Han Feizi contrasts two official types: sycophants Chong Hou and E Lai pleased King Zhou but ignored Shang’s fall; loyal Bi Gan and Wu Zixu foresaw ruin yet died unjustly. Full wisdom needs both human insight and foresight of state trends.
Han Feizi tells King Zhou’s wild drinking made everyone lose track of days. Ji Zi feigned ignorance to avoid danger.
Han Feizi tells Ji Zi feared King Zhou’s ivory chopsticks would spark endless luxury, foreseeing the dynasty’s fall.
Han Fei tells how Jizi (Ji Zi) foresaw King Zhou’s ruin from ivory chopsticks – small luxuries lead to tyranny and fall.
Han Fei cites history: brute force fails without wisdom. Qin has unmatched strength; he risks death to offer strategies to break alliances and unify China.
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.
King Wu of Zhou (? – 1043 BCE) was the founder of the Western Zhou dynasty. His personal name was Ji Fa, and he was the second son of King Wen of Zhou. Because his elder brother, Bo Yikao, had been executed by the tyrannical King Zhou of Shang, Ji Fa became heir and…