Someone posed a riddle to Duke Huan of Qi, saying, “The first difficulty, the second difficulty, the third difficulty – what are they?” Duke Huan could not answer and told Guan Zhong. Guan Zhong replied, “The first difficulty is to be close to actors and distant from scholars. The second difficulty is to leave one’s state and frequently go to the sea. The third difficulty is to be old as a ruler and yet late in appointing a crown prince.” Duke Huan said, “Well said.” Without delay, he performed the temple ceremony to install the crown prince.
Someone says: Guan Zhong did not truly solve the riddle. The employment of scholars does not depend on mere nearness or distance. Actors, jesters, and dwarfs are indeed those with whom a ruler relaxes; so being close to actors and distant from scholars is not in itself a difficulty in governing. If a ruler holds his position yet cannot use the power at his disposal, and acts perversely without leaving the capital, he is trying to restrain an entire state by the strength of one man. Few can succeed in restraining a whole state by the strength of one man. If his insight can illuminate distant treachery and perceive hidden signs, and his orders are surely carried out, then even if he is far from the sea, there will be no disturbance within. Thus, going to the sea without being seized or killed is not a true difficulty.
King Cheng of Chu installed Shang Chen as crown prince, yet later wished to install Prince Zhi. Shang Chen rose in rebellion and ultimately killed King Cheng. Prince Zai was the crown prince of Zhou; Prince Gen enjoyed favor and rebelled with Dongzhou, splitting the realm into two states. These disasters did not arise simply from late appointment of a crown prince. If authority is undivided, if sons of concubines and collateral branches remain low in status, and if those who enjoy favor have no power to rely on, then even a late appointment of a crown prince will not cause disorder among collateral heirs. Hence late appointment without disorder among collateral heirs is also not a true difficulty.
What is truly called a difficulty must be this: to borrow power from others to establish one’s authority, yet prevent them from harming oneself – this may be called the first difficulty; to favor a noble concubine, yet not allow her to equal the principal queen – this may be called the second difficulty; to favor a son by a concubine, yet not allow him to endanger the legitimate wife and heir; to listen exclusively to one minister, yet not allow that minister to turn against the ruler – these may be called the third difficulty.
Note
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 38.3 disputes Guan Zhong’s interpretation of the “three‑difficulties” riddle. It argues real political hazards lie in imbalanced power from ministers, concubines and princes, not superficial ruler‑conduct.
Han Feizi and the “Nan” chapters:
The Han Feizi is a central Legalist text from the late Warring States period. The Nan chapters often test famous stories by asking whether the accepted explanation really captures the political problem.
Duke Huan of Qi:
Duke Huang was a famous hegemon of the early Spring and Autumn period. He is often praised for appointing Guan Zhong and strengthening Qi.
Duke Huan’s chief minister. He is remembered as a capable statesman who helped Qi become the leading state.
Riddle or “hidden saying”:
The “yin” here is a kind of court riddle. The questioner names “three difficulties” without explaining them, expecting the ruler or minister to interpret them.
Actors, jesters, and dwarfs:
These were entertainers attached to the ruler’s court. Han Fei does not deny that rulers enjoyed their company; he argues that their presence is not the deepest political danger.
Scholars or “shi”:
Men of talent, learning, or administrative ability. Confucian writers often stressed that rulers should draw near to worthy men and keep flatterers at a distance.
Crown prince:
The designated heir. Late or unclear succession often caused instability in early Chinese states.
Temple ceremony:
Installing a crown prince in the ancestral temple gave the succession ritual and political legitimacy.
King Cheng of Chu and Shang Chen:
King Cheng first made Shang Chen his heir, then considered replacing him. Shang Chen rebelled and killed his father, a famous case of succession crisis.
Prince Zai and Prince Gen:
Han Fei uses them as another example of division caused by rival claims to power. “Dongzhou” refers to an eastern region that broke away, creating two competing centers.
Principal wife and sons of concubines:
Early Chinese aristocratic households distinguished sharply between the principal wife and her sons, and concubines and their sons. Han Fei warns that favoritism can upset this hierarchy.
Legalist view of power:
Han Fei thinks the real danger is not surface behavior, such as visiting the sea or keeping entertainers, but structural imbalance: when ministers, concubines, or favored sons gain enough power to challenge the ruler.
三
人有设桓公隐者曰：“一难，二难，三难，何也？”桓公不能对，以告管仲。管仲对曰：“一难也，近优而远士。二难也，去其国而数之海。三难也，君老而晚置太子。”桓公曰：“善。”不择日而庙礼太子。
或曰：管仲之射隐，不得也。士之用不在近远，而优俳侏儒固人主之所与燕也，则近优而远士而以为治，非其难者也。夫处世而不能用其有，而悖不去国，是以一人之力禁一国。以一人之力禁一国者，少能胜之。明能照远奸而见隐微，必行之令，虽远于海，内必无变。然则去国之海而不劫杀，非其难者也。楚成王置商臣以为太子，又欲置公子职，商臣作难，遂弑成王。公子宰，周太子也，公子根有宠，遂以东州反，分而为两国。此皆非晚置太子之患也。夫分势不二，庶孽卑，宠无藉，虽处大臣，晚置太子可也。然则晚置太子，庶孽不乱，又非其难也。物之所谓难者，必借人成势而勿侵害己，可谓一难也，贵妾不使二后，二难也。爱孽不使危正适，专听一臣而不敢隅君，此则可谓三难也。
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