Confucius's disciple Zigong and the history of early Ruism [In Chinese, with English abstract]

Abstract

In the fifth volume of the Shanghai Museum collection of recovered Warring States era bamboo manuscripts there are two items that include speech attributed to Kongzi’s (Confucius’s) disciple Zigong. If we compare these texts to typical passages concerning Zigong in the ${Lunyu}$, we see similar features, suggesting that these texts and the ${Lunyu}$ arise from a common tradition within the early Ruist movement, one distinct from traditions associated with the teachings of the disciples Zeng Shen and Zisi. It appears possible that these manuscript materials reflect the earliest split within Ruism, and show that initially two competing factions formed, the pivotal figure in this divide being Zigong, a disciple revered in the traditions of both factions.