In a world where virtue and morality are often overshadowed by greed and dishonesty, tales from ancient China illuminate the enduring power of integrity and honor. These stories showcase how virtue can shine even in the most unexpected places, reminding us that, despite human flaws, the essence of true character can still emerge, inspiring both admiration and reflection.
Honest officials do not fall prey to thieves
During the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, there was a magistrate named Zhang Qing in Chongde County (formerly known as Shimen County), Zhejiang. Zhang Qing, a well-educated scholar deeply versed in literature and government affairs, was known for his honesty and integrity. His reputation among the people was outstanding. Within a few years of his tenure, Zhang Qing had transformed the county into a place of order and peace, where citizens could leave their belongings on the road without fear of theft, and households had no need to lock their doors at night.
At the same time, neighboring counties were plagued with frequent thefts, creating widespread panic. Seeing the chaos, Zhang Qing’s superiors transferred him to one of these troubled counties as the new magistrate to restore order. Upon his arrival, Zhang Qing set to work immediately, implementing swift reforms. Strangely enough, the thieves vanished once Zhang Qing took office, and there were no more robbery incidents. Soon, the entire county settled into peace and tranquility.
A few months later, Zhang Qing arranged for his family to join him, and after completing his three-year term, he prepared to return to his hometown. He hired a boat and set off with his family and belongings. As they were about to depart, the citizens voluntarily gathered at the dock to bid him farewell.
Zhang Qing was saying his goodbyes when, suddenly, his vision blurred — his glasses, perched on his nose, had mysteriously disappeared! Startled, Zhang Qing nearly fell into the river, but a quick-thinking boatman grabbed him just in time. Zhang was baffled — how could his glasses, which were not particularly valuable, be stolen? Though momentarily puzzled, he shrugged it off and instructed the boatman to set sail, relieved to have a spare pair of glasses in his luggage.
That night, the boat docked at a small town on the border of the neighboring county. The following day, Zhang Qing discovered that all 10 large wooden chests he had brought on the boat were gone — his entire family’s possessions had been stolen! Shocked and furious, Zhang Qing exclaimed: “How bold these thieves are! I haven’t even left the county, and they’ve already robbed me and, of all people, me!” He now realized that the theft of his glasses must have been connected to this enormous heist.
But what could he do? After thinking for a while, Zhang Qing decided the thieves had likely fled far away by now, and there was little chance of finding them. Sighing heavily, he resigned himself to his misfortune and ordered the boatman to continue.
After three days of travel, they safely arrived in Zhang Qing’s hometown. To his astonishment, as the boat approached the dock, he saw 10 familiar-looking wooden chests neatly lined up on the shore. They were unmistakably his! Filled with disbelief, Zhang Qing rushed ashore and opened the chests. To his great relief, they were indeed his family’s belongings. On top of the chests lay a letter, weighed down by the very pair of glasses that had mysteriously disappeared earlier.
With a mix of surprise and joy, Zhang Qing opened the letter, which read:
Dear Magistrate Zhang,
We are a group of thieves. While you served as a magistrate, we respected your reputation for honesty and integrity and refrained from stealing within your jurisdiction. However, when we saw you leaving with ten heavy wooden chests, we couldn’t help but feel suspicious. So we first stole your glasses, then your chests, to check you out. After searching through all your belongings, we found nothing but books and less than thirty taels of silver. People often say: ‘An honest magistrate still walks away with ten thousand taels of silver,’ but you remain impoverished after many years in office. You are an honest official, and the people were right to trust you. We apologize for our offense and return your stolen goods in full. We hope you can forgive us.
Upon reading this, Zhang Qing was both moved and amused. With a smile, he exclaimed: “Even thieves have their code of honor!”
In ancient times, people held high moral standards. They believed in the divine and the universal values of good and evil. Even wrongdoers operated within an ethical framework guided by their conscience. Even thieves hesitated to commit wrongdoing when confronted with a genuinely virtuous person or an upright official.
A robber with a conscience
In Tingzhou, Fujian, a man named Liao, who had studied astrology, traveled from place to place each year, reading fortunes to earn a living. At the end of the year, he would return home with the money he made to support his family. During times of financial difficulty, he would borrow from his neighbors, constantly repaying the loans with interest as soon as he returned.
However, one year later, Liao fell ill for several months and could not earn much money. Upon returning home empty-handed, he found himself surrounded by creditors. More than 10 people came to collect 14 taels and 5 qian of silver. They harassed him day and night, demanding repayment. In desperation, Liao promised to settle the debts the next day.
Before dawn, Liao smeared his face with soot and went to a mountain path to commit a robbery. As fate would have it, a timber merchant came by, and Liao raised his stick to stop him. The merchant said: “You only want my silver, right? Please don’t hurt me.” The merchant opened his bundle and offered Liao 100 taels of silver. Liao replied: “I don’t need that much. I only need fourteen taels and five qian.” He then explained his predicament to the merchant, who allowed him to take the needed amount.
Years later, Liao met the same timber merchant while traveling on a boat. Liao confessed that he was the robber from that day and repaid the principal amount along with interest, explaining that he had been under tremendous pressure from his neighbors, but had never felt at ease after the robbery. Now that he had repaid the debt, his conscience was clear.
The merchant, impressed by Liao’s honesty, invited him to join him in business. Within 10 years, Liao became prosperous. The two became close friends, each committed to helping the poor and needy. Both men lived long, blessed lives.
These tales illustrate that integrity can shine through even in challenging circumstances. By embracing the principles of compassion and honesty, we can each contribute to making the world a better place.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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