Chi K Ang

Decent Essays

Chi K'ang asked Confucius about government, saying, "What do you say to killing the unprincipled for the good of the principled?" Confucius replied, "Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors, is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend, when the wind blows across it." (Section III.12)

The main lesson from this passage shows the act of a good leader. Confucius emphasized the maxim to be virtuous when he said: "...desires be for what is good..." Chi K'ang as the intended audience simply demonstrate his concepts of becoming a leader. This passage has a lot to say on leadership; a good way a leader must act. And in the state of our society today, his response to Chi K'ang is absolutely a great way to lead a nation. Thus, the imagery used were wind and grass. …show more content…

Looking at Chi K'ang's question, based on my understanding, I'll elaborate more on "killing the unprincipled for the good of the principled".
Firstly, who are the unprincipled and principled? And why must the unprincipled be killed? The unprincipled could be the enemy; same tribal chiefs, foreigners, antagonists, and so on. Whereas the principled are those respective of the law and order of their community. And these as well can be marked as the president, governors, ministers; affluent people in a society. Just like Confucius mentioned the superiors and the inferiors are like the wind and grass. Apparently, the unprincipled are inferiors and the grass. While the principled are superiors and the wind.
They must be killed because they pose more barrier for the principled. Is this a killing with blood or hatred? Since it wasn't specified, I do think both. When one covets envy, anger, bitterness or jealousy for another, he or she has killed even without

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