What means committing faults yet refusing loyal ministers’ advice? In ancient times, Duke Huan of Qi convened feudal lords nine times, unified the realm, and became the leader of the Five Hegemons, assisted by Guan Zhong.
When Guan Zhong grew old and retired from state affairs, Duke Huan visited him and asked: “Father Zhong, if your illness proves fatal, to whom shall I entrust state governance?”
Guan Zhong replied: “I am too old to advise. Still, as the saying goes, no one knows a minister better than his ruler, nor a son better than his father. Judge with your own heart.”
Duke Huan asked: “What of Bao Shuya?”
Guan Zhong answered: “No. Bao Shuya is stubborn, self‑willed and fierce. His rigidity harms the people with harshness; his obstinacy loses popular support; his ferocity makes subordinates disobedient. He lacks reverence and cannot assist a hegemon.”
Duke Huan asked: “What of Shu Diao?”
Guan Zhong answered: “No. By human nature, everyone loves their own body. You favor women and the inner palace; Shu Diao castrated himself to manage the harem. If he does not cherish his own body, how can he love you?”
Duke Huan asked: “What of Prince Kai Fang of Wei?”
Guan Zhong answered: “No. The journey between Qi and Wei takes no more than ten days. Yet Kai Fang, to serve you, did not visit his parents for fifteen years – against human nature. If he neglects his parents, how can he be loyal to you?”
Duke Huan asked: “What of Yi Ya?”
Guan Zhong answered: “No. To satisfy your taste, since human flesh was the only food you had never tried, Yi Ya steamed his own son’s head and presented it to you. By nature, all men love their children. If he abandons his son, how can he love you?”
Duke Huan asked: “Who then is suitable?”
Guan Zhong replied: “Xi Peng. Firm‑minded and upright outward, he has few desires and keeps his word. His inner resolve sets an example; his integrity bears heavy duties; his self‑restraint governs the people; his trustworthiness unites neighboring states. He is the true assistant for a hegemon. Appoint him.” Duke Huan agreed.
More than a year later, Guan Zhong died. Duke Huan ignored his advice, refused Xi Peng, and trusted Shu Diao instead. After three years in power, Shu Diao plotted a rebellion with Yi Ya, Kai Fang and other ministers while Duke Huan traveled south to Tangfu. Trapped in his southern‑gate bedchamber, Duke Huan died of hunger and thirst. His body lay unburied for three months, with maggots crawling out the doors.
Duke Huan’s armies once dominated the world and he led the Five Hegemons, yet he was killed by his ministers, his noble reputation ruined, and mocked by all. Why? Because he rejected Guan Zhong’s warning.
Hence it is said: committing faults yet ignoring loyal ministers and acting arbitrarily begins the loss of noble fame and public ridicule.
Note
This famous historical case delivers a strict Legalist lesson: rulers must strictly follow loyal ministers’ warnings and reject ministers who violate fundamental human ethics; arbitrary self‑will destroys supreme power and personal reputation.
Core Legalist thinker of the late Warring‑States Period. This passage comes from The Ten Faults (Shi Guo), illustrating the eighth fatal ruler’s mistake: ignoring loyal counsel and following one’s own will.
Duke Huan of Qi
The first and most famous of the Spring‑and‑Autumn Five Hegemons, ruined in old age by his own foolish favoritism of treacherous ministers.
Guan Zhong
Legendary wise prime minister of Qi, strategist who built Duke Huan’s hegemony and warned against three evil ministers.
Shu Diao, Yi Ya, Kai Fang
Three archetypal treacherous favorites in Chinese history: the self‑castrated eunuch, the child‑killing cook, and the filial‑piety‑abandoned noble.
Bao Shuya, Xi Peng
Two loyal ministers evaluated by Guan Zhong; only Xi Peng was deemed fit for high office. Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya were close friends since they were very young. Together, they shaped the rise of the State of Qi.
Five Hegemons
The most powerful overlords of the Spring‑and‑Autumn Period, with Duke Huan of Qi as the first and greatest.
Three Treacherous Favorites
A classic historical warning story widely cited in Chinese political thought: ministers who abandon basic human ethics (self‑love, filial piety, parental love) cannot be trusted by rulers.
Filial Piety as Basic Morality
Confucian and Legalist shared principle: those who betray family ethics will betray their lord.
Cost of Ignoring Loyal Remonstrance
Duke Huan’s miserable death became a universal cautionary tale for rulers against arbitrary self‑will.
奚謂過而不聽於忠臣？昔者齊桓公九合諸侯，一匡天下，為五伯長，管仲佐之。管仲老，不能用事，休居於家，桓公從而問之曰：「仲父家居有病，即不幸而不起此病，政安遷之？」管仲曰：「臣老矣，不可問也。雖然，臣聞之，知臣莫若君，知子莫若父，君其試以心決之。」君曰：「鮑叔牙何如？」管仲曰：「不可。鮑叔牙為人，剛愎而上悍。剛則犯民以暴，愎則不得民心，悍則下不為用，其心不懼。非霸者之佐也。」公曰：「然則豎刁何如？」管仲曰：「不可。夫人之情莫不愛其身，公妒而好內，豎刁自獖以為治內，其身不愛，又安能愛君？」公曰：「然則衛公子開方何如？」管仲曰：「不可。齊、衛之間不過十日之行，開方為事君，欲適君之故，十五年不歸見其父母，此非人情也，其父母之不親也，又能親君乎？」公曰：「然則易牙何如？」管仲曰：「不可。夫易牙為君主味，君之所未嘗食唯人肉耳，易牙蒸其子首而進之，君所知也。人之情莫不愛其子，今蒸其子以為膳於君，其子弗愛，又安能愛君乎？」公曰：「然則孰可？」管仲曰：「隰朋可。其為人也，堅中而廉外，少欲而多信。夫堅中則足以為表，廉外則可以大任，少欲則能臨其眾，多信則能親鄰國，此霸者之佐也，君其用之。」君曰：「諾。」居一年餘，管仲死，君遂不用隰朋而與豎刁。刁蒞事三年，桓公南遊堂阜，豎刁率易牙、衛公子開方及大臣為亂，桓公渴餒而死南門之寢、公守之室，身死三月不收，蟲出於戶。故桓公之兵橫行天下，為五伯長，卒見弒於其臣，而滅高名，為天下笑者，何也？不用管仲之過也。故曰：過而不聽於忠臣，獨行其意，則滅其高名為人笑之始也。
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