Duanmu Shu was a descendant of Duanmu Ci (Zi Gong), a disciple of Confucius, and lived in the State of Wei during the Warring States period. Duanmu Shu inherited the vast fortune accumulated by his ancestors. He took no interest in worldly affairs, indulged his whims and led a life of luxury; the standards of his food and drink, carriages and horses, clothing, music and entertainment, as well as his wives and concubines, rivalled those of the rulers of the States of Qi and Chu. He travelled far and wide, generously hosting guests and friends from all corners of the land. Whilst indulging in his own pleasures, he also distributed his wealth to his clan, his local community, and eventually to the entire state.
When Duanmu Shu reached the age of sixty, sensing that his body was failing, he completely abandoned his household affairs. Within a single year, he gave away all his belongings and dispersed his concubines, leaving no property whatsoever for his descendants. In the end, when he fell gravely ill, he had no money to buy medicine, nor was there any to fund his funeral after his death. Those throughout the country who had once received his charity pooled their resources to bury him, and returned a portion of the fortune to his descendants.
Qin Guli, a disciple of Mo Zi, criticised Duanmu Shu as a ‘madman’ whose dissolute behaviour had tarnished the reputation of his ancestors. Duan Gansheng of the State of Wei, however, regarded Duanmu Shu as a ‘man of real understanding’, whose virtue even surpassed that of his ancestors; that although his behaviour astonished the masses, it was in accordance with the true natural order, and transcended the constraints of ritual and moral teachings.
Origin: “Liezi: Yang Zhu”
#53 端木叔
端木叔是孔子弟子端木赐（子贡）的后代，生活于战国时期的卫国 。端木叔承袭了祖先积累的巨额财富。他不理世事，放纵自己的喜好，生活奢华。他的饮食、车马、服饰、声乐、妻妾等规格比得上齐国和楚国的国君。他到处游历，广泛接待来自四面八方的客人和朋友。在自己享受之余，还将财物依次分给宗族、乡里乃至全国。
端木叔六十岁的时候，感到身体衰老了，便彻底抛弃家事，在一年中散尽了所有的库藏、珍宝、车服、侍妾，不为子孙留下任何财产。最终，他病重时无钱买药，去世后也无钱下葬。全国曾受他施舍的人，共同出资安葬了他，并将部分钱财归还给他的子孙。
墨子弟子禽滑釐批评端木叔是一个“狂人”，行为放荡，玷污了祖先的名声。而魏国的段干生则认为端木叔是一个“达人”，德行甚至超过了他的祖先，认为他的行为虽然令众人惊讶，却合乎诚理，超越了礼教的束缚。
出自《列子 杨朱》