Being grateful and repaying kindness is a virtue in Chinese culture. As recorded in historical texts, a single act of kindness or consideration toward others can bring great rewards.
Kindness to others generates good karma
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, there lived a man named Yin Keng from Wuwei Guzang (present-day Wuwei, Gansu). One day, while Yin Keng was drinking and enjoying himself at a gathering with some friends, he noticed that the waiter serving them alcohol was working very hard, constantly bringing and pouring wine.
To thank him, Yin offered the waiter some of his finest wine and grilled meat to share. The other guests at the gathering laughed at Yin’s actions, believing it unnecessary. However, Yin said it was not suitable for them to enjoy the alcohol and food while the waiter, who had been working hard, could not enjoy any himself.
Sometime later, when the rebel Hou Jing seized the capital of the Liang Dynasty, Yin fell into the hands of the insurgents. In a critical moment, someone unexpectedly rescued him, saving him from certain death. Upon inquiring, Yin learned that the person who saved him was the same waiter who had served him at the gathering. The waiter had not forgotten Yin’s kindness and had repaid him with the greatest possible reward in his time of need.
Repaying a favor with a meal
During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Jin was mighty. When Lord Chong’er ascended to the throne, he became known as Duke Wen of Jin and later became one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period.
He passed the throne to his son Duke Xiang of Jin, who, in turn, passed it to Duke Ling of Jin. However, Duke Ling of Jin was known for his extravagant and immoral behavior. During the reign of Duke Ling, he imposed heavy taxes and exploited the people to build amusement parks, high platforms, and tall buildings. He then often held banquets and parties on the high towers.
One day, Duke Ling’s chef cooked bear paw for him, but it was not his liking. Duke Ling was so furious that he killed the chef and ordered people to throw his body out of the palace. As a group of palace servants carried the corpse through the streets, they were seen by two high-ranking officials, Zhao Dun and Su Hui. To their horror, they noticed that the corpse was not a regular one, but that of someone who had been executed. Finally, they realized Duke Ling had committed this heinous act and decided to confront him.
Su tried to reason with Duke Ling, but to no avail. Because Duke Ling didn’t want Zhao Dun to interfere, he devised a plan to kill him. In September of that year, Duke Ling invited Zhao to drink with him, intending to ambush him with his soldiers. Zhao was unaware of Duke Ling’s scheme and couldn’t refuse the invitation as a loyal subject. After drinking three cups of wine, Zhao’s bodyguard, Ti Mi Ming, reminded him it was time to leave, saying that staying longer would be disrespectful to the host. Zhao heeded his advice, and they prepared to leave.
Duke Ling had planned to get Zhao drunk before ambushing him, but since his soldiers were not yet in position, he released his fierce dog to attack Zhao as he left. Zhao exclaimed: “What benefit is there in raising dogs instead of nurturing scholars?”
Zhao retreated while striking the dog, while Ti fought fiercely with the ferocious dog. As the soldiers closed in on them, a warrior named Ling Ze suddenly appeared and blocked their way with his halberd, giving Zhao a chance to escape. After the incident, Zhao asked Ling Ze for his name, and he replied: “I’m the hungry man from under the mulberry tree.”
While Zhao was hunting on Shou Mountain one day, he stopped to rest under a mulberry tree. It was then that he noticed a man with a pale face. Zhao asked the man what was wrong, and he replied that he had not eaten for three days. So Zhao had his subordinate bring food to the man, but he only ate half of it. When Zhao asked why, he said: “I have been away from home studying for three years, and I don’t know how my mother is doing now. My home is nearby, and I want to save half of the food for my mother.”
The man’s filial piety moved Zhao, so he gathered all the food they had brought and placed it in several bags for the man to take with him. Later, the man joined Zhao’s army as a warrior, but Zhao did not know about it. Now, years later, the hungry man Zhao had helped repaid the kindness by helping save his life.
Both doing good deeds and repaying kindness are very moving because they embody the virtues that heaven praises. Therefore, people of virtue will elevate their level and receive more rewards from Heaven.
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