Seeing King Zhou use ivory chopsticks, Jizi worried that he would grow more and more extravagant.
Tips
history
箕 was his fief and 子 his noble rank, as in 微子. When the king ignored his warnings he let his hair down, feigned madness and was made a slave. After the Zhou conquest King Wu asked him how to rule, and his answer is the 洪范 chapter of the 尚书.
usage
The ivory chopsticks story, told in the 韩非子, is the classic case of 见微知著, 'seeing the whole from a small sign': Jizi reasoned that ivory chopsticks would call for jade cups, rare food and grand palaces.
