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Zengzi
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Agathon (centre) greeting guests in "Plato's Symposium" oil on canvas by Anselm Feuerbach, 1869; in the Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Quick Facts
Wade-Giles romanization:
Tseng-tzu
Also called:
Zengcan
Born:
505
Died:
436 bce
Notable Works:
“Daxue”
Subjects Of Study:
Confucianism
xiao
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Zengzi

Chinese philosopher
Also known as: Tseng-tze, Zengcan
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Zengzi (born 505—died 436 bce) was a Chinese philosopher, disciple of Confucius, traditionally believed to be the author of the Daxue (“Great Learning”). In this classic, which became a part of the Liji (“Collection of Rituals”) and one of the Four Books during the Song dynasty, he discussed the great importance of the Confucian virtues zhong (“loyalty”) and shu (“deference”).

Zengzi was highly influential in reaffirming the Confucian emphasis on the virtue of xiao (“filial piety”). He enumerated the three degrees of filial piety: honouring father and mother, not disgracing them, and being able to support them.

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