When King Xuan of Qi* called for reed pipe music, he would have three hundred men playing at the same time.
Then a scholar named Nanguo asked for a place in the orchestra, and the prince recruited him happily and granted him the equal salary as other players in the group. For years, Nanguo blended into the ensemble, mimicking the motions of playing while producing no real sound.
After King Xuan’s death, however, Prince Min came to the throne, known as King Min of Qi, and he liked solo performances.
There upon the scholar fled.
Allegorical Meaning
The story warns against deception and highlights the consequences of pretending to possess skills one lacks. The protagonist blends into an orchestra by miming flute-playing, but when required to perform solo, his incompetence is exposed.
The Theater of Mediocrity
In King Xuan’s court, the impostor (Nanguo) thrives because group performance masks individual incompetence and the emperor’s lack of discernment. It is the system flaws that nurtured the fraud and enabled such deception.
The Shock of Scrutiny
True ability cannot be faked indefinitely. Nanguo escaped when King Min demands for solo auditions. Hiding in a group may mask shortcomings temporarily, but genuine skill withstands scrutiny.
Note:
*King Xuan of Qi could not be considered an enlightened ruler, yet there is no doubt that during his reign, the State of Qi experienced rapid development. In particular, his expansion of the Jixia Academy can be regarded as one of the most important factors that contributed to the flourishing of “a hundred schools of thought contending.” The Jixia Academy in the State of Qi was initially established by Duke Huan of Qi and later greatly promoted by King Xuan of Qi. Figures such as Mencius and Xunzi once taught there.
The Mencius: King Hui of Liang Chapter records a dialogue between Mencius and King Xuan of Qi. Using music as a medium, Mencius expressed the ideas of “sharing joy with the people” and “putting the people first.”
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