While Confucian themes enjoyed representation in Chinese art centers, they are fewer in comparison to the number of artworks that are about or influenced by Daoism and Buddhism.
Themes and subjects usually include the depiction of prominent Confucian figures such as statesmen, poets, and painters, among others.
Artworks also reflected prevailing interests during the Confucian period such as chess, music, and painting in addition to the depiction of the didactic pictorial narratives of the life of Confucius and the twenty-four paragons of filial piety.
He really hoped to improve his political abilities and obtain the opportunity to be promoted to become a government official after learning from Confucius.
In order to improve on these abilities to become a government official, Ran Qiu followed Confucius as his teacher and diligently studied a variety of subjects and skills.
After some time, however, Confucius found that Ran Qiu had become idle and lazy and was no longer curious to understand and discuss the principles taught in the class.
Holding such thoughts, Ran Qiu started to become lazy and felt it was useless no matter how much more he learned.
After Confucius had encouraged him, Ran Qiu was again full of confidence and resumed his usual earnest learning attitude.