Yan Hui (颜回), whose given name is Hui (回) and courtesy name Ziyuan (子渊), is also known as Yan Zi (颜子) and Yan Yuan (颜渊). He was a native of the capital city of the State of Lu (鲁; present-day Qufu, Shandong Province).
A prominent thinker during the late Spring and Autumn Periods, he was ranked first among the 72 sages of the Confucian school and honored as the Sage of Restoration.
In addition, Yan Hui was also Confucius’s favorite disciple.
Overview
Yan Hui’s speech and behavior represented Confucian ethics and scholarship. He made remarkable contributions to the transmission and promotion of Confucianism.
| Nationality | Han Nationality |
| Date of birth | 521 B.C. |
| Date of death | 481 B.C. |
| Significant achievements | One of the ten philosophers of the Confucian school and one of the five sages of Confucianism |
| Major works | The Analects of Confucius (one of the editors) |
Yan Hui lived during the late Spring and Autumn period. At that time, the power of the Zhou royal family was declining, the wars for supremacy among different states were intensifying, and social conflicts were also severe.
Confucianism also emerged during this period. It advocated Ren, Li, and “The Doctrine of The Mean” to ease social conflict and maintain social order.
As a disciple of Confucius, Yan Hui was deeply imbued with Confucianism and profoundly influenced by this era of change and unrest.
Personality Traits
Yan Hui died early (at the age of 40) without holding any official position and left no heirloom work. His ideas were the same as those of Confucius.
He was keen and studious and focused on cultivating benevolence and virtue.
Therefore, Confucius often praised Yan Hui for possessing the four virtues of a gentleman:
- Being firm and unswerving in the practice of morality and righteousness;
- Being open-minded in accepting the warnings of others;
- Being vigilant and modest in obtaining official positions;
- Being prudent and measured in his actions
Furthermore, throughout his life, Yan Hui aspired to an ideal society in which “the ruler and his ministers are of one mind; the upper and lower classes are in harmony; there is plenty of food and clothing; the young and the old are in good health; the four quarters of the world are obedient; the whole world is at peace.”
In terms of Cultivating the Moral Character
1. Being content with a simple but virtuous life to remain indifferent and self-disciplined
“Living on one single meal a day, with water for his drink, and living in the lowest hovels of the city,– no man could have stood such hardships, yet he — he did not lose his cheerfulness. How much heroism is in that man!”. This quote from Confucius reflects Yan Hui’s poor life.
His living conditions seemed almost unbearable to outsiders, but he was perseverant.
He did not seek material wealth but morality and righteousness, keeping the Way in practice. Thus, Confucius heartily commented, “Incomparable indeed was Hui!”
2. Discipling himself with Ren
Yan Hui treated others with Ren, reflecting a high moral character. He could control his emotions well and did not hurt others with negative emotions.
Yan Hui was also highly self-disciplined. He could correct his mistakes once and for all and would not repeat them.
3. Harmonious and loyal, modest and unassuming
“When I talked with Yan Hui all day long, said the Master, he never disagreed with me as if he were stupid.” This quote mirrors that a man of great wisdom often appears slow-witted.
Yan Hui absorbed Confucius’s words through true reflection and understanding and silently grasped their profound meaning.
His “not violating” shows that he understood and accepted his teacher’s views with an open mind, reflecting his deep respect for his teacher.
In The Analects of Confucius, Yan Hui answered, “I hope not to brag about my good traits, nor boast about my efforts in the service of others.” It can be seen that Yan Hui is humble and honest, conforming to the style of a gentleman advocated by Confucianism.
In terms of Schooling
1. Loving and respecting teachers
He was 13 years old when he followed Confucius to study and ask questions, developing a father-son-like relationship with him.
When Yan Hui saw Confucius out of danger, he said, “You’re still alive, how dare I die!”
Yan Hui’s response expresses a disciple’s care and loyalty to his teacher.
Beyond that, Yan Hui gains an in-depth understanding of Confucius’s teachings.
When he was in danger on his Way to follow Confucius’s tour of different states, Zi Lu (子路) and others were skeptical of Confucius’s words, but Yan Hui remained steadfast.
In terms of learning and spirituality, Confucius was a monument to Yan Hui, inspiring him to continue exploring and studying.
2. Diligent and studious
Duke Ai of Lu (鲁哀公) and Ji Kangzi (季康子) once asked Confucius the same question: “Who is the most learned of your disciples?” Confucius replied: “Yan Hui was the best student, but it is a pity that he died young.”
Their dialogue reflects Yan Hui’s diligence.
Confucius once exclaimed, “The one who can always listen without slackening when I teach my studies is probably Yan Hui.”
3. Comprehending by analogy
Zi Gong (子贡) was a very clever student of Confucius with high eloquence. But he once said publicly that he did not dare to compare himself with Yan Hui.
Moreover, when comparing himself with Yan Hui, Confucius deeply admired Yan Hui’s talent and was even ashamed of himself.
It can be seen that Yan Hui is not only diligent in learning but also good at it. He could understand, use, and apply what he had learned by analogy.
The Yan School of Confucianism
Yan Hui represents Yan’s Confucianism as one of the eight schools of Confucianism.
Yan Hui not only assisted Confucius in compiling the ancient texts but also imparted the Six Confucian Classics to disciples through lectures.
This process expanded Yan Hui’s influence and laid the foundation for his becoming a vital exponent of Yan Confucianism.
Three parts characterize its school of thought:
(1) The first is to live in poverty and contentment.
It emphasizes the adherence to a moral code and an optimistic attitude in the face of adversity.
(2) Secondly, it is crucial to establish virtues.
Yan Hui put into practice the ideas of Ren and Yi, as advocated by Confucius.
(3)Thirdly, he held the view of the Unity of Heaven and Humanity (天人合一).
Yan Hui advocated conformity to nature and respect for objective laws while valuing human initiative and emphasizing the importance of keeping the Way without changing one’s will.