Yao intended to abdicate and hand over the whole realm to Xu You, who fled to decline the throne and took lodging at a commoner’s house. The householder hid his leather cap out of caution. To think a man who rejects imperial dominion would steal a plain leather cap shows the householder utterly misunderstood Xu You’s noble character.
Note
Never judge lofty people by ordinary worldly desires; those who discard supreme power care nothing for petty trivial possessions.
Late Warring States Legalist thinker, quotes this ancient legend to contrast worldly greed and transcendental integrity.
Yao
Sage monarch of primitive legendary era, famed for virtuous abdication.
Xu You
Ordinary householder
A common person judging others with mundane utilitarian mindset.
Ancient abdication legend
Yao’s voluntary offer of throne to virtuous talents is a classic Chinese ancient sage-king story.
Hermit culture
Pre-Qin scholars regarded Xu You as the archetype of people abandoning imperial power for spiritual freedom.
Cognitive bias
People tend to measure others by their own greedy standards, which causes misjudgment of noble-minded people.
堯以天下讓許由，許由逃之，舍於家人，家人藏其皮冠。夫棄天下而家人藏其皮冠，是不知許由者也。
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