Han Fei’s so-called five moths refer to the five types of moths that harm the country, namely scholars, talkers, sword bearers, sick warriors and merchants and workers. In the article, Han Fei gave advice to the monarch and suggested that these five kinds of people should be eradicated completely.
The term "Five Worms" was first seen in "Han Feizi·Five Worms", which is a prose written by Han Fei, a representative of the Legalist school at the end of the Warring States Period.
The original text is as follows:
This is the custom of causing chaos in the country: its scholars say that the way of the former kings is based on benevolence and righteousness, and they use their appearance and clothes to decorate their arguments and doubt the laws of the world. And the heart of the two masters.
Those who talk about it are trying to deceive themselves and use external forces to achieve their own selfish goals while leaving the interests of the country behind. Those who carry swords gather followers and establish moral integrity to show their reputation, but violate the prohibitions of the five senses.
Those who are troubled by the emperor will accumulate all their wealth in private affairs, use all their goods to bribe, and use the visits of important people to get rid of the hard work of the horse.
The people who are merchants and workers repair the tools to cure the hardships, gather extravagant wealth, and store it until the time comes, so as to benefit the farmers.
These five are the beetles of the country. If the ruler does not get rid of these five beetles of the people, and does not raise upright and honest men, then there will be ruined countries and dynasties in the sea, so don’t be surprised.
Translation:
Therefore, the customs that cause chaos in the country are: those who write books and preach, rely on benevolence, righteousness and morality to promote the way of the previous kings, pay attention to appearance and clothing, and use clever eloquence and rhetoric. , used to disrupt the current laws and shake the monarch's determination.
Those politicians resort to fraud, deceit, and rely on foreign forces to achieve private goals, thereby giving up national interests.
< p>Those knight-errant assassins gathered gang members, flaunted their integrity, and tried to make themselves famous, but in the end they violated the national ban.Those who evaded military service relied on powerful ministers and nobles in large numbers, paid bribes wantonly, and relied on the entrustment of important ministers to avoid the hard work of fighting in the army.
Those industrial and commercial people made crude utensils, accumulated luxury goods, hoarded them, and waited to sell them, hoping to make huge profits from farmers.
The above five kinds of people are all worms in the country. If the monarch does not get rid of these five kinds of people who are like moths and does not recruit upright and upright people, then it is not surprising that the world will be ruined and ruined, and the court will be wiped out.
Extended information:
The full text of "Five Worms" is nearly 4,700 words. It is a further development of pre-Qin reasoning and can reflect the general characteristics of Han Fei's articles.
The author cites a large number of facts and points out the huge differences between ancient and modern societies in the comparison. The arguments are sufficient, the words are sharp, and the reasoning facts are to the point.
In fact, Han Fei vaguely realized at that time that changes in the economic base and production methods determine changes in ideas and superstructure. Therefore, state governance policies and legal systems should keep pace with the times and be consistent with the stage of social development.
However, from Han Fei's point of view, "when the world changes, things will change, and when things change, prepare for changes." Therefore, there are also many theories in "Five Worms" that are out of date. If today's people just accept them all, they will become out-and-out waiters in the new era.
Baidu Encyclopedia - "Han Feizi·Five Beetles"
China.com - Who should be among the five beetles today