Han Feizi – Chapter 33.3

Classic III

When the principles governing ruler and minister are lost, even King Wen would tie his own shoes and boast of it. When the distinction between court and private life is not observed, Ji Sun, though solemn all his life, would still meet with assassination.

Note

This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.3 uses two historical allusions. It argues political order relies on strict ruler minister hierarchy and clear separation between formal court affairs and private leisure, not personal virtue alone.

Han Feizi / Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE):

A Legalist philosopher who stresses that political order depends on clear hierarchy, authority, and institutional control, not merely on personal virtue.

King Wen of Zhou (周文王):

A semi-legendary Zhou ruler admired in Confucian tradition. In one story, he ties his own shoe strap because he regards the men around him as former ministers of his father and therefore hard to command. Han Fei sees this as a failure to maintain proper ruler-minister distance.

Ji Sun (季孙):

Usually understood as Ji Kangzi, a powerful minister of Lu in the Spring and Autumn period. He kept himself solemn and dressed as if at court even in private life, but when he once relaxed, his retainers felt slighted and turned against him.

Court and private life (朝,燕):

“Chao” is the formal court; “yan” is private leisure or informal residence. Han Fei warns that a ruler or minister must not treat these two spheres the same way.

Ruler-minister principles:

The proper relationship between ruler and minister. For Han Fei, this is not mere courtesy, but a political structure that keeps authority stable.

经三

　　失臣主之理，则文王自履而矜。不易朝燕之处，则季孙终身庄而遇贼。