Explanations V
When Meng Xianbo served as chancellor of Jin, bean plants and thistles grew in his courtyard, and thorns grew outside his gate. He ate no more than two dishes, did not sit on double mats, kept no concubines dressed in silk, did not feed grain to his horses, and went out without an entourage of carriages. Shu Xiang heard of this and told Miao Benhuang. Miao Benhuang criticized him, saying, “This is to hand over the ruler’s marks of rank and salary to those below.”
Another version says: When Meng Xianbo was appointed senior minister, Shu Xiang went to congratulate him. He saw that the horses at Meng’s gate were not fed with grain. Shu Xiang asked, “Why do you not keep two carriages and two horses?” Meng Xianbo replied, “I see that people in the state still have hungry faces, so I do not feed my horses with grain. I see that many gray-haired elders walk on foot, so I do not keep two carriages.” Shu Xiang said, “At first I came to congratulate you on becoming minister. Now I congratulate you on your frugality.” After leaving, Shu Xiang told Miao Benhuang, “Help me congratulate Meng Xianbo on his frugality.” Miao Benhuang said, “What is there to congratulate? Rank, salary, banners, and insignia are meant to distinguish merit and to separate the worthy from the unworthy. Thus the law of Jin provides that a senior grand officer has two carriages and two teams, a middle grand officer has two carriages and one team, and a junior grand officer has a single team. This makes ranks clear. Moreover, a minister must bear military responsibility, so he must maintain carriages and horses and keep troops and teams ready for war. In crisis, this prepares for the unexpected; in peace, it supplies the needs of court. Now Meng Xianbo disorders Jin’s administration and weakens preparations for emergencies, merely to achieve personal austerity and a private reputation for purity. Can such frugality be approved? Why congratulate it?”
When Guan Zhong served as chancellor of Qi, he said, “I am honored, yet I am poor.” Duke Huan granted him a household with the “Three Returns.” Guan Zhong said, “I am wealthy, yet I am low in rank.” Duke Huan placed him above the Gao and Guo clans. Guan Zhong said, “I am exalted, yet I am still distant from you.” Duke Huan then appointed him as Second Father. Confucius heard of this and criticized him, saying, “His extravagance presses too close to the ruler.”
Another version says: When Guan Zhong went out, his carriage had a red canopy and green curtains; he returned with drums. His courtyard displayed tripods, and his household kept three tripods. Confucius said, “He is a fine minister, but his extravagance presses too close to the ruler.”
When Sunshu Ao served as chancellor of Chu, he rode in a simple cart drawn by a mare, ate coarse cakes and vegetable soup, and dined on dried fish. In winter he wore lambskin, and in summer he wore hemp or kudzu cloth. His face even showed signs of hunger. He was indeed a good minister. Yet his frugality pressed too close to those below.
Yang Hu left Qi and fled to Zhao. Lord Jian of Zhao asked him, “I hear that you are good at cultivating men.” Yang Hu replied, “When I lived in Lu, I cultivated three men, and all became chief ministers. When I was condemned in Lu, all of them searched for me. When I lived in Qi, I recommended three men: one gained access to the ruler, one became a county magistrate, and one became a border officer. When I fell into disgrace, the one close to the ruler would not see me; the county magistrate came to bind me; and the border officer pursued me to the frontier, stopping only when he could not catch me. I am not good at cultivating men.” Lord Jian bowed his head and smiled, saying, “Those who plant hawthorn, pear, orange, and pomelo trees enjoy sweet fruit and fragrant scent. Those who plant thorny shrubs are pricked when they grow. Therefore a gentleman is careful about whom he cultivates.”
When Zhongmou had no magistrate, Duke Ping of Jin asked Zhao Wu, “Zhongmou is the thigh and arm of our state and the shoulder and hip of Handan. I wish to obtain a good magistrate for it. Whom should I appoint?” Zhao Wu said, “Xing Bozi is suitable.” The duke asked, “Is he not your enemy?” Zhao Wu replied, “Private enmity does not enter the public gate.” The duke asked again, “Who is suitable as magistrate of the central treasury?” Zhao Wu said, “My son is suitable.” Hence it is said, “In recommending outsiders, one does not avoid enemies; in recommending insiders, one does not avoid one’s son.” Zhao Wu recommended forty-six men to his ruler. When Zhao Wu died, each of them took the place of a guest and did not rely on private favor. Such was his freedom from private obligation.
Duke Ping asked Shu Xiang, “Which of my ministers is most worthy?” Shu Xiang answered, “Zhao Wu.” The duke said, “You are partial to your teacher.” Shu Xiang replied, “Zhao Wu stands as if he cannot bear the weight of his robes, and speaks as if he cannot bring himself to utter words. Yet the scholars he has recommended, numbering several tens, have all suited your intentions, and the state has greatly relied on them. Moreover, while Zhao Wu lived, he did not benefit his family; and when he died, he did not entrust his orphaned children to others. I therefore dare to call him worthy.”
Xie Hu recommended his enemy to Lord Jian of Zhao for the chancellorship. His enemy thought he would be fortunate enough to be pardoned, so he went to thank him. Xie Hu drew his bow, faced him, and shot at him, saying, “To recommend you was a public act, because you were fit for the post. To hate you is my private grievance. I will not let private grievance cause me to conceal you from my ruler.” Thus private enmity does not enter the public gate.
Another version says: Xie Hu recommended Xing Bo Liu as governor of Shangdang. Xing Bo Liu went to thank him, saying, “You have pardoned my offense; how dare I not bow again?” Xie Hu said, “To recommend you is a public matter; to resent you is a private matter. Leave now; my resentment toward you remains as before.”
A man from Zheng County was selling a pig. Someone asked the price. He said, “The road is long and the day is late. How can I have time to tell you?”
Note
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.11 Legalist passage assembles varied tales. It discusses official rank system, ministerial frugality-extravagance, and impartial talent recommendation separating public duty from private grudges.
Han Feizi / Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE):
A Legalist philosopher who stresses that governance must rely on clear ranks, measurable performance, and institutional rules rather than personal virtue alone.
Meng Xianbo / Miao Benhuang / Shu Xiang:
Figures used to debate ministerial frugality. Han Fei warns that excessive personal austerity can blur the rank system meant to reward merit.
Two carriages and one team:
In early Chinese administration, the number of carriages and horse teams signaled official rank.
Guan Zhong and Duke Huan of Qi:
A famous ruler-minister pair. Guan Zhong helped Duke Huan become hegemon. Here his wealth and honors are criticized for resembling royal privilege.
Three Returns / 三归:
A disputed term, usually understood as a large household establishment or special household income marking exceptional wealth.
Gao and Guo clans:
Two powerful aristocratic families of Qi. Placing Guan Zhong above them raised his rank.
Second Father / 仲父:
An honorific title showing that Duke Huan treated Guan Zhong almost as an elder relative.
Sunshu Ao:
Sunshu Ao was a celebrated Chu chancellor. His extreme frugality is praised morally but criticized institutionally for collapsing the distance between minister and subordinates.
Yang Hu / Yang Huo:
A retainer of the Ji clan in Lu. His story shows that cultivating people can backfire if they are ungrateful or self-interested.
Lord Jian of Zhao / Zhao Jianzi:
A Jin statesman. His remark about planting trees means rulers and ministers should be careful whom they promote.
Zhao Wu / Zhao Wenzi:
A Jin minister known for recommending talent without favoritism.
Duke Ping of Jin:
A ruler of Jin during the late Spring and Autumn period.
Xie Hu and Xing Bo Liu:
A case of recommending an enemy for public duty while keeping private resentment separate.
Zheng County pig seller:
A humorous closing anecdote showing petty selfishness or indifference, contrasting with the larger theme of public duty.
说五
孟献伯相晋，堂下生藿藜，门外长荆棘，食不二味，坐不重席，晋无衣帛之妾，居不粟马，出不从车。叔向闻之，以告苗贲皇。贲皇非之曰：“是出主之爵禄以付下也。”
一曰：盂献伯拜上卿，叔向往贺，门有御马不食禾。向曰：“子无二马二与，何也？”献伯曰：“吾观国人尚有饥色，是以不秣马；班白者多以徒行，故不二舆。”向曰：“吾始贺子之拜卿，今贺子之俭也。”向出，语苗贲皇曰：“助吾贺献伯之俭也。”苗子曰：“何贺焉？夫爵禄旗章，所以异功伐，别贤不肖也。故晋国之法，上大夫二舆二乘，中大夫二舆一乘，下大夫专乘，此明等级也。且夫卿必有军事，是故修车马，比卒乘，以备戎事。有难，则以备不虞；平夷，则以给朝事。今乱晋国之政，乏不虞之备，以成节，以洁私名，献伯之俭也可与？又何贺？”
管仲相齐，曰：“臣贵矣，然而臣贫。”桓公曰：“使子有三归之家。”曰：“臣富矣，然而臣卑。”桓公使立于高、国之上。曰：“臣尊矣，然而臣疏。”乃立为仲父。孔子闻而非之曰：“泰侈逼上。”
一曰：管仲父出，硃盖青衣，置鼓而归，庭有陈鼎，家有三鼎。孔子曰：“良大夫也，其侈逼上。”
孙叔敖相楚，栈车牝马，粝饼菜羹，枯鱼之膳，冬羔裘，夏葛衣，面有饥色，则良大夫也。其俭逼下。
阳虎去齐走赵，简主问曰：“吾闻子善树人。”虎曰：“臣居鲁，树三人，皆为令尹；及虎抵罪于鲁，皆搜索于虎也。臣居齐，荐三人，一人得近王，一人为县令，一人为候吏；及臣得罪，近王者不见臣，县令者迎臣执缚，候吏者追臣至境上，不及而止。虎不善树人。，“主俯而笑曰：“夫树柤梨橘柚者，食之则甘，嗅之则香；树枳棘者，成而刺人。故君子慎所树。”
中牟无令，晋平公问赵武曰：“中牟，三国之股肱，邯郸之肩髀，寡人欲得其良令也，谁使而可？”武曰：“邢伯子可。”公曰：“非子之仇也？”曰：“私仇不入公门。”公又问曰：“中府之令，谁使而可？”曰：“臣子可。”故曰：“外举不避仇，内举不避子。”赵武所荐四十六人于其君，及武死，各就宾位，其无私德若此也。
平公问叔向曰：“群臣孰贤？”曰：“赵武。”公曰：“子党于师人。”向曰：“武立如不胜衣，言如不出口，然所举士也数十人，皆得其意，而公家甚赖之。况武子之生也不利于家，死不托于孤，臣敢以为贤也。”
解狐荐其仇于简主以为相。其仇以为且幸释己也，乃因住拜谢。狐乃引弓迎而射之，曰：“夫荐汝，公也，以汝能当之也。夫仇汝，吾私怨也，不以私怨汝之故拥汝于吾君。”故私怨不入公门。
一曰：解狐举邢伯柳为上党守，柳往谢之，曰：“子释罪，敢不再拜？”曰：“举子，公也；怨子，私也。子往矣，怨子如初也。”
郑县人卖豚，人问其价。曰：“道远日暮，安暇语汝。”
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