Classic V
The Book of Poetry says, “If he does not personally attend to affairs, the common people will not trust him.” Yet this idea is qualified by the lesson of “not wearing purple,” moderated by the cases of Duke Jian of Zheng and Duke Xiang of Song, and corrected by the demand that rulers honor plowing and warfare.
If a ruler does not clarify divisions of responsibility, does not demand that subordinates fulfill their duties, and instead tries to win trust by personally descending into lower affairs, he risks becoming like the servant who sleeps on duty, or like those who discard proper authority by going about in disguise. Confucius did not fully grasp this, so he compared the ruler’s influence to a basin that shapes the water within it. The ruler of Zou did not fully grasp it either, so he first humiliated himself by cutting his own long tassel.
The way of an enlightened ruler is like Shu Xiang distributing game, and like Duke Zhao of Han asking how he should listen.
Note
This Legalist passage from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 32.5 critiques over‑reliance on a ruler’s personal example. It advocates institutional governance and clear division of duties instead of rulers handling subordinates’ work directly.
A Legalist thinker of the Warring States period who argues that rulers should govern through institutions, not through personal example alone.
“If he does not personally attend to affairs, the common people will not trust him”:
A line from the Book of Poetry. Han Fei accepts that rulers must be credible, but rejects the idea that they should do subordinates’ work.
Not wearing purple:
Refers to Duke Huan of Qi, who loved purple clothing and caused a costly fashion trend. After Guan Zhong advised him to stop wearing purple himself, the trend quickly ended. It shows the power of a ruler’s example, but Han Fei treats it as insufficient for systematic governance.
Duke Jian of Zheng (郑简公):
Often presented as a ruler who trusted his minister Zi Chan and did not interfere in every detail, illustrating effective delegation.
Duke Xiang of Song (宋襄公):
Duke Xiang of Song was a Spring and Autumn ruler famous for insisting on ritual propriety in war. His defeat is used here to criticize empty moral posturing.
Plowing and warfare (耕战):
The Legalist view that agriculture and military service are the two foundations of state strength.
Confucius and the basin (犹盂):
Confucius is said to have compared the ruler to a basin and the people to water: if the basin is square, the water appears square; if round, the water appears round. Han Fei thinks this metaphor overemphasizes personal influence.
Ruler of Zou and the long tassel (邹君、长缨):
The ruler of Zou cut his own long tassel to discourage an extravagant fashion. Han Fei sees this as a clumsy reliance on self-humiliation rather than law.
Shu Xiang distributing game (叔向赋猎):
Shu Xiang, a Jin minister, is used as an image of fair and rule-based distribution, symbolizing governance by clear allocation and merit.
Duke Zhao of Han asking “how should I listen” (昭侯之奚听):
Duke Zhao of Han, a ruler often discussed in Han Feizi, represents a monarch who does not decide arbitrarily but relies on proper channels and verification.
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