This saying was first recorded in "Mencius," where Mencius quoted Confucius.

Those who support the practice of burial with sacrificial objects believe that the phrase "The one who started the practice of using clay figures, will he have no descendants?" means that the first person to use clay figures instead of living people for burial would inevitably have no descendants. Their reasoning is simple: because the burial system was an important part of the Zhou dynasty's rites and music, and since Sage Confucius advocated for a return to antiquity, he would naturally support the burial system.

On the other hand, those who oppose the practice argue that this saying indicates Confucius's opposition to burial with sacrificial objects, but there are two interpretations.

The first interpretation, based on Confucius's original words in "Family Sayings of Confucius," suggests that Confucius advocated using straw bundles shaped like humans for burial instead of clay figures resembling humans. Such a person's family or nation would inevitably perish. Confucius believed that even clay figures resembling humans should not be used for burial, let alone living people.