Ji Kang
Yan Yan (言偃) was a native of Wu (吳). His courtesy name was Ziyou (子游). He was 45 years younger than Confucius, and was distinguished for his literary achievements. After studying with Confucius he was made Commandant of Wuchang. While being employed as a government official there he was successful in transforming the character of the people by teaching them ritual propriety and music, and was praised by Confucius. After the death of Confucius, Ji Kang asked Yan how it was possible that Confucius was not as widely mourned as Zichan (a famous Duke of Zheng), after whose death men laid aside their bow rings and girdle ornaments, women laid aside their pearls and earrings, and the sounds of weeping could be heard in the streets for three months. Yan replied, "The influences of Zichan and my Master might be compared to those of overflowing water and those of fattening rain. Wherever the water in its overflow reaches, men take knowledge of it, while the fattening rain falls unobserved." His place in the Temple of Confucius is fourth in the western range of "The Wise Ones."