Chenggong was a man who lived during the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Han dynasty. He concealed his true name, frequently recited the classics, and kept himself aloof from worldly pursuits of profit and status; thus, the people of his time simply called him Chenggong.
During an imperial excursion, Emperor Cheng encountered him and questioned him, but Chenggong refused to compromise his moral integrity. The Emperor said, “I have the power to enrich and enoble men, and I have the power to kill. Why do you dare to defy me?” Chenggong replied, “Your Majesty can enoble men, but I can refuse to accept the offices Your Majesty offers. Your Majesty can enrich men, but I can refuse to accept the salaries Your Majesty bestows. Your Majesty can kill, but I can avoid violating the laws of Your Majesty.” The Emperor was unable to refute him and instead dispatched two Gentlemen of the Palace to study the Twelve Chapters on Statecraft from him.
Note
Anonymous Han sage Chenggong shunned fame and wealth. Confronted by Emperor Cheng’s threats of rank, fortune and death, he calmly argued his spiritual independence. The emperor yielded and sent officials to learn his twelve chapters on state governance.
Chenggong (成公):
A mysterious Daoist or esoteric scholar of the Western Han dynasty whose true identity was lost to history. His story is a classic illustration of the ultimate Daoist defense mechanism: true freedom is achieved not by acquiring power, but by completely detaching oneself from the very things that power relies upon (wealth, status, and life).
Emperor Cheng of Han:
The twelfth emperor of the Western Han dynasty. His interaction with Chenggong highlights a fascinating dynamic in ancient Chinese politics: even an absolute monarch was forced to recognize and submit to the moral and intellectual authority of a true sage.
The Ultimate Rebuttal:
This dialogue is one of the most brilliant philosophical comebacks in Chinese literature. It perfectly encapsulates the concept of Wuwei (non-action) and spiritual invulnerability. By stripping away his desires for wealth and status, Chenggong rendered the Emperor’s ultimate threats completely useless, proving that a man with nothing to lose is truly untouchable.
Twelve Chapters on Statecraft:
A lost esoteric text attributed to Chenggong. The fact that the Emperor sent officials to learn from the recluse, rather than forcing the recluse to serve in the court, demonstrates the ancient Chinese reverence for hidden wisdom. It shows that statecraft was not solely the domain of politicians, but also of spiritual masters.
成公，成帝时人。自隐姓名，常诵经，不交世利，时人号曰成公。成帝出游，问之，成公不屈节。上曰：“朕能富贵人，能杀人，子何逆朕？”成公曰：“陛下能贵人，臣能不受陛下之官。陛下能富人，臣能不受陛下之禄。陛下能杀人，臣能不犯陛下之法。”上不能折，使郎二人就受政事十二篇。
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