After his retirement from office it is probable that Confucius devoted himself afresh to imparting to his followers those doctrines and opinions which we shall consider later on.  Even on the road to Ch’in we are told that he practised ceremonies with his disciples beneath the shadow of a tree by the wayside in Sung.  In the spirit of Laou-tsze, Hwuy T’uy, an officer in the neighborhood, was angered at his reported “proud air and many desires, his insinuating habit and wild will,” and attempted to prevent him entering the state.  In this endeavor, however, he was unsuccessful, as were some more determined opponents, who two years later attacked him at Poo, when he was on his way to Wei.  On this occasion he was seized, and though it is said that his followers struggled manfully with his captors, their efforts did not save him from having to give an oath that he would not continue his journey to Wei.  But in spite of his oath, and in spite of the public slight which had previously been put upon him by the duke of Wei, an irresistible attraction drew him toward that state, and he had no sooner escaped from the clutches of his captors than he continued his journey.

This deliberate forfeiture of his word in one who had commanded them to “hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles,” surprised his disciples; and Tsze-kung, who was generally the spokesman on such occasions, asked him whether it was right to violate the oath he had taken.  But Confucius, who had learned expediency in adversity, replied, “It was an oath extracted by force.  The spirits do not hear such.”

But to return to Confucius flying from his enemies in Sung.  Finding his way barred by the action of Hwan T’uy, he proceeded westward and arrived at Ch’ing, the capital of the state of the same name.  Thither it would appear his disciples had preceded him, and he arrived unattended at the eastern gate of the city.  But his appearance was so striking that his followers were soon made aware of his presence.  “There is a man,” said a townsman to Tsze-kung, “standing at the east gate with a forehead like Yaou, a neck like Kaou Yaou, his shoulders on a level with those of Tsze-ch’an, but wanting below the waist three inches of the height of Yu, and altogether having the forsaken appearance of a stray dog.”  Recognizing his master in this description, Tsze-kung hastened to meet him, and repeated to him the words of his informant.  Confucius was much amused, and said:  “The personal appearance is a small matter; but to say I was like a stray dog—­capital! capital!”

The ruling powers in Ch’ing, however, showed no disposition to employ even a man possessing such marked characteristics, and before long he removed to Ch’in, where he remained a year.  From Ch’in he once more turned his face toward Wei, and it was while he was on this journey that he was detained at Poo, as mentioned above.  Between Confucius and the duke of Wei there evidently existed a personal