자로는 공문 십철(孔門十哲) 가운데, 특히 정사(政事) 방면에 뛰어난 재주를 지녔던 제자였다. 그는 노나라 변 땅 사람으로, 공자보다 아홉살 적었으며, 공자를 만나기 전에는 낭인 생활을 하였다. 그는 공문의 제자들 가운데 누구보다 따뜻한 정을 갖고 있었고, 정의로운 일을 보면 때와 장소를 가리지 않고 실천했으며, 좋은 물건이 있으면 함께 나누어 쓰고자 했다. 또 누구와도 격의 없이 지냈기 때문에, 세상을 등진 은자들도 그를 좋아했다. 하지만 그는 세련된 교양을 갖춘 사람들로 가득한 공문의 분위기에는 어울리지 않는 사람이었다. 거칠고 조잡했으며 격식보다 실질을 중시했던 사람이다. 그래서 공자에게 ‘온당치 못한 죽음을 맞게 될 것’이라는 말을 듣기도 했다. 그렇다면 이런 성정을 지닌 자로가 공자와 사제관계를 맺게 된 까닭은 무엇인가. 불굴의 노력으로 어려운 가정 환경과 주위의 냉대를 극복하고 성웅(聖雄)의 덕과 인간다움[仁]을 이룬 공자에게서 큰 감화를 받았기 때문이다. 그후 자로는 공자를 ‘주군’으로 받들며, 때로는 보디가드로서 때로는 조언자로서 때로는 공문의 해결사로서, 공자와 생사고락을 같이 한다. 공자 또한 자로에게서 일종의 동질감 같은 것을 느꼈다. 자신은 문(文)과 예(禮)를 실천해야 하기 때문에 행할 수 없는 것들을 거리낌 없이 행하는 자로를 보면서, 자신에게도 인간적이고 순수한 면을 발견하였고, 소위 ‘뜨거운 정열의 사나이’로서의 품성이 있음을 확인하였다. 그래서 자로가 자기 곁에 머물도록 배려했다. 자로와 공자는 서로에게 정체성을 확인시켜주는 존재였다. 그들은 사제 간이었지만 동지애로 뭉쳐진 사이였다. 그래서 서로에게 이끌려 사제관계를 맺게 된 것이다.

Tsze-lu(子路) was one of the ten leading disciples of Confucius(孔門十哲) and renowned for political affairs. He was born in Bian(卞), Lu(魯) nine years after the birth of Confucius(孔子) and roamed around until meeting Confucius. Then when meeting Confucius for the first time, Tsze-lu was so impressed by his moral virtue(德) so asked him to accept as a disciple. Since then, Tsze-lu never left his side except for the last year of the death and sometimes acted as a bodyguard, an counselor, or a trouble-solving broker in the Confucian school (孔門). No-one was more warmhearted and unreserved than Tsze-lu in the Confucian school, and he had the courage of his convictions in justice. He also had no qualms about sharing good things with his friends. His honor and distinction was spread out to the world, so all the people, even hermit scholars wanted friendship with him. Tsze-lu, However, seemed ill-matched with the sophisticated Confucian cultures. He took a serious view of substance more than formality, so he was coarse and uncultivated. Even Confucius was always worried that Tsze-lu would die an unnatural death. If then, despite of his rough personality, why did Tsze-lu request to be permitted for the Confucian school? As a result of the research, the following facts were found. Tsze-lu was impressed by Confucius who overcame all kinds of adversity by strenuous effort. He also respected Confucius for his virtues proper to a protagonist of an epic and humanity, both which he adored badly. That’s why he asked to accept as a disciple, and he devoted himself Confucius as his master ever since. Confucius’ motivation to accept Tsze-lu as a disciple was not much different. Confucius perceived himself many points of likeness in character with him. Besides, he was inspired by Tsze-lu who did his way in everything without any hesitates, which Confucius could never do because of the cause of truth(文) and the rites of propriety(禮). Through it, Confucius discovered that he had a pure heart and passion like Tsze-lu. They, so to speak, recognized their own identities from each other. It was the motive for them to make a relationship. It formally seemed between a master and a disciple, but intrinsically it was comradeship.