The Case of Marquis Zhao of Han Hiding a Worn-out Trousers

During the Warring States period, Marquis Zhao of Han once ordered a servant to store away a worn-out pair of trousers. When the servant suggested giving them to someone in the palace rather than hoarding a useless item, the marquis rebuked him, stating that a wise ruler cherishes every smile and frown, and a pair of trousers was far more significant—they must be reserved solely as a reward for meritorious service. The incident exemplified the Legalist principle that a ruler’s favors and rewards must be dispensed strictly according to merit, never out of casual generosity, to maintain discipline and incentivize loyal service.

No formal trial occurred. The story served as a political parable recorded in the Han Feizi, endorsing Marquis Zhao’s approach as a model of Legalist governance where rewards are never devalued by casual bestowal.

Whether the ruler’s extreme frugality and refusal to casually distribute even trivial items constituted prudent statecraft that upheld the value of rewards, or mere stinginess that risked alienating his court.

The tale became a classic illustration of Legalist reward theory, influencing later Chinese administrative practices by emphasizing that state resources and honors must be granted strictly based on merit, thereby reinforcing the authority and calculated benevolence of the ruler.