An In-Depth Study of the Way of Ruler and Minister in the Analects Xianwen Chapter
This article focuses on the core political discourses in the Xianwen chapter of the Analects concerning Zang Wuzhong, Guan Zhong, Duke Ling of Wei, and others, analyzing Confucius's profound insights on ruler-minister relations, the distinction between hegemony and kingship, and the weighing of humaneness against righteousness — particularly the chasm between 'the difficulty of action' and 'the essence of humaneness (ren).'
Section 3. Guan Zhong's "Refusal to Die" — A Choice That Shocked the World
Guan Zhong chose not to die. Not only did he not die, but he accepted Duke Huan's appointment and became the prime minister of the very man who had killed his former lord.
In the social context of the time, this was virtually inconceivable. It was as if a military officer, after his commander's death in battle, surrendered to the enemy and became their chief of staff — in any era, this would be considered the height of disgrace.
Why, then, did Guan Zhong do it$41
In the Guanzi, Da Kuang chapter, Guan Zhong explains: "I have heard it said: 'A minister who does not exert his full strength for his lord is disloyal; one who, when his lord has perished, cannot bring himself to die, is unrighteous.' But I say that my service to Jiu was not disloyal; and my refusal to die, choosing instead to serve Duke Huan as his minister, is not unrighteous. For my not dying for Jiu but instead benefiting all the people of the world — that is my true loyalty."
The logic of this statement is: I gave my full effort when serving Prince Jiu (I was not disloyal); I now refuse to die and serve Duke Huan, not because I cling to life and fear death, but because I can benefit all the people of the world — this is the greater loyalty.
Here Guan Zhong made a revolutionary ethical judgment: the object of "loyalty" should not be confined to a single person (one's lord), but should be extended to all the people under Heaven.
This judgment was fully consistent with the Master's own evaluation. The Master said: "Duke Huan united the feudal lords nine times without resorting to war chariots — that was the strength of Guan Zhong. Such was his humaneness! Such was his humaneness!" Guan Zhong's "humaneness" lay not in whether he died for Prince Jiu, but in the fact that he helped Duke Huan achieve peace throughout the realm.