Guan Zhong, Yan Zi, and the Royal Way

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Gongsun Chou asked, “If you, Master, were to hold power in Qi, could the achievements of Guan Zhong and Yanzi again be hoped for?”

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Mencius said, “You are truly a man of Qi; you know Guan Zhong and Yanzi, and that is all. Someone asked Zeng Xi, ‘Who is more worthy, you or Zilu?’ Zeng Xi said with a troubled expression, ‘He is one whom my late father revered.’ The questioner said, ‘Then who is more worthy, you or Guan Zhong?’ Zeng Xi, angry and displeased, said, ‘How can you compare me to Guan Zhong? Guan Zhong obtained his ruler’s trust so exclusively, he conducted the government of the state for so long, and yet his achievements were so lowly. How can you compare me to him!’” Mencius added, “Guan Zhong was the kind of person Zeng Xi would not become; and do you wish me to become such a person?”

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Gongsun Chou said, “Guan Zhong made his ruler hegemon over the feudal lords, and Yanzi made his ruler illustrious. Are Guan Zhong and Yanzi still not worth emulating?”

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Mencius said, “To make Qi king over all under heaven would be like turning over one’s hand.”

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Gongsun Chou said, “If that is so, your disciple’s confusion grows even greater. Moreover, with King Wen’s virtue, he did not die until a hundred years had passed, and still his influence had not yet reached all under heaven; King Wu and the Duke of Zhou succeeded him, and only then was it greatly carried out. Now you say that becoming king is so easy—then was King Wen not worth taking as a model?”

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Mencius said, “How could King Wen be matched? From Tang down to Wu Ding, six or seven worthy and sage rulers arose. The world had submitted to Yin for a long time; when a thing has lasted long, it is hard to change. When Wu Ding had the feudal lords come to court and possessed all under heaven, it was like turning something in his palm. King Zhou was not far removed from Wu Ding; the old families’ handed-down customs, the lingering influence, and the good government still had survivors; there were also Weizi, Weizhong, Prince Bi Gan, Jizi, and Jiao Ge, all worthy men, who together assisted him, and so it was only after a long time that he lost it. There was no foot of land that was not his, and no single person who was not his subject; yet King Wen still arose from a square of a hundred li, and that is why it was difficult. The people of Qi had a saying: ‘Even if one has wisdom, it is not as good as taking advantage of the situation; even if one has a hoe, it is not as good as waiting for the season.’ The present time, then, makes it easy. In the flourishing of Xia, Yin, and Zhou, their territory never exceeded a thousand li, but Qi has such territory; the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs can be heard from one place to another all the way to the four borders, and Qi has such people. The land need not be opened up further, and the people need not be gathered further; if one practices benevolent government and becomes king, no one can stop him. Moreover, there has never been a longer interval without a true king than at this time; the people have never been more wasted by cruel government than at this time. The hungry are easy to feed; the thirsty are easy to give drink to. Confucius said: ‘The spread of virtue is faster than the relay stations that transmit orders.’ At the present time, if a state of ten thousand chariots practices benevolent government, the people’s joy in it will be like being released from hanging upside down. Thus, if one does half the labor of the ancients, one’s achievement will surely be double theirs; only at this time is that so.”

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