Three lice quarreled with one another. A fourth passing louse asked: “What are you disputing over?” The three replied: “We fight for plump, nourished spots on the pig.”
The passer-by said: “Why do you bother with this when you ought to fear the sacrificial month comes and the pig is killed with dry straw?”
Then all the lice clustered together to suck the pig’s blood. The pig wasted away, so its owner spared it from slaughter.
Note
Infighting over petty personal gains destroys the shared foundation of survival; unity to protect the common source of benefit saves every individual.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, uses the fable of lice and swine to warn lords and ministers against internal strife that ruins the shared foundation.
Ancient winter sacrifice custom
In ancient China, people slaughtered pigs for sacrificial rites in the twelfth lunar month, which is the critical threat for the lice’s survival.
Allegorical writing
Pre-Qin thinkers commonly used insect and livestock fables to reflect state politics; the pig stands for a nation, lice symbolize nobles and officials inside the country.
Legalist political idea
Internal factional fighting among governing groups drains national strength; united preservation of the whole country benefits all subgroups.
三虱食彘相与讼，一虱过之，曰：“讼者奚说？“三虱曰：“争肥饶之地。”一虱曰：“若亦不患腊之至而茅之燥耳，其又奚患？“于是乃相与聚嘬其身而食之。彘臞，人乃弗杀。
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