advising against evil, good, justice, public sector, righteousness, song dynasty

Public Sector Work Is a Good Opportunity to Help Others

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Ma Mo was the governor of Dengzhou in Shandong Province. He found a problem with the regulation of holding prisoners on the island of Shamen and had to devise a good solution. According to the rule of the Song Dynasty, the number of prisoners that could be held on Salmon ...

Emma Lu

A closeup view of jail cell iron bars casting shadows on the prison floor.

Lessons From Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times

The ancient Chinese were not only intelligent but deeply wise. Their wisdom was reflected in their long-term vision, an indifference to immediate gain, and an understanding of the natural order of things. They believed in acting virtuously, with the conviction that even if they faced suffering in their lifetime, good fortune would eventually be bestowed ...

Max Lu

A group of swans take off in flight from a lake.

Having Great Virtue Brings You a Brighter Future

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Wenliang Yu, a good friend of the great military counselor Liu Bowen, had been known as a virtuous and talented person since he was young. When he grew up, he was quite handsome. However, he was best known for his great virtue, such as righteousness, innocence, and protecting ...

Max Lu

Jiahong Su, a trail guide for the Alishan Forest Railway Management Office of the Taiwan Forestry Bureau, captured the natural beauty of the sunrise, sea of ​​clouds and cloud-fall at Xiaoliyuan's Mountain 360-degree viewing platform.

5 Uplifting Virtues of Jade

Jade is synonymous with Chinese culture, ancient and modern. Jade has been attributed with many fine virtues over the millennia. In this article, we will discuss the traditional “Five Virtues of Jade.” The Five Virtues of Jade are: 1. Benevolence, 2. Righteousness, 3. Intelligence, 4. Courage, 5. Cleanliness. The Chinese philosopher Confucius made jade a ...

Michael Segarty

A carved jade flower..

One Peasant Woman Saves a Kingdom With Her Righteousness

In a life and death ordeal, one selfless act of righteousness of a lowly woman halted an invading army. The state of Qi was about to attack the state of Lu. The Qi army had already amassed at the border to invade. In the wilderness of Lu, the general of the Qi army saw a ...

Emma Lu

In the wilderness.

The Righteous Way Is the Most Valuable

The journey has many turns and twists. The righteous way of dealing with all conditions and circumstances of life is the most valuable, as eventually, the outcome is always rewarding and fruitful. Toward the end of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), a plague spread in a village in southern China. A road through the village divided ...

Emma Lu

A woman in water praying.

Accepting and Correcting One’s Own Wrongdoings

Emperor Taizong of Tang, also known by his original name Li Shimin, discussed the lessons of the demise of the Sui Dynasty because of his wrongdoings with his ministers. He believed that Emperor Yang of Sui brutally refused to accept any admonishment, which had the effect of terrifying his officials. They subsequently did not dare ...

Jessica Kneipp

Emperor Taizong.

Shi Dakai Valued Righteousness Above Material Interests

The Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864) was the largest civil war in China and was led by Hong Xiuquan, Shi Dakai, and others. It established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a state the ruling Qing Dynasty refused to recognize, and had a long-lasting impact on Chinese history. Shi Dakai, one of the generals of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom ...

Helen London

The Taiping Rebellion.