Section: Miscellaneous Chapter (杂篇) | Chinese Title: 让王 (Ràng Wáng)

A collection of anecdotes about rulers who renounced power and sages who refused it, all advocating withdrawal from political life. The chapter is aligned with the philosophy of Yáng Zhū (杨朱), the pre-Daoist thinker who argued that preserving one's own life takes absolute priority over serving others or the state.

The chapter opens with a series of historical examples: Yáo offered his throne to Xǔ Yóu (许由), who refused. Shùn offered it to Shàn Juàn (善卷), who fled to a cave. The Crown Prince Sōu (搜) of Yuè was offered the kingdom and escaped by boat to the wilderness. In each case, the offer of supreme political power is treated as a burden, not a privilege, and the sage's refusal is presented as evidence of superior understanding.

The chapter's central argument: the kingdom is a heavy thing, but the sage does not exchange his life for it. A pair of sandals is a light thing, but you would not trade your foot for them. Similarly, the world may seem vast, but if ruling it costs you your essential nature (性 Xìng), it is not worth having. The person who values his life more than he values the world can be trusted with the world — precisely because he will not sacrifice what matters for what does not.

The chapter also describes various sages living in poverty who refuse to accept positions of power, preferring their freedom and simplicity to the obligations and dangers of rulership. Zǐ Lìe Zǐ (子列子) lives in poverty in Zhèng. The prime minister sends grain. Zǐ Lìe Zǐ refuses it, explaining that he would then be obligated to the person who sent it.

For the martial artist, the Yangist principle maps onto the training priority of self-preservation. The Sānfēngpài's first vehicle is Wǔshù (武术, martial skill) — the capacity to survive. The teacher who sacrifices students' bodies for competition glory, or who risks health for reputation, has failed the chapter's test.

Scholarly Classification

Yangist (Graham) / Anarchist (Liu). Advocates withdrawal from political life, aligned with Yáng Zhū's individualism and the priority of self-preservation.

Key Passages in Chinese

天下重物也，而不以害其生，又况他物乎！
Tiānxià zhòng wù yě, ér bù yǐ hài qí shēng, yòu kuàng tā wù hū!
— The world is a heavy thing, yet the sage does not harm his life for it — how much less for lesser things!

能尊生者，虽贵富不以养伤身，虽贫贱不以利累形。
Néng zūn shēng zhě, suī guìfù bù yǐ yǎng shāng shēn, suī pínjiàn bù yǐ lì lèi xíng.
— One who honours life does not let comfort injure his body in wealth, nor let profit burden his body in poverty.

Parables and Key Episodes

• Yáo offers the throne to Xǔ Yóu — the sage who refused supreme power
• Shàn Juàn flees to a cave — power as a burden, not a privilege
• The Crown Prince of Yuè escapes by boat — refusing the kingdom offered to him
• The sandal and the foot — you would not trade a foot for sandals, nor a life for a kingdom
• Zǐ Lìe Zǐ refuses the prime minister's grain — independence over obligation

Key Terms

• Ràng (让) — Yielding, the act of refusing power
• Zūn Shēng (尊生) — Honouring life, the Yangist priority of self-preservation
• Xìng (性) — Essential nature, what must not be sacrificed for external gain