Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 5 Scroll 13 (continued)
The 2nd year of the Emperor Wen’s Early Era(178 B.C.)
In October, during the winter, Chen Ping, the Marquis of Quni, passed away.
An edict was issued: “All marquises and lords must return to their fiefdoms. Those appointed as court officials or requested to remain in the capital by decree may send their crown prince to fief in their place.”
On November 2, Zhou Bo was reinstated as Chancellor.
On November 30, the last day of the month, there was a solar eclipse.
The Emperor issued an edict: “All ministers should reflect on my mistakes and shortcomings, and inform me of anything We have failed to perceive. They should also recommend virtuous, upright, and candid individuals capable of offering forthright advice to correct my deficiencies.” The emperor further instructed officials to diligently fulfill their duties and reduce unnecessary taxes to benefit the people. The position of General of the Guards was abolished, and his troops disbanded. The Grand Coachman was ordered to maintain only enough horses for the court, with the surplus directed to replenish the postal service throughout the country.
Jia Shan, an adjutant of the Marquis of Yingyin (Guan Ying), wrote to the Emperor on governing a state during turbulent times:
“Your Majesty, I have heard that thunder strikes and destroys everything it hits, and that ten thousand pounds of force can crush and annihilate anything. The might of a ruler far surpasses thunder, and the force of a ruler is far greater than ten thousand pounds. Yet, even when a ruler opens a path for criticism, accepts it with a kind face, adopts ideas, and promotes the adviser, the bravest men may still be fearful and unable to express themselves fully. What would happen if a ruler indulges in his desires and acts violently, hating anyone who points out his mistakes? If Your Majesty uses your might to intimidate and your authority to oppress, then even those as wise as Emperor Yao and Shun, or as mighty as the warrior Meng Ben, would still be crushed and destroyed. In such a case, the ruler would never hear of his mistakes, and the country would be in peril.
“In ancient times, the Zhou dynasty supported 1,800 states and served 1,800 lords with the people of the Nine Provinces. The lords had excess wealth, the people had extra leisure, and they sang praises of their rulers. The First Emperor of Qin, however, ruled alone over the people of 1,800 states. Despite the people’s exhausting labor and the surrender of all their wealth, his demands were never met. The entire empire could not satisfy a single ruler’s appetite for hunting. Although the First Emperor of Qin thought highly of his achievements and believed his descendants would prosper for generations, just months after his death, the entire country rose up against him, and his ancestral temple was destroyed.
Why was the First Emperor of Qin unaware that he was doomed to fall? Because no one dared to tell him the truth. And why did nobody dare to tell him? It was because he had lost the values of respecting the elderly, had dismissed the support of loyal officials, and killed those who dared to remonstrate with him. As a result, officials survived by flattery and sycophancy, praising his virtue above that of Emperor Yao and Shun, and declaring his achievements greater than those of King Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou. Yet the country was already collapsing, and nobody dared to tell him the truth.
“Your Majesty has called upon virtuous and upright people from across the country, and the people are overjoyed, saying, “The way of Emperor Yao and Shun will be revived, and the achievements of the Three Sovereigns will be realized.” All the talented individuals in the world are eager to contribute their best efforts to assist in Your Majesty’s benevolent rule. Now, the virtuous and upright are gathered at court, and the wise have been chosen as your attendants and officials, often accompanying you on hunting, riding, and shooting excursions several times a day. I fear this may distract the courtiers and prevent the officials from attending to their duties.
“When Your Majesty ascended to the throne, you personally encouraged the entire country, practiced self-discipline, and showed great magnanimity toward the people, restraining extravagance, showing affection, lightening sentences for the convicted, and exonerating the innocent. The people were pleased and happy. I have heard that officials in the provinces east of Xiao Mountain publicized your edict, and even the elderly, weak, and sick traveled there, leaning on their staff, just to hear it, hoping to live a little longer to witness the realization of virtuous governance.
“Now, with achievements on the verge of being realized, your reputation shining, and people everywhere following your virtuous example, I am deeply concerned that talented officials and virtuous people are spending their days hunting and shooting with Your Majesty, chasing hares and foxes while neglecting the great cause and abandoning the people’s hopes. This deeply troubles me.
“In ancient times, great officials were not permitted to partake in entertainments and outings; they were urged to focus on their duties and maintain high standards of conduct. As a result, all officials upheld their personal integrity and fulfilled their responsibilities with utmost dedication to serve the great cause of the country. It is unfortunate that nowadays, though officials may cultivate their moral character at home, they undermine it in the emperor’s court. I feel sorry for them.
“Your Majesty can enjoy leisure and outings with your attendants, while discussing state affairs with ministers and upright individuals in the court. In this way, you will not lose the pleasure of repose, you will uphold proper etiquette in court, and your discussions of state matters will be guided by sound reasoning. This issue is of utmost importance.”
The Emperor praised and accepted the criticism.
During each court appearance, officials and attendants would submit memorandums, and the emperor never failed to dismount his carriage to accept their proposals. If the suggestions were unusable, he would set them aside; if they were useful, he would adopt them, always appreciating their candor regardless of the proposal being used.
Once, the Emperor wanted to ride his carriage down a steep slope in Baling. General of the Household Yuan Ang, riding beside him, held the reins of his horse-drawn carriage. The Emperor asked Yuan Ang if he was afraid, to which Yuan Ang replied, “I have heard that ‘the son of the super-rich does not sit under the eaves of a hall [in case of a falling tile].’ A wise ruler should not take risks or rely on luck. If Your Majesty rushes down this steep slope at breakneck speed, there is a risk of the horses panicking and an accident occurring. As the emperor, you must not be careless and disregard the importance of the ancestral temple and the empress dowager.” The Emperor then stopped.
Madame Shen was a favorite concubine of the emperor and often sat at the same table as the empress in the imperial harem. Once, when the Emperor’s entourage visited the offices of court attendants, Yuan Ang, the General of the Household, moved Madame Shen’s seat away from the Emperor. Madame Shen became angry and refused to take the seat, and the Emperor, also offended, withdrew to the inner chambers.
Yuan Ang then stepped forward and said, “I have heard that when there is distinction between superiors and subordinates, there will be harmony between them. Now that Your Majesty has already established the empress, Madame Shen is merely a concubine. How can a concubine sit at the same table as the empress? Your Majesty’s favor towards her is actually harming her. Have you not heard the story of ‘the human pig’?” Upon hearing this, the Emperor was pleased. He summoned Madame Shen and gave her a talk. In gratitude, Madame Shen gifted Yuan Ang fifty caddies of gold.
Jia Yi advised the Emperor:
“The Book of Guanzi says: ‘When the granaries are full, the people understand etiquette and rules. When they have sufficient food and clothing, they know the difference between honor and shame.’ Throughout history, it has never been heard that a population lacking basic necessities could be governed effectively. As the ancients said: ‘If one man does not farm, some will face hunger; if one woman does not weave, some will suffer from cold.’ Resources are produced at their own rate, and misuse or wasteful spending will inevitably exhaust them and render them unsustainable.”
“The ancients governed the world with utmost care and meticulousness, and thus accumulated sufficient reserves to rely upon. Nowadays, many abandon the fundamentals and rush toward the superficial(meaning nonproducers), causing great harm to the world. The corrupt customs of extravagance and licentiousness grow day by day, becoming the greatest scourge of the world! While the chase for profit and luxury spreads widely, no one makes efforts to stop it. The country’s welfare is on the verge of collapse, and no one can revive it. There are few who produce, yet many who consume—how can the wealth of the world not be depleted?
“For almost forty years since the Han dynasty was established, the accumulation of both public and private wealth has been a cause for lamentation. When the rain fails to fall in due season, the people become anxious, like wary wolves. When there is a poor harvest, the rich submit their surplus to advance their rank, while the poor are forced to sell their ranks or children. I am sure Your Majesty is aware of this. How can a ruler remain unmoved when the country is in crisis?
“Famine and abundance in the world are natural phenomena ordained by heaven, and even great rulers like Yu the Great and King Tang of Shang had to contend with them. If, unfortunately, a drought affects an area of two or three thousand miles, where will the country turn to provide disaster aid? If a sudden crisis on the border requires the mobilization of millions of soldiers, where will the country find them? When both natural disasters and warfare occur simultaneously, the entire world suffers. The strong and courageous gather to pillage, while the weak, old, and frail are left behind, forced to gnaw on their children’s bones. When political chaos arises, those from afar will take advantage of the situation and contend for power. If we only react when crises occur, will it not be too late?
“Accumulating wealth and resources is the key to the prosperity and survival of the country. If there is an abundance of grain and wealth, what cannot be achieved? Whether in attack or defense, victory will be assured. With such reserves, the enemy can be pacified, and people from afar will come to pay tribute. Who will not answer the call when such a reserve is at hand?
“Now, if the people are to return to agriculture, it should be based on their individual abilities. If everyone in the world uses their strengths to sustain themselves, those seeking profits and wandering from place to place will be compelled to till the fields. As a result, there will be a sufficient accumulation of wealth, and people will be content with their lives. This will bring prosperity to the country and peace to the world. I fear this has not yet been accomplished, and thus I am deeply concerned for Your Majesty’s reign.”
Upon hearing Jia Yi’s words, in the spring, on January 15, the emperor issued a decree to perform a plowing ceremony. He personally led the people in plowing the fields, setting an example for the entire nation to follow.
In March, officials requested that imperial princes be appointed as kings of various vassal states. The emperor issued a decree first appointing Liu Biqiang, the young son of Prince You of Zhao, as the Prince of Hejian. Liu Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, was then appointed as the Prince of Chengyang, and Liu Xingju, Marquis of Dongmou, as the Prince of Jibei. After these appointments, the emperor appointed his own sons: Liu Wu as the Prince of Dai, Liu Shen as the Prince of Taiyuan, and Liu Yi as the Prince of Liang.
In May, an edict was issued stating, “In ancient times, when governing the world, there were banners to promote good deeds and wooden posts for publishing grievances, which encouraged good governance and allowed officials to voice their criticisms. Today, there are laws punishing slander and fallacy, making officials afraid to speak their minds, thus preventing the emperor from hearing about his mistakes. How can we attract virtuous and talented people from distant places? Therefore, we will abolish these laws!”
In September, the Emperor issued another decree: “Agriculture is the foundation of the country, and the people rely on it for their livelihood. However, some neglect this foundation and pursue trivial matters, leading to poor harvests and hardships in people’s lives. I am concerned about this situation, so I will personally lead the officials in farming to encourage them. Additionally, I will exempt half of this year’s land tax for the entire country.”
Prince Jing of Yan, Liu Ze, passed away.
Reflection by Rio Grande 