Master

Biodata

History

Master Lu was born in Kong Township and came from Fucheng, which was ruled by King Tianlu. He founded the Confucian School early in the Warring States era, after the Sky Hero Dynasty’s authority had collapsed. Under Tianlu’s harsh laws, ordinary people risked losing their property or freedom for a misstep 271 646.

Bi Lingkong studied with the Confucian School for hundreds of years and remembered the Master as one of her teachers. She later passed its teachings to Pan Long 271 648. Zhao Sheng killed the Master; Bi Lingkong knew of no Immortal or Buddha killed by Zhao who had since revived 643.

Great Xia stations an army at Kong Township in case Master Lu revives, because he might return through the body of a distant descendant 646.

Teachings

• Benevolence and propriety — The Master taught that mastering oneself and returning to propriety constituted benevolence. Bi Lingkong disputes his definition, but identifies benevolence and propriety as foundations of Confucian thought 319.
• The limits of sacrifice — He rejected sacrificing one person to save ten, warning that abandoning benevolence for an apparently good outcome could lead to ever greater harm 741.
• Judgment before action — He taught that a gentleman should be careful in speech and conduct, quick to learn, and willing to stop and reconsider at the first sign of error 506.
• Understanding an art’s origins — Bi Lingkong warns Pan Long that he must understand what the Master intended and experienced when creating a cultivation art, lest he take it down a harmful path 271.

Abilities & Skills

Brush and Chisel the Spring and Autumn Annals

The Master’s secret art uses the practitioner’s own righteousness to confront darkness in an opponent’s heart and disrupt the balance of body and mind 373.

• It can defeat an opponent by striking at that inner darkness 373.
• Those defeated often become nobler in character for a time, though the externally imposed change does not necessarily last 373.
• The later technique Cord-Bound Laws of All Under Heaven sprang from this art 373.

Relationships

• Bi Lingkong — Former Confucian disciple who studied under the Master and later taught Pan Long about his principles and arts 271 648.
• Zhao Sheng — Killed the Master 643.
• Pan Long — Learns the Master’s teachings and Confucian methods through Bi Lingkong 271 319.

Notable Quotes

“If names are not correct, words will not ring true.” 271

“What is benevolence? To master oneself and return to propriety is benevolence.” 319