Chong Hou and E Lai knew opposing King Zhou would bring execution, yet failed to foresee King Wu would overthrow the Shang Dynasty. Bi Gan and Wu Zixu foresaw their sovereigns’ impending ruin but could not avoid their own fatal deaths.
Hence the comment: “Chong Hou and E Lai understood the ruler’s temperament but missed the trend of state affairs; Bi Gan and Wu Zixu saw the fate of the nation yet misjudged their lords’ cruel hearts.” Only sage men possess full insight of both.
Note
Perfect judgment requires mastery of both personal disposition and macroscopic situation; partial observation leads to personal or national misfortune.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, uses four historical figures to expound comprehensive judgment of human and state affairs.
Chong Hou, E Lai
Treacherous senior ministers serving King Zhou of Shang, currying favor with the tyrant and ignoring Shang’s doom.
King Zhou of Shang
Cruel last monarch of Shang Dynasty.
Bi Gan
Bi Gan, loyal Shang minister who remonstrated fiercely against King Zhou and was put to death.
Wu Zixu
As a loyal official of Wu, Wu Zixu warned King Fuchai of Wu’s peril but was forced by the king to commit suicide.
King Wu of Zhou
Founder of Zhou Dynasty, conquered Shang.
Two kinds of flawed officials
Flatterers cater to ruler’s preference while ignoring national crisis; upright loyalists perceive state risks but lack self-preservation awareness against tyrants.
Pre-Qin official wisdom
Ideal ministers need dual ability: reading human nature and judging overall political tendency.
Historical reference
Pre-Qin thinkers frequently cited Shang and Wu’s historical tragedies as governance warnings.
崇侯、惡來知不適紂之誅也，而不見武王之滅之也。比干、子胥知其君之必亡也，而不知身之死也。故曰：「崇侯、惡來知心而不知事，比干、子胥知事而不知心。」聖人其備矣。
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