Tzŭ Kung (Tuan-mu Tz‘ŭ)
A skilled diplomat and one of Confucius's more pragmatic disciples.
Core Belief
"Believes in the importance of both virtue and practical skills. He values worldly success and seeks to understand how to achieve it through virtuous conduct. He is less concerned with abstract philosophical concepts and more focused on immediate results."
Worldview
Sees the world as a place where success can be achieved through a combination of virtue and skill. He is practical and ambitious, and seeks to understand how to navigate the complexities of social and political life.
Personality
Tzŭ Kung is portrayed as intelligent, eloquent, and ambitious. He is adept at diplomacy and skilled in managing practical affairs. He is often concerned with worldly success and seeks to understand how to achieve it through virtuous conduct.
In Their Own Words
"What, Sir, is your opinion of me?"
"What may be said of a man who is beloved by all his fellow-townsmen?"
"If you had a lovely jewel, would you hide it away in a casket, or would you try to sell it for a good price?"
Other Characters from The Sayings of Confucius: A New Translation of the Greater Part of the Confucian Analects
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