Classic VI
When small promises are kept, great trust can be established; hence an enlightened ruler accumulates credibility. If rewards and punishments are not trustworthy, prohibitions and commands will not be carried out. This is illustrated by Duke Wen’s attack on Yuan and by Ji Zheng’s advice on relieving famine. Thus Wu Qi waited for an old friend before eating, and Marquis Wen of Wei kept his appointment with the forester despite the storm. An enlightened ruler demonstrates trustworthiness as Zengzi did when he killed a pig for his child. The danger of broken trust appears in King Li of Chu striking the alarm drum in jest, and in Li Kui’s deception of his two army divisions.
Note
This Legalist segment from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter32.6 uses multiple historical tales. It argues rulers must accumulate political credibility; trustworthy rewards punishments secure obedience, while broken trust brings grave perils.
A Legalist thinker of the Warring States period. He treats trust not merely as moral virtue but as a political instrument that makes laws, rewards, and punishments effective.
Small trust, great trust:
Han Fei’s idea that credibility is built gradually. If a ruler cannot keep minor promises, people will not believe major commands.
Duke Wen of Jin attacks Yuan:
Duke Wen of Jin promised his troops to withdraw after ten days. When Yuan had not fallen, he kept his promise and left. The people of Yuan and Wei later submitted because they trusted him.
Ji Zheng on relieving famine:
When asked how to deal with famine, Ji Zheng (箕郑) answered that the ruler should be trustworthy in titles, affairs, and moral commitments, so that officials and people know what to expect.
Wu Qi waits for an old friend:
Wu Qi invited a friend to dinner and refused to eat until the friend arrived, even though he did not come until the next day. It shows that a commander must keep his word to command obedience.
Marquis Wen of Wei and the forester:
Marquis Wen had arranged a hunt with a forester. When strong winds arose, he still went in person to cancel the appointment rather than break his word.
Zengzi’s wife jokingly promised to kill a pig for their crying child. Zengzi insisted on doing it, arguing that parents must not teach children to accept deception.
King Li of Chu and the alarm drum:
Drunk, King Li(楚厉王) struck the emergency drum as a joke. Later, when real danger came, the people no longer responded.
Li Kui deceives the two divisions:
Li Kui (李悝) repeatedly gave false alarms or misleading orders to his left and right divisions. The soldiers stopped trusting him, and when the Qin army attacked, his forces were nearly destroyed.
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