Is “Feigned madness and ate feces to avoid disaster” true?

novel invention

In the 88th chapter of "Dongzhou Lieguo Zhi" (Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms), to heighten dramatic conflict and the tragic color of the character, it is detailed that after Sun Bin's feet were cut off, he deliberately feigned madness in a pigsty, even eating feces and drinking urine, in order to completely lull Pang Juan's vigilance and ultimately seize the opportunity to flee to the state of Qi. Such highly legendary details of feigning madness to avoid disaster are not recorded in any official histories such as the "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian), and are purely fictional embellishments by later novelists. The original text reads: "遂将锦囊启视,乃黄绢一幅,中间写著“诈疯魔”三字。" ("Dongzhou Lieguo Zhi", Chapter 88, data/raw/dongzhou-lieguo/第088回.txt)

Sun Bin

The punishment of cutting off the feet and branding the face is recorded in official history, while feigning madness and eating feces is fictional in the novel.

Other claims about Sun Bin

Sources cited above. Compiled with AI assistance and checked against those sources; for cultural reference.Data & method →

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