Kong Wenzi (孔文子) or Kong Yu (孔圉) was a statesman in the

State of Wei Wei (; ) was one of the seven major State (Ancient China), states during the Warring States period of ancient China. It was created from the three-way Partition of Jin, together with Han (Warring States), Han and Zhao (state), Zhao. Its territo ...

during the 5th century BC.

Life

Kong Wenzi was named Kong Yu while he was alive. While he served as a minister, a person in the royal family of Wei named Tai Shuji (太叔疾) had married the daughter of Prince Zichao (子朝) of the

State of Song Song was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty with its capital at Shangqiu. The state was founded soon after King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang dynasty to establish the Zhou dynasty in 1046 BC. It was conquered by the state of ...

. He also married her younger sister. Zichao fled the country and Kong Yu persuaded Tai Shuji to divorce and marry his own daughter Kong Ji (孔姞). Tai Shuji, however, continued to engage in an affair with the younger sister while he was married to Kong Yu's daughter. When Kong Yu heard about this, he resolved to take military action against the State of Song. However, he had a meeting with

Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...

at which Confucius persuaded him to not go to war. Kong Yu brought his daughter back to the State of Wei and arranged for her to marry Tai Shuji's brother Tai Shuyi (太叔遗), whom Kong Yu had helped to become the new monarch of the State of Wei. After he died, Kong Yu was given the title of 'Wen' (文) which was given to a very learned person. In the

Analects The ''Analects'', also known as the ''Sayings of Confucius'', is an ancient Chinese philosophical text composed of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to have been compiled by his followers. ...

, there is a part where Zigong asked Confucius about why Kong Wenzi received this title. Confucius replied: "He was of an active nature and yet fond of learning, and he was not ashamed to ask and learn of his inferiors!—On these grounds he has been styled Wen".https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Chinese_Classics/Volume_1/Confucian_Analects/V, the Analects of Confucius translated by James Legge， ‘wan' changed to 'wen' for easier understanding in the article

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kong Wenzi People of Wei (state) 5th-century BC Chinese people