On Teachers
Ancient scholars had to have teachers, who would pass on the Tao, teach them a profession, and dispel their ignorance. As men are not born wise, who can be free from ignorance? If men, being ignorant, do not seek after teachers, they will certainly remain ignorant for ever. Those who were born before me certainly have learned the Tao before me; I should therefor learn from them as my teachers. Those who were born after me may have learned the Tao before me; I should also learn from them as my teachers. As I learn the Tao, I need not ask whether my teacher is my senior or junior. Whether he is noble or common, older or younger, whoever knows the Tao can be a teacher.
Ah! Since men have long ceased learning from teachers, it is hard to expect them not to be ignorant. The ancient sages were far superior to common men, but they still sought learning from teachers. Men of today are far inferior to those sages, but they think it shameful to learn from teachers. This is why sages become more sage, while fools become more foolish. Is this the reason why some become sages and others fools? A man who loves his son selects a teacher for him, but considers it shameful to find one for himself. He is indeed ignorant. If a child’s teacher merely gives him a book and tells him how to read it, this is not the teacher I have in mind who passes on the Tao and dispels ignorance. If one learns from a teacher merely to read but not to dispel one’s ignorance, one learns the lesser and gives up the greater; I do not think that such a man is intelligent. Sorcerers, physicians, musicians, and artisans are not ashamed to learn from their teachers. If men of the intelligent class apply to themselves the expression of “teacher” and “pupil,” people will flock to laugh at them. If they are asked why, they will reply that these men are equal in age as well as in the Tao. If their teacher is of a lower rank, they are considered to be disgraced; if their teacher is of high position, they are considered to be flattering him. Ah! That the way of learning from a teacher cannot be recovered is now self-evident. Sorcerers, physicians, musicians, and artisans are usually despised by gentlemen, but the intelligence of the latter cannot be up to that of the former; is this not strange?
A sage has no constant teacher. Thus Confucius learned from teachers such as Yen Tzu, Chang Hung, Shih Hsiang, and Lao Tan, who were inferior to Confucius. Confucius said, “When walking in a party of three, there must be one who can teach me.” Therefore, pupils are not necessarily inferior to their teachers, nor are teachers necessarily better than their pupils. Some learn the Tao earlier than others, and some have special skills and others not—that is all.
Pan, son of the Li family, seventeen years old, is fond of ancient literature and is well versed in the six arts, the classics and commentaries, not confining himself to what is in vogue at present. He comes to study with me. As I praise him for carrying out the ancient Tao, I am writing this essay on teachers for him.
（Ch’u Chai and Winberg Chai 译）
