Duke Ping of Jin asked his minister Qi Huangyang: "The position of magistrate of Nanyang is vacant. Who should I appoint?" Qi Huangyang answered without hesitation: "Xie Hu would be suitable."
The duke was surprised: "Xie Hu is your personal enemy. Are you not aware?" Qi Huangyang replied: "Your Majesty asked who is suitable — you did not ask who is my enemy."
The duke appointed Xie Hu, who proved to be an excellent magistrate.
Some time later, the duke asked again: "We need a chief military officer. Who would you recommend?" Qi Huangyang said: "Wu would be right for the position."
The duke blinked: "Wu is your own son." Qi Huangyang replied: "Your Majesty asked who is suitable — you did not ask who is my son."
The duke appointed Wu, who served with distinction. The people praised Qi Huangyang: "He recommends his enemy for his enemy's merit, and his son for his son's merit. He is utterly fair, without a trace of self-interest."
晋平公问于祁黄羊曰：「南阳无令，其谁可而为之？」祁黄羊对曰：「解狐可。」平公曰：「解狐非子之仇邪？」对曰：「君问可，非问臣之仇也。」平公曰：「善。」遂用之。国人称善焉。
居有间，平公又问祁黄羊曰：「国无尉，其谁可而为之？」对曰：「午可。」平公曰：「午非子之子邪？」对曰：「君问可，非问臣之子也。」平公曰：「善。」又遂用之。国人称善焉。
晋平公问于祁黄羊曰：「南阳无令，其谁可而为之？」祁黄羊对曰：「解狐可。」平公曰：「解狐非子之仇邪？」对曰：「君问可，非问臣之仇也。」平公曰：「善。」遂用之。国人称善焉。
居有间，平公又问祁黄羊曰：「国无尉，其谁可而为之？」对曰：「午可。」平公曰：「午非子之子邪？」对曰：「君问可，非问臣之子也。」平公曰：「善。」又遂用之。国人称善焉。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
The truly just judge recommends the best person for the job — regardless of personal relationship. Enmity does not diminish merit; kinship does not create it.
The idiom "大公无私" (utterly fair, without self-interest) originates from this story. Qi Huangyang's two recommendations — his enemy and his son — are mirror images of the same principle: public duty transcends private feeling.
What makes this story remarkable is the second recommendation. Recommending an enemy is difficult but philosophically clear — you are showing magnanimity. Recommending your own son is far more dangerous: it can easily be seen as nepotism. Qi Huangyang did it anyway, because his son was genuinely the best candidate. True impartiality requires courage in both directions.