Analects 8.6 · Tai Bo
“One who can be entrusted with a young heir and the fate of a state, and whose integrity cannot be taken away in a great crisis, is truly worthy.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
可以託六尺之孤 可以寄百里之命 臨大節而不可奪也 (kě yǐ tuō liù chǐ zhī gū, kě yǐ jì bǎi lǐ zhī mìng, lín dà jié ér bù kě duó yě) means “One who can be entrusted with a young heir and the fate of a state, and whose integrity cannot be taken away in a great crisis, is truly worthy.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 6.
可以託六尺之孤 可以寄百里之命 臨大節而不可奪也
- Pinyin
- kě yǐ tuō liù chǐ zhī gū, kě yǐ jì bǎi lǐ zhī mìng, lín dà jié ér bù kě duó yě
- Translation
- One who can be entrusted with a young heir and the fate of a state, and whose integrity cannot be taken away in a great crisis, is truly worthy.
- Source
- Analects, Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 6
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Tai Bo chapter, Zengzi describes the qualities of an exemplary person. 託六尺之孤 means being someone to whom a young ruler can be entrusted; 寄百里之命 means being someone to whom the destiny of a state can be given; and 臨大節而不可奪 means remaining impossible to sway when great principles are at stake. Zengzi says that only such a person deserves to be called exemplary. These are the conditions of ideal leadership, combining ability with character.
How can we apply it today?
Leadership rests not on ability alone but on trust. Imagine someone trustworthy enough to care for a child, capable enough to lead a vital project, and principled enough to withstand every temptation and threat. Such a person is naturally recognized as a leader within an organization. A true leader holds to principle in a crisis. People may look alike in ordinary times, but a crisis reveals their genuine worth.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Would someone believe that their most precious responsibility could be entrusted to me?
- ·Can I preserve my principles in the face of grave temptation or threat?
- ·Is there someone around me who embodies this passage?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 託 | tuō | entrust | 10 | 言 (speech) |
| 六 | liù | six | 4 | 八 (eight) |
| 尺 | chǐ | ruler | 4 | 尸 (corpse) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 孤 | gū | lonely | 8 | 子 (child) |
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 寄 | jì | entrust | 11 | 宀 (roof) |
| 百 | bǎi | one hundred | 6 | 白 (white) |
| 里 | lǐ | village | 7 | 里 (village) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 命 | mìng | life | 8 | 口 (mouth) |
| 臨 | lín | face | 17 | 臣 (minister) |
| 大 | dà | great | 3 | 大 (big) |
| 節 | jié | joint | 15 | 竹 (bamboo) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 奪 | duó | seize | 14 | 大 (big) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “One who can be entrusted with a young heir…” mean?
可以託六尺之孤 可以寄百里之命 臨大節而不可奪也 (kě yǐ tuō liù chǐ zhī gū, kě yǐ jì bǎi lǐ zhī mìng, lín dà jié ér bù kě duó yě) means “One who can be entrusted with a young heir and the fate of a state, and whose integrity cannot be taken away in a great crisis, is truly worthy.” It comes from the Analects, Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 6.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 8.6: Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 6.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Leadership rests not on ability alone but on trust.