Han Feizi – Chapter 33.12

Explanations VI

Fan Wenzi was fond of speaking plainly. His father, Wuzi, struck him with a staff and said, “Those who offer frank remonstrance are not tolerated by others. If they are not tolerated, they endanger themselves. This not only endangers their own persons, but also brings danger upon their fathers.”

Zi Chan was the son of Zi Guo. Zi Chan was loyal to the ruler of Zheng, but Zi Guo rebuked him in anger, saying, “You set yourself apart from other ministers by being loyal only to your ruler. If the ruler is wise, he will listen to you; if he is not, he will not. Whether he listens or not cannot be known in advance, yet you have already alienated yourself from the other ministers. If you are alienated from them, you will surely endanger yourself. This not only endangers you, but also brings danger upon your father.”

When Liang Che was newly appointed magistrate of Ye, his elder sister came to visit him. She arrived after dusk, when the gates had already been closed, so she climbed over the city wall to enter. Liang Che thereupon had her feet amputated. Zhao Chenghou considered him unkind, took away his seal, and removed him from the magistracy.

When Guan Zhong was bound and being taken from Lu to Qi, he suffered hunger and thirst on the road. Passing by the border guard of Qiwu, he begged for food. The guard knelt and fed him with great respect. Then the guard privately said to him, “If by good fortune you reach Qi, escape death, and are put to use there, how will you repay me?” Guan Zhong replied, “If things turn out as you say, I shall employ the worthy, use the capable, and assign rewards according to merit. What can I give you in return?” The guard resented him for this.

Note

This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.12 presents four historical stories. It explores risks of frank remonstrance, conflicts between strict law and family affection, and governance based on merit rather than private gratitude.

Han Feizi / Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE):

A major Legalist philosopher. He is interested less in personal virtue alone than in how power, law, rank, and human motives actually work in government.

Fan Wenzi and Wuzi:

Father and son from the Jin state. Wuzi warns that blunt remonstrance may offend powerful people and bring danger to both the remonstrator and his family.

Zi Chan and Zi Guo:

Zi Chan later became a famous statesman of Zheng. Here his father warns that excessive personal loyalty to the ruler can isolate a minister from other officials.

Liang Che and the amputation of feet:

Amputation was one of the early Chinese punishments. The story shows a conflict between strict legal enforcement and expected family affection.

Zhao Chenghou:

A ruler of Zhao. He removes Liang Che not because the law was wrongly applied, but because punishing his own sister appeared cruel.

Seal:

The official seal symbolized administrative authority. Losing it meant removal from office.

Guan Zhong:

Guan Zhong was a famous minister who helped Duke Huan of Qi become hegemon. Before rising to power, he was once captured and sent from Lu to Qi.

Border guard of Qiwu:

A local official who helps Guan Zhong in hope of future reward.

Employ the worthy, use the capable, assign rewards by merit:

Guan Zhong’s answer reflects Legalist-style administrative logic: public office should follow ability and merit, not private gratitude.

说六

　　范文子喜直言，武子击之以杖：“夫直议者不为人所容，无所容则危身，非徒危身，又将危父。”

　　子产者，子国之子也。子产忠于郑君，子国谯怒之曰：“夫介异于人臣，而独忠于主。主贤明，能听汝；不明，将不汝听。听与不听，未可必知，而汝已离于群臣；离于群臣，则必危汝身矣。非徒危己也，又且危父也。”

　　梁车新为邺令，其姊往看之，暮而后，门闭；因逾郭而入。车遂刖其足。赵成侯以为不兹，夺之玺而免之令。

　　管仲束缚，自鲁之齐，道而饥渴，过绮乌封人而乞食。乌封人跪而食之，甚敬。封人因窃谓仲曰：“适幸，及齐不死而用齐，将何报我？”曰：“如子之言，我且贤之用，能之使，劳之论。我何以报子？”封人怨之。