While hunting, Mengsun caught a fawn and asked Qin Xiba to take it home. The mother deer followed them, crying bitterly. Unable to bear the sight, Qin Xiba set the fawn free to reunite with its mother.
When Mengsun returned and asked for the fawn, Qin Xiba told him the truth. Enraged, Mengsun drove him away. Three months later, Mengsun recalled Qin Xiba and appointed him tutor to his son.
His coachman asked: “You once punished him, yet now make him your son’s teacher. Why?” Mengsun replied: “If he could not bear to hurt a fawn, how could he harm my child?”
Hence the saying: Clever deceit is no match for simple sincerity. Yue Yang was suspected despite his merits, while Qin Xiba won greater trust though he seemed guilty.
Note
True kindness and sincerity build lasting trust. Artificial loyalty and cunning will only arouse doubt. One’s inherent moral character matters more than momentary deeds.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher. This text is excerpted from Han Feizi, Chapter: The Forest of Persuasions (Part I). He uses this tale to illustrate the value of sincerity and kindness.
Mengsun
A noble lord. He judges people by their inherent character rather than temporary mistakes.
Qin Xiba
A kind-hearted man. He released the fawn out of compassion and eventually gained trust.
Coachman
Mengsun’s servant, confused by his master’s change of decision.
Yue Yang
The general mentioned earlier, whose extreme loyalty aroused suspicion. Yue Yang served as a general of Wei and led troops to attack Zhongshan. His son resided in Zhongshan. The lord of Zhongshan had the boy boiled into soup and sent it to Yue Yang. Seated in his military tent, Yue Yang drank a full cup of the soup. After Yue Yang conquered Zhongshan, Lord Wen rewarded his military achievements yet grew suspicious of his character.
Compassion for living creatures
Sympathy for animals was regarded as a reflection of one’s inner virtue in ancient times.
Tutor for noble children
Tutors were responsible for teaching and protecting noble heirs, so moral character was the top requirement.
Clever deceit vs. simple sincerity
A famous maxim from the text. It advocates genuine virtue over calculated performance.
Judging character
Rulers and nobles learned to assess a person’s nature from small matters, instead of being misled by superficial achievements.
孟孫獵得麑，使秦西巴持之歸，其母隨之而啼，秦西巴弗忍而與之，孟孫歸，至而求麑，答曰：「余弗忍而與其母。」孟孫大怒，逐之，居三月，復召以為其子傅，其御曰：「曩將罪之，今召以為子傅何也？」孟孫曰：「夫不忍麑，又且忍吾子乎？」故曰：「巧詐不如拙誠。」樂羊以有功見疑，秦西巴以有罪益信。
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