Tian Boding valued worthy men and thereby protected his lord. Bai Gong also gathered followers, yet stirred up turmoil in Chu. They did the same in esteeming talents, but their intentions were entirely different.
Gongsun You cut off his own feet to honor and recommend Baili Xi. Shu Diao castrated himself to curry favor with Duke Huan of Qi. They both harmed their own bodies, yet their purposes were not alike.
Hui Zi said: “A madman runs east, and those chasing him also run east. They head the same way, but their reasons differ greatly.”
Hence we know: when people act alike, we must carefully examine their true motives.
Note
This text is excerpted from Han Feizi, Chapter: The Forest of Persuasions (Part I). It tells us that identical actions may come from totally different intentions. We should see through appearances and carefully distinguish people’s true purposes.
Late Warring States Legalist thinker, illustrating the philosophy of judging people by inner motives.
Tian Boding
A loyal minister who recruited talents to defend his ruler.
Bai Gong
A rebel of Chu, who gathered followers to stage a coup.
The Bai Gong Rebellion was a palace uprising that occurred in the State of Chu during the late Spring and Autumn period, recorded in classical texts such as the Zuo Zhuan. In 479 BCE, Bai Gong Sheng, a grandson of King Ping of Chu, launched a coup together with the warrior Shi Qi after failing to achieve his goal of revenge.
The incident stemmed from the fact that Bai Gong Sheng’s father, Crown Prince Jian, had been killed by the State of Zheng. After Bai Gong Sheng returned to Chu, he harbored resentment against Prime Minister Zi Xi for refusing to attack Zheng. Seizing the opportunity to present spoils of victory after defeating the Wu army, Bai Gong Sheng led his forces into the capital Ying, killed Zi Xi and Zi Qi, and took King Hui of Chu hostage. Lord She, Shen Zhuliang, led an army to suppress the rebellion. Bai Gong Sheng was defeated and hanged himself, and his remaining followers were executed.
Gongsun You
A man who maimed himself to promote the virtuous Baili Xi.
Baili Xi
Baili Xi, a famous wise minister in ancient times.
Shu Diao
A courtier who crippled himself to flatter Duke Huan of Qi.
Duke Huan of Qi
Duke Huan of Qi, a renowned overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period.
Hui Zi
A noted debater and thinker, summarizing the truth of distinguishing motives.
Respecting talents
Recruiting and treating scholars well was common among nobles, but people held different purposes.
Self-mutilation
Some harmed their own bodies out of loyalty or righteousness; others did so for flattery and personal gain.
Appearance vs. essence
A key ancient wisdom: similar behaviors do not mean identical minds. Outer acts can be misleading.
Judging people
In politics and daily life, observing motives was regarded as more important than merely watching deeds.
田伯鼎好士而存其君，白公好士而亂荊，其好士則同，其所以為則異。公孫友自刖而尊百里，豎刁自宮而諂桓公，其自刑則同，其所以自刑之為則異。慧子曰：「狂者東走，逐者亦東走，其東走則同，其所以東走之為則異。故曰：同事之人，不可不審察也。」
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