This is Explanation Five from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings, Part II. It assembles cases on how royal favour distorts succession and brings usurpation and regicide. Unlike prior sections focusing on ministers’ frauds, it highlights a root structural issue: uncertain inheritance fuels all palace intrigues.
Han Feizi tells Wu Qi fled Lu after Ji Sun’s regicide, sensing early political danger.
Han Feizi cites brutal regicides. Rulers without law and statecraft face worse fates than lepers at ministers’ hands.
Han Fei cites history: over-powerful ministers and lords cause state collapse. Rulers must enforce strict laws, limit their wealth, troops and arms to keep power.
Chen Chengzi (also known as Chen Heng) assassinated Duke Jian of Qi. Upon hearing this, Confucius bathed, dressed in formal court attire, and went to court to report to Duke Ai of Lu: “Chen Heng has murdered his ruler. I request that you launch a punitive expedition against him.”Duke Ai replied, “Report this to…
Ji Ziran asked, “Can Zhong You and Ran Qiu be considered great ministers?”The Master replied, “I expected you to ask about something extraordinary – instead, you ask about You and Qiu! A great minister serves his ruler according to the Way (Dao); if this is not possible, he withdraws. As for You and Qiu,…
This article tells the tragic story of Chu Ni, an assassin who chose death over killing the virtuous minister Zhao Dun. Set during the Spring and Autumn period, it depicts the tyranny of Duke Ling of Jin, who amused himself by randomly shooting civilians with a slingshot. When Chu Ni infiltrated Zhao Dun’s home,…
The assassination of Dong Zhuo in Chapter 9 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms marks a pivotal turning point in the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty. While the tyrant’s death was celebrated as a triumph of justice, the events that followed revealed the fragile nature of political victory without wisdom and mercy.