Han Feizi Chapter 13.3 continues the jade allegory, stressing Legalist reformers face harsh persecution. True statecraft must overcome elite resistance.
Han Feizi extends the jade metaphor: legal statecraft, like raw jade, is valuable yet opposed. Rulers must back reformers against elites.
Han Feizi tells He Shi’s jade story: true talent/statecraft is often misjudged and persecuted before its value is revealed.
Han Feizi uses Mi Zixia’s story: rulers’ favor shifts arbitrarily. Avoid their “forbidden scale” to survive persuasion.
Han Feizi uses three fables to show: knowing truth is easy, but speaking it safely – timing, context, trust – is hard.
Han Feizi lists persuasion risks: knowing secrets, exposing faults, misjudging tone – all can anger suspicious rulers.
Han Feizi warns persuaders to match rulers’ true motives: honor, profit, or both. Misjudging hidden desires leads to rejection.
Han Feizi states persuasion’s true difficulty is understanding the ruler’s mind, not one’s own wisdom or eloquence.