The Way of a wise ruler conforms to law; his laws conform to the hearts of the people. Therefore, while he is present, the people follow the law; when he is gone, the people long for his memory. Yao made no binding covenant with the people of his time, yet his Way prevailed throughout the land. Shun left not a single inch of land to his descendants, yet his virtue bound the hearts of all. He who can establish the Way in antiquity and extend his virtue to ten thousand generations – such a one is called a wise ruler.
Note
Yao:
One of the legendary Five Emperors in ancient Chinese mythology, universally regarded as the epitome of wisdom and virtue. He famously chose the most capable successor (Shun) rather than passing power to his own son, establishing the ideal of meritocratic succession. Han Fei uses him to illustrate that true authority comes not from contracts or coercion, but from the inherent goodness of one’s governance.
Shun:
The successor of Yao, also one of the Five Emperors. Shun rose from humble origins – his father was blind and his stepmother was hostile – yet through virtue and ability, he became emperor. He is remembered for governing with benevolence and appointing capable ministers. Han Fei uses him to show that lasting legacy comes from virtue, not from material possessions or territorial holdings.
Conforming to Law / Conforming to the Heart:
It means the ruler’s Way is in harmony with law, and the law is in harmony with the people’s hearts. This is a crucial nuance: Han Fei is not saying the ruler is “loyal” to law in a modern sense, but rather that there is a natural correspondence between good governance, just law, and popular sentiment.
A Covenant Like Glue and Lacquer (胶漆之约):
Glue (胶) and lacquer (漆) were among the strongest adhesives in ancient China. A “covenant of glue and lacquer” means an extremely tight, binding agreement. Han Fei uses this to argue that Yao’s authority did not depend on any formal contract – his Way was so naturally right that people followed it without being bound by obligation.
A Place to Stand a Cone(置锥之地, 立锥之地):
Literally “a piece of land just large enough to plant an awl,” this is a Chinese idiom meaning the absolute minimum – even the tiniest plot of land. Han Fei uses it to emphasize that Shun left no material inheritance whatsoever, yet his virtue endured for millennia. This challenges the assumption that power and legacy depend on territory or wealth.
While present, the people follow the law; when gone, they long for him:
This phrase captures Han Fei’s ideal of governance. A truly wise ruler creates a system so just and effective that people obey it willingly while he rules, and miss it when he is gone. This is the Legalist answer to the Confucian ideal of ruling by moral example – not through personal charisma, but through institutional excellence.
Establish the Way in antiquity, extend virtue to ten thousand generations(立道于往古，垂德于万世):
This is Han Fei’s definition of political immortality. Unlike the Confucian emphasis on personal moral cultivation, Han Fei defines immortality in terms of institutional legacy – the laws and systems you create that continue to benefit people long after you are gone.
明主之道忠法，其法忠心，故臨之而法，去之而思。堯無膠漆之約於當世而道行，舜無置錐之地於後世而德結。能立道於往古，而垂德於萬世者之謂明主。
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