(This next section of our tale is somewhat unrelated to the first part, but let's just keep in mind that we're still, for all intents and purposes, in the exposition of the story.)
Shiji 77
4. 魏有隱士曰侯贏，年七十，家貧，為大梁夷門監者。公子聞之，往請，欲厚遺之。不肯受，曰：“臣脩身絜行數十年，終不以監門困故而受公子財。” 公子於是乃置酒大會賓客。坐定，公子從車騎，虛左，自迎夷門侯生。侯生攝敝衣冠，直上載公子上坐，不讓，欲以觀公子。公子執轡愈恭。侯生又謂公子曰：“臣有客在市屠中，願枉車騎過之。” 公子引車入市，侯生下見其客朱亥，俾倪，故久立與其客語，微察公子。公子顏色愈和。當是時，魏將相宗室賓客滿堂，待公子舉酒。市人皆觀公子執轡。從騎皆竊罵侯生。侯生視公子色終不變，乃謝客就車。至家公子引侯生坐上坐，遍贊賓客，賓客皆驚。酒酣，公子起，為壽侯生前。侯生因謂公子曰：“今日贏之為公子亦足矣。贏乃夷門抱關者也，而公子親枉車騎，自迎贏於眾人廣坐之中，不宜有所過，今公子故過之。然贏欲就公子之名，故久立公子車騎市中，故客以觀公子，公子愈恭。市人皆以贏為小人，而以公子為長者能下士也。” 於是罷酒，侯贏遂為上客。
In Wei there was a Shi in recluse(1) named Hou Ying; he was seventy years old; his family was poor; he acted as supervisor of the Yi Gate(2). The Prince heard of him and went to visit him, desiring to generously present him with gifts. [Hou Ying was] unwilling to accept the gifts, saying “I have cultivated my body and cleansed my conduct for several decades. In the end I will not, simply because of my poverty as a gate supervisor, thus accept the Prince's riches.”
The Prince thereupon arranged a grand banquet and assembled his retainers. When the seating was arranged, the Prince took an escort of carriages and horses, leaving empty the seat of honor(3), to personally invite Mr. Hou of the Yi Gate [to attend the event].
[Upon receiving the invitation,] Mr. Hou straightened his tattered clothes and cap; he directly ascended to take the Prince's seat of honor and did not yield [his seat to the Prince], desiring by this to observe the Prince[‘s reaction]. The Prince took the reins and was all the more respectful.
Mr. Hou again addressed the Prince, saying “I have a servant [who is] in the market among the butchers; I suggest we deviate the escort(4) to visit him.” The Prince directed the carriage into the market; Mr. Hou descended and met his servant Zhu Hai, [all the while] looking sideways [at the Prince]; he deliberately stood for a long time speaking with his servant, covertly inspecting the Prince. The Prince's expression was all the more amiable.
At this time, the generals and ministers of Wei and the honored guests had filled the royal hall and were waiting for the Prince to begin the banquet.
The city market people all watched as the Prince took the reins. The mounted escorts all privately cursed Mr. Hou. Mr. Hou saw that in the end the Prince's expression did not change; thereupon he took leave of his servant and they left in the carriage. When they reached [the Prince's] home(5), the Prince directed Mr. Hou to sit in the seat of honor and praised him to the guests; the guests were all surprised.
When he was flushed with wine, the Prince rose and in order to toast Mr. Hou in front [of him and everyone]. Mr. Hou thereupon addressed the Prince saying “Today I tried to provoke the Prince. I am merely the keeper of the Yi Gate, and yet the Prince personally took an escort of carriages and horses and personally invited me to sit in the center of the crowd; it is not appropriate for someone such as myself to be visited by the Prince, but today the Prince visited me. However, I desired to enhance the Prince's reputation: I deliberately stood for a long time with the Prince and his escort in the market, visiting my servant in order to observe the Prince; the Prince was all the more respectful. The market people all consider me a small-minded man and consider the Prince a magnanimous man who is able to humble himself before the Shi.” Thereupon they finished the banquet, and Hou Ying then became a high-ranking retainer.
This section of the story is, in my humble opinion, one of the most interesting bits. Not because it's action-packed (although the suspense certainly kept me on the edge of my seat -- was the Prince going to pass Hou Ying's tests??), but because we meet my very favorite character: Mr. Hou Ying. Hou Ying is your ideal Shi: he's humble, smart, and really really knows how to discover a worthy ruler (and then subsequently kiss said ruler's ass) and snag a top spot among the retainers. And to be perfectly honest, I almost wish that I could be Hou Ying -- I would totally make a fool of myself publicly if it was going to get me a free banquet and a promotion. (I mean, I basically did all that stuff last week just for an amazon gift card.)
What I think is most interesting about this bit is that what we're reading isn't necessarily what Mr. Hou Ying or The Prince did; for all we know they could both be really rude, or be having a secret love affair or a butcher fetish. What we're actually reading about is what Sima Qian, 200ish years after the fact, thought they probably would have done considering how important Confucian behaviors were, and considering that both characters are brave(ish), smart, patriotic, and they're our protagonists. Apparently protagonists, like our Prince, have entirely too much time (and money) on their hands, and like Hou Ying, they're willing to cut out early from work just to go to a party.
More importantly though, these protagonists are well versed in the complex dance that is Classical Chinese status-based etiquette. Hou Ying must be sure that the Prince is worthy; to that extent he devises his clever plan to make himself seem like a jerk. The Prince plays along very nicely, as we can see: he offers Hou Ying the finest of material goods (which Hou Ying deftly refuses); he continuously humbles himself before Hou Ying, despite his high status (and the fact that Hou Ying is acting like a dick), and he does it all with a smile. But that's not all: Hou Ying must also ensure that in his actions he is also venerating the Prince (because otherwise the Prince may very well have him put to death). That they both toast to one another signifies that their dance is complete, and they can finally assume (or re-assume) their roles. Study up, kids; these are life's important lessons.
More importantly though, these protagonists are well versed in the complex dance that is Classical Chinese status-based etiquette. Hou Ying must be sure that the Prince is worthy; to that extent he devises his clever plan to make himself seem like a jerk. The Prince plays along very nicely, as we can see: he offers Hou Ying the finest of material goods (which Hou Ying deftly refuses); he continuously humbles himself before Hou Ying, despite his high status (and the fact that Hou Ying is acting like a dick), and he does it all with a smile. But that's not all: Hou Ying must also ensure that in his actions he is also venerating the Prince (because otherwise the Prince may very well have him put to death). That they both toast to one another signifies that their dance is complete, and they can finally assume (or re-assume) their roles. Study up, kids; these are life's important lessons.
What do you think actually happened? What do you think will happen next? Are you already bored to tears with this epic? Then comment below! And stay tuned, 'cause shit's gonna get a lot more interesting.
1. Literally, a "hidden Shi"
2. The Ancient Chinese apparently love their run-on sentences... I do not, however, which is why you may see a painfully
large number of semicolons.
3. Which seat of honor? In the carriage, or at the banquet? Either way, this seat would usually not be given to an untitled
individual, so this tells us our Prince really means business. Dance, monkey, dance.
4. Here, it seems that Hou Ying is not simply referring to the Prince's carriage and guards -- he's talking about the ENTIRE
royal escort that accompanied the Prince to the Yi Gate to invite Hou Ying to the banquet. So he's asking the Prince to take
like 100+ people with them to the market, all so Hou Ying can have a chat with his servant. Hou Ying = a total baller.
Also, why does a poor gatekeeper have a servant??
Also, why does a poor gatekeeper have a servant??
5. i.e. that massive fucking palace where all the cool kids are waiting for the banquet
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