Yu Rang: Giving One's Life for Righteousness 豫让：舍生取义

Yu Rang Bridge

Mencius said, ‘Fish is what I want, and bear's paw is also what I want. If I cannot have both, I prefer bear's paw to fish. Life is what I treasure, and righteousness is also what I treasure. If I cannot have both, I will give my life for righteousness.’ The assassin Yu Rang did just that. The story of Yu Rang who lived in the Warring States Period (475 to 221 BC) was recorded by Sima Qian in his ‘Records of the Grant Historian’.

Yu Rang was a native of Jin, who served the noble clans of Fan and Zhonghang but whose talents went unrecognised. However, when he joined Duke Zhi, Duke Zhi treated him with high respect. Later Duke Zhi attacked Duke Xiang of Zhao. Duke Xiang allied with Han and Wei to defeat Duke Zhi, wiping out his clan and dividing his land into three. Because of the deep hatred he bore Duke Zhi, Duke Xiang lacquered Duke Zhi’s skull and used it as a wine vessel. Yu Rang escaped to the mountains and lamented, ‘Alas! A woman adorns herself for her lover, and a true man dies for one who appreciates him. Duke Zhi appreciated me, so I must die to avenge him. Then my ghost need feel no shame.’ He changed his name and went, disguised as a convict, to mend the palace’s rest rooms, carrying a dagger to assassinate Duke Xiang. But as Duke Xiang was about to enter the rest room, he acted on a premonition and had Yu Rang seized. A weapon was found in Yu Rang’s hand. Yu Rang admitted, ‘I meant to avenge Duke Zhi.’ The attendants wanted to kill him but Duke Xiang said, ‘This is a man of honour. I shall keep out of his way. Duke Zhi died without heirs, yet this follower tried to avenge him. He must be a most noble man.’ He then released Yu Rang.

Later Yu Rang lacquered his skin to cause scabies and swallowed charcoal to hoarsen his voice, changing himself beyond recognition. Begged in the market and even his wife could not recognise him. But he met a friend who saw through his disguise and asked, ‘Are you not Yu Rang?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I am.’ The friend was in tears and pleaded with him, ‘A man of your talent should seek Duke Xiang’s patronage. You would soon be close to Duke Xiang and could then easily carry out your plan. Why should you mutilate yourself and inflict so much suffering on yourself to take revenge? This is too hard a way.’ Yu Rang answered, ‘If I entered his service to assassinate him, I should be guilty of disloyalty to him as my lord. This way is very hard, but my aim is to shame all those who in future are guilty of disloyalty to their lords.’

He went off then, for soon Duke Xiang was to come out, and Yu Rang hid under the bridge which he had to cross. When Duke Xiang reached the bridge his horse shied and he said, ‘Yu Rang must be here!’ He sent men to investigate and it was so. Then Duke Xiang reproached Yu Rang saying, ‘Formerly you served dukes Fan and Zhonghang. When Duke Zhi destroyed them, instead of avenging them you took service under him. Why are you so determined now to avenge Duke Zhi’s death?’ Yu Rang replied, ‘When I served dukes Fan and Zhonghang, they treated me as ordinary man and I treated them as ordinary men in return. But Duke Zhi treated me as the finest man in the state, and that is how I must treat him.’ Duke Xiang lamented and cried, ‘Ah, Yu Rang, you have made a name by your loyalty to Duke Zhi, and I have given you enough quarter. Now settle this business yourself. I am not letting you off again.’ He ordered his troops to surround him. Yu Rang said, ‘I have heard that a wise master does not conceal men’s quality, while a loyal subject will die for fame. Already the whole world is praising the generosity with which you spared me. Now I am ready to take my punishment, but first give me your coat to run through as a token of revenge, and I shall die content. Presumptuous as it is, please grant my request.’ Greatly moved by is royalty, Duke Xiang ordered his coat to be given to Yu Rang, who unsheathed his sword, leapt and ran the coat through three times. He cried, ‘Now I can go down to report to Duke Zhi.’ With that he fell upon his sword and died. News of his death made all true men of Zhao shed tears.

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孟子曰：‘鱼，我所欲也，熊掌，亦我所欲也，二者不可得兼，舍鱼而取熊掌者也。生，我所欲也，义，亦我所欲也，二者不可得兼，舍生而取义者也。’刺客豫让所做的正是舍生取义。战国时期（公元前475年至公元前221年）的豫让的故事记载于司马迁的《史记•刺客列传》。

豫让者，晋人也，故尝事范氏及中行氏，而无所知名。去而事智佰，智佰甚尊宠之。及智佰伐赵襄子，赵襄子与韩魏合谋灭智伯，灭智伯之后而三分其地。赵襄子最怨智伯，漆其头以为饮器。豫让遁逃山中，曰：‘嗟乎！士为知己者死，女为说己者容。今智伯知我，我必为报仇而死，以报智伯，则吾魂魄不愧矣。’乃变名姓为刑人，入宫涂厕，中挟匕首，欲以刺襄子。襄子如厕，心动，执问涂厕之刑人，则豫让，内持刀兵，曰：‘欲为智伯报仇！’左右欲诛之。襄子曰：‘彼义人也，吾谨避之耳。且智伯亡无后，而其臣欲为报仇，此天下之贤人也。’卒释去之。

居顷之，豫让又漆身为厉，吞炭为哑，使形状不可知，行乞于市。其妻不识也。行见其友，其友识之，曰：‘汝非豫让邪？’曰：‘我是也。’其友为泣曰：‘以子之才，委质而臣事襄子，襄子必近幸子。近幸子，乃为所欲，顾不易邪？何乃残身苦形，欲以求报襄子，不亦难乎！’豫让曰：‘既委质臣事人，而求杀之，是怀二心以事其君也。且吾所为者极难耳！然所以为此者，将以愧天下后世之为人臣怀二心以事其君者也。’

既去，顷之，襄子当出，豫让伏于所当过之桥下。襄子至桥，马惊，襄子曰：‘此必是豫让也。’使人问之，果豫让也。于是襄子乃数豫让曰：‘子不尝事范、中行氏乎？智伯尽灭之，而子不为报仇，而反委质臣于智伯。智伯亦已死矣，而子独何以为之报仇之深也？’豫让曰：‘臣事范、中行氏，范、中行氏皆众人遇我，我故众人报之。至于智伯，国士遇我，我故国士报之。’襄子喟然叹息而泣曰：‘嗟乎豫子！子之为智伯，名既成矣，而寡人赦子，亦已足矣。子其自为计，寡人不复释子！’使兵围之。豫让曰：‘臣闻明主不掩人之美，而忠臣有死名之义。前君已宽赦臣，天下莫不称君之贤，今日之事，臣固伏诛，然愿请君之衣而击之，焉以致报仇之意，则虽死不恨。非所敢望也，敢布腹心！’于是襄子大义之，乃使使持衣与豫让。豫让拔剑三跃而击之，曰：‘吾可以下报智伯矣！’遂伏剑自杀。死之日，赵国志士闻之，皆为涕泣。