Shaozhengmao

Shaozheng Mao (?—?), a senior official of the State of Lu in the Spring and Autumn Period, was named Mao. "Shaozheng" was an official position established by the Zhou Dynasty. The "surname-first name" system of later generations was not finalized at that time. It was very common for people to have their professional names preceded by their real names. It is said that all three thousand disciples of Confucius were attracted away by it many times, causing Confucius to be "three full and three empty". Only Yan Yuan among the seventy-two sages remained unmoved. Confucius photographed the Prime Minister of Lu and executed Shaozhengmao in seven days. The incident was first recorded in "Xunzi", and was later recorded in "Yin Wenzi", "Shuo Yuan", "Confucius' Family Sayings", "Historical Records" and other books. In addition to the "Historical Records", the "Five Evils" were mentioned in all of them. As for the competition for disciples, it was first seen in "Lun Heng" written by Wang Chong of the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, there is no record or mention in the early "Zuo Zhuan", "Guoyu", "The Analects", "Mencius" and other books. Shaozhengmao was not recorded in the annals of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. He was first recorded in the official history system in the "Historical Records". However, except for being an official who "disrupted the government" and was punished by Confucius, there are no other specific records of Shaozhengmao's words and deeds. He was also not mentioned by other figures of the same period. Therefore, the motives for Confucius' execution, Shaozhengmao's identity, and even the authenticity of the incident and the existence of Shaozhengmao himself have been deeply questioned and discussed by later generations.