Sima Geng (?-?), courtesy name Zi Niu, son of Xiang Luo, is one of Confucius's seventy-two disciples. He was referred as Sima Niu in the Analects. He was a noble of the State of Song. In 481 BCE, his elder brother Sima Huan Tui controlled the state government. Disapproving of his brother's actions, Sima Niu relinquished his fief and left Song for Qi. Later, Sima Huan Tui and other brothers rebelled and upon failure, fled to Qi as well. Upon hearing of this, Sima Niu immediately left Qi for the State of Wu, vowing never to serve the same ruler as his brothers. In Wu, he received invitations to become an official from Zhao Jianzi of Jin and Chen Chengzi of Qi, but he declined both. Eventually, Sima Geng died outside the city gates of Lu.
According to the Grand Record of Historians, Sima Geng was known for his eloquence and impatient nature.[1]
The Analects recorded three interactions between him and Confucius the Master:
问仁于孔子，孔子曰：“仁者其言也讱。”曰：“其言也讱，斯可谓之仁乎？”子曰：“为之难，言之得无讱乎！ |
Sima Niu asked about humanity. The Master said: “He who practices humanity is reluctant to speak.” The other said: “Reluctant to speak? And you call that humanity?” The Master said: “When the practice of something is difficult, how could one speak about it lightly? |
| —Simon Leys (2014) |
问君子，子曰：“君子不忧不惧。”曰：“不忧不惧，斯可谓之君子乎？”子曰：“内省不疚，夫何忧何惧！ |
Sima Niu asked: “What is a gentleman?” The Master said: “A gentleman is without grief and without fear.” Sima Niu said: “Without grief and without fear? And that makes a gentleman?” The Master said: “His conscience is without reproach. Why should he grieve, what should he fear?” |
| —Simon Leys (2014) |
司马牛忧曰：“人皆有兄弟，我独亡。”子夏曰：“商闻之矣：‘死生有命，富贵在天。’君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼。四海之内，皆兄弟也。君子何患乎无兄弟也？” |
Sima Niu was grieving: “All men have brothers; I alone have none.” Zixia said: “I have heard this: life and death are decreed by fate, riches and honors are allotted by Heaven. Since a gentleman behaves with reverence and diligence, treating people with deference and courtesy, all within the Four Seas are his brothers. How could a gentleman ever complain that he has no brothers?” |
| —Simon Leys (2014)[2] |
In the 27th year of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's Kaiyuan era (739), Sima Geng was posthumously titled Xiang Bo. In the second year of Emperor Zhenzong of Song's Dazhong Xiangfu era (1009), Sima Geng was posthumously titled Marquis of Chuqiu. In the third year of Emperor Duzong of Song's Xianchun era (1267), Sima Geng was also honored during the sacrifices to Confucius as Marquis of Suiyang.
Reference
edit- ^ 司马迁 《史记·仲尼弟子列传》：“牛多言而躁"
- ^ Confucius (2014). Nylan, Michael (ed.). The analects: the Simon Leys translation, interpretations. Translated by Leys, Simon. New York, NY: W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-91195-4.