This piece of advice on education was propounded in Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals. Everyone has his particular growth process. A teacher should reflect on his own experience, respond to students with deep empathy, and establish mutual understanding with them. It is not only a show of love in the education process, but also a sound foundation for effective education. This was a call for a new type of teacher-student relationship where the teacher was held in respect and the students loved. Such advice chimed with the Confucian concept of reciprocity, putting oneself in the position of others and having empathy.

An instructor who treats students just as he treats himself and teaches them from their perspective knows the true meaning of education. He must be able to do himself what he requires of others. This ensures that the teacher works in concert with his students. (Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals)