分庭抗礼 — “To be on equal terms with someone”

One day, Confucius and his disciples were resting in a forest. The disciples were reading, while Confucius played his zither alone. Before he finished a piece, a boat docked by the nearby riverbank. An old fisherman with white hair and beard walked ashore and sat at the other end of the forest, listening intently to Confucius's music.

After Confucius finished a melody, the fisherman beckoned Zigon and Zilu, two of Confucius's disciples, to approach him and asked, "Who is that old man playing the zither?" Zilu loudly replied, "He is our teacher, Confucius, a gentleman of the State of Lu!" Zigon added, "He is the sage Confucius, renowned across all states for his loyalty, integrity, benevolence, and righteousness." The fisherman smiled faintly and said, "Perhaps he is dangerously forgetting his true nature, and unduly pursuing benevolence and love."

After saying this, the fisherman turned and walked towards the riverbank. Zigon quickly reported the fisherman's words to Confucius. Upon hearing this, Confucius immediately put down his zither, stood up abruptly, and exclaimed with surprise and delight, "This is a sage! Quickly, go after him!" Confucius hurried to the riverbank. The fisherman was just about to push his boat away from the shore.

Confucius respectfully bowed to him twice and said, "I have been studying since childhood, and now I am sixty-nine years old, yet I have not yet heard profound teachings. How can I not humbly ask for your guidance?" The fisherman did not stand on ceremony. He stepped off his boat and said to Confucius, "What is 'true' (真) means utmost sincerity. Without sincerity, one cannot move others. Therefore, a forced cry, though sad, is not truly sorrowful; forced anger, though stern, lacks true dignity; forced affection, though smiling, lacks true harmony. True sorrow has no sound but is felt deeply; true anger is not expressed but shows its power; true affection does not smile but feels amiable. When truth resides within, its spirit moves outwardly. Thus, 'truth' is exceedingly precious. Applied to human relations, one serves parents with compassion and filial piety, serves the ruler with loyalty and integrity, drinks with joy, and grieves in mourning."

Confucius listened, greatly enlightened, nodding continuously. Finally, Confucius humbly said to the fisherman, "It is truly fortunate to meet you, venerable sir. I wish to be your student and receive your instruction. Please tell me where you reside." The fisherman did not tell him where he lived. Instead, he jumped onto his small boat and rowed away alone.

At this moment, Yan Yuan had brought the carriage over, and Zilu handed the strap for mounting the carriage to Confucius. But Confucius paid no attention, his eyes fixed on the retreating shadow of the fisherman's boat until it was out of sight and the sound of rowing could no longer be heard. Only then did he get into the carriage, feeling a sense of wistfulness.

Zilu, not understanding Confucius's unusual behavior, asked by the carriage, "I have driven for you for a long time, and I have never seen anyone as arrogant as that fisherman. Even emperors and lords treat you with proper etiquette and equality, and you still maintain a dignified demeanor! But today, that fisherman stood carelessly with his pole, while you bowed deeply, bowing before speaking. Was that not excessive? We disciples all find your action strange: how could you be so respectful to a mere fisherman?"

Confucius was displeased upon hearing Zilu's words. Leaning on the carriage's wooden rail, he sighed and said, "Alas, Zilu, you are truly difficult to teach. Your crude and unrefined mind remains unchanged even now! Come closer, and I will tell you: It is impolite to disrespect the elderly, and inhumane to disrespect the virtuous. Being inhumane and unloving is the root of misfortune. Today, this fisherman is a virtuous person who understands profound principles. How could I not respect him?"