# Chung-kung — Analects character guide

> Chung-kung in Analects by Confucius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** II Chung - kung, Chung - kung, Kwan Chung, Chung - yû

**First appearance:** 0000-book-i-hsio-r

## Snapshot

A disciple praised for virtue and practical governance, whose name the text must repeatedly disentangle from the statesman Kwan Chung.

## Who they are

Chung-kung moves through the Analects as a model of the administrator who governs without waste — his officers perform no double duties, and the Master defends him against charges of parsimony. The confusion with Kwan Chung is not incidental: the book uses the comparison to test what real propriety looks like when a powerful minister keeps a princely screen at his gate. Chung-kung matters because he shows the school's ideal in working clothes, a man whose virtue is measured in how he runs an office, not in how he talks about virtue.

## In the story

### [Book III: Pa Yih](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/book-iii-pa-yih)

Criticized by Confucius for having small capacity and for not knowing the rules of propriety, as he had a screen at his gate and a stand for inverted cups like the princes.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/xxii)

Subject of criticism for exceeding his station in ritual matters.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/iv)

Referred to as 'Yung' in the excerpt, he is praised for his virtue but noted as not being ready with his tongue.

### [Book VI: Yung Yey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/book-vi-yung-yey)

Engages in dialogue with Confucius about Tsze-sang Po-tsze and is affirmed for his correct judgment.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/i)

Asks about Tsze-sang Po-tsze and offers a nuanced view on ease in governance.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/iv)

The subject of Confucius's analogy, implicitly praised for his potential and worth despite possible humble origins.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/ii)

Distinguished for virtuous principles and practice.

### [Book XII: Yen Yüan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/book-xii-yen-y-an)

Inquires about perfect virtue and is taught the principle of not doing to others what one would not wish done to oneself.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/ii)

Asks about perfect virtue and commits to practicing the lesson despite his self-perceived deficiencies.

### [Book XIII: Tsze-Lû](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/book-xiii-tsze-l)

Asks about government as chief minister, receiving advice on employing officers and promoting virtue.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/ii)

Chief minister to the Head of the Chî family; seeks guidance on governance.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned in relation to the city of Pien and the chief of the Po family.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/xvii)

Subject of the discussion; praised for his influence.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/chapters/xviii)

Praised for his role as prime minister and his achievements in unifying the kingdom.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/characters/chung-kung
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/analects_se/characters