SUPERior MAN

Confucius said, “The superior man is not an implement (ch’i).”  [Analects 2:12]

An implement: a superior man according to Confucius is not an implement. What is an implement by the way? According to its etymological meaning, it came from the late Latin language, implementum, which means "filling" or "fill in" or simply "to fill". Such primal definition was somehow adhered and justified in its present definition. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "implement", as a noun, refers to a "tool"; a useful piece of equipment designed to do a particular task. While, it was also considered as a transitive verb, which means "to carry out" or "to fulfill something". All of which, somehow fuses the term as something that constitutes "fulfillment" or "achievement", it could be also referred to be an instrument to achieve such nirvana-like satisfaction.

Now, relating to such analysis, we can somehow conclude that a superior man, or the ideal man pertained by Confucius, is not a means to achievement, -to success! therefore is of no use. How can he/she then be an ideal one if he/she will not act as a channel to accomplishment? What can we expect to him/her in our desire to success? Do this mean that the superior man is a hindrance, instead of a helping hand, towards fulfillment?

Before we will ask such, we must first understand, what is really meant by Confucius himself, and not by our mere interpretations. Now, what do Confucius mean in saying that a superior man is not an implement? Such one is not an "implement", because a superior man is not only envisioned to be of narrow and constricted drive or purpose, this is for such man indeed have a broad and wide concern, thus is not only range-bounded to that of a particular commitment. Thus, the superior man, as mentioned, is devoted expansively with aims that are ranging widely, and not only focused to that of fastidious goals that are boxed in; for the superior man transcends, -HE/SHE PUSHES THE LIMITS! And that is what Confucius meant in saying that a good man is not an implement, but is something that is indeed, multi-purposed.