司馬遷의 비판적 《論語》 읽기와 그 서사 ― 學而篇 ‘有子曰’의 사례

Abstract

In the first chapter of the Lun yu 論語 (“Analects”), the phrase you zi yue 有子曰 appears three times. The two graphs you zi 有子have traditionally been interpreted as being an honorific moniker (i.e., Youzi or “Master You”) of an individual named You Ruo 有若, who is listed in historical sources as being a disciple of Confucius. However, questions remain. These are amplified by records about the historical figure You Ruo from sources spanning from the Warring States (465-221 B.C.E.) to the Han (206 B.C.E.-25 C.E.) period. In this article, I first suggest the possibility that the phrase written as you zi yue 有子曰 (trad. read as “Master You stated…”) was understood as being you zi yue 又子曰 (“The Master further stated…”) in Warring States, Qin, and early Han manuscript culture where the use of variant graphs was common. Although I admit this reading is somewhat problematic grammatically, the possibility is nevertheless a likely one, especially considering that Han dynasty scholars read the phrase you zi yue 有子曰 (trad. read as “Master You stated…”) as Kong zi yue 孔子曰 (“Master Kong stated…”). However, it is also clear that many at the time believed that these two graphs referred to the disciple Youzi 有子, and so scholars had no choice but to settle on a reading of them as you zi yue 有子曰 (“Master You stated…”). In analyzing this process of interpretation, Sima Qian’s 司馬遷 (145-86 B.C.E.) narrative method that informs his Shi ji 史記 (“Records of the Historian”) is very relevant. Three crucial points emerge: (1) Sima Qian’s mention of Youzi is placed near the end of the biographies of Confucius’ disciples, and his doubts about the putative figure of Youzi can be inferred from his demurring to identify the historical figure You Ruo 有若with the honorific moniker Youzi 有子. (2) There was certainty that the phrase you zi yue 有子曰 appeared in the Lun yu, and many people at the time understood the two graphs as referring to Youzi rather than Confucius, and so Sima Qian introduced the figure of this disciple as such. (3) Sima Qian presented evidence that was difficult to accept and raised questions about the historical record. It is highly likely that Simaqian read you zi yue 有子曰 (trad. “Master You stated…”) as you zi yue 又子曰 (“The Master further stated…”) or as Kong zi yue 孔子曰 (“The Master further stated…”) like other Han dynasty scholars. Despite his skepticism, Sima Qian did not unilaterally deny the mainstream reading of the phrase at the time (which was to read the phrase as referring to Youzi). Instead, he introduced the reading that was popular at the time and applied his method of historical inquiry to question its credibility.