In the long river of history, it is not an isolated incident for wise and talented individuals to fall victim to jealousy. The stories of Ziyu and Confucius, and Li Si and Han Fei, serve as two poignant examples of this tragic dynamic.
The Case of Ziyu and Confucius
According to the classic text Han Feizi, the story of “Ziyu Recommends Confucius” recounts an incident involving a prince of the State of Jin, Ziyu (Zi Yu), who recommended Confucius to the Grand Administrator of the State of Song.
Zi Yu introduced Confucius to the Grand Administrator of Shang. After Confucius left, Zi Yu entered and asked about the guest. The Grand Administrator said: “I have already met Confucius; in comparison, I regard you as small as a louse.” “I will now present him to the ruler.” Zi Yu was afraid that Confucius would be favored by the ruler, so he told the Grand Administrator: “If the ruler sees Confucius, he will also regard you as small as a lice.” The Grand Administrator therefore did not see him again.
— from Han Feizi – Chapter 22.3
However, after the Grand Administrator met with Confucius and spoke highly of his virtues, Ziyu (Zi Yu) began to feel threatened. Fearing that Confucius’ brilliance would overshadow his own, Ziyu intervened and prevented the Grand Administrator from recommending Confucius to the Duke of Song. Although Confucius lost a golden opportunity to realize his grand political ambitions due to this petty jealousy, his fate was far less tragic than that of Han Fei.
The Tragedy of Han Fei and Li Si
Similarly, in Sima Qian‘s monumental work, the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), we learn the sorrowful tale of Han Fei. Born into nobility and a master of “Legalist” philosophy (a school of thought emphasizing strict laws and statecraft), Han Fei was a brilliant intellectual who, despite a stutter that hindered his speech, became renowned for his writings. He and Li Si were fellow students under the great Confucian scholar Xunzi, yet Li Si openly admitted that he could not compare to Han Fei’s intellect.
Tragically, this very brilliance led to his demise at the hands of his jealous classmate. King Zheng of Qin (who would later become Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China) admired Han Fei’s work and wished to employ him. However, Li Si, driven by envy and political calculation, slandered Han Fei to the King:
“Han Fei is a noble of the State of Han. Since Your Majesty aims to conquer the world, I fear Han Fei will ultimately side with Han rather than serve you. If you do not employ him but keep him in Qin for too long, only to release him later, it will be an endless source of trouble. It would be better to fabricate a charge and execute him according to the law.”
King Zheng heeded Li Si’s treacherous advice and ordered Han Fei’s imprisonment. Li Si then sent poison to Han Fei, forcing him to commit suicide. Han Fei desperately wished to meet the King to plead his case and clarify the truth, but his request was denied. Later, the King regretted his decision and sent an envoy to pardon Han Fei, but it was too late – he was already dead.
An Enduring Legacy
In his work You Du (Having Standards), Han Fei famously wrote:
“A state is not eternally strong, nor is it eternally weak. If those who uphold the law are strong, the state is strong; if those who uphold the law are weak, the state is weak.”
This statement is still regarded today as a pioneering concept of the rule of law. Although Han Fei did not live to see his philosophy fully blossom, the Legalist doctrines that the State of Qin relied upon to unify the six warring states were, in essence, the practical application of Han Fei’s theories. His thoughts not only influenced China at that time but have permeated the entire developmental course of Chinese civilization.
Confucius, encountering Ziyu’s jealousy, lost a chance to showcase his value; Han Fei, falling victim to Li Si’s envy, lost his life – a significant loss to the history of ancient Chinese thought. Yet, even so, the brilliance of Han Fei’s intellect continues to traverse time and space, illuminating the path for countless successors.
Note
Confucius (Kongzi)
The most famous philosopher in Chinese history, whose teachings on morality, social relationships, and justice have shaped Chinese civilization for over two millennia.
Ziyu (Zi Yu)
A prince from the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period.
Han Fei (Han Feizi)
A pivotal philosopher of the Legalist school. His ideas on centralized power and rule by law became the blueprint for imperial China.
Li Si
A prominent politician who served as the Chancellor to Qin Shi Huang. He played a key role in unifying China but is historically infamous for his role in Han Fei’s death.
Xunzi
A celebrated Confucian philosopher who taught both Han Fei and Li Si, ironically bridging Confucianism and Legalism.
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