Therefore, even if standards and measures are upright, they may not be followed; even if principles and reasoning are complete, they may not be adopted. If Your Majesty distrusts advisors for this reason, minor criticism will be seen as slander, while serious advice may bring disaster, ruin and even death upon oneself.
Wu Zixu excelled at strategy yet was executed by Wu; Confucius excelled at persuasion yet was besieged in Kuang; Guan Zhong was truly virtuous yet imprisoned by Lu. Were these three ministers not worthy? It was simply that their rulers were unenlightened.
In ancient times, King Tang of Shang was supremely sage, and Yi Yin supremely wise. Even with supreme wisdom persuading a supreme sage, Yi Yin proposed counsel seventy‑nine times without acceptance. He then worked personally as a cook with pots and cutting boards, serving closely beside Tang, until Tang finally recognized his worth and employed him.
Hence: even supreme wisdom may not be accepted immediately when persuading a supreme sage, as shown by Yi Yin advising Tang. Wisdom will never be heeded when persuading a fool, as shown by King Wen of Zhou advising King Zhou of Shang.
King Wen advised Zhou yet was imprisoned by him. Lord Yi was roasted to death, Lord Gui turned into dried flesh, Bi Gan’s heart was cut out, Mei Bo minced into sauce. Guan Zhong was bound and imprisoned, Cao Ji fled to Chen, Baili Xi begged along roads, Fu Yue was sold repeatedly. Sun Bin had his kneecaps cut off in Wei. Wu Qi wept at Anmen, grieving that Xihe would fall to Qin, and was eventually dismembered in Chu. Gongsun Cuo recommended state geniuses yet was deemed treacherous, so Shang Yang fled to Qin. Guan Longfeng was beheaded, Chang Hong had his intestines torn out, Yin Zi trapped among thorns, Sima Ziqi’s body floated on the river after death, Tian Ming shot to death. Mi Zijian and Ximen Bao died by others’ hands without fighting. Dong Anyu’s body was exposed in the market after death. Zai Yu could not escape Tian Chang’s massacre. Fan Ju had his ribs broken in Wei.
These more than ten men were all benevolent, worthy, loyal and knowledgeable scholars of the age. They died unfortunately under tyrannical, chaotic and deluded rulers. If even sages and worthies cannot escape death and humiliation, why? Because foolish rulers are extremely hard to persuade, so gentlemen rarely dare to speak frankly.
Furthermore, profound truth offends the ear and disturbs the mind; only sage rulers can accept it. I earnestly beg Your Majesty to examine this carefully.
Note
This passage reveals the harsh reality of autocratic politics: even the wisest and most loyal advisors risk death when confronting foolish rulers. Persuasion is dangerous, and truth‑telling requires extraordinary courage.
Han Fei
Core Legalist thinker of the Warring States Period. This passage comes from his essay *On the Difficulties of Persuasion (Shuonan)*, summarizing the tragic fate of loyal advisors throughout history.
Wu Zixu
Loyal strategist of the State of Wu, executed for sincere advice against the king’s reckless policies.
Confucius (Zhongni)
Great Confucian philosopher, once trapped in Kuang due to political misunderstanding.
Guan Zhong
Famous prime minister of Qi, once imprisoned by Lu before becoming a legendary statesman.
King Tang & Yi Yin
King Tang, sage founder of Shang Dynasty; Yi Yin, his wise minister who won trust by humble service as a cook.
King Wen & King Zhou
King Wen of Zhou, sage ruler imprisoned by King Zhou, the tyrannical last king of Shang.
Bi Gan, Mei Bo, Guan Longfeng
Legendary martyrs who died for loyal remonstrance against tyrants, symbols of tragic faithful ministers.
Sun Bin, Wu Qi, Shang Yang, Fan Ju
Famous strategists and reformers of Warring States, suffering torture, exile or execution due to political intrigue and tyrannical rulers.
The Tragedy of Loyal Remonstrance
A recurring theme in ancient Chinese politics: loyal advisors who speak truth to power are often slandered, tortured or killed under unenlightened rulers.
Reverse Effect of Sincere Advice
Han Fei’s core idea: profound, honest advice is unpleasant to hear and uncomfortable to accept; only sage kings can tolerate it. Foolish rulers reject truth and punish messengers.
Warring States Scholar‑Official Politics
Wandering scholars offered strategies to kings, yet faced high risk of political persecution. Talent and loyalty did not guarantee safety or success.
Cruel Ancient Punishments
Roasting, dismemberment, cutting out hearts, mincing bodies were brutal penalties used against critics in ancient China, reflecting autocratic cruelty.
故度量虽正，未必听也；义理虽全，未必用也。大王若以此不信 ，则小者以为毁訾诽谤，大者患祸灾害死亡及其身。故子胥善谋而吴戮之，仲尼善说而匡围之，管夷吾实贤而鲁囚之。故此三大夫岂不贤哉？而三君不明也。上古有汤至圣也，伊尹至智也；夫至智说至圣， 然且七十说而不受，身执鼎俎为庖宰，昵近习亲，而汤乃仅知其贤而用之。故曰以至智说至圣，未必至而见受，伊尹说汤是也；以智说愚必不听，文王说纣是也。故文王说纣而纣囚之，翼侯炙，鬼侯腊，比干剖心，梅伯醢，夷吾束缚，而曹羁奔陈，伯里子道乞，傅说转鬻，孙子膑脚于魏，吴起收泣于岸门、痛西河之为秦、卒枝解于楚，公叔痤言国器、反为悖，公孙鞅奔秦，关龙逄斩，苌宏分胣，尹子阱于棘，司马子期死而浮于江，田明辜射，宓子贱、西门豹不斗而死人手，董安于死而陈于市，宰予不免于田常，范睢折胁于魏。此十数人者，皆世之仁贤忠良有道术之士也，不幸而遇悖乱闇惑之主而死，然则虽贤圣不能逃死亡避戮辱者何也？则愚者难说也，故君子难言也。且至言忤于耳而倒于心，非贤圣莫能听，愿大王熟察之也。
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