Notes
1. 難言. In thought this is similar
to Chap. XII which, however, is far more comprehensive and systematic than
this. The historical facts quoted herein as illustrative of the basic ideas set
forth in the first two paragraphs somehow or other lack coherence and seem even
far-fetched in many respects.
2. 貪生 literally means "clinging to
life".
3. With Kao Hêng 躁 reads 譟
which means 詐.
4. In Chaps. XLIX and L Han Fei
Tzŭseverely reproached the Confucians and the Mohists for their constant
references to the teachings of the early kings and therefore condemned them as
grubs and idlers. It was not his intention to attempt a defence of them in this
passage, however.
5. The pen-name of Wu Yün. He sought
refuge in the Wu State when his father Wu Shê and his elder brother Wu Shang
were unjustly executed by the King of Ch`u in 522 b.c. In 511 b.c. he
successfully persuaded King Ho-lü of Wu to invade Ch`u and thereby avenged his
father and brother. Following the death of King Ho-lü he served King Fu-ch`a.
In 494 b.c. he helped the young king wage a
victorious war of revenge with King Kou-chien of Yüeh. Subsequently, because of
Pai P`i's slanders against him, he was ordered by King Fu-ch`a to commit
suicide with the famous Shu-lou sword (484 b.c.).
6. The pen-name of K`ung Ch`iu,
namely, Confucius. While travelling in the K`uang State, he was mistaken for
Yang Hu from Lu and was therefore detained.
7. Better known as Kuan Chung.
Having served Prince Chiu, he helped him struggle for the throne with Prince
Hsiao-pai when Duke Hsiang of Ch`i was murdered in 701 b.c. As Hsiao-pai entered the capital first and ascended
the throne, Duke Chuang of Lu, who had been supporting Prince Chiu, suddenly
changed his mind, killed the prince, and sent Kuan Chung in a prisoner cart to
Ch`i. In Ch`i he was released by Hsiao-pai, then Duke Huan, and appointed Prime
Minister.
8. The founder of the Yin, or
sometimes called Shang, Dynasty. 有 above 湯 has no additional sense, but
is often added to the name of a dynasty or a ruler so as to increase its
dignity.
9. He was afterwards appointed Prime
Minister by King T`ang.
10. His real name was Chi Ch`ang and
the royal title was attributed to him after his death by his son, King Wu,
founder of the Chou Dynasty.
11. The last ruler of the Yin Dynasty
and was like Chieh, the last ruler of the Hsia Dynasty, known for his personal
vices and misgovernment.
12. At Yu-li for seven years
(1144-1137 b.c.).
13. Also called Marquis Ngo as Ih and
Ngo were two places very close to each other.
14. The Historical
Records has 九 in place of 鬼.
15. An uncle of Chow.
16. All these worthies were Chow's
ministers.
17. He remonstrated with Duke Chuang
of Ts`ao thrice but was never listened to, so that he had to abscond to the
Ch`ên State.
18. With Ku Kuang-ts`ê 伯 should be
百. His full name was Pai-li Hsi. He made his way through all hazards to
Ch`in, till he succeeded in introducing himself to Duke Mu.
19. Prime minister to King Wu-ting of
the Yin Dynasty.
20. His full name was Sun Pin. When
his fellow disciple named P`ang Chüan, who had studied military science with
him under Kuei-ku Tzŭor Philosopher of the Devil Valley, became the
commander-in-chief of the Wey army, he went to work under him. Meanwhile, P`ang
Chüan became jealous of his talent, slandered him, and had his feet cut off
through official censure. Thereupon he feigned himself insane and managed to go
back to the Ch`i State, where he was charged with military affairs. In 341
b.c. he waged a successful war with Wey, during
which P`ang Chüan was killed in ambush.
21. When he was Governor of the
Western River Districts, Wang Tso slandered him, so that Marquis Wu of Wey
dismissed him. On leaving his post, he stopped his carriage at Dike Gate and
cast the last glance over the district and shed tears at the thought of its
impending doom. In 387 b.c. he sought refuge in the
Ch`u State and was appointed Prime Minister by King Cho. Despite all the
meritorious services he had rendered to the country, he was dismembered by his
political enemies upon the king's death in 381 b.c.
22. Prime minister to King Hui of Wey
and patron of Kung-sun Yang. From his death-bed he told the king to appoint
Yang his successor otherwise not to allow him to leave the country. Considering
the dying man's opinion absurd, the King neither appointed Yang to office nor
put him to death.
23. He entered Ch`in in 361
b.c. As soon as he was entrusted by Duke Hsiao in
359 b.c. with all state affairs, he began to enforce
his legalism. He enriched the state and strengthened the army and caused Wey
many humiliating defeats till King Hui regretted with a sigh that he had not
taken Kung-shu Tso's advice.
24. He remonstrated with King Chieh
against the construction of a wine pool and was killed because he would not
stop remonstrating.
25. A worthy minister to King Ling of
Chou.
26. No record of his life and times
is left.
27. Killed in 478
b.c. during the uprising caused by Prince Pai
Shêng.
28. No record of his life and times
is left.
29. With Yü Yüch 辜射 means
枯磔.
30. A disciple of Confucius.
31. A minister to Marquis Wên of
Wey.
32. A minister to Viscount Chien of
Chao.
33. Tsai Yü, a disciple of Confucius,
and Kan Chih, T`ien Ch`ang's rival, had the same pen-name, that is,
Tzŭ-wo. Therefore, Han Fei Tzŭmistook Tsai Yü for Kan Chih.
34. In 481 b.c.
35. When Hsü Ku was sent to Ch`i as
special envoy, Fan Chü was an attaché. His eloquence won great praises from the
King of Ch`i but incurred Hsü Ku's suspicion. After their return to Wey, Hsü Ku
told Premier Wey Ch`i that Fan Chü had betrayed the Wey State. Therefore Fan
Chü was arrested and tortured till his ribs and teeth were broken. He then
feigned himself dead and finally stole away to Ch`in, where he was appointed to
office in 270 b.c.
36. 十數人 should be 數十人 because the
number of the worthies enumerated is above twenty.
37. 君子. The superior man or plainly
gentleman was here taken as the model man, which was, no doubt, due to the
Confucian influences Han Fei Tzŭhad received from Hsün Tzŭunder
whom he had spent the formative period of his thought.