During the Three Kingdoms period, the momentous story of Cao Cao “cutting off the head” has been passed down through the ages. When his troops passed through the wheat fields, he ordered his officials and soldiers not to trample on the wheat, and should anyone violate this order, they would get beheaded in public.
For this reason, Cao Cao’s officers and soldiers dismounted from their horses, and with their bare hands to support the wheat stalks, they carefully stepped through the wheat fields in neat lines one after another.
Cao Cao was Commander-in-Chief, the Prime Minister, and he led by example
Cao Cao was the Commander-in-Chief and the Prime Minister. He was much beloved and respected. Cao Cao was riding a horse chariot passing through a wheat field. Just then, a bird flew up and startled his horses. His startled horses bolted right through the wheat field and trampled on the wheat.
Cao Cao was a man of strict self-discipline who led by example. He bravely asked his marshal to enforce the law that he had set. The marshal refused. Cao Cao then wanted to kill himself with his sword, and everyone, including his worried officers, tried to dissuade him.
The Commander’s horses did not intentionally trample on the wheat field; they made a mistake because they were frightened, so there was a justifiable excuse for them not to be beheaded. However, Cao Cao must honor his word since he himself had given the order not to trample the wheat fields.
At this time, Cao Cao’s adviser, Guo Jia, stepped forward and said: “In the Spring & Autumn Annals, it is stated that the law does not apply to the King, Prime Minister, and Commander-in-Chief who leads the army and has a heavy responsibility, so, how can you kill yourself?”
Guo Jia defended and pleaded for Cao Cao’s life based on two principles
1. “Punishment does not apply to healers, and the law does not apply to law formulators. This has been the case from ancient times to the present. It has been recorded in the classics, which i s also called the law of evidence.”
2. “The responsibility of the Prime Minister is heavy, and the world cannot be without a Prime Minister who is justified and reasonable.”
Cao Cao then slowly said: “Since the Spring & Autumn Annals have stated that the law does not apply to law formulators and moreover I shoulder the important task entrusted to me by the Emperor, in this case, I save myself from death for the time being, but I cannot dishonor my words, so I should be punished for the mistake I have committed.”
After he had spoken, Cao Cao cut a handful of his hair with his sword, threw it on the ground, and said: “I cut my hair to represent my head.” The brave Commander then said: “The Prime Minister trampled on the wheat field and should have been beheaded in public; now I cut my hair instead of my head.”
Power of symbolism for the Commander-in-Chief
The ancients emphasized that the body, hair, and skin belong to the parents. In Cao Cao’s case, cutting his hair could be regarded as a serious crime of unfilial piety and a great disrespect to his parents, not to mention it was the Prime Minister’s hair! Therefore, in the eyes of the people at the time, Cao Cao cutting his hair was equivalent to beheading himself in public.
Translated by Chua BC
