Cheng Xuanying (CT 6.111) says: 姓狐，字不偕，古之賢人，又云，堯時賢人，不受堯讓，投河而死, "Last name Hu, first name Buxie. An ancient worthy. It is said, he was a worthy of Yao's time, would noty accept the surrendering of the empire, tossed himself in the (Yellow) river and drowned." Sima calls 狐不偕 Hú Bùxié an ancient worthy. Watson (presumably relying on context since there are no other sources) identifies him as someone who died trying to reform the conduct of others or making a show of their integrity. He may be the same guy referred to as Hu Buji in 6:08. Compare 狐不稽 Hú Bùjī in Hanfeizi 44.03, which contains some other familiar characters: Xu You, Xu Ya, Bai Yang, Dian Xie of Jin, Qiao Ru of Lu, Hu Buji, Zhong Ming, Dong Bushi, Bian Sui, Wu Guang, Boyi, and Shuqi, all twelve men were neither delighted at evident profits nor afraid of impending disasters. Some of them, when given the rule over All-under-Heaven, never took it. Some of them, afraid of incurring humility and disgrace, never welcomed the privilege of receiving bounties. Indeed, not delighted at evident profits, they could never be encouraged, though the superior made rewards big; not afraid of impending disasters, they could never be terrified, though the superior made penalties severe. They were the so-called "disobedient people". Of these twelve men, some be dead in caves and holes, some died of exhaustion among grass and trees, some starved to death in mountains and ravines, and some drowned themselves in streams and fountains. If there were people like these, even sage-kings of antiquity could not subject them. How much less would rulers of the present age be able to employ them? (Translation adapted from Traditions of Exemplary Women)
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