During the Spring and Autumn period, Zipi, the chief minister of Zheng, wanted to appoint the young Yin He as his estate's steward. Yin He had never held office, so many doubted his ability. Zipi's trusted advisor, Zichan, also objected, saying, "Yin He is far too young and inexperienced for such a role." But Zipi dismissed the concern, replying, "Yin He is honest and loyal—I like him, and he won't betray me. What does it matter that he's never been a steward? He can learn on the job!"
Zichan earnestly advised Zipi, "Entrusting a heavy responsibility to someone you favor is understandable, but now you are harming him—it's like asking someone who cannot yet hold a knife to cut meat; wouldn't that result in cutting off his own fingers as well?"
Zichan continued, "You are the pillar of Zheng—if the pillar breaks, won't we all be crushed? Consider this: if you had a bolt of fine silk, would you hand it to someone who can't even cut cloth? Great offices and great cities are meant to protect the people—they are far more precious than silk. If you wouldn't trust a silk robe to an unskilled tailor, how can you entrust high office and a grand city to someone without experience?"
After hearing Zichan's profound yet accessible explanation, Zipi nodded repeatedly and exclaimed, "Well said, well said! When it comes to the clothes I wear, I naturally choose a skilled tailor with great care. Yet when it comes to major offices and great cities that affect the nation's welfare, I have been careless—truly shortsighted and shallow in my judgment!"
After saying this, he bowed deeply to Zichan and said, "If not for your reminder, I would have thought I was doing good deeds. I used to say, 'You handle state affairs, and I'll handle my family matters,' but now I see I must listen to you even in household matters."
Zichan waved his hand repeatedly and said, "Hearts are like faces—each one is different. How dare I presume to speak for you? I only felt there was a crisis and thought I should let you know."
After hearing this, Zipi was full of praise for Zichan, declaring that Zichan was utterly loyal to the state and thus handed over his own position, asking Zichan to serve as Zheng's chief minister.
When Zi Chan took office as prime minister of the Zheng State, he implemented a series of political reforms that gradually made the state prosperous and strong.
Later, people used the idiom "hearts as varied as faces" to describe how people's thoughts differ just as their appearances do.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, "Duke Xiang's 31st Year"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "人心如面" came to describe how people's thoughts differ just as their appearances do.