Han Feizi – Chapter 33.1

Classic I

When a person is punished for a crime, he does not resent his ruler; this is shown by the man whose foot was cut off, yet who later protected Zi Gao. When a minister is rewarded for merit, he does not feel personal gratitude toward his lord; this is shown by Di Huang, who held the right tally and rode in a noble carriage. Because King Xiang did not understand this principle, Zhao Mao received only five chariots and still felt as if he were wearing straw sandals. If the ruler does not exceed proper appointments and ministers do not falsely claim ability, then ministers will become like Shao Shizhou.

Note

This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.1 uses short historical cases. It advocates impartial rewards‑punishments based on merit, warning mismatched official appointments harm stable ruler‑minister relations.

Han Feizi / Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE):

A major Legalist philosopher of the Warring States period. He argues that a ruler should govern through clear laws, rewards, and punishments rather than personal favor or moral sentiment.

Zi Gao (子皋):

A disciple of Confucius who served as a judicial officer in Wei. He ordered a man’s foot to be cut off, yet later that man helped him escape danger because the punishment had been fair.

Foot-cutting punishment:

A corporal punishment in early China in which one or both feet were amputated. Han Fei uses it to show that just punishment need not create personal hatred.

Di Huang (翟璜):

A minister of Wei. He receives reward not as a personal gift but as payment for service, like a creditor holding a contract.

Right tally (右契):

In ancient China, contracts or tallies were split into left and right halves. Holding the right half symbolized a legitimate claim. Here it means receiving reward based on recorded merit.

King Xiang of Wei (魏襄王):

A ruler of Wei during the Warring States period. He failed to reward Zhao Mao properly, showing how unfair rewards weaken loyalty.

Zhao Mao (昭卯):

A minister who rendered great service to Wei but received only five chariots’ worth of reward, so he felt humiliated.

Five chariots (五乘):

A measure of reward or income. Five chariots were far too little for Zhao Mao’s achievement, so the reward seemed mismatched.

Shao Shizhou (少室周):

A figure associated with honest service. Han Fei uses him to represent a minister who does not exaggerate his ability and keeps his proper place.

经一

　　以罪受诛，人不怨上，跀危坐子皋。以功受赏，臣不德君，翟璜操右契而乘轩。襄王不知，故昭卯五乘而履𡳯。上不过任，臣不诬能，即臣将为夫少室周。