In ancient times, Wu Qi explained to King Dao of Chu the customs of Chu: “High ministers hold excessive power, and too many nobles hold fiefdoms. This pressures the ruler above and oppresses the people below, a path to poverty and military weakness. We should revoke noble titles and stipends after three generations of inheritance, cut officials’ salaries, reduce unnecessary minor posts, and support selected and trained warriors.” King Dao implemented these policies for one year before his death, and Wu Qi was dismembered in Chu.
Lord Shang (Shang Yang) instructed Duke Xiao of Qin to organize households into groups of ten and five, establish collective punishment laws, burn the Book of Songs and Book of Documents to clarify decrees, block private favor‑seeking and reward public merit, ban wandering office‑seekers, and honor farmers and soldiers. Under Duke Xiao’s governance, the ruler became dignified and secure, and the state grew rich and strong. Eight years later Duke Xiao died, and Lord Shang was torn apart by chariots in Qin.
Chu declined and fell into chaos for rejecting Wu Qi; Qin prospered for adopting Lord Shang’s law. Both men’s proposals were sound, yet Wu Qi was dismembered and Lord Shang torn apart. Why? Because high ministers suffered under strict law and common people disliked firm governance.
In the present age, ministers crave power and commoners accept disorder more than in Qin and Chu of old. Rulers lack the discernment of King Dao and Duke Xiao. How then can law‑wise statesmen risk the same fatal dangers as these two men to promote their statecraft? This is why the world remains chaotic with no overlord emerging.
Note
This passage reveals the tragic reality of Legalist reform: effective state‑strengthening policies harm elite and popular private interests. Only strong rulers can protect reformers; without such support, states remain weak and chaotic.
Late Warring‑States Legalist thinker. This passage from He Shi uses two reform martyrs to argue that Legalist statesmen face inevitable political sacrifice.
Wu Qi
Famous military strategist and reformer of Chu. His reforms weakened aristocratic power; he was killed by nobles after his patron king died.
Lord Shang (Shang Yang)
Shang Yang, founding Legalist reformer of Qin. His strict laws laid Qin’s foundation for unifying China, yet he was executed by chariot tearing after Duke Xiao’s death.
King Dao of Chu & Duke Xiao of Qin
Two rare strong‑willed rulers who supported Legalist reforms.
Collective Punishment (Shi‑wu Lian‑zuo)
A core Legalist system: households were grouped for mutual surveillance and shared punishment to strengthen state control.
Legalist Reform Martyrdom
Wu Qi and Lord Shang became symbols: reformers who strengthen the state are often killed by conservative elites once their patron ruler dies.
Conflict Between Law and Private Interest
Strict law limits noble privileges and personal freedom, making it hated by both powerful ministers and ordinary people.
Overlord‑Age Politics
Han Fei blames weak rulers for failing to back Legalist reform, thus preventing a new hegemon from unifying the chaotic Warring‑States world.
昔者吳起教楚悼王以楚國之俗曰：「大臣太重，封君太眾，若此則上偪主而下虐民，此貧國弱兵之道也。不如使封君之子孫三世而收爵祿，絕滅百吏之祿秩，損不急之枝官，以奉選練之士。」悼王行之期年而薨矣，吳起枝解於楚。商君教秦孝公以連什伍，設告坐之過，燔詩書而明法令，塞私門之請而遂公家之勞，禁游宦之民而顯耕戰之士。孝公行之，主以尊安，國以富強，八年而薨，商君車裂於秦。楚不用吳起而削亂，秦行商君法而富強，二子之言也已當矣，然而枝解吳起而車裂商君者何也？大臣苦法而細民惡治也。當今之世，大臣貪重，細民安亂，甚於秦、楚之俗，而人主無悼王、孝公之聽，則法術之士，安能蒙二子之危也而明己之法術哉！此世所以亂無霸王也。
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