Analects 19.7 · Zi Zhang
“Artisans remain in their workshops to perfect their craft; the exemplary person learns in order to realize the Way.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
百工居肆以成其事 君子學以致其道 (bǎi gōng jū sì yǐ chéng qí shì, jūn zǐ xué yǐ zhì qí dào) means “Artisans remain in their workshops to perfect their craft; the exemplary person learns in order to realize the Way.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 7.
百工居肆以成其事 君子學以致其道
- Pinyin
- bǎi gōng jū sì yǐ chéng qí shì, jūn zǐ xué yǐ zhì qí dào
- Translation
- Artisans remain in their workshops to perfect their craft; the exemplary person learns in order to realize the Way.
- Source
- Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 7
What does this passage mean?
In the Zi Zhang chapter, Zixia explains the meaning of learning through an analogy between artisans and the exemplary person. 百工 means artisans of every kind, and 居肆 means remaining in the workshop. Just as artisans refine their skills in the workshop, the exemplary person explores the Way in the place of learning. 致 means to reach or arrive, signifying arrival at ultimate truth through learning.
How can we apply it today?
In every field, expertise rests on persistent effort in one's proper place. Just as artisans report to their workshops every day, writers write, athletes train, and programmers code each day. Whether we call it the ten-thousand-hour rule or deliberate practice, its foundation is 'showing up consistently in one's own workshop.' More important than talent is the diligence to enter that workshop every day.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Where is my 'workshop'?
- ·Do I make a steady effort there each day?
- ·What Way of my own do I hope to reach through learning?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 百 | bǎi | one hundred | 6 | 白 (white) |
| 工 | gōng | craftsman | 3 | 工 (work) |
| 居 | jū | dwell | 8 | 尸 (corpse) |
| 肆 | sì | shop; unrestrained | 13 | 聿 (brush) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 成 | chéng | accomplish | 7 | 戈 (halberd) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 事 | shì | affair | 8 | 亅 (hook) |
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 學 | xué | learn | 16 | 子 (child) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 致 | zhì | attain | 10 | 至 (arrive) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 道 | dào | the Way; road | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Artisans remain in their workshops to…” mean?
百工居肆以成其事 君子學以致其道 (bǎi gōng jū sì yǐ chéng qí shì, jūn zǐ xué yǐ zhì qí dào) means “Artisans remain in their workshops to perfect their craft; the exemplary person learns in order to realize the Way.” It comes from the Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 7.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 19.7: Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 7.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
In every field, expertise rests on persistent effort in one's proper place.Just as artisans report to their workshops every day, writers write, athletes train, and programmers code each day.