[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fmc8bheQn3fwaYVkqVfVIKVl1pEe1uYvKkGbJvWzMtns":3,"$fgqxzrOx1V4ko9RAziYRBBEduXWbzw3o3WTVoFZ1g-lc":52},{"author":4,"tags":51},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":10,"bio_jsonld":11,"slug":49,"image_url":50},211086,"Zengzi","Z",3,"Zengzi was a Chinese philosopher and writer of the fifth century BCE, a citizen of the state of Lu.\n\nBorn around 505 BCE, Zengzi died sometime in the mid-430s BCE, with sources placing his death at 437, 436, or 434 BCE. The range of dates attached to his life reflects the difficulties of recovering precise biographical detail from ancient records transmitted and copied across many centuries. The authorized Library of Congress name authority gives his dates as 505 BCE to 437 or 436 BCE, while other sources extend the range slightly in either direction.\n\nZengzi held citizenship of Lu and worked in the Chinese language as both a philosopher and a writer. These two roles overlapped naturally in his era, and his identity in the historical record rests on both. The uncertainty that attaches to his exact dates does not obscure the basic shape of his life: a figure active in philosophical and written work during the fifth century BCE in ancient China.\n\nThe facts that define Zengzi in the available record are spare but consistent. He was a male philosopher and writer, born in China around 505 BCE, who died in the first half of the fourth century BCE. His citizenship was that of Lu, and Chinese was the language in which he worked. These coordinates — time, place, citizenship, and practice — constitute the anchored outline of a life given to philosophy and writing.","Zengzi was a Chinese philosopher and writer of the fifth century BCE, a citizen of the state of Lu.",{"@graph":12,"@context":48},[13,25],{"@id":14,"name":6,"@type":15,"sameAs":16,"birthDate":22,"deathDate":23,"description":24},"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1207671","Person",[14,17,18,19,20,21],"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zengzi","https://viaf.org/viaf/103216532/","https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81090571","https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL5561475A","https://d-nb.info/gnd/118933493","-0503-01-01","-0434-01-01","Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius (505–435 BC)",{"@type":26,"author":27,"headline":30,"isBasedOn":31,"mainEntity":32,"reviewedBy":33,"articleBody":9,"dateCreated":34,"dateModified":35,"additionalProperty":36,"creativeWorkStatus":47},"Article",{"name":28,"@type":29},"Editorial Team","Organization","Zengzi — biography",[14,17,19,20],{"@id":14},{"name":28,"@type":29},"2026-05-23T20:36:42.415929+00:00","2026-05-23T20:44:02.986489+00:00",[37,41,44],{"@type":38,"value":39,"propertyID":40},"PropertyValue","Q1207671","wikidata",{"@type":38,"value":42,"propertyID":43},"1.000","factscore",{"@type":38,"value":45,"propertyID":46},"claude-sonnet-4-6-r1","draftModel","AI-drafted, auto-published","https://schema.org","zengzi",null,[],{"quotes":53,"pagination":75},[54,62,68],{"id":55,"quote_text":56,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":59,"source":60,"quote_tag":61,"commentary":50},3521541,"A virtuous man concentrates on his own work, not that of others.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":63,"quote_text":64,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":65,"source":66,"quote_tag":67,"commentary":50},3521526,"Daily, I examine myself in three areas. Have I done my best when doing things for others? Have I been trustworthy in my dealings with my friends? Have I revised the lessons I have been taught?",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":69,"quote_text":70,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":71,"source":72,"quote_tag":73,"commentary":74},3521508,"A gentleman makes friends by learning together with others, and he looks to friends to help him cultivate benevolence.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is attributed to Zengzi, a Chinese philosopher and student of Confucius who lived during the 5th century BCE. During this time, social relationships were deeply influenced by hierarchical structures and strict norms of behavior. As a renowned scholar and educator, Zengzi emphasized the importance of mutual respect and learning in forming meaningful connections with others.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat's striking about this quote is that it flips the conventional idea of how friendships should form on its head. Instead of focusing on the benefits of having friends (e.g., emotional support, social status), Zengzi suggests that true friendships are built upon a foundation of shared learning and mutual growth. This subtle yet profound shift in perspective highlights the interconnectedness of personal development and relationships.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider approaching professional or creative collaborations with an openness to learning from others, rather than solely seeking their validation or expertise. By embracing a spirit of shared discovery and mutual support, you can foster more authentic and productive partnerships that yield lasting benefits for all parties involved.",{"currentPage":76,"totalPages":76,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":77},1,10]