Passing Off as a Yu Player [Han Feizi]

by Han Fei

King Xuan of Qi required three hundred musicians to play the yu (a traditional Chinese wind instrument) for him at the same time.

A scholar named Mr. Nanguo asked to join the royal band to play the yu for the king. King Xuan was pleased and gave him the same generous food and salary as the other hundreds of musicians.

After King Xuan died, King Min ascended the throne. He preferred to listen to the musicians play one by one.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Nanguo fled.

Note

Han Fei

A major philosopher of Legalism in ancient China. He used simple fables to teach lessons about governance and society.

King Xuan of Qi & King Min of Qi

Rulers of the State of Qi during the Warring States Period. King Xuan liked grand group performances, while King Min preferred individual solos.

King Xuan of Qi could not be considered an enlightened ruler, yet there is no doubt that during his reign, the State of Qi experienced rapid development. In particular, his expansion of the Jixia Academy can be regarded as one of the most important factors that contributed to the flourishing of “a hundred schools of thought contending.” The Jixia Academy in the State of Qi was initially established by Duke Huan of Qi and later greatly promoted by King Xuan of Qi. Figures such as Mencius and Xunzi once taught there.

In fact, Mencius had once discussed music with the King Xuan of Qi, as recorded in his book, Mencius – Chapter 2.1.

Mr. Nanguo

A man who could not play the yu at all but pretended to be a musician in the royal band, taking pay without real ability.

 The yu

An ancient Chinese vertical wind instrument with multiple pipes, popular in royal courts for large-scale performances.

Passing off as a yu player (滥竽充数)

This idiom now means:

•   People with no real skills pretending to be competent.
•   Inferior goods mixed with good ones.
•   Someone taking a position without the necessary ability.

滥竽充数

齐宣王使人吹竽，必三百人。南郭处士请为王吹竽，宣王说之，廪食以数百人。宣王死，湣王立，好一一听之，处士逃。