The Analects

by

Confucius

The Analects: Book 16 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Duke Ching of Ch’i in his lifetime had thousands of horses, but when he died the common people couldn’t find anything to praise him for. On the other hand, Po Yi and Shu Ch’i were starving during their lifetimes, but after their deaths the common people continue to sing their praises.
This anecdote serves to communicate that material wealth has nothing to do with whether one has lived a meaningful life. The poor men, likely through their generous actions, live on in the townspeople’s collective memory.
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