Han Feizi – Chapter 23.18

Earthenware stained with plaster dust inside the palace turns clean after washing. The same applies to personal conduct: if one keeps cleansing his own flaws, he will commit few faults.

Note

Constant self-reflection and correction help people eliminate shortcomings and reduce blunders.

Han Fei

Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, uses daily utensil as metaphor to put forward the self-correction principle for rulers and officials.

Daily life metaphor

Pre-Qin scholars often draw lessons from household chores to explain self-cultivation. Stained pottery stands for flawed character, washing represents self-examination and reform.

Official self-discipline idea

Legalists required bureaucrats to reflect on mistakes regularly, remove bad habits to reduce administrative errors.

Ancient self-cultivation culture

Self-cleansing of faults was a common requirement for aristocrats and literati in pre-Qin era. For example, Zengzi would reflect upon himself every day to cultivate virtue and uphold trustworthiness.

And Confucius said, “When you see a worthy person, think of emulating them; when you see an unworthy person, turn inward and examine yourself.”

宮有堊器，有滌則潔矣。行身亦然，無滌堊之地則寡非矣。