Baili Xi and Duke Mu of Qin

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Wan Zhang asked, “People say Baili Xi sold himself to a Qin livestock keeper for five goatskins, fed cattle, and thereby sought an audience with Duke Mu of Qin. Is that true?” Mencius said, “No. It was made up by people fond of sensational stories. Baili Xi was a man of Yu. Jin offered a jade from Chuiji and fine horses from Qu as gifts, asking Yu for passage so it could attack Guo. Gong Zhiqi remonstrated, but Baili Xi did not; he knew the ruler of Yu could not be persuaded, so he left. When he went to Qin, he was already seventy.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Could he really have failed to know that seeking Duke Mu’s favor by feeding cattle would be shameful? Would that be wisdom? If Yu’s ruler could not be persuaded, was it foolish not to remonstrate? He knew Yu was about to perish and left first; that cannot be called unwise.

Original Chinese text

English translation

Later he was recommended in Qin. Knowing that Duke Mu was a ruler with whom worthy work could be accomplished, he became his minister. Could that be called unwise? As minister, he made his ruler renowned throughout the realm, and his achievements could be handed down to later generations. Could someone who was not worthy have done this?

Original Chinese text

English translation

Would he have sold himself cheaply to make his ruler successful? Even a self-respecting person in an ordinary village would not do that; would a worthy person do so?

Feedback