Explanation 1
Zaofu drove a team of four horses for the king of Qi. He could make them gallop, turn, and circle at will because he alone controlled the reins and whip. Yet when the horses were startled by a wild boar darting out, Zaofu could not restrain them. This was not because his reins and whip lacked force, but because his authority was divided by the sudden appearance of the boar.
Wangzi Yuqi served as deputy driver for Zhao Jianzhu. He did not need to use reins and whip constantly, but guided the horses by controlling fodder and water. Yet when the horses passed a garden pond, the carriage was ruined. This was not because the attraction of fodder and water was insufficient, but because the horses’ desire was drawn away by the garden pond.
Thus, although Wang Liang and Zaofu were the finest charioteers in the world, if Wang Liang held the left reins and shouted while Zaofu held the right reins and whipped, the horses could not travel even ten li. The cause was shared control. Tian Lian and Cheng Qiao were the finest zither players in the world, yet if Tian Lian plucked the upper strings while Cheng Qiao pressed the lower ones, they could not complete a tune. The cause was likewise shared control.
With the skill of Wang Liang and Zaofu, sharing the reins makes it impossible to drive the horses. How, then, can a ruler share power with his ministers and still govern? With the skill of Tian Lian and Cheng Qiao, sharing the zither makes it impossible to complete a melody. How, then, can a ruler share authority with his ministers and still achieve success?
Another version says: Zaofu drove for the king of Qi. He tamed the horses by keeping them thirsty, and after a hundred days they were fully trained. When the training was complete, he asked to demonstrate his driving before the king. The king said, “Demonstrate it in the garden.” Zaofu drove into the garden, but when the thirsty horses saw the pond, they abandoned the carriage and ran toward the water, ruining the harness. Zaofu had long controlled the horses through thirst; now, seeing the pond, they bolted. Even Zaofu could not restrain them. In the same way, Duke Jian of Qi had long controlled the people through strict laws, while Tian Chengheng took advantage of this by offering benevolence, like tilting a garden pond toward a thirsty people.
Wangzi Yuqi raced for Zhao Jianzhu in a thousand-li trial. After the horses were harnessed, he examined their mouths and hooves. As he was about to start, a boar hid in a ditch. Wangzi Yuqi gathered the reins and whip and advanced, but the boar suddenly rushed out. The horses were startled, and the carriage was ruined.
Another version says: Wangzi Yuqi raced for the lord of Song. After harnessing the horses, he inspected their features. As he urged them forward, the wheels followed the straight line; when he pulled them back, the horses covered their own tracks. He patted them and set them off. A boar suddenly burst from a hole. The horses drew back, and the whip could not make them advance; they bolted, and the reins could not straighten them.
Si Cheng Zihan said to the lord of Song: “Rewards and gifts are what the people love; let Your Majesty dispense them personally. Punishments and executions are what the people hate; let me bear them.” The lord agreed. Zihan then issued stern orders and executed high ministers. When questions arose, the lord said, “Consult Zihan.” The great ministers feared him, and the common people turned to him. After a year, Zihan killed the lord of Song and seized the government. Thus Zihan acted like a wild boar darting out, and thereby seized his ruler’s state.
Duke Jian of Qi ruled with heavy punishments, severe executions, and harsh taxation. Tian Chengheng, by contrast, displayed kindness and leniency. Duke Jian treated the people of Qi like thirsty horses, offering them no favor, while Tian Chengheng used benevolence as a garden pond to attract them.
Another version says: Zaofu tamed horses by thirst. After a hundred days, they were trained. He asked to demonstrate before the king of Qi, who told him to drive in the garden. When the horses saw the pond, they fled toward it, and Zaofu could not stop them. He had long controlled them through thirst, but the sight of water made them bolt. Even Zaofu could not manage them. Likewise, Duke Jian had long restrained the people with laws, while Tian Chengheng exploited this by offering relief, as if tilting a garden pond toward a thirsty populace.
If Wang Liang and Zaofu shared one carriage, each holding one side of the reins, the harness would fail and they would never reach their destination. If Tian Lian and Cheng Qiao shared one zither, each playing one set of strings, the sounds would clash and the tune would not be completed.
Note
This Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.6 Legalist exposition uses chariot‑driving and zither metaphors. Through Zihan and Tian Chengheng’s cases, it illustrates that shared sovereign power over rewards‑punishments will trigger usurpation and political ruin.
Han Feizi / Legalism:
Han Fei was a major Legalist thinker of the Warring States period. He argued that a ruler must keep rewards, punishments, and authority undivided, because shared power leads to disorder.
Zaofu:
A legendary master charioteer of ancient China. He symbolizes perfect control, yet even he fails when authority is distracted or divided.
Wangzi Yuqi / Wang Liang:
Another famous charioteer, sometimes identified with Wang Liang. He represents expert governance through technique and incentive.
Wild boar darting out:
A metaphor for sudden disruption. It shows how an unexpected force can break the ruler’s control if authority is not firmly centralized.
Garden pond:
A metaphor for temptation. Tian Chengheng’s kindness is compared to water that attracts thirsty horses, drawing loyalty away from the ruler.
Wang Liang and Zaofu sharing reins:
A Legalist metaphor. Even two experts cannot drive one carriage if each controls part of the reins. It illustrates the danger of divided authority.
Tian Lian and Cheng Qiao sharing a zither:
Another metaphor for failed coordination. A melody requires unified direction, just as governance requires unified power.
Si Cheng Zihan:
A powerful minister of Song, also known as Huang Xi. He took charge of punishments while letting the ruler keep rewards, and eventually seized power.
Lord of Song / Duke Jian of Qi:
Rulers who lost power because ministers captured the people’s loyalty or controlled life-and-death authority.
Tian Chengheng / Tian Chang:
A minister of Qi who won popular support through generosity, helping the Tian clan eventually dominate Qi.
Thirsty horses and garden pond:
A political image. Harsh law without relief makes people “thirsty,” so a minister who offers kindness can easily attract them.
说一
造父御四马，驰骤周旋而恣欲于马。恣欲于马者，擅辔策之制也。然马惊于出彘而造父不能禁制者，非辔策之严不足也，威分于出彘也。王子于期为驸驾，辔策不用而择欲于马，擅刍水之利也。然马过于圃池而驸驾败者，非刍水之利不足也，德分子圃池也。故王良、造父，天下之善御者也，然而使王良操左革而叱咤之，使造父操右革而鞭笞之，马不能行十里，共故也。田连、成窍，天下善鼓琴者也，然而田连鼓上、成窍擑（音叶，用手指按）下而不能成曲，亦共故也。夫以王良、造父之巧，共辔而御，不能使马，人主安能与其臣共权以为治？以田连、成窍之巧，共琴而不能成曲，人主又安能与其臣共势以成功乎？
一曰：造父为齐王驸驾，渴马服成，效驾圃中。渴马见圃他，去车走池，驾败。王子于期为赵简主取道争千里之表，其始发也，彘伏沟中，王子于期齐辔策而进之，彘突出于沟中，马惊驾败。
司城子罕谓宋君曰：“庆赏赐与，展之所喜也，君自行之；杀戮诛罚，民之所恶也，臣访当之。”宋君曰：“诺。”于是出威令，诛大臣。君曰“问子罕”也。于是大臣畏之，细民归之。处期年，子罕杀宋君而夺政。故子罕为出彘以夺其君国。
简公在上位，罚重而诛严，厚赋敛而杀戮民。田成恒设慈爱，明宽厚。简公以齐民为渴马，不以恩加民，而田成恒以仁厚为圃地也。
一曰：造父为齐王驸驾，以渴服马，百日而服成。服成，请效驾齐王，王曰；“效驾于圃中。”造父驱车入圃，马见圃池而走，造父不能禁。造父以渴服马久矣，今马见池，駻而走，虽造父不能治。今简公之以法禁其众久矣，而田成恒利之，是田成恒倾圃池而示渴民也。
一曰：王子于期为宋君为千里之逐。已驾，察手吻文。且发矣，驱而前之，轮中绳；引而却之，马掩迹。拊而发之。彘逸出于窦中。马退而却，策不能进前也；马駻而走，辔不能正也。
一曰：司城子罕谓宋君曰：“庆赏赐予者，民之所好也，君自行之；诛罚杀戮者，民之所恶也，臣访当之。”于是戮细民而诛大臣，君曰：“与子罕议之。”居期年，民知杀生之命制于子罕也，故一国归焉。故子罕劫宋君而夺其政，法不能禁也。故曰：“子罕为出彘，而田成常为圃池也。”令王良、造父共车，人操一边辔而出门闾，驾必败而道不至也。令田连、成窍共琴，人抚一弦而挥，则音必败、曲不遂突。
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