Goujian entered service in Wu, personally bearing weapons and grooming horses for the King of Wu. Thus he later killed Fuchai at Gusu. King Wen endured insults at the Shang king’s gate without changing his expression, so King Wu captured Zhou at Muye. Hence the saying: “Upholding gentleness is called strength.”
King Yue became hegemon unashamed of servitude; King Wu became king unashamed of insults. Hence the saying: “Sages know no trouble, because they regard nothing as trouble; therefore they have no trouble.”
Note
This passage presents a strategic rule: enduring short‑term humiliation and practicing gentleness‑for‑strength enables ultimate victory; sages avoid trouble by not being troubled by minor insults.
Late Warring‑States Legalist philosopher. This passage is from Illustrating Laozi (Yu Lao), his commentary on the Dao De Jing. He interprets Daoist gentleness as strategic forbearance for state power.
Goujian
King of Yue, endured humiliation in Wu then defeated Wu to become hegemon.
King Wen & King Wu of Zhou
Father‑son pair; King Wen endured Shang tyranny, King Wu overthrew Shang at the Battle of Muye.
Fuchai
King of Wu, defeated by Goujian.
King Zhou of Shang
Tyrannical last Shang ruler.
Gentleness‑as‑Strength Doctrine
Daoist “keeping soft” re‑defined by Han Fei as political forbearance and long‑term strategy.
Forbearance as Victory
Temporary submission and humiliation are tactical steps to ultimate conquest.
No‑Trouble Mindset
True power comes from ignoring petty shame and focusing on long‑term goals.
句踐入宦於吳，身執干戈為吳王洗馬，故能殺夫差於姑蘇。文王見詈於王門，顏色不變，而武王擒紂於牧野。故曰：「守柔曰強。」越王之霸也不病宦，武王之王也不病詈。故曰：「聖人之不病也，以其不病，是以無病也。」
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