Abstract: This article provides a textual analysis of the first pericope of the *Junzi wei li manuscript, which consists of a brief exchange between Confucius and his disciple Yan Yuan. My primary goal is to conduct a meticulous analysis of the episode, highlighting its immense value not only for re-evaluating the meaning and scope of some core ethical concepts in the Confucian school, primarily the notion of yi 義, and for understanding the pedagogical approach of emulation and the challenges this method presents in the form of inner struggle, but, more importantly, for shedding new light on certain personal traits and inclinations of Yan Yuan that have remained obscured and unexplored until now.

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