by Han Fei
There was a man in the state of Song who sold wine. He measured his wine very fairly, treated customers politely, made excellent wine, and hung his shop sign high. Yet his wine remained unsold and turned sour.
Puzzled, he asked Yang Qian, an elder in his neighborhood whom he trusted.
Yang Qian said: “Is your dog fierce?”
The merchant said: “The dog is fierce, but why should that stop the wine from selling?”
Yang Qian replied: “People are afraid of it. When children are sent with money and jars to buy wine, your dog runs up to bite them. That is why your wine goes sour and remains unsold.”
Likewise, a state also has such “fierce dogs”.
Talented and virtuous scholars hold wisdom and wish to help the ruler of a great state understand governance, yet high ministers act like fierce dogs, rushing to bite and block them.
This is why the ruler is kept in the dark, and why capable people are not employed.
Note
Han Fei
A major philosopher of Legalism during the Warring States Period. He used simple fables to expose political problems and explain ideas of state governance.
State of Song
A vassal state in ancient China, often used in fables as a setting for ordinary social scenes.
Wine shop with a flag
In ancient China, wine shops hung tall cloth flags as advertisements, a common scene in market life.
Fierce dog as a metaphor for treacherous ministers
The fierce dog symbolizes corrupt or jealous officials who block good advice and keep the ruler from hearing the truth.
Sour wine as unfulfilled talent
Good wine that goes sour represents capable scholars whose wisdom is wasted because they cannot reach the ruler.
The wine goes sour because of a fierce dog (狗猛酒酸)
This idiom means:
- Evil figures block good people and prevent good policies from being carried out.
- A ruler is kept ignorant by trusted but wicked officials.
- Excellent ability or value is wasted due to external obstruction.
宋人有酤酒者，升概甚平，遇客甚谨，为酒甚美，悬帜甚高，然贮而不售，酒酸。怪其故，问其所知闾长者杨倩，倩曰：“汝狗猛邪？“曰：“狗猛，则酒何故而不售？“曰：“人畏焉。或令孺子怀钱挈壶罋而往酤，而狗迓而龁之，此酒所以酸而不售也。”夫国亦有狗。有道之士怀其术而欲以明万乘之主，大臣为猛狗迓而龁之。此人主之所以为蔽，而有道之士所以不用也。
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