This Mohist chapter advocates moderation in five spheres: housing, clothing, food, transport and concubines. Sage kings prioritized practical utility, while contemporary rulers’ extravagant ornamentation drains labor and wealth, triggering poverty, social unrest and population decline.
This passage from Han Feizi explains Legalist governance. A virtuous ruler pursues peace via ritual diplomacy, prioritizes agriculture, curbs extravagance, and turns war horses to farm work, embodying “retire war-horses to fertilize fields.”