Guilty by association

“Ching K’o appears to have been one of those wandering scholars, a member of the literati whom the leaders of these ancient feudal states employed as advisors and ministers. In this case Ching K’o, or ‘Master Ching’ failed to gain employment, perhaps because of his habit of getting drunk and consorting with musicians and other rascals.” – Leonard Cottrell “the Tiger of CH’IN”