Mencius states true friendship centers on virtue, free from status, age or power. He cites nobles and rulers treating virtuous men as equals, arguing genuine respect from lords means granting them political authority, balancing honoring superiors and worthy subordinates.
Han Feizi tells how a Chu guard bribed Jin’s Shu Xiang to rescue the king’s brother held in Qin. By threatening to build Huqiu’s ramparts, Jin pressured Qin into releasing the prince, winning generous gold from grateful Chu.
Han Feizi tells Duke Ping’s tale: obsessed with decadent music, he ignored warnings, bringing drought and ruin.
by Han Fei Duke Ping of Jin was drinking with his officials. When he was thoroughly drunk and merry, he sighed and said: “Nothing is more joyful than being a ruler — no one dares to disobey a single word of mine!”
Shi Kuang was a renowned court musician of the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn period (approximately 770–476 BCE). His courtesy name was Ziye. Although blind, he was exceptionally skilled at playing the qin (a seven-stringed zither) and possessed extraordinarily acute hearing, enabling him to discern and judge musical pitches with remarkable precision.