Han Feizi – Chapter 34.3

Canon III

That statecraft fails to be carried out has its causes. If the wine-seller does not kill his fierce dog, his wine will turn sour. The state, too, has such dogs, and the ruler’s attendants are all like the rats in the altar of the soil.

Rulers lack Yao’s repeated executions of the wicked and King Zhuang of Chu’s firm response to the crown prince; instead, they resemble Bo Ao deciding the case of Cai Yu, unable to judge for themselves. To distinguish the incapable among the honored, one must first measure them, as one sets a tune before teaching song.

Wu Qi sent away his beloved wife, and Duke Wen of Jin executed Dian Jie; both acted against their own feelings to uphold the law. Thus, he who can have his abscess lanced is one who knows how to endure pain.

Note

This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 34.3 uses metaphors of fierce dogs and altar rats. It argues rulers must endure painful measures, enforce laws above personal feelings and test officials with objective standards.

Han Feizi / Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE):

A Legalist philosopher who argues that rulers must use law, administrative method, and power to control ministers.

Sour wine and the fierce dog:

From a story in which a Song wine-seller’s wine goes unsold because his fierce dog bites customers. Han Fei uses it to mean that powerful ministers block worthy men from reaching the ruler.

Rats in the altar of the soil / 社鼠:

The altar of the soil is a sacred shrine. Rats living inside it are hard to destroy because burning or flooding them would damage the shrine. The metaphor means corrupt attendants who are protected by their closeness to the ruler.

Yao:

Yao was a legendary sage-king, here representing a ruler willing to punish even close or powerful offenders.

King Zhuang of Chu and the crown prince:

An allusion to a ruler who upholds law even when it conflicts with family or court pressure.

Bo Ao and Cai Yu:

An obscure anecdote. It seems to describe someone who should judge a matter but instead defers to another, showing weak decision-making.

Measuring by teaching song:

Before judging whether someone can sing, one first gives a standard tune. Likewise, a ruler should test officials by clear standards before trusting them.

Wu Qi sending away his wife:

Wu Qi was a famous military reformer. He is said to have repudiated his wife because her weaving did not meet required standards, showing strict enforcement of rules over personal affection.

Duke Wen of Jin and Dian Jie:

Duke Wen was a hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period. He executed his favorite follower Dian Jie for disobeying orders, showing that law must apply even to favorites.

Lancing an abscess:

A Legalist metaphor. Governing effectively sometimes requires painful actions; a ruler who cannot bear short-term pain cannot cure long-term disorder.

经三

　　术之不行，有故。不杀其狗则酒酸。夫国也有狗，且左右皆社鼠也。人主无尧之再诛，与庄王之应太子，而皆有薄媪之决蔡妪也。知贵不能以教歌之法先揆之。吴起之出爱妻，文公之斩颠颉，皆违其情者也。故能使人弹疽者，秘其忍痛者也。