Editing Disciples of Confucius (section)

===Duanmu Ci (Zigong)===
{{main|Duanmu Ci}}
Duanmu Ci (端木賜) was a native of [[Wey (state)|Wei]], and 31 years younger than Confucius. His courtesy name was Zigong (子貢). He had mental sharpness and ability, and appears in the Analects as one of the most forward talkers among Confucius's students. Confucius said, "From the time that I got Ci, scholars from a distance came daily resorting to me."<ref>Legge 115–116</ref> According to [[Zhu Xi]], Zigong was a merchant who later became wealthy through his own efforts, and developed a sense of moral self-composure through the course of his work.<ref name="Slingerland7">Slingerland 7</ref> (His past profession as a merchant is elaborated in ''Analects'' 11.18).<ref name="Sligerland40">Slingerland 40</ref>

When he first came to Confucius he quickly demonstrated an ability to grasp Confucius's basic points, and refined himself further through Confucius's education.<ref name="Slingerland7" /> He is later revealed to have become a skillful speaker and an accomplished statesman (''Analects'' 11.3), but Confucius may have felt that he lacked the necessary flexibility and empathy towards others necessary for achieving consummate virtue (''ren''): he once claimed to have achieved Confucius's moral ideal, but was then sharply dismissed by the Master (''Analects'' 5.12); later he is criticized by Confucius for being too strict with others, and for not moderating his demands with an empathic understanding of others' limitations (''Analects'' 14.29). He is one of the Confucius's students most commonly referred to in the ''Analects'', also appearing in ''Analects'' 9.6, 9.13, 11.13, 13.20, 14.17, and 17.19.<ref name="Sligerland40" />

Duke Ching of Qi once asked Zigong how Confucius was to be ranked as a sage, and he replied, "I do not know. I have all my life had the sky over my head, but I do not know its height, and the earth under my feet, but I do not know its thickness. In my serving of Confucius, I am like a thirsty man who goes with his pitcher to the river, and there he drinks his fill, without knowing the river's depth."<ref name="Legge116">Legge 116</ref>

After studying with Confucius, Zigong became Commandant of [[Xinyang]], and Confucius gave him this advice: "In dealing with your subordinates, there is nothing like impartiality; and when wealth comes in your way, there is nothing like moderation. Hold fast these two things, and do not swerve from them. To conceal men's excellence is to obscure the worthy; and to proclaim people's wickedness is the part of a mean man. To speak evil of those whom you have not sought the opportunity to instruct is not the way of friendship and harmony." After leaving Confucius, Zigong served in high offices in both in Lu and Wei, and finally died in Qi. Following Confucius's death, many of the disciples built huts near their Master's grave, and mourned for him three years, but Zigong remained there, mourning alone for three years more. His place in the Temple of Confucius is third among "The Wise Ones", to the east of the Assessors.<ref name="Legge116" /> The fifth chapter of the ''Analects'' was traditionally attributed to his disciples.<ref name="Legge16" />