A man from Wen traveled to the Eastern Zhou, which barred outsiders from entering. An official asked him: “Are you a stranger here?” He replied: “I am a local resident.” The official questioned neighbors nearby, yet no one knew him, so he put the man in custody.
The monarch sent someone to interrogate him: “You are not from Zhou. Why do you claim you are not a guest?” The man answered: “When I was young, I recited The Book of Songs: All land under heaven belongs to the king; all people within the four seas are the king’s subjects. Now Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, so I am your subject. How can a royal subject be called an outsider? That is why I said I am a local.” The monarch then ordered his release.
Note
This text is excerpted from Han Feizi, Chapter: The Forest of Persuasions (Part I).
When trapped in trouble, one can draw on authoritative classics and shared cultural concepts to defend oneself. Even declining royal titles and ancient doctrines still hold persuasive power.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher. He records this story to show the wisdom of rhetorical debate.
Man from Wen
A quick-witted traveler skilled in using classics to argue his case.
Eastern Zhou Monarch
The nominal Son of Heaven of the Zhou Dynasty. Though royal power had declined, traditional rituals and canonical texts were still respected.
Entry Restriction
The Eastern Zhou implemented strict access control against outsiders for security and governance.
The Book of Songs
China’s earliest poetry anthology, regarded as authoritative classics. Its lines about royal sovereignty were widely recognized in ancient society.
Royal Sovereignty Concept
The idea that the whole realm and all people belong to the Son of Heaven was a core political creed in ancient China.
Verbal Stratagem
Using universally acknowledged classics and traditional doctrines to refute charges and resolve a predicament.
溫人之周，周不納客，問之曰：「客耶？」對曰：「主人。」問其巷人而不知也，吏因囚之，君使人問之曰：「子非周人也，而自謂非客何也？」對曰：「臣少也誦《詩》曰：普天之下，莫非王土，率土之濱，莫非王臣。今君，天子，則我天子之臣也，豈有為人之臣而又為之客哉？故曰主人也。」君使出之。
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