孔門十哲 The Ten Disciples of Confucius
子路 Zi Lu
仲由（前542年－前480年），字子路，或稱季路，魯國卞人，是孔子的著名弟子，孔門十哲之一，亦為《二十四孝》中為親負米的主角。少孔子九歲，也是弟子中侍奉孔子最久者。子路後來追隨衛國大夫孔悝，在衛後莊公發動的兵變中，子路為了救孔悝而殉職，其遺體被衛後莊公施以醢刑（剁成肉醬）。
Zhongyou (542 BC – 480 BC), also known as Zilu or Jilu, was a renowned disciple of Confucius and one of the Ten Accomplished Persons of Confucianism. Born in the state of Bian in the Lu region, he is best known for being the main character in the story “The Son Who Carried Rice Home from Afar for His Parents,” which exemplifies filial piety. Zilu was nine years younger than Confucius and served as his follower for a prolonged period. Later in life, he followed Kong Kui, a prominent official of the state of Wei, and died while trying to save him during the Wei coup d’état. As a punishment, his body was minced into meat by Duke Zhuang II of Wei.
唐玄宗尊子路為「衛侯」，宋真宗加封為「河內公」，宋度宗又尊為「衛公」。明世宗改稱「先賢仲子」。
During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong honored Zilu as the “Wei Hou,” and during the Song dynasty, Emperor Zhenzong elevated him to the “He Nei Gong.” Later, during the Song dynasty, Emperor Duzong honored him as the “Wei Gong.” During the Ming dynasty, Emperor Shizong changed his title to ” Xianxian Zhongzi.”
百裏負米
子路見到孔子，子曰：「汝何好？」對曰：「我不好。」孔子曰：「吾非此之問也，徒謂以子之所能，而加之以學問，豈可及乎？」子路曰：「學豈益哉也？」孔子曰：「夫人君而無諫臣則失正，士而無教友則失聽。禦狂馬者不釋策，操弓不反檠，木受繩則直，人受諫則聖，受學重問，孰不順哉？毀仁惡仕，必近於刑，君子不可不學。」子路曰：「南山有竹，不柔自直，斬而用之，達於犀革，以此言之，何學之有？」孔子曰：「栝而羽之，鏃而礪之，其入之不亦深乎？」子路再拜曰：「敬而受教。」
Carry Rice from Afar
When Zilu met Confucius, Confucius asked, “How have you been?” Zilu responded, “I haven’t been doing well.” Confucius clarified, “That’s not what I was asking. I meant to inquire about your recent activities and progress in your studies.” Zilu then questioned, “Is studying truly advantageous?” Confucius replied, “If a ruler lacks critical advisers, he will lose his way; if a scholar has no guiding friends, he will become deaf to reason. Just as a wild horse cannot be left without reins or a bowstring cannot be released too soon, a person cannot become wise without accepting constructive criticism. Therefore, valuing learning and inquiring are imperative. Who would not comply? If you take a rigid bamboo from the southern mountains and cut it, it can be used to create the finest ruler. Zilu asked, “If that’s the case, what’s the point of learning?” Confucius answered, “By smoothing and feathering a stick, and sharpening and grinding a shaft and attaching it to a string, is it not possible to penetrate deeply into a target?” Zilu bowed again and said, “I will respectfully accept your teachings.”
前498年隨孔子周遊列國。後任衛國蒲邑（今長垣縣）之宰，也是當地大夫孔悝的家臣。
In 498 BC, he traveled with Confucius to various states. Later, he served as the administrator of Puyi in the State of Wei (now Changyuan County), and was also a retainer of Kong Kui, a local aristocrat.
記載 Documentation
子路受牛 Zi Lu receives a cow
《呂氏春秋·察微篇》記載，魯國之法，只要有人能贖出在其他諸侯國當奴隸的魯國人，可以向魯國政府領賞金。子貢贖出一個在外國當奴隸的魯人，但不領賞。孔子認為子貢的行為不對，子貢不領賞，大家從此不敢領賞，所以也不願意救助同胞，會讓魯國人喪失了拯救同胞的風氣。子路拯救了溺水者，此人送給子路一只牛，的慣例，則會有很多人行善。
According to “Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals”, in the state of Lu, anyone who could redeem a Lu citizen who was enslaved in another state would be rewarded with a bounty by the Lu government. Zigong redeemed a Lu citizen who was enslaved in a foreign land but refused to accept the reward. Confucius believed that Zigong’s behavior was inappropriate because his refusal caused others to be afraid to accept rewards, which would prevent them from helping their fellow citizens and undermine the spirit of rescue. On the other hand, Zilu rescued a drowning person and received a cow as a reward, which would encourage more people to perform good deeds.
子路用子羔 Zilu appoint Zigao
子羔也是孔子弟子，亦來到衛國當官。
有一次，子路委派子羔當費邑的邑宰，孔子責罵子路假手於人把工作外包是不稱職的行為。然而子路則認為有土地、有人民，可以一邊當官，從中做學，不一定要讀書才是學習。但孔子認為這是強詞奪理。
Zigao was also a disciple of Confucius and served as an official in the state of Wei.
Once, Zilu appointed Zigao as the magistrate of Fei, but Confucius criticized him for outsourcing work and being unfit for the task. However, Zilu believed that serving as a government official and learning from the people and land was a form of education that did not necessarily require reading books. Confucius saw this as a fallacious argument.
君子死，冠不免 When a gentleman dies, his hat is not taken off.
衛出公之父蒯聵打算自立為君。蒯聵本來是衛靈公太子，因謀害嫡母南子事敗獲罪，投奔晉國趙簡子，但他一直想得到衛國的君位，廢了自己的兒子衛出公。
Kuai Kui, the father of Wei Chu Gong, intended to usurp the throne and become the ruler of Wei. Despite being the Crown Prince of Wei Ling Gong, he was found guilty of plotting against his stepmother Nanzi and sought refuge under Zhao Jianzi in the state of Jin. However, he harbored a persistent desire to claim the throne of Wei and eventually succeeded in deposing his own son, Wei Chu Gong.
公元前480年，蒯聵想要兵變，但認為自己沒有實力，於是想得到外甥孔悝的幫助。於是蒯聵男扮女裝來找與孔悝之母伯姬（蒯聵之妹）、伯姬的情夫渾良夫聯手，要劫持孔悝。伯姬居然在孔悝如廁時劫持了孔悝，逼孔悝跟蒯聵盟誓，然後蒯聵又把孔悝劫到一個樓臺上去。
In 480 BC, Kuai Kui wanted to stage a military coup but felt that he lacked the power to do so, so he sought the help of his nephew Kong Kui. Kuai Kui then disguised himself as a woman and, with the help of his sister Boji (Kong Kui’s mother) and her lover Hun Liangfu, attempted to kidnap Kong Kui. Boji managed to seize Kong Kui while he was using the toilet and forced him to swear an oath of allegiance to Kuai Kui. Then, Kuai Kui took Kong Kui to a tower.
當時孔悝的家臣欒寧正在喝酒配著烤肉，肉都還沒烤熟，聽說發生兵變了，馬上派人去告訴子路，欒寧命他的駕駛兵「獲」駕車，自己趕緊拿著烤肉跟酒在車上吃喝，趕往宮內接應衛出公，並把衛出公送往魯國。
At that time, Kong Kui’s retainer Luan Ning was drinking and roasting meat, but the meat was not yet cooked when he heard that a rebellion had occurred. He immediately sent someone to inform Zilu and ordered his driver to “hurry” the carriage. Luan Ning himself quickly took the roasted meat and wine on the carriage and rushed to the palace to pick up Wei Chu Gong and send him to the state of Lu.
子路一聽到蒯聵兵變的消息，就要趕去救孔悝，但遇到逃出孔悝家的子羔。子羔說：「城門已關了。」子路說：「我還是去看看。」子羔說：「來不及了，你何必跟著人家一起死？」子路說：「拿了人家的俸祿，不能見死不救。」子羔就自己逃走了。
Upon hearing the news of Kuai Kui’s rebellion, Zilu intended to go and rescue Kong Kui, but he encountered Zigao who had escaped from Kong Kui’s house. Zigao said, “The city gate is closed.” Zilu replied, “I will still go and see.” Zigao said, “It’s too late. Why die with them?” Zilu said, “I have taken their salary and cannot stand by and watch them die.” So Zigao fled on his own.
子路來到城門前，守將公孫敢關緊大門說：「不要再前進了！」子路罵說：「這是我認識的公孫敢嗎？你拿了人家的薪水，在人家有危時逃跑？我才不這樣。花用了人家給的薪水，就要解決人家的困難。」這時城中恰好有使者開門出來，子路趁機沖了進去。
When Zilu arrived at the city gate, the gatekeeper Gong Sun Gan closed the gate and told him, “Don’t go any further!” Zilu scolded him, “Is this the Gong Sun Gan I know? You took people’s wages and ran away when they were in danger? I won’t do that. If I have spent someone’s wages, I will solve their difficulties.” At this moment, a messenger came out of the city and opened the gate, so Zilu took the opportunity to rush in.
到了孔悝被脅持的樓臺，子路對著蒯聵說：「太子您怎麽要來找孔悝呢？您就是殺了他，也一定有人代替他進攻您啊。」又罵說：「太子沒膽，如果我放火燒這個樓臺，燒到一半，大概就會退兵了。」蒯聵聽了，十分害怕，派了勇士石乞、盂黡跑下去阻擋子路放火。
When they arrived at the tower where Kong Kui was held hostage, Zi Lu said to Kuai Kui, “Your Highness, why did you come to see Kong Kui? Even if you kill him, there will always be someone else to attack you.” He also scolded, “Your Highness is cowardly. If I set fire to this tower and burned it halfway, your troops would probably retreat.” Kuai Kui was frightened and sent two brave warriors, Shi Qi and Yu Yan, to stop Zi Lu from setting fire.
子路與石乞、盂黡打了起來。子路難以招架兩人圍攻，系帽子的帶子被敵方的戈刺斷了，子路說：「君子就是死了，也不能讓帽子掉了。」停止戰鬥，彎下身撿起帽子，並綁好帶子。子路就在綁帽帶時，被石乞、盂黡刺死，年六十三。子路死後，蒯聵氣得命令把其遺體施以醢刑，剁成肉醬。
Zilu fought against Shi Qi and Yu Yan, but found it difficult to fend off both at the same time. The strap of his hat was cut off by the enemy’s spear, and Zilu said, “Even if a gentleman dies, he cannot let his hat fall off.” He stopped the fight, bent down to pick up his hat, and tied the strap. While Zilu was tying his hat, Shi Qi and Yu Yan killed him with their spears. Zilu was 63 years old at the time of his death. After his death, Kuai Kui was so angry that he ordered Zilu’s body to be subjected to the haggling punishment and minced into meat sauce.
孔子聽說衛國兵變，感慨地表示，子羔應該可以安全冋來，子路就必定會犧牲了。聽到子路殉職而死，遺體還受醢刑的訊息時，孔子就在院子裏大哭，極為傷心，誓言從此不吃肉醬（覆醢）。
When Confucius heard about the rebellion in the State of Wei, he lamented that Zilu (子路) would surely sacrifice himself while Zigao (子羔) could safely return. As predicted, Zilu was killed in action. When Confucius heard that Zilu’s body was even subjected to the humiliating punishment of being minced into meat sauce, he wept bitterly in the courtyard and vowed never to eat meat sauce again.
評價 Evaluation
子路性格直爽、勇敢、信守承諾、忠於職守，孔子曾說：「理想無法實現了，我準備乘著竹筏到海上漂流。會跟我走的，只有子路吧？」同時也表示：「子路比我勇敢，但缺乏才能」。《論語》中提到他是孔門四科（德行、政事、言語、文學）中傑出的「政事」人才。最終子路因為盡忠而殉職，且死時仍很有君子之風，戴好帽子才戰死。Zilu had a straightforward and courageous personality, faithful to his promises and duties. Confucius once said, “Since our ideal cannot be realized, isn’t it better to go on a raft to the sea?” He believed that only Zilu would follow him. At the same time, Confucius also said, “Zilu is braver than me, but lacks talent.” In the Analects, Zilu was mentioned as an outstanding talent in “political affairs” among the four categories of disciples (morality, government, speech, and literature). Zilu eventually died in the line of duty, maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor until the end, even tying his hat before his death.
《論語》記載孔子曾預言，子路個性過於剛強，恐怕難以善終。但子路死後，孔子還是非常傷心 ，有覆醢之舉，即吃飯時見肉醬即請人倒掉而不忍食用。
According to the Analects, Confucius once predicted that the strong-willed personality of Zilu might lead to an unfortunate end. However, after Zilu’s death, Confucius was still deeply saddened and performed the act of fùhǎi (覆醢), which involved pouring out a dish of meat sauce when it was presented at mealtime out of respect for the deceased.
