In the 16th year of the reign of Duke Ai of Lu state, Confucius was seriously ill. He plodded with a walking stick, walking out of the door and singing, "Mount Tai is about to crumble; The roof beam is about to break; The wise man is about to wither away like a plant!" Hearing this, Zigong said, "What can I look up to if Mount Tai is about to crumble? Where should I place the rafters if the roof beam is about to break? And who should I follow if the wise man is about to wither away?" So Zigong quickly walking in. Seeing him, Confucius said, "Zigong, why are you so late? I remember the traditional funeral practices. Coffins of Xia people are put in the east for people to pay respect to the dead while coffins of Yin people are put between the two pillars. I am the offspring of Yin people. Last night, I dreamed that I was sitting between two pillars. Intelligent kings do not arise, then who will make me sit between two pillars to pay me respect?  This probably an omen of the end of my life." Seven days later, the master passed away.