[4][1] He served under Ji Kangzi (季康子), head of the Jisun family, who was the chief minister of Lu from 492 to 468 BC.

[4] Confucius thought he lacked the virtue of ren or humaneness,[4] and severely criticized him for failing to prevent Ji Kangzi from attacking Zhuanyu (顓臾), a vassal state of Lu,[1][5] and for helping the Jisun household accumulate massive amounts of wealth.

[1] Owing to Ran Qiu's influence, Ji Kangzi invited Confucius to return to his native state of Lu, after fourteen years of exile.

[1] Despite Confucius' severe criticism of Ran Qiu's conduct, the latter is still considered one of the Master's top ten disciples.

[2] During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong posthumously awarded Ran Qiu the nobility title of Marquess of Xu (徐侯).